Author Topic: How many 41 mag fans are out there? (Read 11401 times)

shotgunner · « **on:** February 21, 2010, 02:41:43 PM »

My first big bore revolver was a long barreled S&W 57. It has always been a favorite cartridge, that and the 44 special. Maybe it is because I like things that are different, but I like it better then the 44 mag. I understand that it can not do anything that the 44 mag can, but I prefer it. So far the new 4" gun likes 210 grain jacketed bullets at arounf 1100 fps . I have not had time to test much else. Shotgunner

P.A. Myers · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2010, 04:01:48 PM »

The Model 57 is a fine Smith & Wesson. The 41mag is a very useful cartridge, well suited for self-defense. I always thought the 41mag solved a problem that didn't exist. I think that a L-framed 41mag could be very useful. The 200 grain bullet is my favorite for the large cases.

Dand · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2010, 06:48:17 PM »

Have a 57 4", 657 mt gun, Ruger Bisley, Ruger Redhawk, and Marlin rifle. Guess that makes me a 41 fan. I started with a 58 back when it was impossible to buy or afford a 44 mag due to the Dirty Harry effect. And I have a small hand and wrists, I figured I'd do better with the 41. Sadly learned too late of my foolish decision to trade the 58 for the 57. But enjoy the 57 anyway. Took a caribou with the Redhawk, carry the Mt Gun a lot in summer and fall when in bear country. Load or buy 265 LBT bullets for that work. I used to hunt rabbits with light loads of 210 SWC lead - made neat holes and the rabbits didn't get away.

nodlenor · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2010, 10:23:48 AM »

I have a Ruger Redhawk 41 Mag and would like to have a Marlin 41 Mag if I could find one that wouldn't break the bank.

Rutin2tin · « **Reply #4 on:** February 28, 2010, 03:14:45 AM »

I have a Smith square butt, 6" model 657, and a 10" .41 mag bull barrel for My Thompson Contender.
Bought the Smith from the Lady who owned the gun shop, because she previously bought about 300 bucks worth of
custom built novelty clocks from me.

Jacketed bullets of 210 grain, and my home rolled 245 grain swc cast bullets are my favorite slugs.

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** February 28, 2010, 05:29:54 AM »

Nope not me I've never been a fan of it. I've owned a couple of them tho. I had a 6" S&W 657 and a 4" 657 Mtn. Gun both at one time. I either made a major mistake or was screwed royally on the Mtn. Gun, the latter I think.

The shop had the Mtn. Gun in the case and I asked to look at it. I sure called myself looking it over well enough to know the difference between a .41 and .44 mag and still believe the gun I held said .44 mag on it. I told them I'd take it to put it back for me and I'd return Monday with the money. Rather than set it aside it was put back in the case and when I arrived Monday the only gun they had to offer me was the .41 which I'm at least 99.44% sure wasn't the gun I held on Saturday but I took it regardless.

It was a very accurate revolver and in fact shot better than the 6" I already had. I worked up a good load with Hornady 210 XTP HPs and used it for deer and turkey hunting one season but never had a chance to shoot one with it.

I Just happened to have it on hand one morning when I was the only one armed when we went in the thick swamp after a wounded hog and so it was what was available to try to put down the large angry wounded hog when the time came. It failed miserably at the job. The 210 XTP HPs just wouldn't penetrate deeply enough to get the job done at the angles offered to me as we ran round and round with the hog. I did finally connect with one somewhere that slowed it and it made a last stand. While Kevin kept it's attention focused on him I was able to slip up within 10 yards or so and put a finishing shot into the brain from the side and he finally went down for keeps.

I was so disappointed in the performance of it on that big hog that I got rid of both revolvers within a couple weeks of my return from that hunting trip and I've never even considered owning one since.

Were I to ever own another I'd not use it on game with any bullet weighting less than 240 or better yet 250 grains and likely wouldn't tote it with anything but a hard cast lead if I were after anything tougher than a whitetail deer.

shotgunner · « **Reply #6 on:** February 28, 2010, 11:49:01 AM »

Greybeard

That hog thing sounds more like a bullet problem then a cartridge problem. I would guess that if the 210s you were using did not work on the shots you made that the same brand 240 jhps would have done about the same thing. I think that a good bullet in either a 41 or 44 would have worked. I agree a heavier bullet will penetrate deeper but construction is usually the issue. In the end I can not blame you for switching after a bad experience however, it is important to have confidence in your gear. If you ever end up with a S&W 57 you can't stand let me know, I would make a fair offer. Shotgunner

Graybeard · « **Reply #7 on:** February 28, 2010, 12:40:12 PM »

It was strictly a bullet issue but back in those days 210s were about all you could get and 215s as cast. If I'd had my .44 mag with me that morning rather than the .41 it would have had proper bullets for the job but then when I left camp that morning shooting a hog was the last thing on my mind really. I just carried it as it was the lightest most compact package I had with me on that trip and just as a matter of habit don't go out unarmed so it was what I had to work with.

I doubt I'll ever own another .41 mag to need to sell it.

Sweetwater · « **Reply #8 on:** February 28, 2010, 01:02:51 PM »

AND that's one of the many issues that spurs the vast array of calibers that are available to us.

The year was 1980. I had just sent my Model 19 back to S&W for a new barrel after splitting the forcing cone in three places. Warranteed, but never shot as good after return. While it was back in MA, I fooled with a Browning HP 9mm. It jammed on every clip, no matter what ammo I fed it, and wouldn't group 2" at 25yards - I had been spoiled royally for accuracy by that Model 19! So I took the HP back and swapped it for my first of many 41mags, a New Model Ruger Blackhawk. I've had several old and new models as well as a 14" Contender Bull Barrel. All 41Mag - I think I'm a certifiable 41nut! I'm down to a 51/2" SS Bisley Blackhawk, a 45/8" Blackhawk, and a Marlin 1894S. The revolvers have taken lots of antelope at some incredible distances (back when I was also shooting IHMSA) a couple deer, a badger, lots of prairie dogs and a few rabbits. The rifle has been limited to paper and aluminum! Time to change that, I think! LOL Loads run from 215gr to 282gr cast, as well as 170gr to 300gr jacketed. Thought there was a shortage of variety for the 41mag? I've never seen it, but then I handload..

Jeff
NRA Life

Autorim · « **Reply #9 on:** February 28, 2010, 03:42:17 PM »

I love all who don't like the .41 mag. It leaves more out there for those of us who do. I shot a couple of mine today at the farm and loved every minute of it. I believe that a 220-230 grain cast bullet at 1000-1100 fps will take care of nearly anything I want to shoot with a handgun.

bkraft · « **Reply #10 on:** March 01, 2010, 06:58:27 AM »

I have a major problem with the .41, I don't have enough of them! I have a Redhawk that has an SSK rib and a set of TSOB mounts that are wraped around a 2X Leoupold, that rig has filled the freezer with white tail does on several occasions, the one time a foloow up shot was needed was due to the "jerk on the trigger." I have a Marlin lever gun that has dispatched a wild "meat hog" in the 150 lbs range at about 50 yds, one shot "Dead Right There." All of the kills have been with 210 gr.XTPs, no problem. The newest addition to the harem is a Black Hawk which I haven't yet decided just what tpys of affection will get showered upon her. Heck I'm seriously toy with building a double rifle in .41 of a shot gun frame. Will the madness ever stop? God I hope not! .41s gotta love em.

Sweetwater · « **Reply #11 on:** March 01, 2010, 11:57:49 AM »

Quote from: bkraft on March 01, 2010, 06:58:27 AM

I have a major problem with the .41, I don't have enough of them!.......Will the madness ever stop? God I hope not! .41s gotta love em.

+1

Yup when "that day" comes and I head for the great shooting range in the sky!

Hammerdown · « **Reply #12 on:** March 04, 2010, 01:51:56 AM »

Hello
I have had this S&W Model 57 for a while now. It is one of my Favorites. This Thread is Worthless without Pictures, let's see some 41's here... Hammerdown

Dand · « **Reply #13 on:** March 05, 2010, 11:47:21 AM »

GB, thanks for your 41 story. I have seen where you weren't a fan of the 41 and wondered why. Now I understand - and why you gave me a good deal on all that brass. I too have had apprehensions on the 210 g bullets from shooting into dirt and other media. So for serious carry and work I always use the 250 to 265 hard cast. My one good opportunity to kill something - that little caribou, I would have been better off with the XTP. He was so small the 265's whipped through him and he had to leak to death. Felt bad about that and my poor aim. Maybe I'm crazy to carry a 41 in real brown bear country but I do. Those hard cast really penetrate. I think it was 44 Corbons that took out a nasty brown bear in the same area I hunt. I expect the same performance in my 41s.

roger460xvr · « **Reply #14 on:** March 11, 2010, 04:02:33 PM »

I LOVE MY RUGER NEW MODEL BLACKHAWK IN 41 MAGNUM./.

Hammerdown · « **Reply #15 on:** March 12, 2010, 12:29:15 AM »

Hello
In Factory Loaded form, The .41 Magnum may be Politically correct, but it is not as hot as it can be loaded. I have hand loaded for it since I got it, and it will do anything the .44 Magnum can do... Hammerdown

Reed1911 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 12, 2010, 03:41:32 AM »

Lets see....(3) Dan Wesson's in .41 Mag, (5) S&W Mdl 57's, (1) S&W Mdl 657, (1) S&W Mdl 58, (2) Ruger SRH one blued one SS, T/C BBL 10", 12", & 21", & Working on making a Dan Wesson in .41 Special.

Yup, I'd say I like the cartridge myself. It certainly has enough power for anything here in the States provided proper bullets are used. I will say, I am a HUGE Hornady fan, EXCEPT for the .41 210 XTP, it just does not get it done. The Gold-Dot is a superior performer in the .41 Mag. My prefered bullets are both from Leadhead the 230g Keith and the 250g WFN-GC. The Keith is a supurb long distance target and game bullet and the 250g is for the hogs and bear.

Fiddlestick · « **Reply #17 on:** March 12, 2010, 11:18:30 AM »

How about this one. Pretty cool,
Fiddlestick

saddlebum · « **Reply #18 on:** March 12, 2010, 12:06:58 PM »

2 S&W M-57s, pinned and recessed, 4''. 1 M-657 3", 1 M-657 6'', 1 M-657 Classic Hunter 6.5'', 1 4 5/8" Blackhawk, 1 5.5" Redhawk 25yrs shooting the .41. Guess that makes me a fan.

Dand · « **Reply #19 on:** March 12, 2010, 12:23:43 PM »

Reed's thanks for the bullet info, I'll note that.

Hammerdown, from that picture, do you have a 3 inch 57 /657?

I see them offered now and then on the auctions at VERY High prices. How do you like yours?

I've thought the 3 inch might be nice for discrete carry when I walk the dog in bear season.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #20 on:** March 13, 2010, 01:50:42 AM »

ive had many 41s through the years and only own one right now a clements built old model 3 screw conversion. Ive tried to fall in love with them but just never could. I never saw what they possibly offered over a 44 mag. Just as much noise and recoil for the most part and less power and they lack the capability to handle (effeciently) bullet over 250 grain. Trajectory is no flatter contary to what some will have you believe because the same weight bullet in the 44 can be pushed faster. Ive killed a few animals with them and they do fine but arent the death ray some want to pretend they are. Brass and bullets are hander to find for them then 44s and so are good molds. Nope not for me. I probably wont part with the clements gun as id like to keep one 41 because i have so much reloading crap for it but id probably never buy another. Not when there so many nice 44s being put out right now. If you want to have and hunt with 41s to be differnt have at it but dont tell me that they can compete with a good old 44.

benny · « **Reply #21 on:** March 13, 2010, 02:25:01 AM »

One advantage of the 41 is that you can get it in a lighter weight / handier package from Freedom Arms. I've got a 97 4-1/4" round butt that is my do everything gun. I have not found anything that can compete with it for my needs: deer, black bear hunting, woods carry, etc... If I were to go with a full size revolver I would skip over the 44 and move up to 454+ as I have a hard time believing there is a huge difference between the 41 and 44. Kind of like a 270 vs 280 thing for me...

Hammerdown · « **Reply #22 on:** March 15, 2010, 02:05:55 AM »

Quote from: Dand on March 12, 2010, 12:23:43 PM

Reed's thanks for the bullet info, I'll note that.

Hammerdown, from that picture, do you have a 3 inch 57 /657?

I see them offered now and then on the auctions at VERY High prices. How do you like yours?

I've thought the 3 inch might be nice for discrete carry when I walk the dog in bear season.

Hello Dand
Nope, she is a 4" Configuration no dash early one, They did not make the model 57 in a 3" configuration. It does pack well though in my Factory S&W shoulder rig... Hammerdown

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #23 on:** March 16, 2010, 02:03:22 AM »

yes and no. A 41 may be able to be a tad more powerful but a 44 special can be loaded up to near its performance in a fa gun and do it with a bigger bullet. Also with a 97 in 44 special you dont have to worry about finding cast bullets that will fit in the short cylinders. Any 44 bullet will work and this allows you to load heavies like 300 grain cast bullets in it where the 41 even has problems with alot of the standard weight cast bullets being to long in the nose. Nope even in a FA gun make mine a 44.

Quote from: benny on March 13, 2010, 02:25:01 AM

One advantage of the 41 is that you can get it in a lighter weight / handier package from Freedom Arms. I've got a 97 4-1/4" round butt that is my do everything gun. I have not found anything that can compete with it for my needs: deer, black bear hunting, woods carry, etc... If I were to go with a full size revolver I would skip over the 44 and move up to 454+ as I have a hard time believing there is a huge difference between the 41 and 44. Kind of like a 270 vs 280 thing for me...

Noreaster · « **Reply #24 on:** March 16, 2010, 05:04:57 AM »

Don't own one myself but I've heard good things about em. I read a great article on bear hunting from the Foggy Mountain Guide Service in Maine. The owner has used the 41 mag on many bears and loves the performance. He mentions the optimal bear load of at least 40 cal, 200 grains, and 1100fps, Sp or hardcast, for bear. Great article if you can find it on the net.

Sweetwater · « **Reply #25 on:** March 16, 2010, 10:28:53 AM »

I was driving a UPS truck between Bangor and Greenville when I first discovered Foggy Mountain Guide Service in Maine. Wayne was the first real bear hunter I had ever talked to.

While I was loading my 41mag with 220gr Keith's over 20gr of 2400 (Keith load), my friends around Old Town, Maine were loading 200gr JHP's over 20gr of 2400 in their 44mags and taking Whitetails like nobodies business. Guess I just didn't feel under-gunned around them.

No one in our neighborhood shot 300gr anything back in the late 70's and early 80's, except in a "big rifle". Just wasn't necessary and nothing was available that heavy for a handgun. Once they were available, the "heavies" became the rage, until you couldn't kill anything unless you had a heavy - forgetting what had been done in the previous 'x' number of years.

In my 41's, I've shot a few at 300grJSP, a bunch at 283gr(SSK), some at 265gr, 255gr, and 250 from Cast Performance, a batch at 235grRNFP, tons of 220grSWC(216gr-222gr) and a few 200jhp and 170jhp. Add in some great LBT's at 228gr donated by a GBO member in Tennessee, and I have settled into that 215gr-230gr arena for the 41mag - though I have a 255gr mold for my Marlin 1894 41mag rifle on the way - so nothing is in concrete, until the headstone is placed....

BUT - these are all opinions and we still live in America where we are still entitled to our opinion and to share those opinions in a spirit of comaraderie - as opposed to trying to change an opinion.

shotgunner · « **Reply #26 on:** March 20, 2010, 02:39:27 AM »

How do you guys do with bullets heavier then 210 grains? I have one mold, I think a 240. I once tried a bullet that worked well. I have an old tong tool for the 40-60 Win. It has a bullet mold for a flat nosed bullet of around 250 grains. It casts to just about .410 diameter. I worked up a load of 2400, this was in the early 80s when there was no data on heavy bullets. It was very accurate out of my 8 3/8" 57. By the time the bullets come out without wrinkles the handles are so hot they are hard to handle, it is an all steel tool. I have not worked with heavy bullets in a long time. Shotgunner

Autorim · « **Reply #27 on:** March 21, 2010, 02:43:25 AM »

Shotgunner,

I expect you will do very well with the 240 if the .410 size works. I have used bullets from 210 to 230 so far with good results. I have some Beartooth 250 LFNGC bullets ordered and expect them to do well.

We all have our likes, dislikes and preferences for various reasons. Now that I am a .41 fan, I find that I seldom shoot the .357's or .44. I only own two .44 mags now - a M29 and a Ruger No. 3. I can easily do without the M29, but not the rifle.

If I want more bullet weight than the .41, I move up to the .45 Colt.

Now I shoot my .41's and .45's and they will be my hunting handguns.

Ken

benny · « **Reply #28 on:** March 23, 2010, 05:55:42 AM »

Lifted this from a website selling the XTP's:

"I used the Hornady 41cal 210gr XTP in my Freedom Arms 41 mag to win the 2008 and 2009 IHMSA revolver World Championship. I'd say they shoot pretty well.
Joe Cullison of Bend, OR Date posted: 3/4/2010."

Lloyd, I hear you on the 44spcl. I considered that for a while, but I am not a very experienced reloader and I wanted something that I could just follow the published manuals for and the 41 does that for me. Maybe after some years, I will feel more confident "experimenting" outside the book loads. Until then I think a 250gr. hard cast with the same sectional density of a 300gr 45cal will go through just about anything I need it to.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #29 on:** March 24, 2010, 02:43:24 AM »

very sensible answer benny