Hello,
I am new to this forum although I have been lurking,reading and learning for quite some time. There is a great deal of informative material here. Thanks to the Moderators for this great site.

Just some quick background on me. I did not start hunting until I joined the Air Force back in 1968. I was fortunate to be stationed in some states with fabulous hunting oppurtunities (I was stationed in Alaska twice for a total of 4 1/2 years. I loved it there). I retired in 1991 and now live in SW Michigan (absolutly some of the best deer hunting I have seen) I always was a rifle hunter until 9 years ago when I bought a TC Contender from a friend. It had 2 30 Herret Barrels, a 222 barrel and a 22 barrel. It was lots of fun on squirrels and chucks but I could not use it for deer without a straightwalled pistol cartridge barrel. I sold the Contender and bought a Ruger Accusport Bisley in 45 Colt. Shot my first deer with it 3 years ago and I was hooked on handgun hunting for deer. Unfortunately, I ended up selling that gun to finance another project (don't remember if it was the 444 Marlin or the 38-55 Marlin). Anyway, I just recently purchased a Ruger Blackhawk with 4 5/8 barrel in 41 Magnum.It was used, the price was right and it looked like it would make a handy trail gun. Now I have never been interested in the 41 magnum before. I reload and did not need another cartridge to buy dies, bullets and brass for. I did buy some RCBS dies, Remington brass and Speer 220gr JSP bullets for this gun. I already had a good supply of primers and H110, 2400 and Unique so I loaded up some ammunition and took my new/used gun to my practice area to see how it would do. WOW!!!! What have I been missing? I was very impressed with the accuracy, power, and controlability(?) of this gun. I was having too much fun shooting this. Anway, I liked it so much I thought I would start looking for other guns in 41 Magnum. Ran across the Ruger SBH Hunter for sale on one of the gun sites and bought it. I just picked it up last night along with a Leupold 2X EER scope. I think I have my new Deer/Bear/Hog gun.

That's is it for now. Sorry for the long post. Thanks again for a great site

Bo

WELCOME TO HH Bo!!

X2.

I'm also thinking my next revolver will be a 41 mag. Don't need it, just want one...LOL

Bo,
Welcome to HH.
It is a great place. Causes some bad addictions though.
Looks like you are already addicted.

I have that gun in .41 with the Bisley grip. Fantastic shooter, you won't be disapointed. Welcome to the madness ;-)

Thanks for the welcome. I enjoy reading all of the articles and posts here on this site. Just finished mounting the scope on the SBH but I am going out of town over Thanksgiving so won't have time for load developement and sighting in until I return.

Have a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving all!

Bo

Bo,

So you've discovered the forgotten magnum. Be sure to read Gary's article on this site! I started out with a Ruger 3 screw Blackhawk, 4 5/8" barrel, a Lee Loader, a box of Remington factory, and a box of Hornady bullets, 2400, and a box of primers. That was when I was 12 y/o, and 41 years ago. I bought the 41 because there were no 44 mags and it was priced right for a kid on a "paperboy's" income. I've never looked back. Had a whitetail buck, 8 pt. eastern count, in the first 1/2 hour of that season. One shot, one buck. Everyone told me it couldn't be done, back then!

Doc

Welcome to HH Bo.
I think you are making wise choices inyour handguns. I recently "downgraded" to the 41 mag (from 44 mag) for my hiking/backup to bowhunting gun here in Alaska (I'm in Kenai). I carry hot loaded 265gr WFN hardcast bullets in it & don't feel too undergunned (no more so than with the 44 mag anyway). I figure it's just as good a penetrator as the 300gr 44s & when it's time to stop a grumpy brownie I want some penetration! The thing that sold me on it though was the gun itself. It's a sweet custom BH. 4.5", ported, parkerized, etc. I love that gun!!! Light yet sweet to shoot.
I'd love a SBH Hunter or Redhawk Hunter in 41 mag.

If you are looking for 41 caliber..... Very rare but the ultimate 41 is a 414 Super Magnum. Like this one. Just trying to facilitate your needs.

So that's what it's called ;-)

Bo, welcome to the site. Your going to like it here. David.

Last year (2008) I took 11 animals with revolvers, almost all of them were with the 41 magnum, I've had one around for over 40 years, its just a terrific hunting caliber, you do hear a little bit of put down from time to time, not from those who use it but from those who haven't but "heard" from a friend that there wasn't any need for it, just get a 44. It just flat works! I almost always use the 230 gr Keith but recently took a large cow elk with one shot using the LBT 250 WFN, she never took a single step, would a 300 win. have done any better....or a 338, maybe it was a fluke, if so I've had many, many flukes since way back in the 60's.

Here's a bull moose, taken here in Idaho 2 yrs ago by a buddy of mine, his gun was a Ruger Redkhawk 41 magnum using a 230 gr softnose cast, the distance was 68 yds as the bull faced us straight on, I whispered for him to shoot the bull at the base of the throat & even with the 2 knuckles on the front shoulders. At the shot the bull spun around & disappeared, remember it was 68 yds, halfway to the bull we could hear him coughing, when we reached him, maybe 30 seconds, he was dead, he had turned around & maybe covered one body length. A 41 magnum, enough for a bull moose, wow! It goes back to hitting the right spot & getting penetration. A wounded animal is wounded, whether its with a 338 win. mag or a handgun.
The shot had entered right at the wind pipe, through the brisket, into the diaphram, took out one lung & the heart, exited the diaphram & back into the intestines, something like 5 feet of penetration, if you don't get your animal using the 41 magnum, don't blame the caliber, work on your accuracy, that & the right bullet.



Dick

I think the Good Book puts it this way; "Bad company corrupts good morals".

Watch it Bo, Tig will get you in trouble!!!!!

Welcome home Bo!

I've never owned a .41 myself as I have always hunted with the .44 and to my thinking switching between the two would be akin to trading your 30-30 Winchester for a 32 Winchester. Both have nearly identical ballistics as you know. I would never discourage anyone from choosing a .41 magnum for hunting any game I would use a .44 on. Also, it's accuracy is as legendary as Ruger's reliability.

I would however discourage you from going down the "Tigg" trail. He is deviously addicted to big handguns(nothing like the rest of us)and will only lead you to baldness, incontinance, and quite possibly - divorce.

Renster

nice bull 41 very cabable i have shot a few deer with the 41 with no probs . do not have it no more wish i did worked well on turkey 200 gr cast.

Wait a minute Renster, with the exception of divorce you just described me!

Can we get some kinda class action suite going against this Tigger guy?

For Sale.........all my revolvers! Send PM for details!!

i think i mite like the tigg" trail but not divorce. LOL

Dan, the curse remains unless you give them away. To a pastor in Alaska. In Kenai Alaska. That's 49 & has 3 kids still at home. And is suffering from the same malady. And drives an '89 Ford extended cab rust bucket.
Wait!! I think I can help

PM me for details

You guys ...give Tigg a break,even if some of the madness here is ALL HIS FAULT!! I have had a few 41's just never did take a liking to them,not sure why they shot well,just one of those things.

$2 a pound?

Welcome to the dark side!! BOWAHAHAH (evil laugh)



You guys wooorry too much, most if not all the afflictions described come in time from old age. Ask Vance he knows. LOL

Go ahead... catch me if you can!! BOWAHAHAH (evil laugh)
Madness is akin to genius!!! I'll hide out in the mountains of WV and Kentucky with my good buddy KYODE... you'll never catch a country boy!!! BOWAHAHAH (evil laugh)

Hey Bo. IMO, the 41mag is a phenomenal round and greatly under appreciated by most folks. It's good to see there are some "enlightened" folks in this forum. I've been using the 41mag for some time now. I used a 4 5/8 Ruger Black Hawk as a hiking gun for years. I have a 7.5 inch S&W 657 that I have used to take black bear, wild boar, and deer. At one time, my CCW gun was a Taurus 415T, a 20oz 5 shot snubnose. Carried that daily till I switched over to full power 10mm loads in my G29.

Not sure who to blame, so I guess I'll direct my current search for Freedom Arms 41 towards the ENTIRE SITE. Trolling weekly looking for t he right deal. Everytime I get close to "pulling the trigger" on a Ruger BH or 657, I keep lusting back to the FA.

D**n you guys and your effects on my bank account.

On another note, Happy Thanksgiving!

The FA is EXTRA Sweet...with sugar on top!!!

SChunter i have Freedom Arms in 44,454,and 475 each one will shoot 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards all day long. They are spendy, but you will not be disappointed.

Wheelguns,

Got the .454 - and that's when the addiction started. Been looking at .41 primarily (to fill the caliber gap in my arsenal) and then to start duplicating.

Gonna need a bigger safe...because it's just not right to sell any!

I guess i don't have to tell you how sweet they are. If you do get a 41mag in FA's please let us know how she shoots.

PS. getting a bigger safe is not a bad thing.LOL

Just don't tell me your my father and life will be good.

NO I won't but......

YOU need a 445 SM!!

BOWAHAHAH (evil laugh)

You know me WAY to well... One day I am going to have to get a good D&W 445...

It's good to see you guys are happy and have large bank accounts! Happy Thanksgiving from a poor boy!

Oaky Gang,
I'm back from Savannah. I got to go out for the last afternoon hunt of the regular deer season here in Michigan. No luck. Too bad that the people that hunt the property next to me can't sit still long enough to let the deer start moving. Oh well!!!! Still have the muzzle stuffer season which starts this friday here in zone 3 and then the late anterless season. I am hoping to get the SBH Hunter sighted in later this week so I can use it for the anterless season. Thanks for all of the responses. This is a great group

Bo