I have to believe this topic has been discussed many times in the past but I cannot find any viable information currently.
I had been told (years ago) NOT to fire any .22LR ammunition in my newly-purchased 70's era M-41 other than 'target-grade' .22 LR fodder having a muzzle velocity of 1,070 fps or less, and the recommendation was to fire only CCI Standard Velocity (1,040 fps) 40 gr rounds through it.
Others, including owners of M-41 pistols, have said I can break-in my pistol using HV .22LR ammunition without fear of damage!
The manual only states 'caliber-specific ammunition' without regard to its velocity and its potential effects on the cycling parts of the pistol.
Is there a DEFINITIVE answer to this question?
RustyMusket

Oddly, when I did a search for high velocity and Model 41, I got 10 pages of hits, so that is at least 100 threads on the topic. I gather that you will find the answer you want somewhere in there. And, a quick look tells me that there are strong opinions both ways on this topic.

Hello,
I have owned so many model 41's and I probably can tell you the ammo they used by looking at the breach face and slide face.
Standard velocity ammo is recommended and works best IMHO.
You can also visit another website, dedicated to 22 rimfire shooting.
They have dedicated sections on different 22 target pistols and rifles.
My preference is either CCI Standard Velocity or Federal 711B.
There are other target ammo's that work just as well but may be even more expensive. If you really want to shoot High velocity ammo, get a ruger mk 2 or 3.

I too own a Model 41 and contacted Smith & Wesson for a definitive answer - CCI 40gr. Standard Velocity

I use Remington Target and CCI standard in my 41s.

Model 41s and 46s can be finicky with the ammo it likes to eat. I use standard velocity, any major brand. When I had been in local competition, years back, I used the CCI Green label. But to plink with the Green label gets too expensive. Any brand name standard velocity should function and cycle just as well.

As an aside ... the lead bullets through a model 41 or 46, especially when the barrel gets hot, leaves and enormous amount of lead behind.

Most of you youngsters have never experienced a truly lead-fouled barrel as you mostly fire brass jacketed .22 ammo. In the larger calibers most of the lead ammo is harder (hardened with a small percentage of antimony or tin similar to what is used in wheel weights on cars) than just pure "lead".

I have read blogs where some experts state that you should NEVER clean a .22 barrel. BS !!! I keep a brass brush with break-freeze oil dropper to brush out the barrel after every 25 or so shots, followed by a clean swab. keeps all the well aimed shots in the x ring.

I encountered this problem many years ago when I noticed my bullets were tumbling cutting the paper oddly. When I cleaned the barrel I needed a brass jag to push out rifled shaped pieces of contoured sleeve of lead.

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

A most-humble thank you to all who took the time to respond and for the valuable information provided.
Recently, a friend shot my M-41 and liked it so much, he found a used model on the Guns International website at a Cabela's Gun Library out west and had it transferred to the local Cabela's where he couldn't get his money out of his pocket fast enough to buy it!
He called me the next day, not so much to show me his purchase, but to help him disassemble the pistol; something in the frame was preventing the slide from separating from it. He ended up sending it to the factory for evaluation and $250 later, he was told it had been "abused by repeated use of high velocity .22LR ammunition", apparently by the previous owner.
I guess we both learned a valuable and expensive lesson.
Echo47

Mine doesn't like the CCI as much as it does the Eley Match.

Old Model 41 7 inch Barrel 10 shots 25 yards Ba.jpg

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

When the US Army paid the bill, I used RWS R50. Really, any good standard velocity 40 gr. ammo should work. My model 41 has been shot a lot, but never abused with hi-speed ammo, save that for the economy guns.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!