Model 41 new or older one ?

[old pipefitter]

Lately I've been thinking I NEED a Model 41. But which Vintage to buy is the question. An older one with supposedly better craftsmanship, Bluing, value holding. What say you lucky model 41 owners. I want to be part of that group

[625smith]

I can't speak to a newer than late 70's early 80's 41's. I like the older one's that I have the good fortune to own. You can never go wrong with a high quality 41. Here are two of mine that I shoot regularly.

7⅜"



5½" EFS

[D Brown]

I'm perfectly happy with my recently (2016) manufactured model. As long as it functions properly, hits the target where I aim, and continues to impress ME, everything's great!
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

Did I mention the fantastic trigger?

[Barrie]

I own a 1958 year model M41 which has the 73/8" barrel on it. Still looks great and shoots even better. Myself I would rather have it then a new one.

[Housepuss]

I am the lucky caretaker of a 1959 Model 41, complete with muzzle brake. It shoots better than I can. I've shot fairly new Model 41's and except for fit, finish, trigger pull quality of stocks etc., they handle & shoot pretty close to mine.

I would have to say buy the finest example of this pistol you can find that's within your budget. Personally I think the older the better.

PS: and don't feed it anything other than CCI SV ammo.

[Wise_A]

Any one you can get.

[D Brown]

Originally Posted by Housepuss

I am the lucky caretaker of a 1959 Model 41, complete with muzzle brake. It shoots better than I can. I've shot fairly new Model 41's and except for fit, finish, trigger pull quality of stocks etc., they handle & shoot pretty close to mine.

I would have to say buy the finest example of this pistol you can find that's within your budget. Personally I think the older the better.

PS: and don't feed it anything other than CCI SV ammo.

Just out of curiosity, could you relate any personal experiences of catastrophic events tied to the use of NON-CCI SV Ammunition in a Smith & Wesson Model 41? I have seen this statement on this forum multiple times. I'm not picking on you, I would truly like to know if there's any veracity to the statement, or if it's just a personal ammunition preference among Model 41 owners. Thanks in advance for your reply.

[MangoBango]

I used to be on the fence about this issue, but am now firmly in the 'older the better' camp. I bought a new 41 and ended up selling to purchase a 1958 for $250 less than I paid for the new one. Look for a model with the cocking indicator and o think you will be very happy.

[Housepuss]

I've never experienced any type of catastrophic failures by using non CCI SV branded ammo. Whenever I've tried another brand of ammo, at some point I had one or more FTF. Never experienced that with any CCI SV ammo.

Never experienced any problems of any kind using CCI ammo.

[Ed Fowler]

I have never owned or shot a bad one, to me they are all delightful.

I quit CCI and Federal after blowing up my favorite Win Mod 61 pump rifle and three S&W Victors, Called the factory reps. and got the run around. Now shoot Norma or Remington Standard velocity and love both find they both still make great ammo.

[Wise_A]

Originally Posted by D Brown

Just out of curiosity, could you relate any personal experiences of catastrophic events tied to the use of NON-CCI SV Ammunition in a Smith & Wesson Model 41? I have seen this statement on this forum multiple times. I'm not picking on you, I would truly like to know if there's any veracity to the statement, or if it's just a personal ammunition preference among Model 41 owners. Thanks in advance for your reply.

Model 41s--although rimfires in general are prone to this--can be a bit picky about ammunition. Not to mention, a lot of rimfire ammo isn't very good.

When I say, "picky", I mean "pickier than my Ruger Mk III, which will digest any old garbage". There are a lot of guys that would laugh at you if you complained about your 41 only being reliable with CCI Standard, because they have guns that demand $600/case ammo.

If you don't care about match reliability, any good .22LR target ammo will be acceptable--Aguila SuperExtra, for instance.

The other side of the coin is ammo. There are people who will take a $1000 match pistol like the 41, feed it $20/bucket bulk ammo from the feed store, and complain when that pistol doesn't function reliably. Simply put, there is a big difference between ammo that costs $200/case and ammo that costs $400/case.

The other bit is Standard Velocity vs High Velocity .22. A lot of manufacturers specifically warn against using HV ammo in their pistols--even Ruger. Frankly, I think it's a warranty/service life thing. At the same time, there are a lot of guys who, if a gun doesn't work well with SV, switch to the HV, or who use HV to break in a new pistol. HV's not going to blow a pistol up.

On that note, to each their own, really. I've never had a pistol that remotely needed it, and generally was able to fix standard-velocity .22 reliability by correcting some other issue.

[Homie]

Originally Posted by Ed Fowler

I have never owned or shot a bad one, to me they are all delightful.

I quit CCI and Federal after blowing up my favorite Win Mod 61 pump rifle and three S&W Victors, Called the factory reps. and got the run around. Now shoot Norma or Remington Standard velocity and love both find they both still make great ammo.

What's your definition of 'blowing up"?

[Troystat]

I have an early 1970's version with a 7.375 barrel and it is a really sweet gun to shoot. Personally I think the old ones are prettier. I am sure the new ones are good as well. My opinion and 5 bucks will get you at least one coffee at starbucks. Good luck and let us know what you get.

[D Brown]

Thank you to Housepuss and Wise A for addressing my questions on the CCI SV ammunition issue. I know it was a little off topic, appreciate your replies.

[Ed Fowler]

Originally Posted by Homie

What's your definition of 'blowing up"?

Blew the extractor out of my Win Mod 61 about 60 feet from the bench, anyone to my right would have been hurt.

My Victory had to be sent back to the factory three times after three shells that were way too hot. Extractor gone, chamber swollen, not much fun. CCI & Federal both blamed the gun, but the shells were way too hot, much louder than normal loads.

Maybe I have had my share of hot loads, I know they can happen, it was the response of CCI & Federal that soured me on them.

[Barrie]

I find the CCi SV works the best in both my m41 and my M46 the best and most reliably as well. Some of the cheap bulk ammo will not cycle hardly at all in both of mine.