How strong is my Model 57?

[Nightcrawler]

I want to know if my Model 57 6" .41 Magnum is strong enough to handle these loads, made by Buffalo Bore. Pretty hot stuff, hotter than usual. (All .41 Magnum is pretty hot.) I ask becuase the Smith N-frames, while not fragile, aren't the strongest revolvers out there, either.)

The stuff is very expensive, so I certainly won't be shooting a lot of it. But I'd like to know that the gun could handle it. Or, should I avoid this hot stuff and stick with factory loads from the major manufacturers?


- 265 gr. LWN-GC/ 1350 fps /1072 ft. lbs.
- 230 gr. SWC (Keith-type) /1450 fps /1074 ft. lbs.
-170 gr. JHP/ 1650 fps /1028 ft. lbs.

Pretty stout stuff, as you can see.

 

[ACP230]

You could check with Smith & Wesson.

I thought the Federal Cast Core .41 Magnum loads were better suited to my .41 Redhawks than my Smith M57. I don't think I'd shoot the Buffalo Bore in it either.

 

[Nightcrawler]

You know, if Ruger made a 4" .41 and .45 Colt Redhawk I'd buy them in a heartbeat. NOt as pretty as a Smith, and the trigger probably won't be as nice. But at least I won't have to worry about breaking it.

Seems like Smith started chambering guns for the big magnums (.41 and .44, specifically) before they bothered to design a modern frame really strong enough to handle them. How do Smith .44s and .41s hold up over time, with lots of firing of "standard power" magnum loads?

 

[Preacherman]

Nightwiggles, the Model 29 was notorious for shooting itself loose if heavy loads were used. I've personally seen 3 of the earlier models that were blasted into backward rotation of the cylinder after less than 100 rounds of Garrett Hammerheads or the Buffalo Bore equivalents... S&W did put in a "fix" to the internal mechanism in later models (I think from the 29-5 or thereabouts), but I don't know that I'd fully trust their revolvers for a prolonged diet of the heavy stuff.

I switched to a Redhawk in .44 Magnum for the hot loads, and have been very satisfied. With decent grips (Pachmayr Decelerators for me!) it's considerably more comfortable to shoot than the S&W's. I still have a 4" Model 29, but regard it more as a superb .44 Special revolver than an all-round .44 Magnum piece!

 

[Nightcrawler]

So whaddaya say, Padre? Did I just waste $350 on that Model 57? I bought it to be a shooter. Am I going to break it by shooting it?

 

[CMcDermott]

If your revolver is a Model 57-3 or later (or 657-2 or later) then you shouldn't have any trouble. If it's a Model 57 or 57-1 then it doesn't have the design changes that let the Model 29 handle the heavy bullet loads. The 170 grain load should still be okay, the problem was with high-pressure, heavy bullet loads causing accelerated endshake wear. A light bullet like the 170 grain load shouldn't cause this problem, and the design changes should handle the 230 & 265 grain bullets without any trouble. Remember the 44 Magnum didn't give any trouble until they started using 300+ grain bullets instead of the standard 240 grain bullets. It's the extra recoil from the heavy bullets that caused the problem, the lighter 41 Magnum bullets shouldn't be as much of a problem; and I've never had any trouble with my 657's (except for sore wrists ). I shoot 220 grain Keith SWC over 20 grains of Lil' Gun in my 657-4 Mountain gun, and it can get a little painful around the third cylinder full. My scoped 7.5" Redhawk is much more comfortable to shoot with these heavy loads; but it's a little harder to carry around.

 

[Nightcrawler]

I wish I could find a .41 Redhawk. I'd get it cut down to 4", an action job, and some new grips. Then I'd be all set.

Anyway. I don't know how old my 57 is. I'd venture to say not very, given the excellent condition it's in. It just says "Model 57" or something like that inside the place where the cylinder crane sits, as opposed to "25-5" on my M25-5.

I plan on shooting a lot of Georgia Arms through it. 210 grains @ 1150fps and 210 grains @ 1325fps. Since S&Ws are the most common .41 magnums out there I can't imagine THESE loads hurting the revolver. And Cor-Bon doesn't give any warnings on their website about not using their loads in Smith revolvers. (Whereas they warn not to use their +P Magnum .45 Colt loads in a Smith M25, as it's simply too high pressure for it).

 

[JohnK]

CMcDermott said pretty much what I was going to. Those hot loads from Buffalo Bore aren't really much more than what was considered "standard" 44 magnum loads, and as he pointed out it was mainly the 300+ gr hunting/silhouette loads that caused the Smiths problems.

Since you're not handloading and will only be buying the expensive loads from Buffalo Bore I wouldn't worry about it. If you can afford to buy enough of that to hurt the M57 I'm sure you can afford to buy a couple more guns to replace it.

 

[41mag M&P]

I've heard that the M57's hold up much better than the 29's. I haven't shot my 57 enough, but my 58's do get out to the range fairly often. The GA Arms SWC ammo will be no problem at all (this is about what I load for my 58's). I wouldn't even worry about the JHP ammo at 1325fps.

 

[caz223]

210 at 1400 or less is fine.
I wouldn't go much hotter than that.
If you want hotter, get a .44 mag blackhawk or vaquero.
Why shoot that nice gun loose?

 

[HerbG]

I pounded thousands of rounds of factory equivalent handloads through my M57 in metallic silhouette competition, and I've never had the slightest problem. None of the N frame Smiths were designed for a steady diet of super hot handloads, but they are plenty strong enough for factory loads, and that is enough for me. There are stronger revolvers I suppose, but none of them have the feel, balance, and overall quality of the Smiths.

 

[happy old sailor]

caz223 and i agree. need a bigger bullet, get a bigger gun. that includes rifles too.

 

[Lone Star]

If you can't kill something with an M57 S&W and 210 grain factory softpoints or a Keith handload with his 220 grain SWC hard lead bullet at 1400 fps or less, I suggest carrying a rifle.

Heavy bullets in sixguns, e.g., 300 grains in a .44, strike me as silly and a good way to wear out a fine gun with no valid reason for doing it. The 210 grain .41 Magnum will penetrate well enough to kill a cougar or bear about to gnaw on you, and will cleanly take deer.

Lone Star

 

[RCL]

Nightcrawler, e-mail Buffalo Bore and ask them.