41 Mag loading

[Bloodhound]

I am just starting to load the 41 mag...I have been looking at loads for powders I have...BullsEye, 231, RedDot and Unique...I have lots of BullsEye and lots of 210 gr lead bullets. I'm thinking of starting at 6.8 gr of bullsEye, or maybe 7gr of 231...

Thoughts?

 

[sambodie]

I like 2400 for the 41 MAG, or unique for a lighter load.

 

[SMSgt]

I used Blue Dot back in my .41 days, but that's a big no-no now. Don't know what the problem was (worked fine in my Blackhawk) but many warnings on it now. I also used WW296 with good results. It wasn't as clean as BD, which is why I changed.

Start with mid-range loads with different powders and one will probably give you better results. Then it's a question of tuning it in to your likes.

 

[David LaPell]

I had excellent results loading my .41 Magnum loads with Unique.

 

[thearborbarber]

8grains of uniques with 210 gr lswc is what I use.

 

[Jellybean]

I have older Winchester data that lists 7.4 gr. of 231 with a 210 LSWC, so there is no problem there.

I also have older Lyman data that lists a max. of 5.5 gr. of Bullseye with a 212 gr. LSWC so I'd approach your target of 6.8 with caution. I use four grains of Bullseye with 210 gr. LSWCs myself, it's a very mild yet extremely accurate load. For self defense loads I go to Unique.

Whatever you decide to go with, welcome to the world of reloading the .41 magnum, it's very addicting.

 

[Erich]

I used Blue Dot (loads that Alliant techs blessed even after the "ban"), Unique, Lil' Gun, 2400, 7625 and Trail Boss in the .41. Bullseye, I tried, but never bothered with again.

What are you looking to do? Easiest and most versatile powder I used was Unique. Lil' Gun did great at high velocity. 7625 was my favorite for a defensive load for people. And Trail Boss was fun for plinking.

I'd never use BE, though.

 

[Bloodhound]

I am wanting to do some packing in the hills and plinking...so something that would be stiff enough to protect/hunt and still mild enough to plink 20 or 30 rounds per session(I always take a couple of guns to the range)...So I will work on the 296 and unique loads and see where it leads...nuttin but fun...Thanks

 

[txredmule]

My mid range load for the 41M is 6.5 W231 and any quality 210 cast swc. Very accurate in my old model Blackhawk. Higher velocity loads called for 2400 or H110.

 

[S&W revolverman]

I am wanting to do some packing in the hills and plinking...so something that would be stiff enough to protect/hunt and still mild enough to plink 20 or 30 rounds per session(I always take a couple of guns to the range)...So I will work on the 296 and unique loads and see where it leads...nuttin but fun...Thanks

I'm going to mention this, because no one else has said anything about a Winchester powder just yet. For target plinking, and I've been shooting .41 mag a long time, here is my load:

210/215 grain LSWC with 6.5 gr of WST (Winchester Super Target)

nice shoting all day long

Hope this helps
chris

 

[thearborbarber]

I'm going to mention this, because no one else has said anything about a Winchester powder just yet. For target plinking, and I've been shooting .41 mag a long time, here is my load:

210/215 grain LSWC with 6.5 gr of WST (Winchester Super Target)

nice shoting all day long

Hope this helps
chris

Not to mention clean too. I forget about WST.

 

[dickttx]

8grains of uniques with 210 gr lswc is what I use.

Ditto. Also the same with .45 LC, 255 LFN.

 

[n4zov]

My standard load for the .41 is 20 grains of WW-296 under a Sierra 210 JHP and a magnum primer. Heavy crimp required. I've shot thousands of those loads and haven't found anything better in the Ruger or M-57 .41.

 

[Jellybean]

Bullseye is an excellent powder for the .41 magnum as long as you don't want "magnum" performance. As a light plinking and extremely accurate load it is hard to beat. However, as you seem to realize, it's not a good choice for your needs, or wants.

I use 8 grains of Unique for a defensive load also. It showed very good accuracy, hits hard yet is controlable for fast shooting.

When I carried a .41 magnum on duty I used a 210 gr. SWCL bullet over 14.0 grs. of Blue Dot to duplicate the power of my duty ammo. The hoopla about not using Blue Dot in the .41 magnum was the reason I switched, although I've never heard the reason why it's alright for the other magnums but not the .41.

For all out magnum performance I used to use H110, which is the same as 296. It works alright but one reason I switched was the fact that it can only be reduced about 3% from max. listed loads. This may not matter to you, as it doesn't to many, but since I shoot at longer ranges accuracy is somewhat important and the best accuracy isn't always at the max. capacity. So I switched to 2400 for my "hot" loads.

 

[thomashoward]

I'm using H110 with a magnum primer for complete combustion for high power loads and 7.5 gr Unique for low power

 

[nutsforsmiths]

My load is 14.5 grains of Lil'Gun with a 210 jacketed bullet and a large magnum pistol primer.

Very pleasant and accurate target load out of both my Model 57 and 58.

 

[Steve C]

Of the powders you have mentioned here are two loads that I use and have run over my chronograph. The gun used was a 4" 657 mountain pistol. 7.8grs of Unique should duplicate the 7.0grs of W231 for a duplicate of the old police load.

 

[GF1]

My guns - 3xM57s - all shoot best with full magnum loads. My favorite of the past 25 years is 17 gr/2400/Std primer 215 gr hard cast SWC. Next favorite is a 210 gr jacketed bullet (HP or SP), with 17.5 gr/2400. Both of these loads shoot into the same group past 100 yards. Tried a bunch of other powders over the years, keep coming back to 2400. Also a benefit is the property of 2400 to light fairly easily, allowing standard large pistol primers and a moderate crimp.

 

[SuperMan]

7.0 grains of Winchester 231/Hodgon HP38 (same powder different label) or 8.0 grains of Unique with a 210 grain bullet duplicates the original 210 lead police load....about 950 +- fps from a 4" barrel. Both are extremely accurate shooting loads, especially 8.0 grains Unique...

25 yards with a 213 grain Keith bullet (220 cast in linotype)

50' using a Berry's 210 plated bullet...

Don't expect much expansion from the newer hardcast bullets. The original lead 210s were very soft swaged bullets that leaded badly...


The Speer Gold Dot HP expands well at 950...the least expanded one is 8.0 grains of Unique.

Bob