.41 Mag light loads

[Lubbock Louie]

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

 

[Skeet 028]

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

 

[gwpercle]

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

 

[Newtire]

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?

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.

 

[epj]

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.

 

[biku324]

The zombie thread lives!

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

 

[cowboy4evr]

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

 

[Newtire]

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 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.

 

[M29since14]

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.

 

[biku324]

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.

 

[GSP Fan]

I'm just starting to load some light loads for my 41 and 44. Guns are M57 and M29 both 4 inch. I have Unique and Bullseye powder. My question is will large pistol primers be ok or should I still use the magnum primer. In some of my rifles I'll use a magnum primer vs lg rifle primer. I'm just not used to loading only say 6 grains of powder.
I have 215 grain cast SWC for the 41 and 245 cast SWC for the 44

 

[biku324]

Unique and Bullseye do not need magnum primers.

 

[Claymore33]

.41 MAG LIGHT LOADS

Last night I loaded and shot in MODEL 57-1 4": CCI LPP No. 300, 8 gr HP-38 210 gr JHP. Did not Chrono but very mild and very accurate . probably @ 850 fps. I would to get 950fps so tonight I may go up to 8.5gr HP-38 .

 

[Luke Duke]

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

I 2nd that. My BlackHawk just loves this load.

 

[Luke Duke]

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?

Ive also found with new Unique that Magnum Primers work way better. My gun/ brass is clean, accuracy is better. Just my observations. Im sure Magnum Primers are not necessary but Ive gotten way better results , with no pressure signs. Same with my .44 Mag

 

[41 mag Dave]

Here are what I have been using for light loaded 41 Magnum:

H&G 255 175gr WC

4gr Vectan BA10, Winchester Large Pistol Primer
846 fps 4 5/8" Ruger Blackhawk

4.5gr Bullseye, Winchester Large Pistol Primer
737 fps 4" Smith & Wesson M57

Lyman 410459 210gr "Keith" SWC

8gr Herco, Winchester Large Pistol Primer
976 fps 7 1/2 Ruger Redhawk

Lyman 410426 240gr RN

7.5hr Herco, Winchester Large Pistol Primer
813 fps 4" Smith & Wesson M57

These are the light loads that I use most often.

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

I've used 7.5 to 8.5 grains of Unique under an RCBS SWC cast bullet for over 40 years. I have tried other powders, but bang for the buck and 10 ring accuracy with excellent performance to 200 yards, a 210-220 grain cast bullet over the above powder charge is as good as it gets.

I might add that it's easy on the forcing cone and my Model 58 and Model 57 show no sign of gas cutting or forcing cone erosion. Other than holster wear they are virtually new guns after thousands of rounds downrange.

 

[Nevada Ed]

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

+1;
I like w231 for medium loads as well as Green Dot that is very close
to the same fps as w231 in all my revolver and pistol test, since
Green Dot is not always listed in loading manuals, but you can get
a "Guestament" on the amount of powder to use per the amount
of w231, at least with 38 spl. loads.

 

[DWalt]

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.

You don't check powder levels visually before bullet seating???? That's Reloading 101.