357, 41 mag, any recommendations?

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Old Scratch

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I have been looking at medium to short-barreled magnums in either 357 or 41. The four-inch Model 27 is very attractive, but I have also been looking at an old 41 mag with a 2 1/2 inch barrel. A nice S&W piece, manufactured more than thirty years ago, it is a handsome pistol.

I love old Colts, but the shape of the Python grip/frame just doesn't fit my hand very well, hence my interest in the Model 27.

I hand load everything I shoot, so the short barrel is not an impediment. I can develop loads to match barrel length with powders that won't cause excessive muzzle flash.

What are your thoughts? Hard data and personal experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
A lot of people will point you towards the 357. Great gun, but if you reload, go the 41. More bullet options (grainage-wise) compared to a 44. However, it's hard to beat the trusty old 357.
 
Muzzle blast and perceived recoil is much more pronounced with the big magnums and short barrels. Try it before you buy it. Had a 4" 44M and went back to the 6 1/2..
Heck, I may be getting soft in my advanced years but I use plugs and muffs shooting my 10" contender 30-30.
If I had to make a recommendation based on my preferences, it would be a 4 5/8 Ruger at the shortest and 5 1/2" as my first choice.
 
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If you hand load, I'd go with the 41 Mag. You have more oomph, bigger holes, and the ability to download it a bit if you are looking for loads appropriate for social work.

Ruger just came out with a 4" barreled 41 mag Redhawk. Maybe that would do ya good, or you could have the barrel shortened.
 
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If you reload get the 41 also helps if you cast your own

I went back and reread your post your looking at 2 1/2" barrels in both 357 and 41 magnum if this is for a Carry gun or just a range toy
 
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What are you going to use it for

If you are planning to use this revolver for big game hunting or bear defense, then no question, the .41 magnum. The recoil is heavy, but full power loads can be shot single action without too much trouble.

If you use loads equaling the WINCHESTER Silvertip, you can even shoot the .41 double action. I had one in CANADA and recoil was the deciding factor. The 210 grain softpoints were single action because the recoil rotated the gun up so that you could not fire a second shot quickly, at least I could not.
With the Siltertip 175 grain loads, recoil was lowered enough that I could actually fire repeat shots double action.
I would go for at least a 6 inch barrel in this caliber.

If self defense is you desired goal, then the .357 magnum is the best choice in a revolver, in my opinion. You can use .38 Specials for practice or plinking. The 110 grain jhp is a great compromise between recoil and stopping power with easy control even in a 2 pound revolver and you still have the option of going to the 125 jhp for the most power at the cost of much more noise, blast, flash and more recoil.
For hunting, you have many more options with the .357 as long as you remember it is not a big bore.
I like the S&W L-frames in .357. They have the same grip size and shape as the small K-frame guns while being much stronger and handling the .357 magnum loads without the problems associated with the smaller K-frame.
The 4 inch is my minimum in the .357 magnum. You can get away with a snubnose, but you lose a lot of velocity and pick up a lot of flash, noise and blast.

I have shot the .44 Special and .44 magnum in a snubnose and just cannot see the point of a gun that big and heavy without at least a 5 inch barrel.

Either way, good luck.

Jim
 
357 is the way to go for most people. You really have to reload to get full potential of the 41 magnum. You're also not going to find ammo everywhere.
 
In a perfect world I would want a 4" Model 57.
For a hiking gun I like the Ruger Security Six with a 2.75" barrel.
 
When running a CHL class I once had an old gent qualify with a 657 3 inch .41. He used Winchester Silvertips for ammo. He made a perfect score and let me shoot it.

Wish I had it! I reload and the cost/scarcity of ammo is no biggie to me.

Deaf
 
When I got my S&W model 57 nobody but S&W was making a DA/SA .41 mag. New 57's are scarce it seems. I want one with a 6 or 8" barrel. 8" S&W isn't made darn it.
 
Thanks for the report on the M69. I did mistakenly call the M69 a K frame though. It's actually a L frame, the M66 is a K frame. Sorry for the mistake.
 
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