.41 Ruger Blackhawk

[metricmonkeywrench]

So in my usual backwards way of going about things I have gathered up a pile of large pistol primers and nothing to use them on. My eventual quest once I get the funds together to get something in .45 cal (4506, 1911 or Blackhawk in 45LC. I have the brass powder and a couple moulds ready for that day...

However an opportunity to pick up a 2 screw .41 Blackhawk with some dies, brass and bullets has crossed my path at a reasonable price. It will of course blow the bank and delay the .45 quest but give me something well suited to casting and reloading to feed the east.

So what are the upsides/downsides to an orphan caliber or a Blackhawk? I haven’t looked much but what is the availability of good moulds.

Any good reasons to buy or should I let it pass and stay on course for a better supported .45 cal? Just looking for thoughts and opinions...

[Wheelguns 1961]

I really like the caliber. Loaded to its potential, it is capable of killing all but the biggest, baddest animals in north america. Loaded to a milder level, it is still a very capable man stopper that is very easy shooting. It is a very straight forward easy cartridge to load for. It is my preferred caliber for white tail deer.

[contender1]

The .41 Magnum is an underrated caliber,, and the Ruger leads the pack in having one of the best. I own a few of them myself.
I'd say get it,, and enjoy it. A .45 will come along,, and you can allow the SA family to grow.

[Minerat]

I have a BH 4-5/8" that I really like and there are a lot if options once you start looking. Mostly reloaded and cast for it as finding 41 mag or Specials factory ammo is hard in our area. I shoot from 170 gr to 276 gr cast thru mine from plinkers to rip snorting.

There's a whole discussion going on in this thread about the 41 that will give you an idea of what's out there. I don't think you will be sorry getting it.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?276144-41-Magnum-41-Special-Load-Data-Center

[skeettx]

I have two Ruger BH 4-5/8", one straight and one with a Red Dot
and a Smith 6" 57
They all shoot great

Mike

[Bazoo]

The 41 is hard to find ammo for and used brass isn't available like it is for the 44 mag or 45 colt. If buying brass and never finding some free or cheap doesn't bother you then there ain't much downside. Moulds ain't nearly as common, but they are offered. Again, finding used is harder.

Personally I like the caliber and if I had run across a 41 before the 44SBH I currently have I'd be a diehard 41 fan instead of an avid 44 fan.

[littlejack]

As far as I'm concerned, there is no downside to the revolver or the .41 cartridge. Moulds are plentiful. The cartridge is easy to load. I won't say brass is as plentiful as the 44 magnum, but it is a lot more plentiful than it used to be, and you WILL be able to find it.
Full house loads are very controllable, and won't beat you up like the other magnums. Bought my first (3 screw BH) in 1969. In 1972, bought a S&W 57. It's a great revolver. Last year, bought the Ruger SBH Hunter in .41 magnum. It is scoped, and shoots 3"groups at 50 yards easily. I wouldn't trade it for two 44's.
Buy it! You won't be sorry.
Regards

[megasupermagnum]

It depends on where you are. In my section of the world, I can go into just about any store and find 41 magnum ammo. There is 45 colt, but it is not nearly as common.

Neither caliber is as common as the big 3 revolver cartridges, but neither is obscure.

[littlejack]

Actually, buying my brass is usually the way I get it. I don't usually go out looking for free brass. Theres bullet moulds available from here on the forum venders, and mould manufacturers, i.e. Lyman, Saeco, Lee and other major mould manufacturers. I've bought many off of ebay. No problems at all.

[Texas by God]

.41 magnum fan boy since I WAS a boy. Get it, you won't regret it. Any one who bad mouths it has never used it.

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[725]

My very good friend was mauled by a grizzly. Very seriously mauled. Lying on the ground after the first attack, he managed to unholster his .41 mag Blackhawk. That revolver was a fight stopper and it saved his life. I think it took three shots, and she was dead at his feet. -- I got nothing bad to say about the caliber or gun.

[Don Purcell]

Have a 4 inch Model 57 Smith and Wesson .41 Mag. and love it. I personally like the 220 grain Keith or the Arsenal mold 220 grain Round Flat Nose. If you need brass call Starline, it's in stock. Plan on adding a Blackhawk 4 5/8's in the future.

[RJM52]

MM...welcome to The Cult...at least that is what the .44 people call us....

If you have read any of the above sticky thread you probably have a pretty good idea of what the .41 is all about. I've been shooting one since the mid-1970s and is about all I have left for big bore handguns after trying everything up to .475 and .500 S&W...

As to molds...Accurate has a BIG collection from 160-270 grains. MP and NOE have great ones also that can be had with hollow point and penta point options. Mountain Molds and LBT can make molds up to 300 grains...

Jacketed bullet selection is kinda slim these day but there is enough to do most any shooting one is going to do with a .41... Hawk bullets also makes really good hunting bullets..

The sad thing is that there is now a larger variety of factory ammo than ever before and the fewest number of new guns ever before...
S&W (1) 6" blue
Ruger (1) Blackhawk in 4 5/8" and 6.5" blue
Freedom Arms (2) 97 (4.25", 5.5" 7.5") and 83 ( 4.75" 6", 7.5", 10")
Henry has several variations of their steel and brass frame lever guns...
...and that is it.

Fortunately Ruger makes some runs of .41s in their Redhawk, Super Redhawk and stainless Blackhawks from time too time...and are wonderful guns.

But the auction sites are your friends...up until a few months ago there were lots of different .41s there and still quite a number...

If you are looking for some cast bullets to try, look at GT, Montana, Penn, Leadhead, Matts and Western...they have a pretty wide variety... GT has a lot of cast HPs at VERY good prices. Berry's also has a 210 plated bullet that is excellent...

As to a Magic Load...try 8.0 grains of Unique with ANY bullet. A Lee Carbide Factory Crimp die also works wonders...

Have a great time with the new found friend...and forget about .45s... ;-)

Bob

[375supermag]

Hi...
I have four .41Magnum revolvers.
Always looking for a good deal on another one in good condition.
Buy that. 41!!!
You will not regret it.

[DougGuy]

The only problems you will have out of a 41 BH if you have any at all, would be the cylinder throats which is generally the same as any other caliber BH, in that Ruger tends to ship them out the door with relatively small throats. Commonly they will run in the .409"-ish range of measurement, while groove diameters are a true 41 at .410" the same "size the boolit .001" to .002" over groove diameter, size the throats .0005" to .001" over boolit diameter" applies here and works great for shooting cast in the 41 BH.

[littlejack]

Back in the late 70's, early 80's, I took one doe and one spike, in Central Oregon (the only ones I ever shot at) with my S&W. RJM52 mentioned the Unique 8.0 grain load. That WAS the load I was using. I topped it off with the Lyman 410459 swc. Both shots were approximately 50 yards +/- and both slugs went completely through. I've shot thousands of those 220 grain slugs, and they're still my go to cast boolit.
Regards

[sixshot]

Bought my first 41 magnum in 1967 & I've never been without one since. I've taken a lot of game with different 41's using mostly 2 loads, 8 grs of Unique with a Keith 230 gr cast bullet or 17.0 grs of 2400 with the same bullet. It's been used on deer, elk, antelope, bear & lots of small game. It's an easy caliber to like, very accurate, recoil is easy to handle & it makes a better 44 than the 44. Was shooting my 5.5" bisley yesterday at 100 yds with a 250 gr cast & 17.0 grs of 2400, getting ready for an elk hunt.

Dick

[derek45]

pretty sure if Dirty Harry carried one, the 44mag wouldn’t be very popular

I love the .41magnum

....remember, the 44mag is really a .430” magnum LOL

[Bazoo]

Good Lord, now I have the itch again.

[Texas by God]

I just finished playing with my .41 Blackhawk a bit. I shot several rounds of the Lee TL210SWC and the MP41-215 over 5 grs of Bullseye, then switched to the MP41-258 PC'd hollow point over 20.5 grs of H110 to confirm zero for deer hunting. I'm limiting myself to 50 yards or less- I vented this almost empty bottle at 40 yards for the last shot today. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201031/ada991495047295096d47b4e6d4f38f5.jpg

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[bdicki]

I've been a fan of the 41 Blackhawk since the late 60's, I have a 3 screw with a 4 digit no prefix number, all the others I had are gone. You should buy it.
https://www.starlinebrass.com/41-mag-brass

[jonp]

First revolver besides a Single Six I bought along with a pound of Blue Dot. Learned to load with Lee Whack a Mole. All the advantages of a larger caliber with less kick. Favority caliber for some reason and wish I had both of mine back.

[DougGuy]

Ruger should make a Blackhawk Flattop and a New Vaquero in 41mag.

[metricmonkeywrench]

well the decision was made for me, I was a bit too slow today and the gun sold... oh well back to the hunt

[littlejack]

:groner:

[Bazoo]

Are you going to now be hunting a 41?

[rbuck351]

I have had a Ruger BH in 6.5" since the mid 80s and am very happy with it. I have two favorite loads, a 225gr cast at 1480 and a home made (from 40 S&W cases) 270gr jacketed at 1100. I have never shot anything large with it but a believe it would work fine for anything less than a large brown bear.

[Rio]

I have both, when my dad passed away he left me a ruger 41 mag and a ruger 45 colt. The colt has more options for bullets but the 41 is great too. Both have sentimental value and I like looking at them more than shooting them, I am an auto pistol guy, but they both put deer down and are fun to shoot.

[Larry Gibson]

Ruger should make a Blackhawk Flattop and a New Vaquero in 41mag.

Would it hold up to the magnum pressures?

Always liked the 41 Magnum. Back in the '70s I went through a couple S&W M57s and a M58. All were very good shooters but the large N frame grip is just not compatible with my smaller hands, especially with DA and with magnum loads. I even had a M28 converted to 41 magnum. I ended up letting all the Smiths go thinking of getting a Ruger BH but time and other interests kept that on hold 'til '91. Then I picked up a Ruger Bisley from an Army Captain who was being transferred to Germany. He had just recently got the Bisley and had shot 18 rounds of Remington JSPs through it. Price was very right so I was back in the 41 magnum business. I've been very happy with it ever since. I've D&T'd the top strap for a very low Weaver base and have a Burris Fastfire on it. Unlike most other mounts the irons sights are there and zeroed so if the FF goes TU I can simply remove it quickly and still be good to go.

270532

[DougGuy]

Would it hold up to the magnum pressures?

I think it would. 23kpsi for the 45, and we speculate the 44 can safely handle 25kpsi because the cylinder walls are slightly thicker although Ruger will never publicly acknowledge this, so with the even thicker cylinder walls of the 41, 36kpsi doesn't seem like too far of a stretch.

[RJM52]

As I recall there are several posters over on the SingleAction Forums that have OM .357s converted to .41 Magnum... They don't seem to be concerned at all over pressure/strength issues but more to having to limit the LOA of some of the longer nose cast bullets...

Ruger did make a run of Flat Tops in 4 5/8" and 6.5" but they were on the original .44 Magnum Flat Top frame size...

Bob

[jason280]

I have several .41 Mag Rugers, including a 3 Screw and Bisley model, and its always been one of my favorite chamberings in the Blackhawk.

[Rodfac]

Great caliber in two fine guns: Ruger's BH and Smith's M57. My favorite is an Old Model Ruger with its 4-5/8" bbl., for its easy carrying length and weight. I have a Flat Top 6-1/2" as well as a Smith M57 6"er that are just a tad more accurate, but don't feel nearly as 'right' when on the hip.

Cast bullet loads for my three are uniformly sized to 0.411, with ACWW alloy and 50-50 lube. Skelton's justly famous 7.5 gr Unique load for a .44 Spl., works equally well with a 210-220 gr .41 bullet at roughly the same velocity. As does 6.5 gr of Win 231 or 8.0 gr of Herco, with the following bullets.

I load both Lyman's 410459 and RCBS' 41-215 for similar velocities and with great accuracy. For all day carry, they're hard to beat. Here's a pic of the 3-screw with a pair of stocks I made up. For those who've not seen this pic before, those stocks are cut from 4-board horse fencing, poplar, that's just starting to decompose...the marking is called spalting and is the result of bacteria in the wood. Best regards, Rod & BTW, Hornady's 210 gr XTP with 9.0 gr of Herco makes a dandy carry load right at 1000 fps from my 3-screw 4-5/8" bbl.

https://i.postimg.cc/2S3t47dC/Ruger-41-Lft.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[littlejack]

Love those grips. Good job.

[rkrcpa]

Here is a frontal shot of my mid frame 41 mag. The cylinder walls seem more than sufficient for the purpose. If I get a chance I'll take some measurements but they don't appear much thinner than my large frame Bisley 41 mag.

https://i.imgur.com/zPmxudf.jpg

[gwpercle]

Good Boolit Moulds : NOE
412-237-SWC (KEITH)

413-215-WC (413432)

Both are freaking Awesome ... especially 413-215-WC .... an accurate 41 wadcutter ! Sweet !

I shoot these boolits out of a S&W model 58 41 magnum (my avatar) .

Gary

[onelight]

Ruger should make a Blackhawk Flattop and a New Vaquero in 41mag.

That would be sweet !

[Larry Gibson]

I think it would. 23kpsi for the 45, and we speculate the 44 can safely handle 25kpsi because the cylinder walls are slightly thicker although Ruger will never publicly acknowledge this, so with the even thicker cylinder walls of the 41, 36kpsi doesn't seem like too far of a stretch.

I would think that too. Is the new model Vaquero cylinder the same diameter as the old model BH?

[Drm50]

2706251st 41mag I had was a m58 S&W, most accurate fixed sight pistol I ever owned. Then only ammo factory was 210gr Peters. Then bought dies, molds and Ruger Blackhawks. Nice guns all. The only thing I can say they are like 16g shot guns, not enough bigger than 20g or smaller than 12g to go out of your way to get. I just sold the last S&W m57 out of my collection as well as all m19s. Those are the two Cartridges I shot the least. I find myself shooting 45s, 44sp and 38sp much more than the magnums. When I do shoot them it’s special level loads. I wouldn’t encourage 41mag on a guy as first or only CF handgun. Some guys love them but most don’t get to excited over them. They are just barely hanging on.

[MrWolf]

Hogue grips made all the difference for me. Have nerve damage in last three fingers and the grip made it much easier for me.

[jakharath]

The 41 Mag is awesome.

[littlejack]

:shock: The .41 magnum just hanging on?
I don't think so. Lol

[megasupermagnum]

The 41 magnum is most certainly not just barely hanging on. Just about all manufacturers of revolvers besides Colt makes one in 41 magnum. Ruger and S&W make multiple versions. I'm fairly sure Taurus does, or did last year. Charter Arms does. All the semi-custom ones do. Magnum Research, Freedom Arms, etc. The 41 magnum is every bit as popular as 45 colt, but not in every venue. Obviously in an area heavy in cowboy shooting 45 colt will be more common. Flip that to hunting, and the 41 magnum will be more common. 45 colt isn't even a legal hunting caliber in a number of states that have draconian minimum energy level laws.

[Old School Big Bore]

Caveat: I'm a 44 guy. That said, my shootin' partner has a 57 that he was presented while in the USMC (that may explain a bit). He had it cut from an 8 3/8 to a five inch, and carried/shot it seldom. Then we became friends and I recruited him as a reserve deputy and got him into competitive shooting. Our local LE circuit limits revolver barrels to 4", so when we started a separate class for big bore revos, he got it cut again to 4" and the poor old pistol now gets the snot shot out of it. I bought the M-P 41 HBWC mold for it and it just thrives. He also likes the 170 and 210 SWCs at bullseye velocities, and for some reason (USMC) prefers the Silvertip factory load over GDHPs for carry. If you do find one, keep the M-P HBWC in mind for precision target loads. I use iterations of this boolit in .310 for .32-20 and .30 Carbine revolvers, and in .358, .432 and .452 in the M66 M686 and a 5" M27, my pet M29, 624, 625-8 and Ruger BKHK/SBKHK and B92, R92 and B53 as well. I also use them turned as cup points in numerous loads. Good luck in the hunt for a .41 Mag.
Ed <><

[SSGOldfart]

Ruger should make a Blackhawk Flattop and a New Vaquero in 41mag.

Yes Sir that would be great 👍

[RJM52]

mega...there are not many left compared to most other calibers...

S&W..57-6 Classic 6" blue...

Ruger... Blackhawk in 4 5/8" and 6.5"...

Freedom Arms... 97 and 83 in various lengths...

Charter Arms... Pug...

Henry has the BigBoy Steel and Brass in two different barrel lengths..

...and that is it...

[megasupermagnum]

I haven't kept track this year with the buying craze, which I do not partake. Last year I'm fairly sure S&W had both a 4" and 6", and both blued and nickel. Ruger had the ones you listed, as well as a 4.2" redhawk, and I think a 7.5" super redhawk. I don't know about Taurus, I feel like it was a raging bull. I mean, how many more does there have to be? Ruger had a number of variations of 45 colt in their blackhawk/vaquero, but besides that, 45 colt doesn't have more than that.

As I said, neither is as mainstream as 38 special, 357 magnum, or 44 magnum, but both 41 magnum and 45 colt are fairly common. Most gun stores will have both kinds of ammo.

[RJM52]

I'm afraid you are a few years behind...

S&W hasn't made the 57 in nickel or 4" since 2012

Ruger only catalogs the BH in 4 5/8" and 6.5". Everything else over the last 10 years has been Distributor Exclusives of 113 to 500 guns. The Redhawk 4.2" and 2.75" were both limited runs made several years ago and now sell for over a grand when they come up for sale...same for the Super Redhawk, Hunter Models, stainless Bisley and the small run of stainless BHs they made..

Taurus has been out of the .41 business for about three years.


...yet there is a bigger variety of .41 Magnum ammo than ever before...

[Fishman]

I learned to shoot single action big-bores with a standard 6.5" Ruger Blackhawk in .41 magnum.

[Snow ninja]

Well if it means anything, I had an old model 6.5" Blackhawk that I sold to a friend that just "Had to have it". Sometimes I regret the decision. But he's happy so I don't say much. But I told him if he ever wanted to sell it, let me know first. The .41 has a lot of potential for a reloader. Haven't shopped around for factory for it so can't say much there.

[kweidner]

I have 2 as well. A dan wesson with custom made 6 and 8' barrels. Insane accurate bullets touching at 100 yards with optics when I have a scope on it. My other is the model 327 Smith titanium/scadnium airweight. I just yesterday found the holy grail load for my titanium. I LOVE my .41s. I have 44s too. I shoot my 41s to 44 3 to one.

[welderboy44]

I have always wanted a Blackhawk in .41 mag. You just got me excited again reading these posts. I reload and cast so that problem is non-existent. i am going start looking in the local pawn shops again, that's where I found my 7.5" Bisley 45 Colt Blackhawk for a great deal.

[Ed K]

Funny, I really like all 1.29" revolver cartridges. Started with the 357, then the 44 and finally the 45. Never got into the 41 and find threads such as this intriguing. Probably would like the 41 as much as any of them - likely more than the 357 as I gravitate toward the bigger bores although not necessarily loaded to the limit. The 41 would never likely fully rub out the need(want) for a 45 but I could definitely see it doing so for the 357 & 44 were I not already so invested in those two. So threads like this scare me ;)

[smithnframe]

Never heard of a 2 screw Blackhawk!

[Three44s]

Anything with a “4” in the lead number is a good thing.

Got a pair of 41s here. Brass is not as free flowing but boat loads can be bought from Starline. Molds are less numerous but how many styles does one really need?

My baby is still hands down my Smith 44 Mag Mountain Gun and a 7.5” Redhawk, however my Blued Dan Wesson 6” in 41 Mag is running close, a Smith 8 3/8” 57 and a SRH 7.5” 480 round out my top end revolvers.

Buy that 41 and have something to grin about in this otherwise awful year!

Three44s

[alamogunr]

Two of my favorite revolvers are .41's. The first is a S&W 657 w/6" barrel & full length under lug. The other is a Ruger stainless Bisley. I had a blued Bisley that a friend wanted so I sold it to him and bought the stainless gun.

[Alan in Vermont]

Never heard of a 2 screw Blackhawk!

That's a "New Model" Blackhawk. Since 1973, IIRC, all Blackhawk variants have been "New Models", with the transfer bar innards and only two screws through the frame.

[Texas by God]

Mr. smithnframe was jokingly pointing out a typo in the OP where metricmonkeywrench called his new gun a 2 screw. Actually the "Old Models" had 3 screws on the side of the main frame- plus the 5 grip frame screws. The "New Models" use 3 pins on the main frame- and 5 screws on the grip frame. SO- let's call them 8 Screws and 5 Screws! Who's with me?
No one? Okay...[emoji16]
I'm just going to go outside and shoot mine.

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[45r]

I've got very good groups with my bisley hunter and 2 power leupold on the barrel.
Have used several different cast boolits in it.
My favorite is saeco 220 grain from a 4 cavity mold.
I fire-lapped it and it shoots 2 inch groups at 75 yards.
Only thing I don't like is the bisley hammers my middle finger knuckle.
As much as I like it my F/A 454casull goes out more often.
The rubber grips that comes with the field grade is a lot more comfortable.
Maybe I haven't been holding the bisley grip right because it doesn't seem to be as good about recoil as others have stated.
If it had preceded the 44mag I think it would be the most popular in a S&W.

[Laguna Freak]

Yup. Besides difficulty finding reloading components in an already tight market, not much to dislike about the 41 Mag. I’ve always had it in the back of my mind. Just haven’t come across the right one yet. But I have hope!

[crash87]

That's a "New Model" Blackhawk. Since 1973, IIRC, all Blackhawk variants have been "New Models", with the transfer bar innards and only two screws through the frame.

While I have and do own old model Ruger's and New Model's, the old being referred to as "3 screw" because of the 3 screws visible in the frame, but, new models now being a "2 screw"?
Ironically I had a new model apart the other day, mine have pins, not screws. Has Ruger changed this or have there been a few that came from the factory like this? I do know you can buy "pins" that have a screw slot in them to make it "look" like a screw, but its still a pin. Now, an honest to goodness "2 screw" Ruger? I bet these are "Rare indeed"!
Crash87

[dogdoc]

Picked up a 4 5/8 barrel new model Blackhawk the other day at a pawn shop. Throats are dead on at .410. 1.5 inch groups with Lyman 410459 at 25 yards pushed with heavy load of 2400. Very happy. Think I like the weight of the gun with the aluminum grip frame. It will be my deer hunting revolver this year. I always carry even when I have rifle so if one comes in pistol range I can take it.

[Gray Fox]

Our local Outdoors Trader has something I've never seen, a 657 .41 Mag Mountain Gun. If components were not so scarce I might be interested. GF

[Goldstar225]

Our local Outdoors Trader has something I've never seen, a 657 .41 Mag Mountain Gun. If components were not so scarce I might be interested. GF

Heck, if it's something that you would want, get it. Components will come back. (eventually)

[contender1]

crash,, many folks mis-identify the New Model Ruger SA's that use 2 pins as a "2 screw" model. As an OM Ruger collector,, where the action works use 3 screws,, I've heard that said before. And the New Models,, yes,, do use a 2 pin system for the internals.

But, as noted,, the .41 Mag is an unsung hero in many folks' eyes. It's a sweet caliber that just "fits" in a SA design.

[RJM52]

Gray Fox..don't know how much the shop wants for the gun but if reasonable I wouldn't not buy it just because components are in short supply... Starline has .41 Special brass in stock that makes great target loads and can be run at basically any pressure you want to load as all the guns are made to take Magnum pressures...

As rare as that gun is you may not ever see another one in person...how much are they asking for it??

Bob

[green mountain boy]

i bought a 41 bh in 4 5/8ths to take to alaska in 1976, sweet gun. i shot 4 black bears with it as the air base game warden, none needed a second shot. (cast 410459) i loved it so much i bought a 14in contender when i got back. a few years later a 8 3/8ths smith (nickel) m57 came along and it had a lot of use in handgun silhouette in the dakotas. love them ? YES I DO ! .41 mag is always the right answer. i own a 10 in 44mag contender, and a 44 mag blackhawk as well, but they remain safe queens.

[smkummer]

Had to read all these post to see if anyone mentioned the companion gun....a Marlin 1894 in 41 mag. My neighbor had one for sale a few years ago. Thought about it as I had the 44 and 357 but opted out. The Marlin 1894 makes shooting these magnum handgun rounds a fun plinking experience.

[RJM52]

Those Marlins are selling for north of $1500...the few that come up for sale that is.

Henry has a 16.5" and 20" available but finding one of those right now is hard also....

[GLynn41]

i have a 4 5/8 and a 16.5" Henry .41 - these are my bottom hunting guns. Keiths in the revolver and cast cup points in the Henry

[joeb4065]

I once owned a s&w 6” nickel 41 mag, was probably the most accurate non custom revolver I have ever owned. Foolishly sold it. Years later, bought a Ruger BH, 41, sent it off to be my first custom. Came back round butted, 4-5/8” octagon barreled, hard chromed, with a SBH hammer and Bowen sight. One of my “go-to” guns when I think things might get “western”. (As in you might need the one in your hand when you might get chewed if things don’t go just right. I don’t know how accurate it really is, because at 63, I’m not as sharp as I once was, but this thing is scary accurate. Don’t believe the nay sayers. 41”s will get ready done. I have several customs in different calibers, but this one is one of the top few.

[sixshot]

Buy that gun! You'll be able to get components but if you wait that gun will be gone. You won't regret it.

Dick

[osteodoc08]

Our local Outdoors Trader has something I've never seen, a 657 .41 Mag Mountain Gun. If components were not so scarce I might be interested. GF

I saw that one too on the ODT. I’ve got a blues one but didn’t want to put up the $$$ currently

[osteodoc08]

Buy that gun! You'll be able to get components but if you wait that gun will be gone. You won't regret it.

Dick

It sold. Not sure of final buy price but was listed for $1450

[Pablo 5959]

I had time to kill between the grand kids ball games yesterday. I found a scope version RedHawk with Leopold glass, 400 rds, on consignment. I told the owner if the dies come with it too I would take it. Now the 10 day CA wait.

[lar45]

41 Redhawk Hunter? Did it come with unicorn horn grip panels?

[Pablo 5959]

41 Redhawk Hunter? Did it come with unicorn horn grip panels?

Sorry about that, I fix it.

[contender1]

Pablo,, KUDOS on finding a Redhawk in 41 Mag. It's the only caliber of Redhawk I need now.

[RJM52]

Not often seen gun... Had one in .44 Magnum and later a 5" stainless Redhawk but never did get a .41 Redhawk with the machined barrel for the rings...

[Pablo 5959]

Well it’s been so long that I’ve used my photo sharing app it won’t let me login to share a pic. But I picked up the RedHawk on Wednesday from my LGS. 400 rds of ammunition and a set of die’s.
I’m still looking for brass, so if anyone has any collecting dust, I would like to buy. Thanks

[Good Cheer]

I had a .41 Redhawk. Thought it heavy enough that it may as well have a shoulder stock. But it would cut clover leafs with #410610 and 296. With a better shot behind it the group might have been a round hole.

Loved the .41 Blackhawk because the handling qualities suited me and it's a one handed Winchester.
R&D with bore riders in pursuit of that theory was loads of fun.
https://i.imgur.com/yuJO8li.jpg

[curioushooter]

41 Magnum is a very good cartridge for just about everything. And while their are not many molds for it, the ones out there seem well thought out. I have never loaded the cartridge, but my buddy has, a lot, having both a Marlin and Blackhawk in the caliber.

Are two screw blackhawks large or small framed (eared or flattop?). In especially the smaller frame size I think 41 is a just swell. 357 is too small for such a large revolver. 44 magnum leaves too little steel around the chambers.

I was faced with a dilema not too long ago: I could get a 4.5" old 41 Mag eared blackhawk, or a new new model flattop in 44 special. I went the the special and I do not regret that. 44 special is probably even harder to buy loaded ammo for from a store, but these are both calibers that almost demand hand loading with cast boolits. I will say that 44 Special truly is...special in this regard.

[gwpercle]

I like my 41 magnum so much ... I made it my avatar ... I get to see it every time I visit the site or make a post !
Model 58 S&W 41 Magnum ... Is So Sweet !
Grips are Kim Ahrends , Retro Combat , dark red Cocobolo ... Makes It Even Sweeter !
Gary

[RJM52]

Good Cheer...what bullet mold is that?

[Good Cheer]

It's an old NEI design that was altered to be a heavy bore rider in the Blackhawk.
Been thinking about maybe getting it hollow pointed as big as the alignment pin would allow but I'm not hunting with the .41 now.
http://i.imgur.com/wuaMCtN.jpg (https://imgur.com/wuaMCtN)

[kingrj]

My favorite cast bullet load for .44 mag is a 245 grain Keith style SWC at 1330 fps from a 4 5/8" Blackhawk. It carries 967 foot-pounds of energy the chono screens. My favorite cast load for .41 mag is a 215 grain Keith style SWC at 1430 fps from a 5" Redhawk. The KE for that load is 981 foot-pounds. Unless you plan to shoot buffalo I am not sure there is much difference between the two. I am a firm believer that "the bigger the bore the better" in hunting handguns but I don't think a deer can percieve the difference either.

[pworley1]

The time to buy a 41 Blackhawk is when you find one.

[RJM52]

GC..thanks...I remember that mold now...very unique...

How much do each of the bullets weigh?

[DougGuy]

41 Magnum is a very good cartridge for just about everything. And while their are not many molds for it, the ones out there seem well thought out. I have never loaded the cartridge, but my buddy has, a lot, having both a Marlin and Blackhawk in the caliber.

I could get a 4.5" old 41 Mag eared blackhawk, or a new new model flattop in 44 special. I went the the special and I do not regret that. 44 special is probably even harder to buy loaded ammo for from a store, but these are both calibers that almost demand hand loading with cast boolits. I will say that 44 Special truly is...special in this regard.

That flattop 44 special can be loaded to 25,000psi which is firmly on the back steps of decent 44 mag performance. I don't know what the 41 would actually gain over the 44 special loaded this way in the flattop.

[GLynn41]

In my experience-- we are often more impressed with what we shoot deer with... than the deer.. there is no real gain going from .410,411 to .429, 430.. as to weight animals do not know the difference between a 220 to 280 or 240 to 300-- my opinion
we do find the differences in recoil, energy, penetration in paper etc No idea about larger animals but still to me the same
Not saying the .41 is better... just not much difference.. going to the .45, 475, and various .500s there should be real and good differences.. I do remember shooting deer with a .54 cal mzl and 360 gr hps and how well they stood up to that.. they died like they were supposed to --I guess I was expecting a red mist and whimper ---I have had .45 Bhawk, .454 Super Rhawk.. and still have a .500 GNR-- but other wise nothing but .41s :) as always shoot what you like

[megasupermagnum]

That flattop 44 special can be loaded to 25,000psi which is firmly on the back steps of decent 44 mag performance. I don't know what the 41 would actually gain over the 44 special loaded this way in the flattop.

Some people may not like to push a cartridge to nearly double what is is supposed to be at, so that is an advantage right there.

I'll put all 3 in Quickloads with a 6" barrel.

44 special with Lyman 429421 1.610" OAL, 16.2gr 2400, 25,000 psi, 1185 fps

41 magnum with Lyman 410426 1.680" OAL, 21.2gr H110, 36,000 psi, 1342 fps

44 magnum with Lyman 429421 1.680" OAL, 24.8gr H110, 36,000 psi, 1406 fps

'Nuff said, or should I push the magnums to the CIP standards?

[DougGuy]

Some people may not like to push a cartridge to nearly double what is is supposed to be at, so that is an advantage right there.

I'll put all 3 in Quickloads with a 6" barrel.

44 special with Lyman 429421 1.610" OAL, 16.2gr 2400, 25,000 psi, 1185 fps

41 magnum with Lyman 410426 1.680" OAL, 21.2gr H110, 36,000 psi, 1342 fps

44 magnum with Lyman 429421 1.680" OAL, 24.8gr H110, 36,000 psi, 1406 fps

'Nuff said, or should I push the magnums to the CIP standards?

I chambered a 45 Colt New Vaquero to 45 Schofield using a reamed 45ACP cylinder, QuickLoad got it to 1200fps with a LBT 250gr OWC over 21.5gr H110 pressure right at 23,000psi it is a joy to shoot, recoil is snappy but not sharp, and nowhere near a full house Ruger Only load in 45 Colt in a full size Vaquero. This will be my woodswalker and hunting load for whitetail deer in the mid Atlantic states. This is the upper end of "tier 2" pressures and it suits the medium framed Rugers to a Tee!

[curioushooter]

I don't know what the 41 would actually gain over the 44 special loaded this way in the flattop.

It wont gain much, which is why I got a 44 Special instead of 41 Mag. We all know a 45 Colt will outclass a 44 mag if loaded to the same strength limit of the chamber, as taught by Linebaugh. It is true that a 45 Colt cannot be loaded to the same pressure as a 44 Mag will in a given chamber because it has less steel surrounding it, but the 45 Colt needs less pressure to achieve the same muzzle energy, and larger diameter is better than smaller no how you slice it in terms of impact efficacy. The same deal exists between 41 Magnum and 44 Special. In both cases we are talking 20 caliber differences in diameter: .41 < .43 < .45.

If you have six holes in the same sized cylinder the 41 mag will have more steel around it can can be loaded to a higher peak pressure, but the advantage of larger bore size, with more available surface area for the expanding gases to exert force upon, will result in the 44 special achieving the same muzzle energy as the 41 mag at much lower pressure, needing less cylinder wall to contain it. And the 44 special will hit the target with a bigger meplat/hollow point, and will carry a more massive bullet deeper owing to its greater momentum.

I've never had a 41 mag, but consulting the Lee manual I get: 210 grain lead bullet going 1400 FPS with 17.5 grains of 2400. Don't know the barrel length, but this seems ambitious to me. This is reported to be 33k PSI. This is just over 900 pound feet of energy.

In 44 special with a 260 grain H&G 503 bullet and 17 grains of 2400 you get 1250 FPS from a 5.5" barrel, and close to 1300 from a 6.5". I've personally verified this. This supposedly operates at 25k PSI. This is just over 900 pound feet of energy.

Same energy, same approximate charge of the same power...this makes sense.

Real word advantages and disadvantages:

44 Special has bigger diameter/more mass and will therefore form a wider and deeper hole (greater impact efficacy), wider selection of bullets, molds, and loads, was Elmer Keith's favored son, who birthed the very idea of magnum, handgun hunting, and the idea of a handgun being powerful. The son of 44 Special, the 44 Magnum, was wildly popular and this will ensure perpetual platform support as any 44 mag can handle any 44 special load. 44 Special and 44 magnum are like Isaac and Jacob.

41 Magnum has a slightly greater velocity, so will have slightly greater effective range. It can be bought off the shelf as loaded ammo. No SAMMI compliance worries. It was also a son of Elmer Keith's, but more akin to an unpopular child constantly in danger of being forgotten and with precious little platform support. If Starline didn't rescue the 41, like God rescuing Ishmael in the desert, it may have already been rendered totally obsolescent. Currently, I do not believe ANYONE is making revolvers in 41 Mag (while they are in such odd cartridges for a revolver as 10mm, 40 S&W, 45 ACP or truly insane cartridges like 460 and 500 magnums) while 44 special is being produced by multiple companies currently, except oddly, S&W. 44 Mag is in no danger of obsolescence either, and one can always cut down one of those cases for a 44 special.

[megasupermagnum]

You doubt you can see 1400 fps from a 210gr in 41 magnum, really? Buffalo Bore's 210gr does 1450 fps... in a 4" revolver.

"It was also a son of Elmer Keith's, but more akin to an unpopular child constantly in danger of being forgotten and with precious little platform support. If Starline didn't rescue the 41, like God rescuing Ishmael in the desert, it may have already been rendered totally obsolescent."

You just said that. Let that sink in.:lol:

[Good Cheer]

GC..thanks...I remember that mold now...very unique...

How much do each of the bullets weigh?

With my heavy side scrap alloy 295 grains. Hopefully this year I take time out to do tests in the single shot rifle rebored to .41.
I didn't get it rebored for hunting but if I do it'll do.

[RJM52]

Thanks... I have a Mountain Mold that makes a nice LBT style bullet that runs right at 300+- grains also... 19.0 grains of H110 runs 1250 from a 6" barrel.

As to no one making .41 Magnums anymore, Ruger still lists several, S&W one and Freedom Arms two along with Henry making four variations of their leverguns...but it is sparse compared to .44 Magnum and always has been.

I have a 250 grain load that clocks at 1444 fps from a 6" revolver. Accurate 41-250L with 22.0 grains of H110...a 300 Mountain Mold that clocks 1267... If they can't kill anything that walks it's time to go get a rifle...

[megasupermagnum]

Thanks... I have a Mountain Mold that makes a nice LBT style bullet that runs right at 300+- grains also... 19.0 grains of H110 runs 1250 from a 6" barrel.

As to no one making .41 Magnums anymore, Ruger still lists several, S&W one and Freedom Arms two along with Henry making four variations of their leverguns...but it is sparse compared to .44 Magnum and always has been.

I have a 250 grain load that clocks at 1444 fps from a 6" revolver. Accurate 41-250L with 22.0 grains of H110...a 300 Mountain Mold that clocks 1267... If they can't kill anything that walks it's time to go get a rifle...

Well of course there are. There are WAY more 41 magnum guns and ammo than 44 special, always have been. Nobody outside of castboolits gives a hoot about 44 special.

Makes for a good laugh though. After reading that post again, a lot of it I believe is satire.

[ranchman]

There's been more 41mag ammo regularly stocked in the stores I frequent than 44mag, or 44special. Been that way for years. Believe it or not, some places its as easy to walk in and find as what range-grade 45acp is. Whether there just happens to be a significant number of 41 shooters in this neck'a the woods, or what, I don't know. But it's definitely the 44mag that's become hard to find & buy ammo for.

If I was counting on factory ammo to feed my guns, I guarantee the 44 would be the one starving.

[curioushooter]

"Buffalo Bore" Boutique loaders should be ignored for comparison purposes.

I don't doubt that 41 mag can match, in ENERGY, a Keith Load of 44 Special. But it falls short in basically every way except maybe buying off the shelf ammo for hunting. You can certainly get 44 special SAMMI spec stuff for self defense, probably more of it than 41 Mag too.

I don't recall ever seeing 41 magnum on a shelf, not that I even buy ammo anymore, so I am probably not a good judge. Always saw 45 Colt and 44 mag. See some defense load of 44 Special with some frequency. The problem with 41 is that it is totally unique. It is definitely in danger of extinction even for handloaders. Something that 44 special is not and never will be. S&W dropped the Model 57 ages ago. Did they ever re-issue it like the did the 29, 24, 25? Did they even make a 657? Occasionally you'll find an old model 58 (which lacks adjustable sights) (I think some LE orgs adopted them), but there are way, way more Model 24s and 624s, not to mention 29s and 629s. Look 41 mag is cool, but it is definitely the lost child in the family. They are still making 44 RUSSIAN, the great granddaddy of them all. Uberti is making revolvers (gorgeous in fact) in 44 Russian presently. I found out that a couple years ago Charter Arms made a bulldog in 41 mag, no doubt realizing what I did that something strong enough for 44 special can handle 41 magnum. Did ruger ever make a GP in 41, they have them in 44 special?

In the final reckoning 41 magnum was a brilliant solution to a problem nobody had. Keith and Jordan more or less invented the problem in their own minds, and this is despite their wild successes with the greater magnum and lesser magnum respectively. The last revolver Keith used was a model 29 in 44 mag, but downloaded to something about as potent as his old Keith load in 44 special. He made no secret of this. In his last major article (I am aware of) in Gun & Ammo January 1979 summarizing his favorite loads and entire career in handloading, he mentions 41 mag, rather proudly, and gives his loads, which are still the best probably. But it covers about 10% of the article. 357 and 44s get most of the article, and 45 colt and auto rim get about as much mention as 41. Keith's serious load for 41 mag is a real screamer: 20 grains of 2400 pushing a 210! This is well above what Alliant's max loads. From day 1 41 with full power was recognized as too much for law enforcement purposes. The standard 41 magnum LE load was 210 at 1000 FPS. This is equivalent in energy (and recoil) to a SAMMI spec 44 Special load, yet worse in terminal efficacy. I honestly wonder why they didn't just use 44 special loaded with a 210 grain bullet at 1000 FPS!

41 sort of reminds me of 10mm. There was a perception that 35 caliber wasn't big enough, but 45 was too big, so they sort of split the difference between them (like with the 41). 10mm is an impressive caliber but at the end of the day it is not more effective or easier to shoot than the old 45. And it is not as compact as the 9mm. In fact, they ended up cutting it down and lowering the charge so it could be crammed into smaller pistols and have less recoil. And it had its couple years in the sun before it was mostly abandoned, and is currently enjoying a renaissance. 10 years ago when I was in the throes of 10mm inflenza, you had either a 10mm S&W 3rd gen, a tangfoglio, a delta elite, or a 610. Double Tap was about the only factory ammo out there. But at least you could count on there being plenty of bullets and molds because of 40 short and weak. Today 9mm reins supreme again, as bullet performance has improved its prospects. Lets not forget that even Cooper, like Keith, abandoned the 10mm, and went back to his previous fixation, the 45 which is what he carried till his end.

For my purposes even the 44 Special Keith load is too much. My favorite loads are just under 1100 FPS with the H&G503 from MP Molds.


There are WAY more 41 magnum guns and ammo than 44 special, always have been. Nobody outside of castboolits gives a hoot about 44 special.

Makes for a good laugh though. After reading that post again, a lot of it I believe is satire.

I have spent my whole life in Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana. In this entire time I've encountered exactly ONE 41 Magnum Marlin 1894, which was priced very favorably because of the caliber (oh for the days where you could pick up an 1894 for $250...they weren't that long ago). It was for this reason that my friend (who like 41, having 41 Action Express pistols and whatnot) bought it after I tipped him off. The seller (a gun show guy) was very pleased I was able to broker this deal as he was tired of moving that marlin around. It remains the only 41 magnum (I've never seen a revolver in 41 magnum, despite me almost buying one off GunBroker a few years ago) I've seen in real life. Oddly my friend prefers to paper patch 40 caliber bullets up to 41 for this rifle. He bought starline cases for it. I've seen more 44 magnum Marlins in a single restaurant at lunchtime in deer season than I've seen 41 anything. I process deer seasonally (to be fair, my wife does more of the processing than I do). Recovered countless roundballs, slugs of 12, 16, 20, gauge and 410, muzzloader bullets of every description from round balls to shuttlecocks to new fangled JHP sabot projectiles, even an all copper rifle bullet. 357, 44, and 45 JHPs abound. Now I'm seeing a lot of rifle bullets, and sadly fewer cast boolits than before (they mostly go through, and I think younger folks are too impatient to cast). I've even found old broadheads surrounded by scar tissue! I wound't be surprised if I find flint arrowhead in deer before I find a 41 bullet. Hoosiers can be weird!

Hey, Henry makes a 41 magnum rifle though. That's good news. I know it was not the first caliber that came out though. 44 and 357 and 45 were. I even think it was in 410 before 41.

I have no doubt that 41 will make an excellent cartridge to play around with. It is very well thought out. And a good size for whitetail and smaller. It's in good company, almost slavish in it's constitution to its relatives.

[megasupermagnum]

Boy oh boy. You had best just leave this thread, and do a little research first. You are welcome to your opinions on 44 special, but you are so far off base on 41 magnum it isn't even funny. The model 57 is STILL MADE by S&W. I love 45 ACP, it's my favorite semi-auto caliber. It is close, but I will fully admit 10mm auto is a more effective round.

Go out, hunt with them. I hunt with them all, even the little guys like 327 and 357. Nothing you can do in 44 special that isn't inside of a 44 magnum handgun can match what a 41 magnum will do on animals. My dad's choice of arm was always a model 57 with 6" barrel. Federals plain old 210 gr hollow point leaves that gun at close to 1400 fps. No, your h&g 503 at 1100 fps does not compare to that. It would penetrate more, except I've never seen a 41 magnum that did not pass through.

[Texas by God]

With matching weight bullets, the .41's sectional density advantage is offset by the .44's bigger ( by .019") diameter advantage..........[emoji16]
Die hard .41 magnum fan here. Yes, I've had .44 Special and magnum revolvers. I still like the .41 the best.

Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

[missionary5155]

I still hope all the .43 Mag persons ignore our .41 Mags. Say all the things you desire. Does not change the facts.
You name the cast weight and we probably have shot it in our Dan Wesson or our Blackhawks.
We sold all our .43 Mags in the late 70's and bought 41's and 45's. Sure has been a good time with those 41's and 45's.

[Good Cheer]

I'd been thinking about a 1858 Remington in .43 to shoot those .44 Special molds but yeah, same thing; I have a 1858 that shoots .41 molds and one that shoots .45 molds so that's got things covered.

[littlejack]

Bought my first .41 in 1969. It was a Ruger Blackhawk with the 4 5/8" barrell. Then graduated to a Model 57 in 1972. Shot thousands or rounds through them both. A little over a year ago, I purchased a Ruger SBH Hunter with a 7.5" barrel. This one is my main range gun. I've continued my testing with the Ideal 412174 bullet at 260 grains. This design, although originally for the 40-75 black powder cartridge, shoot very well in the SBHH. At 50 yards, it will shoot 1 1/2" - 2" groups not counting those pesky flyers. This is a long boolit, so I stoke the loads up purty hot. I believe it is a great longer range slug, as it is .804 in length with a .280 meplat. It has a long radius for a decent ballistic coefficient. We have a 16" gong at 200 yards, and it is almost boring to shoot it off the bench with the Burris 2x scope. This revolver also shoots the Ranch Dog 411-255 gc very well. But with it's slightly shorter length, and its .320 meplat, I prefer the 412174. For the folks that have no use for the .41 magnum, I say that's fine, you have your favorites. Some of us do as well, and it's the hard hitt'n, flat shoot'n, lower recoil'n .41 magnum.