New law pits guns vs. grizzlies in national parks

Washington Post ^ | May 10, 2010 | MEAD GRUVER

[IMR 4350]

.41 mag, one of my all time favorite rounds.
It's what the .44 mag was supposed to be.
With original factory loads, the .41 was more powerful than the .44.

[Rannug]

IIRC, and I do not do that a lot anymore, but the .44 mag has a tremendous recoil and noise. This is too much for some who do not shoot all the time. I believe the .41 mag was made with a little less noise and recoil, but not a great deal of loss in power. I know others will correct me if I am wrong.
Perfect solution would be mr. mt suit with his cans of spray betwixt the bear and me.

[R W Reactionairy]

Corrected version?

Shoot
Scoot
Shut Up

[IMR 4350]

You're better off with hard cast SWC’s.
Better penetration.

[calex59]

You are confusing PARK with Forest. National Parks are different and have different rules than national forests.

[Jaxter]

[absolootezer0]

the .44 mag has a tremendous recoil and noise.

it does?

[Jack Black]

but I doubt if any manufacturers are still chambering new guns in this caliber.... WHAT?? Many who own all three classic Smith & Wesson calibers like the middle-of-the-pack .41 the best. Sure the .44 has more power, but it's pretty punishing in a smaller/lighter gun. I carry specials in mine most of the time, so do a lot of other folks.

Here is the Smith & Wesson page: six .41 Mags:

Smith & Wesson .41 Mags

Here are a few from the Ruger Page:

Ruger .41 Mags

In the Ruger line you can get the .41 in the smaller Original Blackhawk size, which is abou 10ozs less than the Super Blackhawks (.44 Mag).

A few other companies make .41 mags, including Taurus and Freedom Arms.

[gundog]

I doubt I will carry my .44 magnum while hiking, since it has a 9.5" barrel...

Should you encounter a charging grizzly, you're first thought will be "I wish I had a bigger gun..." no matter what you're carrying.

[mountainlion]

I plan to use 12 ga slug and 00B alternating for indoors. I probably would not use the 44mag except for emergency. I got some Berrys 240 fr for the range. I got a 45-70 to grab and I have a 458 with muzzle brake that makes the 500 gr elephant load kick like a 30-06. What ever is handy and big.

[mountainlion]

I plan to use 12 ga slug and 00B alternating for indoors. I probably would not use the 44mag except for emergency. I got some Berrys 240 fr for the range. I got a 45-70 to grab and I have a 458 with muzzle brake that makes the 500 gr elephant load kick like a 30-06. What ever is handy and big.

[Vaquero]

I stand corrected....there was a time the .41 magnum was hanging on by a thread...

I like the round and may buy a ruger single action in that caliber...
good news.

[Citizen Soldier]

I saw a grizzly on the side of the road up in Canada’s Jasper Natl Park last summer, stopped the car to look, but made sure the idiot with the long lens camera standing in the middle of the road was between me and the bear.

[IMR 4350]

I've got a 45-70 myself. Once killed two deer with one shot.
I saw the two deer standing beside each other about 50-60yds away. What I didn't see was another deer standing behind them about 50yds down a slope. I was in a low spot, were the deer I shot was standing was about 2ft higher than where I was.

After going through the first deer, the bullet dropped well over six ft and went through the second deer right at the backbone.

I was using a cast 405grFP at the time. Those big heavy slugs just don't want to stop.

[mountainlion]

Bowling for bucks 45-70. I knocked an Elk flat with one shot. Handholds and cast bullets make shooting cheaper and enjoyable.

[mountainlion]

I have a 58 cal Black powder Civil War replica that I went deer hunting with. I shot at a doe and hit the yearling behind her. The thing shot 11” high at 35 yards and was supposed to zero at almost 300 yards I guess.

[Billthedrill]

The lower one's the one I carry. I carry bear spray too. Nothing wrong with a multilayered defense and that means against two-legged monsters as well.

Wonder what loads the guy was using? I've had hardcast recommended but haven't pursued it. Might have to for the summer trip to Glacier and Yellowstone.

[Lurker]

I had not previously heard of a .41 Magnum, learned something new.

It's a darned fine cartridge that just never really caught on. If I could find a 4 or 6 inch Model 29 chambered for it I'd snap it up in a heartbeat.

[Jack Black]

Oh, yeah, forgot the long gun:

Model Marlin 1894FG.

[Jack Black]

It's a darned fine cartridge that just never really caught on. If I could find a 4 or 6 inch Model 29 chambered for it I'd snap it up in a heartbeat.

Actually the N-frame revolver when chambered in .41 Mag always had a different model number than the Model 29.

The model 57 or 657 was the adjustable sight .41 mag built on the same frame as the big .44 Mag. The model 58 was the fixed site police model.

Smith still makes both, in both 4 and 6" variations. Check my post above, or just go to the Smith & Wesson web site and search by caliber.