.41 Mag light loads

[Groo01]

Groo here
I have gone to magnum primers on my Trailboss loads..
I believe that although the powder itself is faster burning,
the fact that it is so fluffy means that the flakes are not packed
together and the fire has a harder time jumping the gap.
Hot primers- tight fit- heavy crimp- bullets that are light to normal
weight seem to do the job--- also I don't use any but a near max
or full case,, why when the powder is so light for the space it uses....

 

[Jellybean]

I thought Trail Boss wasn't supposed to fill the case, only the available space with the bullet seated.

 

[borderpatrol]

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.

 

[hawxtar]

I have used 7.0gr. of Universal with 210-230gr. bullets. Out of my .41 Blackhawk with the 4&5/8 in. barrel the loads chrono at 990fps. +or- 10fps.It doesn't get any better than that.

 

[SDancy]

I am almost ready to start reloading for my 41's and I am getting some great loads to check out. Thanks to all!!
Stephen

 

[Skip Sackett]

Trail Boss should have NO compression, period.

When I was working up loads for the 500S&W, the Hodgdon Tech told me to mark the case where the base of the bullet would end up and fill it up to there.

If I remember right, and memory is such a terrible thing to waste, it came to 16gr or so! That was in the 500 though so.................

If it were me, and there weren't any loads for the 41 and TB I would call. They are very helpful.

Personally, and I don't have a 41, I use Bullseye in my light target loads in 44Mag and have no qualms at all. They are 4.5gr under a 200gr LRNFP Cowboy Bullet. In the 41 case, that should be a good load too. Probably push it about 750fps to 800fps or so. Super light.

FWIW

 

[gbw]

I had my 57s out the other day, first time in a while, an 8 3/8" N ser.no., and a 6" nickle S sn. Enjoyed them both, I don't know why I haven't been shooting them more.

8.7 Unique / 215 SWCL clocked avg. 1070fps from both with some leading. Loaded in 2001. I use a Pact chrono.

Just fyi, 14.2gr BlueDot / 200 JHP went at 1275fps avg. These were loaded in 1996, but their age didn't seem to matter, I forget the Sd but it was not out of line.

Interestingly, both guns got very nearly the same velocities, I suppose the 8 3/8" is a shade tighter?

Lead bullet loads were slightly warmer than the OP and I were looking for, I'm going to try 7.5 and 7.0 gr. loads. Should put me down in the 800-900fps range which is where I want this bullet.

 

[LazarusLong]

Any reason you won't use Bullseye? My go to load for the .44 is somewhere between 6.5 and 7.5 grains under a 429421 which got a hair over 1000 FPS out of a 4''. SD's in the single digits too, I bet it would work good in the .41.

 

[gbw]

No good reason, probably. My thought was that, since I shoot some of these light lead loads thru an 8 3/8" gun, very light loads of very fast powders would be more likely to 'burn out' before the bullet got out of the gun than would slower burning (Unique) powders. I've no idea if there is any validity to such a thought, but that's why. Generally a big fan of BE.

 

[Lubbock Louie]

I ran across this 8+ yr. old thread while looking for medium .41 Mag loads for the new Win 244 powder. The .41 Mag is not listed...maybe just untested as of now. Logic suggests it would work fine. Anyone here have any knowledge about this?

Thanks, Cary/Lubbock Louie

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Still using Unique after more than 40 years in 9mm, .38 Spl, .357, .41 mag, .44 Spl, .44 mag, .45ACP, .32-20 and probably a few others over the years, cast bullets and jacketed bullets, practice ammo and hunting ammo.

Excellent results with no problems to report. Yes, I still clean my guns, but that hasn't become a real chore to gripe about. Good old GI-surplus bore cleaner, good bronze bore brush, couple of old worn-out toothbrushes, cut up old T-shirts for patches, 15 minutes tops, and guaranteed to pass my old drill sergeant's inspection.

Unique is an excellent product with over 100 years on the market. There are a few others that can provide better performance, but I don't know of a single other powder that can do as much over a broad range of applications.

Obviously, your methods vary from mine.

 

[bigggbbruce]

Unique is an excellent product with over 100 years on the market. There are a few others that can provide better performance, but I don't know of a single other powder that can do as much over a broad range of applications.

Then I found HP38..

 

[rwsmith]

7 grains....

7 grains of Universal Clay's.

 

[SuperMan]

My go-to target load is 8.0 grains of Unique with any bullet...

7.0 grains of Winchester 231/HP38 works just about as well.

If one is getting unburned powder it is usually because there isn't enough bullet pull for the given load and the pressure drops before all the powder burns. I have gone to the Lee Carbide Factory Crimp die and put a very heavy roll crimp on all loads, target and heavy and never have unburned powder.

Bob

 

[cowboy4evr]

My favorite light , target load using a 210-220 gr cast bullet is 5.5 grs of WST (Winchester Super Target ) . I also like 700X , same load . My std " everyday load " is 8.5 grs of WSF (Winchester Super Field ) . It matches the Unique load , is much cleaner and just as accurate . I realize this thread is 8 yrs old . But a bit of newer info is helpful sometimes to new 41 mag reloaders looking for some specific loads . Regards, Paul

 

[Qc Pistolero]

Old thread but the question is still an actuality!I do not medium load my .41 Mag but for those who do and do not want to use Unique,Green Dot does a clean and accurate job.I use it in my .45 Colt loads and can't see why it wouldn't do the same in a slightly smaller capacity hull.

 

[cowboy4evr]

I have read that when using green dot . Use unique load data and subtract 1/2 to 1 gr for the same performance . Some consider it a " well kept secret " . I have never used green dot so can't personally verify that info . Good luck , regards, Paul

 

[oysterer]

I use
41 special starling brass
210 Sierra JHC

5.3 gr W231, CCI 300 primers it's very accurate across my 41 mags

HS-6 is better, it is the very best powder I found for 41 and 44 special

in 41 special I use 8.0 gr but with cci 350 magnum primers. That eliminates unburnt powder

That load shoots in the same hole.

 

[zeek]

According to an old magazine 5-6 gr of Bullseye; titegroup; Hp-38; with a Lyman 220 gr cast bullet will give 763-864fps. 7 gr of titegroup=949fps. Trailboss with 6 gr=728. This is from a 4" barrel mod.57.

 

[41mag657ss]

I use 5 gr. of Bullseye with a 210 gr. plated or 215 gr. lcswc. Both clock right at 800 fps from a 5.5" Redhawk. My standard load is 17 gr. IMR4227 with a 210 gr. plated for just under 1000 fps from a 7.5" 657.