The good news is I'm finally getting my first .41 mag in a few weeks. That caliber has always intrigued me.

All of my close-by ranges do not allow re-loads. They don't care if you buy new ammo from them or someone else, but don't allow re-loads. It's pure liability/insurance.

Otherwise, would love to reload. I think it would be a great hobby onto itself.

My 57 won't be used a lot, but I would like to shoot it once in a while. Any ideas on inexpensive target brands to look for?

Reloading isn't out of the question. I'd just have a long drive to an outdoor range. With a .41 coming and (hopefully) a .44 mag in December, maybe reloading is the only way to go??

Thanks in advance!

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Best Regards,
Mark

The cheapest fodder I've ever found for .41 Mag is the HSM orange box 210gr SWC. Usually about $25 for a box of 50. Shoots like a pussycat out of a 7.5" Redhawk, nowhere near full house but great plinking ammo for non-reloaders.

You need to find a range that isn't in the dark ages.

I'm suspicious of the 'insurance - liability' justification.

In any event, unless you have a federal grant or extra cash, you won't be shooting your 41 or 44 very much with those restrictions.

Reloading is in your future.

Reloading. Definitely. Get a manual. Then get a Lee Classic and reload your first few. You'll have fun and learn the very basics. Then it's onward and upward.

Find a box of factory ammo, buy the same bullets, and now you still shoot factory ammo 'reloads'.

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S&WHF 366

They said I can shoot ANYTHING I want to.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

.44 Magnum ammo is very expensive and .41 Magnum ammo is probably more expensive.

An indoor range near me was using the same excuse not to allow reloads but in reality it was because the owner wasn't a shooter and didn't understand reloads were not unsafe. A friend of mine had a half dozen factory ammo boxes he used for putting his reloads in and the range never knew the difference. No one ever checked the boxes I'm guessing because the ammo was in factory boxes. He used the correct headstamp brass for the box just in case.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

The above recommendation was going to be my suggestion, but I got beat to the punch.

Find a friend or a friend of a friend who loads, and ask them to help teach you. Most of us are eager to share our hobby. There is a learning curve, and it does require your time. But, in my opinion, the trade offs are more than worth it if you truly enjoy shooting. I do not live far from town, and I can crank out a hundred rounds before I could drive to Walmart and back. Plus, while lots of folks are watching Dancing with the Stars or football, I'm casting bullets, powder coating, or loading. By using time I'd otherwise waste, I'm able to produce quality ammo customized for my specific firearms at a very affordable price.

This is not something a new reloader can necessarily replicate, but I can load one thousand rounds of 230 gr. .45 acp for $38.00. What's not to love?

Go find a copy of The ABC's of Reloading, and start the journey.

Do an online search for Georgia Arms ammo the have some pretty good prices for .41 mag till you can learn to roll your own.

I was also going to suggest Georgia Arms Inc.
My brother had some of their lead bullet ammo a while back.
It shot well in his Ruger Redhawk .41 and in my various .41s.
They still make the same ammo, plus several other .41 loads.

Yep, it takes a real pro to distinguish between my reloads and factory ammo. Sure, I do use premium jacketed bullets. And I tumble my cases before I reload. Buy good carbide dies, the kind that won't leave streaks on the brass.

On the .41 mag issue... Last week at the gun show the guy in the tables across from us had one box of brand name .41s. He also had a price on the box of $65.66. It was a box of 50, but scared me pretty much. Thats a $1.33 a shot. More than even premium rifle hunting loads! I enjoy seeing that kind of thing.

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Dick Burg

Georgia Arms looks like a great find. Thanks for the tip!

In the long run, I want to find a nice outdoor range where I can bring the wife along, enjoy the fresh air and try some handloads.

Thanks again for the suggestions and happy shooting!

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Best Regards,
Mark

I think the prohibition on reloads is an attempt to get you and others to buy ammo from the establishment, which could yield more profit than the range fee.

If you soak your brass in very hot water, Lemi-shine and dishwashing detergent intended for dishwashers, then tumble your brass, most people would have trouble recognizing your ammo as reloads. Use a carbide sizer and be sure your rounds are absolutely free of grit so as to avoid scratching your brass.

The alternative, of course, is to find a range that doesn't worry about what you shoot.

41 mag factory ammo is expensive which is why I shoot it so little.

I bought one box of .41 factory loads back in about 1970. Never bought another, but I have bought new brass. Made many thousands of .41 reloads.

If I didn't have a set of 41 Mag dies, I'd either trade my Model 57, or else it would be in a display case.

I don't know the last time I've seen a box of 41 Magnum ammo for sale.

Yes , there are situitions where the requirement is real. I know of two indoor ranges in my (greater) area. They exist in very anti-gun jurisdictioins. They required a *Special Exception* to the zoning in order to exist. You can make all the logical arguments you want to a politically controled Zoning Board/ County Gov't you want , but at the bottom line they will make up a laundry list of conditions that you either decide to accept , or forget opening a range. One of them was all ammo fired on the range must be purchased from the range.

You received tips for HSM and Ga Arms. Order by the case. If you find any .41 locally , it will be very expensive full powered hunting ammo.

OR carry your handloads in a factory ammo box , same headstamp , similar bullet type to what listed on flap. Clean your brass throughly , and use spray lube with carbide dies.

If I didn't reload I wouldn't be shooting much. I can't afford to pop a couple of hundred factory rounds downrange per session.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Save your boxes, segregate your brass, reload and rebox them in the original boxes and lie to the range operator.

Several people have suggested unethical behavior and lying to the range operators. As responsible gun owners and shooters make sure your ammo is always properly packaged with the correct headstamps per the brand on the box, and tell the range personnel exactly what they want to hear.

We need to bring more joy into the world, not discontent, upset, and emotional stress. Tell the people what they want to hear. If you are not sure what to say, just spend 5 short minutes with MSNBC and you will have your conversation down pat.

Be a happy shooter.

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S&WHF 366

Second for GA Arms. The cowboy load is awesome and cheap. Most .41 Mag ammo is expensive.

Start saving all the brass you want to reload for now.

Do you have to shoot at the range. Is there public land nearby that you can legally shoot on?

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Cheers, Charles
SWCA #2442

I called around yesterday and found a little 4 lane range about an hour away. It's mostly country driving, so not too bad. The owner sounded like a nice guy and said it was fine to use reloads as long as it's my gun.

Would be great to find an outdoor range. By chance;
Anyone here from Polk County Florida?

Seeing as I've spent more than my yearly allowance on guns this year, I'm putting a 'beginners reloading kit' on the Christmas list.

Until then, the folks at Georgia Arms and Visa have allowed me to buy 300 rounds of Cowboy load.

Can't thank you all enough. Maybe a Speer reloading manual would be good reading for a few months?

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Best Regards,
Mark

I have used Georgia Arms for a variety of calibers.
Started reloading 44 and bought lead rnfp Special and Mag from them for target shooting and then the brass.
I will suggest their ammo is standard target loads (they do state FPS) - the 44 M and Sp are easy to shoot and don't lead up the barrel particularly if any.
Just checked and 44 jacketed is around .64/rd, lead .50/rd and 41 is about the same. Not a bad deal.

And I'll add: I bought a Lee single stage kit for about $100 and it works fine for loading 50 bullets or so at a sitting. Glad I didn't do the $600 to $800 route.

I'm in St. Lucie county [Port St. Lucie] and I use the range in Sebastion, right off I-95. It county owned and is a good open range about 45 minutes from me. Weekends get pretty busy there. I go mid week.

I used to have a .41 Mag Blackhawk and it was a great gun to reload for. Loved shooting it--stiff recoil, not punishing though like .44 Mags can be. The gun was stolen but I held on to the dies and such in hopes of finding another. Been keeping an eye open in the LGSs but no luck other than a S&W for $1150, over my budget.