Favorite load for .41 Magnum

NAVET · February 17, 2008, 01:00 AM

I just ordered A Ruger Blackhawk in .41 Magnum and was wondering what your favorite handload is? I will be reloading in the not so distant future (hopefully) and was curious what your particular weapon liked best.

warrior poet · February 17, 2008, 01:11 AM

Just like to say you've got great taste in calibers. I LOVE the .41 MAG. Unfortuantely, I am about 3000 miles from home (and my reloading data). I wish I could be more help, but until I get home (in mid May) I'm pretty much useless. Sorry.

NAVET · February 17, 2008, 09:13 AM

I would have bought a SW but the Model 657 is REALLY tough to find and according to SW they have halted production for now. Not for good just for now. I even considered a model 610 in 10MM. Again according to SW they have started a production run in limited numbers but it was 2x the price. Part of my purchase budget was figuring in a reload setup. Which is why I was wondering about favorite loads / load that gets you the best group.

Primered · February 17, 2008, 09:36 AM

NAVET:

In my S&W 657 for the stouter loads with a 215 LSWC, I use 17.5 grains of IMR 4227. This load will leave powder in your barrel (4227 seems to do that no matter how it's used) but its never interfered with function

For practice or plinking loads, I use 5.2 of Titegroup or 7 grains of Unique.

Pete

caz223 · February 17, 2008, 01:53 PM

I love the .41 magnum, the ruger is a fine gun.
I have one I bought used in '93 and I just won't part with it as long as the good Lord gives me breath. Loved that gun so much I got a dozen more, of varying makes. They all shoot great, with the exception of the little taurus.

17.5 grains alliant 2400, Hornady 210 grain XTP-HP bullets, CCI 350 primers, starline brass.
Great all purpose load. Not for those who like reduced loads. A Flamethrower. Can't think of a bad thing to say about this combo. Stumbled on this load in about '95 or '96.

Not a light target load, but they group fine at 70 yards through all of my guns.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...3/466e66a4.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...3/ae7e3c9b.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...3/09eaeaac.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...3/84092cf6.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...3/6a6b9c36.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...3/0b3c36f3.jpg
657s are around, I bought one in 2001 and am not sorry I did. But a classic model 57 is a great shooter, too. Those have gone WAAAAAAAYYYYYYY up in price in the last 10 years or so....
Lew Hortons and Performance center guns shoot fine as well.
Those are obnoxiously expensive now, but they weren't so bad when I got them. That means if you get a good 657 now and take care of it, it will never be worth less than what you paid for it. Rugers are the reason the gun is still in production, so I feel good when I buy a ruger.

NAVET · February 17, 2008, 03:48 PM

I'm sure another production run of the 657 will come around again. I just wasn't financially able to get one when they were still available.
But thats ok. I still await delivery of my Blackhawk on Thursday. I plan on shooting Thursday after work and am as giddy as a school girl in anticipation and not afraid to admit it.
Hopefully in a month or so I will be able to get my reload stuff. All that will do is allow me to shoot as much as I'd like.
I was wondering if anyone had used Hodgdon H110 and what their results were.

ialungo · February 17, 2008, 06:52 PM

I've had my Ruger .41 Mag for quite a few years & love It. I've only recently started handloading so do not feel qualified to respond to your inquiry. But I posed a similar question about 1 month ago & got some great responses.

Check them out. My thread was ".41 Mag" by ialungo

caz223 · February 17, 2008, 06:54 PM

I used H110 for years, and it's a fine powder.
It really doesn't do anything that 2400 won't do until you get really high in charge weights. Then it has a slight edge. The trade-off is that you can't reduce that load and you have a very narrow 'sweet spot'.
I recall the sweet spot for me was between 20.5-21.5 grains with hornady XTP-hp 210 grain bullets and CCI 350 primers, depending on the abuse you want to take. You also don't get as many charges per pound, making an expensive caliber moreso needlessly, IMHO.
A buddy of mine who shall remain nameless forged WAAAAYYYYYY beyond charted loads with H110 and it comes into it's own out there. I don't need the risk OR the reward.
I also like to reuse my brass.

If you must exceed, then do a wildcat. You can start out with stronger brass, like .454 casull.
Gary Reeder does a number of wildcats involving .41 magnum, and while not free, they're certainly very formidible.
He's got a wildcat that is a .454 casull necked down to a .41 mag, and will make one for you too. (For a price.)
I guess he's getting some insane velocities out of that wildcat with 170 grain bullets and H110. Also with 255 grain LBT lead slugs.

NAVET · February 17, 2008, 08:09 PM

caz223
Part of the reason I love the .41 Magnum so much is I can get near .44 Mag numbers without all the abuse. So for me to run the "razors edge" of performance is just not necessary. Or wanted for that matter. For me reloading is about spending my shooting $$ wisely so I can shoot more. So if H110 is not the "right powder" for my goals and reasons for reloading then I am fully prepared to move to another powder. I am sure in the future I will "experiment" with different powders, but for now it's all about the $$.

caz223 · February 17, 2008, 08:48 PM

I like H110, I really do, and it's good for a lot of things, but it's not really worth it if you do starting loads.
Popping out wincalc, I see that 7000/17.5=400
That means you get 400 loads out of a pound of 2400, loading 17.5 grains.
7000/21=333.33
You get 67 more loaded rounds out of a pound of 2400 than a pound of H110, and for me the accuracy is the same.
From my perspective, that's a no-brainer.
I've tried blue dot, for the same reasons, and for me the accuracy isn't there. *shrug* dunno.
Elmer Keith was fond of 2400, and for very good reasons.

nate45 · February 17, 2008, 09:32 PM

I like to use the 230gr Keith Type with 17.5 grs of 2400 for a nice general purpose load and 22 grs of H-110 with a 210gr Gold Dot.(hot)

zxcvbob · February 17, 2008, 09:40 PM

I don't have a .41 yet (I do have a set of reloading dies for it though

) but in other magnums I like Herco for cast bullets and 2400 for jacketed.

HS-6 looks real good on paper.

NAVET · February 17, 2008, 10:45 PM

zxcvbob
I don't have a .41M either. YET! But come Thursday (hopefully) I will. And I don't have anything for reloading. Yet.....

CowTowner · February 18, 2008, 06:13 AM

I love my Ruger Blackhawk in .41 Magnum. And I load it with H110.
210 GR. HDY XTP H110 22.0Gr
Yes, I load it right at Max.

caz223 · February 19, 2008, 04:16 AM

If you load right at max then you're using H110 correctly.
Any other load is just wasting money on H110.
Of course, you gotta work up to it.
The flash you get out of that load is impressive when shooting just before dusk.

nate45 · February 19, 2008, 04:53 AM

230gr Keith Types and a 210 Gold Dot. 1980 Mod.57 w/ivory magnas.

BillCA · February 19, 2008, 05:27 AM

I still have a few of my hard cast 220gr LSWC that were "mediocre" loads - About 9.8 grains of Alliant Unique (it was called Hercules Unique back then) to push it out ~1150 fps for 645 ft-lbs. Accuracy was good-very good.

For more fun, we ran the Speer 220gr JSP with 17.9 of 2400 for 1269 fps (787 ftlbs) and it flattened the primers out nicely.

For target practice, the 210-215 LSWC with anywhere from 8.0 to 8.5 of Unique got you down to 1000-1075 fps with decent accuracy.

I don't have a Ruger yet. Can't figure out why...

nate45 · February 19, 2008, 05:40 AM

I like your Model 58's BillCA, they are hard to locate especially the nickle version. Very nice.

10 Spot Terminator · February 19, 2008, 08:28 AM

I have owned 2 .41's in my life, the first a model 57 which was such a sweet shooter that some jerk decided he needed it worse than I did and stole it from me . I just replaced it this last year with the 657 Classic and worked up some accurate loads that are on the upper warm end using 20.5gr.of Win. 296 and Hornaday 210gr. XBT,s . My older model 57 with a 6in. barrel loved the same bullet with 20.5gr. of H110 , same wieght just slightly different powder. Dont have any lighter pinker loads but would LOVE to hear from you 657 owners whomight have this one figured out already .

ForneyRider · February 19, 2008, 02:19 PM

I loaded the 41 mag with H110 and 210gr Remington JSP and 210gr Nosler JHP.

19gr
20gr
21gr - compressed
22gr - compressed

Used Remington and Winchester brass.

Used Federal 155M primers. (large pistol magnum).

H110 is smoky and flashy.

Lil'gun will give you higher velocity in 41 mag. But I haven't used it.

With the scope attached, even the hottest load doesn't kick much.

Ruger Blackhawk is a tough pistol.

February 17, 2008, 01:00 AM	#1
NAVET Member Join Date: February 16, 2008 Location: Lansdale, Pa Posts: 25	Favorite load for .41 Magnum I just ordered A Ruger Blackhawk in .41 Magnum and was wondering what your favorite handload is? I will be reloading in the not so distant future (hopefully) and was curious what your particular weapon liked best.

February 17, 2008, 01:11 AM	#2
warrior poet Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2007 Location: Whereever Uncle Sam wants to put me Posts: 415	Just like to say you've got great taste in calibers. I LOVE the .41 MAG. Unfortuantely, I am about 3000 miles from home (and my reloading data). I wish I could be more help, but until I get home (in mid May) I'm pretty much useless. Sorry. __________________ Trigger control: The skillful manipulation of the trigger, which causes the weapon to fire, while maintaining sight alignment and sight picture.

February 17, 2008, 01:53 PM	#5
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	I love the .41 magnum, the ruger is a fine gun. I have one I bought used in '93 and I just won't part with it as long as the good Lord gives me breath. Loved that gun so much I got a dozen more, of varying makes. They all shoot great, with the exception of the little taurus. 17.5 grains alliant 2400, Hornady 210 grain XTP-HP bullets, CCI 350 primers, starline brass. Great all purpose load. Not for those who like reduced loads. A Flamethrower. Can't think of a bad thing to say about this combo. Stumbled on this load in about '95 or '96. Not a light target load, but they group fine at 70 yards through all of my guns. http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...3/466e66a4.jpg http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...3/ae7e3c9b.jpg http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...3/09eaeaac.jpg http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...3/84092cf6.jpg http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...3/6a6b9c36.jpg http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...3/0b3c36f3.jpg 657s are around, I bought one in 2001 and am not sorry I did. But a classic model 57 is a great shooter, too. Those have gone WAAAAAAAYYYYYYY up in price in the last 10 years or so.... Lew Hortons and Performance center guns shoot fine as well. Those are obnoxiously expensive now, but they weren't so bad when I got them. That means if you get a good 657 now and take care of it, it will never be worth less than what you paid for it. Rugers are the reason the gun is still in production, so I feel good when I buy a ruger. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.) Last edited by caz223; February 17, 2008 at 02:32 PM.

February 17, 2008, 06:54 PM	#8
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	I used H110 for years, and it's a fine powder. It really doesn't do anything that 2400 won't do until you get really high in charge weights. Then it has a slight edge. The trade-off is that you can't reduce that load and you have a very narrow 'sweet spot'. I recall the sweet spot for me was between 20.5-21.5 grains with hornady XTP-hp 210 grain bullets and CCI 350 primers, depending on the abuse you want to take. You also don't get as many charges per pound, making an expensive caliber moreso needlessly, IMHO. A buddy of mine who shall remain nameless forged WAAAAYYYYYY beyond charted loads with H110 and it comes into it's own out there. I don't need the risk OR the reward. I also like to reuse my brass. If you must exceed, then do a wildcat. You can start out with stronger brass, like .454 casull. Gary Reeder does a number of wildcats involving .41 magnum, and while not free, they're certainly very formidible. He's got a wildcat that is a .454 casull necked down to a .41 mag, and will make one for you too. (For a price.) I guess he's getting some insane velocities out of that wildcat with 170 grain bullets and H110. Also with 255 grain LBT lead slugs. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

February 17, 2008, 08:48 PM	#10
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	I like H110, I really do, and it's good for a lot of things, but it's not really worth it if you do starting loads. Popping out wincalc, I see that 7000/17.5=400 That means you get 400 loads out of a pound of 2400, loading 17.5 grains. 7000/21=333.33 You get 67 more loaded rounds out of a pound of 2400 than a pound of H110, and for me the accuracy is the same. From my perspective, that's a no-brainer. I've tried blue dot, for the same reasons, and for me the accuracy isn't there. shrug dunno. Elmer Keith was fond of 2400, and for very good reasons. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

February 17, 2008, 09:13 AM	#3
NAVET Member Join Date: February 16, 2008 Location: Lansdale, Pa Posts: 25	I would have bought a SW but the Model 657 is REALLY tough to find and according to SW they have halted production for now. Not for good just for now. I even considered a model 610 in 10MM. Again according to SW they have started a production run in limited numbers but it was 2x the price. Part of my purchase budget was figuring in a reload setup. Which is why I was wondering about favorite loads / load that gets you the best group.

February 17, 2008, 09:36 AM	#4
Primered Member Join Date: September 24, 2002 Location: SW Kansas Posts: 41	NAVET: In my S&W 657 for the stouter loads with a 215 LSWC, I use 17.5 grains of IMR 4227. This load will leave powder in your barrel (4227 seems to do that no matter how it's used) but its never interfered with function For practice or plinking loads, I use 5.2 of Titegroup or 7 grains of Unique. Pete

February 17, 2008, 03:48 PM	#6
NAVET Member Join Date: February 16, 2008 Location: Lansdale, Pa Posts: 25	I'm sure another production run of the 657 will come around again. I just wasn't financially able to get one when they were still available. But thats ok. I still await delivery of my Blackhawk on Thursday. I plan on shooting Thursday after work and am as giddy as a school girl in anticipation and not afraid to admit it. Hopefully in a month or so I will be able to get my reload stuff. All that will do is allow me to shoot as much as I'd like. I was wondering if anyone had used Hodgdon H110 and what their results were.

February 17, 2008, 06:52 PM	#7
ialungo Member Join Date: January 8, 2008 Posts: 23	I've had my Ruger .41 Mag for quite a few years & love It. I've only recently started handloading so do not feel qualified to respond to your inquiry. But I posed a similar question about 1 month ago & got some great responses. Check them out. My thread was ".41 Mag" by ialungo

February 17, 2008, 08:09 PM	#9
NAVET Member Join Date: February 16, 2008 Location: Lansdale, Pa Posts: 25	caz223 Part of the reason I love the .41 Magnum so much is I can get near .44 Mag numbers without all the abuse. So for me to run the "razors edge" of performance is just not necessary. Or wanted for that matter. For me reloading is about spending my shooting $$ wisely so I can shoot more. So if H110 is not the "right powder" for my goals and reasons for reloading then I am fully prepared to move to another powder. I am sure in the future I will "experiment" with different powders, but for now it's all about the $$.

February 17, 2008, 09:32 PM	#11
nate45 Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,746	I like to use the 230gr Keith Type with 17.5 grs of 2400 for a nice general purpose load and 22 grs of H-110 with a 210gr Gold Dot.(hot) __________________ "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."- Thomas Jefferson ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ (>_<)

February 17, 2008, 09:40 PM	#12
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	I don't have a .41 yet (I do have a set of reloading dies for it though ) but in other magnums I like Herco for cast bullets and 2400 for jacketed. HS-6 looks real good on paper.

February 17, 2008, 10:45 PM	#13
NAVET Member Join Date: February 16, 2008 Location: Lansdale, Pa Posts: 25	zxcvbob I don't have a .41M either. YET! But come Thursday (hopefully) I will. And I don't have anything for reloading. Yet..... __________________ If polymer guns are so great why are there no polymer revolvers?

February 18, 2008, 06:13 AM	#14
CowTowner Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2007 Location: Cowtown of course! Posts: 1,747	I love my Ruger Blackhawk in .41 Magnum. And I load it with H110. 210 GR. HDY XTP H110 22.0Gr Yes, I load it right at Max. __________________ NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, Home Firearms Safety, Pistol and Rifle Instructor *“Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life......”* President John F. Kennedy

February 19, 2008, 04:16 AM	#15
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	If you load right at max then you're using H110 correctly. Any other load is just wasting money on H110. Of course, you gotta work up to it. The flash you get out of that load is impressive when shooting just before dusk. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

February 19, 2008, 04:53 AM	#16
nate45 Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,746	230gr Keith Types and a 210 Gold Dot. 1980 Mod.57 w/ivory magnas. __________________ "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."- Thomas Jefferson ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ (>_<)

February 19, 2008, 05:27 AM	#17
BillCA Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2004 Location: Silicon Valley, Ca Posts: 7,117	I still have a few of my hard cast 220gr LSWC that were "mediocre" loads - About 9.8 grains of Alliant Unique (it was called Hercules Unique back then) to push it out ~1150 fps for 645 ft-lbs. Accuracy was good-very good. For more fun, we ran the Speer 220gr JSP with 17.9 of 2400 for 1269 fps (787 ftlbs) and it flattened the primers out nicely. For target practice, the 210-215 LSWC with anywhere from 8.0 to 8.5 of Unique got you down to 1000-1075 fps with decent accuracy. I don't have a Ruger yet. Can't figure out why... __________________ BillCA in CA (Unfortunately)

February 19, 2008, 05:40 AM	#18
nate45 Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,746	I like your Model 58's BillCA, they are hard to locate especially the nickle version. Very nice. __________________ "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."- Thomas Jefferson ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ (>_<)

February 19, 2008, 08:28 AM	#19
10 Spot Terminator Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2008 Location: Central Oregon Posts: 348	Gotta Love The .41 ! I have owned 2 .41's in my life, the first a model 57 which was such a sweet shooter that some jerk decided he needed it worse than I did and stole it from me . I just replaced it this last year with the 657 Classic and worked up some accurate loads that are on the upper warm end using 20.5gr.of Win. 296 and Hornaday 210gr. XBT,s . My older model 57 with a 6in. barrel loved the same bullet with 20.5gr. of H110 , same wieght just slightly different powder. Dont have any lighter pinker loads but would LOVE to hear from you 657 owners whomight have this one figured out already .

February 19, 2008, 02:19 PM	#20
ForneyRider Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2007 Location: Forney, TX Posts: 725	I loaded the 41 mag with H110 and 210gr Remington JSP and 210gr Nosler JHP. 19gr 20gr 21gr - compressed 22gr - compressed Used Remington and Winchester brass. Used Federal 155M primers. (large pistol magnum). H110 is smoky and flashy. Lil'gun will give you higher velocity in 41 mag. But I haven't used it. With the scope attached, even the hottest load doesn't kick much. Ruger Blackhawk is a tough pistol. __________________ When all is said and done, there is a lot more said than done.