41 magnum vs 44 magnum

[kenny thomas]

In an 8" barrel which would you prefer for big game? Especially something that could kill and eat you.
I have been carrying a Taurus 44 magnum with an 8 3/8" barrel but considering changing to a 41 magnum. Carrying while bear hunting. No rifle, just the pistol. Thoughts. Besides the thought that I'm an idiot. I already know that.

 

[Caustic Burno]

I am a fan of the 44 mag.
Personal I would be thinking the other way 454 Casull.

 

[SBMF 2015]

CB pretty much said what I was thinking.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

You're not using that switch anymore KT?

 

[SmokinM]

I think you are like me and not shooting one unless one of 2 things is happening, s*** got bad or it is big! That being said at the range one occurs I don't know that you would see a big difference in either. The other I am not sure going down in size is the way I would want to go. I have seen more than one shake off a .357 point blank at the base of a tree. I have also seen one drop like a rock from a .22lr when noise was an issue. Shot placement is key and in a hole or thrashing around in a pile of dogs that can be tricky. If you are sticking with the same barrel length I don't see an advantage myself, weight difference would be negligible. I carry a .480 Ruger myself and have used it with success and in my opinion it shoots better than either .44 I have.

All that being said a .41 is a great cartridge and if it is what I had I wouldn't be afraid to use it. Bullet choice would be key also. Real men use a Barlow pocket knife.

 

[kenny thomas]

In reading comparison it shows the 41 having more fp and penetration with only a slightly smaller bullet..I bid on a 480 Ruger last week but it got to high. Plus I got plenty of 41 and 44 ammo and no 480.

 

[kenny thomas]

I think you are like me and not shooting one unless one of 2 things is happening, s*** got bad or it is big! That being said at the range one occurs I don't know that you would see a big difference in either. The other I am not sure going down in size is the way I would want to go. I have seen more than one shake off a .357 point blank at the base of a tree. I have also seen one drop like a rock from a .22lr when noise was an issue. Shot placement is key and in a hole or thrashing around in a pile of dogs that can be tricky. If you are sticking with the same barrel length I don't see an advantage myself, weight difference would be negligible. I carry a .480 Ruger myself and have used it with success and in my opinion it shoots better than either .44 I have.

All that being said a .41 is a great cartridge and if it is what I had I wouldn't be afraid to use it. Bullet choice would be key also. Real men use a Barlow pocket knife.

You are correct. I don't want to shoot one but as you know most of the big ones won't climb a tree. They either go in a hole or put their butt against a rock or tree and start hurting dogs. Going in to get the dogs when a 500-600 lb bear is smacking them gets interesting.

 

[Dave]

Back when I worked in brown bear country in Alaska I packed a S&W 29 in 44. We joked that you shoot the bear 5 times and save the last one for yourself. But those were different bears than you are dealing with. I would pack the 44 over a 41. MHO

 

[kenny thomas]

Back when I worked in brown bear country in Alaska I packed a S&W 29 in 44. We joked that you shoot the bear 5 times and save the last one for yourself. But those were different bears than you are dealing with. I would pack the 44 over a 41. MHO

For a while we sold a lot of Ruger Alaskan 454. 2" snub nose. Almost every one went to the northwest or Alaska. Some said they carried them on a lanyard around their neck so it was always ready and they wouldn't drop it.

 

[Dave]

I packed that 44 with me one time when a brown bear decided to see how well I could climb a tree. Shortly after that I bought a Sako carbine (light little easy to carry rifle) in 375H&H. Easy to carry at a little over 6 pounds, a terrible thing to shoot.

 

[Brute 23]

I packed that 44 with me one time when a brown bear decided to see how well I could climb a tree. Shortly after that I bought a Sako carbine (light little easy to carry rifle) in 375H&H. Easy to carry at a little over 6 pounds, a terrible thing to shoot.

That's me. Shooting and carrying those big pistols seems like a real pia. I'd take a carbine over a pistol.

 

[MurraysMutts]

If I had both, it take the 44.
U will never notice the difference (recoil etc) in a situation where its needed.
The .480 or .454 are nice as well.
Big heavy, the heavier bullet the better, moderate speed. Bullet that hits em like a freight train!

Rather get hit by a mack truck or a bicycle?
Definitely not the mack truck!

As far as carrying a weapon like that in the woods, shoulder rig is the only way.

 

[Caustic Burno]

That's me. Shooting and carrying those big pistols seems like a real pia. I'd take a carbine over a pistol.

I carry Model 92 carbine in 44.

 

[SmokinM]

If I had both, it take the 44.
U will never notice the difference (recoil etc) in a situation where its needed.
The .480 or .454 are nice as well.
Big heavy, the heavier bullet the better, moderate speed. Bullet that hits em like a freight train!

Rather get hit by a mack truck or a bicycle?
Definitely not the mack truck!

As far as carrying a weapon like that in the woods, shoulder rig is the only way.

Current rig is a bandolier style and I really like it. An Alaska guide style across the front of the chest is great too but pricey. Shoulder holster is a pain to put on and harder to draw from. So much time is spent crawling thru ivy bushes and a lot of times when you need it it is in a hurry and in a tight space.
Carbines are nice and I carry 45-70 a good bit also but it is hard to hold a flashlight and shoot one at the same time thru a hole as big as your head.

 

[SmokinM]

Keep saying I am going to find a .460 SW with a 4" barrel. That in one of the guide style chest holsters would be ideal to carry.

On the ground or in a hole is what separates out the bear hunters real quick. Your talking inches and feet not yards.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Keep saying I am going to find a .460 SW with a 4" barrel. That in one of the guide style chest holsters would be ideal to carry.

On the ground or in a hole is what separates out the bear hunters real quick. Your talking inches and feet not yards.

That might be considered an IQ test.

 

[SmokinM]

Awww c'mon CB everybody has got to do something for fun!

 

[Dave]

I have a sweat shirt that says. "Everything will kill you, so choose something that is fun" Picture of a man on a saddle bronc on it.

 

[kenny thomas]

That might be considered an IQ test.

They think I am crazy when I crawl in a hole to get a dog knowing that there is a 400lb or bigger bear in that hole. Or even worse when I go in the hole to get a tracking collar that a bear has bit in to while try to kill the dog.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Awww c'mon CB everybody has got to do something for fun!

These big boar are enough for me. The one under the deer feeder was at the neighbors down the road, he is no longer with us.
I carry a 357 with JSP when bow hunting.
I have had them guard a deer feeder.