lostnlate

Hello ladies and gentlemen:

recent member and 1st thread.

My LGS has a used NMBH .41 mag w 6.5 in barrel.
I've always wanted a 41 mag, don't know why.

Should I buy it or wait for a 4-5/8 barrel?
i may have to buy that new.

how is the recoil with the short barrel?

FWIW: With .357, .45 ACP and .45 colt I am duating off the press.

lostnlate

dusting off the press

Hans13

I have a 6.5 inch barrel on my BH. I like the added stability when firing as it feels like a .22 when shooting .38s.

Iowegan

lostnlate, 41 Mags are an excellent cartridge but popularity for them has dropped off to a few remaining "cult" shooters. With the much higher popularity of 44 Mags, ammo is much easier to find and is way less expensive than 41 Mags .... a good reason to dust off your press. You will also find bullet selection isn't near as good as the dominating 44 cal. New brass is available from Star-Line and Remington.

The 41 Mag cartridge was designed by Remington .... intended for law enforcement use. S&W made the first revolvers for a 41 Mag ... Mod 57 & 58. Due to the heavy recoil, it never got popular for law enforcement (think Dusty Harry instead of Dirty Harry) but when Ruger started making the Blackhawk in 41 Mag, many avid handgun hunters saw it's true potential. Recoil is about 20% less than a 44 Mag as is muzzle energy. That still leaves a lot of raw power for hunting big game while making recoil much easier to manage.

As for barrel length ... the 6 1/2" barrel will pick up another 100 fps in velocity over a 4 5/8" barrel. The longer sight radius will make marksmanship a little easier to master. The extra 1 7/8" of barrel will add a couple ounces to the overall weight but I seriously doubt you will notice much difference in felt recoil. On the plus side for 4 5/8" barrels ... some people just like them better for looks and balance. Some claim the shorter barrel BHs holster better but I've found it really doesn't make much difference because the slight weight change is hardly detectable and the extra barrel length is consumed in the holster. I guess you really don't need logical reasons if you have your heart set on a 41 Mag. It's still an excellent caliber in an excellent revolver with either barrel length. Good luck on your 41 Mag quest!

41RED

What ever you decide to do by all means pick up a 41. I have never been sorry. I think I get better accuracy from the 41. I have the 6 1/2" barrel Blackhawk and would also like to add the shorter barrel. There are so few 41s on the used market. I've only seen 2 and one came home with me and the other was way over priced. The one that came home was a 7 1/2" SS Redhawk and the over priced one was a 7 1/2" barreled blued Redhawk.

JohnD13

The .41 is a great round. No deer I've ever shot could have told the difference between the .41 and a .44. If you want to reload, there is a fair selection of bullets, both jacketed and cast available. Brass is available from Remington, Winchester, and Starline, they're all good.

I shoot a Blackhawk, 6.5 in. barrel, and it is my main deer gun. You wouldn't regret buying one!

CdnInAz

I like my BH in 41 magnum. Great shooter, interesting caliber to reload.

red feather

Buy it...

lostnlate

Thanks gentlemen. I shall seek out a 4-5/8 .41 magnum, might as well go for broke.
Until I find it I might as well practice reloading some .45 ACP and .45 Colt.

I don't think recoil should be an issue with the 4-5/8.

Could be time to trade the .22

North country gal

My LGS has a Three Screw Blackhawk 41 Mag with a 6 1/2" barrel that I've been drooling over for several months, but he wants an arm and a leg for it. He also has a new S&W Model 57 that is gorgeous for even more money, plus he's asking $50 for a box of 41 Mags. Ouch! If you can get that 41 mag for a good price, go for it. I'm going to have to do a bit more shopping for mine.

Rodfac

It's a good cartridge in a great gun. I've owned them in S&W and Ruger formats since the late 70's and have always found them to be superbly accurate. As easy to load for as a .44 Magnum. As to the difference in recoil between the .41 and .44...I find it barely detectable, and then only if I concentrate on that aspect alone.

It's a handloader's cartridge, however. I've not seen a box of .41 in our local stores in quite a while. You can find .41's at the big gun shows, but at an elevated price. Brass is easy to come by via Starline (really good brass too) and Remington. Brass life is good and I can't ever remember splitting a case neck in all the years I've been loading them. I'd say that price and availability of factory ammunition is its one big drawback. That said, when you pull one out on a public range, you'll get some interest in it...most guys haven't seen one...and any revolver on a firing line is getting to be a bit unique.

As to barrel length, I've found the shorter Ruger barrels (4-5/8") as accurate as the longer ones, at least in other calibers, and a lot more comfortable to carry, especially when seated on any sort of conveyance: tractor, riding lawn mower, car, deer stand seat...horseback is the only one where length doesn't seem to matter. Most days here on the farm, I have one sort of handgun or another, strapped on while I do chores, (strong side, OWB, in a three persons type rig)...and length does matter. The difference that ~2" difference in intersight radius between the two available Ruger lengths just doesn't show up on target unless you bench the gun...and there is no difference in felt recoil, in my experience.

Here's a pic of some accuracy results...long barreled (6-1/2") in spite of my above stated preference...(just have never found a .41 with the shorter tube!) Those are 25 yd groups on a very cold day here in the bluegrass.

Best Regards, Rod

Salmoneye

I am waiting for a .41Mag in 4-5/8" at my price...

blackhawkfan

I like em; the older the better. Here are my two "unmolested" (no transfer bars) old girls:

bwinters

Buy the 41 in 61/2 it is considerably softer noise wise than the 45/8th inch.

Gunpoor

Love the look of the 4 5/8" model...but wouldn't turn my nose up at the 6 1/2". Better still, get both!