Author Topic: Smith&Wesson 41 (Read 2140 times)

jonesjj · « **on:** January 19, 2003, 06:19:01 PM »

Hi All,
I am wanting a .22 target semi auto and was wondering if anyone could give me some feedback on the Model 41 ? I see that they have a 7" and a 5 1/2" does one have a little better grouping over the other? I have not looked at price yet but not to concerned with that, Is there any work that may need to be done to it like triger or anything?

I have had the Ruger slab side and dont like taking it appart to clean it and I dont think it shot that well, at least the one I had anyway.

If anyone thinks I should be looking at another make please bring it up and why you may think it may be be better.

I might also scope it or put ultra dot on it too, any comments on what is good or no good would like to hear about that also

Thanks
Jeff

bigdaddytacp · « **Reply #1 on:** January 20, 2003, 01:51:06 PM »

Quote from: jonesjj

Hi All,
I am wanting a .22 target semi auto and was wondering if anyone could give me some feedback on the Model 41 ? I see that they have a 7" and a 5 1/2" does one have a little better grouping over the other? I have not looked at price yet but not to concerned with that, Is there any work that may need to be done to it like triger or anything?

I have had the Ruger slab side and dont like taking it appart to clean it and I dont think it shot that well, at least the one I had anyway.

If anyone thinks I should be looking at another make please bring it up and why you may think it may be be better.

I might also scope it or put ultra dot on it too, any comments on what is good or no good would like to hear about that also

Thanks
Jeff

....Be sitting down when you get the price quote on a good 41...they are getting expensive as they are more hand fitted than the normal Smith....I have had a few including one two barrel set with weights and they all shot good..IF I did my part!!!!..as to barrel length either will shoot fantastic out of a machine rest but in the human hand the longer barrel is USUALLY more accurate not because of length but the length of the sight radius...if you put a scope/dot sight then that won't matter and the velocity is within a 120fps of each other......I liked the shorter barrel due to the balance point and I was shooting centerfire guns with the shorter barrels and the short barrel matched their balance better for my use.....the longe barrel lets the muzzle be futher in front of the scope objective with some mount /scope set up and this helps sometimes with dirty front lens on the scope from muzzle blast......the 41 is not a run of the mill gun and some of them need a little shooting to break them in and get good reliable feeding of target loads.......don't use scopes on target type guns so can't advise on good scope for a 22....Leupolds have done well on larger calibers and the dots are great for quick shooting? but haven't tried one for accuracy of a 22...HTH..good luck and good shooting with a great accurate gun.....take deep breath before price tag is visible...lol........

jonesjj · « **Reply #2 on:** January 20, 2003, 06:01:05 PM »

bigdaddytacp

Thanks for the reply, With the exeption of the barrel lenth do they all come the same out of the box?

I was talking with Lou Lombardi at Falcon Matchining in AZ about doing some work on the barrel and a triger job when I get it, he tells me that there is about 12mo waiting line to get work done on it from him. Do you or anyone esle know of him and his work? or would you sugjest anyone else who does work on bullseye guns.

Also thinking of putting on a set of Randall Fung Match Grips, any feed back on these?

TIA
Jeff

Questor · « **Reply #3 on:** January 21, 2003, 04:00:09 AM »

The 41 is not what it used to be. Mine is very sensitive to ammo and will reliably chamber very few types of ammunition. Fortunately CCI Standard Velocity is one of them. The 7" barrel has a different balance than the 5" barrel. I recommend the 5" gun. I have the 7" and I don't like it. A lot of guys are switching to Browning Buckmarks, and not for financial reasons either. It's just a better gun today. The only real advantage that the 41 has over the buckmark is that it's easier to clean.

If you're going to get into true target shooting (like bullseye), your best options are:
1) Getting a used 41 that is a proven performer in bullseye. Don't pay more than $600.

2) Get a Buckmark.

3) If you can afford it, get a Euro pistol, like a Pardini.

deerhunter · « **Reply #4 on:** January 21, 2003, 12:38:12 PM »

I have a 41 with 2 7" barrels. One for iron sights and one with an aimpoint on it. I used to use it in a bullseye league. It is the best target .22 auto made in the USA now. Most of the 41's on my team shot CCI standard really well. Meaning we could keep them ni the x ring at 50 feet. Actually, the gun could, I wasnt that good, but I could usually keep them in the 10 ring. Off sand bags to had 1 ragged hole.

I used the 7" barrels because for iron sights, they gave me the longest sight radius. I also used a 7" for my aimpoint because it was actually lighter than the 5"bull. The 41 gets really heavy with an aimpoint on it when your shooting slow fire. the only advantage I think the 5" has is its easier if you want to holster it, and the bullet might clear the barrel before you move. the 7" has a longer barrel time, but if you get good enough to notice it, you need a better pistol.

John Traveler · « **Reply #5 on:** January 21, 2003, 01:37:37 PM »

Mr. Jones,

I have to agree with the others about the S&W model 41. I still have my 5" target gun, but have shot the 7" extensively as well. The heavy 5" model comes close to duplicating the "feel" of an M1911A1 pistol.

The S&W 41 is finicky about ammunition. The cheap wax-lubricated stuff seems to gum it up reliably.

As far as practical accuracy, both guns shoot better with iron sights than the vast majority of shooters can shoot.

I've also owned several Standard Model Rugers and can vouch that they shout very well as is!

The old Mark I target and bull barrel guns shoot everybit as well as the expensive machined S&W and the old High Standards. You just have to be a better shot!

jonesjj · « **Reply #6 on:** January 22, 2003, 03:18:27 PM »

Well after some looking around and finding out that the SW 41 are kind of hard to get (new ) and not many used ones around at least around here, I started looking at the Browning's, High Standard's, and at the Ruger's again.

After all of that I ended up ordering a Volquartsen Custom at

http://www.volquartsen.com/default.asp?cat=Custom+Ruger+MKII+Pistols

Went with the MK II Olympic Version with Ultra Dot, they said 4-6 week delivery on the gun as they have to make it. I had talked to a few guys that shoot Bullseye at the local range and they spoke good about Volquartsen. Price was within couple hundred of what I wanted to spend so I didnt have a problem with that. As I said in my origional post about not liking to take the Slab Side apart to clean I guess I will have to get used to it now, As long it is capable of doing its part as long as I do mine that will be ok.

When I spoke with Scott at Volquartsen I told him that I was concerned about the grips and how they would fit, he said that he would send me several types of grips to try out, that is pretty good customer service I thought. I can use a freind of mine Slab Side to try them on and see what will work the best before delivery.

Thanks for everyones imput on the SW 41 and and other makes, if anyone has any comments on Volquartsen I would like to here them.

Jeff

Questor · « **Reply #7 on:** January 22, 2003, 04:10:39 PM »

I think you'll be happy with that Volquartsen. If you're concerned about the cleaning, you may want to ask them to install one of those new "easy clean" accessories. It's something they should be able to add for perhaps another $50 or so (if it's not part of the package already.)

jonesjj · « **Reply #8 on:** January 22, 2003, 04:15:18 PM »

Questor,
What is the (easy clean) acc about??

Questor · « **Reply #9 on:** January 22, 2003, 04:29:05 PM »

jonesjj: I checked the price on that Volquartsen. Too much. Way too much. I thought you'd ordered a gun on the order of $650 with optics.

Have you looked at the Pardini/Nygord Master? My recommendation would be to cancel your order and get the Master for about the same money. See www.nygord-precision.com on the Pardini page. Call Mr. Nygord and tell him what you're looking for. If you think Volquartsen is a pro, you ain't seen nothing yet. Nygord is not only committed to selling the best available, he's also a bona fide pistol champion. The Master is a no-compromises world-class target pistol. The Volquartsen isn't. If you're impressed with getting multiple sample grips in the mail, talk to Don Nygord. He won't sell you a gun until you send him a handprint so he can match the grip to your hand.

Sorry to be so blunt, but I mean what I say. I'm a bullseye shooter too and I have been there and done that in the way of spending good money for fine target pistols.

Don't want to spend that much money? Look at the used guns page at www.pilkguns.com. Call Warren and ask him to tell you about the one you like. Scott Pilkington, the proprietor, is the gunsmith for the Olympics and Warren Potter is a pistol champion who will give you the straight truth about anything he sells. Their reputation depends on it.

jonesjj · « **Reply #10 on:** January 22, 2003, 05:45:18 PM »

Questor,

Thanks for your imput on all of this, I dont mind at all someone being blunt about something. That is what this is all about, I looked at the Pardini/Nygord Master on the website and will be calling them tomarow to speak with Mr. Nygord about this, the master is a very nice looking gun and appears that it would be very stable. So they get your hand print

? Iam impressed, it should fit like a glove.

Becouse want to shoot bullseye and be competive I want to get the best bang for the buck, they dont come so easy these days.

Questor · « **Reply #11 on:** January 23, 2003, 03:46:46 AM »

jonesjj:

I don't recall who makes the easy-clean accessory. It's something that a gunsmith has to mount and it's a minor process. It simplifies the disassembly and reassembly of the gun for cleaning and does not interfere with looks or operation. Volquartsen will know what it is. Cabelas sells them, among many others.

For the price of the Volquartesen you're getting a Ruger with a trigger job and some cosmetics. The Ruger, 5" bull barrel gun is plenty accurate for bullseye shooting, and the sights are good too. The only thing it needs out of the box is a trigger job and perhaps a different set of grips, like the anatomical grips made by Nil. That is why I say that the Volquartsen costs too much for what you get. The stock Ruger, in stainless, is a very handsome gun too.

By the way, the only guns that have been on the pilkguns used guns page longer than those two Volquartsens was an old S&W model 46 with a cracked frame and a bad finish. That might tell you something about their resale prospects.

I shoot the Master. It does fit like a glove. It is a competitive bullseye gun. And that's not just my opinion either. This gun got a GREAT write-up in NRA's Shooting Sports USA magazine a couple of years back. It makes anything else I've ever shot seem like a piece of junk. The only down side is that it requires precison ammo. So you're paying $300 per case of ammo instead of $220. It's worth the extra cost just to know that you won't get misfires and that feeding will be absolutely reliable.

If you don't believe me, go to www.bullseyepistol.com and register on the Bullseye l-forum. Ask whatever questions you want about both guns and see what you get in the way of answers. To get set up all you have to do is register by sending an e-mail to bullseye-l-request@lava.net with the word "subscribe" in the subject heading. You will then get an e-mail that tells you how to post messages and how to un-subscribe. This is THE bullseye forum and some of the nation's top shooters use it. The only problem with it is that it clutters up your e-mail after a while, so I generally subscribe for a short time, then unsubscribe.

I want you to get something that's right for you and to shoot competitively so you you'll keep enjoying the game. There's nothing quite so good as getting into the next higher classification.

Questor

jonesjj · « **Reply #12 on:** January 23, 2003, 03:58:19 AM »

Questor,
Can you e-mail me off the forum at jonesjj3@insightbb.com

Thanks
Jeff