.41 Special-Update

David LaPell · Jan 25, 2009

I finally got around to making up some .41 Specials. Using John Taffin's work as a baseline, I trimmed some .41 Magnum brass back to 1.160", loaded it with 7.0 grains of Unique behind a 200 JHP. In the photo, the .41 Special is in the middle, a factory .41 Magnum is on the left, and a .38 Special is on the right.

David LaPell · Jan 25, 2009

I finally got around to making up some .41 Specials. Using John Taffin's work as a baseline, I trimmed some .41 Magnum brass back to 1.160", loaded it with 7.0 grains of Unique behind a 200 JHP. In the photo, the .41 Special is in the middle, a factory .41 Magnum is on the left, and a .38 Special is on the right.

J.Solo · Jan 25, 2009

Looks like a good option to go to when my .41 Magnum brass necks start splitting - J.Solo

MADISON · Jan 26, 2009

The round for police was a 210 grain cast bullet moving a 1,000 feet per second. It came out late.
8.0 grains of UNIQUE will duplicate it.
I also, like 5.0 grains of UNIQUE with either a 210 or 220 grain.

BUFF · Jan 27, 2009

Originally posted by MADISON:

"The round for police was a 210 grain cast bullet moving a 1,000 feet per second. It came out late."

Actually, it came out when the cartridge and Models 57 and 58 did, and was considered THE standard cartridge for the .41 Magnum sixguns. Remember, the .41 Mag was designed and marketed primarily as a law enforcement weapon.

The jacketed soft- and hollow-point loadings were secondary, intended to make the new round appealing to sportsmen, hopefully expanding the .41's appeal and in hopes of selling more guns.

Noah Zark · Jan 27, 2009

For those interested, the 17th edition of Handloader's Digest has a nice detailed article on the 41 Special with tested loads and performance results. Page 12.

By coincidence I was reading it Sunday evening late.

Noah

David LaPell · Jan 27, 2009

I used nothing more than a Lee factory crimp die and turned it down some. It worked perfectly. THe hardest part (other than trimming the brass), was expanding the case mouth. My expander die wouldn't turn down that far, but the expander on an old Lee Loader in .41 Magnum works fine, just tap it on and the case is expanded enough. Much better than having to go out and modify a die. Another way is to take a wooden mallet and tap the case into the expander die by hand. Then put the die into a Lee Hand press and put the shellholder on to the case and the die arm at the same time and pull the case out that way. More tedious and I don't want to do any damage to the die, so the Lee Loader is much easier and quicker.

Erich · Jan 28, 2009

I've got my gunsmith friend Sam Damewood making me some .41 Special dedicated dies from one of the several .41 Mag die sets that I had lying around.

Now I just need to get him to convert over a GP-100 for me . . .

mkk41 · Jan 28, 2009

As a longtime .41 shooter and handloader , I'd like to see .41 Special headstamped brass. Trimming them back won't help at some ranges. Some ranges won't allow any rounds headstamped MAGNUM , not matter how mild the load. Not my club , but I went as a guest to a friends club and they had that rule.

41collector · Jan 28, 2009

They are from Quality Cartridge -

http://www.qual-cart.com/41_Special.htm

Vanilla Gorilla · Jan 28, 2009

Originally posted by Erich:
I've got my gunsmith friend Sam Damewood making me some .41 Special dedicated dies from one of the several .41 Mag die sets that I had lying around.

Now I just need to get him to convert over a GP-100 for me . . .

For some reason, I'm absolutely jonesing for a 41 Special. Tell me, doyou have any idea if the 41 has to be a 5 shot, or can you squeeze 6 holes into the cylinder of a GP-100 or 686?

David LaPell · Jan 29, 2009

John Taffin had a Smith 586 modified to .41 Special. I think it was only a 5-shot though and not six.

2sigs · Jan 31, 2009

My 686 is definately Special

The 686 is capable of 6 .41 Special chambers

-2sigs

ddixie884 · Feb 1, 2009

I Have 54,000 rounds of .41 special brass. Starline with proper head stanp.

2sigs · Feb 2, 2009

EDITED OUT BY 2SIGS

Dale53 · Feb 2, 2009

Starline .41 Magnum brass costs $147.75 for 1000 rounds, shipped. I would just use Mag brass with softer loads unless I had a range problem restricting me from using mag brass, but what do I know?

On the other hand, if the Starline .41 Special brass was reasonably priced then I'll shut up!

Dale53

41collector · Feb 3, 2009

ddixie884,

Are you willing to sell some of that .41 Special brass? I don't see an email addy in your profile.

Randy

Erich · Feb 3, 2009

Man, now I know how to set up a Pavlovian response amongst my brother .41 fans!

"Oh look! I have a bunch of Starline .41 Special brass in my garage . . . right under the unicorn that Dear Leader Barack sent me!"

41collector · Feb 3, 2009

I had 550 of the Quality Cartridge at one time. Had to agree to buy the first 500 to get the ball rolling. There were some delays, so they included an extra box of 50. Sold some off to forum members a few months ago. Now have misplaced what I had left during the move.

I sent Starline an email asking if they make .41 Special Brass. Their reply - "Sorry we do not make the 41 special". Maybe they did in the past?

Randy

ddixie884 · Feb 3, 2009

try it now. I wish I had only had to buy 550 rnds to get mine.

SWID · Feb 3, 2009

Uh, I'm probably going to sound like the village idiot here, but why cut the cases back?

I shoot .41 special all the time, rarely shoot .41 mag as it hurts. But I use regular cases.

A long time ago I clogged up the chambers in my 28 by shooting tons of .38 spl wadcutters in it and one day wanted to shoot some .357 mag and it would not chamber. After a good cleaning that was fixed but I still try to use brass that fits.

Besides it seems like a lot of work, and would also increase the pressure, which is ok in light loads I know.

Erich · Feb 4, 2009

Uh, I'm probably going to sound like the village idiot here, but why cut the cases back?

Well, if you've got a conversion of an L-frame (for instance) to .41, it makes sense to have the thing reamed for .41 Special so that you don't inadvertently blow your gun up with the "real" magnum loads in the regular-length cases.

After all, you probably paid a bit for the gun and the conversion . . .

Beans · Feb 4, 2009

We cut the cases back because the lack available .41 Special cases.
Now to the people who do not see the point of the .41 special. Why do you shoot .44 special? or .38 special? when you can just load down the parent case.
Its the same with the .41 ........... WHY NOT?

I do!

I only shoot .44 Specials and .44 special reloads in guns chambered in .44 special ( my only one, A 696-1)

I shoot .38 specials only in guns chambered for the .38 special ( my model 36's & model 60's)

The models 629's, 657, 625's in 45 Colt, model 27 5 inch, model 28 all use the brass "Parent Case" the gun was designed for I just lite load the rounds.

I hope that answers your questions

grendelbane · Feb 4, 2009

A .41 Special sounds really nice, but what I really want is a .41 Russian!

David LaPell · Feb 4, 2009

Making up the .41 Specials also gave me a good idea what I needed to do with my .44 Magnum brass. I find the Magnum brass alot more than I do .44 Special brass, so I just trim it down when I get some. I picked up 60 .44 Magnum cases recently for $4-, I just took them home and they await the tumbler.

ddixie884 · Feb 7, 2009

Erich, how did you know?

Boxhead · Feb 8, 2009

Originally posted by Erich:

Uh, I'm probably going to sound like the village idiot here, but why cut the cases back?

Click to expand...

Well, if you've got a conversion of an L-frame (for instance) to .41, it makes sense to have the thing reamed for .41 Special so that you don't inadvertently blow your gun up with the "real" magnum loads in the regular-length cases.

After all, you probably paid a bit for the gun and the conversion . . .

It's all that will fit in my 41 Special.

ddixie884 · Feb 8, 2009

I knew there were some of THEM out there, who built your's?

Nice Ruger.

2sigs · Feb 9, 2009

Boxhead, That is a splendid piece of art!! 5 or 6 special .41's?

looks like 5 maybe?

-2sigs

2sigs · Feb 10, 2009

Thanks Tom for the pics, now I'm sitting on the curb waiting for the mail with mine LOL thanks alot it's cold and lonely out here but worth the wait I'm sure.

Can't wait to carry one of these to show people LOL Might even sacrafice one for one of them there key chain deals and ask the guys at Cabelas Gander mountain etc. to sell me more, I love screwing with them fellas that think their so smart and give such dumb responses to questions sometimes... well time to get down off the box

Thanks Dixie and Gary

.41 Special-Update

Member

Member

Member

Member

SWCA Member, Absent Comrade

Member

Member

Member

US Veteran

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

SWCA Memebr

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Similar threads