.41 Magnum Shooters?

Twisted Canuck

Twisted Canuck

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I was lucky enough to pick up a really cherry S&W Model 57 a couple years ago with 6.5" barrel, and really enjoyed shooting the .41 Magnum. It came with a couple boxes of Hornady 210 gr XTP and a bag of brass, plus dies. The .41 seems like that sweet spot for magnums, about 20% more power than the .357, and about 20% less recoil than the .44...what's not to like? Especially when you consider the 'creators' of it as a factory load (Elmer Kieth, Bill Jordan, Skeeter Skelton) are such legends. Anyway, I also recently scored a super nice S&W Model 657-2 with a restricted 107 mm barrel, and it also came with 400 Nosler 210 gr JHPs to load, and dies.... I just love shooting that thing, it just balances and feels right. Has a great (target) trigger and target hammer, I put a set of Pachmayr Grippers on it just because I find them way more comfortable than the classic Coke grips that were on it. The 657 is pretty much at the top of my 'don't ever sell' list. Was just wondering who else has a .41 Magnum, and their thoughts on this 'tween' magnum. If you are loading, any recipes you like best with it? TC
 
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.41 Magnum

Twisted Canuck said:
Was just wondering who else has a .41 Magnum, and their thoughts on this 'tween' magnum?
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+1 here

I've got a vintage M57 that started out life with a 4" barrel. Had it changed out for a 6" by Murray Charlton & his distiguished "tune" done on it at the same time.

I put Pachmayr grippers on mine, too.

It's a great revolver/ctg combo!

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I put a set of Hogue rubber grips on mine. More comfortable with the hotter loads.

I've since developed a load with 7.5gr of VV 3N37 with a 210gr LSWC. Accurate at 25 yards and not too much recoil.
 
I've got two loads I've tried (and full disclosure, a friend did the loading because I haven't gotten in to it)...but anyway, one load is 20.0 gr H110 and the other is 20.9 gr H110, behind the 210 gr XTP...I can't tell one is any more accurate than the other, the 20 gr loads shoots a mite softer, but they both seem to group well, and aren't what I would call a hot or punishing load.
 
I definitely have a soft spot for the 41, but not being a reloader, I have resisted as factory ammo is pricy. Had I seen the restricted 4" 657 a little earlier, that would have done it though! I have been half expecting to see a 5 round 41 mag GP or L-frame come out but it has never materialized. The recent Switzer auction had a few nice 41s and lots of ammo. Was very tempted.
 
B said:
I've always told myself that if a nice Smith came along at a decent price I'd pick it up.
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There was a Model 657 with 8 3/8" Barrel on the EE about a week ago, with a big reloading package. I think the gun itself was $750, and I was tempted by it but I don't really care for the long barrel (I have a 686 no dash with long barrel and I like it...but won't be getting any more like it).
 
heliace said:
Meh....if a .357 won't do the job, get a 44 magnum!
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But, what if you have a dozen .357s and a half dozen .44s...then of course you are going to need a .41, or maybe two of them. And then, you will find out what a great cartridge it is, and you won't understand why it isn't a lot more popular. You can load them up almost to the same down range energy as the 44, but it shoots flatter and has less recoil. They have a huge following down south where people can actually hunt with them.
 
Load them up? To ALMOST the same? What if you load up the 44?...compromise cartridge, plain and simple. My opinion is that we have way to many cartridges that are not required and actually end up costing us all money because manufacturers have to tool up for all of them. The 41 is one of those.
 
heliace said:
Load them up? To ALMOST the same? What if you load up the 44?...compromise cartridge, plain and simple. My opinion is that we have way to many cartridges that are not required and actually end up costing us all money because manufacturers have to tool up for all of them. The 41 is one of those.
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Same horsepower, better mileage (less recoil)....but I do agree with your point that there are too many flavors besides vanilla chocolate and strawberry...I just happen to like the 41 a lot, and appreciate the purpose and vision initially behind its development. I don't see it as a compromise in any way, it will stand on its own performance quite nicely.

Just curious if you have ever shot one, or is it just an intellectual bias you have against it? First hand experience might change your mind.
 
The 41 had a dedicated following because it is a very flat shooting round. That is why lots of hunters in the US still swear by it. In terms of the number of calibres, while i frankly like the variety, one could argue that if you had a 41, you wouldn't need a 357 or 44 mag. Ok that is a small stretch because it is nice to be able to shoot specials but i don't think 41 is much of a compromise with the 44 either unless you shoot the really heavy stuff and most of us don't.
 
heliace said:
Wel...let's just say a griz' is about to naw on your azz....I'll take the 44...flat trajectory my azz...lol.
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'Naw'? Oh, you mean 'gnaw'...anyway, you have answered the question. You've never shot a .41, and you don't appear to know much about them. But thanks for sharing your opinion. The reality is there is a negligible real world difference between a .410 diameter bullet and a .429 diameter bullet, of similar weight travelling at similar velocity. No animal is going to notice the difference.

gdawg said:
Then you don't know anything about the cartridge or those who have tested it extensively.... but thanks for coming out
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Yup, don't feed the troll.
 
41special brass is now available for the 41mag just like 44special is for it's bigger brother. More consistent spreads on velocity and (I anyway) get great accuracy with 'em, plus with faster low-volume powders there's less chance for double-charge. I like that shorter Special brass alot.

6.5 Unique
7.0 Power Pistol
4.0 Bullseye, &
16.0 VvN110 are my special-loads.. 215 commercial cast & 230/240 Kieths (all) shoot on those same charges. WLP primers or Rem2,1/2's work; edge goes to WLP though, they seem to have tougher cup material. 16.0VvN110 load is a stomper (for a "special") clocks 1250fps using the 240Keith. Unique & PP mid-range; 975/1020-ish depending which bullet is in front. And the Bullseye just a gallery type for paper.

I'm a big Fan of the 41's, would (really) like to get a Cougar with mine someday... and Montana's open for Revolver Cat hunts. Sure wish our dingbats here in Canada would get it together so we could enjoy Hunting with wheel guns the same way the guys Stateside are able to. Really a damn shame we can't. Politics plain & simple.
 
Twisted Canuck said:
'Naw'? Oh, you mean 'gnaw'...anyway, you have answered the question. You've never shot a .41, and you don't appear to know much about them. But thanks for sharing your opinion. The reality is there is a negligible real world difference between a .410 diameter bullet and a .429 diameter bullet, of similar weight travelling at similar velocity. No animal is going to notice the difference.



Yup, don't feed the troll.
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Wow! Thank you for correcting my spelling. You must be a teacher. I speak 3 languages, fluently. Can you say the same? Anyway, the 41 magnum is almost dead and never did catch on. End of story.
 
heliace said:
Wow! Thank you for correcting my spelling. You must be a teacher. I speak 3 languages, fluently. Can you say the same? Anyway, the 41 magnum is almost dead and never did catch on. End of story.
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I don't normally feed trolls, but that's too precious...'the .41 is almost dead'. Where do you get this stuff? There are over a dozen different factory loads you can buy for it, quite apart from reloading. Again, the thread was for those who actually shoot the .41 and have knowledge of it (like the previous poster with that great info on the Special. Thanks!)...not for people with their uninformed opinion to spout off.

And nope, I'm not a teacher, and I don't speak 3 languages fluently. Just enough German, French and Spanish to get in to jail, but not back out. Does speaking three languages make you an expert about everything? Are we going to compare T4s next, or our stock portfolios? I'm in pretty good shape there....
 
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