New to the 41Mag (just picked up a 657-5 7.5")could use some help with good loads. Plinkers and Hunting loads. For the lighter stuff I have HP-38, True Blue and Titegroup. For the hunting loads I have 2400 and H110. I just received 1000 215gr LSWC from Missouri Bullet Co so I have the plinking bullets I want to use. (have had great luck with the same in 240gr 44Mag) Will probably use 210gr XTPs for hunting bullets.

Thinking around 6gr of Titegroup w/ 210's should run about 1000fps and be fairly mild to shoot. Have not tried HP-38 or True Blue in my .44 so have no experience with them.

Any experience would be appreciated.

7.0 of HP-38 should be a decent plinking load.

For .41 low mag I am using 7.8 gr of HP-38 with 210 cast & coated bullets. That gives me @ 1000 fps. Very nice round , very manageable recoil.

__________________
V/r,
Markham

The Missouri Bullet 215 are what I run for mid range loads. 6.0 gr of HP38 (same as Win 231) is accurate. Avg 849 fps using Win LP's.

For hunting, full power loads, I run Hornady 210gr XTP HP's. 18.5 gr Win 296 with a substantial roll crimp is accurate and warm, but not excessive.

I too just recently found a S&W 657-4, 41Rem Mag,
stainless steel, 6” non-full under lug barrel, fluted cylinder,
adjustable rear sight, pinned front sight.

Mine appears circa 1997s. No box or accoutrements.
Maybe factory fired only (I was lucky).

I found in my horde of reloading items; Dies, Shell
Holder, Starline 41mag brass, Hornady 210gr XTPs.
I have Acme 100ct. 215gr SWC coated (in the wooden
box) coming.

I don’t have any of your Powders, but I’m starting
with 6 reloads of Alliant Red Dot 7.2grs/CCI #300
LP/Starline case. Crimped light. 900fps?
Bullseye and Unique powders may later.

I got this Thread in my notes to keep an eye on.

The Best to you and your Endeavors.

Attached Images

	IMG_2019.jpg (89.5 KB, 23 views)
	IMG_2024.jpg (54.1 KB, 18 views)

__________________
SD social distanc'n since 1889

Years back I also used 7.5 gr Red Dot for mid range lead .41 mag loads. Shot well. I've had good luck with Unique in mid range lead .44 mag loads, but not in .41 mag.

Sounds great. I'd be shooting Unique if I had it.....ran out last fall and have not seen any since. Titegroup has been my main replacement in 38spcl & 44Mag. Hopefully it works good in the 41Mag. It's relatively inexpensive and available. @ ~6.5gr/ round a pound goes a long ways.

I use 6.0gr of Universal with a 215gr coated LSWC as a reduced load. Which is all I shoot in my 657 anymore. But Universal is very hard to find.

Yeah, I like my Lead bullets running 800-900
in my 38Spl, 357Mag, 44Spls, 45Colt, and
now the 41Mag. Revolvers don’t need to be
beat up to be powerful.

I assume you been reloading awhile so you
understand how Lead bullets perform; they
go through everything in their way.

I really had an eye opener when I went Hog
Hunting. I reloaded 50rds of 240gr Lead
SWC to 1000fps for a S&W PC 44Mag to
take with me.

I felt bad, to my surprise the Hogs were not
D.O.A. but the Lead was penciling right
through them. Talk about loosing your
confidence!
I should have used the Hornady XTPs.

My good old 308 rifle with good old Horn.
150gr S.P. took them right out.

__________________
SD social distanc'n since 1889

I am a big fan of the 41 Magnum cartridge and have been loading loading for it since I got my first Model 57 back in 1980. It is the 6" nickel revolver in the lower left corner of this decades old 41 Magnum group photo

My SWC mold drops the projectiles at 215 grains. My go to powder charge has been 7 grains of 231. This has always been a very accurate mid range load for me

I have burned through well in excess of 100 pounds of H110 over the last four decades, it is my favorite powder for full magnum handgun loads

My favorite shock and awe load has been the Remington 170 grain SJHP on top of 26.5 grains of H110. Unfortunately Remington discontinued this projectile many years ago and I am down to the last dregs in my last box of 1000

For the heavier projectile I have always used the 200 grain SJHP from Remington over 20.7 grains of H110

With the current position of Remington even these projectiles are almost impossible to find and the factory stopped making the SJHP and went to a standard JHP without the scallops several years ago

__________________
"Acta non verba"

I had the same question a few years back, and I took the great load advice from colt_saa above. 7 grains of HP38/W231 under a 215 grain coated lead SWC has been an excellent mid range load for me.

These loads are from Elmer Keith :
220 gr or 215 gr. cast SWC bullet
Target & Tin Can - 5.0 grs Bullseye @ 790 fps
Medium Mid-Range Load - 7.5 grs. Unique @ 950 fps
Heavy Hunting Load - 16 grs 2400 @ 1220 fps

I have also hit upon :
4.0 grs - AA#2 @ 725 fps
4.5 grs - AA#2 @ 760 fps
As good target loads when you can't find/get Bullseye Powder .

Gary
My avatar is a model 58 S&W 41 Magnum

__________________
Certified Cajun
NRA Member

Hey Fellers, I've been using Elmer's recipe since the 70s in a 6" mod 57 and don't think you can beat it. 8gr of unique 215gr coated Missouri gives me right at 1k fps and is very accurate and doesn't hurt my old hands and joints. Don't use much 2400 any more, too hard on me.... John

an N frame,

240-270 grain lead bullet,

8-1200 fps

would have gone through and through as well

but have better effect.

Like that rifle would

The .41 magnum has no official "Special" version for light loads. Most of the loads start at a minimum of around 1,000 FPS. The way I approached looking for a reduced load was to pick a powder, load the starting listed load, then I worked my way down. The 6.5gr starting load for Universal I found was just a little bit more than I wanted.

I "loaded to recoil" and hoped the accuracy worked out. I wanted a load that 100+ rounds a session wouldn't wear on me. I got lucky and hit it on my second load.

I'm going to try the 7.0 Gr of W231/HP 38. I suspect it might be a little much for me given I load less Universal. I'm getting too old for much in the way of recoil. I'm just target shooting and it doesn't take much in the way of muzzle velocity to punch a hole in a piece of paper. Be nice to your hands. You'll need them when you're older.

I'm going to try some CFE Pistol also. Looking at the data, it might come in around 6.0-6.5 gr too. The starting load for a 215gr LSWC is 7.1 gr at 1100 FPS.

I realize that you did not mention the availability of either Herco or Unique powders. If you should happen to obtain either, you may wish to consider these loads. I obtained them from an old "Law Enforcement Handgun Digest" book. I do not have a chronograph but according the the article, both are less than 1000 feet per second. Both of these shoot point of aim/point of impact at 25 yards with my fixed-sight Model 58 utilizing 215 grain lead semi-wadcutter bullets:

1) Herco - 8.0 grains
2) Unique - 7.0 grains

As an aside, I have also used 215 grain plated bullets with equally good results. Both loads are very controllable.

HTH

JPJ

I got my 100ct. Acme 215gr .411dia Hi-Tek
Red coated Lead bullets. They came in a neat
sturdy compact Wood Box.

Looking forward to reloading these in the
near future.

Attached Images

	IMG_2062.jpg (56.4 KB, 27 views)
	IMG_2063.jpg (80.8 KB, 27 views)

__________________
SD social distanc'n since 1889

I hae a heavy Bullet load I have used for quite a long time...with different powders.. a cast 240-245 LSWCGC bullet at about 1000-1050 FPS. It will shoot through a moose front to back and it doesn't wear your wrist/hands out. The first powder I used was 2400 then Blue Dot and L'il Gun. Blue Dot is no longer recommended mainly in cold weather. There are some lighter bullet loads from 170 to 190 gr cast bullets using RD GD at about 850 that kinda feel like 38 specials when shooting them out of a N frame

I've shot a couple of thousand of that same bullet. Order 500 and they come in the same kind of box, only bigger! Mostly I use SNS Casting. I'm trying to get back to casting my own but now the weather has snuck up on me. It's hot down here already! Come fall I'll get going. I hope.

I got to try my 41Rem Mag, 210gr .410dia #41000
Horn. XTPs, Alliant Red Dot 7.2grs/CCI #300 LP/
Starline case. Crimped light. 900fps?

Pretty uneventful, mild reload, recoil very
manageable, Target at 15ft shots were
3” low.

The CCI #300 Large Pistol primers were not
flat, cartridges appeared to seal in the
chambers, and easily came out of the
chambers.

The performance of the reload was basically
what I wanted. I going to reload a few more
to try again.

Also I’m going to try some reloads with Acme
215gr .411 dia SWC Hi-Tek Red coated Lead bullets.

Pictured, condition of Primers.

Attached Images

IMG_2073.jpg (44.3 KB, 11 views)

__________________
SD social distanc'n since 1889

...welcome to the Cult.

Lots of good posts and threads here...

.41 Magnum / 41 Special Load Data Center

7.0/231/215 will run in the low 900s from a 4" barrel.

As to H110/296 (same powder different can), have found that if the bullet sits right on top of the powder eliminating all the air space, it is extremely accurate, low extreme spread and highest safe velocity. The amount of powder varies with the length of the bullet from the crimp groove to the base... Works for both cast and jacketed bullets...

ps...crimp heavy regardless of the powder or bullet type...your powder will burn much cleaner.. Lee Carbide Factory Crimp Die does a great job..

I follow Mr. Keith’s way of thinking for a lead power load. 16.0 grains of 2400 and 215 coated lead bullets fly at 1,327 FPS out of my 6.5” Blackhawk and the accuracy is good.

7.0 of HP-38 and a 215gr LSWC from Missouri Bullet Co has been working excellent. Last time out I put 10 shots into 1 1/2" @ 25 yards. They average 1025fps are mild recoiling and a hoot to shoot. Thanks for all the recommendations. Loving the 41Mag.
.

Please tell more about your Red Dot
sight and mount.

I have been interested in doing something
like that for awhile.

__________________
SD social distanc'n since 1889

Mount is from EGW and Red Dot is a Vortex Venom 3MOA. My eyes are not what they used to be and shooting open sights is a close range affair for me anymore. Shooting with red dots has given me a new lease on life for shooting handguns. Once you get the hang of it (finding the dot) they are quite effective. I was very consistently ringing my 10" gong at 100 yards with this rig last weekend. If I decide to handgun hunt this fall, this will be most likely be the setup I use with the exception of ammo being 210gr XTP over H110.

So I just got my order from GT of 175gr RNHP, bought these to duplicate the Win Silvertips I have a limited supply of. Now that I bought 500 I kind of want to experiment with them a little. This is what I have so far, let me know if you have any other ideas. I have lots of WW 296 that I use for 210gr XTP But can't find anything on it with a 175gr lead bullet.

8-10gr Unique
8.5gr of WW 231

296/H110 is a bad choice to use with lead projectiles that do not have gas checks

Leading is the issue

Flame erosion at the base of the projectile is usually the culprit

__________________
"Acta non verba"

Roger that, thanks

I shoot 210s for hunting and some target shooting. But, way back when I got my first 57, without doing much research I bought a Lee 175 SWC mold.

It has proven to be an excellent target load with either Unique or W-231. I did not look today but I would imagine that the Lyman cast boolit manual would have data for other powders.

My .41 mag is a Ruger Blackhawk, 7.5” barrel. I only load for hunting, and practice with the same load I hunt with.

I use 19 grains of W-296 or H-110 with the Hornady 210 gn XTP or the Speer 210 gn Deep Curl bullet. This load is great for hogs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro