Author Topic: Anyone have A S&W mod 41. All comments welcome... (Read 1263 times)

Mitch40 · « **on:** February 08, 2005, 01:43:36 PM »

Thinking of getting a S&W 41. Are thay any good? are thay worth the price. I here there verry well made and accurate! Any comments would be verry grateful....

redd7 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 08, 2005, 02:11:29 PM »

A used 41 was my first .22 pistol. It is very accurate and has a GREAT trigger. I have purchased and sold many firearms , but I still have that one. plus a new one for when it wears out. Others people may have more experience with different high end pistols. I don't, but have always been tempted by the Hamereli's and the like.
I have my 41's and a ruger target. I like rugers but there is no comparison between a ruger and a 41. I have never enjoyed shooting paper but one of my favorite games is to repeatedly shoot a spent shotgun shell on the ground. When i was practiced with the 41 I could hit any shotgun shell that I could see. Anyway can you tell I like them.

Questor · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2005, 03:44:53 AM »

I think the prices are too high now for new ones. $500 to $600 is a reasonable price for a used one in excellent condition. You won't need to do any trigger jobs or have other work done. If you can get one of the shorter barelled models that are tapped for a Weaver mount, you will find it easier to mount a dot sight for target shooting competition. I think the longer barelled model is better if you intend to use iron sights.

For bullseye competition, the model 41 has lost favor because of the improvments that can be made to Rugers and Buckmarks at the low end, and because of the availability of European target pistols at the high end. The model 41 sits in the middle of the price range for dedicated target pistols, arguably no better than a target variation of the Buckmark or Ruger and not nearly as good as a Pardini or Hammerli.

The big question is what do you want to do with it? As a target pistol it's a gun without a niche today. I think most of its market is driven by sentimental reasons rather than real applications. During the 1950s and 1960s it was a great target pistol, but things have changed and the 41 hasn't.

By the way, I have one, but don't shoot it much. I shoot a better target pistol a lot, however. I'm just keeping the 41 for the kids to use if they decide to shoot matches. If not, I'll just sell it.

busman202002 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2005, 03:47:54 AM »

I have 3 model 41's and love them, I also have 3 assorted barrels easy to switch. I am serching the world over now for a .22 short version. With a decent rest I can hit anything out to 30 yards. Very accurate.

Questor · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2005, 04:05:27 AM »

busman202002:

Keep an eye on Larry's Guns used gun listing and the used gun listing at Pilkington. (www.larrysguns.com and www.pilkguns.com) I have seen them rarely, but have seen them.

By the way, my earlier post is a bit morose. The 41 is a very well made pistol that is fun to shoot. I would even dare say that the new ones are worth the money if that is what pleases you. My comments were focused on their application as a dedicated competition target pistol only.

And yes, it is a very accurate gun. If you do get one, try CCI standard velocity ammo for maximum reliability. You will want to get a heavier recoil spring from Wolff springs if you intend to use it with high velocity 22 ammo.

palgeno · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2005, 10:26:31 AM »

Look at what the Bulleseye competitors use----most use the Model 41---I sent mine off to Clark Custom and got back a professional level gun---wish I could shoot up to it's potential!!!!

But even in stock form, most people can't shoot as well as these guns can----and I agree on CCI Std Velocity---the 41's seem to shoot it well. pg

Bad Bob · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2005, 08:27:32 PM »

I have one and all three barrels, the five inch field, the 5.5 heavy and the 7 3/8. Its been to Jimmy Clark for minor tuning and also made my safety a little larger. Shot it in all the Masters tourneys and have seen them all but the 41 is for me.

TNrifleman · « **Reply #7 on:** February 10, 2005, 02:09:04 PM »

I am fortunate to have one Model 41. Mine has the long barrel. It is quite accurate and well made. I am not a target shooter. I shoot for fun and the 41 is GREAT FUN !

:grin:

unspellable · « **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2005, 02:07:13 AM »

I have one. I have the 5.5 inch heavy barrel and the 7 3/8 inch barrel with a compensator. I have a scope on the long barrel so now I am kind of looking for another long barrel for use with the iron sights.

I agree, the stock recoil spring seems a bit soft for high velocity ammo.

Never had a jam with it. I have had misfires with Remington Thunderbolts but I blame this on the ammo as the pistol always hits them fair and square. Other people have told tales of misfires with this ammo in various pistols. I don't have any misfires with any other ammo.

The 41 has gotten a bit pricey since I got mine. Guess its all in what turns you on. Go look at a few Pythons and then the price won't seem so bad.

tallpaul · « **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2005, 02:56:10 AM »

well a seven inch model 41 was my second gun about 25 years ago... my father suggested a .357 first because I could reload cheap. so a 6 inch blue python was first. I shot that 41 for years and years and years on a league- still shoot it when I go. I can't even think how many thousands of rounds were sent downrange with mine. It has been used and drilled and tapped and wears an ultra dot I aquired an older and a newer one just because. Trigger jobs on about all the bullseye guns are the norm for our club so it seems untill you get to the higher end european stuff. Personally I really like mine and the only other that was in its range were the good high standards before all the retries came out. Don't know if they ever got to where the old ones were... The new one I bought 7 years or so ago had a problem that the factory took care of but I haven't shot it much since... my old friend seems to win my time.

Kivaari · « **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2005, 10:49:25 AM »

I've one that I've had for a while but not fired much. Sometimes I get it out just to look at it......

I've small hands and had a problem with "snicking" on the safety inadvertantly by choking up on the stock. My thumb and or the web between my forefinger and thumb.

I recently bought some Herrett stocks shaped a lot like the 45 auto stocks and it seems to help but never could find any stocks that were ideal.

winman · « **Reply #11 on:** February 24, 2005, 05:49:08 AM »

I have had my 41 for about 30 years. It has been great for both bullseye and metallic silhouette. When I think about it, it must have 30k+ rounds through it. I have 2 barrels for it, 5 1/2" and 7". One with a dot sight but really prefer the open sights for this kind of shooting. Handguns with open sights just seem to 'hang' better for me. Think area aiming.

rbwillnj · « **Reply #12 on:** April 02, 2005, 05:27:17 PM »

Model 41s have a large following, and are a quality gun. They can be a little picky about the ammunition they accept.

If it were still available, I would say that the Baikal IZH35M was a better value than a model 41, but they are not being imported any more, and are tough to come by.

Before you settle on a Model 41, I would take a hard look at the new Benelli MP95E. I haven't shot one yet, but have heard very good reports. It's distrubuted by Larrys Guns www.larrysguns.com