New 41 Mag Blackhawk

[br6ppc]

Here's my Christmas present:

This was the 1st load I tried with the revolver. 11gr Blue Dot under a Hunter's Supply 215gr SWC. Not too bad considering it still had the "cheese grater" grips on it. I haven't tried any more loads as I ran out of time. I changed the grips out with a set of rosewood grips from a 357 Mag Blackhawk. Yes, the grips fit fine without any modifications. I have already ordered a set of grips from Ruger. I may put them on the 357 Mag as these fit my 41 fine. Now I can work up some heavier loads with some H110 or Lil'Gun and some 250 gr WFNGC's. I'm not about to shoot full loads with the checkered plastic grips. They are kinda rough on your palms. Ruger, please put the rosewood grips back on my Blackhawks

 

[Jimbo357mag]

That is a nice load and nice shooting too. :shock:

...Jimbo

 

[surveyor47]

That gun should be capable of much much better. Try 17.0 grains of IMR4227 with a 215 grain lead SWC. Works in my Bisley for the last 20 years. Reference Lyman Pistol & Revolver Handbook 3rd Ed. I get 100 yard accuracy with that load.

 

[427mach1]

Nice Christmas present! Take a look at the 265 grain Cast Performance LWFNGC loads on Hodgdon's website. They can be loaded hotter than the 250's if that interests you. I load them with 21.2 grains of 'Lil Gun in my 41 for bear repellant when hiking in Montana. I chrono'd them at about 1330 fps out of a 6-1/2" barrel. Hodgdon's website shows considerably higher velocity but I think they are using a 10" barrel.

 

[br6ppc]

Surveyor 47 - I have some IMR 4227 on hand. I will give that a spin. Yes, it should do better with the right load. I didn't try adjusting the load at all. I was trying to sight in the revolver today.
427Mach1 - I may get some of the 265's I like the 320 gr WLNGC's in my 44 mag. 1330 fps is plenty of velocity. I think Hodgdon must be using a longer also. I have some of the 250 gr WFNPB from Cast Performance.

 

[br6ppc]

I tried some new loads today. I tried some H110 with the 250 gr WFNPB's and 210 gr XTP's. The gun said :evil: , yuck. I tried some Lil'Gun. Much better. It was okay with the 250gr WFNPB's. I tried 20.5 grs and CCI 250 primers.

Now that's not bad at all. I'm not a practiced pistol shooter, so I'm happy with that group at 40 yds. My chrono started having fits and I didn't get but one velocity reading (1350 fps).

The revolver shoots MUCH better with the wood grips. There is a noticeable difference in recoil compared to my 44 mag SBH Hunter. I didn't push the loads any higher today than the one i posted. I have to get my chrono up and running.

 

[flhr62]

If you shot that standing offhand, you should be very happy.

 

[427mach1]

I had some problems with my chronograph, too. Some of the powders are smoky and if the muzzle is too close, you pick up the smoke and gases that are ahead of the bullet. Try moving the chronograph a few feet further away and see if you get more consistent readings. I was getting 600 - 700 fps when I knew it should be more like 1200. Moving the chronograph a few feet further gave me reasonable and consistent numbers.

Are you saying your 41 has more recoil than the 44? With the 265's I load, I believe that is the case, too. My 41 is the 6-1/2" barrel Blackhawk, my 44 is the 7-1/2 Super Blackhawk. The SBH weighs considerably more than the BH, which as you probably know helps reduce "felt" recoil.

 

[br6ppc]

I had some problems with my chronograph, too. Some of the powders are smoky and if the muzzle is too close, you pick up the smoke and gases that are ahead of the bullet. Try moving the chronograph a few feet further away and see if you get more consistent readings. I was getting 600 - 700 fps when I knew it should be more like 1200. Moving the chronograph a few feet further gave me reasonable and consistent numbers.

Are you saying your 41 has more recoil than the 44? With the 265's I load, I believe that is the case, too. My 41 is the 6-1/2" barrel Blackhawk, my 44 is the 7-1/2 Super Blackhawk. The SBH weighs considerably more than the BH, which as you probably know helps reduce "felt" recoil.

Yeah, I found that out not too long after I got my first chronograph. I never set mine closer than 12ft from the muzzle. No, my Oehler 35 has been giving me problems for a while now. I will read fine and then suddenly it just quits giving readings. It just won't pick up the readings or give error readings. I copied some of the error codes and I'm going to call Oehler about it.

As to the recoil, no the 41 has less recoil than my 44 mag. I usually shoot 300 gr JHP's or 320 gr WLNGC's in it though with a stiff load of H110. I have really cranked the 41 up yet. The above load for the 210 XTP's was a starting load. With a max load, recoil would brisk.

 

[atarian]

br6ppc how clean was the Blue Dot? I tried some lighter loads with 4227 and it was EXTREMELY dirty. OK for near/at max load but 16.3 grains was a mellow, accurate load but I had to clean the revolver every 6 rounds. I've loaded up some Blue Dot at 10.3, 10.5, 10.7, and 10.8 but haven't made it to the range yet. Hoping for something a little cleaner. Well, a LOT cleaner.

 

[surveyor47]

There is a trick to this. You may very well have a winning combination with Lil Gun or H110 and in fact probably do, but you cannot simply take recipies that work in other peoples guns and expect them to perform in your own. Your gun is an individual with its own personality. The trick is to load groups of ammo with the same powder and bullet, and test them according to powder charge. This is called "load tuning". Your barrel has its own unique harmonics and the trick is to get the bullet to leave the barrel at the same point in its vibration. Here is how:

Using data from Lyman Pistol and Revolver Handbook, 2nd Ed., the 41 Mag, 215 grain lead SWC has a loading range of 14.9 to 19.2 grains of IMR4227. USING THIS DATA AS AN EXAMPLE ONLY: Working in half grains increments, I would load 10 round each of 15.0, 15.5, 16.0, 16.5, 17.0. 17.5, 18.0, 18.5 and 19.0 and 19.2 grains of IMR4227, making up 100 rounds. I would then take the gun to the range and set up 1 target per load increment, 10 targets. Then fire the 10 rounds froma bench rest, eliminating the human factor to the extent possible. You will then see the group shrink and then enlarge. Mark each target with the load and examine. See where the tightest group is and then narrow the field, loading in a narrower range on either side of the tightest group. Lets say that you find that 17.0 grains of IMR4227 shoots tightest (Hmmm. Where did he get that number?) Load 50 rounds, 10 shots each 16.4, 16.7, 17.0, 17.3, 17.6 Again bench rest looking for the tightest group.

NOTE: Lyman REDUCED the loading range in their 3rd Edition to 15.7 to 17.5 grains of IMR4227. CHECK WITH HODGDON FOR THE CURRENT DATA ON THIS POWDER. www.hodgdon.com

Now that you know the trick, make that Blackhawk SHINE!

 

[br6ppc]

br6ppc how clean was the Blue Dot? I tried some lighter loads with 4227 and it was EXTREMELY dirty. OK for near/at max load but 16.3 grains was a mellow, accurate load but I had to clean the revolver every 6 rounds. I've loaded up some Blue Dot at 10.3, 10.5, 10.7, and 10.8 but haven't made it to the range yet. Hoping for something a little cleaner. Well, a LOT cleaner.

It was not too bad. It was not as baad as I have seen some 2400 loads. It was not the cleanest load. Lots of powder residue on the frame and in the cylinder. I tried 2400 in my 357 and it left unburned powder particles and residue in copious amounts.

There is a trick to this. You may very well have a winning combination with Lil Gun or H110 and in fact probably do, but you cannot simply take recipies that work in other peoples guns and expect them to perform in your own. Your gun is an individual with its own personality. The trick is to load groups of ammo with the same powder and bullet, and test them according to powder charge. This is called "load tuning". Your barrel has its own unique harmonics and the trick is to get the bullet to leave the barrel at the same point in its vibration. Here is how:

Thanks Surveyor. That is precisely what I intend to do when I get a day off work with decent weather. It ain't going to be today. We are dealing with a wee bit of a mess here in Georgia. I do have some advantage. I have a 100 yard range in my backyard. I can set up at my bench and I don't have to load everything up to start with. I usually load 12 rounds of a given load and test it at my bench. If it does good, I continue. I love living in the country

 

[surveyor47]

I noticed that Lyman reduced the loading range of IMR4227 in their 3rd edition to 15.7 to 17.5 grains. The 2nd Edition that I referenced was 14.9 to 19.2 grains. Makes no sence to me. Anyway, Im trying to show an example of the method - and it works.

Also check with hodgdon www.hodgdon. com for whatever they consider current data.

As always, check your cases and primers for signs of pressure.

 

[Pinecone]

br6ppc, OK, so "what" did you buy "her" for Xmas???..............Dick :wink:

 

[br6ppc]

br6ppc, OK, so "what" did you buy "her" for Xmas???..............Dick :wink:

That's one of the advantages of being single!! I don't have to ask

 

[Pinecone]

br6ppc, Aw shucks, I was hoping to hear what "she" got! I "understand". When I was single, Xmas was 12 months a year! You had better get used to asking "us" though on the forum. You know, "practice" for later on!..........Dick :lol:

 

[br6ppc]

Yeah, but I think "ya'll" might be a little more forgiving about gun purchases than some of the women that have come and gone in my life. That's the reason they're "gone". I'm looking now for a lady that hunts. It's less trouble to support this habit for 2 rather than begging for forgiveness. I didn't say a word about cheaper .

 

[41manor44]

I picked my 41 Blackhawk up about a year ago with the black pieces of disaster for a grip but the thing that bugged me the most was the new internal lock. I wanted to put Hogue Mono grips on it but with that sticken lock in the grip. impossible! I'm still looking around for other grips. Right now it's wearing the factory grips from my 357 Blackhawk. Still working on a load that it likes.