S & W Mod. 41's, ever shoot one?
- Thread starter ragtopdog
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.38 Special
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I have one that I picked up a week or so ago. I'm very pleased with mine, but I still need to mount a scope and do some ammunition testing. I only know that it's more accurate than me, so far...
The hot ticket, as I understand it, is the Clark accuracy package. Trigger job, match barrel, reliability package, 1 5/8" @ 50 yards guaranteed. Another $550 down the drain...
The hot ticket, as I understand it, is the Clark accuracy package. Trigger job, match barrel, reliability package, 1 5/8" @ 50 yards guaranteed. Another $550 down the drain...
MCgunner
Member
Yeah, damned trigger was set about 2 ounces and I had a hard time getting used to it, but is a fine target gun. Friend of mine has one and one of those .38 wadcutter autos, M58? Whatever, anyway, he's heavy into bullseye shooting. I'll stick with my Ruger Mk2, but I ain't knocking the M41 if you want a REAL target gun. The things are accurate and have fantastic triggers, or at least his does. Actually, I'd set it up a notch in pull weight, but then, I don't shoot bullseye.
Mod 41's
Have had mine since '75 my dad gave it to me when I was 13, he had one too. We had three Ruger Mk's, two 1's and a 2 with a bull before that. Then we got to shoot a buddy's 41. We thought at the time the Mk's were the stuff. Good shooters, reliable and such, though I hated the mags! Needless to say they went away pretty quick. Did have to wait about 8 months for the Smiths, but when they came the Mk's went right down to the gun store! Never have missed them. My thumb still hurts from loading those Mk's mags!
Have had mine since '75 my dad gave it to me when I was 13, he had one too. We had three Ruger Mk's, two 1's and a 2 with a bull before that. Then we got to shoot a buddy's 41. We thought at the time the Mk's were the stuff. Good shooters, reliable and such, though I hated the mags! Needless to say they went away pretty quick. Did have to wait about 8 months for the Smiths, but when they came the Mk's went right down to the gun store! Never have missed them. My thumb still hurts from loading those Mk's mags!
Ghost Walker
Member
A truly great classic 22 caliber pistol. I've owned and used one for the past 36 years. What more needs to be said! 
VARifleman
Member
It was only reliable after putting a drop of oil on the top round of every magazine. Accurate, but I really don't like having to do fixes like that.
I have owned and shot mine for well over ten years now.
I am happy to report that I have not encountered the issues others have with this particular model of pistol.
This gun has actually won me some very good money.
Enough to accessorize it and have some cash left over for other things.
I am happy to report that I have not encountered the issues others have with this particular model of pistol.
This gun has actually won me some very good money.
Enough to accessorize it and have some cash left over for other things.
hags
Member
Nice, what grips do you have on your 41? Are those Herrett's?
Deanimator
Member
I've never owned a Model 41 but it was the first handgun I ever shot and the one I learned to shoot with in college. They're good guns, although sometimes a bit finicky with ammunition.
Deanimator
Member
That's common practice for bullseye shooters using various handguns. Nobody worries about it. After all, the 25 and 50 yard targets don't shoot back.
saltydog452
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The Model 41 is good stuff.
If you are lucky, and thinking more along the lines of a utility pistol, S&W made a few of the short barrels with the Baughman (sp?) ramped front sight (think Model 19 revolver).
salty
If you are lucky, and thinking more along the lines of a utility pistol, S&W made a few of the short barrels with the Baughman (sp?) ramped front sight (think Model 19 revolver).
salty
VARifleman
Member
That they don't, but if it hadn't been a local match, I'd have lost serious points because I had more than one alibi due to the thing's problems. It needs to work every time you pull the trigger or else it will screw up your match. Alibis get your mind out of the game, and if you have more than one, you lose big.
The Wiry Irishman
Member
Here at the Purdue Rifle/Pistol club, we have six of them, all with somewhere in the vicinity of a quarter million rounds through each of them. They're still scary accurate and the triggers are still great, a crisp 2.5 pounds, but over the last three years or so they've started to get very picky about ammo. The only thing that will run 100% in all of them is Federal blue box. Some will eat most anything, the most common malfunction is an empty getting stuck in the chamber, requiring a quick field strip and a pocket knife to get loose. Scrubbing the chamber with a brass brush every ~50 rounds will generally prevent any issues if you're using a different kind of ammo.
They're fantastic guns, though. They're what I learned bullseye on, but they just don't hold a candle to our new Pardini SPs.
They're fantastic guns, though. They're what I learned bullseye on, but they just don't hold a candle to our new Pardini SPs.
.38 Special
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Does anyone know the "true" story on ammo, specifically standard velocity vs. high velocity? I've heard that the gun is sprung for standard velocity stuff and that HV ammo is a bit abusive. I know that mine cycles well with SV but occasionally fails to pick up a round from the magazine with HV; I've wondered if slide velocity is too high with HV.
krs
Member
love the pistol. This is my second one - I had one when I was a bullseye competitor from 1975 thru 1983 but generally kept it as backup or slowfire only gun at ranges where 50 yards was shot. It had the long barrel, and I fired the HS for timed and rapid fire or for the whole match as my High Standards were generally more reliable with the ammo of the day unless I sprung for Eley. The Smith seemed to only want to use match ammo.
this pistol is different though and has never coughed once since new.
this pistol is different though and has never coughed once since new.
Sunray
Member
"...the "true" story on ammo, specifically standard velocity vs. high velocity?..." High velocity ammo won't hurt it. Lots of squirrel hunters use S&W 41's with no fuss.
They are very particular about the ammo they'll both shoot well and cycle the action using though. No two are alike either. The cost of said ammo means nothing. Mine will only shoot Remington Target and IVI(Cdn) Standard Velocity. Haven't bothered with finding the best HV ammo for it. No handgun hunting, up here.
They are very particular about the ammo they'll both shoot well and cycle the action using though. No two are alike either. The cost of said ammo means nothing. Mine will only shoot Remington Target and IVI(Cdn) Standard Velocity. Haven't bothered with finding the best HV ammo for it. No handgun hunting, up here.
MassMan
Member
I have had one for 20+ years and have never had an issue with ammo. A few years ago I put an ultra dot on it as my old eyes are not what they used to be. I love the gun and have yet to find a gun in it's price range ( and they have appreciated) that shoots better.
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