I'll prefix this by saying that both of these calibers from S&W are on my 2022 radar. I'm going to end up most likely with both a Model 25 and a Model 57. So, what's the difference between the two.? Recoil is not an issue, I'd just like to have some feedback as to peoples' perceptions of both wheel guns.

I really like the 41 in any N-frame; I currently have an M58. The 45 Colt is fine as well, but I sold a 25 years ago and now prefer the 625-8 and use 45 Auto Rim brass to get heavy bullets (250-255 grain) at 900 fps just like the 45 Colt. I'd bet you'll be happy with either.

Forty-two thousandths of an inch. They are both great calibers and fun to shoot. Your powder selection will impact your shooting experience more than the caliber difference.

I've had both. They are remarkably similar except the 45 Colt punches bigger holes in the paper. The M57 I had was worth a bunch so I sold it.

At the time I had a 29-2, a 25-5 and the 57-1. The M57 would not do all the things the M29 could. You can load either down to subsonic levels.

Generally it seems to me the M57 just fills a hole in your collection. It's not the answer to any question I ever had.

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S&WHF #946
S&WCA #3824

You can load the .41 hotter. I have both and shoot the same load in both. A cast swc over 7.0 or 7.5 of Unique. The .45 can be loaded hot, but not in the Smith.

I have both and reload for both. I just really like them, so will continue on with both cartridges (not calibers).

Here is my .45 Caliber family with two cartridges; .45 Colt and .45 ACP. They are Models 25 and 625.



Here are a couple of the .41 magnums in my collection...still need a 57:


A pair of 657 no dash 3" revolvers.


A 657-2 Classic Hunter


And a Model 58 (still ANIB).

Whichever you choose you will not lose.

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No good deed goes unpunished.

I have both and much prefer the 41.

Thanks everyone for the input, much appreciated.

Both of these cartridges perform superbly in handguns and long guns, I doubt that you would be displeased with other if you had to pick just one.

While I own, hand load for and shoot both of these fine chamberings, I own more 41 Magnums by a ratio of 3:2

Truth be told, if I had not gotten involved in nostalgic endeavors like Cowboy Action Shooting years before picking up and firing my first 41 Magnum, I may never have started down the path of the 45 Long Colt

From the handloading standpoint there is probably double the projectile selection for the 45 Long Colt. If you cast your own this is not a issue, you can have a mold custom made to your specifications .

At SAAMI limited pressures, the 41 Magnum will produce more energy. However the SAAMI spec on the 45 Long colt is there to protect older guns

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"Acta non verba"

Either gun (in an S&W N-frame, 4” barrel) will easily throw a 220-260 grain LSWC at 900 FPS, which is all I care to shoot these days. The .45 you might safely boost another 100 FPS or so. The .41 can thrown the 220 at very close to 1400 FPS, or maybe a tiny bit more. How much power do you need or want?

There are some issues with 25s that I have not seen in any 57, viz.: overly large cylinder exit bores, and guns that do not shoot to the sights. Both of these issues are difficult and expensive to fix, but usually one can find a work-around. 57s are generally pretty straight guns and shoot well with just about any reasonable load. No work-arounds needed. 25s, not so much.

Those are my quick and to the point impressions. I’m sure others will disagree.

More reloading options and far more factory ammo options with the 45 Colt as well.

Model 57 for me. I have collected S&W revolvers for 47 years. But bought my first .41 mag last year. Can not believe I did not get this great caliber 30 years ago!

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V/r,
Markham

I agree on several points made above.
1- Not much available in .41 bullets, lots of stuff in .45 Colt. Of course, you can cast your own in either caliber.
2- The .41 is an arse-kicking round, and you'll know it when you pull the trigger on full-boat loads. .45C in a S&W M25 is more Casper Milquetoast; really nice to shoot a lot, still has some recoil, only no sharp sting. The .45C can be loaded to around 1000 fps with a 250 grain bullet in a M25, that's pretty hot for that gun, although you can go much higher on a Contender or carbine. .41M can go about 1400 fps with a 210 grain bullet.
3-No S&W collection is really complete without at least one of each. I have a "S" prefix M57 and a "S" prefix M58, and a M25-5.

I could stay at the range all day with the .45C, but I'm ready to give my hand a rest with the .41's after about 15-20 rounds. I do reload, so I tend to reduce the magnum loads a bit, but I keep a supply of full loads around. The cartridges are similar in size but looking at the charge holes in the respective cylinders, you see how much bigger the .45C is in diameter.

The M25-5 is the nickel gun, M57 above and M58 below. .45C load is on the right, .41M on the left.

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A 41 magnum is an orphan looking for a home. Where is the ammo or fired brass? The indoor range has maybe 100 pieces of 41 mag brass, but two five gallon buckets of 45 Colt or 44 Magnum fired brass.

Try and find 41 bullets -- jacketed or cast. They are Unobtainium that are OUT OF STOCK, NO Backorders accepted. A heavy 357 mag bullet can be loaded to almost 41 mag light bullet energy levels. A light 45 Colt bullet can almost achieve heavy 41 mag bullet energy levels.

45 Colt bullets range from 200 grain FRN or SWC to 255 grain jacketed or cast bullets. Just from simple availability of ammo or components, 45 Colt is head and shoulders above 41 mag. You can't buy what isn't on the shelf.

Four years ago, I saw a box of 50 Winchester 41 Mag on the shelf for $45+ next to boxes of 44 mag or 45 Colt that were priced at $35.

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S&WHF 366

Everglades Ammo is my go-to for .41 bullets and brass (new Starline). If they are out, it usually isn't for long. When stuff is in stock, I usually get my order within 3-4 days. Their prices are well in line with the market, maybe a bit less.

As far as supplies go, I get my .38/357, .38 Super, .40/10mm, .45 Auto and .45 Colt brass and bullets there, too.

They have no stock. Brass: Handgun and Rifle Brass

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S&WHF #946
S&WCA #3824

Sadly the 45 Colt in a regular Smith cannot be used to it's full power potential.
It can in a 460 but not great accuracy wise.

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Have Fun/Stay Safe

Apples and oranges in the S&W revolvers.

For hunting the 41 Magnum would be best.

I will admit to hunting with a M25-5 in 8 and 3/8 and a Keith bullet with his load. I would limit this loads use in the S&W.

I recently started looking for 45 Colt ammo and components. I found the Remington and Winchester standard loadings of 50 rounds of lead 250-255 gr bullets for $98.00 a box. Brass is at a high price, if you can find it at all. The Hornady 250 gr XTP can be found at a good price and has a good rep for expanding at possible velocities of the 45 Colt. Plenty of good cast bullets are available. Havent done the same looking for the 41 Magnum, so cant say on that.

I think that you'd find both fine revolvers and that you'd enjoy either.

I've owned both caliber revolvers (Models 57, 58 and 25-5) and I've reloaded extensively for both. I never could get the 45 Colt to shoot as accurately as either the Model 57 or 58 using either cast or jacketed bullets. In the end, the 25-5 went down the road and the two 41 caliber revolvers remain at home with me.

My two 41 Magnums. I carried the Model 58 for several years as my service revolver on the PD.

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Keep your powder dry.

I don't have a 45 colt revolver.

But I do have a 41 magnum classic hunter 657-3.

It has a better trigger than any other N frame I have.

As far as the recoil issue is concerned, I stocked up a while back on 41 Magnum Cowboy loads which are pleasant to shoot. Also have a good supply of full power loads.

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I bought 100 .45C cases (Starline) and 250 plated 250 grain flat nose bullets from Everglades two weeks ago; I paid $65/100 for the brass and $71/250 for the bullets. This week, I found .38 Super for $39/100 for brass and $79/500 for 125 grain JHP's, which I can also use in my .38/.357 loads. Like most other calibers, availability varies and while you can't find anything one week, the next will be different, depending on what you're looking for. The premium stuff like Hornady seems to be on permanent backorder, and costs an arm and a leg when you do find it. I find the plated bullets work just fine for most shooting at the range, and if I do find good defensive stuff, I'll load and store it.

I look frequently to see what is available in what caliber, and haven't had a lot of problems finding pistol reloading supplies. What I can't find with any regularity is primers, and I don't think I'm alone in that search.

I have both and enjoy shooting them both. I have also hunted deer with both and regardless of caliber the deer always went down on the first shot.

I guess I like the 41 slightly better, just BECAUSE it is an orphan. Not many have them, thus it always garners attention.

Over this past Winter I have bought 41 Boolits several times and never encountered a problem. OTOH, getting .45's sized right for my 25-5 HAS been an issue.

My club's indoor range recently had a rule change. No more magnums allowed. You can't simply load down, if the case head says magnum, it's a no-no.

No problem, Starline sells .41 Special Wildcat. Had a box delivered in a few days and back out to the range I went.

I have never owned a 45 Colt, but many 45 ACP's, and a whole herd of 41 Mags. I chose the 41 Mag many years ago....it will do pretty much everything I want to do with a handgun.

By all means, buy BOTH

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On the Oak Savannah

In a S&W I prefer the 41 Magnum .
Too many reasons to list .
If you cast bullets and reload you can do a lot with the 41 magnum .
My avatar is model 58 S&W , the chambers , throats , forcing cone and bore size are all perfectly sized ... the gun is extremely accurate with almost any load , light or heavy , and has the uncanny habit of grouping just about every load very close to POA .
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

I think your only reasonable options are to have both!!

In the early 80's I bought a Ruger Blackhawk .41 Mag., from a friend for his price (what he paid for it when stationed in Alaska) and I think I fired it three or four times. Then I went looking for a rifle/carbine for that caliber and found one in the early 90's. Marlin was the only company that had one that I trusted so a Marlin went into the lineup of shoot'n irons. A few more years down the road and my brother (who has gotten more good deals on guns then anyone I knew up to that time) found a Model 57 S prefix S&W and I bought it for 4 Franklins. I then sold the Blackhawk to a local friend for a sum which paid me back half the cost of the Smith. I hate cleaning guns so I haven't fired either in ages. When spring comes that will change.

A few years back I was able to get a Winchester .45 Colt rifle for a stupid cheap amount of money and kept it in the lockup for a time, then this last year or two ago I decided I couldn't let it remain alone when there are good guns out there that also need a companion. A .45 Colt Ruger Bisley Model revolver NIB showed up at my LGS and the proper companion was introduced to the Winchester 94. It was desire at first sight and I'm waiting for all the little .45's to come along soon.

I remember reading a feature-length article in, I think, GUNS & AMMO when the .41 Magnum came out. I don't recall seeing much in print about the cartridge after that, except for ads.

I've never had a .41 Magnum revolver and never had much interest in the cartridge, but if I was looking for something new to work with, I'd likely give it a try and go with a 6" barreled Model 57. I'd also pick up several bullet moulds in varying weights above 200 grains.

As for the .45 Colt, I've had at least three revolvers and three rifles/ carbines since 1977 when I became interested in the cartridge. I've never seen a need or advantage in using anything but cast bullets in any handgun cartridge. After loading cast bullets in these guns for about forty years, I lost all interest in the .45 Colt and turned entirely to the .44 Special, another cartridge I have worked with since the '70s.

Nothing wrong with the .45 Colt, but one can do everything with the slightly smaller cartridge that he can with the .45 Colt, even if the .44 Special lacks the nostalgic aspect of the .45 Colt. Regardless, like all handgun chamberings, the .45 Colt is a fine and powerful cast bullet cartridge. There is no need to load it hot. Just get a .44 Magnum if you need hot.

By virtue of the responses, you have the ardent supporters of the 41 Magnum, and ardent opponents of the 41 Magnum ... which should be read as, the 41 Magnum is a cult cartridge.

Personally, I fell for the 41 Magnum cartridge about 45 years ago, and got to fire it in a police issue Model 58 about 40 years ago. Sadly, I wasn't able to get my Model 57 until the late '90s. Before the 57 arrived, I had almost 400 cases and a couple of Lyman molds. Once the 57 arrived, I developed a soft shooting load using WW231 and my cast 215gr SWC.

Honestly, while I like the Model 25 as an AR cartridge, I've never had the urge to get one, since my 45 need evolves around bullseye shooting. With just one good arm now, I am not looking to develop mountain moving loads, so the 41 Magnum and my 3" 629 loaded with 44 Specials meets my needs. Additionally, all I see myself needing is Unique for the Skeeter loads, and I'm very content.

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Judge control not gun control!

I've been shooting the .41 in a 58 for 40 years and recently added a 6" 57. I also shoot a .45 ACP 1917.

Most of my shooting these days is 9mm, .38 & .357 so I only load about 1000 rounds of .41 each year. At that rate I have components on the shelf to last me a decade. Availability of brass and bullets is the only thing I see that would make the .45 Colt preferable.

I would love to add a both an N frame .45 Colt and a .44 Special but haven't found either at a price I can force myself to spend. Those are WANTS. My .41s honestly fulfill my NEEDS.

Is the OPs original question about the calibers in a S&W revolver or about the calibers in general! The 45LC does not get used to it's potential because of its black powder heritage! The 45LC has the ability to run with the 44 Mag when used in a stronger gun. I have an Encore in 460 with a 20" barrel and have loaded the 45LC, from the Hornady web site, to shoot a 225 Hornady FTX at 1551fps. This load killed a deer at 300yds+!
jcelect

Never had any accuracy issues with the .45 Colt round. None with the .41 Magnum either.

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I have several revolvers in both cartridges. The only way to suggest one over the other one has to clarify the desired use. They are really quite different in performance but they can overlap.

41 magnum shoots much flatter than 45 Colt, especially within the limits with a S&W revolver. The flat shooting 41 is not only beneficial for longer range shooting. I hunt in heavy timber and the 41 can slip a bullet through much tinier holes in the brush than the 45 can. In all the 41’s I’ve owned, past and present, I have never had one that is not very accurate right out of the box. Haven’t been as lucky with 45 Colts. One Smith 25-5 was deplorable no matter how I loaded it. I currently have two 25’s that shoot “lights out”.

I love em both. If forced to pick one, S&W only, and if hunting was my task, I would go with 41 Magnum.

Fun discussion and nice to see the 41 not being compared to 44 magnum.

Dan

I've never tried the .41 Magnum. I only own 2 .44 magnums. I rifle and one revolver. I don't shoot them much. I've just never cared for beating myself up with the big magnums.
OTOH, I'm a huge fan of the .45 Colt. Thoroughly enjoy shooting this cartridge and love the N-frame Smiths cambered for it. A 250-255gr lead bullet at around 800-900 fps is pleasant to shoot and will go completely through your average whitetail deer. Why do you need more than that?

Acme bullet has 41 cast bullets. 41

...I see i am not alone... Have had at least a half dozen .45 S&W revolvers but none of them have been a "Colt"...all of them including the two I have now are ACPs... Only .45 Colts I've had have all been single action Colt SAAs or Ruger Blackhawks. I've shot more .41 Magnum in an afternoon that .45 Colt in 55 years of handgun shooting.

As to available bullets...commercial casters make them in weights from 165 HPs to 295 grain SSK TC Elephant Killers...

Jacketed bullets are available from Swift, Barnes, Hornady, Sierra, Speer, Cutting Edge, Reed's, Hawk and probably more... Then there is the plated bullets for lead free shooting from Berry's and X-Treme...

.41 just does everything I need to get done with a revolver...

Bob

The Model 57 came home with me today. Simply put, a beautiful piece.

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I've shot some .45 LC handguns, but they've never interested me enough to own one.

I have loaded for the .41 Mag for years and really dig the caliber in pistols and rifles. These are the three .41 Mag Smiths I currently own. The 657 on the bottom left is the gun constantly mislabeled as a Lew Horton edition .41 Mag. It ain't. The one above it is the real thing.

I've owned only one .357 Mag, a Blackhawk, and sold it to buy a .41 Mag BH. Best gun decision I ever made. Loved that gun. Shot it very well, much better than the .44 Mag BH. No experience with the .45 Colt but never heard anyone say they hated it. I would not base the choice of either on current supply issues.

My choice? That’s easy.

I have 45 colts in 3 1/2", 4" 4 1/4". 5"(2),6", 61/2" and even one made into a 16 1/2" revolving carbine. I have a nicely converted 455 Tiple lock that shoots 45 colts. The 3 1/2" and the 4" have their cylinders cut to fire 45 acp in full moon clips. My standard load is 18.5 gr of 2400 behind a 255 Cast Keith bullet. That gets me around 1100fps from a 6" gun

I have 0ne lonely 6" model 57.

Think about this. One of the original army specs for a 45 colt was go through a horse at 100yds. I firmly believe it would unless it hit a big bone. If it did hit a big bone that bone is going to be out of commission.

A .452 bullet has a frontal area large enough expansion is not needed to cause a big wound.

The 41 mags only advantage is velocity. But, past 100yds the difference in drop between it and a 45 colt isn't that much and at 150 yds they are both looking like rain bows. I also believe to shoot at game with a handgun past 100yds not only do you have to be an excellent shot, you must be very good at range estimation, knowing your guns ballistics and hold over. Caliber and velocity alone won't cut it

As you and ruger22 have already surmised, you really need both! Although I am not a big game hunter or Cowboy Action Shooter, I do shoot a lot of CAS loads in my .45 Colt Uberti Cattleman six shooter and my Winchester 94AE Trail's End carbine. They're a hoot to shoot! I also shoot .41 Magnum in my Model 57. They're apples and oranges. So why not get one of each? Good luck. Enjoy!

The .41 magnum has been the “red headed stepchild” since it’s introduction. Over the years it has become popular and then faded out several times. It is on a definite downturn now.
Reloading components are hard to find and expensive. In reality it won’t do anything the .44magnum won’t do.
The .45 Colt has been around for over a century and will be around for another I’m sure. It is also very versatile in modern firearms.
The .41 is a great cartridge but it’s stuck in the middle and probably headed for obsolescence like many fine cartridges before it.
That’s just my opinion and not mentioned to offend anyone here. I am a .45 Colt fan so take that into consideration. 😁😎

And so I do!

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Have used both rounds for many years.
Slight favorite edge to the .45Colt.....
But I have taken hogs with each round.....
.41 seemed to preform abit better.