.41 Magnum Question

J

juliet charley

New member
Looking for input from anyone who has shot one of the five shot snubby Taurus .41 magnums. Are they viable for self defence? Muzzle blast? Muzzle flash (they are ported)? Recoil? If you had to shoot one in your bedroom some night, would the effects be similar to setting off a flash bang grenade in your hand?
 
It's a flash grenade in your hands! In the dark, it is a nuke fireball going sideways. Even with fast burning powder, there is not enough barrel to burn it all. In order to make a sensible 41 caliber load, it would make sense to basically invent a 41 Special load (cut a Magnum case down to 1.160" +or- .005). This will create more pressure and reduce the amount of powder needed, reduce the flash without reducing too much bang.

Robert
 
I wouldn't get it if I were you. I have a 3 inch barrel S&W Model 29 .44 Magnum. It is a good gun for some uses, but I would NEVER consider firing it inside except in the gravest emergency. A short barreled .41 Magnum would be almost as bad. If it is the large bullets that appeal to you, you might look at one of S&Ws five shot short barreled .44 Specials.
 
Yes to all of the above. but you intend to drill the crook, right. Even if you miss, he won't hang around, after leaving a turd on your rug. Get it, and report to us about the 41. I want one myself.
 
Here's a consideration. I saw a guy take
a serious handgun class (two days about 600 rounds) with a 41 mag SW.

It ate his hand. He had very deep blisters
down to flesh by the second. He was a trooper and bandaged up and kept going. But it isn't a gun for fast reloads and shot recovery.

There are better options.
 
I've shot the 45 LC version and it jumps but there is no fireball. I agree that factory 41 mag ammo would be brutal for both ends of that gun. Either reload down or buy a different caliber / gun. If you really want that gun try to fire the 45 version.
 
I have a Taurus 415. I love it, it has about as much recoil as my Smith 342 with +p loads, imho.

I would not consider it as a defensive gun in low light due to the flash, which is extreme, and due to the over-penetration of what is more appropriately a hunting round, imho.

I got it as a toy and as a hiking gun, it is light, yet it can still handle all the 2 and 4 legged critters in the areas I go to.

I hope this helps and btw, I want to get the titanium version too. :)

------------------
It's not paranoia, they really are out to get me.
 
The .45 Colt may be a better choice. I'm getting one really soon. There should be less flash with defense loads, but MUCH more knockdown power for hot loads on beasties in the woods. Just my $0.02
 
Here I come to the rescue of my favorite caliber. :)

In no way shape or form, is a 45 Colt going to out perform a 41 Magnum out of any platform. Sorry, one exception, Freedom arms. Not even from a Ruger. Forty-five Colt has great potential for the handloader, but not that great. You show me the data, I will show you one in 41 Magnum that will blow it away. Before you throw your cards down, read this article. It will make a believer out of you.

http://www.sixgunner.com/paco/41magnum.htm

Robert
 
I too am a fan of the .41. In fact I felt so bad after I parted with my S&W 57 that I replaced it with a Desert Eagle.
Great gun and caliber.

------------------
"Keep shootin till they quit floppin"
The Wife 2/2000
 
Anything that hits like a .44 and shoots flatter is OK in my book. The .41 is one underated caliber. Still probably would only use one in the house as a last resort,they do have a flash like a .44 mag. Now with a shortend case and a fast powder like unique it may be a differant story.

[This message has been edited by radom (edited March 10, 2000).]
 
Rt41MF, on this one I'm going to disagree just a little.

The 45 makes a .452" hole, and can make that hole with bullets up to 395g. I don't care about energy figures.

I love my 41 Redhawk, and I'm not afraid of over-stepping common-sense loading rules with it. The 41 can offer bullets up to 295g, give excellent sectional density, but its hole is .41".

For the big biters I carry my 45 Redhawk.

my 2 cents...

------------------
"All my ammo is factory ammo"
 
A quote from John Linebaugh, " To DEFINE SAFE: ANY LOAD THAT DOES
NOT EXCEED THE INDUSTRY'S RECOMMENDED MAXIMUM OPERATIONAL PRESSURE.. In the case of the .44 magnum, this is 40,000 CUP. Not to exceed 43,500 ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM.

The Ruger Blackhawks and Bisley models chambered for .45 Colt are approximately 80% as strong as the same Ruger chambered for .44 magnum. This means we can load the .45 Colt to 80% of the pressure of the .44 Magnum round and still maintain the 100% safety level. 80% of 40,000 is 32, 000."

Using that standard and the loads date provided by Mr. Linebagh in this article, 45 Colt is a close rival of 41 and 44 Magnum, but WILL NOT surpass them in performance.

Frontsight, the ballistics that you mentioned surpass that standard, thus are unsafe according to Mr. Linebaugh.

The 41 Magnum shoots a bullet faster, flatter (better accuracy) and deeper than a 45 Colt. The only advantage the Colt has is in heavier bullets, 300 grains and above. This is due to the lack of development, because of the lack of interest in the 41 Magnum. Same gun and same bullet weight, it's 41 Magnum all the way. Anyone disagree with that, show me the published load data. Apples to apples comparison.

Robert



[This message has been edited by Robert the41MagFan (edited March 10, 2000).]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top