Ruger 41 Remington Magnums

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jyo

Single-Sixer
Joined
Jan 5, 2011
Messages
134
You don't know what you are missing. LOL. Before ammo got so damn expensive I would regularly go through 100 rounds per 41 Mag revolver. I can't handle more than 25 rounds of 454 through my Ruger Super Redhawk.
Way back in the mid-90s, I bought my first Freedom Arms 454 Casull revolver to take on my first Alaskan hunting trip with a bunch of locals to hunt moose. I had pretty much mastered the 44 Magnum, but the 454 was a whole new level of power---it took me a few boxes of ammo to become acquainted with the gun (6 1/2" Premier Grade with factory trigger job and factory Magna-porting)---during this time I would go to the range and put at least 50 rds of full-shout 300 grain factory ammo thru the "Beast" as I came to call it... These days, I'm much older and my hands have aged quite a bit and my limit is 10-15 rds, but my other Freedom Arms 454 (4 3/4" Premier Grade bone stock, my favorite revolver) has a factory fitted 45 ACP and 45 Colt cylinders and is a total pleasure to shoot with the 45 ACP cylinder installed... I've never used the 45 Colt cylinder even though I have 6-8 boxes of 45 Colt factory ammo lying around somewhere...
 

planetcat

Single-Sixer
Joined
Feb 10, 2009
Messages
308
Location
U.S.A.
My first handgun, bought used in 1996 for $200 was this NMBH .41mag. Serial #27 made in 1973. I carried it on my side on countless bear and hog hunts. Always ran flawlessly. I regrettably sold it a couple years ago. Here's a pic…
1AB817A5-D0B4-49FD-AFE2-ACA61D23B3E0.jpeg
 

Onty

Single-Sixer
Joined
Dec 17, 2000
Messages
491
The .41magnum is an awesome cartridge, shines in self defense and hunting....
You are missing "the best of bests" ;); Ruger Bisley 41 Magnum, especially with fluted cylinder.

This statement hits squarely facts about 41 magnum:

The .41 Remington Magnum is the best revolver cartridge. Period. A bold statement given there are so many other good, useful revolver rounds out there. The truth is, when all factors are weighed- lethality, accuracy, recoil, and versatility- nothing eclipses the .41 Rem. Mag.


As for CCW, IMO 41 Magnum is not practilal, requires large revolver. However, for anything else, it tops, especially as outdoor and a hunting round, assuming proper bullet is used:

8Eu0q2y.jpg



Lunch it as flat point version at 1100 or more fps, it will go right through even full grown cow, see discussion here https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/revolver-for-handgun-hunting-another-view.903836/ .

Paco Kelly has something to say "41 MAGNUM.... (SUNDAY'S CHILD)" https://leverguns.com/articles/paco/41magnum.htm .
 
Joined
Sep 7, 2022
Messages
51
Location
Rochester, NH
I have that 265 grain MP mold...simply excellent. 21.0 grains of H110 moves it right along...

It is a little too much in the way of recoil for S&Ws and Blackhawks but in an all steel Ruger Bisley, Hunter or Freedom Arms 83 it is a stomper...

Bob
 

Onty

Single-Sixer
Joined
Dec 17, 2000
Messages
491
I have that 265 grain MP mold...simply excellent. 21.0 grains of H110 moves it right along...

It is a little too much in the way of recoil for S&Ws and Blackhawks but in an all steel Ruger Bisley, Hunter or Freedom Arms 83 it is a stomper...

Bob
I just checked Hodgdon loads website. Their maximum of H1100/W296 for 265 grains bullet is 20.8 grains and velocity is 1540 fps, although from 10.125" barrel. If fired from 7.5" barrel revolver, I guess velocity should be at least 1300-1350 fps (hope more knowledgeable forum members will correct me if I am wrong). Yeah, that is a stomper by any yardstick, I would say on both ends, when fired from S&W or Blackhawk.

What caught my attention is a starting load; 19.5 grains, velocity 1410 fps, corrected to 7.5" revolver around 1200 fps. If 45-454424, with muzzle velocity 1100 fps is one shot proposal, that goes right through full grown cow, 41-265, with same, or almost same meplat, at 1200 fps, with 19% more energy, should be even better.

But, look at the pressure for 19.5 grains, it is 24 400 CUP only. This is considerably easier on ears, when fired in a hurry, than 20.8 grains making 37 600 CUP.

My point is that 19.5 grains load should be noticeably easier on hands than full power load, and even from S&W or Blackhawk, shouldn't be too bad. One note: revolver recoil is not just from bullet leaving barrel, but also from powder and reaction created by jet effect of gases. So, everything combined, I wouldn't be surprised if recoil is about 25% less.

I still remember when years ago I was testing 45-325 SWC with 2 grease grooves. Velocity was about 1050-1100, according to load data. For me, from Bisley, that was just a bit stiff load, but perfectly manageable. For another shooter, about 20 older, that was more than he liked. I am sure that these days, shooting same load, I will have same opinion as he did.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Oct 24, 2007
Messages
11,654
Location
Kentucky
My first centerfire handgun was a 6-1/2" OM .41 magnum Blackhawk I purchased new shortly after Christmas of 1966. The first box of ammo taught me about handgun recoil . . . and the price of ammo, leading to the purchase of a LEE "tap tap BANG" hand loading kit; so it also got me into reloading.

Shot the gun a lot as I was able to buy components occasionally. Went thru a lot of components over the next several years, had a lot of fun with the gun . . . still have it. When the OM Blackhawks in .45 Colt came out I bought one and never looked back. Nothing wrong with the .41 but the .45 just suited me better. I later stumbled upon a LNIB 4-5/8" OM in .41 and snatched it up to "complete the set", but no "brassies" . . . yet.

Great guns, glad WBR decided to offer them. 😁
 

Onty

Single-Sixer
Joined
Dec 17, 2000
Messages
491
From a S&W 57 4":

265 gr. MP TruShot Clone/21.0 H110: 1165

From 10.125" long barrel, and if solid (no gap), no wonder that for the same load velocity is almost 400 fps more.
 

Xstang77

Bearcat
Joined
Mar 30, 2022
Messages
18
Location
NY
I treated myself for my birthday this past spring when I came upon one of those unwanted 41's at a new to me lgs.
Early 70's 3 screw that had been converted,they struggled to get it gone so made me a deal for $600 otd.
The original owner never was able to find ammo much for it. There's one blemish on the barrel,bluing is 99%, looks like the day it left ruger.
I fumbled through my first unconversion on it and have been enjoying it since.
 

daveag.

Single-Sixer
Joined
Nov 14, 2015
Messages
447
Ruger makes (made?) stainless 10mm x .40 S&W convertible Blackhawks with 2 cylinders. You can't shoot .40 S&W out of a 10mm cylinder since it headspaces on the cartridge mouth, and you can't use moon clips in a single action. So that's why two cylinders.

Well, I guess technically, you might be able to use moon clips in a SA but you'd have to remove the cylinder each time to unload/load. Moon clips are made for simultaneous extraction in a DA, not to simulate a rim for firing a cartridge that is too short for the chamber. Probably would get misfires and poor accuracy.

They made those 10mm x .40 Blackhawks in at least two barrel lengths, 6.5" and 4-5/8".
I looked at this 10mm. .40. at my lgs. The 4 5/8" model sure looked sweet. But, that was during Covid crap. And you couldn't find powder or primers. I passed on the thought of reloading 2 new calibers. At that time, Missouri Bullets was 6 months on back order. And Bass Pro had no bullets.
 

G2

Hunter
Joined
May 8, 2006
Messages
2,491
Location
UT/AZ
Im a member of the .41 club/cult.🙄

5.5" AccuSport
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4.6" OM Blackhawk, Super Hammer, Micro Sight, Brass GF w/ Mikarta.
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5.5" OM Flattop Custom #5, 41M & 41 Special cylinder.
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3.75" OM Flatop Custom .41 Special in progress….
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Some non Ruger's
3" S&W 657
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10" IMI Desert Eagle
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IMI/KBI Jericho 941 41AE/9mm
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AND
A - 6.5" Blackhawk from 2011 in pristine condition,,,
it's available to find a new home if you're interested,,, PM me.😁
53136834704_416ba96cd2_b.jpg
 
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Brant

Bearcat
Joined
May 9, 2014
Messages
63
My favorite .41magnum is a Ruger SUPER Redhawk. It is a nice shooting handgun. Quickly becoming my most shot gun…of them all.
 

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