Is the .41 Magnum fading away?

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They will be debating that when we are gone. It will still be hanging in there.
 
The 41 magnum is more popular than ever. It will be around for a long time.

Those that shoot it often like it more than a 44 magnum revolver. I know that I shoot it better than a 44. So, the 44's are gone from my inventory.
 
My father had told me that the 41 had some ballistic advantages and that it was more accurate than the 44 but I can't speak to that. I can tell you that I shot a dog/wolf mutt that was attacking one of our horses with his dan wesson loaded with semi-wad cutters and it was one shot effective and left a very shocking exit wound on the dogs neck.
 
I can relate to the 41 fans plight, being a 44 Spl. fan myself, but I think it has long since peaked, and it was more of a foothill than a peak to begin with. The early loads contributed to ambiguity, and it is sandwiched between the two most popular handgun chamberings, both of which offer the huge advantage of being able to handle two different cartridges, each.
The 41 does exactly what one would expect looking at the specs. It's bigger than the 357, so it kicks more, and you can't shoot 41 Specials in it. It's smaller than the 44, so less whomp, and "Wow" factor, and less recoil, but hey, they still have the 44 Spl.
If you like it enjoy it, but don't expect the bandwagon to get too crowded.
 
My father had told me that the 41 had some ballistic advantages and that it was more accurate than the 44 but I can't speak to that.
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I won't say that the .41 is an inherently more accurate cartridge than the .44, but I can attest to the fact that it's easier find an accurate handload for it. Over the years, I've handloaded extensively for both cartridges, and...having been thoroughly hooked on metallic silhouette for about a decade...I can qualify that statement.

The advantage that the .44 has is, of course, owing to the ability to use heavier bullets while keeping the trajectories suitably flat for the steel critters. Ya gotta hit those rams high and hard with a .41 in order to to clean the rack. The .44 is a bit more forgiving.
 
Does anyone recall when the .41 Magnum was the official sidearm caliber of the San Francisco Police Department's uniform officers?
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Yep...Model 58 Smith & Wessons...and also for San Antonio, Texas. There were 2 or 3 others that issued it...but I can't recall which ones.

I've got an early M-58 and won't part with it for love nor money.
 
Yep...Model 58 Smith & Wessons...and also for San Antonio, Texas. There were 2 or 3 others that issued it...but I can't recall which ones.
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-1911 Tuner

Thanks. I could not remember the model number and wondered about that. Also back then, Cops in S.F. were mostly big Irish American guys, a few large Blackmen and a beefy Chicano or two .The point is the Model 58 was not too much gun for them to heft. Nowadays, the dainty wrist factor keeps that kind of ordinance out of service.
 
I've always thought the Ruger Redhawk would make an awfully nice .41 mag.

I'd kinda like to see that happen. I'd bet if they sold a 4" fixed sight and 5.5" adjustable sight model, they'd sell. Of course, the .41mag market is pretty small.
 
I have two Redhawks in .41.
One is a seven-inch stainless gun.
The other is a five and a half inch blued gun.
Good shooters.
 
After all is said and done...the .41 Remington Magnum cartridge has a relatively small, but intensely faithful following. Those who like it...like it a lot.

It's held on since 1964...and that in itself says something. Cartridges that don't have something going for them generally don't last nearly a half-century. Even many of the ones that do...fade pretty fast.

The .41 had two tough acts to follow in the .357 and the .44 and it didn't have a successful parent cartridge that got a toe-hold like the .38 and the .44 Special did...so it was running a race with a sprained ankle.

But, yet...it hangs on. It's still there, begging us to just take a look.
"Try me! You might like me!"

I very much like the .41 Magnum. It'll always have a place in my battery.
 
The reason I originally posted this was because I am a die-hard caster and reloader. This is one of those cartridges that shines ~ when one rolls there own:) I have a few .44 Mag loads that I use for 100 yard gongs, steel plates, or hunting...worked on them for years.

But ~ the .41's that I have owned have almost always outperformed the .44 Mags. Anecdotal evidence, but I believe there are more then a few that would concur.

This thread has me thinking it is time to buy a few more .41's and to heck with the naysayers~~~~

Guess us Grizzley Ole Fart's need to hang onto somethin':D

Giz
 
.41Dave that S&W is absolutely beautiful. I bought a M58 when I was much younger and it had worn blueing. I foolishly had it teflon coated instead of sending it to S&W to be reblued. Oh well, I still have it and someday I'll get around to sending it to S&W. I love the .41 and if it's falling out of favor I suggest everyone with one contact me and I'll give you 50cents on the dollar for that obsolete thing.
 
Gun folks talk about how the 44 magnum was so popular when it was introduced in 1956. I recall reading that it was such a powerful cartridge that the gun writers of the day almost encouraged folks not to buy guns in it. It wasn't until the Dirty Harry movie came out in 1971 that the caliber was such a big success. Dirty Harry didn't even shoot full power loads. It was at that point the sales skyrocketed and the guns were hard to find. However, even then the public was not ready for the 44 magnum; so many handguns were bought and shot a few times and sold due to recoil issues.

Why is this important?

The 41 magnum was introduced in 1964. Basically the problem was that the 357 over penetrated with police use and police generally could not handle the recoil of the big 44 magnum.

A one shot man stopper was wanted of a larger caliber than the 357 and not as powerful as the 44 magnum. Hence the 41 magnum came into being with the encouragement of Elmer Keith and several other gun writers. The 41 magnum did what its designers wanted it to accomplish.

The problem was that the 41 magnum was brought out in the N Frame Smith (same size as 44 magnum) which was too large for most police officers to carry. Also the ammunition manufacturers in their wisdom brought out the 41 magnum with a hot load first rather than the lighter recoiling wadcutter load that was advocated by Elmer Keith and others. There should have been two calibers; the 41 special and the 41 magnum.

Then Dirty Harry came along.... the caliber was relegated to second class status as compared to the "It'll blow your head clean off" 44 magnum.

All this is doesn't matter much as semi-auto pistols became more popular for police use. The change over happened quickly after the Glock 17 (9mm) was introduced in 1980 (I believe). By the mid to late 1980's, you could buy N frame revolvers for a song at gunshows. Revolvers weren't selling and pistols were. The introduction of the 40 S&W was probably closer to what Elmer Keith wanted in terms of preformance in the 41 magnum. There won't be any 40 Magnum loads unless you consider the 10mm the "magnum" load.
 
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It's been dying for over 30 years now :)

I like my model 58 a lot; have heard it described as a "model 10 on steroids", which seems about right. Here it is with a box of the original "police loads", which are sort of like a .41 Special, compared to the full-house magnum loads.

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What we need is a movie where one of the main characters uses a revolver chambered in the .41 Magnum and praises it in a convincing manner. That might boost sales.
 
There are quite a few .41 Magnum owners in these parts. There are numerous gun shows in Idaho, and a good .41 Magnum on the table tends to be snapped up pretty quickly.
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Well next gun show in Boise I hope to be someone that snaps one up. Im looking for a mountain gun, wanting more than a .357 and dont think I need as big as a .44.
 
I'm getting into the 41 Mag right now. I'd like a BH 4 5/8" in the 41 Mag and maybe a GP100 conversion (Gemini does these). Hell, any 4 inch 41 Mag DA is good with me.
 
See it's threads like this that get me in trouble with the wife.

How does the recoil of the .41 mag in the police loadings compare to modern .357 duty rounds in a large frame revolver? I'm not particularly recoil sensitive, but shooting .357 duty rounds in a J frame is about the limit to how much fun I'm willing to have.

-Jenrick
 
How does the recoil of the .41 mag in the police loadings compare to modern .357 duty rounds in a large frame revolver?
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With the 210 LSWC at 975 fps in the N-Frame...felt recoil is roughly the same as the .357/158/1235 fps (advertised) in a 4-inch L-frame.
The .357's muzzle blast makes it seem a little worse than the .41's, but it's pretty close to equivalent.

I've chronographed some of the .41 "Police" loadings from Remington and Winchester...and most runs to about 900-925 fps...not the advertised 975.

You can duplicate the police load with a 210-215 grain cast SWC and 8 grains of Unique. Velocity is in the 1,000 fps range in my M58.

Bob! If ya ever decide to part with that old, obsolete revolver in that dyin' caliber... :D
 
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