Friend of mine and I are having a friendly dispute about the effectiveness of my .41 mag. loads.

I load on the light side, 210 gr hard cast bullet at about 1150 fps.

That load will get through a broadside deer at the ranges I shoot everytime. He says if I pump it up the energy will give me more knockdown power, say to 1400 fps.

Further on hogs I always try for a head shot, can't always get that, but I've yet to have full reliable penatration with any rifle rounds I've used with soft point bullets, much less a revolver round. I don't think a .41 mag load with a heaver bullet or more fps. is going to make much of a difference. The rifle loads I've used so far are: 30/30,30/40,.270,30/06,8mm/56R,7.5Swiss,6.5Jap, and 7.65x53Argentine. Like I said none of which will give reliable through the body passage with softpoints on large hogs, so I don't think a .41 mag. will either with any load, what say you.

Larry,

What kind of "soft-point" bullets have you been using? WalMart specials are likely not going to make the cut. For your 30-06 try 180gr Nosler Partition. I will almost guarantee you will think you have a new rifle. You will blow in one side and out the other even on "really large" hogs. The partition is readily available in commercially loaded ammo if you are not a reloader. Trophy Bonded Bear Claw is another softpoint that will do the job. If you are a handloader, try the NorthFork softpoint bullet and the Swift A-Frame. You will not be disappointed with any of these "premium" softpoints.

I have yet to see a pig that will contain a 170gr flatpoint from a 30-30. Not saying they don't exist.

Andy

Energy doesn't do the deed, so on that point he doesn't know what he's talking about obviously. What you are shooting is about as good as it gets in my opinion. I wouldn't worry about trying to add any more "knock-down" and just go out and shoot some hogs with what you are currently using.

Honestly, I would be suprised if your 41 loads didn't exit on body shots.

quote:

Originally posted by MS Hitman:
Energy doesn't do the deed, so on that point he doesn't know what he's talking about obviously. What you are shooting is about as good as it gets in my opinion. I wouldn't worry about trying to add any more "knock-down" and just go out and shoot some hogs with what you are currently using.

+ 1

I agree completely. Forget energy. That load should work well.

I agree with drewhenrytnt.

If you use a premium bullet you will get a lot of complete penetrations.

However It will not make much of, if any difference in a blood trail.

I have shot a lot of pigs with a 9,3x74R, a 450/400 and a 450 No2, the wife and I have even shot one pig each with a 12ga slug, both gave complete penetration. Bith of the slug hit pigs ran about 85 yards. They were hit right behind the shoulder, and neither left a blood trail.
I have had a few good blood trails but usually the pigs hair just soaks up the blood and they do not leave a trail.

About half the pigs I shoot drop to the shot. I always try to shoot them just behind the shoulder as I do not want to hit the "Shoulder Roast"

Even my little Heym Mod 26B in 30/30 has @50% drop to the shot hits.

I can only remember 2 shots from the 30/30 that were not passthroughs.

Thank you all for your responses. I have not been using premium bullets in my rifles, and perhaps I should. I too have had about 50% knockdown and out for the count with my rifle loads, and none have gone very far, just hard to find sometimes, with some lost, speaking of hogs of course....Maybe I should have kept the discussion to the .41 mag. Is there something for me to be gained by going to a heavier bullet or same bullet at higher velocity. I don't recall any pass throughs with body shots with hogs in the 200lbs range with my current load, and the range is usually handshaking distance.

My view is that there isn't and it seems that y'all concur.

On the 41 Mag.

No doubt at 1400fps vs 1150 fps the bullet would have more "slap", and more "Thump", but you can only kill something so dead.

Also with more recoil you might not place your shots as accurate as you do now...

If the 41 at 1150 fps is working good for you, stay with it.
No sense it trying to fix what is not broken.

Thinking about it a bit more...I kill a lot more hogs than I can use (cleaned), so it is very possible I have not noted some pass throughs that have occured.

So if I going to argue, I need to be more observant in the future.

Again thanks to all.

continuer de faire ce que vous avez fait

Je fais, mais quelquons sont bien difficiles. Merci pour ton paroles de cette affaires.

Larry

Okay you two, stop froggin'!

quote:

Okay you two, stop froggin'! Big Grin

Everyone would feel better with a glass of Scotch instead of wine!
I see nothing at all wrong with the .41 as it is.
I just never bought one because when it first came out, there was little for it.
It is just a skinny .44!

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
On the 41 Mag.

No doubt at 1400fps vs 1150 fps the bullet would have more "slap", and more "Thump", but you can only kill something so dead.

Also with more recoil you might not place your shots as accurate as you do now...

If the 41 at 1150 fps is working good for you, stay with it.
No sense it trying to fix what is not broken.

+1

quote:

Originally posted by bfrshooter:

quote:

Okay you two, stop froggin'! Big Grin

Everyone would feel better with a glass of Scotch instead of wine!
I see nothing at all wrong with the .41 as it is.
I just never bought one because when it first came out, there was little for it.
It is just a skinny .44!

But better wine, than whine.....

+1 on the wine, my taste for it is by the gallon rather than by the bottle.

quote:

Originally posted by bfrshooter:

quote:

Okay you two, stop froggin'! Big Grin

Everyone would feel better with a glass of Scotch instead of wine!
I see nothing at all wrong with the .41 as it is.
I just never bought one because when it first came out, there was little for it.
It is just a skinny .44!

You are of course exactly correct. I have a character flaw which draws me to the odd ball calibers for which I know no cure. See above some of the rounds I've used to take hogs, hence my love for the .41 mag. It just happens to be a pretty good round.

quote:

But better wine, than whine..... hilbily

Whine is French isn't it?

quote:

Originally posted by bfrshooter:

quote:

But better wine, than whine..... hilbily

Whine is French isn't it?

No, you're thinking of surrender.

Etre agreable, si vous plait.

I've used tons of cast bullets through a .41 or other. I've been very happy with my 4" M58, but, I'm even happier with my 6" M57. I'll gladly approach any thing in North America with it in my hands.
Much of the time, I'd prefer a caseful of H110, WW296, AA #9 or some such to get about 1300+fps for a large bear, Russian hog, or moose. For anything smaller, I see no problem at all with a bit of Herco, Unique, or Blue Dot to get about 1k-1.5k fps.
I WOULD say to use a hard-cast SWC, though. I usually carry 210s cast from WW+2%tin, but there are plenty of pro casters out there that will give you a quality product.
If you wish, some WFPs are out there, and they work just fine.
Have fun,
Gene

I use a 210gr hard cast from a lee mold at 1050fps out of my Ported 4in.

The one deer at 60 yards did not complain.

The 4 blk bears one 500 pounder that it was used to finsh off at mere feet did not complain.

And a few porkupines thought it worked fine.

So 1150fps well work to.

Hey! I thought this was an American web site. I only speak American and am fluent in Redneck, so keep it civil en Englais. By the way, the .41 is a great round. The 200 gr. Rem. HP is great for deer size and smaller animals and 220-250 gr. casts gets you into mule deer/small elk category.

I grew up in Jefferson parish and have no problem understanding Troy Landry. I never did learn any useful french if you could call it that. What sucks is I am 25% cajun on my father's side with all kinds of family in Terrebonne parish.

I am curious how hard your cast bullets are? Are you casting yourself? Could they be breaking up? Have you ever recovered any?

Andy

There's absolutely nothing wrong with the load you're using. My walkin' load is either the RCBS 210gr.KT SWC or a 220gr. LFNGC ahead of 7.5 to 8gr.. Unique. Haven't chronoed out of all my .41s, but would guess it's moving about 1000 to 1200fps depending on barrel length. It's worked on everything from picket pins to hogs of 200lbs+. For bigger stuff, I like the 250gr. LFNGC ahead of either W296 or H110.

Believe me, there is nothing wrong with a good 41 maggie with proper bullets. I've taken lots of big game with them for over 40 years, they work. The list also includes elk, bear & moose, never shot one twice. Either a 230 gr cast slug or a 250 gr LBT.
Run them anywhere above 1100 fps & start sharpening the skinning knife.

Dick

quote:

Originally posted by drewhenrytnt:
I grew up in Jefferson parish and have no problem understanding Troy Landry. I never did learn any useful french if you could call it that. What sucks is I am 25% cajun on my father's side with all kinds of family in Terrebonne parish.

I am curious how hard your cast bullets are? Are you casting yourself? Could they be breaking up? Have you ever recovered any?

Andy

Andy I'm using wheelweights, which I drop in water after casting. I don't think they are brittle, I mean I have cast bullets which were brittle and they have a different look to them.

I have not recovered any slugs. Frankly I never thought too much about it until my friend and I had our little discussion.

I grew up in Des Allemands which I'm sure you know. I learned quite a bit of cajun french from my grandfather, Pierre Dufrene, as we trawled for shrimp. I too have many relatives in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes.

To the other folks who were kind enough to respond thank you for your thoughts. I consider the arguement won, and your experiences were very useful to bring this to a close in my favor.

Long live the .41mag.

Larry,

Any of those relatives with the last name Babin or Balanger?

Andy

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Matherne:

quote:

Originally posted by drewhenrytnt:
I grew up in Jefferson parish and have no problem understanding Troy Landry. I never did learn any useful french if you could call it that. What sucks is I am 25% cajun on my father's side with all kinds of family in Terrebonne parish.

I am curious how hard your cast bullets are? Are you casting yourself? Could they be breaking up? Have you ever recovered any?

Andy

Andy I'm using wheelweights, which I drop in water after casting. I don't think they are brittle, I mean I have cast bullets which were brittle and they have a different look to them.

I have not recovered any slugs. Frankly I never thought too much about it until my friend and I had our little discussion.

I grew up in Des Allemands which I'm sure you know. I learned quite a bit of cajun french from my grandfather, Pierre Dufrene, as we trawled for shrimp. I too have many relatives in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes.

To the other folks who were kind enough to respond thank you for your thoughts. I consider the arguement won, and your experiences were very useful to bring this to a close in my favor.

Long live the .41mag.

Wheel weights water quenched make excellent bullets and are not brittle

I love my 41 mag........

quote:

Originally posted by drewhenrytnt:
Larry,

Any of those relatives with the last name Babin or Balanger?

Andy

I know quite a few Babins, and of course know of the Balanger Ship yard. But my relative are Dufrenes, Comardelles, Bergerons, Trosclairs, and Boudreauxs.

Not even going to try and count up the hogs my buddy and IU have put down using the plain ol Remington 200gr SJHP over 20.5grs of 296.

This load zeroed at 50yds is plenty for us to reliably put the hogs down out to 100yds if we do our part. The hard part is remembering to not hold high.

As for penetration, shots under 50yds are usually pass through unless we hit a major bone or extensive gristle plate.

I am now playing with some 250'ish cast RFP's for mine and hopefully will have a good load worked up in the not so distant future.

Larry, I couldn't do it immediately (working out of state...) but if he keeps it up I can send you some 290-grain SSK bullets I cast for the .41. I sent some to Accurate Arms about ten years ago and had load data worked up for them. If they will stabilize for you I will bet there is nothing they won't poke a hole completely through!