41 mag user!!!!………max adequate distances

[bigbrowndog]

Ok, this kinda revolves around bullet performance and velocities.  I know we have lots and lots of .41 users here, so please provide details.  Animal type and size, muzzle velocity, bullet weight and type, distance to animal, bullet penetration and expansion if recovered.  A good ballistic program can provide impact velocities if a good bullet description is provided.

im curious because I have the occasional opportunity to take medium game at 150yds or so.  The accuracy is there to make an ethical shot, but is the bullet up to the task at that distance???  If I’m using a .45 or .44. or even a .500 I have other calibers to compare bullet impact velocities with, but the .41 is limited.  Using my .414 I figure I can add an additional 50 yards to effective bullet performance distances, regardless of animal size.  I figure elk size is probably maximum and max. distance is 150yards, especially given 250gr. or 265gr. can be pushed to normal 210gr. velocities.  

Using the .414 for medium game out to 150yds. is not my concern.  What have y’all seen jacketed bullets do on game at and beyond 100yds from a regular 41mag  

Trapr

[bigbore5]

Fail to expand and punch right through, but I haven't shot a jacketed 41 hunting bullet in 30 years.

[Big Bore]

I’m curious as well. I’ve killed a handful of animals with a 41 mag, but nothing was over 65 yards. All of my kills have been with 210 jacketed hollow points and nothing has run over about 50-60 yards in recovery. I’ve never recovered a bullet either.

[bigbrowndog]

Jan 12, 2022 4:17:40 GMT -5 bigbore5 said:

Fail to expand and punch right through, but I haven't shot a jacketed 41 hunting bullet in 30 years.

I’m not interested in only jacketed performance so if you’ve got examples of cast performance on game beyond 80ish yards or bigger than medium game, please include it in the thread, thanks.

Trapr

[KRal]

I’m fairly new to the world of the 41 mag, so my experience is minimal. This 180lb whitetail was taken with a frontal shot at 15 yards with a 180 Barnes xpb over 23.0 of H110 (Freedom Arms M83).



The bullet was retrieve from the rear liner of the rear stomach with one petal broke off - penetration was impressive considering bullet weight.

This 150ish lb fallow was taken at 80 yards slightly quartering away. Same bullet/load/ gun mentioned above - massive internal damage with complete penetration.



I also killed a big doe at 80 yards with same gun shooting a 210 deep curl over 22gr of H110. Shot was quartering away with complete penetration. Damage showed expansion but not near as much damage as the X bullet. (No pic of her handy). That’s the extent of my jacketed experience.

This ram was taken at 50 yards broad side shot with PC 230gr keith bullet over 8.5gr of unique out of 6” OM Blackhawk. Good damage with pass through and I watched the bullet bouncing 100yds behind it.



This black bear was taken up close and personal with same bullet/load/gun above. Very good terminal damage with pass through.



I know this isn’t the ranges you’re inquiring, but as of now, it’s the only 41 mag experience I have - but, it is data.

[bigbrowndog]

And I appreciate it Kim, being new to the .41 seems to be a thing these days.

Trapr

[KRal]

Trapr, For medium size game, I think it would be worth trying the Barnes XPB’s. They’re only offered in 180gr, but they penetrate way beyond their weight suggest. The wound channels are nasty and they shoot like lasers from my M83 (actually M654). When I got my first 41 mag (M654), it was during the last ammo/component shortage and the only 41 mag, besides cast, bullets I could find were the XPB’s. I was really wanting to develop some loads and hunt with my new toy, so I bit the bullet. Other than the pricey tag, they really surprised me with their accuracy, penetration, and nasty wound channels. They’re BAD!

[cmillard]

I will echo what kral said. The xpb bullets are a most superb hunting bullet.

[bigbrowndog]

I tried them but was only able to achieve velocities I had already reached with 210’s, so didn’t spend much time with them. They were accurate, but the price and deflated velocities didn’t interest me enough to keep at them, for use on medium game.

BTW, I managed to A Frame a coyote last night that hung around my feeder too long, the little 4.2” 97 wearing a FastFire 3 did the deed at 73 yards, wasn’t BLACK like KRals but a nice big well furred male none the less.

I’ll be sitting the again tonight with 657
Trapr

[bigbrowndog]

Well whacked a pig at 105yds this evening but no decent data to share, in one ear and out the other side. About 6” of penetration, but it was complete. I was hoping for a chest shot, but they came in late and I didn’t want a tracking job in the dark where I intend on going back to in the morning.

Trapr

[contender]

Sounds like all is going good there. A coyote & a pig,,, Kudos!

[bigbrowndog]

Jan 14, 2022 9:14:53 GMT -5 contender said:

Sounds like all is going good there. A coyote & a pig,,, Kudos!

But all I’m seeing is young 8’s, they’re nice and have good mass but I’d rather let them live and see what next year brings.  Next week starts 2 week doe/spike season, we’ve got a few one horns that need to go and they’ll eat better than a horny old buck that’s been chasing does the last 2-3 weeks.  
I did find a new means of utilizing feral hogs, guy down here raises wolves for educational and Native American cultural purposes and  wants whole carcasses to feed them.…..win/win!!!

Trapr

[sixshot]

Trapr, not sure how much help I can be because I don't know that I've ever killed anything beyond 100 yds with the 41 magnum. I'm not much for keeping notes so I could be wrong but outside of a couple of deer that were close to 100 yds & both elk at about 80 yds that's about the best I can do.
I think I've taken around 40 animals with the 41 magnum, that's feral hogs, 2 Javelina, 3 antelope, 1 bear, the 2 elk & the rest were deer. Oddly enough I think the very longest shot was a Montana white tail running flat out & as close as I could step it off it was over 90 yds. Call it good luck, a running shot at that distance has to be. At the time I was still hard into USPSA & I was doing a great deal of shooting at moving & disappearing targets but don't remember ever shooting any at 100 yds at 30 mph!
Since the lates 60's it's almost always been a 230 gr Keith bullet & 17.0 grs of 2400, I think I've recovered 2 bullets & neither was from the elk or bear. I've also used a 250 gr WFN LBT a fair amount the last several years & never recovered one, used it on one of the elk, taking out both from shoulders with an exit at 74 yds (I think) I also used that same bullet in Africa to take out both front shoulders of a large Gemsbok with an exit, same results, it dropped right where it stood.
I'm testing some new 265 gr GC solids that should shoot through anything, I can't imagine what it would take to stop one of these. I've also taken 4-5 deer with the Miha 210 gr HP in my old model 41 shorty & its pretty decisive when it hits home plate!
Looking in the new Hodgdon reloading annual it shows some amazing velocities with the 265 gr bullet. Over 1500 fps with 2 different powders with a 10" barrel, just what I have on my FA model 83. That's some serious horsepower with the 41 magnum & a long, heavy bullet.


Dick

[bigbrowndog]

I agree Dick, looking at their website shows the same data. Almost makes me regret doing the .414 instead of going with an 83 and 10” barrel. 70-80 yards would be good as far as I’m concerned. The bulk and muscle density of an elk or African game would offset yardage in my opinion. I was hoping you’d chime in as you are to my knowledge the most experienced 41 user on medium and larger game.
I’m having good success with the 41 bullet you took to Africa, as far as accuracy. I haven’t finalized my load yet so haven’t run it into flesh yet, same goes for the HP, I’ve grown used to the BLUE HP, I’ll probably have you keep that color for my use, it’s easy to distinguish even in the dim light of early morning truck cab light.

Trapr

[dougader]

Fella out of Arizona posted up a whitetail he dropped with his 10mm using a 180 grain Hornady xtp-hp. DRT. If the 10mm can do it with authority, and taking into account the hunters notes from above, I don't see any problem hunting medium to big game with a "regular" 41 maggie.