Justification for Existence: The .41 Rem. Mag.

by
posted on April 22, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Remington ammunition box green white packaging .41 Magnum cartridges

Introduced in 1964, the .41 Rem. Mag. effectively splits the difference in the external ballistics of the .357 Mag. and the .44 Rem. Mag.; as such, the cartridge fulfills an obvious power-level niche. That being said, its growth among law enforcement agencies never fully materialized, and, to this day, big-game hunters oftentimes opt for the more potent .44 Rem. Mag. Revolver size, cylinder capacity, and manageability generally favor the smaller .357 Mag., too. Given the cartridge’s forebears, is there a valid reason for its existence? Is it a “jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none”-type cartridge? It’s your turn to express your opinion.

Latest

Colt 1860 Army Ihtog 1
Colt 1860 Army Ihtog 1

I Have This Old Gun: Colt 1860 Army Revolver

For the Union Army during the American Civil War, its officers and cavalry troopers relied on one of Colt's most notable firearms: the 1860 Army revolver.

An Affordable Micro-Compact: The Derya Arms DY9Z

The new Derya Arms DY9Z not only fits into the “micro-compact” class of defensive handguns, it adds another adjective: affordable.

Product: Ruger Red Label III Shotgun

Ruger launches the latest iteration in its traditional Red Label shotgun line.

Preview: Ballistol Anniversary Box

Ballistol is one of the most versatile cleaning solutions available on the market, and, in 2025, the company celebrated 120 years in business, with 30 of those years as Ballistol USA.

Review: Savage Stance XR

Savage Arms reworked its Stance pistol in 2025 to incorporate desirable features not available in the first iteration, resulting in the new Stance XR.

Preview: Die Free Kung Fu Grip

A replacement pistol grip for AR-10/15-pattern rifles, the Kung Fu Grip from Die Free Co. utilizes a reduced (12 degree) grip angle that makes shooting a gun with a short length of pull much more comfortable on the wrist—making it an ideal choice for practitioners of modern, squared-up shooting stances.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.