what can someone tell me about the 657 no dash with 4" bbl

It's nice...

Pictures and the serial number would go a long way in helping us help you. You can redact the last three digits of the serial number if it makes you feel better.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

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NRA Benefactor Member

I think N frames with 4” barrels are the best. 3” is too short, 6” too long...5” are OK, snubbies are brutal, but the 4’s...perfect. Just my opinion, though. Other than that, without knowing what specific aspects you want information on, the only other thing I would add is if the price is right and you find the condition acceptable, I would say buy it. .41Mag is a great round. I’ve got a 4” 57, a 4” 58, and a 6” 657...wish it was a 4” too.

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USS Brewton FF1086
SWCA#3597

I have a few 4'' and there are nice bed side guns and all but too large to carry and still kick some. I do love the 5'' but also the 6'' N frames for shooting steel the very best. You can always PM me as a 6'' 657 is a cherry in my mind. Would love to relieve you of it.

Welcome to the forum.
As for the 4" 657ND, best I recall regarding 4" stainless .41 mags, it's a close runner up to the 657-4 Mtn. Gun.

I just love the N frames, I also own a 57 no dash 6" and a 29-2 6.5" as well as a late model 629 6.5" which has a red dot optic on it. I am looking for a 19 4" no younger than a 19-4. Thanks for info.

First of all, Welcome to the Forum

The 4" 657 is probably the hardest configuration to find

Since you already own other 41 Magnums, there is no need to tell you how accurate that cartridge is

While I am now a BIG advocate of this cartridge, it was by accident that I got involved in it

A buddy of mine had a 6" Nickel 57 that was perhaps three weeks old when his wife hit him with divorce papers and he brought it to me for cash to retain his attorney.

My intention was just to find a buyer for it, but since he gave me ammunition with it, I had to try it.

Well that was a mistake, I still own that revolver 4 decades later. However now it has lots of brothers to hang out with, and this 41 Magnum family image is 10+ years old

If you are a hand loader, there is lots you can do with a 41 Magnum.

The ammunition selection on store shelves leaves a lot to be desired. Thankfully we can order over the Internet, but it is still lacking in selection

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"Acta non verba"

The 657 is a great piece, I would imagine. I say this as I have a few stainless Smiths but my 57 is a nickel 4" and is one of my favorites. Accurate, powerful and a real looker. A stainless .41 mag? Whats not to like?

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Time wounds all heels

Anyone have any good hardcast loads for the 41 mag using 2400, H110 or 296. I'm using just 210 XTP

H110/296 is not the powder for shooting cast projectiles. You will get severe leading.

Gas check bullets mostly resolve the problem, but you have 2400 on hand and it is much more cast bullet friendly

You at least have to tell us what weight and design your hard cast bullet is before we can tell you what our loads are for that weight.

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"Acta non verba"

For the Hornady XTP 210 grain JHP I use 22 gr of H110 with a WLP primer. Shoots well in my Classic Hunter 657, but kicks a bit in my 3" 657. It is an accurate load in my revolvers. Check Hornady's load data first.

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No good deed goes unpunished.

I have used Oregon trail hard cast in my 44 special with very little leading think their traveling around 800. Its a Ruger GP 100 3" bbl just love this gun.

I would like to use 210 grain Oregon Trail hardcast. I use 240 of the same in my 44 Mags my box of 500 is almost gone and now our range is closed until May so no shooting just reloading.

On the Oregon Trail web site I saw Laser Cast 215 grain SWC hard cast bullets...no 210 grain.

I did find this load data for Oregon Trail bullets at the "Load Data" web site:

215 Semi Wad Cutter Alliant 2400 18.4 grains 1,253 fps Start

Remarks: magnum load; OAL: 1.595

215 Semi Wad Cutter Alliant 2400 19.6 grains 1,336 fps Max

Be very careful about load data you get off the internet. Check several sources and work your load up in increments. I cannot vouch for the above information.

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No good deed goes unpunished.

My 657, 4 inch was one of the hardest revolvers to find.

Yes, welcome aboard......

As said above, the 4" 657 seems to be the hardest to find of all the catalogued .41s S&W has made...they were only made for two years, so it is anyone's guess how many were made.

As to cast bullets and 296/H110 (same powder, different can) as long as one is looking for top end performance and a gas check bullet design is used it leaves no more leading than any other powder and is very accurate. That said I have used two plain base bullets with no more leading than any other powder.

Cast bullets I have used with H110:

Commercial cast:
Cast Performance 255 grain
Cast Performance 250 grain
Penn Bullet SSK 300 grain (plain base I believe)

Home cast:
MP Molds 265 grain TruShot Clone
Accurate Molds 41-250L 250 grain
Mountain Molds 300 grain
Lyman 240 round nose (plain base)

That said I rarely shoot H110 loads in my Smiths any more. Much prefer velocities under 1200 fps (4") in the Smiths and H110 starts in the mid-1200s and works up even with the above heavies...

Now using 200-230 grain bullets in the Smiths with 8-10 grains of Unique depending on the bullet. Velocities run from 950-1200 depending on the bullet...

If you have not seen this post before...it is everything .41...lots of good posts and links...

.41 Magnum / 41 Special Load Data Center

..and so tell us...did you score a 4"??

Bob

A few years back I picked it up in a gun show in Vermont where I live. i have always wanted a 57 but I noticed a 657 and the price was right so I bought it for 600.00. I really had no idea at the time how rare they were to me it was a stainless 41 Mag made by S&W. I am partial to blued guns so at the time I bought it I was a little disapointed it was stainless. The revolver is in super shape and has the red insert on the front sight. It shoots very well but now that I have a 57 it wont get a ton of use. Thanks for all the info, Mike