Buffalo Bore 41 Mag 230gr Keith SWC – Rugged Outdoorsman Load

Description

The Buffalo Bore 41 Mag 230gr Keith SWC is the load that makes the case for a cartridge most people have forgotten. A 230 grain hard cast Keith semi wadcutter at 1450 fps produces roughly 1074 ft-lbs, and it is built to go straight through rather than to expand. Twenty rounds per box, item 16B/20.

• Buffalo Bore 41 Mag 230gr Keith SWC Overview
• 41 Magnum Hard Cast Ammo Ballistics
• Why The 230 Grain Keith Semi Wadcutter Bullet Suits The 41
• Specifications
• Range Notes For This Heavy 41 Remington Magnum Load

Buffalo Bore 41 Mag 230gr Keith SWC Overview

The bullet is an Elmer Keith pattern semi wadcutter cast from a hard alloy. The profile matters as much as the weight: a wide flat nose, a full calibre driving band, and a sharp shoulder that cuts a clean hole rather than sliding tissue aside.

The alloy is hard enough that the bullet does not deform on impact. There is no expansion to rely on and nothing that can fail, which is exactly what you want from a hunting or woods defence load where the bullet may have to travel through heavy bone.

The 41 Remington Magnum itself deserves a word. It was introduced in 1964 as a middle ground between the 357 and the 44 Magnum and never found the audience it deserved. A heavy 41 Remington Magnum load shoots flatter than a 44, recoils noticeably less, and has better sectional density than a 357 at any sensible bullet weight.

41 Magnum Hard Cast Ammo Ballistics

1074 ft-lbs at 1450 fps is serious performance from a revolver, but the number undersells what this load actually does. A non expanding 230 grain bullet with a wide flat meplat converts its energy into depth rather than into opening up, so comparing it against a hollow point of similar energy misses the point.

Momentum is the better measure. A heavy, blunt, hard bullet at this speed will drive through a shoulder blade and keep going, which is precisely the job a big bore hunting revolver exists to do, and why 41 Magnum hard cast ammo is loaded this way.

Set against the other Buffalo Bore 41 Magnum loads, this sits between the 265 grain flat nose at 1350 fps and the lighter jacketed hollow points. The 170 grain JHP makes 1028 ft-lbs at 1650 fps and the 210 grain JHP makes 1120 at 1550, so on paper all four are close. What separates them is behaviour on impact, not the energy chart.

Why The 230 Grain Keith Semi Wadcutter Bullet Suits The 41

Expansion is a trade, and on large animals it is usually the wrong side of it. A bullet that opens makes a wider wound but gives up depth, and against a hog or a black bear at an awkward angle what you need is to reach the vitals, not to make an impressive hole in the first six inches.

A hard cast bullet refuses the trade. It keeps every grain of its weight and its full frontal area, and it keeps going. That is why this style of bullet has dominated big bore revolver hunting for decades despite offering nothing clever on paper.

The Keith profile is what makes the depth count. A round nose of the same weight will often push tissue aside and leave a narrow track. A 230 grain Keith semi wadcutter bullet punches a clean full calibre hole with sharp shoulders the whole way, which is both a better wound and a far better blood trail than a round nose leaves.

The calibre suits this job unusually well. At 0.410 of an inch the 41 sits between the 357 and the 44, and a 230 grain bullet in that diameter has excellent sectional density. You get penetration close to a heavier 44 bullet with recoil closer to a 357, which is why 41 Magnum hard cast ammo has such a loyal following among people who have tried it.

Specifications

Range Notes For This Heavy 41 Remington Magnum Load

Shoot it from a rest or from sticks rather than off a hard bench. Full power magnum recoil concentrated into your shoulder and cheek over a sandbag is how flinches start, and a flinch costs more accuracy than any load ever will.

Keep sessions short. The Buffalo Bore 41 Mag 230gr Keith SWC is expensive and tiring to practise with, so sight in, confirm at your realistic distance, and save the rest for hunting.

Expect more fouling than a jacketed load leaves behind. Cast bullets carry a lubricant, so the cylinder face and forcing cone will look dirty after a session. Check the bore properly when you clean.

Think about what is behind your target. Deep penetrating woods revolver ammunition will pass through most things you shoot with it. That is a feature in the field and a serious liability anywhere with buildings in the background.

Deep Penetrating Woods Revolver Ammunition Availability

This deep penetrating woods revolver ammunition is in stock and ready to ship from MAG5 Firearms, a family owned FFL dealer in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Ammunition orders ship to most states, and local customers are welcome to pick up in the shop. If you need case quantities or another Buffalo Bore 41 Magnum load, call us and we will check what our distributors have on hand.

Manufacturer details are on the Buffalo Bore site. For the same idea in other calibres, compare the 44 Special 255gr hard cast Keith SWC or the 480 Ruger 370gr LBT-LFN. You can also browse our full ammunition selection.