[Drill Sergeant]

I am a fan of the .41 Magnum caliber and have taken deer, antelope, javelina and even rabbits with it. I have a Ruger OM Blackhawk modified by Garry Reeder, a Ruger Redhawk and a S&W M57 in this caliber. I use only the Rugers for hunting and heavier loads.

There are basically two bullets that I have used extensively in this caliber. My hunting load has been a 200gr. Speer half-jacket and my practice load is with a 215gr. LSWC. The Speer bullet is now out of production; however I purchased more than a few boxes prior to its demise.

Question: With the proper loading, is the 41 Magnum a good caliber for elk?

Question: I purchased 250gr. & 265gr. WLNGC bullets to try out. I need some advice with loadings and velocities. Will I need to drive these bullets to high velocities for deer and elk?

Question: Does anyone have first-hand experience with the 41 GNR (Reeder Wildcat) caliber its effect on game?

Thanks!

 

[Sinbad12-2007]

I shot my first ever elk with a .41 Magnum Blackhawk. From the hip at 15 feet. But it was with factory ammunition and it was a JHP. It was a spike bull. I was standing at the very edge of a clearing when it busted out of the brush right alongside of me. Purely a reactionary shot. Solely instinctive. He was running from someone or something. I don't know who was more surprised, the elk or me. Probably me. He never even saw me he was so paniced.

Do I think its a good one for elk? Not on a bet. And yes, he died right there. The bullet entered right in front of his ear. Had to have been the luckiest shot I've ever made and he was the unluckiest elk in the Colorado Rockies.

 

[jwp475]

I am a fan of the .41 Magnum caliber and have taken deer, antelope, javelina and even rabbits with it. I have a Ruger OM Blackhawk modified by Garry Reeder, a Ruger Redhawk and a S&W M57 in this caliber. I use only the Rugers for hunting and heavier loads.

There are basically two bullets that I have used extensively in this caliber. My hunting load has been a 200gr. Speer half-jacket and my practice load is with a 215gr. LSWC. The Speer bullet is now out of production; however I purchased more than a few boxes prior to its demise.

Question: With the proper loading, is the 41 Magnum a good caliber for elk?

Question: I purchased 250gr. & 265gr. WLNGC bullets to try out. I need some advice with loadings and velocities. Will I need to drive these bullets to high velocities for deer and elk?

Question: Does anyone have first-hand experience with the 41 GNR (Reeder Wildcat) caliber its effect on game?

Thanks!

1- Yes with a good wide flat point hard cast the 41 mag will get the job done

2- the 250 & 265 WLNGC bullets will penetrate very well. A top load with H-110/W-296 can achieve velocities approaching 1300 FPS or a bit over and the 265 can be pushed to about 1250 FPS plus or minus

3- I have no experience with the 41 GNR nor do I wish to. A 38/40 would interest me though and properly loaded will push same weight bullets faster than will the 41 mag


I like the 41 mag and own 3 of them a great caliber that is a pleasure to shoot IMHO

 

[Marshall Stanton]

My son loves his .41 Ruger Blackhawk. In fact, it's the only big-bore revolver that he carries hunting, and his bullet of choice is our .410-265gWLNGC loaded over 20.6g of H110 and a WLPP in Remington brass. This when carried elk hunting.

His deer, bear and hog load, is the same bullet, primer and case, when charged with 7.5 grains of Titegroup, this load, even out of his short barreled revolver still nets him right at 1100 fps. Incidently, we've never yet recovered one of these bullets, at the 1100 fps velocity from game! the load above is merely insurance, that if he took an elk from any angle, the bullet would have enough gee-whiz to get the job done.

God bless,

 

[Drill Sergeant]

Thanks all for the feedback. I appreciate it much. It is loading season in AZ, as my garage is finally under 4,000 degrees. Hopefully, I will be able to get some loading done soon.

 

[dmsbandit]

I've been shooting the 41magnum for 25 yrs and have killed a few critters with it. My load of choice is a Hornady 210gr XTP over 21.5grains of 2400 lit by a Federal Magnum primer. It's a hot load, but safe in my Redhawk. I get 1500fps and 2" groups at 100yds. I have no doubt that load would handle anything I want to kill with the 41.

 

[jwp475]

No way would I give a jacketed bullet with its limited penetrative abilities the nod over a quality wide meplat hard cast such as provided by Beartooth Bullets. No need to give up penetration and the wide meplats leave large diameter wound channels

 

[GLynn41]

I have used the .41 GNR for about 3 years -- took several deer with it using cast and JHP as well as a 250# boar-- mine was in a 5.5" Redhawk -- velocity was about 200fps + with the lighter bullets down to 150 fps+ with heavier such my home cast 255 gr LWNGC over pre conversion -
at 40 yards the 255at 1360fps went through the boar- and kept going
170 JHP was 1720--200 jhp was 1540--250 wfngc 1490--- a 305 gc 1350+
accurate as the gun -- easy to make--with longer barrel faster 7.5" would give 1410 with 305 gr
now I have a 41/454- same 255 gr gives 1640= - and it is fun to shoot --this one is also a redhawk-- i like .41s

 

[kaytod]

What is needed to tip over a deer in a 41?

Well My wife and I went to the woods during deer season, I quickly grabbing her 41 from the headboard and she with her new revolver set out on a "quick" hunt between chores. We were walking thru the pasture and had split, her going to her treestand and I to do a large walkabout with the intent to stir something to her. We hadn't been parted by 100 yards when she jumped a doe which headed right past me at 40 yards distant. The doe stopped to look over her back toward my wife when I put a 41 thru the doe broadside. It was then I realized that the load was the "target" load that I'd made for the wife to shoot bullseye target. Yes the gun was sighted in for it.

Load: A 215 hardcast FN at 600 fps.

Post mortem: The bullet went completely thru the deer taking out a rib on either side and making a nice hole thru both lungs. With only 172 ft lbs of muzzle energy, it's a wonder that that bullet didn't bounce off the deer according to the gun magazines. Instead I've come to the conclusion that I must have shot a defective deer because it wasn't as tough as those that require thousands of pounds of energy to dispatch.

AAR: If I'd thought about it. I would have taken the "hunting load"
The "hunting load" is a 250 at 1000+ fps. However it has re-solidified my belief that things tip over more easily if you do your part and put the bullet where it's supposed to be. If the shot had been less than ideal I would have opted for the bigger hammer. However would I have really needed it? I don't know you tell me.
As JWP475 stated a 250 or 265 grain bullet at 1250-1300 fps in the 41mag will serve you well on deer and I'm sure equally well on elk.

I have had no experience with the 41 GNR, and little with the 410 GNR. (41 x 454) The 410 can turn up some impressive numbers.
I do have a 38-40 in a modern custom gun, loaded to modern pressures and it will flat perform. I dare not say what it is capable of here as I need not start a useless argument and side track the thread. It will do all the 410GNR will do and far more than the 41GNR.

 

[Combat Diver]

I also like the .41 mag but have no experince with the .41 GNR. I did order a Ranch Dog 265 gr WFN 6 cav mold last spring but haven't had the chance to cast with it yet. Ranch Dog did design these boolit for the Marlin 1894 (which I also have) but looking forward to use it also in my Smith 58 and TC Contender.

CD

 

[GLynn41]

KAYTOD --won't be a fuss with me -- I shoot what i like and you should too I will be happy & you will be too--the .41 GNR -- a 41/44 is an improvement over the standard .41 --but not a tremendous amount- works better with the lighter bullets-- if you say your 38-40 rocks great -- i believe you