Some thoughts on the .41mag
- Thread starter chaim
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When I was younger, I contemplated it, as well.
135 grain .40 projectile evidently makes quite a mess, and 155 grain lightly constructed .41 should do the same at reasonable velocities.
I keep coming back to this idea of balance, though. That means, in the projectile realm, that the lightest and heaviest, slowest and fastest rounds for a caliber probably all have unacceptable drawbacks. The fastest possible rounds will have dimished returns for what you're exacting from the frame and shooter. The slowest rounds in many calibers do not work as (these are often the heaviest, as well) reliably.
Hell, there may be situations where this does not hold true. One day I'm going to write a magazine article titled "The Mighty Middleweights", or some such. 200 grain .45 ACP, 155 and 165 grain .40, and maybe 124 grain 9x19 and .357. I reckon a 170 or so .41 would fit in there.
John
135 grain .40 projectile evidently makes quite a mess, and 155 grain lightly constructed .41 should do the same at reasonable velocities.
I keep coming back to this idea of balance, though. That means, in the projectile realm, that the lightest and heaviest, slowest and fastest rounds for a caliber probably all have unacceptable drawbacks. The fastest possible rounds will have dimished returns for what you're exacting from the frame and shooter. The slowest rounds in many calibers do not work as (these are often the heaviest, as well) reliably.
Hell, there may be situations where this does not hold true. One day I'm going to write a magazine article titled "The Mighty Middleweights", or some such. 200 grain .45 ACP, 155 and 165 grain .40, and maybe 124 grain 9x19 and .357. I reckon a 170 or so .41 would fit in there.
John
BluesBear
member
I wish someone would resurrect the old .41 Magnum "Police" loading. perhaps using a hard cast bullet to aleviate the leading problem.
I used to load the old Speer 200gr ½ jacketed SWC-HP over a moderate charge to get 900-1000fps in my 4" Model 58. Same velocities with the Sierra 170gr showed great promise also.
I search every gunshow looking for some of the old lead SWC .41 Magnum ammo.
It's getting very hard to find.
I used to load the old Speer 200gr ½ jacketed SWC-HP over a moderate charge to get 900-1000fps in my 4" Model 58. Same velocities with the Sierra 170gr showed great promise also.
I search every gunshow looking for some of the old lead SWC .41 Magnum ammo.
It's getting very hard to find. grendelbane
Member
I too used to load the old Speer hollow points. Not too sure how they would look to the gelatin shooting crowd. Probably too much penetration, and not enough expansion.
Midway sells a Remington 200 grain JHP. I am not sure why Remington produces this bullet, as I do not think they use it in their cartridges. Over 8 grains of Unique it is mild shooting and extremely accurate. It is not going fast enough to expand reliably, however. Raising the velocity gets the bullet performing, but then flash and recoil are back. We definitely need a 190 grain, (matching the sectional density of the 180 grain .40 and the 230 grain .45), with a thin, serrated or scalloped jacket. They make plenty of bullets like that for the .40 S&W, why not just one for the .41 mag?
Yes, I know. They are afraid it will not sell. They might be surprized, I see lots of cartridges selling that I think have very little utility. I may go into production myself, since their is no competition. Would anyone be interested in buying .41 190 JHP & a .41 swaged lead semi wadcutter, and maybe even a full wad cutter?
Midway sells a Remington 200 grain JHP. I am not sure why Remington produces this bullet, as I do not think they use it in their cartridges. Over 8 grains of Unique it is mild shooting and extremely accurate. It is not going fast enough to expand reliably, however. Raising the velocity gets the bullet performing, but then flash and recoil are back. We definitely need a 190 grain, (matching the sectional density of the 180 grain .40 and the 230 grain .45), with a thin, serrated or scalloped jacket. They make plenty of bullets like that for the .40 S&W, why not just one for the .41 mag?
Yes, I know. They are afraid it will not sell. They might be surprized, I see lots of cartridges selling that I think have very little utility. I may go into production myself, since their is no competition. Would anyone be interested in buying .41 190 JHP & a .41 swaged lead semi wadcutter, and maybe even a full wad cutter?
grendelbane
Member
Cheap!
Small startup cos. can't do anything cheap! I would have to quit my day job.
Seriously, some one should at least produce a swaged lead SWC, to replace the old lead load. Hornady makes a swaged lead .40, how many people shoot swaged lead in their .40s and 10mms?
Dies should be no problem, but competition from bullet casters is. I just wish that they would cast some of those nice .41 bullets out of a slightly softer alloy. Moderate loads do not require hard bullets.
The quest continues.
Small startup cos. can't do anything cheap! I would have to quit my day job.
Seriously, some one should at least produce a swaged lead SWC, to replace the old lead load. Hornady makes a swaged lead .40, how many people shoot swaged lead in their .40s and 10mms?
Dies should be no problem, but competition from bullet casters is. I just wish that they would cast some of those nice .41 bullets out of a slightly softer alloy. Moderate loads do not require hard bullets.
The quest continues.
A swaged LSWC would be great, especially if we could convince Corbin to make their Base Guard in .41 caliber. I got a chance to use the Base Guards on swaged bullets once in a .44sp and it did a fine job of eliminating leading with velocities up to 1000fps.
Jarhed
Member
Never Fired
Digging up an old subject. For years I've had a Model 57 S&W in the wood case. Its never been fired except for 3 cylinders for test at S&W. Its nickle plated and just georgeous. It was given to me by my Dad who traded something and didn't like hand guns too much. Anyway, Dad passed on a while back and I see his old gun there, never shot it, sure is pretty, know where I'm going with this? This is the only nickle gun I've ever owned. Can ya think of any reason I shouldn't fire it. I'm never going to sell it, cause it will always be Dads gun.
Honestly, I'm shocked to see so many posts on this thread. I've NEVER met anyone that has owned a .41 hell, most people have never even heard of a .41 Mag.
Anyway would sure apreciate you guys thoughts on this, any advice on the nickle thing. Don't know a thing about it.
Digging up an old subject. For years I've had a Model 57 S&W in the wood case. Its never been fired except for 3 cylinders for test at S&W. Its nickle plated and just georgeous. It was given to me by my Dad who traded something and didn't like hand guns too much. Anyway, Dad passed on a while back and I see his old gun there, never shot it, sure is pretty, know where I'm going with this? This is the only nickle gun I've ever owned. Can ya think of any reason I shouldn't fire it. I'm never going to sell it, cause it will always be Dads gun.
Honestly, I'm shocked to see so many posts on this thread. I've NEVER met anyone that has owned a .41 hell, most people have never even heard of a .41 Mag.
Anyway would sure apreciate you guys thoughts on this, any advice on the nickle thing. Don't know a thing about it.
tulsamal
Member
My M58 is about the 600th one produced. Wearing the original numbered diamond grips. The M57 is a nice gun as well and that one came with such pretty factory grips.
I would say .41 Magnum and .44 Special are my two favorite revolver loads. And I do wish for a .41 Special. I wanted S&W to make the 696 in .41 Magnum but there did seem to be questions about that. So just do it in .41 Special! Then we just need CorBon and a couple others to make ".41 Special +P" loads with Gold Dots or something similiar. I might trade in my M296 in .44 Special if such a thing actually existed!
I'm keeping my eyes open for one of the new Marlins in .41 as well!
Gregg
I would say .41 Magnum and .44 Special are my two favorite revolver loads. And I do wish for a .41 Special. I wanted S&W to make the 696 in .41 Magnum but there did seem to be questions about that. So just do it in .41 Special! Then we just need CorBon and a couple others to make ".41 Special +P" loads with Gold Dots or something similiar. I might trade in my M296 in .44 Special if such a thing actually existed!
I'm keeping my eyes open for one of the new Marlins in .41 as well!
Gregg
On paper the 41 is about 12% less than the 44. With full loads I don't feel any difference in recoil but both of my 41s have 4 inch barrels and the one 44 I own has a 6.5 inch barrel so maybe the extra weight of the longer tube on the 44 makes up the difference and makes them feel the same. Both are plainly heavier in recoil than the hottest 357 loads I shoot.
The 41 is not as versatile as the 44 with smaller bullet selection for reloading and fewer options in factory loads. It's not a good choice if you don't reload.
But, 41 owners tend to be very loyal and love their guns and the caliber. If I had to choose only one I think the 44 makes more sense but luckily I can have both.
The 41 is not as versatile as the 44 with smaller bullet selection for reloading and fewer options in factory loads. It's not a good choice if you don't reload.
But, 41 owners tend to be very loyal and love their guns and the caliber. If I had to choose only one I think the 44 makes more sense but luckily I can have both.
BluesBear
member
Jarhed,
We discuss this quite often.
Click here to read the most recent thread.
You'll find a LOT of us .41 Magnum Lovers here on The High Road.
We discuss this quite often.
Click here to read the most recent thread.
You'll find a LOT of us .41 Magnum Lovers here on The High Road.
grendelbane
Member
I had a 6" nickel model 57, but due to a temporary loss of sanity I sold it.
Very accurate. If you don't reload, Georgia Arms is a good source of cartridges.
As far as the nickel goes, observe the warnings given by Hoppes if you plan to use their #9 bore cleaner. Other bore cleaners may have similar warnings. I never had any problem with mine, but I was always careful to heed the warnings.
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