The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - .41 magnum bullet

**44 AMP** · June 23, 2023, 01:54 PM

Swaged lead bullets are always "soft". They have to be, due to the way they are made. This is not automatically a bad thing, it just means that there is an upper velocity limit (much slower than the one for harder bullets) beyond which they are not suitable and performance is poor.

Trajectory involves more than just velocity, it also includes bullet shape, wieght, & size.

I looked on a Hornady chart, choosing the closest match I could find, a .41 210gr JHP and a .44 200gr jhp at the same starting speed of 1500fps.

Sighted for 25m, drop at 50m was identical for both .6". At 75m, the .41 drops 2.6" and the .44 drops 2.7". At 100m the drop was 6.6" for the .41 and 6.8" for the .44. And that the end of the chart 125m, the .41 drop was 12.4" and the .44 drop was 12.9".

So, yes the .41 does shoot flatter than the .44 but not much, a tenth of an inch at 75, two tenths of an inch at 100 and a whole half inch at 125.

I am not impressed with how much flatter the .41 is, by the book.

Obviously with different bullets and loads the precise numbers will be slightly different, but I don't think the principle will change. The .41 does shoot flatter than the .44 by a tiny amount, but for me it's not enough to matter.

June 23, 2023, 01:54 PM	#91
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 30,492	Swaged lead bullets are always "soft". They have to be, due to the way they are made. This is not automatically a bad thing, it just means that there is an upper velocity limit (much slower than the one for harder bullets) beyond which they are not suitable and performance is poor. Trajectory involves more than just velocity, it also includes bullet shape, wieght, & size. I looked on a Hornady chart, choosing the closest match I could find, a .41 210gr JHP and a .44 200gr jhp at the same starting speed of 1500fps. Sighted for 25m, drop at 50m was identical for both .6". At 75m, the .41 drops 2.6" and the .44 drops 2.7". At 100m the drop was 6.6" for the .41 and 6.8" for the .44. And that the end of the chart 125m, the .41 drop was 12.4" and the .44 drop was 12.9". So, yes the .41 does shoot flatter than the .44 but not much, a tenth of an inch at 75, two tenths of an inch at 100 and a whole half inch at 125. I am not impressed with how much flatter the .41 is, by the book. Obviously with different bullets and loads the precise numbers will be slightly different, but I don't think the principle will change. The .41 does shoot flatter than the .44 by a tiny amount, but for me it's not enough to matter. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.