41 magnum trajectory?

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chris_

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I have heard that they can, a lot, but have yet to prove this to myself. Still working on a good load for the .41.
 

Jimbo357mag

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This is from the Federal website. These are standard for caliber rounds and their trajectories. Factory ammo.
357-158gr, 41-edit(210gr), 44-240gr, Can you see a difference? 8) 8)

357 Magnum
357magTrajectory.jpg


41 Magnum
41magTrajectoryGr.jpg


44 Magnum
44magTrajectoryGr.jpg


...Jimbo
 

DennisE

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Thanks! I'm guessing the 41 mag bullet is really 210 grains. I guess what I'm seeing is that you can get the same kind of trajectory but with successively larger and heavier bullets as you shoot bigger big bores. But if I shoot the same weight bullet say 240 in the 41 and in the 44 magnum don't I get a flatter trajectory further out with the 41? Thanks, Dennis
 

COR

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I don't have a graph like that...but when I take whacks at whistle pigs over 100yds I can tell you that I grab less front sight with the 200gr 41 than with the 240 44....BUT... About the same with the 357 158gr SWC...

Know your load and gun.... cause generally speaking there are a lot of variables you never mentioned like speed and bullets design.
 

DennisE

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I guess I'm trying to understand the 41 magnum better (I'm waiting for mine to arrive) and ever article I read says that compared to the 44 mag it has less recoil and is "flatter shooting." Dennis
 

Axehandle

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Discounting any recoil effect it is as simple as velocity and gravity. 240 grain 44 or 210 grain 41... Gravity affects each the same. The faster bullet covers more ground in the same amount of time. Equates to "flatter shooting" :D
 

TiteGroups

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You have to take into account the rate at which the bullet slows down due to wind resistance. Smaller dia. bullet means less wind resistance and will slow down at a lower rate and cover more ground in less time and have a flatter trajectory. This is assuming the same initial velocity.
 

COR

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Just pick an accurate load (and a suitable bullet) for your purposes and SHOOT A LOT.

No better way to understand. Graphs get you an idea but the field is the true test of any bullet and whast could be more fun.

You'll be fine once you practice....a better question concerns the leather you intend to carry her in....that way even when you miss, you still look good.
 

Jimbo357mag

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The facts are standard for caliber bullets in 357, 41, and 44 all have aprox. the same trajectory in the factory loadings. Any of that can be changed with a different bullet or a different loading. Put a lighter bullet in any of them and it becomes flatter shooting with less energy. :shock: :shock: :mrgreen:

...Jimbo
 

m657

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http://www.chuckhawks.com/handgun_recoil_table.htm
Pistol Wt. (lbs.) Recoil E. (ft. lbs.) Recoil V. (fps)
357 Mag. (158 at 925) 2.75 4.0 9.7
.357 Mag. (158 at 1070) 1.75 9.4 18.6
.357 Mag. (158 at 1250) 2.75 8.7 14.3
.40 S&W (155 at 1200) 1.5 10.6 21.3
.40 S&W (165 at 1080) 1.5 9.3 19.9
.40 S&W (180 at 1027) 1.5 10.4 21.2
10mm Auto (180 at 1295) 2.25 11.4 18.1
.41 Mag. (210 at 925) 2.75 6.6 12.4
.41 Mag. (210 at 1300) 2.75 15.6 19.1
.44 Spec. (240 at 750) 3.0 4.5 9.9
.44 Rem. Mag. (200 at 1000) 3.0 6.7 12.0
.44 Rem. Mag. (200 at 1219) 4.1 6.3 10.0
.44 Rem. Mag. (200 at 1295) 4.1 7.2 10.6
.44 Rem. Mag. (200 at 1326) 3.0 11.9 16
.44 Rem. Mag. (225 at 1239) 3.0 12.4 16.3
.44 Rem. Mag. (240 at 1144) 4.1 8.0 11.2
.44 Rem. Mag. (240 at 1172) 4.1 8.4 11.5
.44 Rem. Mag. (240 at 1200) 4.1 8.9 11.8
.44 Rem. Mag. (240 at 1271) 4.1 10.0 12.5
.44 Rem. Mag. (240 at 1450) 3.0 22.5 21.9

this gives some raw data showing relative recoil numbers

The heavier the slug the faster it moves the greater the recoil, moderated by the heavier the gun weighs, along with some other factors.

41 mag with similar velocity and boolit weight has lower measure recoil than 44 mag, so sez the chart.

Amazing just how close many loads are on this chart though.
 

mindustrial

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There you go, the chart proves it. At 100yds, the .41 drops .5" less than the .44 (at some bullet weight). Now I am an internet expert and can justify the existence of the .41 to everyone.

Sorry for the sarcasm, I never saw how .019" could be worth all the hoopla of a new cartridge- pure marketing.
 

Bucks Owin

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COR said:
Just pick an accurate load (and a suitable bullet) for your purposes and SHOOT A LOT.

No better way to understand. Graphs get you an idea but the field is the true test of any bullet and what could be more fun.
10X.. :wink:

None of them are a .220 Swift, best plan is to shoot a lot, learn to estimate range and how much front sight to hold up... 8)

(Varmiting is a great teacher if you have it available.. :wink: )
 

m657

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re: "I never saw how .019" could be worth all the hoopla of a new cartridge- pure marketing."

in an industry that labors to produce infinite variety to satisfy and encourage every imaginable ballistic flavor, of course 'marketing' is a strong driver.

Look at the virtual infinite array of all kinds of calibers and factory loadings that overlap, duplicate and otherwise vie for consumer validation via purchase of product otherwise left on the shelf.

Look to the rifle calibers, which otherwise identical, have different names. And the bottom feeder list is long and repetitious as well, just sticking to the nominal "38 cal" size.

I for one prefer 41 mag for my own use, over any 44 mag I've ever shot. Don't pretend it's somehow "better"....only that I 'like' it more.
 
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240 grain 44 or 210 grain 41... Gravity affects each the same. The faster bullet covers more ground in the same amount of time. Equates to "flatter shooting"

I think that's the best way to think about it. I tend to shoot lighter bullets out of a .41 than a .44. If I go really light in .44 (like a 180 JHP) then the bullets are so short that they lose velocity faster than the slightly more efficient model in .41.

Sorry for the sarcasm, I never saw how .019" could be worth all the hoopla of a new cartridge- pure marketing.

Yeah, I can't understand it either. You are sitting there with a whole table full of .41 Magnums and people walk by and insist on telling you how much better and more capable their .44 Magnums are. Somehow they think that .019" is so critical! Maybe if it was named the ".429 Magnum," they would feel less hairy-chested!

I do like shooting "something different." Which explains some of the .44 Specials that follow me home. But I really do see a slight difference between the two big boys. I suspect some of it is just due to a slightly smaller hole in the barrel and in the cylinder. Resulting in a little more weight. Combine a little more weight with a little less produced recoil and it can be significant. If I'm going to shoot a bunch of .44 Magnum, I would much rather use a Ruger Super Redhawk than my 6.5" M29-2. Great gun but it wears you down after a few cylinders. The various M57's just seem more comfortable to shoot after the first ten or twenty shots. Same with 5.5" Redhawks. My .41 Redhawk is just a heck of a gun all the way around and it wouldn't be any better in .44 Magnum.

Granted.... the number one factor is who wants to own the same thing as everybody else? I don't own a single .270 Winchester but it is obviously a fine and proven cartridge. The only 30/06 I own is a SA Garand. Same thing. I like to hunt with a .257 Roberts AI for deer size stuff and a Remington 700 Classic in .350 Remington Magnum for the big stuff. Just me.

Gregg
 

5of7

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In my opinion, there is not enough difference in trajectory between the 3 cartridges mentioned to make any difference in the field.

In terms of recoil, the 41 Mg. is a little easier to shoot than the .44 Mg. and the 41 is still plenty big enough for deer and hog hunting, or for any other animal of 300 lbs or less.

The .357 might be considered marginal for animals of that size, although personal experience has proven it to be adequate.

You pays your money and you takes your choice. 8)
 

Jeff41Mag

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Sep 2, 2011
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Yeah, there's not a lot of difference between the .41 and .44 Mags, but like m657 I simply prefer the 41 over the 44, and have a 41. I guess in a way it's like comparing the 327 to the 350 Chevy - you can build one to outrun the other.

If I were in Grizzly country though, I think I'd choose as much caliber, bullet weight, and then velocity as I could handle.

Does anyone know if there are any hot loads (or rather, just plain good loads) for the 41 Mag that are effective on grizzly? As in, something that will kill them quickly so the confrontation doesn't end up with me just killing the bear that killed me. :)

And is it the 265 gr flatnose hardcast bullet, or are there other choices out there for the 41 buff?
 

427mach1

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Does anyone know if there are any hot loads (or rather, just plain good loads) for the 41 Mag that are effective on grizzly?

Take a look at Grizzly's 265 LWFNGC; they claim 1400 fps. I load the same bullet (from Cast Performance, a sister company of Grizzly) to 1330 fps with 21.2 grains of 'LilGun. The ballistician at CP gave me the loading range and his predictions on my muzzle velocity were right on. You will definitely notice the increase in recoil over standard factory loads!

Penn Bullets offers a 295 grain bullet but I haven't used it or heard any reports from someone who did.
 
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