Tell me about the 41 Magnum?
- Thread starter Wildcard
- Start date
Mike Irwin
Staff
What do you want to know about it?
You're asking kind of a broad question.
It is one of those calibers that really is best suited to the handloader. There's not a wide range of ammunition to be found at most gunshops, and what there is tends to be pretty damned expensive.
I've got a 4" Model 58, and just adore it.
You're asking kind of a broad question.
It is one of those calibers that really is best suited to the handloader. There's not a wide range of ammunition to be found at most gunshops, and what there is tends to be pretty damned expensive.
I've got a 4" Model 58, and just adore it.
IMHO the .41 Mag is probably the most underrated revolver cartridge there is. It is definately a handloader's cartridge because of the dearth of factory ammo available, BUT, to their credit, Federal is finally making a serious hunting/PD round using the great Cast Performance 240 gr. flatnose projectile.
Since I'm feeding several .41s from a 2 1/2" Taurus (occasional carry, especially in winter), to a couple of longer bbl S&Ws and a Marlin carbine (a super pig/coyote gun), I've had a really great time developing loads specific to the firearm and the application. From 170 gr JHP for the Taurus to some 280 gr monsters for the Marlin and lots in between. If you do get serious about loading for the .41, you'll find much more help in the forums than you ever will in the manuals.
The bottom line is that you can do pretty much anything with a .41 Mag that you need to. The recoil junkies will tell you how much better their .44 Mags are, but that's more opinion than fact. Remember that the .41 IS a "0.41" and the .44 is NOT a "0.44", it's a 0.429 ... only 0.019 larger in diameter. Good handloading make up the difference and then some.
Have fun!
Rick
The Gunrunner
Since I'm feeding several .41s from a 2 1/2" Taurus (occasional carry, especially in winter), to a couple of longer bbl S&Ws and a Marlin carbine (a super pig/coyote gun), I've had a really great time developing loads specific to the firearm and the application. From 170 gr JHP for the Taurus to some 280 gr monsters for the Marlin and lots in between. If you do get serious about loading for the .41, you'll find much more help in the forums than you ever will in the manuals.
The bottom line is that you can do pretty much anything with a .41 Mag that you need to. The recoil junkies will tell you how much better their .44 Mags are, but that's more opinion than fact. Remember that the .41 IS a "0.41" and the .44 is NOT a "0.44", it's a 0.429 ... only 0.019 larger in diameter. Good handloading make up the difference and then some.
Have fun!
Rick
The Gunrunner
Get it. It has better long range ballistics than a .44 mag and at short ranges, it just as devastating. (In all the SHTF fantasy scenarios, of the 30 or so handguns that I own, this would be the one I'd take to the woods). Great SD gun in 4 inches. Even if you don't handload, www.outdoormarksman.com has reasonably priced ammo, factory and reloaded. It's an N-frame, so will last forever. Might have caught on as a cop gun, (the original intention) if semi-auto era for cops didn't coincide with it's intro.
I have a 57 6 inch, it's a joy to shoot, both in light cast and full mags. Accuracy in the extreme.
Great point Gunrnr about the diameter, often overlooked fact. Now you make me want to really get that Marlin 41 mag to go along with the Marlin .44mag and Win. 45 Colt. Damn!
I have a 57 6 inch, it's a joy to shoot, both in light cast and full mags. Accuracy in the extreme.
Great point Gunrnr about the diameter, often overlooked fact. Now you make me want to really get that Marlin 41 mag to go along with the Marlin .44mag and Win. 45 Colt. Damn!
Yeah, I LOVE that Marlin. Have some whoopass loads for it that...shall we say ... are NOT published. Yes, of course I'm careful and chrono and strain gauge everything, but (once again) there is so little published data, I just decided to make up my own. Over the past 15 years (for the rifle) and 30 yrs (for revolvers), I have done just that.
Strangely enough, right now I have two Marlin .41 Carbines. I thought I had a trade going with a guy (for a S&W 657, of course), but it's been a while and you know how these long-distance gun deals sometimes go. I looked and waited for about 10 yrs to find my first Marlin and then almost tripped into the second one. Now I can't get rid of the first one!
Strangely enough, right now I have two Marlin .41 Carbines. I thought I had a trade going with a guy (for a S&W 657, of course), but it's been a while and you know how these long-distance gun deals sometimes go. I looked and waited for about 10 yrs to find my first Marlin and then almost tripped into the second one. Now I can't get rid of the first one!
22-rimfire
New member
I have read some posts on forums about 41 mountain guns having fitting problems (check out the 41 postings in sixgunner forum). Inspect the one that you are looking at closely. I have one and love it. It is also the primary handgun that I would grab to carry in the woods if I wanted something larger than a 22. Great caliber even if you don't handload. It does most of what a 44 magnum can do with less recoil and better ballistics.
dakotashooter2
New member
The 41 mag was developed as a "police" round, meant to be in between the .357 and .44. It failed as a police round because it was still a bit much on the average shooter (getting back on target). Many think that if the round had been developed as a .41 special it would have had great success (kind of like the 10mm to 40 S&W occurance). The .41 has always done whatever I have asked of it but I agree that it is best suited to the handloader. Plinking loads are $24/50 factory.... $6/50 handloads. Do the math. Some of us even load our own .41 special cartridges. They work nicely in the Taurus revolvers which have a bit shorter cylinder than the Rugers.
22-rimfire
New member
The 41 Magnum was introduced after the 44 Magnum. It was one of Elmer Keith's brain childs like the 44 magnum. He was a proponent of larger caliber handguns for law enforcement and hunting. As was mentioned, it was intended to be an intermediate caliber between the 357 and 44. It failed to get much attention because the ammunition manufactures loaded it hot or fairly hot to compete in their eyes with the 44 Magnum. That continues today. Elmer Keith envisioned a lead wad cutter loading to about 900 ft/sec which would be similar to a "41 Special". The debate of the 357 over penetration vs the 45 ACP when on then as it does now. Even had the caliber been more accepted, it would have eventually been overshadowed as police agencies started to move from the 357 to 9mm auto pistols in the 1980's when the double stacked magazines were introduced. This also is the time when the Glock 19 was introduced and that gun changed everything.
Revolvers seem to be making a comeback these days. I think folks using them for hunting are having a substantial impact on the market and what guns or calibers are being introduced. I prefer revolvers and I prefer the 41 Magnum. You don't have to reload, but I would save all the empty brass as eventually you will probably handload the caliber if you shoot a lot.
Revolvers seem to be making a comeback these days. I think folks using them for hunting are having a substantial impact on the market and what guns or calibers are being introduced. I prefer revolvers and I prefer the 41 Magnum. You don't have to reload, but I would save all the empty brass as eventually you will probably handload the caliber if you shoot a lot.
good to read some posts on this Ive never really looked into the .41 but soundsl like a good caliber and if its as accurate as you say might be worth looking into. Sounds like the .41 has gone down the same road as the 10 gauge of people saying "why would you want that" so sad.
My first centerfire handgun was a .41 mag. I still use it often. I got it because my older brother pushed the .44 mag too hard. ("You won't be happy withanything but a .44!") He's a good guy, but I wanted the road less traveled. (I have never owned a .44 and am still happy.
)
Mine is a Ruger Blackhawk and I usually have it loaded to ".41 special" levels (215 gr. swc @ 900 fps), but I have another Li'l Gun load that pushes the same bullet 1400 fps and it's still not the maximum charge.
It'll do anything that needs doing with a handgun.
)Mine is a Ruger Blackhawk and I usually have it loaded to ".41 special" levels (215 gr. swc @ 900 fps), but I have another Li'l Gun load that pushes the same bullet 1400 fps and it's still not the maximum charge.
It'll do anything that needs doing with a handgun.
Pistolenschutze
New member
The .41 Mag was developed and marketed originally in 1964 by S&W, who chambered it in their Model 57 revolver. It was a cartridge aimed largely at the law enforcement market (yup, most cops actually carried wheel guns back in those days!) and loaded with a 210 grain bullet. When it first came on the market, cartridges were loaded to two different pressure levels: a high-velocity load for hunting and a medium velocity load for law enforcement. The idea was to create a revolver more powerful than the .357, but more controlable than the .44 Mag. I remember the ads that S&W ran in the gun magazines at the time (I was a kid in high school then), and the emphasis was strongly on its use by policemen whose primary duty was patroling the highways, such as state troopers or highway patrolmen. The N-frame revolver it was chambered in, however, worked against it because it was considered too heavy and bulky by many cops and no substantial advantage over a .44 Mag Model 29. It is unfortunate that the cartridge never really caught on because it is really an excellent one for many purposes. Ammo is both expensive and relatively hard to find though it is still loaded. You definitely need to handload if you want to take advantage of this round. It will do virtually anything the .44 Mag will do, but with somewhat less recoil and greater controlability.
Ben Shepherd
New member
Now quit it!! You'll have him hooked, he'll buy more and my supply of 41 magnums will be diminished.
Seriously WS2 hit it. If you handload it's good to go from paper to any game animal in the lower 48 states. If you don't, ammo selection is very limited.
Buffalo Bore makes a good heavy load, and the 170 grain winchester silvertip is a goos SD round, but "standard" ammo is tough to find.
That being said: If that gun can pass the revover check out thread, I'd have it home before the sun was down.
Seriously WS2 hit it. If you handload it's good to go from paper to any game animal in the lower 48 states. If you don't, ammo selection is very limited.
Buffalo Bore makes a good heavy load, and the 170 grain winchester silvertip is a goos SD round, but "standard" ammo is tough to find.
That being said: If that gun can pass the revover check out thread, I'd have it home before the sun was down.
The .41 Remington Magnum cartridge is perfect for someone who likes to take the road less traveled. If you want mainstream, go with the .44. You will find, as the other posters have indicated, if you don't handload you will spend lots of money to shoot this caliber and your selection will be limited.
Myself I stay away from the new guns mainly because of the key locks, I refuse to own a gun that comes with a key. Also I like guns that are not easy to find.
When you get this gun, you will go one of three ways:
1) Sits in the safe, to expensive to shoot, but still a novelty.
2) Sold / traded for something else, probably a .44.
3) Becomes pet cartridge and you find yourself searching high and low for everything .41 Mag.
Either way you do not lose, let us know how you like it!
Myself I stay away from the new guns mainly because of the key locks, I refuse to own a gun that comes with a key. Also I like guns that are not easy to find.
When you get this gun, you will go one of three ways:
1) Sits in the safe, to expensive to shoot, but still a novelty.
2) Sold / traded for something else, probably a .44.
3) Becomes pet cartridge and you find yourself searching high and low for everything .41 Mag.
Either way you do not lose, let us know how you like it!
I have to disagree with "must handload" "too expensive" ideas. I use outdoormarksman ammo for most of my recreational shooting:
Miwall New 41 Mag 210gr JHP, 50 rds $13.95
Miwall New 41 Mag 210gr SWC, 50 rds $11.95
That ain't too bad.
For hunting or SD a box of twenty of the premium stuff is not out of line either.
Winchester Super-X 41 Mag 175gr Silvertip JHP, 200 rds $119.60
Winchester Surpeme 41 Magnum, 240 gr Platinum Tip HP, 20 Rds $13.95
I don't think .44 mag stuff is any cheaper.
I handload but unless I'm going to do a run of a few hundred rounds, I usually don't bother anymore, with the price of components being what they are these day.
Miwall New 41 Mag 210gr JHP, 50 rds $13.95
Miwall New 41 Mag 210gr SWC, 50 rds $11.95
That ain't too bad.
For hunting or SD a box of twenty of the premium stuff is not out of line either.
Winchester Super-X 41 Mag 175gr Silvertip JHP, 200 rds $119.60
Winchester Surpeme 41 Magnum, 240 gr Platinum Tip HP, 20 Rds $13.95
I don't think .44 mag stuff is any cheaper.
I handload but unless I'm going to do a run of a few hundred rounds, I usually don't bother anymore, with the price of components being what they are these day.