Hey Sarge!
Buy one! I had been haunting gun shows for years looking for one and happened upon a beautiful nickel plated one at a gentleman's table a few years ago. He was the original owner and trying to thin out his collection. After a little discussion I left with it for $300.00 and was stopped by three men before I left the isle who wanted to buy it. When I told one guy it wasn't for sale he asked if he could just hold it. I let him.
That's the magic of the model 58.
I called Smith & Wesson with the serial number to find out how old it was. Lo and behold it was one of the original runs of the Model 58s from 1964 and she told me the nickel plated ones are very rare. The same year the .41 Magnum was introduced!
So being the guy I am I promptly shipped it to my gunsmith and had him smooth it up, radius the trigger, chamfer the cylinder mouthes, trim the hammer a bit, and Metalife the hammer and trigger to contrast nicely with the nickel plating.
Now I carry the gun whenever the weather is nice enough to cooperate. It's in my nightstand drawer as I write this.
As for loads, I've talked to several other Model 58 owners and several told me that the Winchester 175-grain Silvertip hits about one inch high, but centered at 25 yards while the newer Federal Premium hardcast 250-grain hunting load shots to the point of aim at 25 yards. I've read that bullets over 220-grains won't stabilize properly in a S&W .41 Magnum, but they seem to shoot fine in mine. While I have not tried the Federal 250-grain load in my M-58, the assertion about the Silvertip seems to be correct. Then I fired some Federal Classic 210-grain JHPs (1300 fps) and they seems to shoot dead on to the point of aim as well at 25 yards.
If you plan on going beyond 25 yards (e.g., hunting) I'd simply try the different loads and see what works best in the guy you buy. You might see more variance as you get further out. If you're staying within 25 yards, it has been my experience that once sighted in for your favorite load, the other .41 Magnum loads tend to be pretty darn close to the point of aim.
Don't forget the new Winchester Platinum 240-grain load (1250 fps) they are introducing this year. I haven't tried it, but it should be a great hunting load or deep penetration self defense load.
Bottom line, buy a .41 Magnum and enjoy. I own two Model 57s with four inch barrels, a M-58 with a four inch barrel, and two M-657s with three and six inch barrels respectively. Favorite loads are the Winchester 175-grain Silvertip and Federal Classic 210-grain JHP loads. Both are excellent at longer ranges and have manageable flash.
- Anthony
