41 Colt reloading question

[muddyboot]

Has anyone ever considered trying to load a 40 caliber bullet, jacketed or lead 400 or 401 (Diameter)
in the 41 Long Colt. I would like to be able to shoot jacketed bullets in my Army Specials at times
and wonder if this would work.

[WIL TERRY]

ONCE you figure out how to get around the heeled bullet need in 41COLT brass you'll be off and running. MUCHO easier to have a 38-40[38wcf] cylinder fit to your 41COLT and then you can shoot all the 40 caliber bullets [ both cast and modern JHP/JSP 10MM/40cal ] you can beg, borrow, ,or steal !!

[muddyboot]

ONCE you figure out how to get around the heeled bullet need in 41COLT brass you'll be off and running. MUCHO easier to have a 38-40[38wcf] cylinder fit to your 41COLT and then you can shoot all the 40 caliber bullets [ both cast and modern JHP/JSP 10MM/40cal ] you can beg, borrow, ,or steal !!

I can't do the 38-40 cylinder as all my 41 LC revolvers are Army Specials. I don't reload heeled bullets in my 41 brass due to the crimp problems using heeled bullets. I use a soft cast hollow base bullet 387 (Diameter).

[Gatofeo]

Crimping heeled bullets is not the problem that folks make it out to be.
Here's what I did to crimp heeled bullets in my .32 Long Colt cartridges, for use in a Marlin Model 1892 rifle:

Go to your local pawn shop or yard sale. Buy a cheap, used wire stripper.
With a rattailed file, or carefully with a Dremel tool, enlarge one of the holes to where it just turns the brass over into the lead heeled bullet.
Yes, it will take a little work to make this tool, perhaps 2 or 3 hours with a rattail file and checking your progress, but you'll have a tool that will last for decades.
And it's very inexpensive. I bought my wire stripper for $2. My Dremel altered it -- progress checks included -- in about 30 minutes.
You'll have to manually press the brass into the lead slightly, but it goes fairly quick once you get the hang of it.
Frankly, any kind of pliers could be altered to make such a tool, but the wire stripper gives you a head start because a hole is already started. I marked the appropriate hole in mine with a bit of white paint, so I wouldn't use a hole too small and crimp the case mouth too much.

Gad Custom Cartridges sells heeled .41 Colt lead bullets for $10 per 100. That's a dime apiece, and a great price.
Check out Gad Custom Reloaded Cartridges and Shell Reloading Services

And while you're at it, make a batch of authentic 19th bullet lubricant used for outside-lubricated bullets:

1 part tallow
1 part paraffin
1/2 part beeswax
All measurements are by weight, not volume. Weigh the ingredients on a kitchen scale. I typically measure 200/200/100 grams, put it all into a wide-mouth Mason jar, place the jar into 3 inches of boiling water, and stir well when all ingredients are melted. Remove from heat and allow to cool at room temperature.

The above recipe was improved by me, and I began posting it on the internet about 2000. It came to be known as Gatofeo No. 1 Lubricant.
My improvements were:

1 part mutton tallow (The best tallow to be had, sold by Dixie Gun Works. No other tallow works as well, in my experience. No, no even deer or bear tallow. Tried `em).

1 part canning paraffin (Pure paraffin, unlike scrap candles and other wax. Who knows what's in that, especially if it's scented?)

1/2 part beeswax (Real beeswax. Avoid today's toilet seals, that are petroleum-based. Get real beeswax from beekeepers, Renaissance Fairs, Mountain Man Rendezvous, etc. You can find it in hobby shops, but you'll pay a premium price for a smidgen).