401 Pics

[lar4570]

Well, it showed up today. It looks like one box of factory 160s and one box with some factory 200s. My sized down 41 mag Starline brass will kind of snap into place. The rim is just slightly too wide, so it looks like I'll trim them with a drill and file to fit. it looks like the length is fine, so I may not have to trim the length. I'll do a chamber cast and take a closer measurement before loading.

[Encore64]

Kudos on bringing another vintage revolver back into service...

Looks great...

[lar4570]

I took a closer look and there was a burr on the ratchet star on the cylinder that the rims were getting hung up on. So I took a jewlers file and smoothed it out. Now the 41 cases fall right in.
The chambers are deep enough that the 41 brass will not need to be trimmed.

[onegoodshot]

Nice. The 401 powermag was the 3rd revolver that I ever purchased many years ago (1997-1998??). This site was responsible for that purchase and the rockslide that happened after that. 🤣
I even had a custom 14” tapered 401 powermag contender barrel made. Don’t think I’ve shot either in 10+ years.

[Lee Martin]

Clean looking Powermag and I'm glad the cases chamber smoothly. Whenever the rims don't fit perfectly, they'll usually go with a small push (ie, the click you mentioned).

I liked the round so much I converted a Blackhawk to the old Powermag:



-Lee
www.singleactions.com
"Chasing perfection five shots at a time"

[lar4570]

I got some shooting in this weekend with the Lyman 403169 244gn rifle bullet. It drops at .404" and I have a .406" sizer, so I just shot them as cast and lubed with 2500+. 2400 looked like a good choice for powder, so I started there. I shot a bunch at 14gn getting the sights dialed in, then tried 15 and 16gns. 15gns seemed to shoot fairly well. The sun was pretty bright and I was getting erratic chronograph readings without the sky screens, so I'll have to shoot some more with the sky screens on.


I tried powder coating some, but had problems with the loaded rounds chambering all the way. So the bullets were probably too large. Looks like I'll have to order some sizers from NOE and give them another try.

[magnumwheelman]

nice looking bullets

[needsmostuff]

That sized brass is a thing of beauty. Are you getting that with just sizing or is turning involved?
My humble efforts left a HUGE ring on the web so I quit.
How about some pictures of the sizing process and equip if you please.

[bobwright]

That must be from J.P. Sauer & Sohn? Short on looks, long on strength.


Bob Wright

[potatojudge]

Great job getting it shooting again!

I never looked long at the Herter's, but I bet if you whittled on the hammer, top strap, and front sight there's a better looking gun under there.

[lar4570]

I used the Lee carbide fcd to size the starline 41 Mag cases. First take the seating stem out. I put a 223 shell holder in the ram and put the case on top of it, then ran the case into the size die until the rim just touched the base of the die. Don't squash it or you'll flare the rim out and it'll need turned down.
I used a 5/16 punch and small hammer to punch the sized cases out.
This leaves a very small flare just above the rim. I've seen some posts about turning this off in a lathe. I chucked a couple in a drill and used a file to reduce them, but they fit without it.
I measured the depth of the chambers and the 41 cases fit with a couple of thousands to spare, so I didn't trim them.
They seem to be shooting fine.
I'll take some pictures of the process.