Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Ammunition-Gunsmithing > Reloading
o

Notices

Reloading All Reloading Topics Go Here


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-20-2011, 11:06 AM
Dominus_Lex's Avatar
Dominus_Lex Dominus_Lex is offline
Member
.41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt  
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Way Up North - MI
Posts: 641
Likes: 138
Liked 415 Times in 186 Posts
Default .41 Long Colt

I am the "lucky" owner of a 1st Gen. Colt SAA that is lovely to look at but worthless to collectors. It appears someone had the gun "restored" in the 50's or 60's, and in the process ruined it.

While I'm happy to have a shooter vs. a safe queen, my big issue is the darn thing is in .41 long colt (again part of the restoration). I have mortgaged the house to purchase 50 Winchester loads from the 70's, so I have some brass. I can get die's from any of the major supply shop's, but cannot find a .386 bullet to save my life.

Anyone out there load this strange beast, and have any wisdom to share?
__________________
always trust your cape...
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-20-2011, 11:36 AM
Alk8944's Avatar
Alk8944 Alk8944 is offline
Member
.41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sandy Utah
Posts: 8,616
Likes: 1,554
Liked 8,611 Times in 3,452 Posts
Default

For simplicity try to find a Lyman 386178 mould as it is much easier to load than the heel base bullets.

Watch E-Bay, and join the "Cast Boolits" (Hate that!) forum and ask there. I believe HarryO is a member on Cast Boolits, and he has done a lot with the .41 Colt and can be helpful. He has several articles posted on Leverguns.com,, one or two on the .41 LC.
__________________
Gunsmithing since 1961
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-20-2011, 11:39 AM
kingranch kingranch is offline
Member
.41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt  
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Buffalo arms makes nice 200gr'ers in 41 Colt. $28 per 100ct...I think.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-20-2011, 12:47 PM
guesser guesser is offline
Member
.41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt  
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: North Central Montana
Posts: 194
Likes: 30
Liked 78 Times in 26 Posts
Default

Google "gadcustomcartridge". He has the old molds and makes the old bullets. His products are good quality and prices right. I got my supply of a 95 gr. heel bullet to use in 32 Long Colt from him. Give him a call.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-20-2011, 04:16 PM
Jellybean Jellybean is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,698
Likes: 6
Liked 351 Times in 243 Posts
Default

I think Midway sells both types of bullets for the .41 Colt, they might even have brass for it.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-20-2011, 05:00 PM
mkk41 mkk41 is offline
Banned
.41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt  
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: South East , PA . USA
Posts: 5,027
Likes: 485
Liked 1,610 Times in 884 Posts
Default

Lyman and Saeco once offered the hollow-base .41 Colt bullet mold ya need. I believe Hoch will make one.

Ya can also find an extra 38-40 WCF cylinder. 38-40 ammo is a lot easier to find. Colt used the same barrel for both.
Here's one for $60. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=220209335

Last edited by mkk41; 03-20-2011 at 06:10 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-23-2011, 08:42 PM
Dominus_Lex's Avatar
Dominus_Lex Dominus_Lex is offline
Member
.41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt  
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Way Up North - MI
Posts: 641
Likes: 138
Liked 415 Times in 186 Posts
Default

Thanks for the input, did not know I about the 38-40, that may be the best move. As for Midway, they where on backorder for both bullets and brass, but I will keep an eye out.
__________________
always trust your cape...
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-24-2011, 12:35 AM
Beans Beans is offline
Member
.41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt  
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Southern Az Territory, Border County
Posts: 494
Likes: 16
Liked 50 Times in 21 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mkk41 View Post
Lyman and Saeco once offered the hollow-base .41 Colt bullet mold ya need. I believe Hoch will make one.

Ya can also find an extra 38-40 WCF cylinder. 38-40 ammo is a lot easier to find. Colt used the same barrel for both.
Here's one for $60. COLT SAA Antique Black Powder 38-40 CYLINDER : Antiques / pre-1899 at GunBroker.com
I agree with that. 38/40 stuff is much easier to find then .41 Colt.

Since you stated it has no collector value a change in cylinders won't hurt it at all.

A side note .40 S&W also uses 38/40 sized bullets. .401
__________________
Semper FI
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-25-2011, 08:47 PM
Old 44 Guy Old 44 Guy is offline
Member
.41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt  
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sierra Nevada foothills
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 4
Liked 4,386 Times in 1,673 Posts
Default

There is a .41 Colt D.A. in the local shop, 400 hundred bucks with a box of shells. It's sat there for 5 years that I know of. My advice?? Go with the 38-40. Much better caliber.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-26-2011, 11:36 PM
Jellybean Jellybean is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,698
Likes: 6
Liked 351 Times in 243 Posts
Default

I believe the Army Special I bought sat in the store for way more than 5 years. They had gotten it and a matching .38 spl. on consignment from the heirs of the owner. The .38 went real fast, the .41 didn't and it made me real sad to see it sitting there year after year with no one to care for it.

But when I found a Lyman mould for the .41 Colt at a real bargain price, and no gun to go along with it, I knew exactly where to look.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 03-28-2011, 03:38 AM
wogentry's Avatar
wogentry wogentry is offline
Member
.41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt  
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Spokane County,Washington
Posts: 204
Likes: 499
Liked 83 Times in 48 Posts
Default

Cowboy Gun Lead Cast Bullets .386" 200 Grn. HBRN 20-1 Alloy for .41 Colt SPG Lubed
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 03-28-2011, 06:05 PM
bmcgilvray's Avatar
bmcgilvray bmcgilvray is offline
SWCA Member
.41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt .41 Long Colt  
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,353
Likes: 10,447
Liked 6,092 Times in 1,249 Posts
Default

I've long been intrigued by the .41 Long Colt even though it has no reason for being in this day and age. I've acquired a couple in the past year or so.

If you want to do .41 Long Colt you gotta buy a Colt.

Here's a Colt New Navy from 1901.




Here's an Army Special from 1925


Single action effort at 10 yards


Rapid-fire double action effort at 7 yards



I'm going to handload as soon as I get the dies. I've gathered up several hundred cases and some proper cast hollow base bullets so we'll see what develops. I'm going to experiment with use of .38-40 bullets in my Army Special and then maybe some cast bullets intended for the .40 S&W. Don't really see why the old round must be used with only hollow base or heal type bullets. I already handload for a .38-40 Colt Single Action Army.


Here are the results of chronograph tests in the Army Special.

Remington 195 Grain Lead Round nose

662 fps: Muzzle Velocity
195 ft./lbs: Muzzle Energy
26 fps: Extreme Spread
9 fps: Standard Deviation


Winchester Western "White Box" 200 Grain Lubaloy Round Nose

671 fps: Muzzle Velocity
200 ft./lbs.: Muzzle Energy
50 fps: Extreme Spread
22 fps: Standard Deviation



Western "Yellow Box" 200 Grain Lubaloy Round Nose

679 fps: Muzzle Velocity
204 ft./lbs.: Muzzle Energy
27 fps: Extreme Spread
9 fps: Standard Deviation




Here's the data obtained last summer when firing this same ammunition from the .41 Colt New Navy.

Remington 195 Grain Lead Round Nose

692 fps: muzzle velocity
207 ft./lbs.: muzzle energy
48 fps: extreme spread
18 fps: standard deviation


Winchester Western "white box" 200 Grain Lubaloy Round Nose

709 fps: muzzle velocity
223 ft./lbs.: muzzle energy
107 fps: extreme spread
46 fps: standard deviation


Western "Yellow Box" 200 Grain Lubaloy Round Nose

720 fps: muzzle velocity:
230 ft./lbs.: muzzle energy
16 fps: extreme spread
6 fps: standard deviation

The loads were a little slower in the Army Special than they were in the New Navy. Could have been any number of things working in concert with each other. The New Navy has a 4 1/2-inch barrel while the Army Special has a 4-inch barrel. Dimensional differences were noted between the two, and the temperature was in the mid-50s rather than the high 90s.

I'm enthused about the old round even if it is obsolete. It's something different to play with and would still make quite a reasonable short range self defense cartridge.

Last edited by bmcgilvray; 03-28-2011 at 06:08 PM.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
cartridge, chronograph, colt, saa, sig arms, winchester

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
FS: Lee Carbide 3-Die Set 45 Colt (Long Colt) riverrat38 Accessories/Misc - For Sale or Trade 1 07-06-2016 11:33 PM
WTB - 1 X fired .38 Colt Long & .38 Colt Short Brass bedbugbilly WANTED to Buy 2 04-24-2014 06:14 PM
SOLD - Colt 1895 New Army in .41 Long Colt ANTIQUE mrcvs GUNS - For Sale or Trade 0 03-08-2014 04:11 PM
.45 Colt and .45 long colt need lesson Joedakota Ammo 8 08-05-2011 06:24 PM
SOLD Colt New Service, .45 Long Colt Fischer GUNS - For Sale or Trade 4 11-24-2009 10:15 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:22 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)