.41 Magnum issues?

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I am getting another bug, but for the .41 magnum revolver. I'm never conflicted about buying a gun (LOL!), however, trying to find ammo for the MFer is like looking for unicorns until I found some recently. Maybe I need to try harder and get into reloading anyway....

I know it never really took off, and it should have, but Dirty Harry killed it so to speak yet I like what it can do.

My question, I guess, has its cultish popularity stayed consistent or is it on a downward slope?
 
I have a Ruger Blackhawk in 41mag. Enjoy it a lot.

Bought barely used with bucket of brass, some bullets and reload dies. My first shot with it was my own reload. Have been able to get bullets, have not had to get brass as still reusing but rarely see brass online.

I wouldn't have bought it if I wasn't already a reloader. Have rarely seen factory ammo on shelves, but haven't been searching. When have seen it is pricey
 
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I have two, A Ruger Bisley that I sought long and hard for, and a T/C Contender that I stumbled into. I don't know that I have ever seen factory ammo on a shelf, but I also have never looked. It is a reloader's caliber, and I am a reloader.

Interest in it seems to have been pretty stable for the last 20 years or so. I don't think it's going anywhere. Every time I go into P&D Enterprises they have bags of new brass on the shelf.
 
.41 Magnum

Definitely, still has a cultish popularity.

I have a vintage S&W M57 6" barrel with a Charlton tune on it. Awesome wheelgun.

Reloading is definitely the way to go for it, though.

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NAA.
 
I think it is a great cartridge. Seems to have retained a following in the USA. Not so much in Canada. As above, definitely a reloaders proposition. The factory ammo I have seen in Canada goes for close to $2 a round - much more than 44 mag. If I find the right gun, I would not hesitate. There was a beautiful 4" 657 which was classified as a restricted that I missed a few years ago. That is definitely on the regrets list. I know it went to a good home though.
 
Thanks for the responses. It looks consistent to me in availability (i.e. difficult) but not going to disappear anytime soon so I'll get one eventually.
 
I have the Ruger Black Hawk. Was tuned before I bought it. I laid in a supply of brass during the first year I owned it. I knew the only way to do any amount of shooting with it was to reload. I bought used mould for it the same day I brought it home. I have no plans to sell it any time soon. If it was legal to hunt with a handgun the 41 would be my first choice.
 
I got a deal on a new S&W 6 inch 57-6 so I bought it. I knew factory ammo was scarce and expensive so I bought some Starline brass from DoubleTap and sourced some 225 gr hard cast bullets locally.

There's not much reloading data out there for the .41 mag so I've been trying some mild loads and working up for accuracy.
 
Dirty Harry should have made the 41 very popular. I believe that is what he used in the movie.

that's correct! they couldn't source one at the time so they used a model 57. the model 29 was so popular back then.
you will have to start reloading for this cartridge! still lots of reloading supplies around.
 
that's correct! they couldn't source one at the time so they used a model 57. the model 29 was so popular back then.
you will have to start reloading for this cartridge! still lots of reloading supplies around.

No, all the revolvers used in the film were 29's. There are a couple of interviews online with the guy who supplied the guns. - dan
 
I think it is a great cartridge. Seems to have retained a following in the USA. Not so much in Canada. As above, definitely a reloaders proposition. The factory ammo I have seen in Canada goes for close to $2 a round - much more than 44 mag. If I find the right gun, I would not hesitate. There was a beautiful 4" 657 which was classified as a restricted that I missed a few years ago. That is definitely on the regrets list. I know it went to a good home though.

I have the aforementioned 657 and it's for *sure* 107mm like the registration papers say, and also a blue model 57. Love them both, but if I ever sell I know who has dibs...

Ammunition is available but expensive as mentioned, it's a reloaders cartridge for sure. I'm lazy and bore easily, so I don't....but have friends who like rum, right? So it all works out. 21 gr of H110 pushing a 210 gr JHP is good medicine. I have 5 revolvers in .44 mag and about 16 in .357 mag....but the .41 mag is the sweet spot for me. It's what the cool kids shoot lol. I sure like it anyway. Skeeter and Elmer Keith and Bill Jordan are hard to argue with.
 
I second the comment regarding handgun hunting; if Canada permitted it, the 41mag would be my caliber of choice as well. And far as the following and dying a slow death caliber comments go, I'd say no to that too. There's probably more ammo than ever being offered in 41mag, unfortunately for us (in canada) because we're so limited for where we can utilize our guns, we don't see the selection we should (for ammo) in stores.

Too bad too. It's about the most ideal all-arounder for carry as wildlife defense and hunting that there is.
 
Back then , i had a New model Blackhawk Bisley with a 7.5 barrel. I bought this rugged piece to hunt deer in the North Maine woods. I reloaded very convincing loads for it with Sierra JHP bullets. My indoor shooting club banned calibers over .357 Mag and i didn't made it to Maine so it finally went.

But god , i loved that gun and flat shooting caliber.

Selling it to an Ontario pal certainly was a mistake.
 
I currently have two Ruger NM Blackhawks with 4 5/8" barrels, one blued and one stainless in 41 Rem Mag. Foolishly sold my first 41 NM blued Blackhawk with 4 5/8"barrel. Also sold my S&W Model 57 6" blued 41. Just prefer the single action! Would love to find a 3 screw with a 5 1/2" barrel.
To date, I have not owned another revolver chambered to any other cartridge! Don't plan on changing that anytime soon. Completely sold on the 41 Rem Mag!
Also have an original first run Marlin lever action chambered to the 41! That took 20 years to find.

Yes, ammo is not always on the shelf, but a little looking usually finds ammo in other gunstores as I travel around western Canada. Have acquired Winchester, Remington, Hornady and HSM ammo over the years. Really like the Winchester 240 gr Platinum Tip ammo! Need to shoot some more of the HSM Bear Loads still to get a better sense of their performance potential.Looks promising so far.
Have the components to reload for these firearms too, just haven't as yet. Really trying to find a bullet source or mould for some 240-260 gr Keith style cast bullets to try, but with no luck. Best I can find is some 230 gr cast bullets in the Keith style in the US. Haven't broke down to get them imported yet.
 
I currently have two Ruger NM Blackhawks with 4 5/8" barrels, one blued and one stainless in 41 Rem Mag. Foolishly sold my first 41 NM blued Blackhawk with 4 5/8"barrel. Also sold my S&W Model 57 6" blued 41. Just prefer the single action! Would love to find a 3 screw with a 5 1/2" barrel.
To date, I have not owned another revolver chambered to any other cartridge! Don't plan on changing that anytime soon. Completely sold on the 41 Rem Mag!
Also have an original first run Marlin lever action chambered to the 41! That took 20 years to find.

Yes, ammo is not always on the shelf, but a little looking usually finds ammo in other gunstores as I travel around western Canada. Have acquired Winchester, Remington, Hornady and HSM ammo over the years. Really like the Winchester 240 gr Platinum Tip ammo! Need to shoot some more of the HSM Bear Loads still to get a better sense of their performance potential.Looks promising so far.
Have the components to reload for these firearms too, just haven't as yet. Really trying to find a bullet source or mould for some 240-260 gr Keith style cast bullets to try, but with no luck. Best I can find is some 230 gr cast bullets in the Keith style in the US. Haven't broke down to get them imported yet.
Sweet. I'd love a stainless 4 5/8" Blackhawk in 41 mag
 
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