.41 Mag Association

bangswitch said:
I sent off to S&W Historical Foundation this past week for Letters for my M57 and M58. Both are "S" serial numbers. I pretty much know the history of the M58. I bought it ANIB from the second owner, who was a retired LEO who inherited the revolver from his former partner, who had bought the gun new. It sat in two separate safes for over 50 years. The M57 I know nothing about. I got it at the local gun show that passes through every few months, no box or papers, did not have the original stocks, and had a strange accessory vented rib installed. The gun's finish is 90% or a bit better, that and the S prefix is why I got it. Now I'll at least know if it's always been a local gun or not. I shoot them both fairly often.

I've posted them here before:
View attachment 1132258
View attachment 1132259
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I really did a double take on the vent rib.
 
Riomouse911 said:
The wide, grooved trigger made DA shooting a lot different,
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That's an interesting observation... and one I've made as well. My 58's trigger is a grooved, skinny trigger... which is OK in and of itself, but compared to the better action of the 57, it's a little tougher to control well... because of the additional effort with the not-so-refined 58 action. Now, the skinny, smooth trigger on my 686 was a dream... but that's a different action, of course. I've decided I like the wider trigger of my 57 more than the skinny trigger of the 58, even in DA shooting. I can tell you, I certainly like the wider hammer spur, too... for SA shooting.

Riomouse911 said:
To load these rounds I use standard .41 mag dies. but the seating die doesn’t allow for much of a roll crimp.
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You might try a separate taper crimp die... I use it, sometimes, on lower-velocity cast loads. It doesn't quite hammer the case mouths as much as the roller, and still gets the job done. It does add an extra step, of course, if you are working on a single-stage.
 
blackd24 said:
I contacted Henry about a 41 mag rifle. They are currently not producing them because of the demand for other calibers. They are not discontinued but they aren’t making them right now. Not sure if this economic slowdown will help or hurt the 41 mag production.
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You may want to be on the lookout for a Henry soon. I just put a classic big boy 41 on lay-away today and it was a recent arrival.
 
Blackhawk41 said:
You may want to be on the lookout for a Henry soon. I just put a classic big boy 41 on lay-away today and it was a recent arrival.
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they have the classics on gunbroker for around $900, but I’d rather have the steel. I was also thinking about 357 all weather, but I can’t believe they want $1800 for those on gunbroker. Lever guns are so expensive right now but 41 is niche enough that prices are still somewhat sane.
 
bangswitch said:
I agree it's a reloader's cartridge, but in the grand scheme, .41M isn't as popular as most of the higher demand calibers offered by Henry. They probably sell 3X as many .357, 44 M and .45 Colt as they do .41. .41M uses the same primers as .44M and .45C, so it isn't because of a primer shortage. It may be more of a factory .41M cartridge availability. I don't see a lot of that on shelves, and I'd suspect many carbine shooters may not reload their own. Personally, I'd love to have a .41 Magnum carbine, my first choice for a pistol cartridge-chambered rifle.
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It took me many years to find mine.
Henry_.41mag_Carbine.jpg
 
blackd24 said:
they have the classics on gunbroker for around $900, but I’d rather have the steel. I was also thinking about 357 all weather, but I can’t believe they want $1800 for those on gunbroker. Lever guns are so expensive right now but 41 is niche enough that prices are still somewhat sane.
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I like the look and utility of the steel version better, but couldn’t pass up the classic after being able to see it in person. I was able to pick it up for ~$850. I would love a Marlin, but can’t stomach the 2k price tag. Hopefully Ruger/Marlin will bring back the 1894 in the coming years.
 
Found a couple of boxes of the original POLICE loads at a gun show about 10 years ago...one was Winchester and the other Remington, both 210 LSWC bullets.

From a 4" M58 the Remington clocked 940 and the Winchester 960 fps. 8.0 grains of Unique and a Berry's 210 plated bullet runs 950 fps. I've run 7.0 grains of W231/HP38 but never clocked it...my guess it will be between 900-950 fps.

I use the Lee Factory Crimp Die for both .41 Magnum and .41 Special in a Dillon 550 with no issues...puts a great crimp on both rounds...just have to adjust between the two.

There has been some real crazy prices for Marlin carbines lately on GunBroker. One NIB 20" octagon CCL sold for $5500... Another dealer put his identical gun on at the same time but had put a $3200 BuyNow...one of the bidders on the first gun grabbed it... One of the Davidson's 16.5" stainless guns, LNNB sold for $3200, a couple of weeks later an excellent in the box sold for $3400...the following Sunday a LNIB sold for only $2300...crazy...and a Henry 16.5" loop lever brought $1500...the brass ones have been bringing a grand but I think they are going to dry up shortly... There are several more on GB now...who knows where the prices will go.

Bob
 
RJM....My 4-5/8" three screw Ruger BH chrono's at 966 fps for 5 shots with 6.7 gr of Win 231 & RCBS' 41-215 LSWC, alloy is Wheel Weights sized to 0.411"... A great load in all of my .41's...even perks in my Marlin 1894S, tho I haven't chrono'd that combination but suspect it's doing ~1250 fps at the muzzle. Best regards, Rod (Pic with the issue stocks, then the replacements made from poplar fence boards.)

41-3-screw.jpg

Ruger-41-Lft.jpg ​
 
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Well on the Henry front, I slept on it and decided to go handle some Henry’s again before I order it.
The reason I passed on them the first time around is I thought that the brass frame and octagon barrel made the gun too heavy to be the handy lever gun I want it to be, hence wanting the steel version.
Life is hard some days
 
Barbaroja said:
Well on the Henry front, I slept on it and decided to go handle some Henry’s again before I order it.
The reason I passed on them the first time around is I thought that the brass frame and octagon barrel made the gun too heavy to be the handy lever gun I want it to be, hence wanting the steel version.
Life is hard some days
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Any .41 magnum rifle is better than no .41 magnum rifle.
 
RJM52 said:
8.0 grains of Unique and a Berry's 210 plated bullet runs 950 fps.
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My 8.5grn Unique under a 215grn cast SWC clocks right at 1000fps from my Model 58... so that's perfectly in line. :)


Barbaroja said:
I thought that the brass frame and octagon barrel made the gun too heavy to be the handy lever gun I want it to be
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Given the current market, and demand, I'd get what you can get. If, eventually, you stumble upon what you really want, then you can sell the 1st one for probably at least what you have into it.


RJM52 said:
One NIB 20" octagon CCL sold for $5500...
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The CCL's are just like the King's Jewels... commanding insane prices. Of course, given their very limited production run, I can kind of see why... but it gets to a point that, jeepers, who's going to pony up that kind of money???

FWIW, I've wanted one of the 16" Marlin .41's since they came out. I know that, given the market, the best course of action would be for me to find an older C or FG and have it cut down. I was tempted to cut my FG down, then I started shooting steel with it, and I'm glad I never whacked it.... but I still want a 16" .41 lever. :(
 
Barbaroja said:
The reason I passed on them the first time around is I thought that the brass frame and octagon barrel made the gun too heavy to be the handy lever gun I want it to be, hence wanting the steel version.
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That was my feeling when I handled a Henry .44 in a LGS 5-6 years ago. I was impressed with the fit and finish on that particular gun, but the weight put me off.

At that point, Marlin 1894S' were expensive but not completely out of sight. I held off, watched GB and finally found one that I liked...$1300 is what I paid and don't regret it. It was in almost new condition, and I've found it to be very accurate, especially with a handload of Accurate #9 and Hornady's 210 gr XTP. It does nearly as well with my cast bullets (& no GC either)...The Hornady load going into <2" at 50 yds with 76 yo eyes through a peep sight doing the steering.

My son has a CCL Marlin in .44 Magnum that's a tack driver, but again, that octagon 24" bbl. adds weight that I just don't want for what I see as a handy, light, carbine. He's happy with it, has killed several deer with it too & likes the muzzle heavy feel for offhand shooting.

My .41 Marlin 1894S weighs right at 6 lbs. 1 oz. with a Williams FP receiver peep & the saddle ring to replace that #_$_&#&% safety...it's a good weight for all day carry, and not so light that it beats me up in recoil.

Just some thoughts and not meant to steer/criticize your decision...as one poster said, "any .41 rifle is a good choice" & beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.

Best regards, Rod

Marlin-41-1894-S.jpg ​
 
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Rodfac said:
with a Williams FP receiver peep
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Just an observation...

I have an FP on my .41 Marlin... and I had to take the hood off the front sight. The double circle presented by the peep aperture and the hood messed me up, for some reason. I had to do the same thing on my Browning 71.
 
Charlie98 said:
Just an observation... I have an FP on my .41 Marlin... and I had to take the hood off the front sight. The double circle presented by the peep aperture and the hood messed me up, for some reason. I had to do the same thing on my Browning 71.
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Dennis: I usually hunt with lever guns as a rule and all are fitted with tang or receiver sights (well one currently has a 2.5x Leupold mounted). I hunt with the front sight protector hood in my pocket. It's always been my understanding that the hood was meant to protect the sight from damage in the scabbard or when traveling as it confuses the sight picture for me as well...Rod
 
A levergun in 41 Mag would definitely get my interest stirring. Even though once I got it I would be saving up for a stamp to "Trapper" it. great cartridge one of my favorites
 
Good morning fellow 41 Associates. Wanted to share that I was at a gun show yesterday and a gentleman has 2 boxes of the long discontinued Speer half jacketed swc hollowpoints. Had them priced at $25 a box but he offered them both for $45 and I couldn’t get the cash out quick enough. Ive heard really good things about these. I have loaded and shot the standard half jacketed swc a few years ago so I’m looking forward to seeing what these soft hollowpoints can do.

Thinking I’ll try them with my standard load of 8.0gn of universal.
Anybody ever do any hunting with these?
 
Barbaroja....just loaded up the last of my 200s and 220s with 9.0 grains of Unique...they clocked 1080 from a 4" barrel. I believe in the Speer #14 Manual on the .41 page there is a cougar that was taken with a 200 HP from a 4" Taurus Tracker.

Those HPs don't expand at all...the nose melts off and the ashcan just keeps going...

Another CCL sold a few days ago...no box...$5200!
 
Barbaroja said:
Wanted to share that I was at a gun show yesterday and a gentleman has 2 boxes of the long discontinued Speer half jacketed swc hollowpoints.
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Like several other posters here, I've had considerable experience with Speer's excellent half-jacket, .41 Mag bullet.

Back in the day, I was shooting a 6" Smith M-57, and a Ruger 3-screw BH with a 6-1/2" tube. Both would keep a cylinder full of those half-jackets in less than 2" at 25 +yards. I never hunted deer with them but did some considerable damage to a number of woodchucks. Powder choices back then, (late 70's - early '80s) were limited to 2400 in my area and that's what I used. My loads were just under max from the old Lyman handbook and recoil was not excessive. Great bullet, glad you found them. Rod
 
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