S&w 41

You won't be disappointed with the 41. Goes with me to the range everytime. A real tack driver compared to some of the other .22's I shoot. I got a nice two barrelled set (longer with the compesater) for around 850 on the EE. This is one pistol I will never sell.
 
It is accurate. Better than you will ever be and that is a good thing. But accuracy is not the only thing to consider when picking a gun.

I have a number of .22s. The S&W is the most accurate of the bunch with a variety of ammunition. I have shot this gun in a Free Pistol and have been pleased with the results. Sure some of the guys who were shooting free pistol guns were a little better (some even better yet) but they are better shooters and actually practice a lot.

I put a number of .22s on a Ransom Rest to see how they group with a variety of ammo. The S&W had the best accuracy. Next was my High Standard model Citation. Just slightly bigger groups.

I can accurately shoot my S&W 41 if I shoot slow and deliberate fire. When it comes to rapid fire I do better with my High Standard. I will sometimes not hold the S&W as firmly an needs to be when I am under time pressure. I will often get a jam on extraction or sometimes feeding. All my fault but I don't have the problem with the High Standard.

Also I like the feel of the High Standard better. Some minor thing about the balance and the feel of the grip. These slight differences add up to me shooting better with the High Standard than the slightly more accurate S&W 41.

When you get beyond a certain point very small differences make a difference in your shooting. The S&W is a great gun. I don't think you will be disappointed in it. Used I have seen them sell for about $750. Condition plays a part in the value.
 
I bought one here recently for $700 and change. The comment I hear echoed over and over again (on the net) is to avoid the new ones - post 1984 but especially late 90's onward. I don't own a new one so I cannot comment, but around the internet there are a lot of people griping about feeding/jamming issues. Take that with a grain of salt though, because .22 autoloading pistols are notorious for being finicky until you find the right ammo for them and people are too quick to gripe on the net.

The new ones are D/T for a scope mount. I wouldn't dare drill an older barrel. I'd just buy a new style barrel if I had to scope it.

Myself, I got lucky. Mine is a 1978 5.5" model but having received it, I was surprised to find it has the cocking indicator pin which is quite desirable from a collectors point of view. It must have been one of the last guns shipped with it. The feeling among the S&W experts is that the quality of the pistol slipped once they made changes to simplify (cheapen) it, the indicator being the first thing to go. The fit and finish is really great with high polish and deep blue. Still - any S&W 41 is a finely made gun. I understand there are just a couple of employees at S&W that still hand fit the few 41's coming off the line.

Accuracy? This is the S&W 41. Its like asking if a Ferrari goes fast! ;) Buy a clean used example, buy a $20 set of Wolff replacement springs (recoil, mag, firing pin), shoot 10's and X's for another 20 years! Its an all steel gun, built to outlast 99% of the junk sold today. Unless you are shooting at a highly competitive level, you won't ever need a better .22 pistol.

PS - its really meant for standard velocity ammo. I would shoot high velocity only occasionally (hunting if I could!), NEVER the hyper speed stuff like Stingers and Velocitors. There are recoil buffers available if you do want to shoot a lot of high velocity.
 
Last edited:
I find the S&W 41 to be very well made and accurate. The all metal construction and wood grips gives it good weight and makes it feel like a "real" HG. I acquired mine from my Dad who bought it new in the late '70s or early '80s. Field stripping it for cleaning takes a bit getting used to but after a few times it's a no brainer.
I don't see many 7" bbl around with a compensator(?) and with less than a brick through it I'll be keeping this one!
SW41.jpg
[/IMG]
 
That's a nice one you have there with the long barrel and compensator. I shot a photo of mine this morning:

1986225124_4d6c4f4da3_o.jpg


Field stripping is a no-brainer don't you think? You just flip the trigger guard down, lift off the barrel, pull the slide up and over the rear.
 
MauserMike said:
Field stripping is a no-brainer don't you think? You just flip the trigger guard down, lift off the barrel, pull the slide up and over the rear.
Click to expand...

That's a Cool picture of your 41, MauserMike!
When I got my 41, it didn't come with a manual. It was sitting in the safe for so long that I figured it needed to be cleaned before taking it to the range. If I could field strip it by "feel" then I would agree that it's a no-brainer.
 
Interestingly enough I prefer the balance of the shorter barrel. Marginally better accuracy with the longer one though. Out of 100 top score for the longer is 95 and 91 with the shorter for me - 10 shots at 20 yards using cheap federal ammo. This is the best I've done since I bought the set up a few months ago. I've got to give the longer upper more practice. Hmmm that gives me an idea for tomorrow....
 
DSC00014.jpg


My M41's from 1959 and it probably shoots as well today as it did when new!! Accurate and well balanced for a production gun.

Can't beat the fit and finish of the earlier guns...the slide moves like a piece of oiled glass.Never had any trouble field stripping it, once the trigger guard's pulled away, the barrel is easily removed.

Been looking for a compensator for a while, but man they are expensive little pieces. Might have to machine a small false comp to cover the end of the barrel.

There's been a few M41's recently on EE, awfully temped to get another one.... you will not be disappointed if you get one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom