Who uses/used .41 Magnum?

[Hair Trigger]

I have a 6" M57 and a M58, both S prefix guns. I take one or the other about every third range outing and will shoot maybe 24 rounds each time I go. I wanted to get a Henry Big Boy in .41 Magnum but the LGS said they were hard to come by, so I settled for one in .45 Colt, with no regrets.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Had my 4" M-57 since 1980 though I haven't fired it in years. Keeping saying "someday" I will get another, also a long arm-a Henry. I was an active reloader years ago, had mine for 10 years before I fired factory ammunition. I like large bore DA revolvers, curious that they went out of fashion. The 41 Magnum was supposed to fill that "caliber gap" that fascinates shooters and be the "ideal" LEO round. Didn't work for a variety of reasons.

 

[madmikeb]

I've long been a fan of .41 mag, at one point I had 4 in the collection. These days I'm down to two, and I've had these since the early 80's. Both were tuned by Andy Cannon and they're both tack drivers. In all honesty though, neither one has been out of the safe for years.

 

[tlawler]

I’m a rookie…I’ve only got 3, M57, M58, both 4 inchers and a 657 snubbie.

 

[gunbarrel]

I'm 69 years old, and I have never owned a .41 Mag...until last week. I found out about one that was being sold locally on consignment, and I bought it. It's a Model 58 no-dash in nickel finish, LNIB, with all the paper work and accessories. The accessories plastic bag has never been opened. Made in 1972-74 (N series), this revolver has the best DA and SA of any of my pistols, ever.

 

[Erich]

I've owned a few, but no more.
I love the caliber.
It might be the most accurate handgun round I've ever loaded across the board; makes a handloader look good. Got out of it because I just don't need to keep so much stuff around, I don't hunt and the .41 turns out not to do anything that I couldn't do cheaper (in terms of time and money) with the more common stuff.
But I'll always love it.

 

[Doug M.]

My first firearm and first duty weapon was an M58. I made "friends" on the range when I qualified using the hunting load (210 JSP). I still have it; it has been customized a bit. My usually duty load was the 175 grain SilverTip, and I carried 3 speed loaders.

 

[rockquarry]

Reasons I've never owned one or been interested (but have fired one)...

Heavy recoil with warmer loads, similar to the the .44 Magnum, so might as well go with the slightly larger cartridge.

I can't see any advantage in using anything but cast bullets in any handgun chambering. There is not the broad selection of bullet moulds for the .41 as there is for the .44 Magnum (and .44 Special). However, you can override this drawback by going with one of the custom mould makers these days, even if such moulds are more expensive than off-the-rack standard moulds.

Hard to imagine what advantage the .41 would have over .44.

I'll assume these guns (S&W ?) are in current production. S&W stopped making them for a good while years ago because they were not popular. Many wanted one then, so I guess that's a way to make an unpopular gun popular.

I offer no criticism directed toward .41 Magnum shooters and handloaders. We all have different tastes in everything. Shoot what you enjoy. What others think means nothing. I have oddball stuff that many would laugh at or criticize, but that's okay, too. We need no reason to justify a hobby interest.

 

[mchom]

I love the 41

Here are a few...
2- 4" 57s
2- 58's
1- 4" 657
1- 3" 657
1- 4" Ruger Blackhawk

 

[Jeff423]

Over the years I've owned three: 2 - 57's and 1 Ruger. I thought they were fine but after I bought a DW .44 and several barrels I sold the last one and my Model 29.
I probably won't buy another because I sold my .41 dies and components.
However I just found 30 Hornady 210 gr HP/XTP's that I would be happy to give someone in the metropolitan St. Louis area.

 

[CH4]

I have two of the first run 3" 657s, just because they're desirable. Only fired one of them and that was probably 7-8 years ago.

 

[Mike0251]

Great revolver and load for it too. Its keeping company with my DW SB in 10mm.

 

[colt_saa]

I have two of the first run 3" 657s, just because they're desirable. Only fired one of them and that was probably 7-8 years ago.

I think these are just about the coolest snubbies.

Mine got me out of a traffic ticket back in late 1991.

It was before I came on at HPD as a member of their EOC, about a year before Hurricane Andrew came through South Florida

An HPD Patrolman pulled me over and was so enamored with the 657 when he saw it on my hip that he had me unload it so he could dry fire it right on Hollywood BLVD.

We never talked about the Traffic Stop and he never got around to asking for my creds.

Strange what can bring us together, we were friends for almost two decades

You refer to yours as First Run

So those would both be ANDxxxx serial numbered revolvers?

 

[lkabug]

Ii have a model 57 and 58. Both smooth as silk. Very accurate guns.

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

The .41 magnum is the best all around revolver cartridge yet.

 

[msp2640]

The 41 Mag and the 10mm are my 2 favorite centerfire pistol calibers. Picked up a 1076 when they were new and I when I bought it, the shop had a used old model Ruger Blackhawk, in 41, that had some bluing loss. I went home with them and still have both. Think that was 1989/90? I load and cast for both calibers. Now have 2 more 10mms here, but atleast 5 more 41s now. Plenty of other calibers here, but I was always a fan of the "underdog" or less loved calibers! Glad the 10 is making a comeback and the 41 is still hanging around! Cheers, Bill in MA

 

[RobertJ.]

I was raised in SE Alaska. When I was 11, my dad bought a 4 5/8" Ruger BH in .41 Magnum, and that's one of the handguns I learned to shoot with. By the time I was 13, I could shoot it better than most of his friends. But my first revolver was a Virginian Dragoon in .44 Magnum. I bought this when I was 19, and started reloading for it at practically the same time. I like the .41, and if I saw a nice 57 or 58 I just might buy it, but I've never sought one out since there is absolutely nothing that it will do that the .44 Magnum can't do better.

For the poll I checked "used to own one" but it was actually my dad. There should have been a box for "other".

 

[SuperMan]

..have owned "a few".

.41 Magnum / 41 Special Load Data Center

Favorite DA revolver is the 57/657/58 4"...just nothing better.

Bob

 

[SuperMan]

Starline brass sells a shortened ".41 Special case". Even though the .41 mag did not develop from a shorter "special" cartridge (like the .357 and 44 Mag did), Starline came up with "if there was a .41 Special, this is what it would be" fantasy brass. I bought some, and I love them. It, sure makes it easier to have reduced loads, and you're likely not going to get the two confused, unlike using regular .41 mag cases for reduced loads.

...not quite the whole story...

The shortened .41 case has been around for a while but about 18 years ago a friend of mine who is on the boards as ddixie contracted with Starline to make a run of brass...he paid for 65k cases up front plus the cost of having the headstamp die made.

After that initial run was made it was a good 10 years before Starline added it to their regular production...

Bob

 

[Erich]

...not quite the whole story...

The shortened .41 case has been around for a while but about 18 years ago a friend of mine who is on the boards as ddixie contracted with Starline to make a run of brass...he paid for 65k cases up front plus the cost of having the headstamp die made.

After that initial run was made it was a good 10 years before Starline added it to their regular production...

Bob

Yes. Good post, amigo.