Henry Rifle Forums

Not looking to start a caliber debate, though I occasionally enjoy them as much as anybody, provided they stay civil and truthful.

Really though.... I'm just answering a question that someone here asked me the other day. I feel the answer deserves its own thread so others asking themselves the same question can maybe find it easier...if someone accused me of promoting the 41 Magnum, I'd confess that I'm guilty as charged.

The first reason....I have a 41 Mag Ruger Blackhawk that I really like, it was my first 41. It showed me what a powerhouse the 41 is and how easy it is to shoot compared to bigger rounds such as hot 44 and 45 ammo.

Balance....its size to power ratio is dang near perfect in my opinion. Being a little slimmer in diameter yet roughly the same length as others, it lends itself to feeding a little smoother.

Recoil...less is more... The difference isn't huge, but it is there. The 41 is easier to shoot with hot loads.

With proper bullet selection it is suitable for any hoofed game in North America, and most of the rest of the world... but I'll just be using it for deer and black bear.

Like others...it is quite capable of 150 yard medium game. The picture below illustrates a 125 yard zero range with a 210 XTP fired from a 16.5 inch barrel.


Contrary to popular opinion the available bullet selection is more than adequate.... from 170 to 265 grains.... that'll cover anything from deer to water buffalo.

It "could" be hot prodded, and safely.... The Ruger only loads you see for the 44 and 45....I'm surprised nobody has made any for the 41. Most if not all 41's are built on 44 frames, cylinders, and barrels...if the 44 can be loaded to +P and +P+, the 41 can too....all with a larger margin of safety. I'm told those 44 loads are 43,500 psi...at that pressure, the 41 could send a 265 grain slug on its way at around 1,500 fps from a pistol, and around 1,650 from a rifle.

And the best reason yet.... because I can...I have always liked tinkering with less popular rounds... there are quite a few VERY good rounds out there that just never caught on... dare to be different.

Ridgerunner665 wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 28, 2019 5:20 pm

The first reason....I have a 41 Mag Ruger Blackhawk that I really like,

really liking one is all the reason needed .... I've owned a 41 Smith and, as you noted, it is a capable round .... during that same period, I owned a 44 Mag Smith which quickly became my favorite

I've always loved the concept and idea of the 41 mag, i.e. magnum performance, but a little easier to shoot than the 44 (which actually a 43, not a 44). Been tempted many times, but the problem, now that I don't reload, is the crazy insane price of factory ammo and that's when you can find some and that isn't often. One of those cartridges which really deserved to be much more popular than it's been over the years. Guess a lot of people figured might as well just step up to a 44 mag. Real shame.

I posted some data from my BBSC .41 mag here: http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=7562

Compared to other hunting rounds these days, factory ammo isn't all that expensive. Granted it's not something you take to the range just to play with. As for availability, you do generally have to order on line from various sources, my personal favorite that I've been using for the past 10+ years is Underwood. The reason is in the data I posted at the above link.

Underwood ammo: https://www.underwoodammo.com/collectio ... ton-magnum

JEBar wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 28, 2019 5:38 pm

Ridgerunner665 wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 28, 2019 5:20 pm

The first reason....I have a 41 Mag Ruger Blackhawk that I really like,

really liking one is all the reason needed .... I've owned a 41 Smith and, as you noted, it is a capable round .... during that same period, I owned a 44 Mag Smith which quickly became my favorite

Just curious Jim what made you chose that 44 Smith over the 41 Smith. There both on the N frame and have the same feel. At least I think so. I have owned both and still own a 4 inch stainless 629 prelock

I own a few 41's. Henry in a BBS, Smith 657 power port, Freedom Arms 83 and a Ruger Blackhawk 4 5/8. The over the counter 41 mag ammo isnt as bad as it use to be and can be bought for the same price as the 44. But as was already mentioned it wouldnt be your regular round if a person wasnt a reloader. But neither is a 44

41 ammo is easy to get online... and the price for quality ammo is pretty much the same as 44.

You can get cheap range ammo cheaper for the 44, but the premium stuff is generally the same price.

GunnyGene wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 28, 2019 5:54 pm

I posted some data from my BBSC .41 mag here: http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=7562

Compared to other hunting rounds these days, factory ammo isn't all that expensive. Granted it's not something you take to the range just to play with. As for availability, you do generally have to order on line from various sources, my personal favorite that I've been using for the past 10+ years is Underwood. The reason is in the data I posted at the above link.

Underwood ammo: https://www.underwoodammo.com/collectio ... ton-magnum

Another 41 fan here, Hey Gunny I tried some of those 265 gr rounds the other day.
My BBS seems to like them pretty good.
Those 150 gr Extreme Hunters look wicked .https://www.underwoodammo.com/collectio ... 5698840633

RP

Vaquero wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 29, 2019 4:34 am

GunnyGene wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 28, 2019 5:54 pm

I posted some data from my BBSC .41 mag here: http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=7562

Compared to other hunting rounds these days, factory ammo isn't all that expensive. Granted it's not something you take to the range just to play with. As for availability, you do generally have to order on line from various sources, my personal favorite that I've been using for the past 10+ years is Underwood. The reason is in the data I posted at the above link.

Underwood ammo: https://www.underwoodammo.com/collectio ... ton-magnum

Another 41 fan here, Hey Gunny I tried some of those 265 gr rounds the other day.
My BBS seems to like them pretty good.
Those 150 gr Extreme Hunters look wicked .https://www.underwoodammo.com/collectio ... 5698840633

RP

If you have a chrono, I'd be interested in the numbers for both those in your rifle. The published MV is from a 6.5" Blackhawk, unless they've changed their testing in the last few years.

Sorry Gunny I don't have one.
I may be able to borrow one, if so I'll let you know.

RP

Hey Gunny, check here for my targets the other day.
http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=7559

RP

Vaquero wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 29, 2019 7:00 am

Sorry Gunny I don't have one.
I may be able to borrow one, if so I'll let you know.

RP

Ok. No hurry. The MV I got for the 210gr xtp, was 1738fps (avg) faster than the published due to the 10" longer barrel, so I'd expect similar mv gain with their other offerings.

What has always impressed me is the reliability of their ammo from lot to lot. Much better than I've seen from other brands. Reliable performance makes a difference when it counts.

BigAl52 wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 28, 2019 9:16 pm

Just curious Jim what made you chose that 44 Smith over the 41 Smith. There both on the N frame and have the same feel. At least I think so. I have owned both and still own a 4 inch stainless 629 prelock

back then I was actively black bear and boar hunting with a club in western NC .... our hunting land was the north slope of Mt Mitchell >>>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Mitchell <<<< laurel thickets (picture below) covered much of the area .... I've seen Bluetick, Plott, along with Black and Tan bear hounds ripped wide open by boar and bear that the pack had surrounded in those thickets .... a person can't walk through them, at best you have to crawl .... at such times, long guns can get in your way .... it never happened but I well remember thoughts of an angry bear or boar with angry hounds at their heels coming at me as I was crawling toward the sounds of the fight .... at that time my collection of hand guns was much larger than it is today .... didn't even consider a 357, 41, 45 semi-auto ... back then the 44 Mag was marketed as a Hand Cannon and that's what I wanted .... interestingly, my collection included the 44 Smith and a Ruger Blackhawk .... I was more comfortable with the Blackhawk so, that's what I carried .... over time, it did put bear, boar and deer in the cooler .... one bear was so close that the muzzle blast burned his hair .... yep, less than 6"

GunnyGene wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 29, 2019 7:09 am

Vaquero wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 29, 2019 7:00 am

Sorry Gunny I don't have one.
I may be able to borrow one, if so I'll let you know.

RP

Ok. No hurry. The MV I got for the 210gr xtp, was 178fps (avg) faster than the published due to the 10" longer barrel, so I'd expect similar mv gain with their other offerings.

What has always impressed me is the reliability of their ammo from lot to lot. Much better than I've seen from other brands. Reliable performance makes a difference when it counts.

Based on a sample of 2 (my Blackhawk and Henry carbine), 20 fps per inch seems to be a safe bet for estimating velocity figures for different barrel lengths.

If it got into barrels less than 6 inches long or over 20 inches it would be less accurate....standard magnum rounds start slowing down in barrels much over 20 inches... doesn't apply to 460 S&W and similar.

I've never fired a round of Underwood ammo, but I know a few pretty savvy shooters who do that really brag on it...I handload all my ammo, have for years, but if I were gonna spend money on factory ammo I'd go straight to Underwood without even considering anything else.

RR I reload all my own ammo also for everything I shoot.
Have had a liking for the 41 for many years, and was what really got me to reload.
Last year I was clearing up the ammo safe and found a partial box of Cor bon 41's, 250 gr cast.
I ran 5 through the Henry and at 50 yds. was near one ragged hole.

So a week or so ago someone here mentioned the Underwood 265's, so I was curious enough to try a box.
Sure wish I knew what powder they use.

Got a 270 gr mold I'm wanting to start some testing with.

RP

Vaquero wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 29, 2019 10:43 pm

RR I reload all my own ammo also for everything I shoot.
Have had a liking for the 41 for many years, and was what really got me to reload.
Last year I was clearing up the ammo safe and found a partial box of Cor bon 41's, 250 gr cast.
I ran 5 through the Henry and at 50 yds. was near one ragged hole.

So a week or so ago someone here mentioned the Underwood 265's, so I was curious enough to try a box.
Sure wish I knew what powder they use.

Got a 270 gr mold I'm wanting to start some testing with.

RP

Pull one apart and post a good picture of the powder in a tray under good light and tell me the weight of the charge...

Without even seeing it though I'd almost bet good money its H110/W296 or Accurate 4100/Ramshot Enforcer...or possibly Accurate #9.

Will do. I have H 110, never tried A4100.

RP

Not to entice you to spend yet more money.... but 4100 is better in my opinion... the powder is VERY fine grained, smaller than 110... and all the same size, perfect little round balls... flows like water, easy to measure, consistent through the powder measure, less muzzle flash than 110, burns very clean at the upper end, and is reportedly easier on forcing cones in wheel guns.

Ever so slightly faster burning than 110...hits a sweet spot in all the standard magnum pistol rounds.

110 is great... always has been...4100/Enforcer is just a more modern, slightly improved powder to fill the same role.

Ridgerunner665 wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 29, 2019 11:40 pm

Not to entice you to spend yet more money.... but 4100 is better in my opinion... the powder is VERY fine grained, smaller than 110... and all the same size, perfect little round balls... flows like water, easy to measure, consistent through the powder measure, less muzzle flash than 110, burns very clean at the upper end, and is reportedly easier on forcing cones in wheel guns.

Ever so slightly faster burning than 110...hits a sweet spot in all the standard magnum pistol rounds.

110 is great... always has been...4100/Enforcer is just a more modern, slightly improved powder to fill the same role.

Alright RR I tore one down, looks like 17.7 on the weight.
Here's a pic. it looks like small discs not what I would call balls.
Let me know if you need a different pic.

RP

Duh the pic


RP