ATTENTION:  Effective Sept 1, 2020, the BBTI Project is in "Archive Status."  No further tests will be conducted, but we will maintain this site and data for the use of the firearms community.  Thank you.

.41 Mag Results in fps

Click here for a Muzzle Energy graph for the tests in this caliber.

barrel length Federal
180 gr.
Barnes Exp.
Vital-Shok
Winchester
175 gr.
Silvertip
Winchester
240 gr.
Platinum Tip
Cor Bon
180 gr.
DPX
Cor Bon
170 gr.
JHP
Speer
210 gr.
Gold Dot HP
Buffalo
Bore
170 gr.
JHP
18" 1660 1498 1442 1629 1486 1745 2124
17" 1645 1480 1460 1611 1466 1739 2109
16" 1664 1474 1440 1595 1482 1706 2093
15" 1665 1495 1442 1585 1489 1717 2054
14" 1627 1494 1412 1572 1490 1710 2085
13" 1635 1482 1427 1566 1505 1692 2022
12" 1617 1472 1422 1583 1493 1683 2001
11" 1605 1462 1400 1548 1464 1626 1996
10" 1582 1430 1386 1547 1425 1629 1958
9" 1561 1371 1359 1501 1402 1589 1907
8" 1494 1336 1327 1467 1378 1567 1871
7" 1473 1294 1280 1413 1361 1500 1810
6" 1425 1247 1246 1394 1325 1445 1678
5" 1353 1185 1195 1317 1244 1363 1625
4" 1238 1072 1098 1242 1181 1268 1481
3" 1133 918 1027 1114 1030 1118 1325
2" 934 680 835 917 825 884 985

 

real
world
weapon
Federal
180 gr.
Barnes Exp.
Vital-Shok
Winchester
175 gr.
Silvertip
Winchester
240 gr.
Platinum Tip
Cor Bon
180 gr.
DPX
Cor Bon
170 gr.
JHP
Speer
210 gr.
Gold Dot HP
Buffalo
Bore
170 gr.
JHP
Smith & Wesson
Model 57
4" barrel
1236 1108 1069 1221 1211 1209 1466

Other Resources

BBTI is not the end-all of ballistics testing, just one more component available for the common good.  In addition to extensive discussion about ballistics to be found at many gun forums, here are some other great resources pertaining to ballistics testing you should check out.  (And if you would like to recommend a site to list here, please send an email.)
  • BrassFetcher:  excellent resource, with an emphasis on bullet performance in ballistic gelatin
  • The Box O' Truth:  testing ammo penetration through various barriers
  • Terminal Ballistics Research:  Specializes in the research of cartridge & projectile performance, using hard data gathered from 20 years of hunting game.

Acknowledgements

We'd like to personally and specifically thank Pat Childs at Fin & Feather in Iowa City, as he not only helped get most of our ammunition and other supplies, he was the brilliant gunsmith who worked with us to make this insane project much more practical.  Without his help all of this would have been much more difficult and perhaps impossible.  Anyone who uses our data owes him a debt of gratitude.

And thanks to our spouses, who were not just tolerant but enthusiastically supportive of this rather nutty project.

Disclaimer

This project, and all of its results, is only our fault.  We (well, Jim K, mostly) paid for everything ourselves, and we did not receive any kind of sponsorship or remuneration from anyone.  We did all the work.  We used products we were either familiar with, or because they were what was available, and mentioning them by name does not constitute an endorsement of any kind.  Furthermore, the data is provided purely for entertainment purposes - to better facilitate arguments over what ammo or caliber or gun is "best."  How you use the data is entirely up to you.  And if you think you could do better, feel free to spend the money and do the work and publish your own results.  Or not.  Your choice.