I need suggestions on reloading .41 mag., medium loads only (850-1,000fps).
The gun is a 4" Model 57 no dash.
I'm currently using 9.3 grains of HS6 under a 215 gr. LSWC (Missouri Bullet Co.) and regular (not magnum) large primers, usually Federal.

The HS6 is accurate and meters well on my Lee Pro Auto-Disk, but I get a fair amount of unburned powder and smoke.

I stopped using Unique because it was too dirty - even the new stuff is dirtier than I like. I now use Herco in its place.

Powders available to me are Clays Universal, Herco, Titegroup, Green Dot, and a few others. I can't find 2400 anywhere, and I won't use Bullseye in magnum cases.

If anyone has a wonderful, fantastic medium .41 load, I'd like to hear it, but the above mentioned powders are what I'd like to use.

Spherical/ball powders like H110 don't work well with my set up.

Thanks in advance!

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My standard for 30 years or so has been 7.0 of Unique and a cast swc.

What he said, 7 to 7.5 grains of Unique. Why does it matter if it is "dirty"? You are going to clean the gun annyway, arn't you?

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Big bang, much smash'em.

I use 7-8 grains of 231 under a 200 cast swc for about 900-950 fps and it is an accurate and fun load.

I also used Unique for 30 years. Here's why I stopped:
My wife and I go shooting together. She shoots around 250-350 rounds each time. I shoot about 150-250 rounds. We may take 3 - 6 guns with us.

With Unique, I have to spend the rest of the evening cleaning guns.

When I use Herco, my cleaning time is cut in half.

Also, with Unique, I have to clean the guns at the range - and that cuts into our range time.

This is why I specified no Unique. If I were shooting a 100-200 rounds myself, it would be no big deal.

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I'm using SR-4756 under cast 215s from Oregon Trail, and I think my loads are around 8.5 grains, but might be 9 or 9.5. I'll try to remember to look tonight. I run them in a Model 58, and they hit about 900 fps.

Universal is almost directly interchangeable with Unique. I have just started using it as a replacement for unique and am quite satisfied with the results. Check the Hodgdon website for load specifics, but probably 7-8 gr of Universal will do what you want and be much cleaner. I used 7-7.5 gr of Unique in .41 with a 210 gr lead bullet as my go-to load for a long time.

Yes, I have been thoroughly impressed with Universal too in whatever I have tried it in. 9mm, 357 & 44 mag......I just wished I had a 41.

I have been using 7.0 gr. of Red Dot under a 185 gr. hard cast in my model 57 6". The most accurate load I have shot in it so far.Also very pleasant to shoot!!

Universal is right beneath Unique on the Burn Rate Chart.
I just found up some of my old .44 Special loads for a 200 grain lead Berry Bullet; 6.9 grains of Universal Clays.
I think I quit using Universal for .44 & .38 because I wanted to save that powder for .40 S&W. Universal works great for .40!

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You can go to Hodgdon's website and the online data and find 215gr cast data using Tightgroup. These loads are rather light and under 1,000 fps.

My old Alliant data from 2002 says you can use 7.9 grs maximum of Green Dot with a jacketed 220gr bullet for 1,140 fps. For a lighter cast bullet load with the 215gr bullet I'd reduce 20% and load using 6.3 to 6.5 grs and that should be sub 1K fps. Need a chrono on that one.

7.0grs of W231 behind a 215gr LSWC bullet in Remington cases lit by a WLP primer chrono's at 956 fps from my 4" S&W 657. The old Winchester data recommended a max of 7.4grs with a 210gr LSWC.

WVfishguy, is there any particular reason you won't use Bullseye in magnum cases?

Try 7.0 grains of Hogdon HP-38 under a 215 gr SWC or WFN with a Large Pistol Primer(non-magnum). It's about 950 fps, very pleasant and very accurate out of my Model 58.

This is almost identical to 'Steve' 's WW231 load above.

7.0 grains of IMR 7625 behind my 215 cast SWC, gives 850 fps from my 4" Smith's, and is extremely accurate.

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too TOO young!!

It's a safety issue with me. It's too easy to double charge Bullseye with big cases. I used to use Bullseye in 9mm, but it makes me queasy to use it with anything bigger.

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Groo here
I have used Trailboss with a cast 215 gr bullet.
Crimp heavy [the powder likes that] use a top load [fill the case]
and a hot primer [this helped me greatly]
you will get between 800 and 900 depending on gun and load..

I've done as Groo does, with Trail Boss - a lot of fun to shoot. I just loaded some up for a friend who has a Model 58. I favor a load that I based on Jessie's load, though: I use 7.5 grains of 7625 under a 215-grainer for 1015 fps out of a 4" tube with single-digit deviations. It's super-accurate for me (never found anything out of a .41 that wasn't decently accurate, tho the Trail Boss loading referenced just now wasn't especially so) and easy to shoot - but still would deliver the mail to an evil-doer.

I've considered Trail Boss, will probably give it a try. I shot some Universal today, worked great. No more accurate than HS6, but burned more cleanly and a lot less smoke.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

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Ditto on the Trail Boss. I use it in my 57, 657, and Ruger Blackhawk .
I don't have my load data at hand, but you won't be disappointed with this powder.

I use 14 grains of Lil'Gun and a Large Magnum Pistol Primer and is quite accurate out of my 57 with the 8 3/8" barrel. It also works great out of my 58. I don't know how hot this is speed wise but I do know it is lighter then factory Remington or Federal loads.

Groo here
I have gone to magnum primers on my Trailboss loads..
I believe that although the powder itself is faster burning,
the fact that it is so fluffy means that the flakes are not packed
together and the fire has a harder time jumping the gap.
Hot primers- tight fit- heavy crimp- bullets that are light to normal
weight seem to do the job--- also I don't use any but a near max
or full case,, why when the powder is so light for the space it uses....

I thought Trail Boss wasn't supposed to fill the case, only the available space with the bullet seated.

I was out shooting today with my Model 57. Loaded with 15.5 grains of IMR-4227 under 215 grain lead SWC and CCI-350 magnum primers. It was 50 degrees and velocity from my 4" barrel was 900 fps on the money. Very accurate and plenty of power for my needs. The same load runs 970 fps from my 4 5/8inch Ruger Blackhawk. I wouldn't reduce this load any more because it's such a slow powder. 16.0 grains even would be good to try.

I also have used 6.7 grains of WW-231 and Winchester std. large pistol primers. It runs 950 fps from my Ruger, I haven't shot it over the chronograph using the S&W yet.

These loads are by far my favorites. I've tried all sorts of bullets and powders and always come back to these. Very controllable, but not anemic in the least. I consider them great self defense loads.

I have used 7.0gr. of Universal with 210-230gr. bullets. Out of my .41 Blackhawk with the 4&5/8 in. barrel the loads chrono at 990fps. +or- 10fps.It doesn't get any better than that.

I am almost ready to start reloading for my 41's and I am getting some great loads to check out. Thanks to all!!
Stephen

Trail Boss should have NO compression, period.

When I was working up loads for the 500S&W, the Hodgdon Tech told me to mark the case where the base of the bullet would end up and fill it up to there.

If I remember right, and memory is such a terrible thing to waste, it came to 16gr or so! That was in the 500 though so.................

If it were me, and there weren't any loads for the 41 and TB I would call. They are very helpful.

Personally, and I don't have a 41, I use Bullseye in my light target loads in 44Mag and have no qualms at all. They are 4.5gr under a 200gr LRNFP Cowboy Bullet. In the 41 case, that should be a good load too. Probably push it about 750fps to 800fps or so. Super light.

FWIW

I had my 57s out the other day, first time in a while, an 8 3/8" N ser.no., and a 6" nickle S sn. Enjoyed them both, I don't know why I haven't been shooting them more.

8.7 Unique / 215 SWCL clocked avg. 1070fps from both with some leading. Loaded in 2001. I use a Pact chrono.

Just fyi, 14.2gr BlueDot / 200 JHP went at 1275fps avg. These were loaded in 1996, but their age didn't seem to matter, I forget the Sd but it was not out of line.

Interestingly, both guns got very nearly the same velocities, I suppose the 8 3/8" is a shade tighter?

Lead bullet loads were slightly warmer than the OP and I were looking for, I'm going to try 7.5 and 7.0 gr. loads. Should put me down in the 800-900fps range which is where I want this bullet.

Any reason you won't use Bullseye? My go to load for the .44 is somewhere between 6.5 and 7.5 grains under a 429421 which got a hair over 1000 FPS out of a 4''. SD's in the single digits too, I bet it would work good in the .41.

No good reason, probably. My thought was that, since I shoot some of these light lead loads thru an 8 3/8" gun, very light loads of very fast powders would be more likely to 'burn out' before the bullet got out of the gun than would slower burning (Unique) powders. I've no idea if there is any validity to such a thought, but that's why. Generally a big fan of BE.

I ran across this 8+ yr. old thread while looking for medium .41 Mag loads for the new Win 244 powder. The .41 Mag is not listed...maybe just untested as of now. Logic suggests it would work fine. Anyone here have any knowledge about this?

Thanks, Cary/Lubbock Louie

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Still using Unique after more than 40 years in 9mm, .38 Spl, .357, .41 mag, .44 Spl, .44 mag, .45ACP, .32-20 and probably a few others over the years, cast bullets and jacketed bullets, practice ammo and hunting ammo.

Excellent results with no problems to report. Yes, I still clean my guns, but that hasn't become a real chore to gripe about. Good old GI-surplus bore cleaner, good bronze bore brush, couple of old worn-out toothbrushes, cut up old T-shirts for patches, 15 minutes tops, and guaranteed to pass my old drill sergeant's inspection.

Unique is an excellent product with over 100 years on the market. There are a few others that can provide better performance, but I don't know of a single other powder that can do as much over a broad range of applications.

Obviously, your methods vary from mine.

Then I found HP38..

7 grains of Universal Clay's.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

My go-to target load is 8.0 grains of Unique with any bullet...

7.0 grains of Winchester 231/HP38 works just about as well.

If one is getting unburned powder it is usually because there isn't enough bullet pull for the given load and the pressure drops before all the powder burns. I have gone to the Lee Carbide Factory Crimp die and put a very heavy roll crimp on all loads, target and heavy and never have unburned powder.

Bob

My favorite light , target load using a 210-220 gr cast bullet is 5.5 grs of WST (Winchester Super Target ) . I also like 700X , same load . My std " everyday load " is 8.5 grs of WSF (Winchester Super Field ) . It matches the Unique load , is much cleaner and just as accurate . I realize this thread is 8 yrs old . But a bit of newer info is helpful sometimes to new 41 mag reloaders looking for some specific loads . Regards, Paul

Old thread but the question is still an actuality!I do not medium load my .41 Mag but for those who do and do not want to use Unique,Green Dot does a clean and accurate job.I use it in my .45 Colt loads and can't see why it wouldn't do the same in a slightly smaller capacity hull.

I have read that when using green dot . Use unique load data and subtract 1/2 to 1 gr for the same performance . Some consider it a " well kept secret " . I have never used green dot so can't personally verify that info . Good luck , regards, Paul

I use
41 special starling brass
210 Sierra JHC

5.3 gr W231, CCI 300 primers it's very accurate across my 41 mags

HS-6 is better, it is the very best powder I found for 41 and 44 special

in 41 special I use 8.0 gr but with cci 350 magnum primers. That eliminates unburnt powder

That load shoots in the same hole.

According to an old magazine 5-6 gr of Bullseye; titegroup; Hp-38; with a Lyman 220 gr cast bullet will give 763-864fps. 7 gr of titegroup=949fps. Trailboss with 6 gr=728. This is from a 4" barrel mod.57.

I use 5 gr. of Bullseye with a 210 gr. plated or 215 gr. lcswc. Both clock right at 800 fps from a 5.5" Redhawk. My standard load is 17 gr. IMR4227 with a 210 gr. plated for just under 1000 fps from a 7.5" 657.

Thank you for all the replies. I worded the question rather poorly...in that Winchester 244 and .41 Mag data was my interest. Still, I have gotten some good ideas for other loads and powder choices.

Does anyone have any suggestions for .41 Mag data for an apparently very flexible Winchester 244 powder? (re: the article in the latest October 2018 issue #316 of Handloader magazine Propellant Profiles of Winchester 244, pg.22.) A very promising powder. Time will tell.

Thank you, Cary/Lubbock Louie

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I am a 41 mag afficianado. I cary the caliber for my bear handgun up onhe mountains. While the new powder may be a good one (I haven't seen any yet) I still use the older standbys. I use 250 gr WFNGC cast bullets at about 1050(l'il Gun) for bear with it is a heavier load. for practice I use 231 and Unique and 4227 for a little heavier practice. I use 170s 200s 210s and 220 gr mostly jacketed mainly because I have so many that I bought cheaply in the past. I also use some cast bullets from a custom Miha mold or two

I do have a nice accurate load just like the one you are looking for.
I got this one from Elmer Keith himself...to bad that it uses that one filthy burning powder you can't abide....Unique. Sorry.

Just in case anyone who doesn't object to Unique would like it :
215 grain Lyman # 410459 220 grain cast SWC
Elmer advised : Try from 7.0 grs. to 8.0 grs. of Unique .
I did and have settled on 7.5 grains of Unique as my pet load .
very accurate and pleasant shooting load.
Gary

I guess dirty is relative. I don’t see that much “dirty” with Unique myself but I’m also a black powder shooter. To me, black powder is dirty. With Unique, I’m still in business after 70 rounds today. Even so, always interested in new loads that can make use of available powder.

Though I don’t currently own one, 41 mag has long been one of my favorites. 7-7.5 grains of Unique under a 210 grain cast semi wadcutter was my go to round. Worked well for bowling pins. 6” model 57.

The zombie thread lives!

I use 7.5 grains of Longshot behind 215 grain LSWC for a really nice plinking/light service load.

Yes it does !

I found that 6.0-6.5 grs of 231 or Ramshot Zip or 7.0 of Accurate #2 made real nice , accurate target / shoot all day / carry loads using 210-220 gr cast bullets . Awhile back I wanted to duplicate 38-40 ballistics using a heavier bullet and found that 7.5 grs of Accurate #2 got me there . I think Accurate #2 is an under appreciated powder . Regards Paul

I just got back from the range and used the 6.7 gr. WW231 load & an Arsenal P/C 220 gr. Also, an Accurate 218 gr. RNFP Gas-Checked design (also powder coated). The Accurate mold bullet lived up to it’s name. 1-1/2” 5-shots at 25 yds. from a rest (my eyes are 71 so good shooting for me!). Cases were just a bit Smokey at the mouth so might go up to 7.0 gr. But that’s tops for that fast powder. Light recoil, nice shooting load. Gun is 6” M57.

Unique is OK and it’s hard to beat for versatility, but in the .41 Magnum I prefer 7.5 grains of 231. I’ve got no firsthand experience with 244, but since my supply of 231 may outlast me, I guess it’s a non-issue, in my case. Always been happy with 231 and never minded cleaning the guns. The only .41 bullet I have available is the 220 grain H&G #258. Velocity in my 4-inch Model 57 is 970 FPS.

I use 7.5 to 8.0 grains of Longshot behind 210-215 grain LSWCs. In a 4" barrel these run through 815 to 860 fps. I've pretty much replaced Unique with Longshot in all of my medium velocity loads for 357, 40 S&W, 41, 44-40, and 45 Auto Rimmed. It burns cleanly and is the single best for my 40 S&W loads.