41mag load safe or not?? too hot maybe?

[BigBill]

I have different reloading manuals and here's some spec's i'm not too sure about. There isn't much info on reloading for the 41mag. I have a new S&W model 57 & 58 to shoot with.

My older hornady book vol. II says;

41mag 210grain JHP

Unique powder the loads can range between 9.0gr to 11.3gr

So I can load the 210gr FMJ berry bullets a 10.0gr load should besafe?

41mag 215gr SWC (leadcast)

Using the Unique powder i can load it at 8.1grs Does that sound ok?

I want a lighter leadcast load for plinking and a light jacketed load thats a tad under the magnum load to practice with. Bill

 

[colt_saa]

Many of us love and shoot the 41 Magnum. There will be many replies to this thread.

For lead SWCs, I load my 212grain SWCs over 7 grains of unique. This is a very comfortable, moderate load. Some of the folks go as high as 8 grains of Unique.

Berrys bullets are not FMJ, they are plated bullets. They can not be driven as hard as normal Jacket projectiles. I would say that 10 grains of Unique is a MAX load for the plated Berry's bullet. You might want to start at 9 and work your way up. Pressure is not the issue here, accuracy is. DO NOT use a heavy roll crimp on plated bullets. Accuracy will suffer.

 

[max]

7.0 of Unique with a cast bullet is my standard. I would recommend you start there. You can probably go a bit hotter, but I am not sure why you would want to for a plinker.

 

[dickttx]

I e-mailed Alliant asking about a load for a 212gr lead semi-wadcutter using Unique. They said start at 8.0gn. As a matter of fact, forgetting I had done this before, I e-mailed again a couple of years later and got the same answer from the same guy.
As you said, data with Unique is hard to come by.
I started at the 8.0gn and have stayed there, but I need to work a little more on that.
I also have some Berry's in 210gn. If you work on this load keep us informed.
BTY, my gun is a Redhawk.

 

[jubela#4]

I have shot alot of 210 grain SWC cast lead bullets and 7.5 grains of Unique in my model 57.
In my opinion 8 Grains of Unique will be ok but why go that high for a plinking round.

As was said by another poster 7 grains of Unique is plenty good for a plinking round in .41, I just didn't change my powder scale from loading for .44's.

 

[SuperMan]

8.0 grains of Unique will duplicate the original Police Load with a 210 grain bullet running 950+- fps from a 4" barrel. I've used this load with everything from the 200 gran Speer SWC-JHP to the 230 grain Leadhead Keith bullet with excellent results.

In testing Unique, at 10.0 grains extraction in S&Ws becomes "stiff"...at least in my guns. For mid-range loads I usually use something a little slower burning like SR4756 or Blue Dot. These will put out 1250 fps in 4" barrels.

For full loads there is nothing like H110/Win 296 (same powder, different cans).

I crimp the **** out of all my loads including those made with Berry's plated bullets... If you have not tried a Lee Carbide Factory Crimp die you may want to...especially with the Berry's bullet.

Bob

 

[Steve C]

So I can load the 210gr FMJ berry bullets a 10.0gr load should besafe?

41mag 215gr SWC (leadcast)

Using the Unique powder i can load it at 8.1grs Does that sound ok?

I want a lighter leadcast load for plinking and a light jacketed load thats a tad under the magnum load to practice with.

A 215 gr LSWC on top of 9.5 grs of Unique in a R-P case lit by a WLP chrono's at 1,157 fps average velocity (12 rounds) from my 4" S&W 657 mountain pistol. I would expect similar results with the Berry's plated bullet at 210gr.

A 10.0 grain load with the Berry's bullet will probably get you over 1,200 fps from a 4" barrel and be in the full magnum category.

For the old "police load" duplication using the same 215gr LSWC and components, 7.0 grs of W231 produces 956 fps from the same pistol. 7.5 to 8.0 grs of Unique should duplicate the velocity.

 

[SMSgt]

Personally, I think the .41 Mag is the sweetest round ever. Absolutely loved it in my Ruger Blackhawk until someone stole it. I used WW296 back before it became taboo, yet never had a problem with it. The BH was one tough old gun.

Treat plated bullets (Berrys, etc.) like cast and you'll be fine.

 

[David LaPell]

I used to load a 210 grain SWC and 8.2 grains of Unique. It had a bit of a bark but it shot very well. Your best bet is to start off on the lower side. You will probably find that the less powerful or moderate loads will give you more accuracy than the really hot loads. Believe me if you are hunting whitetails that deer won't know the difference between those extra 50-75 fps when it gets whacked by that bullet. My newest load is a 210-215 grain cast bullet and 16.0 grains of 2400.

 

[GF1]

Good advice here, use a lower charge with these soft bullets.

I'd recommend using only hard cast bullets, available from many sources. Then you can use the stouter charges of Unique.

My favorite load by far is 215 gr. hard cast bullet/17 gr./2400/Std primer/Remington or Starline cases, firm roll crimp. With jacket 210 gr. bullets, I raise the charge to 17.5 gr. These loads print to the same POI at 50 yards. Both are superbly accurate in my three S&W M57s.