.41 Mag light loads

WVfishguy

WVfishguy

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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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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.
 
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!
 
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?
 
HP-38

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.
 
Last edited:
7.0 grains of IMR 7625 behind my 215 cast SWC, gives 850 fps from my 4" Smith's, and is extremely accurate.
 
Jellybean said:
WVfishguy, is there any particular reason you won't use Bullseye in magnum cases?
Click to expand...
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.
 
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!
 
41 light loads

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.
 
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