357PD (41 Mag)

Eliakim · Jul 20, 2008

I just picked up a nifty new revolver.

Does anybody know why these things aren't selling well enough to remain in production? It seems to me to be a perfect balance of power and portability for a woods gun. It has plenty of power and accuracy but it does'nt have the hand-numbing shock of a .44 mag 329PD with full house loads.

Eliakim · Jul 20, 2008

Here's the other side.

colt_saa · Jul 20, 2008

The 357PD is a great little gun.

As the decades pass, 41 Magnum firearms fade in and out of production. Do not fear, they will come back again.

Most will tell you it is a problem with dwindling popularity, but I do not buy that. Today we have a greater choice of projectiles for reloading as well as loaded ammunition offerings than anytime in the 41 Magnum's history. This indicates that people are shooting them.

It is true that the 41 Magnum is not as popular as it's Magnum brethren. What I think occurs is that as the much smaller potential market gets satisfied the firearms are discontinued because new retail sales slow. During the phases where firearms production has ceased the remaining new firearms are consumed by the public and the used ones dry up. Thus we have a larger out cry for 41s during this time. This leads to an increase in your letters and E-mails to the factories for new 41s, discussions at the range and on the internet talking about why nothing is offered. So the factories begin making them again. This occurs until the market one again reaches saturation and they are once again discontinued.

I have only been shooting the 41 Magnum since 1981, but there have been at least 3 periods that I can recall with no (or severely limited) production of 41 Magnums. However, we are just coming out of a period that has had astounding variety of 41 production. It has also been the longest period yet containing new introductions for the 41 Magnum family of firearms. Everything from 2 1/2" titanium snubbies to 24" lever actions. With offerings from most all of the big manufacturers.

Duke426 · Jul 20, 2008

Maybe they don't sell because they are revoltingly UGLY!

No disrespect meant to you but that is not an attractive revolver.

The 41 Mag Mountain Gun is much more visually pleasing and ain't that heavy to carry.

JMHO

Eliakim · Jul 20, 2008

Originally posted by colt_saa:

It is true that the 41 Magnum is not as popular as it's Magnum brethren. What I think occurs is that as the much smaller potential market gets satisfied the firearms are discontinued because new retail sales slow. During the phases where firearms production has ceased the remaining new firearms are consumed by the public and the used ones dry up. Thus we have a larger out cry for 41s during this time. This leads to an increase in your letters and E-mails to the factories for new 41s, discussions at the range and on the internet talking about why nothing is offered. So the factories begin making them again. This occurs until the market one again reaches saturation and they are once again discontinued.

Thanks colt_saa. I think the 10mm may be the cartridge that is getting the grease from the gun makers right now while the .41 mag firearms take a back seat.

I'm glad I got my .41 Titanium when I did. The exotic metals are probably getting so expensive that all the Scandium/Titanium guns may soon be a bold part of Smith & Wesson history.

Eliakim · Jul 20, 2008

Originally posted by Duke426:

The 41 Mag Mountain Gun is much more visually pleasing and ain't that heavy to carry.

JMHO

The 41 mag Mountain gun is also out of production.

BTW Duke, All Smith & Wesson revolvers are attractive. You may need to get your eyes checked

animalmother · Jul 20, 2008

One heck of 41 Mag collection, colt_saa! The 357 PD is handsome gun.

Duke426 · Jul 20, 2008

Originally posted by Eliakim:

Originally posted by Duke426:

The 41 Mag Mountain Gun is much more visually pleasing and ain't that heavy to carry.

JMHO

Click to expand...

The 41 mag Mountain gun is also out of production.

BTW Duke, All Smith & Wesson revolvers are attractive. You may need to get your eyes checked

You sir, may need a drug test!

YogiBear · Jul 20, 2008

Aloha,

If the 357PD is anything like my 329PD in recoil, you may Not want to shoot Magnums. It will Hurt.

I don't like shooting my 329 even with 44 spl target loads. Major hurt ot hand. I have never shot 44 mag out of my 329PD because of it.

Jellybean · Jul 20, 2008

Today we have a greater choice of projectiles for reloading...than anytime in the 41 Magnum's history.

I haven't been paying attention lately. What factory Jacketed bullets are available now? The last I looked some of my favorites had been discontinued, along with some bullet moulds.

colt_saa · Jul 20, 2008

Can't help you on a complete list Jellybean. If you E-mail the big manufacturers, most of them will send you a nice full line brochure.

Personally I shoot lots of the 212 SWCs and the 210 Berrys. The Berrys are great for the Desert Eagle.

For jacketed my favorites are the Remington 170 and 200 grain SJHPs. My supply of 170s is down to a few thousnad and they are discontinued so that will end soon.

I still have a few thousand of the Speer Jacket SWC HPs and SPs. Great shooting buller, but not too sexy looking these days.

Late last year I acquired a large stock of 250 JSPs. Can't recall the manucaturer off the top of my head.

As to moulds, you can get anything you want from Mountain Molds if you are willing to wait about two months. Go on his web site and design your own. If you want to duplicate an old projectile, just grab a sample of the pill and a dial caliper.

Jellybean · Jul 20, 2008

Thanks colt-saa, I have plenty of moulds and don't like to buy cast bullets. I was hoping to find a light weight jacketed bullet, less than 170 grains. It seemed there were always 170s, 200s and 210s from several manufacturers but I like a little more variety. That is one thing that irked me when S&W brought out the .40 S&W instead of just using the .41 Action Express, we could have had 135, 155 etc. grain bullets. I do have a few Speer 180 gr. Unicor HPs that were made for the .41AE, they are nice because they were made to funtion with a lower velocity.

SuperMan · Jul 21, 2008

Jellybean... Not too much has changed but we did loose two of my favorite .41 bullets...the Speer 200 grain SWC-HP and the 220 SWC-SP. The 200 was my favorite do anything .41 bullet...

Remington: 200 JHP and 210 JSP

Speer: 210 Gold Dot HP

Hornady: 210 XTP-HP

Sierra: 170 and 210 JHC

Barns: 180 XP

Elikim...I was suprised that S&W ever came out with the 357 in the first place. But you are 100% right...it has the most power one can handle in an AirLite package...the .44 to me is BRUTAL...

I have both the 357 and the Taurus Titanium Tracker...both are great shooters.

Bob

m657 · Jul 21, 2008

The closest Sportsmans Warehouse recently had a much-ignored m357 in their back room gathering dust bunnies. I couldn't get them to come below $740 so I passed on it....although it still pains me to let it sit there.....

SuperMan · Jul 21, 2008

Originally posted by m657:
The closest Sportsmans Warehouse recently had a much-ignored m357 in their back room gathering dust bunnies. I couldn't get them to come below $740 so I passed on it....although it still pains me to let it sit there.....

...just for your information, IF they were still on the market the dealer wholesale would be $781.50...at $740.00 that is only $18.00 over what my wholesaler closed them out at when they were discontinued earlier this year.

Bob

Jellybean · Jul 21, 2008

SuperMan, Thanks, the two Speer SWCs were two of my favorites, along with the Hornady 210gr. CL-SIL bullet I used in my Desert Eagle. I had bought a couple hundred 200 gr. bullets that were used in the 200 gr. fmj IMI load for the .41AE but they have an exposed lead base. While most of my shooting is now going to be with lead bullets my supply of wheel weights is very low. Plus I have mould for every revolver I shoot, and there is one I don't that I want to get a mould for. Why does life have to be so complicated?

By the way, I had most of the manufacturers product flyers on what was available, that's why I was worried.

Cayoot · Jul 21, 2008

Hey Colt_SAA,
How do you like that little Taurus .41? I've been wanting to find a short bbl .41 (prefer Mont Gun or the 357PD, but they are as scarce as hens teeth!)

Do you find it reliable and reasonably accurate?

colt_saa · Jul 21, 2008

Originally posted by Cayoot:
Hey Colt_SAA,
How do you like that little Taurus .41? I've been wanting to find a short bbl .41 (prefer Mont Gun or the 357PD, but they are as scarce as hens teeth!)

Do you find it reliable and reasonably accurate?

Cayoot,
I have two of the Taurus 415s. One in Stainless and one in Total Titanium.

Both are quite accurate for such short barrels. I have put everyting from 212 SWCs at 1000fps all the way up to factore 210s and the new Federal 250 corecast. 5" rapid fire groups at 7 yards are no problem with a little practice with any load.

The 5 shot cylinders make them around K-frame size so they are easy to pack. At 19 ounces the Titanium is a hoot to shoot. Obviously, the Titanium offering is not or the recoil shy.

The ribber grips and the porting help tame muzzle rise.

I have had mine 7 or more years now and they are holding up just fine.

SuperMan · Jul 21, 2008

Jellybean...I loved that 210 Hornady silhouette bullet also. I still have some left with both the old FMJ-FP and the newer version with the covered base and small lead tip. Speer also used to have a 220 TMJ..

I have also been collecting .41 molds. A friend who is a mechanic just gave me several pails of wheelweights...now to get out the casting equipment again...it's only been 28 years since I cast my last bullet...

Bob

tulsamal · Jul 21, 2008

Does anybody know why these things aren't selling well enough to remain in production?

It is an interesting gun. If it had been available without a lock, I might well have bought one.

Gregg

357PD (41 Mag)

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