Missionary
Member
Good morning
Only to those who do not shoot one !
Notice Companies still produce them.. Ruger, Taurus, FA, BFR
Only to those who do not shoot one !
Notice Companies still produce them.. Ruger, Taurus, FA, BFR
Is the .41 magnum an "obsolete" cartridge?
- Thread starter aterry33
- Start date
mike from st pete
Member
Obsolete
Along with the 41AE and 10mm.
Along with the 41AE and 10mm.
.41AE is obsolete? Wait till I tell the boys...they thought they were just on vacation.
bobelk99
Member
That's sort of like asking if the 22 Jet is an obsolete cartridge
.
mike from st pete
Member
To some if it ain't 45ACP it ain't worthy of shootin'.
Maybe not obsolete but pretty near extinct, in my opinion are all the AEs, Widley Magnums, 9mm Largo, Styer, Baynard, and the other 9mms that came out to make Major in the assorted shooting games. .30 caliber Luger, Mauser and 7.62x25, and the 30 Nagant.
I'm not saying the guns that fire these rounds are worthless. Anybody still shooting .32 rimfire? How about the 41 rimfire? Things just naturally evolve and some survive other go extinct. Now where did I put my buggy whip?
Maybe not obsolete but pretty near extinct, in my opinion are all the AEs, Widley Magnums, 9mm Largo, Styer, Baynard, and the other 9mms that came out to make Major in the assorted shooting games. .30 caliber Luger, Mauser and 7.62x25, and the 30 Nagant.
I'm not saying the guns that fire these rounds are worthless. Anybody still shooting .32 rimfire? How about the 41 rimfire? Things just naturally evolve and some survive other go extinct. Now where did I put my buggy whip?
Your right mike, many gun owners don't know squat about the guns or ammo they carry, other than what they read about... or see in a movie.
If a gun or cartridge doesn't get celebrity endorsements, they are doomed for extinction.
If a gun or cartridge doesn't get celebrity endorsements, they are doomed for extinction.
Combat_Diver
US Veteran
I haven't bought any factory centerfire pistol cartridges in over a decade (course been deployed most of the time). However, I cut my teeth reloading for my uncles M57 8.375", then came about a dozen M57/657/58s from Smith, a 14" TC bbl and a Marlin 1894S all in .41. Heck, I'm giving my oldest son my only .44 Mag! Missed out getting a 357PD but would love to see Smith come out with a 357XL Steath Hunter.
Smith is currently cataloging M57s 4"&6"(blue/nickel), M58 (blue/nickel), 2.5" M657, 2.5" M357NG which ain't bad for a obsolete cartridge when they dropped the only one .41 mag that they were making (657, 7.5").
CD
aka .41 nut
Smith is currently cataloging M57s 4"&6"(blue/nickel), M58 (blue/nickel), 2.5" M657, 2.5" M357NG which ain't bad for a obsolete cartridge when they dropped the only one .41 mag that they were making (657, 7.5").
CD
aka .41 nut
Factory ammo?
Yeah, With handloads being so economical and versatile, I really think they prove their usefulness in cartridges like this one. Just had a Model 57 given to me by a best friend and am looking forward to doing some shooting with it. Feels like the perfect handgun for me.When I bought my .41, the dealer threw in a box of shells. I couldn't afford them on a cop's salary back then.
That's the last box of factory ammo I ever fired through a .41.
I'm like P@R Fan, The .41 mag and I may be obsolete, but we ain't got the memo yet.
I sure hope that the .41 Magnum isn't obsolete! I'd have to throw away all of the brass, bullets, reloading dies, etc. that I have in that caliber! 
JWintergreen
Member
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The .41 Magnum is a wonderful performer, but it was a huge mistake in one aspect from a marketing and practicality stand point.
That would be bullet diameter. It is simply too close to the .44 Magnum in size (.410 vs .429). It should have been a true .40 caliber Magnum from the start.
A six shot .40 Caliber Magnum in a medium frame/L frame sized revolver would have gone over much better. That would have also given the .357 Magnum a much better home 16 years before the L frame finally did show up. A six shot .41 Magnum is confined to an N frame sized revolver, and most folks (then and now) do not see why you should spend the extra coin, when you can get a six shot .44 Magnum on the same frame size.
The .401 Powermag is the cartridge that the industry should have gotten behind.
That would be bullet diameter. It is simply too close to the .44 Magnum in size (.410 vs .429). It should have been a true .40 caliber Magnum from the start.
A six shot .40 Caliber Magnum in a medium frame/L frame sized revolver would have gone over much better. That would have also given the .357 Magnum a much better home 16 years before the L frame finally did show up. A six shot .41 Magnum is confined to an N frame sized revolver, and most folks (then and now) do not see why you should spend the extra coin, when you can get a six shot .44 Magnum on the same frame size.
The .401 Powermag is the cartridge that the industry should have gotten behind.
Regardless of what could have been, the nicest workhorse revolver for backpacking and horse backing in remote country is the lowly Model 58 loaded with quality 210 grain JSP or JHP. My favorite is the current Federal 210 JHP.
Miami_JBT
US Veteran
Not in my book.
SuperMan
Member
Things keep going downhill when it comes to guns available in .41 Magnum...it is down to:
Ruger Blackhawk in two barrel lengths
Freedom Arms 97 and 83 in several barrel lengths
S&W 57 Classic in 6"
Henry lever guns in brass and steel in two barrel lengths..
...really sad for such a great round...
...and speaking of rounds...there is even MORE factory ammo available in both Magnum and now .41 Special than when I originally posted in 2010...
As to the comment above about a mistake being made over choosing the .410 diameter over the .401...would have to agree.
The .41 Magnum must still have something going for it...whenever Ruger makes a Distributor Special limited run, they sell off pretty quickly...and according to Freedom Arms one of their most requested calibers is .41...go figure...
Bob
Ruger Blackhawk in two barrel lengths
Freedom Arms 97 and 83 in several barrel lengths
S&W 57 Classic in 6"
Henry lever guns in brass and steel in two barrel lengths..
...really sad for such a great round...
...and speaking of rounds...there is even MORE factory ammo available in both Magnum and now .41 Special than when I originally posted in 2010...
As to the comment above about a mistake being made over choosing the .410 diameter over the .401...would have to agree.
The .41 Magnum must still have something going for it...whenever Ruger makes a Distributor Special limited run, they sell off pretty quickly...and according to Freedom Arms one of their most requested calibers is .41...go figure...
Bob
Last edited:
IrishFritz
Member
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I've adopted the rule that I need to handload for every gun I own and I need to have enough components to keep the gun shooting for quite some time. I had the feeling when Biden was elected that I'd better stock up when I could and I did. True, 41magnum has never been as popular as the 44 magnum but in my opinion commercial success does not always equate to excellence. The 41 magnum is a exceptionally versatile to handlload for and the N frame Smith's from the 70's are beautifully made. I suspect that 41 mag will always have a loyal following just as many other classic cartridges such as 6.5X55 Swede and 300 Savage. We can't all be addicted to tactical Tupperware after-all ....
gwpercle
Member
I like mine , shoot it a lot and shoot it often .
But I also cast bullets and reload ammo so... ammo isn't a problem .
From light target wadcutter loads to heavy hunting loads , not a problem .
Have taken several wild hogs with mine ... it will keall !!!
Gary
But I also cast bullets and reload ammo so... ammo isn't a problem .
From light target wadcutter loads to heavy hunting loads , not a problem .
Have taken several wild hogs with mine ... it will keall !!!
Gary
BACK to the original QUESTION
THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO.
THE LONG ANSWER is HELL NO.
THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO.
THE LONG ANSWER is HELL NO.
Well, I will throw my 0.02 in, even though this thing is eleven years old. For years I’ve watched all the arguments about the .41 Magnum. I’ve always thought if you had a .41, you didn’t need a .44, and vice-versa. Of course I have both.
If I had to choose one or the other, it would be tough - but I doubt that either way it would make much practical difference. If you load for the .41, it is wise to keep a good supply of brass. Brass for the .44 will always be more readily available. That’s the main difference, IMO.
For years I’ve watched all the arguments about the .41 Magnum. I’ve always thought if you had a .41, you didn’t need a .44, and vice-versa. Of course I have both. If I had to choose one or the other, it would be tough - but I doubt that either way it would make much practical difference. If you load for the .41, it is wise to keep a good supply of brass. Brass for the .44 will always be more readily available. That’s the main difference, IMO.
