[Bill in Oregon]

Anyone have first-hand experience with the .41 Magnum on black bear? I'm thinking about buying a Ruger Blackhawk, 6 1/2-inch barrel, as a dedicated hunting revolver. I'm also thinking that one of Marshall's 265-grain slugs at about 1100 fps would be more than adequate in both power and penetration on these critters. We have some big ones here in Southern Oregon -- not uncommon to hear of them getting close to 500 pounds.

 

[Old Grump]

Deer hunting not hunting bear but a lot of experience with the 41 mag. I'd just be happy with my factory 210 gr SJHP loads but you might be interested in this site; http://www.foggymountain.com/handgunning-bear-hunt3.shtml

The only hand load I know of for a 265 grain bullet has a velocity of 1300+ fps. but if your 100 fps load is more accurate than go for it.

I'm a Blackhawk shooter with the 44 mag and a Dan Wesson shooter with the 41 mag and its all I can handle with factory loads. 265 gr loads makes my eyes water thinking about it.

 

[Bill M]

I have carried my 4 5/8" 41 mag BH as a back up gun but have never taken anything with it. However, I prefer the BTB 265gr. In my BH it tops out at about 1,300 fps. In a 6 1/2" BH you should have a potential of about 1,400 fps. I have alway felt recoil is less than it ought to be for it's performance (typical of the 41 mag). You should be able to throttle the bullet down to lower velocities by switiching from the H-110 I am using to 2400, Blue Dot or something like that. I think the 6 1/2" BH in 41 mag would make a fine general hunting and bear specific handgun. There are plenty of good bullets but I have been impressed with the accuracy and power of the 265 BTB.

 

[Kev7griz]

The bullet selection would be critical, ideally a hard cast bullet with a large flat meplat, like your Keith like bullet.

 

[crazydave]

The bullet selection would be critical, ideally a hard cast bullet with a large flat meplat, like your Keith like bullet.

I agree, especially with heavy-for-caliber bullets....

I've shot many a deer & hog with my 6.5" .41 Blackhawk using the old 240gr Lee SWC bullet, both hard-cast and cast softnose. I like the way the dirt flys from behind the critter - lets you know for a fact the slug passed thru....

 

[simcoe]

I agree, especially with heavy-for-caliber bullets....
I like the way the dirt flys from behind the critter - lets you know for a fact the slug passed thru....

Or that you missed..

 

[Hanshi]

My only experience with the .41 is with deer. I've taken them with two different loads. 1st is the Hornady 210 grain HP at 1380fps. 2nd is the cast 220grn cast swc at 1450fps. Both are awesome on deer.

 

[crazydave]

Or that you missed..

Missed????

NEVER while shooting at game - one of the big reasons why this gun was worth the $140 I paid for it....

 

[Nim]

Or that you missed.

I like that

 

[Sinbad12-2007]

Carried a Ruger .41 BH with the 6" barrel for a lot of years hunting. Only ammo I used was the 210 grain factory stuff. Killed one blackbear boar, one spike elk, and a passle of deer. I always liked it. Never had a problem at all with it. Arthritis has stopped my using it now. More's the pity. I liked it. It was very capable.

 

[NonPCnraRN]

Carried a Ruger .41 BH with the 6" barrel for a lot of years hunting. Only ammo I used was the 210 grain factory stuff. Killed one blackbear boar, one spike elk, and a passle of deer. I always liked it. Never had a problem at all with it. Arthritis has stopped my using it now. More's the pity. I liked it. It was very capable.

Try a 265 gr Beartooth LWN at 900-1000 fps. A heavy weight bullet lumbering along at wrist sparing velocities will still take game efficiently. Also some ibuprophen before your shooting session well help with inflammation. If you can tolerate NSAIDS (ibuprophen) give them a try. http://www.beartoothbullets.com/bulletselect/details.php?id=41


I hope these suggestions get you back to shooting your 41 mag.

 

[FA18CUB]

Interesting you should mention this caliber pistol combo. Shortly before I moved to Alaska in 2000, I purchased a 6.5" BlackHawk in .41 Mag. Back then, Cor-Bon was loading a 265 gr. bullet. I bought a box and they chrono'd just over 1400 fps out of my gun. I never thought I could produce a heavier load myself so I went back to the store and bought all they had left. I still think I have over 100. Still haven't taken anything with it. Maybe I will take it black bear baiting this year!

To this day I wonder what the pressure is on that load so I don't shoot it very much. I wondered if the pressure was a bit high so Cor-Bon dropped it in favor of the 250 grain load.
Casey in Alaska

 

[errolhill]

i have guided black bear hunts for over 20 years in the northeast used primarilary factory loads backed up shot many bears and harvested four with a 657 s&w 4'' barrel had best of luck with lighter grain 185 & 180 grain one is the barnes expander loaded by federal and hornaday now loads a 41.mag xtp 180 grain that runs 1500 fps at muzzle i have the sister pistol s&w 629 in 4'' barrel and the 41. mag seems to penatrate more and in my opinion performs better on knock down for black bears .

 

[Hanshi]

I've taken deer with my .41 RBH and it's my favorite deer revolver. Mostly I use Hornady 210 grain HP but I killed a couple of deer with a hard cast 220grn SWC. That bullet over 18grns of 2400 chronographed 1450fps. I'd think it would work on black bear.

 

[thumbuster2]

My son took a black bear with his 41 several yrs ago. Shot middle shoulder side to it nearly took the far shoulder off. This was with my fav load of Lil-Gun behind 210 Remington. If there is one thing I have learned about black bear in Maine is that you have to hit them as hard as you can. A lot of guides here have gone from 44mag to 41 mag as backup on bear.

 

[BearBio]

I've only ever used a trank gun on bears but I carried a 41 Blackhawk a lot while guiding on California hogs. Used factory loads with a good bullet (i.e. not a hollow point). Worked well. I don't remember how many but it was more than one. Went to a 41 from a 44 because it penetrated better.

 

[thumbuster2]

BEARBIO,
That is exactly the reason a lot of guides in Maine have gone from 44 to 41. When you have to trail up a wounded bear you want all the gun you can handle and for most shooters it isn't the 44. Not downgrading the great 44 mag at all, it's a great cartridge but they are just not pleasent to shoot. Though the 500S&W is tops in knockdown power, when you put in a carryable size (4 to 6 inch) it is just too dern brutal to shoot and ya just don't need that much stopping power for black bear. I have had 3 41mags and love them. With the Hodgdon Lil Gun powder it performs super.

 

[attaloss]

I have shot 44's and 41's for years. If I had to choose one I would go for the 41. I shoot 41 Keith style 230 grain from Leadheads over 18 grains of 2400. Very accurate and very flat shooting in my guns. BH 6" and Smith 4". Caution, this load may not be appropriate for your gun. I have not taken black bear with this load but would have no hesitation.

 

[bschulz]

Agree - the 265 at 110-ish should be MORE than enough and will be pleasant enough to shoot that you might use up all your handloads at the range! And of course the more you shoot, the more likely you are to place the bullet exactly where you want it to go. Power plus placement = a good sporting kill.

 

[rifter]

I have carried my 4 5/8" 41 mag BH as a back up gun but have never taken anything with it. However, I prefer the BTB 265gr. In my BH it tops out at about 1,300 fps. In a 6 1/2" BH you should have a potential of about 1,400 fps. I have alway felt recoil is less than it ought to be for it's performance (typical of the 41 mag). You should be able to throttle the bullet down to lower velocities by switiching from the H-110 I am using to 2400, Blue Dot or something like that. I think the 6 1/2" BH in 41 mag would make a fine general hunting and bear specific handgun. There are plenty of good bullets but I have been impressed with the accuracy and power of the 265 BTB.

Do NOT use Blue Dot in the .41 Mag. That is a warning that comes from Alliant (along with not using it for 125 gr. .357 Mag loads). Blue Dot is excellent however, in .44 Mag and .45 Colt.