98 220 swift
New member
All this great talk about the .41 makes me want to get one. I have not even ever shot one.lol
Why not - 41 Magnum Revolver
- Thread starter ligonierbill
- Start date
The .41 Magnum may have more appeal to those who would like to experience all the calibers, at least the more common ones. You own one because you didn't previously have one and then discover what a great shooting experience it provides. It really does provide power without quite the drama of the 44 Magnum.
Note that with Ruger you can get 41 Magnum in a NMBH, but for 44 Mag you are forced into a Super Blackhawk or Redhawk or Super Redhawk, all bigger, heavier guns. The 41 caliber then serves to mitigate the size of gun you have to handle. Not true with S&W, who goes right to the N-frame for 41.
Note that with Ruger you can get 41 Magnum in a NMBH, but for 44 Mag you are forced into a Super Blackhawk or Redhawk or Super Redhawk, all bigger, heavier guns. The 41 caliber then serves to mitigate the size of gun you have to handle. Not true with S&W, who goes right to the N-frame for 41.
22-rimfire
New member
You need to pick one up. The 41 mag is by far my favorite big bore. As Mike Irwin said , I also have zero interest in a 44 mag unless I got a steal deal and I would probably take my time and sell it.
As far as Ruger goes, the Black Hawk in 41 mag is a good revolver. I wouldn't hold my breath of them making a GP-100 in 41 mag. Taurus made a 41 mag in a smaller package if that is what you learn toward.
As far as Ruger goes, the Black Hawk in 41 mag is a good revolver. I wouldn't hold my breath of them making a GP-100 in 41 mag. Taurus made a 41 mag in a smaller package if that is what you learn toward.
black mamba
New member
I have had several N frame Smiths in 41 mag over the decades, and it is a great cartridge. The only real benefit it has over a 44 mag is about 15-20% less felt recoil, and that really becomes a non issue once you shoot the 44 enough to get used to it.
A 41 mag Blackhawk was my 1st centerfire handgun bought used in the late 70's. I really do like the round. I sold mine after a year or so for economic reasons. As a college student with limited funds and no place to re-load. It was just too expensive for me to enjoy.
The 41 and 44 really overlap a lot in regards to performance and recoil. By hand loading you can pretty much do anything with one that you can do with the other. But realistically the only reason to own a 41 is just to be different. And that is reason enough if someone wants to go down that path.
Over the years I've owned a lot of odd-ball guns and cartridges including 41 mag, 280, 338-06, 35 Whelen and a few others. At this point in my life I prefer to keep things simple and I'm more than happy to use the more common stuff.
The 41 and 44 really overlap a lot in regards to performance and recoil. By hand loading you can pretty much do anything with one that you can do with the other. But realistically the only reason to own a 41 is just to be different. And that is reason enough if someone wants to go down that path.
Over the years I've owned a lot of odd-ball guns and cartridges including 41 mag, 280, 338-06, 35 Whelen and a few others. At this point in my life I prefer to keep things simple and I'm more than happy to use the more common stuff.
I certainly don't want to participate in anything that smacks of a this-caliber-versus-that-caliber discussion, but I was dead-set on getting a 41 Mag just a few months ago. I don't know squat about revolvers or revolver cartridges, but I felt the .41 was 'perfect' from a ballistics-on-paper perspective. Then, I discovered it's basically a tragedy of history, essentially non-existent outside of the realm of the collector or lucky few owners. At least that's my perception.
Sort of like a guy right now looking into Beta vs VHS and saying 'obviously, I need to git me a Beta machine', then finding out the more exciting technology never left the runway.
I just accepted it and went with a 44. Among my gun ownership decisions, probably one of the best I've ever made just from a 'fun factor' perspective. I may be weird but recoil has never hurt me--it's only put a bigger grin on my face. The 44 has a grin factor of...huge.
Sort of like a guy right now looking into Beta vs VHS and saying 'obviously, I need to git me a Beta machine', then finding out the more exciting technology never left the runway.
I just accepted it and went with a 44. Among my gun ownership decisions, probably one of the best I've ever made just from a 'fun factor' perspective. I may be weird but recoil has never hurt me--it's only put a bigger grin on my face. The 44 has a grin factor of...huge.
41 You bet !!
I have two of em, and they are both awesome and accurate. #1 - a 4-5/8" Ruger Blackhawk #2 - a 4" S&W Model 57 "Mountain Gun",
the "MG" has a "round grip" frame and can have smaller grips installed for smaller hands if desired.
Commercial ammo is pricey for the 41 mag but so is the 44 mag ammo. The 41 is the perfect caliber for me, as I can download it for plinking,
and bring it up to "bear stopping" potential if necessary. My standard load is a 210 grn semi-wadcutter @ 1050 fps it's gentile and accurate in both revolvers.
I would love an "L" framed 5 shot in that caliber, but as mentioned above I don't see any demand for it. Still looking for a reasonably priced Redhawk and a model 58.
As mentioned above the 44 mag can use 44 Spl's for plinking, which is cool and the 44 really out shines the 41 with "heavy for caliber" bullets.
But if I was to step it up I would just go 45 Colt in a N-frame or Ruger Redhawk as the 45 Colt can out perform the 44 in those platforms.
I have two of em, and they are both awesome and accurate. #1 - a 4-5/8" Ruger Blackhawk #2 - a 4" S&W Model 57 "Mountain Gun",
the "MG" has a "round grip" frame and can have smaller grips installed for smaller hands if desired.
Commercial ammo is pricey for the 41 mag but so is the 44 mag ammo. The 41 is the perfect caliber for me, as I can download it for plinking,
and bring it up to "bear stopping" potential if necessary. My standard load is a 210 grn semi-wadcutter @ 1050 fps it's gentile and accurate in both revolvers.
I would love an "L" framed 5 shot in that caliber, but as mentioned above I don't see any demand for it. Still looking for a reasonably priced Redhawk and a model 58.
As mentioned above the 44 mag can use 44 Spl's for plinking, which is cool and the 44 really out shines the 41 with "heavy for caliber" bullets.
But if I was to step it up I would just go 45 Colt in a N-frame or Ruger Redhawk as the 45 Colt can out perform the 44 in those platforms.
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I have one of the new S&W Classic Model 57 and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I can load it down to 38 spl recoil or take it to almost nuclear.
I have Grizzly brand ammo that is 250GC gr at 1350fps and it is not hard to shoot at all and are deadly accurate.
My 57 has the shortest double action trigger pull of any of my other double actions, especially my Rugers, so the larger frame is not a concern for me as I don't have bear paws either, so you don't need to worry about the larger frame size.
It also has the best single-double action trigger, out of the box, than any revolver I've ever owned, I've been sending my Rugers to the gun smith one at a time, for trigger jobs, trying to get them close to that 57.
As far as 41 vs 44, they are only .019" from each other so I understand the argument, but I won't participate in that.
I have Grizzly brand ammo that is 250GC gr at 1350fps and it is not hard to shoot at all and are deadly accurate.
My 57 has the shortest double action trigger pull of any of my other double actions, especially my Rugers, so the larger frame is not a concern for me as I don't have bear paws either, so you don't need to worry about the larger frame size.
It also has the best single-double action trigger, out of the box, than any revolver I've ever owned, I've been sending my Rugers to the gun smith one at a time, for trigger jobs, trying to get them close to that 57.
As far as 41 vs 44, they are only .019" from each other so I understand the argument, but I won't participate in that.
I had a 6" 657 .41 Magnum once upon a time and it was very accurate.
If I was going to get back into the cartridge again, I'd want Smith's original "combat" version - the Model 58, with fixed rear sight and 4" tube. Basically a Model 10 on steroids.
Although the 58's sights were reputedly regulated to hit POA with the standard 210gn police "service load," it's still a reloading proposition if you're going to shoot it extensively, not unlike the 10mm AUTO.
That said, the .41 Mag has to be one of the most, if not the most, underrated wheelgun cartridges in American handgun history.
If I was going to get back into the cartridge again, I'd want Smith's original "combat" version - the Model 58, with fixed rear sight and 4" tube. Basically a Model 10 on steroids.
Although the 58's sights were reputedly regulated to hit POA with the standard 210gn police "service load," it's still a reloading proposition if you're going to shoot it extensively, not unlike the 10mm AUTO.
That said, the .41 Mag has to be one of the most, if not the most, underrated wheelgun cartridges in American handgun history.
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Becoming a hand loader and bullet caster almost at the same time as a handgun owner in the sixties, I am continually struck with how posters here seem to think that they are handgun shooters instead of just handgun owners. Hand loaders never consider the "availability" of factory ammo when choosing a gun. Being a hand loader, I blaze-away without any regard for what the ammo costs. In short, the only non-hand loaders who actually shoot their guns a lot, are the independently wealthy, the rest being handgun owners rather than shooters. Most of my guns have never seen a round of factory ammo. Hand loading seems to me to be a no-brainer and has enabled me to own and shoot the great "orphan" cartridges including the .41's and 38 Super as well as the more common ones.
22-rimfire
New member
It would certainly be nice to be able to buy White Box factory 41 mag ammunition at WM. It would also be nice if WM actually routinely have 44 mag and 45LC ammo in stock as well. There are other sources of less expensive factory loaded 41 mag ammo. You just have to plan ahead a bit and keep some in your cache so it's there when you want or need to shoot.
Handloading is the way to go with 41 mag, but not a necessity as far as I'm concerned. However, I prefer something a bit less powerful (around 1000-1100 fps) than normal factory loaded 41 mag ammo and the only practical way to have it is to handload.
Handloading is the way to go with 41 mag, but not a necessity as far as I'm concerned. However, I prefer something a bit less powerful (around 1000-1100 fps) than normal factory loaded 41 mag ammo and the only practical way to have it is to handload.
No, and I don't think I've even ever fired one. I suppose I might run across an irresistible one someday, but I probably won't go out of my way looking for one. I should know better by now than to say this, but I honestly don't see myself owning another revolver. I think I made a similar comment once regarding calibers: "I'm going to keep it to 40SW and 45ACP". Then I discovered 10mm and now own 3.
I still do think the 41 Mag would have been my 'perfect plinker', but after sending about 100 rds of 44 downrange this afternoon, I know I'm going to be VERY happy with the 44 Rem Mag--every single round that lights up is just such a pleasure, and I've stumbled on an 800X load that's drillin' 'em right in there for me with my bullets. Gotta think folks were wondering why I was smiling quite so big.
Model12Win
Moderator
I've pined for a GP100 in 6 shot .41 magnum for a while now. Not sure if they could do it... might have to make the cylinder a tad larger...
Bullet and brass availability really are factors the reloader must consider. Anything rare tends to dictate that one cannot be as particular about prices. These factors with 41 Magnum have not been show stoppers for me, but I didn't wait around for my price. I needed a baseline supply, and I bought it, period. Once at that point, I can pick off deals as I find them.
Bullets for a true Magnum load are an issue, but now that coated lead bullets have become ubiquitous, I haven't experienced any leading issues and rely upon Missouri Bullet for whatever I need.
One exception is the 327 Federal Magnum, another caliber lying outside the mainstream. I had to go to Rimrock Bullets to get gas checked lead and I had to buy a supply of 30 cal gas checks for any lead casting I might be forced to do on my own. This caliber can run up to 45k psi and operates under its own rules. Rules of thumb about using lead bullets at high velocities and pressures would be suspect for this caliber. It is more like a rifle, which sadly the caliber lacks as an alternate platform so far.
22-rimfire
New member
Yes to the bullets and brass availabity. Never really wanted to get into casting my own bullets. I'll buy those already cast or I don't buy at all and use factory ammo or jacketed stuff (XTPs).
I think buying off the shelf is prefectly fine and what I still do with 480 or 475. Got the dies, but no bullets for the 480 or 475 loads at the moment.
I went to 480 Ruger in a SRH. Last year I picked up a BFR in 475/480 and much prefer it to my SRH. It is much more recoil friendly as far as I'm concerned. Before that, I was 41 mag and carried a 8 3/8" M57 with iron sights. I still use it when I want to go with iron sights. If I just want to carry a larger caliber revolver in the woods, a 4" M57 Mountain Gun gets the nod for that. Even that gets heavy when you really don't need to carry anything so I often go with a 22 revolver.
I think buying off the shelf is prefectly fine and what I still do with 480 or 475. Got the dies, but no bullets for the 480 or 475 loads at the moment.
I went to 480 Ruger in a SRH. Last year I picked up a BFR in 475/480 and much prefer it to my SRH. It is much more recoil friendly as far as I'm concerned. Before that, I was 41 mag and carried a 8 3/8" M57 with iron sights. I still use it when I want to go with iron sights. If I just want to carry a larger caliber revolver in the woods, a 4" M57 Mountain Gun gets the nod for that. Even that gets heavy when you really don't need to carry anything so I often go with a 22 revolver.