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Should I up to 44 mag from 41 mag

snipe2
I have a Taurus Tracker .41 Mag Titanium 4" that I've been carring on photo shoots and metal detecting searches. But now we, south central PA, are seeing more and more black bear. Should I up to the 44mag? Should I sell the 41 to buy the 44?
Thanks your input.
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Comments

12 comments

Date Votes
  • haroldchrismeyer
    .410 vs .429

    Not a lot of difference, especially since the 41 is a more modern cartridge, and I believe to be loaded to higher pressures. If you feel the need to step up, how about a 460 or 500??
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  • floorguy24
    Not worth it for Black Bears, in my opinion. The gun you have will do the job.

    However, for Grizzly it's different. The minimum would be a 44 Magnum, again in my opinion.

    I'm an avid hiker/fisherman/photographer in the California Sierras and run across Black Bears as well.

    I carry a 4" S&W 629 44 Magnum anyway, though. Just in case I head out of state where bigger bear roam.

    Bear Spray (large canisters of pepper spray from Cabelas) is great to have as well.

    Just my 2 cents.
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  • charliemeyer007
    The only thing wrong with a 41 is it harder to find ammo. Spend your money shooting what you have. Learn to reload or find someone to do it for you. A clean miss with a cannon is still a clean miss.
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  • rsnyder55
    Some say the 41magnum is a more efficient round than the 44magnum and can equal the 44magnum in power. That being said, 41magnum ammunition is very hard to find in most places and there are no lower power alternatives like the 44special.

    I live in N Cal and with the bears and mountain lions, carry either my 3" or 4" 629's or one of my Vaqueros in 44magnum when I am fishing or hiking.

    If you don't reload, the 44magnum is more friendly just from the viewpoint of factory loadings.

    Additionally, there are more rifles offered in 44magnum should you decide to get a companion long gun.
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  • tsr1965
    You are fine with the 41. It has plenty of power for your blackbears. The 41 Vs. 44 is an arguement that has waged war with each other for decades. There is not much, if anything that can be done with a 44 Remington Magnum, that can't be done with the 41. Go to www.doubletapammo.com, and grab yourself some of those 250 grainers, or some Federal 250 grain CastCore's.

    Best
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  • The Butcher
    I own both, but am thinking of getting rid of my .41 for no good reason than I really did not need the .44 but since the barrel is longer, and I only hunt with them, I only need one. I feel if I could do it all over again, I'd not have purchased the .44 Both are very equal in performance (I actually get higher velocity with my .41) which I feel just about equals my .44 in energy. I do handload, so that is not an issue. Any how, I'd just keep the .41 and be done with it. Gain is very little if any by jumping to .44 Now the 500.......different story. Just my 2 cts.
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  • flapjack
    The spray that was mentioned might be advisable in some situations. The tests that I have heard discussed found that with Grizzleys, the bear spray was better in a charge situation because the bear would turn and run away, as apposed to continuing to charge after being shot with a hand gun. I might add that with black bears, just yelling at them or maybe shooting a warning shot is in many cases more than adequate, with the exception of a mother with cubs, or a bear that you have unintentionally cornered, etc. I am a hand gun fan, and am espacially fond of the .44 caliber, but unless you are going to carry the .460 or .500, I wouldn't choose a hand gun with dangerous bears. I have a 20 inch Mossberg 12 guage that holds 9 3" slugs. That is what I would have hanging conveniently on my person if I knew I was going in Mr. Grizzlt'S neighborhood.
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  • Oakie
    I use a S&W 41 mag to hunt bears in sullivan county PA. No need to go any bigger for black bears. Try a hornady hp xtp if you reload.
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  • Pistollero1050
    41 mag is a fine gun. It is easy to find new in the bag brass almost anywhere. I wouldn't give up mine for anything.
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  • Hawkshaw
    snipe2----IMHO---Any gun (41 mag)in a hunting situation implies that the shooter had time to pick his shot under more controlled circumstances. I n a serious bear confrontation, I doubt that 99% of those shooters will take the time to worry about shot placement. I think they will take the shot that is offered, and hope for the best. To me that means the 44 mag, or better yet the 500 smith---4" HAWKSHAW
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  • tsr1965
    quote:Originally posted by Hawkshaw
    snipe2----IMHO---Any gun (41 mag)in a hunting situation implies that the shooter had time to pick his shot under more controlled circumstances. I n a serious bear confrontation, I doubt that 99% of those shooters will take the time to worry about shot placement. I think they will take the shot that is offered, and hope for the best. To me that means the 44 mag, or better yet the 500 smith---4" HAWKSHAW


    It means to use a gun you are not scared of, that you can hit with in an ememgency situation. If you can't hit the vitals, or hit the CNS, a big gun will not do you any better. The 41 has ample power, and BETTER sectional density than the 44...the 500 is in a class of its own, but it takes a lot of practice to be able to control it in an emergency, MUST hit situation.

    Best
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  • beantownshootah
    quote:Originally posted by snipe2
    I have a Taurus Tracker .41 Mag Titanium 4" that I've been carring on photo shoots and metal detecting searches. But now we, south central PA, are seeing more and more black bear. Should I up to the 44mag? Should I sell the 41 to buy the 44?
    Thanks your input.

    This has been well-covered already.

    I agree that if your main purpose is defense against black (NOT brown) bears, then there isn't enough of a difference to justify the cost/bother of swapping guns.

    Same applies if you're only going to do a limited amount of practice or hunting with the gun.

    Biggest advantages to .44 magnum center around ammo:

    -Factory .44 mag ammo is easier to find, and generally cheaper. You can probably find some .44 magnum at any Walmart or good sporting goods store. .41?. . .probably not. If you want to shoot a LOT of it, and don't want to reload your own ammo, then you're better off with .44 mag.

    -There is a greater variety of factory loads available for .44 magnum, including lower powered .44 special loads for which there is no commercially available .41 magnum equivalent. Again, IF you reload your own ammo, this advantage goes away.

    -The MOST powerful loads from .44 magnum are more powerful than .41 magnum. So if you need/want maximum power, you're better off with the bigger gun.
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