41Mag Load

[pearson1662]

I've cast 'em and lubed 'em and now I need to load 'em. I've got alot of Unique, some 2400, H4227, HS-7 and H-110. CCI large pistol primers mag and regular. I can't find any published loads for a 231 gr cast boolit.

Anyone want to share recipes they have success with?

TIA,

Jay

[felix]

18g 4227. ... felix

[Calamity Jake]

What Felix said but I would start at 16 and work up in 1/2 grain steps.
Do the same with 2400.
For a lighter load, 4-6 gr unique.
BTW where did you find a 240gr 41 mold?

[pearson1662]

What Felix said but I would start at 16 and work up in 1/2 grain steps.
Do the same with 2400.
For a lighter load, 4-6 gr unique.
BTW where did you find a 240gr 41 mold?

That is a typo. The actual as cast weight from wheel weights is 231gr. It is a Saeco #410 FP PB.

Jay

[GLynn41]

for H110 18 work up --what are you shooting them in?

[pearson1662]

for H110 18 work up --what are you shooting them in?


6" Model 57

[missionary5155]

Greetings $1 mag loads from the 1973 Lyman book for 240 Gr
Unique 7 gr 930fps---- 10 gr 1265
2400 14 gr 1075--- 20gr (compressed) 1505
4227 17gr 1105---- 20.5 (C) 1385
Start with the Start loads and work up. Velocities were with a 10 inch barrel. Your loading manual probably lists 220 grain so you can start with those loads and work up in 1/2 grain increments.
Happy shooting !
God Bless ya !

[GLynn41]

If you want specfic load -- I have had -4 or 5 / 57s --this has shot well in all of them-- with long brass life and no other problems -- H110 21 gr- with 226gr 410459 to a 238gr LbtLWFNGC or a 230 grain Keith from Creeker or Leadheads- I am only telling you what worked in my guns your mileage will vary-- use at your discresion This was with WWLP --for 296 it was a little different 22 gr.// the first deer I killed was with 20 gr of H110 and the Lyman 410459 -CCi 350 -- and it went clean through which is not hard to do -- it is just the heavier loads were more accurate----AA#9 at 18 gr is about the same if you ever use any of that

[AZ-Stew]

If you want magnum loads, 2400 is hard to beat. "THE" load used to be 19.0 grains behind a 210 - 220 gr Keith boolit and a standard LP primer. With today's formulation of 2400 I'd start at 17.0 grains.

For a duplication of the old Remington Police load, use the same boolit and primer with 6.7gr SR-7625 (gray label) for about 900-950 fps from a 6" barrel Smith.

Regards,

Stew

[45r]

9 grains unique.

[Kraschenbirn]

I shot sillywhets using 19.0 gr IMR4227 behind a 238 gr TCGC (custom NEI mould) from a 10" DW for several years. Was using a 2-to-1 ww/lino alloy, water-quenched. No appreciable leading, no flattened primers, and quite good brass life.

Bill

[pearson1662]

Thanks to all for sharing your experience and expertise with me.

Jay

[Meatco1]

Greetings $1 mag loads from the 1973 Lyman book for 240 Gr
Unique 7 gr 930fps---- 10 gr 1265
2400 14 gr 1075--- 20gr (compressed) 1505
4227 17gr 1105---- 20.5 (C) 1385
Start with the Start loads and work up. Velocities were with a 10 inch barrel. Your loading manual probably lists 220 grain so you can start with those loads and work up in 1/2 grain increments.
Happy shooting !
God Bless ya !

WOW, 20 grains of 2400 combined with a 240 gr bullet. Not in my mdl 57!!!!

I still have 8 lb of Hercules 2400 from the early 1980s, and the tested max load with a 210 hard cast is 21 gr. Any more, and I can't get the brass out. So, I keep my heavy loads at 20 gr with 210 gr bullets.

Better safe, than sorry!

Richard

[FN in MT]

2400 has CHANGED its burning rate from what it was in 1973. I would NOT try 20.0 grs w/240 gr slug!!

Go to any of the powder mfg sites or BUY a CURRENT loading manual.

I've used 7.0 to 9.0 grs of UNIQUE, std primer and a 215-220 gr CAST for years with zero problems. These are simply FIELD loads I'm not trying to get max velocity.

FN in MT

[Snobal]

My favorite load for my 57 S&W was wheel weight bullets from a RCBS 210 Grain SWC mould, standard primers, and just enough H4227 to get 1250 FPS. You will need to check each new lot of powder as the charge required to get 1250 FPS will vary some.

That load would shoot through a large Utah Mule Deer buck sideways or longways.:-D

Take it easy with the "hot" reloads. As good a those big S&W's are, mine had to go back to the S&W "rehab" facility after about 15,000 rounds. After about 12,000 more rounds --- it developed more problems so I sold it.

Should have bought another nickle Model 57 but I wanted a stainless gun --- and at that time, only .44 mags came in stainless.....:roll:

Ended up with a .44 Redhawk and it has served me well --- but I sure do miss that S&W.:(

[ebner glocken]

Hodgdon #27 is showing 8.8 grains to be max with a 220 jacket soft point with ww231. No heavier bullets are listed with ww231.

I am assuming that jacketed bullets create more backpressure with a givin bullet weight and same powder charge (but not always depending on alloy, design, lube). With this little info and if I was bent on using 231 I would start with around 6 grains and work up till I was satisfied with groups/velocity or pressure signs occured.

Ebner

[pearson1662]

I appreciate the advice that you all gave and I thought I would follow up with my results. So if you're interested I used four different powders, 2400, H4227, Unique, VV3N37 to propel a 231gr 100% WWs, FP PB cast boolit from a 6" M57-3. Five shot groups at 25 yards.

The starting load of 2400 was 16.0gr and the max load that I loaded was 17.5gr at 1203'/sec ave
The starting load of H4227 was 16.0gr and the max load that I loaded was 18.0gr at 1329'/sec ave
(Three of the five rounds of 18.0gr of H4227 didn't register on the chrony due to fading sunlight.)[smilie=b:
The starting load of Unique was 5.0gr and the max load that I loaded was 9.0gr at 1012'/sec ave
The starting load of VV3N37 was 6.0gr and the max load that I loaded was 10.0gr at 994'/sec ave
All velocities were instrumental readings 12 feet from the muzzle with a Competition Electronics ProChrony.

The three smallest groups were (1) 1.45" w/ 7.0gr Unique at 831'/sec, ave (2) 1.55" w/ 18.0gr H4227 at 1328'/sec ave (3) 1.79" w/ 9.0gr Unique at 1012'/sec And (4) 1.86" w/ 16.0gr 2400 at 1152'/sec ave

None of the loads tested caused sticky extraction but the load that developed the most case expansion was the load of 18.0gr of H4227 at 0.43710"(ave) as compared to the Winchester Platinum Tip 240gr HP factory load at 0.43670"(ave) as measured with a Fowler 0.00005"/1.0" digital micrometer.

I don't have a great deal of experience shooting revolvers in calibers larger than the .357Mag. So, until I repeat these tests, I don't consider the group sizes as significant as I do the case head expansion measurements. With that in mind, I don't intend to shoot any loads hotter than the 18.0gr load of H4227 in my 6" M57-3.

A few other comments: 1.) Hodgdon.com has a load that lists a 245gr cast LSWC with a starting load of 18.0gr of H4227 and a max of 20.0gr. 2.) VV3N37 yielded the largest average group sizes which probably explains why I found so little data for it with the 41Mag and cast boolits. 3.) I only shot 99 rounds but there was no leading apparent in the bore of the revolver. 4.) I have a pound of H110 but didn't use it. I think I will try it next.

If you have any comments, questions or critiques about my tests, I would appreciate hearing them.

Thanks,

Jay

[sixshot]

I use 17 grs of old 2400 in my OM 41 maggie & 18 grs of old 2400 in my 41 Bisley, this with a 230 gr Keith style from a saeco mould. For my heavyweight slug, a 250 gr LBT WFN I use 9.2 grs of Unique in the Bisley
I've taken 9 big game animals with the 41 in the last 2 years, deer, hogs & elk, it never fails.

Dick

[Rodfac]

I've had good success with Win 231 in every hand gun cartridge I've tried in...from .32-20 to .44 Magnum and .45 LC.

In the .41 Magnum, 5.7 gr of Win 231 with Win LP caps and Win Brass gives me a chronographed 852 fps in my 6" M-57 S&W. The bullet was a Valley 215 TNC Lead allowy commercial cast bullet sized to .410. Sitting with a back rest, the gun supported between my knees, this load shoots into a little better than an inch at 25 yds. It's my standard target load for that old pinned barrel Smith.

Work up if you're worried...but this is a mild load in my gun.

Regards, Rodfac

[pearson1662]

"I've had good success with Win 231 in every hand gun cartridge I've tried in...from .32-20 to .44 Magnum and .45 LC."

I hear similar refrains from so many people that I'm almost embaresed to admit that I have never tried 231 in any cartridge I load for. Darnit, I guess I'll have to go to the gunshop and pick up a pound.:smile:

BTW, Felix, I think that load of H4227 will make an excellent hunting round but not one that I want to shoot a lot of. It's more than a handfull for me.

Jay

[Rodfac]

Pearson1662....I've still got a cpl of pounds of 231 but it's almost impossible lately to find here in KY. I've begun using HP-38 instead, dealers have told me that it is identical to 231 in charge weights. One dealer said it came from the same plant, same spigot..just different labeling. I haven't chrono'd identical loads yet...the weather's been down, but have shot some HP-38 loads with the same charge wts and the accuracy was the same. Primers looked the same and the "report" or muzzle blast appeared the same...not much of a comparison but till I get the chrono stoked up it's all I've got to go on. I'll get a range rpt out when I get some chrono'd. Check the manuals for yourself. The one pound sample of HP-38 that I bought recently looks identical to 231 and meters the same through my Dillon press.

Regards, Rodfac