.41 vs. .44 mags

[kscardsfan]

I want to hear from folks about the pro's and con's of each round. I'll give you that .44 mag is easier to find on the shelf, but I reload and I'm starting to cast so thats kind of a non issue anyway. I want to know what advantages you get from the .44 and the .41 seperately. I think I want a .41 cause I have a soft spot for obscure rounds that are a real PITA to find and reload for lol. Let me hear your thoughts, my ears are open fellas!

 

[matsu]

Sorry I shoot both I like the 41 for the longer ranges 44 for the heavier bullet weight at shorter range

 

[BUFF]

Tomato, tomato. Both are excellent cartridges. Components for the .44 are, of course, more readily available. What you can do with one cartridge, you can do with the other.

That said, I am also a big fan of the .44 Special. I have a .41 or three, but it has probably been more than 10 years since I have shot any of them. Range time is scarce and I usually take a serious gun or two and/or a favorite gun or two. If the latter, they are usually .44's or .45's.

Get the one you like.

The .41 Remington Magnum is so established and mainstream, I would hardly call it "obscure." If you want obscure, I suggest the 8mm Peabody Spoonbill. Hamilton Bowen can make you one. You won't see another at the range.

 

[seeemmiss]

I own nine 41 mags and only one 44. The only reason I have a 44 is because it is serial number 16 in the Super Blackhawk Hunter model. I like the 41 cause no one else has one and it is less recoil and it shoots better groups and it shoots flatter and it drives a 210 grain Gold Dot bullet with 22 grains of H110 at around 1550 out of a short barrel. Just an amazing hunting round.

 

[GregG]

I like both. I've gone years without owning a .44 Magnum, but I keep coming back. I prefer to shoot .41's, but I admit it is because the .41 was my first magnum handgun, and I have a certain affection for them.

Nowadays, I think it is prudent to own a .44 first, simply for the availability of ammo.

 

[jbouwens]

Have and shoot both. I think giving that you will cast and reload, I would go with the 41. Like others it does shoot flatter and recoil is less in the 41 mag. Many will say 44 and that is a great round too. Between the 41 and 44 that I have I shoot the 41 more. I used to hunt with the 44 but the round never impressed me all that much in large deer--course I grew up in shotgun country and one ounce slugs were the norm--not much can compare to those things at 50 to 75 yards from a smooth bore or 100-125 yards with the newer rifled barrel slugs to delivery that knock down power. I did finish a few deer off with the 44 and took a 210 pounder with the 44 (two shots--one still and one running) at about 45 yards so the round does the job. I hunter hogs down in Middle Georgia with the 41 and it does the job on them if you hit them in the vitals. Had a shoulder hit with the 41, it was not a humane kill so I really make sure now days of the one shot one kill method that dear ol dad taught me.

 

[Missionary]

Good afternoon
I shot/owned them both. I am sold off the 44 and went 41, no regrets. As you are going to reload and cast your own their is no loss. I cast a 265 flat nose gascheck that is one fine thumper.
BUT in all reality there is little difference between a .43 and a .41. If I was not a reloader the so called 44 mag is easy to shelf buy ammo...
BUT also I have never bought a 41 mag (many) that was not accurate. I have seen several 44´s that were iffy.
But again if you are also wanting a companion long gun the 44 is a far better choice as 41 mag is very limited unless you like a quest and are willing to spend more bucks.
Mike in Peru

 

[kscardsfan]

I'll be carrying a full size rifle if I am bringing one into the field with me. Is the cost of reloading comprable? My math is showing that straight across the board the .41 gives (functionally) the same basic ballistics using less powder, but I think it will basically be a wash given the higher price of .41 brass until after I've accumulated some cases and can cycle them around some. Also, is the trajectory that much flatter as to be appreciably different? That is something I always enjoy in a handgun, even though it's a somewhat questionable quality I feel in handgun hunting. I appreciate all your input guys.

 

[Mule88]

I own both and shoot both. At the end of the day (especially if you reload) The .44's will do everything the .41 will and then some. My whitetail load uses a 210 GD (In both calibers) I get 1500 fps in the 41 and 1650 in the .44 with same length Bbl lengths. The .44 holds more powder so with the same bullet weights you get more velocity. I actually get flatter trajectory in the 44 when the same bullet weights are used. You can always load down for lighter recoil target loads as well.

 

[martyj]

They are both great cartridges the only drawback to the 41 is the choice of bullets. It doesn't matter if you reload or not you are still limited on choices
If you don't reload the 44 mag. is cheaper to shoot not to mention if you can shoot 44 special out of it.

 

[Jim Watson]

Back in the 1970s, it was thought that a steady diet of .44 Magnums shooting Metallic Silhouette would beat up a Model 29 pretty fast. But that .41s were easier on the gun and a Model 57 would hold up better.

 

[Chuck Jones]

Simply put, there's nothing ballistically a .44 mag will do that a .41 mag can't. And the 41 does it with less powder, recoil, and blast.

/c

 

[kscardsfan]

What available hardcast and jacketed loads are comprable between the .44 mag and .41 mag? Thanks again guys.

 

[Titegroups]

Unless you can manufacture your own bullet molds the .41 will just limit you in possible projectiles. The .44 is just more versatile and has more case capacity. A 300+ grain .44 is much cooler than a .41. You should be asking yourself .44 mag or .45 colt instead.

 

[seeemmiss]

This debate also occurs in the 270 bs 30 cal. There are tons of bullets for the 41. There is a slight problem with the length a 41 can get to when loading 265 grain bullets and up but do we normally need a bullet that big with today's Gold Dot and such? I still believe if Elmer Kieth had a 41 mag prior to the 44 he would never have gone there. He didn't want to go there in the beginning. He wanted to get the 45 Colt to a magnum level but kept blowing up guns. If he had a 45 that would stand up to the pressures he would have never tried for the 44. Sometimes we forget the why part of the equation.

 

[michael thornton]

FOR ME IT 44 ALL THE WAY, i also have some 44 specials so i stick with the 44 magnum

 

[SuperMan]

What available hardcast and jacketed loads are comprable between the .44 mag and .41 mag? Thanks again guys.

Factory loads:

Hardcast: Look at Federal, CorBon and Buffalo Bore. Both have .41 and .44 hardcast loads.

Jacketed loads for the .44 are easy to find...these are currently available for the .41..

Jacketed:
Winchester:
175 Silvertip (not full load)
240 Platinum Tip

Corbon:
170 JHC (not full load)
210 JHC

Federal:
180 Barnes (All Copper HP)
210 Swift A-Frame
210 JHP
210 Fusion

Speer:
210 Gold Do HP

Remington:
210 JSP

Georgia Arms:
210 Hornady XTP
210 Speer Gold Dot


"Unless you can manufacture your own bullet molds the .41 will just limit you in possible projectiles. The .44 is just more versatile and has more case capacity. A 300+ grain .44 is much cooler than a .41. You should be asking yourself .44 mag or .45 colt instead."


Below are bullets for reloading...if you can't find what you are looking for here you probably need a rifle....


Hardcast:
Penn Bullets: 170, 210 TC and 295 SSK

Beartooth: 250, 265 and 285 LBT, 300 SSK

Cast Performance: 250, 255 and 265 all LBT

Leadhead: 215 TC and 230 Keith, 245 TCGC

AccuCast: 210 BB

Western Bullet: 195 Lee and 250 Lyman RN

Kead Bullets: 215 BB

X-Tream Bullets: 215 BB

Rim Rock Bullet: 230 Keith, 265 LBT



Jacketed/Plated

Berry's Mfg. 210 plated TC

Nosler 210 JHP

Speer 210 Gold Dot HP, 200 JHP

Sierra: 170 JHC, 210 JHC

Remington: 200 JHP, 210 JSP

Hornady: 210 XPT-JHP

Hawk Bullets: 235, 270 and 300 grain Flat Point


..not sure how greater a selection one could want.


I have LOTS of .41s but only two .44s, a S&W Mountain Gun and a Ruger 77/44 Carbine....

Bob

 

[geddylee10002000]

You might try cruising over to Cast Boolits and read a bit there. Missouri Bullets has cast 41 cal bullets also. I have a S&W 57 6" and a 629 4". I don't load target loads in them. I have other guns for that.

 

[Missionary]

Greetings
There is no deer or other critter walking about that will get hit the same place with a .41 or a .43 bullet and know any difference.
The 41 will not shoot that much more flatter UNLESS you are going to shoot steel targets or other objects past 100 meters.. but even then it just does not amount to that much.
Again IF you are not going to cast your own bullets go the 44 (.43) . I have been in the 41 Mag many years and am well stocked with what I need. IF I had to start over today I would go the 44 ...
But I am stuck on the 41´s and have no regrets.

 

[Titegroups]

You can't deny the fact that there are more options in the .44 than .41. Just a fact. I own both also. Like I said, the .44 is more versatile, holds more powder, and there is a wider array of bullets made for it. Some absolutes.