I have been using Matt's boolit on top of a moderate charge of Red Dot with Fed. 150's and it shoots very well!
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Interesting bullets. I really like the wadcutter in the .38 Special, no reason it shouldn't work well in the .41!
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I wanted to add to this great thread although I'm only on Page 9... I'm a new reloader and also a recent convert to the .41 S&W/.41 Remington Magnum cartridge. I have several commercially-loaded offerings but most are for hunting and run on the fast side.
I knew! that the .41 would be the cartridge that I would learn handloading for... and since factory-loaded .44 isn't exactly an economical plinker, I have dies for .44 Remington Magnum too.
I am excited about my next opportunity to shoot my first reloads of some .41 Mag Starline brass: 7.5, 7.7 then 8.0 gr Unique under a Hunters Supply 215 gr LSWC... this might be the least crimp I'd ever use. Let me know what you think. I'm eager to get to the range but a shift change at work with overtime is keeping me away from the firing line... gotta make hay while the sun shines.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...pszuozz2dk.jpg
1967-made Ruger Old Model Blackhawk wearing Ajax grip panels
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...ps6oc5ckko.jpg
Thanks go to 336A, ko41 and Frank V for the encouragement and the nod to Cast Bo0lits!
:-)
Welcome to the addiction of the .41. You've been warned, you'll want to start saving now to add to the collection. I highly recommend the Dan Wesson's if you can find them for 800.00-ish. I'm partial to S&W over Ruger, but only my personal pref. Nothing wrong at all with the BH or RH. Next thing you know you'll be over on Gary Reeder's sight drooling on some of th e.41 Wildcat's and yes, they are worth it!
Welcome to the addiction Apples:-D, thats a great looking revolver BTW. I bet you will enjoy the 8gr of Unique load a lot. As I and those more knowledgeable than I have found there is just something about 8-8.5gr of Unique and a cast boolit that really make the .41 shine. Due to a recent move I haven't been able to get out with my .41 and do any shooting. Ranges in this new locale are few and far between, and those that I have found charge astronomical membership fees. I hope you get a lot of enjoyment and use from you new acquisition.
You are welcome, that round looks good to me. You are going to enjoy the .41 Mag it's a great cartridge. You can load it down to very comfortable levels & you still hit whatever you shoot with a bullet of .41 diameter, & somewhere around 210grs! You are going to be hooked on reloading.
Let us know how it shoots when you get to the range.
Thanks & good shooting.
I have three of Gary's wildcat bottle necked .41s I like them all
I also trim brass and shoot .41 specials from a 4''Tracker
a well reloaded .41 is a thing of beauty--
I like the .45 Backpacker, but it'd be great in .41 mag. too.
He does have some nice guns & his .41 offerings are interesting.
yes indeed they are-for example my 41/454 will go 1630 fps in a 5.5 Redhawk with a 255 gr LWNGC-- normally I stop at 1450-1500
a 41/445 in a 12'' TC is the same bullet at 2100+
I have found I'm comfortable to about 1100fps with a 255 gr bullet or lighter & I could probably live the rest of my life comfortably with the same weights to 950fps. In the area of 850 things are really pleasant & I got a Grasshopper today at about 10yds with a 255gr 45 lead bullet at about 830fps, he just dissappeared![smilie=1:
Grasshoppers are actually a little challanging at 10yds with a six-gun they are almost always moving a bit..
the only reason I go that high is I want the bullet be at the speed of sound on impact with in my shooting distance
for a straight up.41 =1300 or so with a 230 gr
in my Tracker=.41 special at 1000-1100 208 cast HP or 225 LNGC
I'm becoming more & more content with middle of the road loads from most all handguns.
.
Thanks!Quote:
Frank V
You are going to enjoy the .41 Mag it's a great cartridge. You can load it down to very comfortable levels & you still hit whatever you shoot with a bullet of .41 diameter, & somewhere around 210grs!
When I posted my "Greetings!" thread I mentioned that I wanted to run a 215 gr LSWC near 1000 fps. I think it was Scharfschutze that said that was close to the old .41 police load.
Hey Frank, did you see posted much earlier in this thread the suggestion that Green Dot was a "best-kept" secret for .44 Mag mid-level loadings (as it should be for .41)? I found some G.D. and added it to the stash! There's Unique (my #1 choice), AA #7 and #9, Bullseye, TiteGroup, Viht110 and when I'm ready for, as runfiverun calls it, some "J-word velocities", 2400. :D
I was justed pointed to Starline's website; they're selling another run of their.41 Special brass. I snagged some for when I find that elusive Tracker.Quote:
GLynn41
I also trim brass and shoot .41 specials from a 4''Tracker
a well reloaded .41 is a thing of beauty--
https://www.starlinebrass.com/brass-cases/41-Special/
I missed the Green Dot post, but looking through my powder to see what I needed to buy, I found an old ( I mean the old short square metal can) of Green Dot. Now I may just have to go to one of my old loading manuals & see what they say.
Thanks for the reminder.
Welcome Apples...you are in good company here!!
As said the 8.0 grains of Unique load just seems to be magic in .41s... If you use Special brass I've found that 7.0 does about the same. The 8.0 with a 210 will duplicate exactly the original soft swaged 210 grain Police Load from both Remington and Winchester which are both going between 925-975 fps from a 4" barrel.
As to your crimp..I've found that a good heavy crimp allows the powder to burn better and the shot to shot variation of velocity much less. I am still using brass that I bought in the 1980s and will get a body split before any neck splits so heavy crimp doesn't seem to shorten brass life.
That is a VERY nice OM BH you have there. I've had two OMs and three NMs with the 4 5/8" barrel...very good shooters. The only problem I've run into with the pre-1970 vintage Rugers was that the front sight was too short and as a result one runs out of vertical adjustment before zero can be achieved at 25 yards.
...and again...welcome to The Cult....
Bob
This months Handloader magazine has the first of a two part article by Brian Pearce on the .41 Special, shows a few loads.
On the Handloader, did you notice that he comments on the GP100 and 686 conversions not being able to take "magnum level loads" ? I was pumped when I saw the article, now have little hope for it. Why order and wait for a custom 41 SPECIAL and then try to make it into a 41 Mag???? just buy a M57 or BH and call it good.
The idea is not to make a magnum out of it, there are plenty of those. The special cartridge is meant to be used in a smaller more compact firing platform, where a magnum is neither needed or wanted. I may only be able to have one custom revolver built in my life, it will be a .41 Special. Nuff said!
RICHP , that was my thought exactly,, and I had mine built . A Dave Clements GP100 short lug in 41 Special, blued and beautiful. Will most likely be my only custom revolver, no need for another, it does everything I need. If I ever need more there are 41Mags and 44Mags in the safe to fill that need :)
Was hoping the article would be more pressure tested data for the 41 Special , not about trying to make a custom 41 special into 41 magnum, makes no sense whstsoever!
I too am a big fan of GD for my .41. 8-8.2 gr works very well. Moderate recoil without the snappiness of Unique, and very accurate with most any 210-220 gr bullet. Been using this load for about 30 years.
RICHP, I just got my issue, & intend to read Brian Pearce's article. Any handgun article by Brian gets my attention.
Never played with the .41 Special, but favor the .41 Mag loaded to about that level.
Everyone needs to get a copy this month. Lots of good data on .38 Special +P/ .38-44 loads too!
What bullet does everyone favor with the .41 in Bear country (grizzly bear) I'm thinking a good 220+gr WFP cast?
My Ranch Dog TL411-255-RF weighs 269 gr straight wheel weights. Mine is also the non gas check version. Bullet was designed for the Marlin 1894 in .41. This is the bullet I loaded with W296 when I was in Alaska using my Smith 58 as backup to my shotgun (grouse hunting).
http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/
Attachment 176346
CD
As long as the bullet doesn't deform, as in hard cast, and has enough velocity behind it to break bone if necessary I'm not sure there isn't any weight .41 that won't work.
Remember those wonderful jacketed SWC Speer bullets that came in a 200 grain HP and 220 SP... I ran a bunch of tests with them through both water and hard stuff and they only expanded down to the jacket...the rest of the bullet then acted like a little hardened wadcutter.
Ran one of the 200 gr. HPs through six gallon jugs of water and upon exiting it punched through one piece of 3/4" marine plywood and stuck in the face of the second. It looked like a little ashcan. Same load out of a 8 3/8" Model 57 punched a clean hole through the side of a BBQ size propane tank at 30 yards when a 255 grain LBT hard cast that was running 1500 fps only put a big dent in the side of the tank.
Sure wish Speer was still making that bullet...
Bob
RJM52, I remember those Speer bullets I've shot a lot of them in the past.
Some good bullets have been discontinued.
Going to try some IMR4227 under a good cast 202gr SWC.
These are nicely done...
http://singleactions.proboards.com/t...crollTo=212503
Yes they are, thanks for sharing.
Found a picture of the Speer 200...an unfired one and the one that went through all the water and plywood...
The nose kinda just melts off and the little ashcan keeps going...
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b7...s/b67ca0ce.jpg
Called Corbin sometime back and the owner said if I sent him a bullet he could make a die to produce them...sure is tempting...
Bob
the Lyman 410459 looks like that when cast as a hp--both the Speer and the cast expand seemingly very easy
I'm thinking a good 220+gr GC SWC would work well in the .41?
Yes, the 224g NOE
Attachment 177234
And the 237g NOE
Attachment 177235
Are both great! I have a 200g WC that is just wonderful. There is a group buy on the NOE forums for a Type III .41 cal WC that will be made, if you want in on it here is the link.
http://noebulletmolds.com/smf/index....ic,1032.0.html
Drawing for the Type III Wadcutter
Attachment 177236
I did cast up some Lee .41 TL 210gr bullets today, it rained all day & seemed like a great day to cast some bullets.
Haven't tried this bullet yet, but it sure is pretty.
I have not been able to try the Lee bullets, both mold I purchased from Lee came out with bullets as cast .406" and .405" x .410". I have not gotten around to trying to lap them out.
Ron....why not just send the molds back with some of the bullets cast... Lee should replace them...
Bob
Because they refuse to fix the issue. I'll PM you the basic conversation I had with them, suffice to say I will not buy Lee products again.
I have owned most of what Lee made for a .41-- I talked them a number of times about up dating the .41 line like say they did with the .44
no luck I use their melters --a 20#er for dipping-- I will not buy their .41 molds as they are so yesterday=out dated to me-
I haven't shot any yet I did lubrisize & load a few, but haven't shot any yet.
I have several of their molds also and spoke to the owner one day about the meager offerings they now have for .41... He stated there just wasn't the demand to keep another bullet mold in inventory... Wish they would make a 260-280 grain copy of their .429/300gr/RF bullet. That would be a nice heavy...
Bob
yep to all you said
Posted this over on the SA Forums...
http://singleactions.proboards.com/t...8125/heavy-41s
Anyone else running boolits in the 265-300 grain range? What mold?
Bob