Can anyone say anything about 41 mag?

[Linker]

I was just wondering. I am thinking about getting one.

[44 AMP]

I had one, a Ruger old model Blackhawk 4 5/8" back in 80. Great gun, good caliber for a lot of things, but not, where I lived, legal for deer. (barrel too short)

I needed a deer gun so the .41 got replaced by a Marlin .30-30. Later on, when I was able to get handguns for deer, I skipped the .41 and went to the .44 and .45 caliber bores. Nothing wrong with the .41 just fewer options available.

On paper, the .41 Mag shoots a bit flatter, and has a bit less energy and recoil then the .44 Mag. In my hands, I could never tell the difference.

[paknheat]

Really love mine. 7.5” Ruger Blackhawk. I handload for it and my preferred load is the Speer 210gn deep curl bullet and a healthy dose of W-296 to move it along.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[ligonierbill]

I had a Blackhawk that I enjoyed. A 210 JHP at 1,400 fps is more than enough for most hunting. The only problem with the 41 is that it's too close to the 44. Most folks figure, "Why not go with the 44?" The other advantage of the 44 is the availability of carbines in that round. They've made 41 carbines, but they're pretty rare. Personally, I sold my 41 and my 44 and am focusing my attention on 45 Colt. Out of a 7 1/2" Blackhawk, it is a very versatile round.

But, if you want a 41 Mag, go for it. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[rc]

You can find 44 mag ammo anywhere just like 30-06.

You can find 357 mag ammo anywhere too like 30-30.

You may not find 41 magnum on the shelf everywhere.

If you want one, get it. Make sure you can handload

A quick look at SG ammo tells me the price of 41 mag at $70 a box can be double the more common 44 mag at $34 a box.

[Bob Wright]

I had a bfief afair with the .41 Magnum back in the '70s, in a 4 5/8" Blankvhaqk. It was a fine revolvers, though at the time reloading components were scarce. And there wan nothing the .41 couldn't do the the .44 Magnum did. And the .44 was offered i the Super Blackhawk, so chose to stay with the .44. But if you are not already dedicated to a .44, then the .41 will serve you very well.

Here is my .41, posedwith my Super Blackhawk. As you can see, this was before color was discovered:



Bob Wright

[bamaranger]

The .41mag was one of Elmer Keith's idea's for a heavy police handgun cartridge. It was originally released with two loadings, a lead SWC weighing 210 gr at somewhere around 1050 fps and a 210 gr jacketed bullet around 1400 (?).

LE never really warmed up to the cartridge, though it did see some use. Though recoil, even with the reduced PD load is oft listed as the reason the cartridge did not get widespread adoption. Too, the .41 was seen by some as an overly powerful cartridge for general police use.

I think there is another reason. The .41 cartridge required the N-frame revolver, which many agencies had abandoned as the K-frame .357 mags/,38's were widely adopted and welcomed due to the increasing load on an officers duty rig. The big N-frame was in a sense a step backward and increased the load an officer had to tote.

Elmer claimed the full power .41 shot a little flatter than his beloved .44. I've got a pal who has had several .41's over the years and he likes it because it kicks slightly less than a .44.

Never had one myself.

[Jim Watson]

When I was shooting IHMSA in the 1970s, it was said that the .41 was the most the N frame would stand up to with volume shooting of full Magnums, while the .44 would shake loose. I didn't last long enough in the game to wear out my Model 29, though.

The .41 was a case of merchandising, it does little that a .44 Magnum loaded down or a .44 Special or .45 Colt loaded up won't do, and in no larger revolver.

[armoredman]

All I know about .41 Magnum is that Evan Marshall really liked it for a duty sidearm while with Detroit Police/Homicide.

[jetinteriorguy]

If you’re a handloader go for it. It’s very versatile to load for and a very accurate round. I’ve been shooting mine since the early 80’s. I have both a 6” and 4” Model 57 no dash and a Henry BBS. Mine ain’t going anywhere. If I had to rely on factory ammo then no go.

[rclark]

The .41 was a case of merchandising, it does little that a .44 Magnum loaded down or a .44 Special or .45 Colt loaded up won't do, and in no larger revolver.

My feeling too. the .429 does everything the .41 does. You can load 'light' bullets in the .429 (200gr or so) ... So why a .41? ... Just me though. So I have .357, .44, and .45 revolvers. No .41s. But like most cartridges there always a number of shooters that like a niche cartridge. Take the .44 Special cartridge. I love it, even though I could load 'down' the .44 Magnum to .44 Special power levels... Each to their own . We can all still get along .

[SIGSHR]

Had my 4" M-57 since 1980, was 10 years before I fired a factory round, it is a good round for the reloader provided you can find the bullets. It was intended to fill that elusive "caliber gap"-whatever THAT is, there was a .41 Colt in blackpowder days, Colt experimented with a "41 Special" in the 1930s, Herter's had a 401 Powermag.
There was the fixed sighted M-58 intended for police use, didn't catch on, recall Jeff Cooper writing it was too big for lady cops, he said some departments used the "magnum" round instead of the 210 grain lead SWC service round, found it too much.
Marlin made a small run of M1894s in 41 Magnum-good luck finding one, Henry lists their level gun in 41, I will get one-"someday".

[2wheelwander]

I bought one years ago just because it was a good deal. Never shot it much. Fun to shoot, but as alluded to above, answered a question not many people were asking.

Recent youtube video compared it to the 10mm. IIRC the .41 was a tad better performer than a 10mm, for whatever that is worth.

[gwpercle]

I have been a big fan since 1970 when I got a model 58 S&W revolver .
I cast my own lead bullets , reload my own ammo which has shown the uncanny accuracy of the 41 Mag. / model 58 S&W .
Every load wants to shoot tight groups ... and tey all want to cluster tightly around each other . I'm a 41 Fan ! It does everything I want it to do .
Handloading opens the door to "41 Special" loads when you don't want / need full blown Magnum loads ... but to take full advantage of the 41 Mag. you just about have to be a reloader and bullet caster .
Gary

[CleanDean]

Elmer Keith ,Evan Marshall , Peter Pi, Leroy Thompson , Prolly’ John Taffin. A lot of senior and vintage Gun mag. authors really have a soft spot for S&W .41 mag. Revolvers.
I hunted with a guy who roamed the Pa. deer woods with a Mod. 57.
Peter Pi , the founder of Cor-Bon even switched to Barnes VorTec 180 gr. Copper when he carried his Mod. 58.

[rock185]

I bought a new S&W model 57 in the summer of '65. I had a couple more a few years later. I reloaded for them, etc. I liked the fact that .41 chambers had a tiny bit more steel surrounding the cartridge than on the .44s and .45s. In short, they were fine, reliable, powerful revolvers. But the .44 slowly won me over for the reasons others have cited...

[P Flados]

I have a 357 Max revolver and a number of fire breathing contender barrels.

IMO, the 41 Mag hits a sweet spot for a hunting revolver with maximum effective range that will also ride comfortably in a hip holster. For the same recoil, your bullet will have a better BC, shoot flatter and have less wind drift than a 44 mag. At any range where your field accuracy is adequate for an ethical shot, terminal ballistics are adequate.

For long range hunting, there are bigger guns that can shoot farther if you accept a much heavier gun. However, the "shoot farther" only counts when field accuracy is adequate. My 357 Max has adequate killing potential well past any distance where field accuracy would be good enough.

[black mamba]

Definitely a handloaders cartridge, so if you don't handload, stick with the .44. I've owned a bunch of them over the last 50 years and they are consistently the most accurate revolvers. My old (1976) 8-3/8" model 57 is the most accurate revolver I've ever owned. For a hunting handgun, it not only gives the best accuracy, but will give you 95% the power of a 44 mag with only 75% of the recoil. Highly recommended!

[disseminator]

I grew up with a Model 58 that my Dad bought when they first came out. It was our home defense gun forever and in years past, Dad and I both carried it out Deer Hunting.

I do hand-load for the 41 Mag and it's a fine cartridge but I would always favor the 44 because it is much more widely available and is extremely versatile for the hand loader.

The slight advantage in SD/BC is NOT a factor IMO but the reduced power might be.

I would buy another one, to go with the 58, but they are a lot more rare vs the 44 models.

What revolver are you considering?

[Sgt127]

My first carry gun. Model 58. Still have it. With the 210 gr Soft points, it was a miserable thing to shoot. The recoil hurt. With the lead Semi wadcutters, it was great.

A buddy of mine carried one also. He’d buy the the 210 SP and head out to the range. Often, it was way easier to find than the LE wadcutters.

Invariably, someone came along.

“Damn! That one of those .41 Magnum's?”

Sure is! Wanna shoot it?

“You. Bet!”

Usually 6 rounds. Maybe 12 before they handed it back to him. No desire to shoot it anymore.

And, that’s how he got brass to reload.

[44 AMP]

In another of their "shoot yourself in the foot" moments (and Rem had several), they accidently, and I'm sure unintentionally, made sure the .41 Mag would not become a popular police round.

They did this by following their vision for the round, and in doing so failed to understand the police market. Remington considered the round to be a slightly smaller bore .44 magnum, and concentrated on making magnum ammunition more than the LSWC "police" load.

During the years when police agencies were considering and testing the .41 Mag, they had very little of the police load to do it with. Most of the testing was done with the magnum load ammo (because that was all they could get, usually) and, of course, that proved to be too much for police use.

By the time Rem had quantities of the police load on the market, most agencies had done their testing and ruled thumbs down on the .41 Mag for police use. Add to the ammo situation was the fact that, as mentioned, N frame S&Ws were falling out of favor for duty use, because more and more weight was being added to the uniformed officer's load out, and K frames saved a few ounces.

[Mike Irwin]

I picked up a Smith 58 maybe 25 years ago or so. It was in almost pristine condition, showing very little indication of having been shot.

I threw a set of Hogue rubber grips on it (I do with almost all of my Smiths), picked up some Remington 210-gr. semi-jacketed soft point, went to the range, and absolutely fell in love.

I've never had any interest at all in the .44 Magnum.

I have a .44 Special that I adore (Smith Model 24)

I have a .45 Long Colt that I adore (Smith Model 25-5)

And I have the .41 Magnum.

And I have 7 .357 Magnums. Most of them Smith & Wessons.

So, I don't really need a .44 Magnum.

But that's just me.

Over the years I've handloaded quite a bit for my .41, primarily 210-gr. lead bullets with WW 231. Jacketed bullets I've pushed with WW 296.

It's great for bowling pin shoots.

[GeauxTide]

I have a 657 and a Bisley. Fabulous.

[rodfac]

.41 Magnum: Good caliber for hunting but you've got to be independently wealthy to feed one factory ammunition. As such, it's become sort of a 'cult' caliber and I'm one of the guys who subscribe.

I've owned one or more since the early 70's and currently have several. I do, however, reload and also cast my own bullets, thereby keeping the costs down. For comparison, I also have several .44 Magnums that see regular use. I've carried both here on our farm, and find them virtually identical in weight and handling ease, and offer here, my experiences solely with Rugers and S&W's.

As a handloading caliber, the .41 Magnum is first rate, ranking up there with the .44 Special and Magnum for ease of finding a truly accurate combination. IME, most anything within reason works well. From light target prescriptions with Bullseye or one of the other fast burners that give me great accuracy, to hot, full house loads that are easy to put up using #9, 2400, 296 or 110 and which seldom result in any leading up to 1200 fps with lead alloy.

Jacketed SP's and JHP's are also available from the major manuf.'s from 170 - 220 grains and are more than adequate for deer or black bear. They can be pushed to over 1400 fps with safety, depending on bullet weight & bbl. length. It's really a versatile performer, fully capable of any of the feats widely attributed to the more popular .44 Mag.

Brian Pearce, in one of his well researched articles, attributed the .41's reputation for outstanding accuracy to the tight manufacturing tolerances, used across the board, among manufacturers. I'd agree with that based on my guns.

But if asking for advice on say the .41 vs. .44 Magnum, I'd suggest the bigger .44. With it you get a better selection of bullets in both jacketed and lead alloy types, a much wider availability of factory ammunition that costs less.

Too, like the relationship between the .38 Special &.357 Magnum, the .44 Mag can be also be used with .44 Special loads on the low end while still performing magnificently on with true house burners if and when desired. It's just a more useful, all around choice.

Best of luck and hope you find your "grail" gun....Rod Here's my old model, 3-screw Ruger with 4-5/8" bbl.

[44 AMP]

rereading the thread and I caught this, which I missed the first time...

but will give you 95% the power of a 44 mag with only 75% of the recoil.

I don't see how that can be true, and square up with the established laws of physics.