.41 Mag with cast bullets

RiverRider · December 2, 2000, 12:08 AM

Well, let's stir things up a bit. I'd like to know what powders folks have found to be best with hard-cast bullets for the .41 Magnum. I cast the Lyman #410610 220-grain gas check bullet, and would like to know if W296 has worked any better than H 2400 for anyone, and what powders give the best results...

I've used Accurate No.9 with some success, 2400 is okay, Blue Dot is erratic, and I have a pound of W296 to try out. I've considered H4227, but time is not unlimited...

Opinions???

Jay Baker · December 2, 2000, 12:41 AM

River Rider, looks like we like some of the same guns. What firearm are you using? Mine's a Mdl. 57, and a Marlin lever in .41 Mag. A nice little carry-out-in-the-boonies combo.

What do you mean, "Blue Dot is erratic."? I've had good results with Blue Dot (13 to 15 grs., depending on bullets, etc.) I've had good results from H2400, and H110 & WW296. Those latter two are the same, by the way. Of course, every gun will shoot differently. I've used Beartooth Bullets, of 255 gr. hard cast with good accuracy. Also the standard 210, 215, 220 hard caset, plus Sierra 210 gr JHP, and Sierra 200 gr. JHP. (That one's a bomb! In fact they all are good.)

Go to http://www.sixgunner.com and look for the articles on the .41 by Paco Kelley, John Taffin, and Jim Taylor. Great info.

Best of luck. J.B.

RiverRider · December 2, 2000, 06:33 AM

Hello Jay.

I shoot a 6" M-57. I wish I had a .41 Mag lever gun to go with it, but I've never seen one while I had money in my pocket, and rarely when I did for that matter...

Blue Dot? Well, I found that it was okay for fairly light loads with the Lyman #410610, but when loading in the neighborhood of 14.0 grains or more, there was considerable velocity fluctuation and accuracy was so-so. A little research showed that Blue Dot is designed for lower operating pressure. I got my best results when using 12.0 grains or even a little less (it's been quite some time), but I was looking for higher velocity. So I turned to 2400.

Thanks for the link. I'll be looking at it when I have more time. I'm one of those poor unfortunate souls who work weekends...

WESHOOT2 · December 2, 2000, 06:15 PM

Best I've found is W296 for serious stuff (heavy bullets, high velocity, etc.) and Universal Clays for medium stuff.

Expect TiteGroup to be good for light, target/plinking stuff.

CCI350 for everything (but that's just me).

RiverRider · December 2, 2000, 11:58 PM

That's encouraging, WESHOOT. I just so happen to have a pound of 296 on hand for this very purpose. How many times do people tell ya what you wanna hear in forums?? Hehehe...

Robert the41MagFan · December 4, 2000, 02:16 AM

H110 and W296 are pretty much the same powders in terms of performance characteristics. In the high performance realm of a 215-220 grain lead bullets, Accurate #9 is tops in the velocity and accuracy departments. For medium power target loads, 9.6 grains of Herco and for light target loads, 6 grains of 231 Winchester work very good. As the bullets get lighter, IMR 800 works better. And for those heavier bullets, 250-265 grains, leave that work for powders like W296, H110 and 2400.

Robert

December 2, 2000, 12:08 AM	#1
RiverRider Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2000 Posts: 341	Well, let's stir things up a bit. I'd like to know what powders folks have found to be best with hard-cast bullets for the .41 Magnum. I cast the Lyman #410610 220-grain gas check bullet, and would like to know if W296 has worked any better than H 2400 for anyone, and what powders give the best results... I've used Accurate No.9 with some success, 2400 is okay, Blue Dot is erratic, and I have a pound of W296 to try out. I've considered H4227, but time is not unlimited... Opinions???

December 2, 2000, 12:41 AM	#2
Jay Baker Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2000 Location: S.W. Idaho Posts: 1,294	River Rider, looks like we like some of the same guns. What firearm are you using? Mine's a Mdl. 57, and a Marlin lever in .41 Mag. A nice little carry-out-in-the-boonies combo. What do you mean, "Blue Dot is erratic."? I've had good results with Blue Dot (13 to 15 grs., depending on bullets, etc.) I've had good results from H2400, and H110 & WW296. Those latter two are the same, by the way. Of course, every gun will shoot differently. I've used Beartooth Bullets, of 255 gr. hard cast with good accuracy. Also the standard 210, 215, 220 hard caset, plus Sierra 210 gr JHP, and Sierra 200 gr. JHP. (That one's a bomb! In fact they all are good.) Go to http://www.sixgunner.com and look for the articles on the .41 by Paco Kelley, John Taffin, and Jim Taylor. Great info. Best of luck. J.B.

December 2, 2000, 06:33 AM	#3
RiverRider Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2000 Posts: 341	Hello Jay. I shoot a 6" M-57. I wish I had a .41 Mag lever gun to go with it, but I've never seen one while I had money in my pocket, and rarely when I did for that matter... Blue Dot? Well, I found that it was okay for fairly light loads with the Lyman #410610, but when loading in the neighborhood of 14.0 grains or more, there was considerable velocity fluctuation and accuracy was so-so. A little research showed that Blue Dot is designed for lower operating pressure. I got my best results when using 12.0 grains or even a little less (it's been quite some time), but I was looking for higher velocity. So I turned to 2400. Thanks for the link. I'll be looking at it when I have more time. I'm one of those poor unfortunate souls who work weekends...

December 2, 2000, 06:15 PM	#4
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	Best I've found is W296 for serious stuff (heavy bullets, high velocity, etc.) and Universal Clays for medium stuff. Expect TiteGroup to be good for light, target/plinking stuff. CCI350 for everything (but that's just me). __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

December 2, 2000, 11:58 PM	#5
RiverRider Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2000 Posts: 341	That's encouraging, WESHOOT. I just so happen to have a pound of 296 on hand for this very purpose. How many times do people tell ya what you wanna hear in forums?? Hehehe...

December 4, 2000, 02:16 AM	#6
Robert the41MagFan Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 1999 Posts: 1,233	H110 and W296 are pretty much the same powders in terms of performance characteristics. In the high performance realm of a 215-220 grain lead bullets, Accurate #9 is tops in the velocity and accuracy departments. For medium power target loads, 9.6 grains of Herco and for light target loads, 6 grains of 231 Winchester work very good. As the bullets get lighter, IMR 800 works better. And for those heavier bullets, 250-265 grains, leave that work for powders like W296, H110 and 2400. Robert