First, I would like to see the .41 Special become an official cartridge. Then I would like to see an L-Frame (or possibly even a K-Frame) chambered for the round.

A true .41 Special would not generate much, if any, more pressure than a .38 Special and certainly way under a .357 Mag. From what I have been reading, the .41 Special is a really accurate round and would make a good SD round, as well.

I have checked on the brass in this caliber. Midway had it but too expensive. As an owner of a S&W 57 , I like the 41 special . This was Elmer keith's last and favorite caliber. I believe you could make a 5 shot L frame. I was trying for a 40 s&w in a similar sized gun.

Some time back I read where a fellow modified a 686 for .41 Special. Don't remember much about it, but it seemed like a good idea to me.

Groo here
There is a smith that makes 10mm conversions of GP-100 rugers.
You could shoot 40 s&w or 10mm with the worlds best speed loaders,
and 6 shots..... A 686 should be doable.

I've gotten into shooting .41 Long Colt a bit. Picked up a neato Colt Army Special 4-inch from 1925. The Army Special is about the same size as an L-Frame. It wouldn't be practical to bring back the old obsolete .41 Long Colt as there are too many old wheezer Colt New Army and New Navy revolvers about and the cartridge couldn't be jazzed up at all or the old things would blow a gasket. Still, the old cartridge ain't half bad as is, shooting a 200 grain blunt nose lead bullet at 750 fps. I'm sure the Army Special could easily be handloaded to better performance than the factory load offers.

A .41 Special would be a great idea for a personal defense round, stoked up with some 200 grain bullets of various styles.

The gunsmith David Clements formerly converted 6 shot 686s into 6 shot 10 millimeters and 6 shot .41 specials. About a year and a half ago a picture of one of his .41 special conversions of a 686 Mountain Gun was posted on the Rugerforum. The only S&W frame Clements currently works on is the N frame. He still converts .357 GP 100s into 6 shot .41 specials and 6 shot 10 millimeters. I'd love to hear from Clements himself why he quit converting L frames. Other forum members have questioned the safety margin left in steel 686 cylinders reamed out to 10 mm. I have no doubt a .41 special 686 conversion would be safe at .38 special pressures but some reloaders couldn't resist testing the deeper waters. Clements' .41 Mountain Gun conversion looked to me like Elmer keith's early 1960s dream cop gun.

Clements Custom Guns

k22fan,
Good info, thanks a lot.

We've talking about this a bit in another section. Nice photo of a Bowen 686 conversion there. Wish as much as we want, I don't think Smith and Wesson will make us one.

Why can't I stop thinking about an L-Frame 41 Special conversion?

Westczek

I think the main stumbling block is that the .41 Special is technically a wildcat cartridge. It shouldn't be. It should have been introduced when the .41 Mag was. I think the .41 caliber would be a lot more popular today than it is if it had been.

But until/if it becomes an official cartridge, we are not going to see anything in the caliber from anyone. -- but I sure would like to see a medium frame .41 Special.

hey great idea but if everyone remembers they made a k-frame in .40 caliber as a performance center gun or something. Seemed like a neat idea but maybe they didnt sell enough. On the other hand they may be conservative in their marketing decisions and go where they think the most business is. I believe an L-frame has a large enough cylinder considering years ago they made .44 special (model 696) revolvers. I give up waiting on them.

I'm sure Smith wouldn't think there's enough market. But it is a great cartridge. I sure like the Ruger single six chambered for it in a 5 shot.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

You are probably correct in that Smith wouldnt build due to their concerns regarding a lack of market for the product. But consider what could result from freshening up the N-frame product lines with a .41 Special. Or the possibility of a good L-frame model too. What happened to all the hype about CNC machining and CAD-CAM capabilities from years ago. They could turn a limited run and probably make a profit too. Oh what do we know. Its too bad as they havent had anything in the product line as far as revolvers are concerned that caused me to want to part with any money. We can dream.

I wouldn't buy a new Smith either even in 41 Spl, not with the politically correct internal lock. Also Smith would no doubt make the wrong configuration for my liking; frame size, grip frame shape, barrel length, etc. There's too many old models out there that are common enough to be inexpensive and easily converted.

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Jim
S&WCA #819