.41 mag loading with Sierra bullets question

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Ocraknife

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I'm very new to reloading so I apologize if this is a stupid question. I can't find any loading data on Sierra 210 gr JHC for .41 rem. Mag. I do have information on a 210 grain JHP from Hornady however. I'm guessing using the Hornady data with Sierra bullet would be a bad idea, correct?

Anyone know where I can find loading data for this particular bullet without having to purchase a Sierra specific manual?

Another, more basic question I have is can someone help me better understand OAL vs COL and bullet seating in general. I'm in the process of reading my 4th book on reloading and I think I'm more confused than ever on how to find the exact proper seating depth for a particular bullet. Can someone point me to a resource that a newbie can understand?

Thank you!
 
I do have information on a 210 grain JHP from Hornady however. I'm guessing using the Hornady data with Sierra bullet would be a bad idea, correct?
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Not necessarily. You could start on the low end of Hornady's data - or 5% below - and it would likely be a good place to start a work up.

Anyone know where I can find loading data for this particular bullet without having to purchase a Sierra specific manual?
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I have the latest Sierra manual (Sierra V 6th Edition). What powder are you going to use?

Another, more basic question I have is can someone help me better understand OAL vs COL and bullet seating in general.
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Assuming your brass length is in spec, just seat the bullet to the middle of the cannelure. Basically, your calipers can stay in their case when loading most revolver ammo - at least, bullets with a crimp groove (usually lead) or a cannelure (usually jacketed). But in case you still wanna know: Sierra 9th shows a case trim length to 1.285" and an OAL (or COL, or COAL - all the same thing) to 1.580".
 
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If you email Sierra asking for load data, they will generally give you their data for one bullet/cartridge combination.
 
Sierra does not list TiteGroup for their 210 JHC.

Most likely because it's a pretty darn fast powder for the application.

I load as "fast powder centric" as anybody I know, and I would be hesitant to use such a combination.

I can be done. And if done right, the ammo would probably be some pretty consistent shooters. But . . .

In the course of the load workup, the pressure curve would be very steep, i.e. small propellant increases could lead to large pressure increases. This would not be an endeavor I would recommend to the novice loader.

Also, velocities would be modest. You would not achieve velocities typical of magnum handguns. According to QuickLoad, with a 6" bbl, about 1000 f/s would be max velocity.

My recommendation: Find a slower propellant. The bullet you are using is designed for performance. You should probably let it perform.
 
Yes, save your Titegroup for the 9mm. It's great for that!
For your .41 Magnum, try H110.
BlueDot is a no-no per the manufacturer.
 
Yes, save your Titegroup for the 9mm. It's great for that!
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Yes, TG will work great for a lot of applications in 9mm; particularly, with lighter bullets (115, 124). 147's wouldn't have much velocity though.

Getting back to 41 Mag, before I recommend a powder, I'm curious what is the purpose for this ammo? (Range target practice? High recoil practice? Hunting?) And I'd also like to know the gun; or more specifically, its barrel length?
 
Sierra V 6th Edition has data for: Unique; SR4756; N340; AA#7; 3N37; Blue Dot*; 2400; N350; AA#9; N110; H110/W296 (same powder, different label); & 4227.

* Blue Dot is notoriously persnickity in 41 Mag. If memory serves, there have been formal warnings regarding its use in 41 Mag. Alliant has no 41 Mag load data for Blue Dot on their website.

Of the propellants I have used (but I don't load for 41 Mag); and from my extensive experience loading for 357 & 44 Mag, here's my recommendations:

For medium/mild "range" rounds, Unique or AA#7 would be good choices.

If you want to pump them up, 2400, AA#9, or H110/W296 are good choices. Of these, 2400 is probably the most versatile - especially if your gun has a barrel in the 4" to 6" range. H110/W296 will yield max velocity (according to Sierra V), but is less versatile. H110/W296 is well known to only run right at near-max charge levels - it doesn't like to be turned down. But it's a great choice for longer barrels (>6"); and especially carbine lever-action rifles. AA#9 behaves closer to 2400 and gets honorable mention here - it's good powder.

If by chance your gun is a snubby (<4"), I'd stick with #7 or Unique (#7 being my preference, as I'm not really a fan of Unique). The bigger-slower powders through a short barrel only yield a bigger flame bloom, a bunch of noise, and superfluous thrusting recoil.
 
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Yes, TG will work great for a lot of applications in 9mm; particularly, with lighter bullets (115, 124). 147's wouldn't have much velocity though.

Getting back to 41 Mag, before I recommend a powder, I'm curious what is the purpose for this ammo? (Range target practice? High recoil practice? Hunting?) And I'd also like to know the gun; or more specifically, its barrel length?
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The gun is a 5.5" Ruger Redhawk. My goal is to make some rounds that would be all purpose. I'm not looking for the high end of the power range. Mid range is more my style.
 
Nice gun.

I'm not looking for the high end of the power range. Mid range is more my style.
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AA#7, if you can find it. In the magnum world, it'll make ammo in the 80 to 90% velocity range. Good stuff. Runs clean over a broad range of charge weights; and meters exceptionally well.
 
AA#7, if you can find it. In the magnum world, it'll make ammo in the 80 to 90% velocity range. Good stuff. Runs clean over a broad range of charge weights; and meters exceptionally well.
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Thank you so much for your help! AA is hard to find locally but I did get some 2400. Hopefully I can work up a good mid range loading with that.
 
I did get some 2400.
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Good choice (if you actually had a choice - powder is still tough to get from this lingering three+ year old "shortage," or "new normal;" whatever we want to call it.) At any rate, I think you have a very good powder for your bullet and your gun.

2400 is new to me too, actually. Having phased out my stock of W296 (doesn't suit my needs as well these days). I've loaded 357 Mag 158 grainers (kind of the relative equivalent weight of your 210's) with excellent results. Your loading may end up being a little more stout than you wanted, but it's a powder well suited for magnum revolvers - bordering on legendary.

Sierra V 6th Edition has 2400 from 16.6 grains (1000 f/s) to 18.9 grains (1200 f/s)(their test gun is a Smith M57 w/ 6" barrel). Sierra tends to run a broad range in their data - making your search for the "sweet spot" a little more challenging. It's not likely they'll run clean at 16.6 - just a guess - I could be wrong. You'll probably find a good consistent load somewhere above that.

Good luck. Load safe.
 
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*I got my manual editions mixed up.*

The latest Sierra manual is Sierra V 6th Edition. I was saying "Sierra 9th," getting it mixed up with Hornady's latest manual - Hornady 9th.

All previous posts have been corrected.
 
You do not need bullet specific data. You need 210 jacketed data. Of which there is buckets on Hodgdon's site. An XTP is a jacketed bullet.
"...Sierra does not list TiteGroup..." Hodgdon does. And it's on the low end of velocities and pressures with a 210. Tested with a 10.125" barrel though. Be a lot less velocity out of a 5.5" barrel.
"...Alliant has no 41 Mag load data for Blue Dot on their website..." They do have Blue Dot data for .44 Mag, so it ain't the powder. Just means it wasn't tested in a .41. .41 Mag isn't exactly the most common cartridge around. There's one Blue Dot load on Handloads.com. And one BD load using a Sierra 210 JHP plus several other powders on Reloader's Nest. Also out of longer than 5.5" barrels, but that's not a big deal.
 
Test gun S&W M57 6"
cases R-P
primer CCI 300

210 Sierra JHC

2400 powder
start load 16.6gr (1000fps)
Max load 19.5gr (1250fps)

This data from the Sierra manual copyright 1971

Use at your own risk.
 
Following is spot on. My go to powder was 2400, still is (same powder grin, I don't shoot it that much anymore, had a lb and ....l.)

I did not like H110 as noted it was volatile and top end only. 2400 had a wide range and was by far the most accurate anyway.

Others as advised but 2400 would be still be and is my go to.

Love the 41 mag, suited me to a T. Back in the day I could shoot it really well. Came in handy on the one course I ran with an N Frame in 357 mag and wad-cutters. Like shooting a 22. Did real well (top 3 out of 25)



Sierra V 6th Edition has data for: Unique; SR4756; N340; AA#7; 3N37; Blue Dot*; 2400; N350; AA#9; N110; H110/W296 (same powder, different label); & 4227.

* Blue Dot is notoriously persnickity in 41 Mag. If memory serves, there have been formal warnings regarding its use in 41 Mag. Alliant has no 41 Mag load data for Blue Dot on their website.

Of the propellants I have used (but I don't load for 41 Mag); and from my extensive experience loading for 357 & 44 Mag, here's my recommendations:

For medium/mild "range" rounds, Unique or AA#7 would be good choices.

If you want to pump them up, 2400, AA#9, or H110/W296 are good choices. Of these, 2400 is probably the most versatile - especially if your gun has a barrel in the 4" to 6" range. H110/W296 will yield max velocity (according to Sierra V), but is less versatile. H110/W296 is well known to only run right at near-max charge levels - it doesn't like to be turned down. But it's a great choice for longer barrels (>6"); and especially carbine lever-action rifles. AA#9 behaves closer to 2400 and gets honorable mention here - it's good powder.

If by chance your gun is a snubby (<4"), I'd stick with #7 or Unique (#7 being my preference, as I'm not really a fan of Unique). The bigger-slower powders through a short barrel only yield a bigger flame bloom, a bunch of noise, and superfluous thrusting recoil.
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Also if you come across a Speer with a lead tip (210gr?) watch out.

Its real picky about the seating, something about stripping the copper off the bullet, also speed limitations as I recall.

Speer wrote back with details so nice to know they have it in memory though they quit making it for obvious reasons.

Good black bear or self defense load.
 
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