41 Magnum Opinions?

[Ranger 40]

Back in the late 1970s the city of San Francisco sold off its SFPD 41 mags. These were 4" Mdl. 58 S&Ws. They were marked SFPD on the side plates. I have one that was tuned and targeted at 25 yds. These guns had the HB non-adj. sights. Once the barrel was turned and and sighted in it was good to go from there on. Any way its my choice of the .41 Mags. OBTW these were carried by motorcycle cops.

 

[bulltaco]

Shot 32 Rounds Just Now

I love this revolver. I shot 20 rounds of Winchester 170 grn Silvertip Hollowpoints and 12 rounds of Speer 210 grn Gold Dot Hollowpoints. Recoil was robust but not bad at all. Speer 210 grns kicked harder but were more accurate or so it seemed. At more than a buck a shot I gotta start reloading. The cylinder is getting a drag-mark but I don't care. Now I need some pretty leather for my pretty revolver. New love is so sweet!

 

[Ala Dan]

.41 S&W Magnum

First large caliber handgun that I ever owned~! And also, the very first
gun (4" S&W model 57) and caliber I ever handloaded for. I remember
to this day, starting out with virgin brass- one pound of W-W 630P
ball powder (now discontinued), Federal LP primers, and Sierra 170
grain JHC bullets for the S&W .41 magnum. Seems like I was loading
either 12.5 or 13.5 grains into these cases with those compotents,
and squeezing out 'bout 1100 fps(?) from the 4" barrel. It was a
stout load, with a bright muzzle flash and moderate recoil; but I
really enjoyed shooting that weapon. When loading, and obeying
all the safety cautions; I couldn't wait to get back out on the
range. Too bad, that weapon and cartridge didn't enjoy a much
longer life span. Now days, its virtually impossible to walk into
your favorite gun hole and pick up a box of factory ammunition.
I wished that I had NEVER gotten rid of that weapon, as it was
definitely a fine piece~!

 

[Chindo18Z]

In factory SD ammo flavor, both the 4" M57 or M58 are well served by Winchester's 175gr Silvertip. True .41 diameter, 1250fps (607 ft/lbs energy), good penetration/expansion, and recoil is comparable to that of mild .357 or hot .38+p out of an L-frame. The round (which I believe is near identical to their 10mm Silvertip bullet) is controllable and accurate out of the either of the big N-frames. It's nice to be able to match POA/POI with the adjustable sights on the 57, but the M58 is plenty accurate at self-defense distances.

If Winchester, Speer, Remington, et. al. would make a 210gr, 1000fps, LSWC-HP .41 Special OR a 1000fps reliably expanding Gold Dot...I'd be in heaven.

I'm biased... .41 Magnum is my personal all-time favorite handgun caliber. And those two Smiths are my favorite toys.

 

[Confederate]

The .41 mag is easier than .44 magnum on the shooter and the gun, has better sectional density and thus better penetration than the .44 mag, and I guarantee no critter can tell the difference between a .410 bullet and a .429 bullet when hit with 'em.

The critter may not, but your wallet may! If you buy the gun and a few case loads of ammo, you should be all set. The truth is there's just not much difference between the two rounds in performance.

As for who's better looking, .44 mag owners or .44 mag owners, I'm not sure there's much of a difference there, either.

The .44 mag owners (left) tend to be older and wiser. The
.41 users (right) tend to be open to new ideas.

 

[.41Dave]

Too bad, that weapon and cartridge didn't enjoy a much longer life span.

Waddaya mean? It ain't died yet! Actually, there are a greater variety guns, factory loads and reloading components for the .41 Magnum available today than at any time since the cartridge's inception in 1964.

 

[22-rimfire]

Great choice. Enjoy it. I personally find that the factory 41 mag ammo is priced about the same as 44 mag ammo where I shop. Walmart doesn't sell it of course. My old favorite was the PMC 210 gr HP or SP loadings packed in 50 round boxes. Someone mentioned them earlier, but I have not seen any PMC ammunition since their US operation went belly up. Please tell me that they are back loading the 41 Mag!!!!

The Remington 50 round boxes are expensive. They have always been just about the most expensive. They are currently running around $50 a box. That is painful. But, I still buy them and fully expect ammunition prices to continue to climb.

Check out Georgia Arms 41 mag ammunition. You will be pleased. Miwall also loads 41 mag but it is hard to find them in stock. Save your brass as eventually you will reload or a friend will and you can provide the brass.

I saw a 4" blue Model 57 a couple of weeks ago (about 96%) for $400 at a show. Would have bought it, but I already have two 4" Model 57's.

I have a Bianchi leather belt holster (#5BHL) for my Mountain Gun that I do carry out in the woods from time to time. Nice holster. Check them out. They fit all the Smith N-frames.

 

[Rollis R. Karvellis]

41Dave your nickel mod 57 will go very nicely with my nickel mod. 29 please send it immediately.

 

[Bullet Bob]

The great 58, and some "mid-range" lead loads, the "police" load - my favorites.

 

[Confederate]

Unless you're getting a Mountain Gun, I reckon your best bet would be a .44 mag. Anything the .41 can do, the .44 mag can do. The only real advantage of the .41 is that it doesn't beat up Smith N-frames like full throttle .44 mags. If you buy a Redhawk, it will just end up being heavier and offering no real advantage.

 

[.41Dave]

41Dave your nickel mod 57 will go very nicely with my nickel mod. 29 please send it immediately.

You're right Rollis, but you got your directions mixed up. You are supposed to send your nickel 29 to me.

 

[Colt46]

Mode 58 is on my wishlist

Not too interested in the 57, but a fixed sighted, large bore, N-frame just makes me drool.

 

[warriorsociologist]

I have a 57-2 (6" barrel) that went back in for warranty work (rifling) a little bit ago and when S&W didn't have any 6" barrels left to replace mine with....I had them put on a 4" Mountain Gun barrel instead.

Now, in a round about way, I have the gun I wanted in the first place - a "no lock", hammer-mounted FP, M-57 MG.

 

[koja48]

I picked-up a 6" Model 57 & it is rapidly becoming my fav "> .40" big bore. For my purposes, 6" is about right, but if I ever encounter another with a longer tube I won't pass it up, within reason.

 

[SaxonPig]

One word sums up what's wrong with the 41 Magnum: ammo.

If you don't reload then factory ammo is very expensive, can be hard to find in out of the way places, and is limited in variety.

If you load your own then you eliminate 95% of the problem. The remaining 5% is that bullet selection is somewhat limited compared to the 44 caliber and really, there's nothing the 41 can do that the 44 doesn't do about 15% better. If limited to one, take the 44 and don't look back.

I, fortunately, am not limited and have both (two 41s and but one 44 now that I think about it).

I looked for about a year for a 4" nickel Model 57 and found this one on AuctionArms where i bought it for the starting bid of $325.

 

[koja48]

One word sums up what's wrong with the 41 Magnum: ammo.

Good point but since reloading & shooting are part & parcel of my addiction, I mean habit, er HOBBY, ammo is not quite so much of a factor, in my case.

Very nice, Sax! I think you should downsize to 1 of each & I'd gladly give the one in the photo a home . . .

 

[Hawk]

I give Fuff 98% of the credit / blame for my discovery, late in life, of revolvers in general and 57s in particular.

The little guy is a -no dash- the one with the longer barrel is a -3.

I'm currently agonizing over how I want to reload for the thing. There's not much question about whether to reload given the ammo prices.

They're great fun. Pleasant to shoot. Bystanders seem to think they're 44s but they're actually quite pleasant - recoil relatively mild with factory loads and accurate to boot.

 

[OLD DOMENION]

The .41 Remmington Magnum

"The .41 Remmington Magnum"
Notice how I address the .41 Magnum. I have had one almost from the day it came out. At the present time I have a 4 inch 657 and a 3 inch 657. They shoot extremely well.

What I would like to know is should I go with HP or factory "Old Police Loads" for CCW?

 

[22-rimfire]

If you check around, the self defense loads are in the 170-180 gr range. They are not loaded as hot as the normal 41 mag loads in 210 gr. They should suit your purpose well. They are still pretty potent.

I'm not aware of any major companies loading the "old police load". Please tell me where to find them if they still are loaded by Winchester, Federal, or Remington. I would love to have a couple of boxes just to shoot and see how they do. I'm not paying collector ammo prices for them though as they will just get shot. That box of shells above must be from the days of old. GA Arms and Miwall have loads that are similar in a lead wadcutter. The Miwall ammo is hard to find for me. I know of only one place that sells it.

I'd probably snatch up a Model 58 if I found one now for a fair price even though in the past I was more interested in guns with adjustable sights. Same goes for a 657 if I found one since I don't own one that is stainless. It is not a huge priority though as I have had many opportunities in the past. May have to just start looking at a factory new one as the 6.5" barrel length is a good length.

 

[BigG]

I had the Model 57 with 4" bbl. Ammo was high, even back in the 1980s. I sold it and stuck with the 44 Magnum. You're right, though, they are as nice as any of the big N frame Smiths: 357, 41, or 44 Magnums - all winners!

 

[41magsnub]

I have a .41 S&W 657 3" brl and am trying to put a value on it for my own education

It is this gun exactly circa about 1990. It is in perfect condition, stored for the last 15 years in a blue bag in a gun safe. It has had maybe 100 rounds through it.

The only wear is a slight scuff on the wood grip on one side that is basic wear and tear carrying it. When I was a kid back packing with my dad it used to ride in the outside pouch on my back pack so he could get to it quicker.

I fired it for the first time last week and frankly I am not man enough to shoot it. The first round was on target, the last 5 were roughly down range since I was flinching so bad. That sumbitch hurts!

I'm not planning to get rid of it, but of all the guns I have this is the one that might actually be worth something so I would like to know what I have since it appears to be somewhat uncommon in this short barrel length. Maybe I am looking wrong, but I could not find it in any of the gun books.

Thanks for any input.

Oh yeah.. turns out I have the original box, manuals, and etc. Found them in a basement. Does that affect the value at all?

 

[warriorsociologist]

My guess, is you could probably get $700 for it. A bidding war may get you a little more. Now, if you happen to live in WI, we should talk.

 

[Bob R]

I love the .41mag. In fact, I don't even own a .44mag. I figure anything I would ask of the 44, the 41 can do just fine.



I just missed one wth the long barrel the other day. I guess I will have to keep looking.

bob

 

[billhilly66]

I'd sure like to find a 4" pinned and recessed.

 

[tkendrick]

Have owned a 6" Ruger BH since 1971. Far as I'm concerned (with possible exception of my 1911) there's 41 mags.....then there's all the rest of that crap.