.41 mag qestions

[otis24]

Lately, I've been curious about the .41 magnum. I have always been a fan of the .357 mag/.38 special. The .357 is a caliber that is suitable for any NEED I've ever had. I could see the .41 mag being a good option as a trail gun if one were in need of a milder caliber that "begins with a 4".
What advantages, if any does the .41 have over the .357? Does the .45 Colt offer a better option (i.e. "Can do everything the .41 can, only better") with a more readily available supply of ammo? How does the .44 Special compare? My basic thought here is "Is there a mild shooting forty-something caliber that adds a lot more in terms of stopping power without over-penetration compared to the 357?". Of those, which is the better choice?

 

[otis24]

I probably won't be investing in a .40 caliber anytime soon. I briefly owned a Model 696-1 .44 Special. The ammo was cost prohibitive for me. And that was BEFORE B.O. took office and drove ammo prices through the roof. Mainly, I was curious about this caliber and how it compared.

I will continue to rely on my trusty Model 15 as my belt gun. If only I could find ammo for that at decent prices.

 

[robertrwalsh]

As noted above the .41 mag is EXTREMELY versatile but only if you load for it. Shoots flater than a 44 mag and MUCH flatter than a .45. Throws a much heavier slug than the 357. If you are not planning to load for it, or are not rich and can pay a custom loader, shooting it is prohibitive.

If you plan on loading for it, it is damn hard to beat.

 

[Art Doc]

I have two 41s but the truth is there isn't anything the 41 can do that the 44 doesn't do 15% better. The only 41 with an advantage is the 58 since no 44 version was made. If you want a 58 then you want a 41. But the 57 is no different from the 29 save the .410 bore vs. .429 for the 44 Magnum.

Disadvantages to the 41 are that ammo is less commonly encountered if looking for some at the last minute and bullet selection for reloading is far less than for the 44 caliber.

The good thing about the 41 (IMO) is that since it is 15% less powerful it generates 15% less felt recoil. I find the 44 unpleasant to shoot. The 41 is right on the edge of comfort.

BTW- I hear this "the 41 shoots flatter" comment all the time but I question it. Speer shows their 44 load with less drop than the 41 and the biggest edge I can find for the 41 is one table showing it dropping a whole .5" less. Big deal. The 44 is still the better of the two.

If you want a 41 then you should have one. But really, if you want a big bore Magnum revolver the 44 is a better choice.

The 45 Colt is not in the power league with the 41 or 44 unless loaded beyond what would be prudent in a S&W revolver. The 41 is significantly more powerful than the 357. Do you NEED the extra power? I dunno. I don't, but that hasn't stopped me from buying two of the damn things.

I say buy what appeals to you. You'll find a use for it. If not, who cares? Sometimes simply having is good enough.

Here are mine.

 

[otis24]

If I were to by a .41 mag, it would be a Model 58. I love the classic utilitarian design of the 58 and the K frame fixed sight revolvers it emulates (asthetically).

 

[SuperMan]

The .41 is my favorite revolver cartridge...I have...too many.

Back in the early 1970s I started off with a 29-2 6.5" and shortly thereafter a fixed sight nickel M58. Using full loads in either gun was fine and I could accurately shoot either all day long. That changed when I bought a 4" M29...for whatever reason I didn't like shooting that gun with any load over about 1250 fps...it just became very very unpleasant. It was replaced with a 4" M57 and no matter how warm the load it was never a problem to shoot... In 1980 the 6.5" 29-2 went down the road and till about two years ago only owned .41s for my "big" guns....

As has been said, if you are not getting into reloading a .44 would be better for ammo availability.

Bob

 

[Sportsterguy]

As noted above the .41 mag is EXTREMELY versatile but only if you load for it. Shoots flater than a 44 mag and MUCH flatter than a .45. Throws a much heavier slug than the 357. If you are not planning to load for it, or are not rich and can pay a custom loader, shooting it is prohibitive.

If you plan on loading for it, it is damn hard to beat.

My favorite hunting caliber by far. For self defence I load it up with factory Speer 210 gr. Gold Dot's. If it'll take a deer down it'll do a good job on anyone trying to do you harm. Reloading is definately the way to go.

 

[Dan Cash]

I purchased a M57 from my cousin's estate several years ago. Though I own several Smiths with big bores, the .41 became my go to revolver. Loaded with 250 grain cast bullets, it seems to penetrate better than the .44 mag at velocities tolerated by the S&W and is much more tolerated by me. Though I am not into hunting big bears with any kind of hand gun, I trust my life to this load and revolver in bear country. Loaded with less impressive projectiles, the revolver is pleasant to shoot and superbly accurate. It is perhaps the most versitile of the .40 + cartridges but unless you might need the horse power, the .357 is more practical.

 

[toroflow1]

Here's an early 57:

 

[fyimo]

The 41 Magnum is a very good round and it has a league of followers that swear by it.

Here's my Model 57

 

[Iggy]

The .41 mag penetrates pretty well.

I shot at a fleeing 1970 Ford Bronco and the bullet went through the spare tire, tubular mounting bracket, tail gate, back of the front seat, and destroyed the radio in the dash board.

 

[toroflow1]

The .41 mag penetrates pretty well.

I shot at a fleeing 1970 Ford Bronco and the bullet went through the spare tire, tubular mounting bracket, tail gate, back of the front seat, and destroyed the radio in the dash board.

I trust that was done under the "color of law"?!

 

[NT430]

The .41 mag penetrates pretty well.

I shot at a fleeing 1970 Ford Bronco and the bullet went through the spare tire, tubular mounting bracket, tail gate, back of the front seat, and destroyed the radio in the dash board.

What the hell? Was it a white '90 Bronco? Bet you thought it was O.J. traveling though the Medicine Bow?

 

[SWID]

I hate to have to say this but BO had nothing to do with the rise in ammo prices. It's all these people buying ammo they will never shoot because the believed all the stuff about BO.

In my opinion the .41 can be made as unpleasant to shoot as the .44. I like it because the ballistic coefficient is a tad better, the cylinder walls are a tad thicker and the gun is a tad heavier (which reduces felt recoil.) Probably none of that makes a difference but it makes me feel better.

 

[ACP230]

I have two .44 Magnums a Contender barrel, which has fired mostly CCI shot loads, and a Ruger semi-auto carbine, the old one, not the Deerfield. It hasn't been shot much at all.
I have very little interest in the .44.

The .41 Magnum, on the other hand...

M57 six inch blued, M57 four inch nickled, M657 eight and three eighths inch, M657-3 Classic Hunter, an M58, a couple of Ruger Redhawks in .41, and a Marlin 1894 FG.
All shoot well with reloads using 210, 215, 225 and 230 grain LSWCs.

I used to shoot the six inch M57 at the old Second Chance Bowling Pin Shoot and it took the pins down with authority. It was much more entertaining than my .45 autos since the pins left the table in a shower of splinters.

I shot the M657 in a plate match this afternoon. One shot, one plate, big, small, close and not so close. I got the swinger at 40 yards, or so, too meaning I got five seconds taken off my time. That long-barreled 657 doesn't miss much. It's got a great trigger and is accurate with every load I've tried in it.

I know all the argument for the .44 but they just don't affect me. If I didn't reload they might mean more to me.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

I just joined the .41 Mag party last year. It is a hoot ta shoot and not quite as punishing as the .44 Mag with full house loads. Out past 100 yards I find it a easier to connect with than the .44 Mag. This cal is the reason to reload!

 

[Wyo]

I've never owned a .41, but my brother killed a 16 1/2" buck antelope with a 4 5/8" single action Ruger .41 mag. Shot him with a 250 gr. Cast Performance bullet loaded hot at about 80 yds. The goat was facing nearly dead-away, and that bullet went full length through him. I was impressed and my brother became a fan for life of the .41 mag.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

I hate to have to say this but BO had nothing to do with the rise in ammo prices. It's all these people buying ammo they will never shoot because the believed all the stuff about BO.

I hate to have to say this, but that directly makes BO responible, and is indeed the reason for the rise in prices.

The .41 is a great, and much underrated round. It'll do what you need to have done in most situations. I haven't been without one for the last 20 years, while I have been without a .44 during some of that time. The .44 will do more, but not enough to make a big difference in the field.

 

[Iggy]

I trust that was done under the "color of law"?!

Yup, Traffic stop. He spun around and tried to run me down.

Pre-64,

I had some adventures at MB, but not with a white Bronco

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Yup, Traffic stop. He spun around and tried to run me down.

Pre-64,

I had some adventures at MB, but not with a white Bronco

Iggy,
that's too bad. You could have saved the tax payers a lot of money .