Model 41, 5.5” or 7” ??

[Dave686]

I’m trying to find a Model 41. I haven’t had much luck, but another forum member PM’ed me that I might want to try the 5.5” before dismissing it. That probably won’t be possible.

So I thought I’d put of a poll of what you 41 Owners think.

This will be a shooter, not a collector item or safe queen. So I’ll probably just order new, based on what I’m seeing and being offered.

This will be shot with open sight, no optics.

What say you folks? As you can see "Both" is not an option.

[Skeet 028]

I have 3. I prefer shooting the 7 3/8 gun. I also have a 5 1/2 inch that I put a reflex sight on and it is fun to shoot. The 7 inch gun is probably the most accurate one but it is the one that is going to the gun show next weekend to get sold/traded....om something S&W of course

[Sevens]

Coolest thing here is that you truly can do both without breaking the bank. Buy whichever deal presents and then be on the lookout for an upper in the other size.

Ahh, to the question! I wanted the 5.5” and that’s what I was fortunate to find. I can’t really say which is better for shooting, but I really love the look of my 5.5”.

[rkittine]

I was able to find one with a 7 3/8" Barrel and the muzzle break. Was easy to find a 5.5" Barrel for it after that. The longer barrel appears to be harder to find on its own.

Bob

[Kp321]

For iron sight use, the extra sight radius on the longer barrel is good.

[rkittine]

Although Rare, you might find one of the 5.5" Barrels with the sight extension. Then you have the same sight radius. which is a real advantage, even with the 5.5 bull barrel. The only barrel I never had any interest in was the 5" sport barrel.

Bob

[Bastogne71]

My favorite barrel is the 5” field barrel for a fun day at the range. Second choice is a 7 3/8” because it’s the classic model 41 to me. But since your poll doesn’t include them, I’ll have to go with the 7”.

Whichever you get, it is the start of the hunt for the other barrel length.

[Walter Rego]

I got lucky with this one. It shipped as a 5.5" gun but the previous owner added the 7 3/8" barrel with muzzle break, false muzzle, a couple of the counterweights and inlet the longer barrel into the box with an X-acto knife. It was priced for about what a new one was going for and is old enough to still have the cocking indicator. The 5.5" barrel is quite muzzle heavy. I think S&W missed the boat by not making a larger quantity of the sport barrels available, I'll bet that just feels ideal. I think the longer barrel is a little earlier than the gun as it still has the "lazy ampersand".

[Grayfox]

I have both. But I also use optics. A scope on the 7" and a red dot on the 5.5. I like the balance of the 5.5 better.

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

I have all of the barrel lengths, but much prefer the 5-1/2 barrel’s balance. With Herrett “Trainer” grips, it balances like a 1911 for me.

[D Brown]

Hi Dave686,

I have one of the newer ones, shipped June 20, 2016 and purchased November 27, 2016, with the 5 1/2" barrel and I couldn't be more pleased with it!

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Many of our members are very partial to the older models due to their better finish, solid wood stocks, and overall quality. I'm sure that's a valid point; but I've never had an issue with my newer one, and the trigger is absolutely perfect!

Best of luck in your search!

Sincerely,

[Skullaero]

I have factory 7", 5.5" and 5.5" Clark Custom barrel. They are all very accurate and work flawlessly on the same frame. The 5.5 Clark balances the best.

[M29since14]

If I could only own one, I’d buy the 5.5” heavy barrel - and I agree that the new production guns I have seen look very nice.

[Troystat]

I have a 1970's era one with a 7.375 inch barrel and I got both a field barrel and a 5.5 inch heavy barrel. The field barrel gives the gun a very different feel. I just got the heavy barrel and I think I will put the original longer barrel back on. From a bench the longer barrel that I have is more accurate than the heavy barrel. I thought at first the heavy barrel would be easier to shoot but I think I will be switching it back to the longer barrel. I usually shoot offhand (bulleye style). I really like the pistol and it is fun to shoot.

[MixmodelA]

I have 4, two 7.375" (1959 & 1960) and two 5.5" (1987 & 1997) and they all shoot lights out better than I can shoot them. I shoot the 1959 best of the four. However, I seem to shoot my comparable High Standards better. But that's just me. Hope this helps. Thanks! Mick

[Model52guy]

I have all 4 barrels and have shot them except the 5” field barrel as I just added that one to the fleet. My go-to is usually the 7” field barrel. I’m not really sure why, it is possible the 7” is a bit “cosmetically challenged” and I don’t worry about it. The EFS barrel was hard to find and I would worry about bending or breaking the sight.

[gwpercle]

I have both , shooting NRA Bullseye Match (Precision) , one handed , my scores were always better with the 5.5" bbl. It just seemed to hang steadier . The 7.5" bbl. , in theory , should have produced better accuracy because of the longer sight radius ... according to the "experts" ...
Well guess what ...don't bet the farm on the experts or their theories .

Same thing happened with a Ruger MKI Target , the 5" bull barrel consistently gave me higher scores than the longer tapered 6 3/4" bbl !
I really liked the looks of the longer barrel ... but the scores don't lie .

Maybe shooting two handed would even the score but at that time Bullseye matches were shot standing , one handed .
Gary

[Jim Watson]

I bought the 5.5 to get the "barn door" rear sight, same as on the M52.
Now it has a Bomar copy. OK.

[Dave686]

Originally Posted by D Brown

Hi Dave686,

I have one of the newer ones, shipped June 20, 2016 and purchased November 27, 2016, with the 5 1/2" barrel and I couldn't be more pleased with it!

Many of our members are very partial to the older models due to their better finish, solid wood stocks, and overall quality. I'm sure that's a valid point; but I've never had an issue with my newer one, and the trigger is absolutely perfect!

Best of luck in your search!

Sincerely,

Thanks to you for the picture and info, and also the rest of the members for taking time to post. I’m looking for a shooter. So far, my offers have been more than I can buy new for. So, it looks like I’m going the new route. Glad to hear they are good to go.
I hate to pay nearly twice the price of a Ruger Mark IV Competition, but hopefully it will be worth it.

[chief38]

I purchased a M41 NIB 40 years ago and it had the 5.5" Bull bbl. I shot it that way for 38 years and always thought it was too heavy! Two years ago I purchased a 5" Field/Sporter bbl. NIB from the 1950's still wrapped in the S&W packaging! I paid more for the 5" barrel than I did for the entire gun brand new - but rather happy I got it anyway. It is almost a half pound lighter and I have never shot my M41 as well as I do now!! Sub 1" groups in 10 ring at 50 feet - Factory iron sights.

BTW the 7" bbl. (while thinner) is really not really much lighter than the 5.5" Bull bbl. is - just FYI. If you only have a choice between the 5.5" and the 7" I'd suggest the 5.5". HOWEVER...... to me the 5" Sporter / Field is the Cats Meow!!!

[jstanfield103]

I have a new one. I bought it with the 7" barrel. I put a scope rail on it with a red dot. I have the red dot with a quick mount, so I can put it on and off the barrel and use factory sights when I want. The 7" with the extra sight radius would be the most accurate I would imagine.

I have since bought two more barrels, a 5.5" and another 7". I have them all set up different. All are fun to shoot.

[MJK-MOD-547]

My M41 has the 7inch. I thought about getting one of the shorter barrels but I can't justify the cost. For the 3 to 4 hundred I could buy another .22 to shoot the heck out of (which I did) and just use the 41 for the range target shooting. I can't see myself taking a long barreled M41 into the woods to shoot.

Now if I could pick up a short bull barrel cheap.... (ha ha)

[BE Mike]

My experience is from years ago when I was heavily into bullseye pistol competition. I bought a Hi Standard with 7 1/4" fluted bbl. I shot it very well in slow fire with iron sights, but the (apparent) increased movement of the front sight would throw me off during timed and rapid fire. I moved on to a 5 1/2" barrel and it worked out better for me. Unless you are going to shoot formal competition, I'd suggest the 7 inch barrel, with its longer sight radius. The mechanical accuracy of both length of barrels is slow close that that isn't a consideration.

[72AV8R]

My favorite is the 5" Field I made from a new 7". The new 7" has the large dovetail that will take the BME mount for the reflex sight and makes a very clean setup. My old eyes don't see the iron sights like they used to. With the Burris FF3 the front sight is not needed so this worked out the best for me. It shoots better than I can and I like the balance.

[wproct]

I have owned both the 5.5 in heavy bbl and the 7 in bbl, and I prefer both the looks and heft of the 5.5 in heavy bbl. Like so many things, it boils down to personal preference.

[jstanfield103]

72AV8R,
Love that shooting rest. Do you have any specifications on it. I think, I would like to make one.

[72AV8R]

Originally Posted by jstanfield103

72AV8R,
Love that shooting rest. Do you have any specifications on it. I think, I would like to make one.

PM sent, don't want to hijack thread.

[PALADIN85020]

OK, I'm a traditionalist. I like a longer sighting radius, and after all, this IS a target gun. My one and only Model 41, spawned in 1971.

John


(click for larger view)

[rich5674]

After watching the prices of older 41s I decided to buy a new 5.5” model. After a recoil spring change the pistol is reliable and accurate. From a rest I was hitting clay pigeons at 50yds. I’d buy that 5.5 again.

[Dave686]

Okay, here is why I think I wanted the 7”.

This is a range toy. I have zero desire to carry this into the woods or even buy a holster for it.

Weight is pretty much meaningless to me. Actually, I generally prefer heavier to lighter.

Balance is kinda important. That’s why I started this thread, it was implied the 5.5 has much better balance then the 7”. I doubt that would impact me much; but I don’t know that.

I thought that the longer sight radius of the longer barrel would aid the shooter (me) in accuracy. But of course that is on the shooter.

However… trying to find a used Model 41 at less than the $1030 new price hasn’t panned out. I’ve kinda decided to go with the Ruger Mark IV Competition. I’ve never been one to apply common sense to gun transactions, but at $560 the Ruger makes better sense. But I could change my mind yet again today.

[Patrick L]

I would opt for the longer bbl if irons are the plan. I agree, longer sight radius helps. Not to say some phenomenal shooting can't be done with irons on the shorter barrel, but IME length just helps.

In fact, a long 41 is on my own bucket list.

[BE Mike]

Originally Posted by Dave686

Okay, here is why I think I wanted the 7”.

This is a range toy. I have zero desire to carry this into the woods or even buy a holster for it.

Weight is pretty much meaningless to me. Actually, I generally prefer heavier to lighter.

Balance is kinda important. That’s why I started this thread, it was implied the 5.5 has much better balance then the 7”. I doubt that would impact me much; but I don’t know that.

I thought that the longer sight radius of the longer barrel would aid the shooter (me) in accuracy. But of course that is on the shooter.

However… trying to find a used Model 41 at less than the $1030 new price hasn’t panned out. I’ve kinda decided to go with the Ruger Mark IV Competition. I’ve never been one to apply common sense to gun transactions, but at $560 the Ruger makes better sense. But I could change my mind yet again today.

My experience with Ruger Mark pistols is outdated. Way back in the day the bull barrel models would shoot as accurately as a S&W model 41. If that still holds true, you have made a good decision. The only thing I didn't care for (very personal) is the grip angle and the trigger. I think that Volquartsen has a great trigger kit that would be a wise investment. Of course Ruger also has their 1911 grip Marks now too!

[jstanfield103]

Congratulations on the Ruger Mark IV Competition.

You will love the 6" Slab Sided Barrel and competition grips that come on that pistol. They are very accurate, and if you put the Volquartsen trigger kit in it, the trigger will be as good if not better than the model 41. I have two Mark IV's, Hunter and 22/45 Tactical. Both with the Volquartsen trigger kits and both are outstanding. I had the Mark III competition and it was also very accurate and had the VQ trigger kit in it. Just sold it because I bought the two Mark IV's, which you will enjoy the ease of take down, which is just a hair easier than the model 41.