I couldn't pass up a 41 mag redhawk with a 7.5 inch barrel this weekend. I want to get it setup to deer hunt next fall. Looking for advice. I already have a scope rail that fits the 5.5 inch redhawk also a 41. Will this rail work or do I need to find a new one? With a good 4x scope and handload what kind of distance should I expect out of this gun. If I do my part of course. Thanks

Can't say about the rail, but on the distance it depends entirely on the shooter. If it were me, I'd expect out to 100 yds with a good 4x scope and shooting off a tree limb or other rest. Without scope I'd say 50 yds. Your REALLY good shooters can do more, even a lot more. But that's not for me. I consider those max distances and I work hard at getting closer shots.

I'm not a handloader, but in the .41 I hunt with C-B's factory 210 gr JHP @ 1350. If you duplicated that you'd be OK for most shots in my opinion. But, if I knew for a fact I'd be hunting at 100 yds, I'd probably want that 210 with 100 to 200 fps more.

You'll enjoy the .41.

I would have to agree with Shack. On my scoped model 57, I feel confident to 100 yards and to 50-60 without the scope.

For deer hunting, I use a 210XTP in front of 20.2 grains of H110 and it always does the trick. Very accurate. For anything else, I load 220 Montana Bullets on top of that same load. For factory loads, any good 210 grain bullet will take a deer and Federal Castcore 250s work for everything else.

Thanks guys. The 5.5 redhawk really likes the 210 xtps and I can hit a 6in steel plate at 50yds with the sights. I know it all depends on whose behind the gun. I am not planning on taking any shots past 100. Just wanted to know if anyone would feel comfortable pushing the 41 that far on deer sized game. A scope and set of shooting sticks will be coming soon.

Guys forget those jacketed bullets and go with a wide flat point hard cast. You will not be disapointed an save a bit of cast as well.

quote:

Originally posted by jwp475:
Guys forget those jacketed bullets and go with a wide flat point hard cast. You will not be disapointed an save a bit of cast as well.

I second that...

What would be different with a hard cast? Oh yea, you're wallet would be fatter and the bucks would still be dead

quote:

Originally posted by Redhawk1:

quote:

Originally posted by jwp475:
Guys forget those jacketed bullets and go with a wide flat point hard cast. You will not be disapointed an save a bit of cast as well.

I second that...

I third that......

That's a powerful strong argument x-caliber's got there...and I don't know about y'all, but my results this year sure don't compete with it.

If we had such a thing as a contest here for best handgun trophy of the year, we just might have our winner.

That's what I call really getting the job done with a .41...

The 41 is a Deer getter for sure and certain. x-caliber does indeed have a nice pair of bucks

quote:

Originally posted by jwp475:
The 41 is a Deer getter for sure and certain. x-caliber does indeed have a nice pair of bucks

I would have to agree with what jwp said. I am a hardcast guy through and through, but expanding bullets certainly do have their place -- particularly wth small caliber handguns that can benefit from the expansion and when the game is deer.

x-caliber, those are some fine trophies -- congratulations!

Yup, x-caliber's results are why I stated my answer the way I did. There is no deer alive that NEEDS a hard cast but they are fine for that too. And XTPs are the same price as the Montana Bullet Works bullets I bought and about $10 less than comparable Cast Performance, so that argument doesn't wash. The CHEAP lead bullets are just that, and will lead your barrel to boot. Been there, done that. Stick with quality either way, cast or not, and you will be fine for deer. Hogs, bears and nasty critters are cast for sure.

Larry, you've got to cast your own -- that's where the real savings come from!

Marko, I agree. While I do have the best wife in the world (bought me my first three rifles and shotgun along with a full custom rifle, AND wanted a Glock for Christmas), I don't think I could get that equipment by the "Gun Committee", along with everything else I have.

quote:

Originally posted by larrys:
Marko, I agree. While I do have the best wife in the world (bought me my first three rifles and shotgun along with a full custom rifle, AND wanted a Glock for Christmas), I don't think I could get that equipment by the "Gun Committee", along with everything else I have.

You definitely have to pick your battles!!

I have some friends that are a little hen pecked too. They can buy guns and stuff but it is hard to get them out to shoot because of those "honey do's."

OK, here's my "honey-do" story (one of them anyway)...I call up this pal I hunt with and say "tomorrow will be the perfect weather conditions for a hunt" and he says "let me check what's going on tomorrow" and I overhear him tell his wife that's me on the phone and I then hear him get interrupted with a loud "NO" before he even gets to tell her why I was calling, and then he tells me "it looks like there's too much going on now to get free..maybe some other time".

Back to the .41...if we're talking average size whitetails only and you had to choose between a 210 jhp or a flat meplat 250 h/c, which would it be and why?

Wheel weights a lee mold and there you go. Very cheap too.

Unless I plan to use my 41 as a two legged personal defense gun I'll stay with the hard cast . If it was a PD gun I would load it with the fastest expanding 170gr JHPs bullets at the highest vel I could push them. Not that I would be afraid to shoot a Bad guy with my hard cast loads need be. But I would very expect them to punch right thru and Hit something else too.