Buffalo Bore .41 Mag Ammo

[Sportsterguy]

Has anyone used any of their Heavy ammo for hunting? I'm looking at the Heavy .41 Magnum Ammo - 265 gr. L.W.N. (1,350 fps/M.E. 1,072 ft. lbs.) - 20 Round Box loading. I'm about out of my SSK Hand Cannon 210 gr. hard cast LSWC's and need a bullet with lots of penetration. These look very promising.

Thanks!

 

[427mach1]

I use hand loaded ammunition that is very similar; 265 grain Cast Performance LWFNGC with 21.2 grains of Lil' Gun. I haven't chrono'd it yet but Cast Performance said it should be around 1300 fps. My previous hand loads were 220 grains at about 1300 fps. The 265 grain loads have noticeably more recoil and you WILL notice the difference. I carry these in my 41 when hiking in Montana but I haven't had to use them on anything more dangerous than paper targets yet. However, the Buffalo Bore should be able to stop just about anything on the continent, given good shot placement. If I didn't brew my own, I would definitely try the Buffalo Bore.

 

[Sportsterguy]

Thanks 427. These loads would be used for an elk hunting and bear protection. Planning on a trip back up to Kodiak next fall for a hunt.

I've never loaded anything heavier than a 220 gr. bullet for my S&W's.
I might give your load a try before the BB's. What revolver are you using?
I don't want to shoot the old 57 loose again.

 

[427mach1]

I have a New Model Blackhawk, 6.5" barrel. I had to replace the base pin with a Belt Mountain unit with set screw. It kept backing out under recoil with these heavy loads (a fairly common problem with the Blackhawk shooting heavy loads). How strong is the 57 supposed to be? I wouldn't recommend a steady diet of Buffalo Bore but would want something similar for hunting or bear protection.

I spent half a summer in Kodiak when I was 13; my brother in law was stationed there in the Coast Guard as a cook on the cutter Confidence.

If you are hunting Kodiak brown bears, I hope you are packing a rifle of substantial caliber!

 

[m657]

Not to induce thread drift here gents.....is there experience with heavy loads in 41 mag for more than casual bear remedies? And which S&W in 41 mag might be best suited for developing suitable competence in practice for such?

I'm leery of using 57 & Mtn gun; don't know whether 657 would prove adequate; that leave a Super Blackhawk, which seems to be the general default Final Option, eh?

I will be doing some trail hikes in the Salmon River country next year, and there's wolf AND grizzly in them thar woods....

 

[SuperMan]

22.0 grains of H110 with a 255 Cast Performance bullet...went through 6 gallon jugs of water one 3/4" piece of marine plywood and then burryed itself to the base in a 4x4" post....

1350 from a 5.5" barrel. Have shot the loads out of 57s and MGs with no problem and the empties drop out of the cylinder.

The 250 grain Cast Performance/Leadhead bullet is the same one that Federal uses in their CastCore round. The CastCore runs only 1080 fro a 4" 57 but because of the longer shank will only take 20 grains of H110 and will run in the 1200s.

As a comparison the 210 JHPs only make the second to third water jug...

Bob


Bob

 

[Sportsterguy]

22.0 grains of H110 with a 255 Cast Performance bullet...went through 6 gallon jugs of water one 3/4" piece of marine plywood and then burryed itself to the base in a 4x4" post....

1350 from a 5.5" barrel. Have shot the loads out of 57s and MGs with no problem and the empties drop out of the cylinder.

The 250 grain Cast Performance/Leadhead bullet is the same one that Federal uses in their CastCore round. The CastCore runs only 1080 fro a 4" 57 but because of the longer shank will only take 20 grains of H110 and will run in the 1200s.

As a comparison the 210 JHPs only make the second to third water jug...

Bob


Bob

That's what I'm talking about! Very impressive sir. My hot 210 HCLSWC's will shoot very cleanly stem to stern on a deer. My only scentific testing was blasting through 6" alders and Sitka Whitetails when I was stationed in Kodiak and Sitka Alaska. JD Jones from SSK Hand Cannons made em up for me years ago for hunting and bear protection. Felt safe with it as a backup to my .338 Win Mag or 870 loaded with slugs and OO. I always felt it would get the job done on a bear till one walked past us from 5' away when we were returning to camp after dark. Scared the crap out of us! The 57 was still in it's Bianchi SH and I had about 110 lbs. of venison strapped to my back. I then took to using it as a backup to the Ruger or 870. If I had a good backup with a large magnum rifle I would take a shot with a good hard cast .41 mag bullet on a bear if presented with a close shot and a clear bullet path.

@ 427. Small world! We too were in Kodiak from 83-86 and Sitka from 93-96. Was a Coast Guard HH-3F Helo Flight Mechanic and HH-60J Helo Flight Mechanic / Rescue Swimmer. What year were you up there? Still know lot's of folks on the two Islands and am going back up next year for a hunt. Can't wait and am getting into shape as them mountains may look small but are very hard to climb and look big once you're on them. Can't wait!

@m657. My ancient 6" 57 was my deer gun. Most of my deer were taken with the old Remington 210 gr. JSP round or the HCLSWC's. All were close shots and the handload was a killing machine. ALMOST took a shot at a elk over on Rasberry Island with it but was huffing and puffing too bad after running up a hill to keep the sights aligned from appx. 30 yards away. Had 100% confidence in the round and revolver, but just couldn't stop the darn sights from moving. The .41 mag will do most everything a .44 mag will do with the right handload. I had a Mountain Gun in .41 mag but never fired any heavy loads through it as it did recoil more than my heavier 57, but was a pleasure to pack. Must get another one. The 57's are not as strong as the Rugers so I keep them heavies to a minimum. Shot the 57 out of time but S&W did me right on the repair back in 86. I do believe if you keep the heavy bullet count down it could handle a few but recoil will be very brisk. The Ruger will take much more punishment than the S&W so that would be the revolver to buy if you are feeding it a steady diet of heavy handloads. JMO

Thanks for the excellent report gents. I'm going to try both of your loads out and also order a box of the Buffalos. PM's inbound.

 

[427mach1]

I was there in '75. My brother in law was stationed there from the beginning of the summer of 73 through summer of 75. I spent a lot of time fishing on the Buskin River but the salmon weren't running so all I caught were Dolly Varden. I wanted to climb Old Woman's mountain but couldn't find anyone to go with me!

 

[Sportsterguy]

I was there in '75. My brother in law was stationed there from the beginning of the summer of 73 through summer of 75. I spent a lot of time fishing on the Buskin River but the salmon weren't running so all I caught were Dolly Varden. I wanted to climb Old Woman's mountain but couldn't find anyone to go with me!

BMT I'm afraid. Spent numerous summer days and nights fishing the Buskin and have great memories of the family hauling in the salmon. Climbed Barometer, Pyramid, Sheratin, Crown and Center mountains quite a few times. Have a picture of my daughter in her baby backpack on top of Barometer. Wife only let me do it once when we first arrived there in 83. Was dumb! Got a nice Billy on Center mountain. What a pain to get to and pack out. All good times and I can't wait to go back up.

I'm going to try your recipe for the .41. Did you buy the 255 Cast Performance/leadhead bullets directly from them? How many grains of H110 did you start with?

Thank you! Small world I tell ya.

 

[Marine24]

I've been a big fan of Buffalo Bore's Heavy 45 Colt loads and am equally impressed with Doubletap's ammo as well. I'm not a 41 magnum shooter, but Doubletap's specs are:

Caliber: 41 Magnum

Bullet: 250gr. Wide Flat Nose Hardcast

Velocity: 1370fps / 6.5" Ruger
1260fps / 4.62"bbl Ruger

Muzzle Energy: 1042 ft. lbs.