Smith & Wesson 41 - 5" or 7"

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SpdKlzU

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Hello all, first post here, but I've been reading up for a few months. I love the site - what a lot of great info from knowledgable folks!

I'm in the market for a S&W 41. I got a chance to shoot both the 5" & the 7" models at my local range and fell in love with the gun. My wife also really enjoyed shooting it which was a plus (of course, I won't actually tell her how much it is :what: :) ).

I think I prefer the 5" model as it feels a little easier to handle, probably due to the fact I've never owned a gun with a 7" barrel before.

I did have a few questions though. I'd like to mount a scope or red-dot. Do these weaver-style add-ons fit on both models, or just the long barrel? I believe all you have to do is remove the rear sight and use the existing holes. Do you need to have the barrel drilled & tapped?

If anyone has any recommendations on red-dots or scopes for the 41 I'd love to hear it too.

Many thanks!
-Gim
 
I've got an Ultradot on my Sig Trailside Competiton. Scope is highly recommended. You can purchase one from www.larrysguns.com.

I'd get the 5" purely for aesthetic reasons--the 7" looks kinda funny to me. If you're going to scope it, you wont be reaping the benefits of the extended sight radius anyways.

www.clarkcustomguns.com also sells barrels w/ integral scope rails. Not cheap, but a high quality option for the 41.

Oh, and welcome to THR. :)
 
My wife and I have two Model 41s. Hers is a 5" "Optics Only" barrel model and mine is the 7" iron-sighted model. The shorter barrel is well-balanced with the red dot sight up top, and I am pleased with the balance of the longer gun with iron sights. The longer sight radius also increases the practical accuracy of the iron sights. S&W sells 41 barrels and sights as an accessory, and you can order the extra barrel from the S&W web site, so you can get both barrels for the same gun. I recommend finding a used Model 41 as you can save quite a bit of money.

The Ultra Dot is a good red dot sight. I believe all new 41s are drilled and tapped for a Weaver scope mount.
 
I have a 5" and love it. I tried the 7" it was top notch too that being said I went with the 5" it is lighter and if you put a scope om it the sight radius doesn't matter. If you get a newer one (not sure the year they started) the slide is drilled and tapped for the scope mount from the factory. Getting a after market barrel is not an easy task Clark Custom has been out of them for a long time S&W makes all the barrels and they are way behind on them.
 
Fantastic! Thanks a lot guys. I really appreciate all the information.

I'll go ahead and place an order for a 5". I've never bought a red-dot before (I borrowed a friend's Neos with one). Is there a particular model you recommend as a good companion for a S&W41? I was looking at the Ultra-Dot L/T. Any thoughts?
 
I have the $125 black 1" tube Ultradot, and it's really a fantastic scope for the money. Actually, I like it so much I bought two, one black and one silver--the black one is on a Ruger 22/45 tack driver I traded to my buddy, the silver one is on the T-side. The 4 min dot is small enough to do serious shooting--just turn down the intensity a bit. On a clear, sunny day, I leave mine on five or six. Too bright, and the dot's glow makes it bigger than necessary. I regularly hit my 4" spinner at 50 yds. offhand w/ my T-side and Ultradot combo.
 
Welcome to the 41 club. Not telling the wife the true price some is not a bad thing, some things are best left unsaid.........
 
Great thanks guys. Can't wait to get it and find out what a great gun it is and what a lousy shot I am :D
 
If anyone has any recommendations on red-dots or scopes for the 41 I'd love to hear it too.
Click to expand...

I've got a Docter Optic red dot reflex on mine, using a standard Weaver #62 mount.

41_t.jpg

Makes for a nice combination.

Joe
 
hi, i have a tasco pro point plus PDP5 , with 4 point sizes -11 intensities...40mm optic - great for tired old eyes - both eyes open to focus thru and on target...5" barrel will do 1/2" at 15 yards even if i can't. makes shooting even more of a joy - wife loves it as well [maybe to much] i probably will not get it back now...i'll have to go back to shooting the high standard 106
 
I just got finished with a competetive shooting match at my school. Lots of different colleges arrived, all with different guns. For the most part, we were all using Morinis, Walthers (what I use), Hammerli, Match Guns, etc. Really funky looking guns that cost a lot of money. Well, while I was scoring targets for a women's sportgun relay, I noticed one of the girls was doing exceptoinally well with an S&W 41. It was the most beautiful 41 I've ever seen. I believe it was a 7" barrel. I was a bit surprised, seeing as how it was the only grip-magazine gun at the match.
 
Hi...My first post. I bought a 41 in 7" in the early 80's. Bought a 5" barrel to go along with it just for a change here and there. Really enjoyed the 7". Anyway sold the combo a few years ago. I recently renewed my interest in shooting and ordered a new 7" 41 today. (Hence my screen name). I plan to buy a 5" barrel as an option and scope it after reading this thread. Thanks guys. Frank
 
Shot a lot of Bullseye

club matches back in the 90s with my 5" 41. I find that length is especially good for timed and rapid fire stages; comes back on target nicely. Lots of other shooters had 41s, mostly 5", many with dot sights, and did very well. Superb pistols IMHO.
 
Where can I buy a 5" barrel at a discounted price. Part #SKU: 311520000.
S&W wants $271+$8.50
Thanks, Frank
 
As of recently, gun barrels were verboten on eBay. I picked up a 5" barrel that dropped right into my 41 frame without any issues. I found it at ammodepot.com the barrel came with a keng type rear sight and the price was around $212 plus shipping.
 
5" mdl 41 here!!!!!


Perfection. Absolute perfection. Shoots like a laser.



I was having a discussion with my VP a couple of days ago. He shot one while at VMI and fell in love.
He said that IF his wife will let him, he is going to buy one.


IF his wife lets him???????:what:
 
Picked up my 41. Life is good. I sold my Sigs TrailSide & Mosquito to buy this. Life is real good.

Spring question please...I plan to shoot high Velocity 22s. Do I need to replace the spring with a heavier one.
SpdKlzU...don't mean to HiJack your thread...
 
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No problem man, ask away :)

Picked it up tonight and tried it out tonight. Awesome gun, but it really does NOT like Federal Bulk ammo. I talked to the guys at the range and they stopped carrying cus it was failing in a lot of their .22's (rugers & 41's). They only carry CCI now for that reason. Too bad I have about 2500 rounds of the bulk stuff left over :)

I didn't get a chance to try my ultra dot L/T since my Weaver rail didn't arrive in time. But I can't wait to try it out again!
 
I'm planning to use Federal Champion HV. 525rd @ $9.99. I'll let you know how it goes.
You can sell your ammo to a friend...
Please report on the mount/scope set up. I'm going to order a 5" barrel and do the same.
Good luck with the 41...you'll love it for years.
MY 41 CAME WITH A SPENT SHELL ??? REASONS??
 
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