.41 Mag - 215-gr. LSW load recommendations?

[DGNY]

As others have mentioned, there are many reloading books and websites available. So anything we offer here is in a sense anecdotal.

Nonetheless, in that vein, I would note since you mentioned stopping live game, I suspect such an application could include between 16.5 and 19 grains of 2400 with a 215 grain SWC.

Of course, all cautions apply, such as starting with lower charge and working up. As well, while these may work well in my revolvers, important variables include case weight and thickness, bullet architecture as to seating depth, primer selection, etc.

Wishing you all the best of luck.

 

[Erich]

I am sorry to say that I have fantastic loads for Blue Dot (yes, and I called and talked to them after their "The Sky Is Falling!" warnings in '08 and a tech told me my load was "acceptable"), Unique, 7625 and Trail Boss with that bullet - but none for the powders you have on hand. I suspect you're going to easily find great loads you love, though - the .41" 215-gr LSWC hardcast is a delight. Have fun.

 

[SuperMan]

Ok...with a 215 LSWC I have used H110 and 2400...

H110...start at 20 grains and work up...probably to the 22 grain area...magnum primer and heavy crimp. I usually use Winchester LP primers with H110 loads.

2400...start at 15.5 and work up to 17 maybe 17.5...same as above...

AUTOCOMP...no hands on but from looking at the data in LoadData.com you can start at 7.0 and work up to somewhere around 9.5...

Have a friend who has killed a lot of deer with .41 Magnums using a 230 SWC and either 8.0 grains of UNIQUE or 17-17.5 grains of 2400... His last deer was a 212 grain Keith HP with 8.0 grains of UNIQUE...

With a cast SWC you won't get any expansion...just a hole...be ready to do some tracking...

And GT Bullets has cast HP bullets at a very reasonable price...much better for lung shots on deer than solids....

Bob

 

[rockquarry]

Ok...with a 215 LSWC I have used H110 and 2400...

H110...start at 20 grains and work up...probably to the 22 grain area...magnum primer and heavy crimp. I usually use Winchester LP primers with H110 loads.

2400...start at 15.5 and work up to 17 maybe 17.5...same as above...

AUTOCOMP...no hands on but from looking at the data in LoadData.com you can start at 7.0 and work up to somewhere around 9.5...

Have a friend who has killed a lot of deer with .41 Magnums using a 230 SWC and either 8.0 grains of UNIQUE or 17-17.5 grains of 2400... His last deer was a 212 grain Keith HP with 8.0 grains of UNIQUE...

With a cast SWC you won't get any expansion...just a hole...be ready to do some tracking...

And GT Bullets has cast HP bullets at a very reasonable price...much better for lung shots on deer than solids....

Bob

A soft cast bullet driven sufficiently fast will expand as well or better than a jacketed bullet, but many commercial cast bullets are too hard to expand even at speedy velocities.

 

[SuperMan]

...only problem is that once driven to that velocity unless it has a gas check it will lead the bore horribly...

 

[Dave Workman]

This might get you close to start with H110. 1986 RCBS cast bullet data. Hope it helps.

Yeah, somewhere around here I have a copy of that book. THX

 

[rockquarry]

...only problem is that once driven to that velocity unless it has a gas check it will lead the bore horribly...

Granted, a gas check will minimize or prevent leading altogether, but isn't essential if bullet fit is right and the alloy is compatible for the load, in which case a plain base design will work well. A gas check will shortcut the bullet and load development work, but a soft bullet that will expand needn't be dead soft like pure lead, just soft enough to expand.

I think most who have done extensive work with cast bullets in handgun cartridges will agree that jacketed bullets offer no advantage over cast if you're doing everything right with regard to bullet fit and alloy mix.

 

[Cdog]

I thought I would throw this out for future consideration. Below are the coated cast bullets that I currently use. They're clean, easy loading bevel base, accurate and affordable.

I haven't tried them on game, but I can say they shoot great. I have pushed them beyond comfortable recoil levels using W296 with clean accurate results.

.41 Caliber 215 Gr. SWC - Bayou Bullets

 

[SuperMan]

Granted, a gas check will minimize or prevent leading altogether, but isn't essential if bullet fit is right and the alloy is compatible for the load, in which case a plain base design will work well. A gas check will shortcut the bullet and load development work, but a soft bullet that will expand needn't be dead soft like pure lead, just soft enough to expand.

I think most who have done extensive work with cast bullets in handgun cartridges will agree that jacketed bullets offer no advantage over cast if you're doing everything right with regard to bullet fit and alloy mix.

Have shot several hundred bullets, both jacketed and cast, into water filled jugs...I can't remember any non-HP bullet ever doing anything more than riveting a little. The Remington 210 grain Soft-Point is running 1250 fps from a 4" barrel...the lead is pretty soft and it just deformed the nose and that was after running into the soft body armor after going through 5 jugs of water... If you have some pictures of cast bullets that have expanded I would love to see them and know how fast they were going on impact...

Bob

 

[rockquarry]

Have shot several hundred bullets, both jacketed and cast, into water filled jugs...I can't remember any non-HP bullet ever doing anything more than riveting a little. The Remington 210 grain Soft-Point is running 1250 fps from a 4" barrel...the lead is pretty soft and it just deformed the nose and that was after running into the soft body armor after going through 5 jugs of water... If you have some pictures of cast bullets that have expanded I would love to see them and know how fast they were going on impact...

Bob

I'm not much for saving bullets for photos (the ones recovered from berms go into the scrap pile to be re-melted) and don't shoot water jugs or bullet proof vests so can't comment on that. If you doubt my words regarding soft cast bullets, consider reading some C.E. Harris and Glen Fryxell articles to start.

If your experience has been primarily with commercial cast bullets and you don't cast your own, I can understand your skepticism, but there's far more to cast bullets than that.

 

[gwpercle]

You're right. My reference in post #5 was for the 3rd edition, but I didn't mention that. I forgot I even had a 4th edition.

I think the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 3rd edition has a lot of great info in it that wasn't carried over into the 4th edition , ( manuals can only be so large ) and if you have one (3rd. edition) hang onto it .
On intrnet I saw some for sale for insane prices ... I wouldn't pay what they want ... but I have mine and use it just as much as the new 4th edition ... maybe a little more !
Gary

 

[rockquarry]

I think the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 3rd edition has a lot of great info in it that wasn't carried over into the 4th edition , ( manuals can only be so large ) and if you have one (3rd. edition) hang onto it .
On intrnet I saw some for sale for insane prices ... I wouldn't pay what they want ... but I have mine and use it just as much as the new 4th edition ... maybe a little more !
Gary

I have forty, maybe fifty manuals going back to the '50s. I still check the more current books for load data, but the old ones remain great reference sources, especially for cast bullets. There's a lot of that stuff you can't get from the Internet.

 

[grendelbane]

In my M58 18 gr of 2400 makes about 1300 FPS. It is about as much as I want to shoot. In my old Blackhawk I sometimes went to 19, but I would take it easier on the Smiths.

 

[SuperMan]

I'm not much for saving bullets for photos (the ones recovered from berms go into the scrap pile to be re-melted) and don't shoot water jugs or bullet proof vests so can't comment on that. If you doubt my words regarding soft cast bullets, consider reading some C.E. Harris and Glen Fryxell articles to start.

If your experience has been primarily with commercial cast bullets and you don't cast your own, I can understand your skepticism, but there's far more to cast bullets than that.

Have been casting my own bullets since 1970...

And yes one can do all sorts of things with alloys and tempering the nose of a bullet but without a lot of velocity in something like flesh there is very little expansion. If you doubt me, shoot some lined up water jugs and see for yourself... Dirt, sand, will expand even hardcast bullets...

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

I found that 18 to 18.5 gr of 2400 with my own cast 215 gr bullets (BHN ~11-13) is more accurate in my 8" M57 than anything heavier.

John

 

[rockquarry]

Have been casting my own bullets since 1970...

And yes one can do all sorts of things with alloys and tempering the nose of a bullet but without a lot of velocity in something like flesh there is very little expansion. If you doubt me, shoot some lined up water jugs and see for yourself... Dirt, sand, will expand even hardcast bullets...

Let's agree we stand firm in our beliefs...

 

[minconrevo]

Years ago I pulled a load of 7.0 to 8.0gr of Red Dot out of the Speer manual for the 215 cast in .41 mag. Rather accurate and mild recoil. Tried several others but RD was the best of the available powders at the time for a mid range load.

You list having cans of 2400 and H110. Both will work for robust loads. Consult a manual.

 

[RETDOE]

.41 Mag

The other powder I use is Winchester 296 and I have had great results with 18grs of it with 210gr Hornady XTP. But I did come across this resource that has been invaluable. Check it out, lots of data for .41 Magnum.

Shooter's Reference Load Data for .41 Remington Magnum

 

[biku324]

If you try 7.5 to 8.0 grains of Longshot you'll have an accurate 800-900 fps load. I use 7.5 most often.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

I use 2400 with my Lyman 215 gr cast SWC. Started out at 19 grs but found that accuracy improved as I went down to 18 gr.

John