Just bought a '66 vintage 3-Screw Ruger in .41 Magnum with 4-5/8" bbl. It'll make a good companion to the two other .41's down in the gun room. (a Ruger Flat Top 6-1/2" bbl. and an early 70's vintage S&W M57 with a 6" tube) It's a beauty, in 95%+ condition, but still a shooter...and I'll add, it's nice to get back to the old model/Colt regimen of half cock, then load one, skip one, and load the rest. I bought it for the barrel length and old model action as I've come to cherish my shorter bbl'd guns for their ease of carry on the belt here on the farm.
On initial inspection, I found that the new baby with a 4 digit serial number had recessed chambers...news to me and I've owned a cpl other 60's vintage BH's that I don't recall having that feature. In my opinion, it does give it an elegant look that's lacking on those that aren't recessed. (But does lengthen the easy chore of cylinder cleaning.)
I've cast up a cpl hundred Lyman 410459's that drop from the mold at 0.4105"+-; almost exactly matching the new gun's throats. My other .41's slug out virtually the same. My example of the old Lyman standby is over 40 years old, having bought it new in '72 when I also bought the M57 Smith. They were a good pair then and the old mold is as good now as it ever was back when I had eagle eyes, was bullet proof, and was going to live for ever. It's a single cavity, and drops 'em clean with my ACWW +2% Tin alloy. I'm also lubing with White Label 50-50 lube in a Lyman 450 Lubrisizer. Sure wish Lyman, or anyone else for that matter, would make a 0.411" and 0.412" H&I die as I suspect that my current 0.410" one is a smidge under.
Currently I'm using Unique, & Herco but plan on trying Bullseye, WST, & WSF for Tgt loads and the old police load at ~950 fps. So far, 7.5 gr of Unique works well as does 8.0 gr of Herco giving estimated police loading velocities and superb accuracy...1-1/2" gps at 25 yds from rest, and very satisfying ragged one hole clusters from the 12 yd line with a Weaver Stance.
All that said, I'm looking for load suggestions for upper end, deer hunting loads using the Lyman 410459 and/or Hornady's 210 gr XTP bullet. And too, any comments on the above outline of the gun and work up to date.
Sorry for the lack of pics, as I've not found a substitute method after Photobucket held my pics for ransom over a year ago. What a rip off!
Best Regards, and looking forward to comments. Rod