Just picked up a Ruger blackhawk Bisley in 41 magnum 6-1/2" and was planning on using it for deer and bear but need some background on bullet/Powder combinations that work well in this gun. any insight would be appreciated.

dasbear

Nice pistol. Check out the reloading section. Only three loads but good starting points. Each gun is different so it is difficult to say what will work good in your gun. If you plan on sticking with one load, decide on a bullet weight that will cover the game you are hunting. Cast performance has some heavier weight 41 slugs. Penn Bullets makes a nice 210 gr hard cast that I load over a full charge of 296. My S&W likes them, but they might not work at all in your gun.
Several guys on here shoot 41's so they might have more insight on different loads. Once I find one the gun likes, that is normally what I stick with.
Good luck in the search.
Rick

Thanks Rick, I did check out the reloading section and also found a short article with several loads on the Guns and ammo site. Im thinking of a hardcast around 220-230 for bear. Looks like 296, H110 and 4227 all do pretty good so I will start with those first when I find a cast bullet I like.

Patrick

Patrick,

Try getting in touch with Gary Smith on here. He recently penned an article for American hunter on the 41 mag and another on 41 Mag ammo. He might be able to help as well.

Rick

Rick is the article available to view now or will it be sometime in the future? and do you know Garys call name on this site?

At one time it was on here.
As for Gary when you open hunting forum he is the original poster of the first three messages. Gary started this website several years ago. He will be able to direct you to the articles. I tried searching for 41, 41 mag and mag and came up empty even though I know there are threads on all of these.

My choice would be a 210 XTP over 2400

210 XTP over a heavy dose of AA #9, with a CCI 300 primer. These scoot, and will pass through a 300lb pig lengthwise. They also deliver acceptable groups from my 10inch Contender, My SBH, and my marlin carbine. It isn't that it was the very best load i have tried for any one gun, but it was the second best in all three. It is a no headache load in my experience.

My plan for mine is 265 Hardcast over an appropriate amount of H-110. I haven't started loading it yet so that "appropriate amount" is yet to be determined.
Here's a 41 mag article by Paco Kelly I found a while back... Very interesting & informative. May give you a starting place.
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/41heavy.htm

I have found the 210gr. Sierra HP shoot the best also 210gr.XTP and the 210gr. Gold-Dot almost as well in my FA 41 mag.For cast the 265 WLNGC has been the best. Powder AA9,h110,N110 have all done well...Have fun with your 41!!

Bisley Bud

I prefer the Lyman hard cast(pure WWs)41059(220 grain SWC) over a moderate amount of Unique powder running about 1000-1100 fps.? Very accurate and mild recoil. That should be sufficiant for either game animal you mention and give you complete pass throughs?
Steve

The old Speer 220 gr JSP over H110 is the best hunting load Ive used.
210 XTP's over H110 have worked well for me on deer and smaller hogs.
250 gr WFNGC bullets by Cast Performance have worked well also, I just haven shot as much game with them as the other two.

I`ve used the Remington 210gr JSP factory load on boar and ram and although its very accurate there was no expansion with the bullets penciling through. This was most evident on the ram.I have a bunch of handloads using the 170gr Sierra and 210gr XTP but have to find the time to range test.As the members stated above, our editor Gary had good successs with Winchester`s
Platinum ammo ,I believe using a 240gr bullet on a boar hunt in Texas. Good luck....