I've been loading for a few years, and lately began loading .41 Magnum and .41 Special for my M57.
I was recently given four hundred of these:
Product - Sierra Bullets - The Bulletsmiths

I've searched the internet, and I haven't found any load data for .41 Special using the 170gr JHC.
I could reserve these for the magnum only, but I am hoping...

I do not believe that the .41 Special is recognized by SAAMI and the will make finding reliable loading data problematical. Further, I do not believe that the 170 grain Sierra JHC will expand reliably at .41 Special velocities if that matters to you.

Personally, I would take load data for any .41 Special using a 170 grain bullet, start with the minimum or starting charge and follow handloaders Rule #1. Also, as with any wildcat, Quickload computer software and a chronograph are your friends.

Bruce

Do some internet searches. A good writer by the name of Rocky Rabb did at least one article on the 41 special... in a Handloader's Digest. Don't remember which one right off hand. there are others but the previous poster was right... lead bullets will be best in the 41 special

Handloader #304 had Part #1 on the 41 Special this issue. It says 210gr. JHPs can be pushed to over 1300fps in it.

It only listed a handful of powder/bullet combo's. The max for a 210gr. XTP using AA#9 was about 2grs. less than for a 41 Mag.

Maybe more next issue.

.

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Waiting for the break of day

I have shot 41 special in my 58 S&W , but used a 210gr cast bullet . I purchased 41 special brass from Starline .
I will probably go back what I was doing before , just seating my swc deeper in 41 magnum cases , up to the shoulder of the front driving band and using reduced loads . I saw no advantage of shooting special brass vs deep seating in magnum cases with my swc's .
Why " hotrod " the 41 special turning it into a 41 magnum using magnum powders (Accurate #9) in 41 special cases ? I thought the idea was a "special" operating approx 750-900 fps and pressures not to exceed about 18Kpsi , like the 38 special . To each his own-----

To continue that line of thought...
Unless one has a 41 Special revolver (or other), which would be the height of cool, why bother with the shorty brass?
Many of us who have 44 magnum revolvers load down the magnum brass when a special type load is desired.
This saves the extra cleaning and possible wear inside the chambers near the throats.
I am in love with the Special.
I have many more of them than magnums.
Guess I finally grew up.

I know nothing of 38's so everyone feel free to confound the conversation.

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NEMO
"Everything 44"

I believe it was to finally create what Jordan, Keith & Skeeter originaly wanted.

From the Handloader #304 article:

"Jordan speciflcally wanted a smaller-frame revolver that would be lighter than the heavy N-frame for law enforcement use, which would allow a faster draw and would be more comfortable to wear during long shifts. As previously indicated, he also wanted a 200-grain bullet at 1,200 fps, which is substantial power (similar to original 10mm Auto loads), but would also keep recoil manageable for fast follow-up shots.

It was much easier for gun companies to use existing frames for the new cartridge (41 Mag.), however, and explains why the revolvers and cartridge appeared as we know them today."

.

We can only hope that S&W will (someday) create a 41 Special in a L-frame similar to the M66 & M69.

.

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Waiting for the break of day

The gentleman that I talked to said he would convert an L frame S&W or Ruger GP100 to a 6 shot 41 special . His preference was the SS ruger and said the conversion would be cheaper vs the L frame smith .
I too thought about what Bill Jordan , Elmer Keith and Skeeter Skelton envisioned , a lighter framed revolver in 41 special . I am pretty patient but the one year lag time has stopped me going any further .
I read that a model 69 (normally 44 magnum ) was custom built into a 41 magnum w/3" barrel and round butt grip for one of the exec's @ S&W . True or not I don't know for sure . We can keep hoping .

Reason I use the 0.41 Special is that my indoor range does not permit magnum loads, so even if downloaded a magnum case is "verboten". I was lucky enough a few years ago to pick up 500 of the first run of Starline 0.41 Special cases and added to the number a few months ago. Reeds Ammunition was loading the original Starline cases around 4 years ago which is where I first heard of the specific brass. Dave_n

The newest Handloader(305) has part II for the 41 special.
Just down loaded it today

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

Cowboy4evr said: "I am pretty patient but the one year lag time has stopped me going any further."

I have waited 6 months just for a custom Encore barrel.
There are very few good revolversmiths capable of doing a project like that so they always are in high demand.
I would say a year is not out of line these days.
It's frustrating but makes the final product all that more sweet.
The days when someone like Frank de Haas could call up a barrel maker and have a completely custom
twist and bore tube delivered in a couple of weeks are gone.
(de Haas was the first guy I know of to write about fast twist 44 rifle barrels.
He had them made custom as fast as 1:16").
I have been interested in this subject ever since I read his articles.
The recent Rifle #288 (page 14) has a little article by Brain Pearce that demonstrates the effect of twist on 44 magnum rifles.

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NEMO
"Everything 44"

The reason I said that the one year lag time stopped me from going further with the project is simple .
I'm no spring chicken so time does count . But I'm still buying green banana's so maybe I should rethink it .

I have one old reloading book the shows a 170gr JH using
HS-6, and HP38 for loads at 842 to 854 fps for a .41 Magnum loading. HS-6 went up to 1065 fps for the maximum loading.

Looks like a .41 "Special" loading is possible with the 170gr bullet, with the right powders.
Good luck in your search.

While not a Smith and Wesson.....Taurus produced 5 shot, 41 Magnum, L-frame sized revolvers almost two decades ago

They were available in Stainless Steel or Total Titanium. Barrel lengths were 2 1/2"and 4"

I have the snubbies in both configurations. They weight in at 19 ounces for the Total Titanium and 29 ounces for the stainless steel
These are both great concealed carry candidates for folks that wish to throttle back the 41 Magnum to "Special" velocities.

The same frame size and materials were available in a 5 shot, 2" 44 Special or 45 Long Colt as well as a 7 shout 357 Magnum with the 2 1/2" barrel.

Unfortunately the public demand for powerful pocket revolvers was not yet ready for these offerings and I believe all variations have been discontinued.

Those JHC bullets from Sierra were meant for hunting and probably won't reliably expand at the lower velocities associated with a Special load. Sorry for the bad news but the good news is, they are very good hunting bullets so that's a plus. I have several half full boxes in 150gr and 170gr of .357" bullets and I save them for hunting rounds for use in my .357 Magnum levergun.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437