.41 Rem mag ballistic question.

[Viking Grampa]

Hi, I have a model 58 and was considering picking up a Henry lever action in .41 mag. They have both 16 and 20 inch barrel lengths. I am interested in the ballistics of both, mainly Muzzle velocity and FPS. I like the 16 inch barrel set up better but dont want to lose a ton of power. If anyone has done the numbers on this caliber I would appreciate any info you may have. Thanks in advance. P.S. I'm also looking for another 58 or a 57 in the 4 inch variety. I think I got the bug on this Caliber. LOL... Thanks again!!!!

[muddocktor]

Since the 41 Mag is a pistol cartridge, I don't think you will see much difference in velocity between a 16" barrel and a 20" barrel. After all, either are world's longer than any pistol barrel and the cartridge was designed for pistols first. The same goes for 357 Mag and 44 mag in a lever rifle too, IMO.

[Skeet 028]

Well even the 16 inch will make the 58 look slow. But there are some loads using slow powders such as lil Gun that the 20 inch bbl will be even faster than the 16Some do not like Lil Gun as it is hard aon top straps in revolvers But the 41 is a great caliber. But still a deer round at max.My FIL had a 44 1894(as do I) and it was in the same league. Get the maximum you can get and do a 20 inch barrel. I have 6 41's at present and only one of the revolvers is over a 5 inch gun..(Ruger BH 6 1/2). I also have 2 1894s. One I do not shoot but the other I do and it does very well. Shot a yote with it last week and it was a DRT shot. About 70 yds. With a good cast 250 gr WFNGC bullet with my not so fast 4 in 57 load(about 1000 fps) it does 1600 with the 1894 ..approx . Another plus with the 41..in a carbine...it does not thump ya like the 44 does. My FIL was on blood thinners and when he shot that 44 it made him black blue and yeller. Being on a blood thinner because of Atrial Fib...it doesn't do that to me. Go 20 inch. I have not chrono'd my Lil Gun load out of the 1894....yet

[IAM Rand]

Take a look at this site: Ballistics by the inch.

BBTI - Ballistics by the Inch :: .41 Mag Results

[fredj338]

Depending on powder choice, you might get 100fps plus with 4" more bbl.

[gwpercle]

According to the ballistics by the inch table 16"=1660 , 18" = 1664
2 inches was only 4 fps.....I would bet a 20 inch barrel would be only a gain of maybe 10 fps.
1660 or 1670...not enough difference to matter...get the barrel length you want !
Gary

[SuperMan]

Federal Classic 210 JHP:
S&W 57 6"...1350

Ruger 4 5/8"....1343

TC 14"....1650

Marlin 1894 20"....1705


Remington 210 JSP:
S&W 57 6"....1310

Ruger 4 5/8"...1300

TC 14"....1650

Marlin 20"...1780



Handloads:

23.0 H110/210 Hornady JHP:

6" S&W 57...1350

4 5/8" Ruger...1355

TC 14"...1820

Marlin 20"...1850



13.0 SR4756/210 Hornady TC

6" S&W...1310

4 5/8" Ruger...1305

TC 14"....1530

Marlin 20"...1540



7.0 gr. Winchester 231/210 Hornady TC

S&W 6"...817

Ruger 4 5/8"...870

TC 14"...935

Marlin 20"...935




Handload: Different day
170 Sierra JHC/26.5 gr./H110

4 5/8" Ruger BH...1480

5" Ruger Redhawk...1570

10" TC Contender...1890

14" TC Conmtender...1990

20" Marlin 1894...2100


As you can see in some cases there isn't a great deal of difference between the 14" TC barrel and the 20" Marlin... Add 2.5" to the length of the barrel the gap is even less.

Buy whichever Henry balances best for you...I plan on getting a 16.5" over the 20"...

Bob

[Viking Grampa]

Thanks to all for your info and time. You guys answered my questions and thanks for the link to Ballistics by the inch, that was very helpful and I was not aware of that site. I'll be going with the 16.5 inch model. I'll post about it when I get it. Thanks again

[model3sw]

.41 Magnum is one of the most overlooked and underrated cartridges that S&W ever chambered when it is quite an efficient round. Much friendlier than a .44 Magnum.

Some day soon a revival of the .41 Magnum will come into prospective. That and the very much overlooked .44 Special.

[Qc Pistolero]

A few years ago,I read Bart Skelton writing that if he'd be limited to but only one caliber,the .41Mag would be it.I almost fell off my chair when I read that.And then,a few years after,I got my hands on one.
Now,I understand what he meant!
Qc

[kraynky]

Never ran mine through the crony, so this is great info! I have the 20" Henry, because Mr Imperato told me in an email, that Henry wasn't going to make a carbine in the .41, about a year ago. Now we know better. The 20" is a great rifle, I just wish I had a big loop 16" carbine.

Anyhoo, the 4-5/8" Blackhawk loses a lot to either rifle it seems, but still is a great companion to my Henry. It's honestly as close as I care to get to a 44 magnum in a handgun.

My Marlin 44 is also a 20", and I can feel a good bit of difference between them at the range, but not a bit of difference in the woods. . So like was already said, buy the one you like the best. (or buy the little 16"er and trade it to me for the 20"er!) LOL! The .41 really is a good round for a wussy like me. Plenty for a Ky whitetail too.

[IAM Rand]

Remember, when she tells you that size doesn't matter she is being kind.

[m657]

I had a number of handguns in 41 mag over the years. The most accurate for range games in my hands, was a particular S&W 4" 'Mountain Gun'.....which curiously has remained in my safe while all the others have moved down the trail.

To me the 41 mag is all the things I wanted the 357 mag to be, that it simply wasn't, while being all the things I liked about the 44 mag without those aspects I didn't like.

[IAM Rand]

Originally Posted by m657

I had a number of handguns in 41 mag over the years. The most accurate for range games in my hands, was a particular S&W 4" 'Mountain Gun'.....which curiously has remained in my safe while all the others have moved down the trail.

To me the 41 mag is all the things I wanted the 357 mag to be, that it simply wasn't, while being all the things I liked about the 44 mag without those aspects I didn't like.

Which is what Col. Bill Jordan wanted. He was looking for more power than the 357 that the average officer could still control. Too bad it never caught on. Still carry a 357 off duty. Luv to carry a model 57. Sigh, gotta give my wife a good excuse to get one.

[cleans up]

I was going to say 16", with pistol calibers you top out earlier than rifle rounds. Looking over the power graph and velocity table at BBTI as linked above (have always loved the site!) it looks like the curve flattens out considerably for most loads at ~10". I wonder if anyone makes a mare's leg in 41 mag?

[Skyhunter]

Viking Grandpa,
Been a fan of the Remington .41 mag since 1971. My Marlin and revolvers are normally fed with cast bullet loads, but I don't have a direct comparison to share - I use an SWC in the revolvers and a RNFP in the rifle.
My current jacketed bullet load for revolvers and rifle is the Hornady 210 XTP bullet over 21.9 grs of WW296, with a CCI 350 primer. Velocity from my Marlin's 20" barrel is +/-1,733 fps. and from my 6" S&W 657 is +/- 1,369 fps.
Your results may vary - hope this helps.

WYT-P
Skyhunter

[rwsmith]

Originally Posted by Viking Grampa

Hi, I have a model 58 and was considering picking up a Henry lever action in .41 mag. They have both 16 and 20 inch barrel lengths. I am interested in the ballistics of both, mainly Muzzle velocity and FPS. I like the 16 inch barrel set up better but dont want to lose a ton of power. If anyone has done the numbers on this caliber I would appreciate any info you may have. Thanks in advance. P.S. I'm also looking for another 58 or a 57 in the 4 inch variety. I think I got the bug on this Caliber. LOL... Thanks again!!!!

Check out on Google 'ballistics by the inch'.

(Oops, I see it's already been mentioned'.)