41Mag Pet Loads

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New to the 41Mag (just picked up a 657-5 7.5")could use some help with good loads. Plinkers and Hunting loads. For the lighter stuff I have HP-38, True Blue and Titegroup. For the hunting loads I have 2400 and H110. I just received 1000 215gr LSWC from Missouri Bullet Co so I have the plinking bullets I want to use. (have had great luck with the same in 240gr 44Mag) Will probably use 210gr XTPs for hunting bullets.

Thinking around 6gr of Titegroup w/ 210's should run about 1000fps and be fairly mild to shoot. Have not tried HP-38 or True Blue in my .44 so have no experience with them.

Any experience would be appreciated.
 
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New to the 41Mag (just picked up a 657-5 7.5")could use some help with good loads. Plinkers and Hunting loads. For the lighter stuff I have HP-38, True Blue and Titegroup. For the hunting loads I have 2400 and H110. I just received 1000 215gr LSWC from Missouri Bullet Co so I have the plinking bullets I want to use. (have had great luck with the same in 240gr 44Mag) Will probably use 210gr XTPs for hunting bullets.

Thinking around 6gr of Titegroup w/ 210's should run about 1000fps and be fairly mild to shoot. Have not tried HP-38 or True Blue in my .44 so have no experience with them.

Any experience would be appreciated.

The Missouri Bullet 215 are what I run for mid range loads. 6.0 gr of HP38 (same as Win 231) is accurate. Avg 849 fps using Win LP's.

For hunting, full power loads, I run Hornady 210gr XTP HP's. 18.5 gr Win 296 with a substantial roll crimp is accurate and warm, but not excessive.
 
Finally after Years

I too just recently found a S&W 657-4, 41Rem Mag,
stainless steel, 6” non-full under lug barrel, fluted cylinder,
adjustable rear sight, pinned front sight.

Mine appears circa 1997s. No box or accoutrements.
Maybe factory fired only (I was lucky).

I found in my horde of reloading items; Dies, Shell
Holder, Starline 41mag brass, Hornady 210gr XTPs.
I have Acme 100ct. 215gr SWC coated (in the wooden
box) coming.

I don’t have any of your Powders, but I’m starting
with 6 reloads of Alliant Red Dot 7.2grs/CCI #300
LP/Starline case. Crimped light. 900fps?
Bullseye and Unique powders may later.

I got this Thread in my notes to keep an eye on.

The Best to you and your Endeavors.
 

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...

I found in my horde of reloading items; Dies, Shell
Holder, Starline 41mag brass, Hornady 210gr XTPs.
I have Acme 100ct. 215gr SWC coated (in the wooden
box) coming.

I don’t have any of your Powders, but I’m starting
with 6 reloads of Alliant Red Dot 7.2grs/CCI #300
LP/Starline case. Crimped light. 900fps?
Bullseye and Unique powders may later.

....

Years back I also used 7.5 gr Red Dot for mid range lead .41 mag loads. Shot well. I've had good luck with Unique in mid range lead .44 mag loads, but not in .41 mag.
 
I too just recently found a S&W 657-4, 41Rem Mag,
stainless steel, 6” non-full under lug barrel, fluted cylinder,
adjustable rear sight, pinned front sight.

Mine appears circa 1997s. No box or accoutrements.
Maybe factory fired only (I was lucky).

I found in my horde of reloading items; Dies, Shell
Holder, Starline 41mag brass, Hornady 210gr XTPs.
I have Acme 100ct. 215gr SWC coated (in the wooden
box) coming.

I don’t have any of your Powders, but I’m starting
with 6 reloads of Alliant Red Dot 7.2grs/CCI #300
LP/Starline case. Crimped light. 900fps?
Bullseye and Unique powders may later.

I got this Thread in my notes to keep an eye on.

The Best to you and your Endeavors.

Sounds great. I'd be shooting Unique if I had it.....ran out last fall and have not seen any since. Titegroup has been my main replacement in 38spcl & 44Mag. Hopefully it works good in the 41Mag. It's relatively inexpensive and available. @ ~6.5gr/ round a pound goes a long ways.
 
Powerful Lead

Yeah, I like my Lead bullets running 800-900
in my 38Spl, 357Mag, 44Spls, 45Colt, and
now the 41Mag. Revolvers don’t need to be
beat up to be powerful.

I assume you been reloading awhile so you
understand how Lead bullets perform; they
go through everything in their way.

I really had an eye opener when I went Hog
Hunting. I reloaded 50rds of 240gr Lead
SWC to 1000fps for a S&W PC 44Mag to
take with me.

I felt bad, to my surprise the Hogs were not
D.O.A. but the Lead was penciling right
through them. Talk about loosing your
confidence!
I should have used the Hornady XTPs.

My good old 308 rifle with good old Horn.
150gr S.P. took them right out.
 
I am a big fan of the 41 Magnum cartridge and have been loading loading for it since I got my first Model 57 back in 1980. It is the 6" nickel revolver in the lower left corner of this decades old 41 Magnum group photo

41-stable.jpg


My SWC mold drops the projectiles at 215 grains. My go to powder charge has been 7 grains of 231. This has always been a very accurate mid range load for me

I have burned through well in excess of 100 pounds of H110 over the last four decades, it is my favorite powder for full magnum handgun loads

My favorite shock and awe load has been the Remington 170 grain SJHP on top of 26.5 grains of H110. Unfortunately Remington discontinued this projectile many years ago and I am down to the last dregs in my last box of 1000

For the heavier projectile I have always used the 200 grain SJHP from Remington over 20.7 grains of H110

With the current position of Remington even these projectiles are almost impossible to find and the factory stopped making the SJHP and went to a standard JHP without the scallops several years ago
 
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I had the same question a few years back, and I took the great load advice from colt_saa above. 7 grains of HP38/W231 under a 215 grain coated lead SWC has been an excellent mid range load for me.
 
These loads are from Elmer Keith :
220 gr or 215 gr. cast SWC bullet
Target & Tin Can - 5.0 grs Bullseye @ 790 fps
Medium Mid-Range Load - 7.5 grs. Unique @ 950 fps
Heavy Hunting Load - 16 grs 2400 @ 1220 fps

I have also hit upon :
4.0 grs - AA#2 @ 725 fps
4.5 grs - AA#2 @ 760 fps
As good target loads when you can't find/get Bullseye Powder .

Gary
My avatar is a model 58 S&W 41 Magnum
 
The .41 magnum has no official "Special" version for light loads. Most of the loads start at a minimum of around 1,000 FPS. The way I approached looking for a reduced load was to pick a powder, load the starting listed load, then I worked my way down. The 6.5gr starting load for Universal I found was just a little bit more than I wanted.

I "loaded to recoil" and hoped the accuracy worked out. I wanted a load that 100+ rounds a session wouldn't wear on me. I got lucky and hit it on my second load.

I'm going to try the 7.0 Gr of W231/HP 38. I suspect it might be a little much for me given I load less Universal. I'm getting too old for much in the way of recoil. I'm just target shooting and it doesn't take much in the way of muzzle velocity to punch a hole in a piece of paper. Be nice to your hands. You'll need them when you're older.

I'm going to try some CFE Pistol also. Looking at the data, it might come in around 6.0-6.5 gr too. The starting load for a 215gr LSWC is 7.1 gr at 1100 FPS.
 
I realize that you did not mention the availability of either Herco or Unique powders. If you should happen to obtain either, you may wish to consider these loads. I obtained them from an old "Law Enforcement Handgun Digest" book. I do not have a chronograph but according the the article, both are less than 1000 feet per second. Both of these shoot point of aim/point of impact at 25 yards with my fixed-sight Model 58 utilizing 215 grain lead semi-wadcutter bullets:

1) Herco - 8.0 grains
2) Unique - 7.0 grains

As an aside, I have also used 215 grain plated bullets with equally good results. Both loads are very controllable.

HTH

JPJ
 
Red Coats

I got my 100ct. Acme 215gr .411dia Hi-Tek
Red coated Lead bullets. They came in a neat
sturdy compact Wood Box.

Looking forward to reloading these in the
near future.
 

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I hae a heavy Bullet load I have used for quite a long time...with different powders.. a cast 240-245 LSWCGC bullet at about 1000-1050 FPS. It will shoot through a moose front to back and it doesn't wear your wrist/hands out. The first powder I used was 2400 then Blue Dot and L'il Gun. Blue Dot is no longer recommended mainly in cold weather. There are some lighter bullet loads from 170 to 190 gr cast bullets using RD GD at about 850 that kinda feel like 38 specials when shooting them out of a N frame
 
I got my 100ct. Acme 215gr .411dia Hi-Tek
Red coated Lead bullets. They came in a neat
sturdy compact Wood Box.

Looking forward to reloading these in the
near future.

I've shot a couple of thousand of that same bullet. Order 500 and they come in the same kind of box, only bigger! Mostly I use SNS Casting. I'm trying to get back to casting my own but now the weather has snuck up on me. It's hot down here already! Come fall I'll get going. I hope.
 
Field Test of XTPs and Red Dot

I got to try my 41Rem Mag, 210gr .410dia #41000
Horn. XTPs, Alliant Red Dot 7.2grs/CCI #300 LP/
Starline case. Crimped light. 900fps?

Pretty uneventful, mild reload, recoil very
manageable, Target at 15ft shots were
3” low.

The CCI #300 Large Pistol primers were not
flat, cartridges appeared to seal in the
chambers, and easily came out of the
chambers.

The performance of the reload was basically
what I wanted. I going to reload a few more
to try again.

Also I’m going to try some reloads with Acme
215gr .411 dia SWC Hi-Tek Red coated Lead bullets.

Pictured, condition of Primers.
 

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...welcome to the Cult.

Lots of good posts and threads here...

.41 Magnum / 41 Special Load Data Center

7.0/231/215 will run in the low 900s from a 4" barrel.

As to H110/296 (same powder different can), have found that if the bullet sits right on top of the powder eliminating all the air space, it is extremely accurate, low extreme spread and highest safe velocity. The amount of powder varies with the length of the bullet from the crimp groove to the base... Works for both cast and jacketed bullets...

ps...crimp heavy regardless of the powder or bullet type...your powder will burn much cleaner.. Lee Carbide Factory Crimp Die does a great job..
 
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