I bought a Taurus 41mag Titanium Tracker, with the 4" barrel, a while back and I'm just now getting a chance to do some serious load work for it. Now, I'm trying to decide on a good bullet for both concealed carry and hunting. I love the performance of the Winchester 175gr Silvertip, but this isn't available as a component bullet. I'm looking at either the 210gr Speer Gold Dot or Hornady XTP in the same weight.
Does anyone know if one of these bullets is softer than the other or expands quicker? Since the gun only has a 4" barrel, I'm worried about gettin enough velocity to make an XTP open up properly. I love this gun, but I know that Taurus revolvers aren't the toughest guns out there. I think I'm better off finding a bullet that will perform at slightly lower velocities than pushing loads to the max and tearing up the gun.

I would suggest you consider a hard cast lead bullet for hunting. The typical hard cast bullet will punch completely through anything you shoot, and in the case of a .41, will leave a hole almost half an inch in diameter, if it doesn't expand at all. Plenty big enough hole to let air and blood out, and cold air in, if you know what I mean.
But I have also heard extremely good things about Hornady XTPs, and I know they are phenomenally accurate. A buddy in Idaho uses the 45-300 XTP with sabots in his 50-cal White, and raves about performance and expansion.
Whichever way you choose to go, good luck, hoping you fill the freezer this winter..

If you choose the hard cast route, be aware that the 220/230 gr Keith bullets sold by folks like Lead Heads and Dry Creek Bullet Works are too long for the Tracker's cylinder. Also, the only LBT style bullet that is short enough is, I believe, the 250gr WFLGC as sold by Cast Performance

The Speer Gold Dot opens up very well from a 4" barrel. Use H110 powder and start at 20 grains and work up. I am using 23 grains in my S&W and Ruger guns and there are no pressure signs nor stiff ejection.

Bob

I have the same Taurus that you have. It is my primary carry gun. My carry loads are a Serria 170g JHP or a 215g lead from Alstar. BTY my hunting loads that use the 250g from CBPT do fit. Those loads are not fun at all to shoot in a 24 oz gun. Hunting for me is out with that gun because the barrel isn't long enough for big game here in NC.

Thanks for the input everyone.
I had thought about going the hard cast route, but was concerned with making the loads fit in the relatively short cylinder of the Tracker. The only real hunting that this gun will probably see is small game like raccoons, oppossum, and other "targets of opportunity". I have a .45-70 Contender for the serious handgun hunting.
I'd love to hear everyone's favorite loads for the 41 if you've got one. Thanks

Andrew

For small game, try 8.0 of Unique under a 200 - 215 grain bullet.....it's accurate, well suited for small frame .41s, and has relatively mild recoil.

Lee Martin
http://www.singleactions.com

I use 20.2 grains of H110 and 210 XTP for most of my hunting. For lighter stuff I horded several 50 round boxes of 175 Silvertips.

For general use, the PMC factory loads are accurate and work well.

Crawfish pretty must hit it on the head as far as bullet weights. I have the same 4" 41 Mag Tracker but in stainless steel. I use 175 gr. Super-X Silvertip Hollow Point or Corbon 41MAG -- 170gr JHP as a PD load (I don't use reloads for defense) for hunting (4" barrel is legal in Indiana) I reload and use Cast Performance 250gr. WFNGC. I also use this same hunting load from my Ruger Blackhawk in .41 Mag. Recoil from the hunting load is very manageable out of the 6.5 “ heavier Blackhawk, but with the SS Tracker , porting, and the ribber grips it is not too bad either…you just need to get use to it. Hope this helps.

18.0 grs of AA#9 and a 210 XTP works well for me. Same load with a 210/215 casts is good too.

Hey Crawfish, how'd you get your old name back?

Well first I was, as you know, crawfish with a pretty good post count, then AR crashed, blew up something, then I was Stillcrawfish again had a good post count, AR redisigned, so now I'mm back to being crawfish again as a new guy next time think I'll be "crawfish hole"..

collegekidandy

I'm really a new guy -- just a little off post for a sec. Regarding the Tracker, I'm thinking of buying one, maybe with 6" barrel, I think I saw one with 6"?
Just wanted to know what kind of gun it's turning out to be, maybe just a quick review.

By the way I have a 357 and load the XTP and have for some time. It's a very good bullet, at least for self defence, might not be heavy enough jacket for hunting.

Thanks again everyone. Currently, my favorite load is 21.5gr H110 under a 210 XTP. This shoots about as well as anything else I've tried so far.

Coolhunt, as far as my opinion of the gun, I love it. I don't remember the weight of the 6" model, but at 24oz the 4" is an absolute dream to carry. I have been a little dissapointed with the accuracy. The best I can get is about 2.5" at 25yds for 5 shots with the above mentioned 210 XTP load and iron sights. The only other handgun I have is a TC Contender with a 7mm TCU and a .45-70 barrel that will both shoot sub MOA with the right load. I'm not sure what to expect from a revolver, so a 2.5" group seems pretty poor in comparison.
The gun does have one rough chamber that needs to be polished. But I'm told that this is a fairly simple fix. Overall, it seems to be a well constructed gun. The fit on mine is pretty good for a gun in this price range ($500).
I was amazed at how easy the gun is to control, even with heavier loads. The barrel ports and the Ribber grips help a lot. I like the gun so much that I convinced my father in law to buy one of the 4" stainless .44mag Trackers. I havent gotten a chance to shoot it yet, but i bet it will be fun.
If you get one, I'm sure you'll love it.

Give the old Speer 220grSWCSP. It expands well @ lower vel. THis is my choice in my 4"M57.

collegekid, you will go nuts trying to compare a 4" revolver with a Contender. It will be a rare revolver of any kind that will shoot close to a Contender. My 7.5 Redhawk will shoot about 1.5" at 25 yards with a scope using Hornaday 210 XTP and about 2.5" using various cast bullets. Take the scope off and add about an inch. The 2.5" you are getting is certainly reasonable and about what the Ti Tracker I had would do. Unlike the Redhawk, my Tracker did shoot cast bullets as good as jacketed

In such a light gun as the Taurus I would go with moderate loads and the 170gr Sierra or the old 200 gr 3/4 jacket hollowpoint Speer .

For defence Iwould use the 175 siveltip loads .

Hi,

I have been shooting the 41mag for the past 20 years in one pistol or another. Through many different load combinations, I have found several bullets which shot well and some which shot excellent. For your shorter barrel, I would recommend you giving the 200gr Remington JHP's a try. I have gone to them almost exclusively in my Redhawk. Not only do they shoot real good but they will also put a whollop on anything you hit with them. I would however limit your shots to 50 yards or so. This will give you one load which can be used for both hunting and self defence. I do however suggest using factory loads for SD purposes. You should be able to get them moving nicely using something like AA-#7. The best powders I have used were 2400 and 296. However in your shorter barrel you might be getting a severe muzzle flash.

Hope this helps some.

Later,
Mike / Tx