BigBill
Absent Comrade
How about a 5 shot revolver in 41 special in a smaller frame.
41 special revolver?
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Nice concept but it would be a handload only proposition so I doubt the 'mothership' would even give it a passing thought! 
Rammer Jammer
Member
41 Magnum is a niche caliber with low sales.
41 SPL is relegated almostsolely to handloaders and no potential for sales/profit.
41 SPL is relegated almostsolely to handloaders and no potential for sales/profit.
Skyhunter
Member
I've been a fan of the .41 mag. since 1971.
Probably half of my .41 mag loads would be considered ".41 Special's" as I'm loading 220 gr. SWC's at +/-900 fps. For "woods walking" and general practice or plinking, they're accurate, pleasant to shoot, and rarely is a 2nd shot required for "sumpthin that really need'd shoot'in."
My 657's and Ruger Blackhawks like them very much.
My requirements for full bore jacketed loads are usually filled by a dozen or so each year.
So, as previously noted, .41 Special would be a niche cartridge and most .41 mag shooters and reloaders anyway - IMO.
WYT-P
Skyhunter
Probably half of my .41 mag loads would be considered ".41 Special's" as I'm loading 220 gr. SWC's at +/-900 fps. For "woods walking" and general practice or plinking, they're accurate, pleasant to shoot, and rarely is a 2nd shot required for "sumpthin that really need'd shoot'in."
My 657's and Ruger Blackhawks like them very much.
My requirements for full bore jacketed loads are usually filled by a dozen or so each year.
So, as previously noted, .41 Special would be a niche cartridge and most .41 mag shooters and reloaders anyway - IMO.
WYT-P
Skyhunter
cowboy4evr
Member
It's still a " wild cat " caliber and I haven't seen any load data from the powder co's . So making revolvers chambered in it by the manufacturers would be very very risky , from a sales stand point and a liability stand point . I'm a 41 guy myself . I load it up and I load it down . I found matching 38-40 performance level in my revolver was extremely rewarding and fun as the bullet diameter of the 38-40 is almost the same as the 41 magnum . The 38-40 used a 180 gr cast bullet and the 180 gr works well in the 41 . If you want reduced 41 magnum loads , remember Elmer Keiths target load , (he called it his gallery load ) was 4.5 grs of Bullseye powder using his 220 gr cast bullet . Any 210-215 gr cast bullet using that Bullseye load will give you a real nice 41 special load using magnum cases in your 6 shooter that is very accurate and you can shoot all day . Regards Paul
Hang-Fire Hank
Member
SMALLER FRAME ?
Bill: You've had two very worthy responses regarding reduced loads, but no one has addressed "smaller frame". Taurus makes/made a Model 415, which is a reduced size, 5-shot, 41 Mag. I had one years ago, but the lighter gun weight was no fun to shoot with even reduced velocity hand-loads. I had to use a reduced bullet weight Lyman mould I found (#410639) which throws a 170 gr'er. So I went back to my old standby heavier revolvers (i.e. Ruger 3-Screw BH & a Smith 657). Going out this morning, as a matter of fact, to shoot both of them.
Regards, Hank M.
Bill: You've had two very worthy responses regarding reduced loads, but no one has addressed "smaller frame". Taurus makes/made a Model 415, which is a reduced size, 5-shot, 41 Mag. I had one years ago, but the lighter gun weight was no fun to shoot with even reduced velocity hand-loads. I had to use a reduced bullet weight Lyman mould I found (#410639) which throws a 170 gr'er. So I went back to my old standby heavier revolvers (i.e. Ruger 3-Screw BH & a Smith 657). Going out this morning, as a matter of fact, to shoot both of them.
Regards, Hank M.
Auto Mag
Member
I have often pondered this same thing. I have always wanted to trim off 1/8" (0.125") on my Magnum cases and make them true "Special" cases. (The difference between the .44Mag and Special cases)
By my calculations... a .41 Mag holds 34.0gr of H²O and the shortened case would hold 30.05gr of H²O. I would think that the lesser case capacity would have much better flash/ignition, than in the longer case and you could even reduce the powder charge significantly less and still be safe, with much better results. More, "Apples/Apples" than "Apples/Oranges".
Thoughts...?
By my calculations... a .41 Mag holds 34.0gr of H²O and the shortened case would hold 30.05gr of H²O. I would think that the lesser case capacity would have much better flash/ignition, than in the longer case and you could even reduce the powder charge significantly less and still be safe, with much better results. More, "Apples/Apples" than "Apples/Oranges".
Thoughts...?
A six shot .41 Special is doable in a L frame. As far as ammo goes, if s&w will hold the gun, some ammo company will make ammo. Starline already makes brass. Ruger makes a GP100 in 10mm. You can shoot .40 S&W in it as well. Pretty much the ballistic equivalent of the .41 Special.
Auto Mag
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BLACKHAWKNJ
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The .41 Special has flickered off and on since the 1920s. The .41 Magnum was introduced after a lot of lobbying by the gun writers and experts and, as noted, has remained strictly a niche cartridge. I have been reloading .41 Magnum since 1980, my target/service load of a 210SWC over 7.5 grains of Unique performs nicely in my M-57, no problems reloading it and I have never felt the absence of a shorter case. Probably be like the 9MM revolvers, everybody will say "Why don't they make?"-and then no one will buy them.
Glock introduced their 45 GAP round-a cut down 45ACP, it has been accepted by some police departments but has found little acceptance with the civilian market.
Glock introduced their 45 GAP round-a cut down 45ACP, it has been accepted by some police departments but has found little acceptance with the civilian market.
That’s why I posted this starline offers the 41 special brass yet there’s no designated revolver for it. Like having a horse with no cart it can pull. I don’t like shooting shorter special cases in magnum chambers.
Shame, shame on the revolver manufacturers for not seeing this. Ammo with no revolver,
Shame, shame on the revolver manufacturers for not seeing this. Ammo with no revolver,
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Nothing would stop you from firing your 41 Special in a 41 Magnum chamber
The Taurus 415 model was available in several barrel lengths and different construction materials.
I have a 2 1/2" 415 and a 2 1/2" 415T
These were way ahead of their time. The Concealed Carry craze had not yet hit us. Realize these came out 20 some years ago
The all stainless 415 weighed in at 29 ounces while it's Total Titanium brother tipped the scales at 19 ounces.
BigBill, I have no idea what part of North America you reside in, but if it is near Central Florida you are welcome to meet me at the range and shoot either of these L-frame sized 5 shooters.
FYI, Taurus offered these 5 shooters in 44 Special, 44 Magnum, 45 ACP and 45 LC. There even was a 7 shot 357 built on the same frames
The only other one that I own is a Shadow Gray Total Titanium 45 LC. It really likes the Barnes total copper hollowpoints
SuperMan
Member
It is really too bad Taurus discontinued their Tracker line...they are just the right size for "Specials"...
I am fortunate enough to have four... 4" .41 stainless, 4" .41 titanium, 6" .41 titanium and a 4" stainless .45 ACP...all are 5 shooters with adjustable sights. A 6" titanium just sold the other day on GunBroker for $900.00. Not many were imported as they were only made a year before they were discontinued.
The .41s make the perfect Specials because besides being sized right the cylinder is also shorter than most others except the Freedom Arms 97...so Special brass ejects very easily.
As to .41 Special ammo...Reed's Ammo has three or four different loads. There is one other company who has ammo also but can't recall who right now.
Bob
I am fortunate enough to have four... 4" .41 stainless, 4" .41 titanium, 6" .41 titanium and a 4" stainless .45 ACP...all are 5 shooters with adjustable sights. A 6" titanium just sold the other day on GunBroker for $900.00. Not many were imported as they were only made a year before they were discontinued.
The .41s make the perfect Specials because besides being sized right the cylinder is also shorter than most others except the Freedom Arms 97...so Special brass ejects very easily.
As to .41 Special ammo...Reed's Ammo has three or four different loads. There is one other company who has ammo also but can't recall who right now.
Bob
Attachments
The whole purpose of the .41Special is that it can be chambered in guns smaller than a N frame and hold 6 rounds. Years ago, some Pythons were rechambered to .41 mag. Probably not a wise move. Colt didn’t approve. If a 41Special had existed it might have been a good fit
cowboy4evr
Member
I talked to Dave Clements about modifying a S&W 686 to 41 special . At that time he would do it . A few months later he quit modifying S&W's . But he did say and recommended converting the Ruger GP-100 . He felt it would last much longer . It would be a " 6 shooter " . Getting the barrel re-sized was what was going to take up to a yr to get done . Regards Paul
As I mentioned previously, the GP-100 is available in 10mm/40s&w. The 41 Special is generally reported as a 210 gr bullet launched at 900 +\- FPS. The 10/40 usually has a slightly lighter bullet at a little faster to maybe a lot faster. I think 10mm can be loaded up to 200gr. Anyway, the hand loader can easily duplicate the 41 Special specification. Very easily, since no actual specifications exist. And, this gun actually exists.
cowboy4evr
Member
It dawned on my one day that the " 41 special " would be pretty much mimicking the ballistics of the another cartridge from " yesteryear " the 38-40 . Almost the identical bullet diameter and approximately the same velocity . Bullet weight could vary , depending on your personal like . I have a Ruger NMBH in 41 mag , 4 3/4" barrel that has had extensive professional work done on it . I decided this would be my 38-40 / 41 special gun . In the past I had often thought of getting a revolver in 38-40 . But when I realized I had the best of both worlds with my Ruger including shooting 41 magnums in it , I dropped any ideas of getting another revolver . Regards Paul
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No manufacturer will chamber for a cartridge with no SAMMI specifications, and I doubt any ammunition manufacturer believes this will sell well enough to justify the cost of development given the popularity of the .41 Magnum is in barely-hanging-on mode. It likely would just cannibalize .41 Magnum ammo sales.
I wrote Charter Arms a couple of times nagging them about a .41 Special, and they responded that they'd look into it. But they brought out a .41 Magnum instead.
The 10mm is the way to go, then you can load some 10mm Auto Rim RMS using..... .41 Magnum cases! (see Ammoguide.com)
I wrote Charter Arms a couple of times nagging them about a .41 Special, and they responded that they'd look into it. But they brought out a .41 Magnum instead.
The 10mm is the way to go, then you can load some 10mm Auto Rim RMS using..... .41 Magnum cases! (see Ammoguide.com)
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petemacmahon
Member
I like the idea of the 41 spl, so much so that I got 500 Starline cases and started using it as a practice round in my favorite 657 no dash - which is my current top running whitetail rig. My current load is 9.5 grains of Accurate #5 under a 210 truncated cone lead bullet from Penn Bullets. Just got a Chronograph over Christmas that has not been figured out yet, but when I do I will chrono this load.
The 41 spl is to the 41 mag, what the 44spl is to the 44 mag.
You can run your hunting rig in local steel matches, or in local indoor ranges, that lots of times don't allow MAGNUMs and get valuable practice for hunting.
If the MD gives you grief, just show them the properly stamped brass that clearly says .41 spl !!
The 41 spl is to the 41 mag, what the 44spl is to the 44 mag.
You can run your hunting rig in local steel matches, or in local indoor ranges, that lots of times don't allow MAGNUMs and get valuable practice for hunting.
If the MD gives you grief, just show them the properly stamped brass that clearly says .41 spl !!
