I just bought a ruger blackhawk in .41 magnum but all of the ammo I can find is in .41 fed mag. Is .41 mag the same as .41 fed mag or is it a different caliber? I am new to magnum revolvers and want to be extremely sure I use the correct ammo. All thoughts and advice are welcome.
.41 magnum/ .41 fed magnum
- Thread starter dcvyn
- Start date
There you go, answered your own question. You are good to go for shooting one of the 'forgotten' magnums.
Blackhawks are nice and I think you'll like the power of the .41 magnum.
Do you reload? It's a great way to get the loads you want, save money (well maybe...) and not have to search all over for ammo.
Good luck.
Blackhawks are nice and I think you'll like the power of the .41 magnum.
Do you reload? It's a great way to get the loads you want, save money (well maybe...) and not have to search all over for ammo.
Good luck.
Well if you're not sure ask. The penalty for putting the wrong cartridge in a gun can be severe.
But how to know who to trust? I'm just some guy on the interwebs typing away in quiet desperation in my basement.
You could take a look at the Federal ammo site and look at the .41 Remington Magnum offering:
http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/handgun.aspx?id=346
Then you could take a look at the Ruger Blackhawk page:
http://www.ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkBlued/models.html
and see the Blackhawk is offered in .41 Remington Magnum
and then you could download and read the Ruger manual for the gun too.
http://www.ruger.com/service/productHistory.html#
You'll learn some stuff doing this and be more self reliant too. But once again I do believe (with a VERY few rare exceptions) that there are no dumb questions when it comes to firearms and the folk here at The Firing Line are very helpful.
But how to know who to trust? I'm just some guy on the interwebs typing away in quiet desperation in my basement.
You could take a look at the Federal ammo site and look at the .41 Remington Magnum offering:
http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/handgun.aspx?id=346
Then you could take a look at the Ruger Blackhawk page:
http://www.ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkBlued/models.html
and see the Blackhawk is offered in .41 Remington Magnum
and then you could download and read the Ruger manual for the gun too.
http://www.ruger.com/service/productHistory.html#
You'll learn some stuff doing this and be more self reliant too. But once again I do believe (with a VERY few rare exceptions) that there are no dumb questions when it comes to firearms and the folk here at The Firing Line are very helpful.
The company that develops a cartridge often incorporates its own name in the title.
"357 S&W Magnum"
"38 S&W Special"
"44 Remington Magnum"
"38 Colt New Police"
"458 Winchester Magnum"
Over time the names get shortened to "38 Special" and "44 Magnum" because that's how people talk and because Colt doesn't want to stamp "S&W" on its guns (or vice versa).
The 41 Magnum was created by Remington in 1964 and it is properly called the 41 Remington Magnum. But most guns just have "41 Magnum" stamped on them.
The 41 Magnum is a caliber that demands loading your own ammo. Supposed to split the difference between the 44 and the 357 the 41 is actually closer to the 44 in power. The 41 is pretty much the 44 reduced by 15%. This is a caliber that is really hard to justify in my mind since anything it can do the 44 can do 15% better. Having said that, I admit to owning a pair of 41s. Both are 4" S&Ws. A blue Model 58 and a nickel Model 57. Here's my 57...
I would love to have an Old Model Blackhawk in 41 but likely never will.
"357 S&W Magnum"
"38 S&W Special"
"44 Remington Magnum"
"38 Colt New Police"
"458 Winchester Magnum"
Over time the names get shortened to "38 Special" and "44 Magnum" because that's how people talk and because Colt doesn't want to stamp "S&W" on its guns (or vice versa).
The 41 Magnum was created by Remington in 1964 and it is properly called the 41 Remington Magnum. But most guns just have "41 Magnum" stamped on them.
The 41 Magnum is a caliber that demands loading your own ammo. Supposed to split the difference between the 44 and the 357 the 41 is actually closer to the 44 in power. The 41 is pretty much the 44 reduced by 15%. This is a caliber that is really hard to justify in my mind since anything it can do the 44 can do 15% better. Having said that, I admit to owning a pair of 41s. Both are 4" S&Ws. A blue Model 58 and a nickel Model 57. Here's my 57...
I would love to have an Old Model Blackhawk in 41 but likely never will.
22-rimfire
New member
<deleted statement> Many have wanted a lower powered 41 mag loading similar to the police load when it first came out. But the "magnum" makes manufactur's hesitant to build it in small revolvers that might be more suitable for carry. Taurus has a a couple.
Congratulations on getting a 41 mag. I hope you love it and it is certainly a lot more powerful than a 38spl or even 357 mag. It is a pretty big step up in power from 38spl.
Factory ammo at first is a problem. You will overcome it unless you shoot 100's of rounds monthly. In which case, you need to reload almost immedately. Keep you eyes open with online retailers and start looking at some of the "off brand" 41 mag loadings like Bitterroot Valley. GA Arms loads it. Good ammo. I would avoid their cowboy loads unless you just want to make it feel like a 38spl. They are very wimpy. But you do get the brass and do save it. Eventually you will probably opt to start rolling your own.
Welcome to the world of 41 mag.
Congratulations on getting a 41 mag. I hope you love it and it is certainly a lot more powerful than a 38spl or even 357 mag. It is a pretty big step up in power from 38spl.
Factory ammo at first is a problem. You will overcome it unless you shoot 100's of rounds monthly. In which case, you need to reload almost immedately. Keep you eyes open with online retailers and start looking at some of the "off brand" 41 mag loadings like Bitterroot Valley. GA Arms loads it. Good ammo. I would avoid their cowboy loads unless you just want to make it feel like a 38spl. They are very wimpy. But you do get the brass and do save it. Eventually you will probably opt to start rolling your own.
Welcome to the world of 41 mag.
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Here's a little more info about your Blackhawk from Ruger:
http://www.ruger.com/resources/videos.html
If you click on 'Ruger Tech Tips' on that page, then on the next page you can find 'disassembly' and 'reassembly' videos for many Ruger firearms. For the Blackhawk the videos you want are listed beside the heading 'Single-Action Revolvers'.
The guy on the video takes about 5 minutes to completely disassemble the gun and the reassembly video is about the same length. Using the videos as a guide I was able to disassemble my Blackhawk in a smidge under four hours (if you don't count the time spent looking for tiny little parts). Reassembly was a smidge slower at about a day and a half. While the gun was apart though I did smooth some parts down and IMhO the action works a bit smoother than it did before I worked on it.
In short disassembly is not something you need to do to clean the gun and you might never want to but if you do the videos are there and if I could do it, well I suspect almost anyone can. Unless you've had some practice though it is not going to go as smooth as the videos (which are excellent).
http://www.ruger.com/resources/videos.html
If you click on 'Ruger Tech Tips' on that page, then on the next page you can find 'disassembly' and 'reassembly' videos for many Ruger firearms. For the Blackhawk the videos you want are listed beside the heading 'Single-Action Revolvers'.
The guy on the video takes about 5 minutes to completely disassemble the gun and the reassembly video is about the same length. Using the videos as a guide I was able to disassemble my Blackhawk in a smidge under four hours (if you don't count the time spent looking for tiny little parts). Reassembly was a smidge slower at about a day and a half. While the gun was apart though I did smooth some parts down and IMhO the action works a bit smoother than it did before I worked on it.
In short disassembly is not something you need to do to clean the gun and you might never want to but if you do the videos are there and if I could do it, well I suspect almost anyone can. Unless you've had some practice though it is not going to go as smooth as the videos (which are excellent).
Model12Win
Moderator
The .41 magnum can everything the .357 magnum AND .44 magnum can do.
It is the ULTIMATE in versatile revolver cartridge shooting.
It is the ULTIMATE in versatile revolver cartridge shooting.
jetinteriorguy
New member
Welcome to the .41 Mag, I've had my M57 since 1980 and its stil my favorite. You might want to consider reloading to get the most out of it if you plan on shooting it a lot. By reloading for it you will find it to bea very versatile gun that's a ton of fun to enjoy. Of all my revolvers it's the most accurate. I take mine with me for every range trip and try to put at least 50 rounds through it, typically a couple cylinders of heavy magnum loads and half a dozen cylinders of light to moderate loads. It always puts a grin on my face to see these targets when I'm done.
The 41 mag originally was designed for a police revolver to give better than 38 spec for police use.
Magnum lovers wanted another magnum , 41 mag . There were then TWO loadings , standard or police loading , of 1000 fps and mag loading of 1500 fps !!
The mag load is certainly capable for deer but some think that you might as well get a 44 mag for that.
Magnum lovers wanted another magnum , 41 mag . There were then TWO loadings , standard or police loading , of 1000 fps and mag loading of 1500 fps !!
The mag load is certainly capable for deer but some think that you might as well get a 44 mag for that.
Mike Irwin
Staff
"There is a 41 Short which is an outdated cartridge. If by chance you had this ammo on hand, you can shoot it in the Blackhawk."
If you're talking about the .41 Short Colt cartridge (a shorter version of the .41 Long Colt), NEITHER is interchangeable with the .41 Magnum.
Case head diameter on the .41 Short/Long is .405, it's .434 on the .41 Magnum.
Bullet diameters are also very different.
If you're talking about the .41 Short Colt cartridge (a shorter version of the .41 Long Colt), NEITHER is interchangeable with the .41 Magnum.
Case head diameter on the .41 Short/Long is .405, it's .434 on the .41 Magnum.
Bullet diameters are also very different.
22-rimfire
New member
You know Mike, I think I'll keep my "advice" on old cartridges to myself and I know your right in what you stated. I would always check a reloading manual or hard copy reference when making such a decision and I recommend such to anyone with interest along those lines. I don't depend on Forums for such advice when something requires a fairly high safety concern.
I don't shoot such cartridges in my 41 mags. Not worth it to me just like I don't care much to shoot cowboy powered 41 mag loads as they just don't do it for me.
I deleted that statement from my post above even though I know you referenced it.
I don't shoot such cartridges in my 41 mags. Not worth it to me just like I don't care much to shoot cowboy powered 41 mag loads as they just don't do it for me.
I deleted that statement from my post above even though I know you referenced it.
I know the .41 Mag has a very loyal fanbase, but I think that statement is a bit of a stretch. I've had all three, and for me, the .41 is the least useful.
The .41 Magnum is a fine cartridge, but it isn't the .44, nor the .357 in a lot of ways.
It is a fine example of US gunmaker's stupidity. Several of the nation's top gun writers and others with LEO experience had reached a general consensus about what would be the best gun for police use. They felt that a .40/.41 caliber DA revolver, of medium size, firing a 200-ish grain bullet at 900-1000fps would be the best blend of size, power, and "shoot-abilty" for police use. They asked the major gunmakers for that. The gunmakers listened, but didn't hear...
What we got was the .41 Rem Mag, and the S&W M57 (M58 fixed sight for service use). Remington offered two loads, a 210 JHP/JSP at .44 Mag velocities, and a 210 LSWC at the lower velocity asked for.
The gun was bigger and heavier than what was really wanted, being an N frame, but might have been accepted, save for what Remington did with the ammo. And that was focus early production on the magnum ammo, not the law enforcement load.
Several major police agencies tested the .41 Mag, but at the time, the only ammo common was the magnum load, and that what they rested it with. Surprise, surprise, it was found unsuitable. The fact that Remington later made police ammo available was simply, too late. The .41 Mag as a police round was doomed. Bureaucrats (including police ones) simply almost never go back on their decisions, once formed.
interestingly enough the specs the writers felt would be best for police did turn up in a cartridge, decades later, and in an auto pistol, the .40 S&W.
TO me, the .41 Mag only makes "sense" in a gun like the Ruger Blackhawk, because it is a bit lighter than the Super Blackhawk, despite being about the same size. DA .41mags are all on the big .44 frames, and to my mind, if you are going to use a gun that size, going with a round that is 15% less (on paper) makes little sense. Also, I've never been able to notice the 15% reduction in recoil. Both of them feel about the same to me.