Ruger Blackhawk .41 Mag?

[garand4life]

A friend of mine is going through his gunsafe thinning the herd before they move and he asked me if I'd be interested in a Blackhawk .41 mag. I don't know much about the versatility of the cartridge but right away I was interested. I don't have any SA revolvers but I've been looking for one now a while. So, other than being a popular hunting cartridge what other realistic applications does the .41 mag offer. Is this a chambering that, like the .45 colt, can support other chambering? He has it setup to be used with or without a scope and is including the scope. I don't know the asking price yet but I know it will be a good deal period. Thoughts?

[fightingquaker13]

In my mind its the perfect S/A wheel gun with the perfect wheel gun cartridge. Sadly, the market disagrees with me, and the .41 mag is pretty much a boutique round. I'd buy it if you reload and let it go if you don't. Just my .02.
FQ13

[justbill]

I used to be a real .41 Magnum nut. I once owned four simultaneously - Rudger Redhawk 5.5", Ruger Blackhawk 4-5/8", S&W Model 58 and Marlin 1894. There were a couple of S&W Model 657's at other times. All but the Redhawk were good shooters and a lot of fun. The cartridge itself is a good middle ground between the .357 and larger bores. In fact ballistically it's closer to a .44 Magnum than a .357.

But as time progressed I realized I didn't need nor really want such a bridge cartridge. The revolvers were bigger and heavier than most of my .357's, so the .41's were rarely carried for defense or when woods walking. When I needed more power than a .357 could offer, I could choose .44 Magnums or .45 Colts with heavy handloads. In either case the guns were the same size and weight as my .41's but provided more OOMPH!

You know where I think the .41 Magnum would shine? For the person who doesn't want to buy a variety of handguns but needs something that can serve a multitude of uses with a change in ammo. The Winchester 175-gr. Silvertip makes a good anti-personnel load. I think it would ruin a cougar's day as well. A 200-grain JHP works great on whitetail deer and similar game. A 220-gr. or heavier LFN or WFN load would be good bear load.

[gunman42782]

The .41 Mag is a great round, but unless you reload, I hesitate to recommend it, as the ammo is outrageous, and hard to find in some areas. If you reload, I say go for it.  I have a old model .41 Mag that is one of the most accurate guns I have ever fired.  It will drive tacks, if I do my part. 

[m25operator]

I have owned a .41 mag in a model 57 S&W for over 25 yrs, with lead bullets it is a definite tack driver, did not play much with jacketed bullets, but now has become my constant companion in hog country, I do not shoot light loads, only full power, and it shoots flat and delivers and is easy to carry, a black hawk on the same caliber I would expect the same, I do agree it is much better as a hand loaders cartridge. I do not intend to sell mine. My .44 with a scope is a great gun, but I like the open sights for walking/crawling through the brush. I do have some 270 grn gas check bullets to try and expect great things.

[Sponsor]

[ellis4538]

No other factory cartridge (that I know of) can be used in a .41 like the .38/.357.  People have played with a shortened .41 case and called it the .41 spl. but I don't believe it is loaded by any of the big cos.  If you reload you can load up or down similar to the .44 spl./mag.  I would find out a little about it and maybe buy it as trade bate or whatever.

Richard

PS:  If it were me, I'd try to get my hands on one of the recently announced dual cyl. .45 ACP/Colt.