41 Mag Ammo Question

The Accurate Reloading Forums

This topic can be found at:
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2911043/m/7741068861

25 December 2011, 21:30

WV2WY

41 Mag Ammo Question

I have a Ruger Blackhawk in a 41 mag. It shoots the Winchester 240gr. Platinum Tip HPs well.

Has anyone taken any game with this load? I have a hog hunt planned and am thinking about taking it.

This is the only ammo my local gun shop has in stock and I will be hunting 12/30/2011.

Thanks for any info provided.

26 December 2011, 01:30

Woodrow S

I would shoot them into some test media first to see if they expand at all. They are heavy for caliber, which means lower velocity and the bullets are very stoutly constructed. I used this Winchester factory loaded ammo in my 500 S&W with the 400gr PTHP @ 1600fps and when shot into a dirt berm at 30yds never opened up the slightest bit...the recovered bullets acted and looked just like solids. These were expensive and I am highly disappointed.

26 December 2011, 02:58

jwp475

quote:
Originally posted by WV2WY:
I have a Ruger Blackhawk in a 41 mag. It shoots the Winchester 240gr. Platinum Tip HPs well.

Has anyone taken any game with this load? I have a hog hunt planned and am thinking about taking it.

This is the only ammo my local gun shop has in stock and I will be hunting 12/30/2011.

Thanks for any info provided.

The 240 Platinum bullet in 41 is a soft bullet with a lot of expansion. Pick your shot since this is not a deep penetrating bullet at least none that I have shot were

_____________________________________________________

A 9mm may expand to a larger diameter, but a 45 ain't going to shrink

Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.
- Winston Churchill

26 December 2011, 08:13

WV2WY

Thanks for the info guys!

27 December 2011, 19:59

Palladin8

quote:
Originally posted by Woodrow S:
I would shoot them into some test media first to see if they expand at all. They are heavy for caliber, which means lower velocity and the bullets are very stoutly constructed. I used this Winchester factory loaded ammo in my 500 S&W with the 400gr PTHP @ 1600fps and when shot into a dirt berm at 30yds never opened up the slightest bit...the recovered bullets acted and looked just like solids. These were expensive and I am highly disappointed.

I have never shot into dirt and had a bullet expand. The only way I was able to get them to expand was to shoot them into wet clay, Mud, water, or wet news print.

27 December 2011, 21:29

sixshot_01

Hogs are tough & the shooting is usually close so the impact velocity is still quite high. You might be OK but a tougher bullet would be better. One of those 240 gr softpoints on the gristle plate of a large hog could make him mad!!

Dick

28 December 2011, 05:06

WV2WY

A friend of mine has some 170 or 180 semi- wad cutters, do you think these would be better? I am going to see how they shoot in my gun tomorrow.

I am not sure what brand of bullets they are though.

Thanks

28 December 2011, 06:42

youp50

I used a 41 mag 210 gr soft jacketed hollow point to shoot a bear in the ribs. No more than 4 ft from the muzzle to the bear. It never broke a rib. 240 is heavier, I know. I know bear hunters in Wisconsin that will only use hard cast bullets in their 44's. The soft bullets are okay for soft things, like wood chucks. Hogs are pretty hard and can get pretty big.

28 December 2011, 06:46

Whitworth

quote:
Originally posted by youp50:
I used a 41 mag 210 gr soft jacketed hollow point to shoot a bear in the ribs. No more than 4 ft from the muzzle to the bear. It never broke a rib. 240 is heavier, I know. I know bear hunters in Wisconsin that will only use hard cast bullets in their 44's. The soft bullets are okay for soft things, like wood chucks. Hogs are pretty hard and can get pretty big.

I too prefer unhindered penetration.

"Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP

If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming.

Semper Fidelis

"Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time"

28 December 2011, 18:58

mete

Bullet construction makes a large difference !!
Swift A-frame , Speer Deep Curl, and the Barnes all copper are designed for big game and do very well with penetration and expansion .These three can be found loaded at least in 44 mag.

29 December 2011, 04:35

JOE MACK

quote:
Originally posted by mete:
Bullet construction makes a large difference !!
Swift A-frame , Speer Deep Curl, and the Barnes all copper are designed for big game and do very well with penetration and expansion .These three can be found loaded at least in 44 mag.

All three of those available in the .41Magnum, too. The Platinum-tip would be fine for pit or spit sized pigs. I'd say 100 to 250pounds I wouldn't worry about it. Larger, I'd go to Federal Cast Core, Corbon, Grizzly, Buffalo Bore, etc. JTHO of a dyed in the wool ..41Magnum man.

JOE MACK aka The .41FAN

HAVE MORE FUN AND GET THE JOB DONE WITH A .41

I am the punishment of God…
If you had not committed great sins,
God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you. (GENGHIS KHAN)

29 December 2011, 05:10

WV2WY

Gents, thanks for all the input.

Joe Mack PM sent

02 January 2012, 02:47

WV2WY

Thanks for all the info, I ended up using 170gr reload from a friend.
The shot was 20 yards and the follow up shot was really not needed. The hog travelled less than 15 yards.

Thanks