S&W Model 41 Problems

[Tankmurdock]

Just picked up a clean old S&W Model 41 SN 79XXX in Excellent condition late 50's early 60's??

Took it shooting with Remington Hi-Speed HP, Aguila Standard Velocity
and Winchester Wildcat ammo.

Gun is super accurate and sights are right on. But realiability is a another story. After about 1 mag of Rem HP I got some missfires. I thought it might be a light strike but the shell had a pretty good dent. I switched to the standard velocity. It shot about 5 rounds and then I had cases sticking in the chamber and not ejecting.

I started to get a few missfires too. I thought maybe the gun needs cleaning and relube as there may be old buildup in the chamber and extractor.

I brought the gun home cleaned it with Gunscrubber. Then I took a rod and bore brush and scrubbed out the chamber and barrel. I lubed the gun with Breakfree CLP and havent had time to shoot it yet.

Could I need a new firing pin spring??? Could a dirty chamber and lack of lube cause these problems. Extracter replacement?? Are model 41's finicky?

I am used to a Ruger Mark II Stainless Target with Bull Barrel. Shoots any 22, never jammed and just get sprayed with Gunscrubber
barrel cleaned and lubed.

Do I need to send it off to be tuned?  Good 41 pistolsmiths???

Any help from 41 owners would be appreciated.


Tank

[bigdaddytacp]

Just picked up a clean old S&W Model 41 SN 79XXX in Excellent condition late 50's early 60's??

Took it shooting with Remington Hi-Speed HP, Aguila Standard Velocity
and Winchester Wildcat ammo.

Gun is super accurate and sights are right on. But realiability is a another story. After about 1 mag of Rem HP I got some missfires. I thought it might be a light strike but the shell had a pretty good dent. I switched to the standard velocity. It shot about 5 rounds and then I had cases sticking in the chamber and not ejecting.

I started to get a few missfires too. I thought maybe the gun needs cleaning and relube as there may be old buildup in the chamber and extractor.

I brought the gun home cleaned it with Gunscrubber. Then I took a rod and bore brush and scrubbed out the chamber and barrel. I lubed the gun with Breakfree CLP and havent had time to shoot it yet.

Could I need a new firing pin spring??? Could a dirty chamber and lack of lube cause these problems. Extracter replacement?? Are model 41's finicky?

I am used to a Ruger Mark II Stainless Target with Bull Barrel. Shoots any 22, never jammed and just get sprayed with Gunscrubber
barrel cleaned and lubed.

Do I need to send it off to be tuned?  Good 41 pistolsmiths???

Any help from 41 owners would be appreciated.


Tank

.....I don't know any current 41 gunsmiths...I have had 3 41's in the past including a multi barrel set.....they can be sensitive to dirt and need to be shot a few hundred times to get broken in and the slide and parts mated together.....I used a old bore brush and 0000 steel wool with oil to clean the chamber and a toothpick type probe to get the chamber end/rifling start clean from buildup....the extractor needs oil and cleaning the hook with a probe or tooth floss type cord.......a med weight oil on the recoil spring and guide.......they really were made for standard velocity 40gr bullets and high speed sometimes makes them work the slide too fast/hard for good extraction........the feed ramp chamber mouth usually benifits form a felt bob with polish similar to flitz for getting the mouth feed ramp smooth and same with front of the magazine and lips........the firing spring needs light oil and usually ? last a long time but if the firing pin is clean and the travel way is free from old oil and buildup then it may need a new mainspring but I haven't ever had a real old 41 to know how they hold up long term.......HTH..good luck and good shooting that fine old gun!!!

[Questor]

Use CCI standard velocity ammo, or one of the European target ammos like Eley or RWS.  I think even S&W will tell you to specifically use CCI standard velocity.

If that doesn't clear it up, it is a very common technique among bullseye shooters to put a small drop of oil on the top round in the magazine (the one that chambers first).  

When I observe these rules, the 41 is 100% reliable.

[MatadorMkV]

I know next to nothing about the 41 as I just picked mine up yesterday, but just to confirm what others have already said...my salesman who is a 41 fanatic said to use only standard velocity ammo and CCI as well.

Oh...so far the best price on the 5-1/2" barrel is $228...I have to check a couple more places. Bad time to call around...everyone is in the woods!


Russ