Is the .41 Magnum fading away?

[22-rimfire]

I'd buy a 3" or 4" steel framed (smaller than N frame) Smith in 41 magnum with a 5-shot cylinder. It would make an excellent woods gun or self defense piece.

I also think there is a place for a 41 special. Manufactures are limited to the maximum pressures of the 41 magnum in building a revolver. A 41 special would solve that problem. But it would probably be priced about the same as the magnum loads since demand would be less just like the 44 Special factory ammo. Loading costs are not just component cost, there are volume considerations.

I need to find a Marlin 1894 in 41 mag since they aren't cataloged anymore. I put off buying one and now they stopped production. My 41 mag accumulation is dominated by Model 57's. I have one each of the Blackhawk and Redhawk in 41 mag. I think it may be time for another ammo order from GA Arms.

 

[Matt-J2]

Talked to a few folks today whose opinions I trust, and I decided I need to join the .41mag club soon and keep it from fading away.

Also today I learned that the WI DNR 5.5" barrel length requirement is measured from muzzle to firing pin with the action closed. This probably doesn't surprise man but I had thought it was just barrel length, not counting chamber and such. Hooray for learning, even if it means I failed to read the regs correctly the first time and looked a bit dumb!

 

[bigmike45]

Man.....talk about a warm & fuzzy feeling. That is what this thread does for me. It's nice to know I am not the only 41mag lover in these parts. Prior to my first 41mag I had 44 mags, 45LC & 45ACP, several .357mags then I shot my first 41mag and went to the gunstore the next day and bought my first, a stainless 7.5" Redhawk and started using it for hunting Texas Whitetails and Mule Deer, and I even took a nice Fallow Deer. I always wanted the 5.5" version of that gun and about 8 years ago found my first one. 3 years ago I found another 5.5" and decided to buy it to customize. I shortened the barrel to 4" and recrowned it, added a new front sight, worked over the trigger group components and dehorned the gun. Lastly I bead blasted the gun and now carry it as a field gun whenever I an in the woods or at my ranch. The 41mag will always be a part of my revolver arsenal. Here are my three kings:

 

[D.A.C.]

Heck, I traded a well-used Glock 17 that I'd given $300, +$50 for a near mint S&W 657-3 with Eagle grips last year. I have the S&W, a NM Ruger custom Blackhawk, and a Marlin 1894 all in .41 mag.

 

[22-rimfire]

MattJ-2; you won't regret buying and shooting a good 41 mag revolver. I really like them. The 41 mag occupies the highest number of firearms in a single caliber after my 22's. I definitely want a 1894 in 41 mag. I'll settle for one in 357 only out of convenience, but would prefer 41 mag. This year so far has been a 22rf year for me so far. Been buying rifles.

 

[Bush Pilot]

I picked up my 5th Marlin in .41 mag just last Thursday (July 3rd), it was advertised in one of those pulp magazines you get at the grocery store. Funny thing, this is the second one I've purchased through this rag and I've NEVER seen one at a gunshow or gunshop. When I met the seller after work he said he'd only had one other call all day after my call that morning.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Bush Pilot, you are officially a schmuck!! I had to hunt for three years to get my marlin in 41 mag! And there you go, just "happening" into ANOTHER one? You suck!

 

[jaholder1971]

Don't own one, no dog in the fight but...

The gunrag writers have been declaring the .41 DOA for 30 years now and yet it's still here.Either these guys don't know what they're writing about or else some reverse psychology going on.

 

[2ndamd]

I just read an article from G&A October 1993 issue (15 years ago). And they were discussing the ".41 The magnum that will not go away."

Actually a good read. I do not see myself owning one but can appreciate the performance offered by the .41.

 

[buttrap]

No the .41 is not dead

 

[Frizzman]

No caliber is dead as long as there are some of us who like it and are willing to reload for it. I have a .38-40 or .38WCF and I like it. It is essentially an old revolver cartridge version of the .40 S&W. When I got my first .38-40 in the 1990's, it was in a new Colt SAA. Ammo was just about impossible to get and very expensive.and loading components , particularly brass, were expensive and somewhat hard to get.

Then the Cowboy Action game resurrected the old .38-40 and it is now not so dead. You never know what will be rediscovered and become fashionable again! The .41 will only "die" if people don't care enough about it to keep it alive. That doesn't seem likely anytime soon...

 

[RonC133]

I recently acquired a used Taurus Tracker with 4" barrel. I would rather have had a Smith or Ruger but they are way too rich for my blood nowadays.

Had I checked the price of 41 Mag ammo, I might have had second thoughts. I found a box of UMC 50s for $70 at Gander Mountain. (I passed.)

I had bought another reloader's kit and already had the 41 dies. I have had a hard time getting what I thought should be magnum velocities out of it but after disassembling Federal factory, I am comfortable with 21 gr of H110 behind a 210 gr sjfp for a max load.

Funny how each caliber has its own distinctive recoil pattern. 357 has hard kick and a fireball, 41 and 44 are also distinctive. And 45 ACP just shoves and twists as it rises. Love the feel.

 

[slabuda]

I recently acquired a used Taurus Tracker with 4" barrel.

This is what I am looking for as I cant afford a S&W price right now. What didi you pay if you dont mind?


And to all that shoot, I dont reload so what would I expect to pay to feed it?

 

[RonC133]

Slabuda: I got it for a little less than $400.

I can reload for about the same price as 44 Mag, about $25-30 per hundred.

I have found older ammo, PMC and Federal, for $20/box of 50 up to $18/box of 20 (PowrShok.) I was told the current wholesale price for a Remington box of 50 was over $45.