.41 vs. .44 mags

[seeemmiss]

You mean store bought options or options in general. If you are talking about store bought 41 vs 44 then I agree. If you are talking about reloading options, I say there is very little if any more options. I mean really, how many people shoot the BIG 44 stuff and you can get real close with a 41 handload. By the way, the 41 does not abuse the guns as much, you can run higher pressures and ALL 41 magnums bores were cut to .410 diameter and you can't say that about the early 44 magnum guns or 45 Colts.

Can you tell I am a BIG fan of the 41 magnum.

 

[surveyor47]

If the 41 Magnum had been my first handgun rather than the 357 Magnum, it would have been my primary handgun caliber. If the 41 is your basic caliber, there is an argument that there is no point in the 357 or the 44 Magnum. You would then end up with:

38 Special for a "light" or concealment gun.
41 Magnum for primary gun.
454 Casull for a heavy gun.

As time goes on, I find less and less use for the 357 and more and more for the 38 Special and 41 Magnum. The one thing that the 357 does than any other caliber is give versatility.

 

[kennyb]

Unless you can manufacture your own bullet molds the .41 will just limit you in possible projectiles. The .44 is just more versatile and has more case capacity. A 300+ grain .44 is much cooler than a .41. You should be asking yourself .44 mag or .45 colt instead.

using this line of reasoning...wouldn't a 500 mag.in say 700 grain be even cooler?

 

[kscardsfan]

using this line of reasoning...wouldn't a 500 mag.in say 700 grain be even cooler?

Yeah, that would be truly awesome My follow up question would be: how many of us have a hand surgeon on speed dial for our range trips lol?

 

[NE450No2]

The main things against the 41 Mag vs the 44 Mag...

First, there are no Speer Shot Shells for the 41.

I have used the Speer Shotshells in the 44 and 45 ACP as well as in 38 and 9mm.

I have found them so beneficial that I could not live without them.

Second finding factory ammo, brass and bullets is much more difficult than the 44 Mag...

I see no downside to picking the 44 Mag over the 41.

Difference in recoil, not that I could tell, shooting them side by side [I had a Mod 58 for a few years].

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
I have " all the above" shot and loaded for same..
The 41 is the round that I have started to go to more when I want a
large gun [That and a DW 10mm]
I just wish we could get an S&W in an L frame in 41,,
I just had a New Vaquero 357 changed into a 41mag
and the small size and weight are great,,,

 

[caribouhunter]

Please choose the 44mag...don't need more people wanting 41 mag supplies.

41 mag is the gun. A real joy to shoot and can reload up or down depending on your preference. The 357PD make a real nice carry gun.

 

[gkitch]

The versatility of the 44 has the 41 beat. Other than the 357 Mag, the 44 mag may be the most versitile handgun. One can light load the 44 Special or hot load the magnum or anything in between. If one wants to go extra-light for whatever reason there is the 44 Russian as well.

 

[cp1969]

The .44 came first, then came the .41. What niche did it fill?

 

[Tslepebull]

I currently own four .44's but only one .41. That means I am 3 behind in .41's and that needs to be corrected. In all seriousness everything I have ever shot with either caliber died quickly and cleanly -- and I ate it. To me the .44 has instant familiarity but the .41 has exclusivity. As said earlier you have more ammo options with the .44 if you don't cast and reload. If you do cast and reload the differences are less.

 

[madmikeb]

I have several Smiths in both calibers and have found that the .41 is easier on the shooter and the firearm and I can just plain shoot the .41 better. My Andy Cannon tuned 8-3/8 57 is probably my favorite gun.

 

[bmcgilvray]

I've wanted a .41 Magnum since I was a kid and first saw them in the Smith & Wesson catalog section in the back of the 1970 Guns & Ammo Annual. Ten years later, when the money was available and burning a hole in my pocket, I went down the .44 Magnum road because no .41s were in stock at the time.

I have enjoyed the Model 29 now for 30 years. It held up just fine to heavy use in silhouette competition and has served well for hunting use.

I still want a .41 Magnum Model 57 though. Maybe I'll get one before deer season this year. It'll be a snap to provide for ammo to shoot it with handloading.

 

[kscardsfan]

It's looking like it's about 50% .44 mag, 50% .41 mag lol. I don't think I'm any closer to a decision than I was when I started lol. This is a tough gun buying decision here

 

[6pack]

I currently own four .44's but only one .41. That means I am 3 behind in .41's and that needs to be corrected. In all seriousness everything I have ever shot with either caliber died quickly and cleanly -- and I ate it. To me the .44 has instant familiarity but the .41 has exclusivity. As said earlier you have more ammo options with the .44 if you don't cast and reload. If you do cast and reload the differences are less.

I hear ya.....I've got an imbalance at the moment, too. Only way to straighten it out is to add another .41. After doing so, peace and harmony will reign supreme in my gun lockers.



I really think that best answer to this debate is to simply own both and see what you like.

I added my first .41, M57-5 4" MG a couple of months ago. I found recoil to be very, very mild with the 180gr Barnes loads from DoubleTap. The gun handles wonderfully. I did add a Hogue grip that made tons of difference.

N-frames are my favorites!!! Any caliber will do...I'm easy.

I'm not set up currently for reloading but will be doing so after hunting season. That will make it much easier to level the playing field. Currently, most any of the local stores have .44 Rem Mag on hand. For this reason, I'll give the nod to the .44.

 

[mtgianni]

Gas checks are almost a specialty item with a 41 and mold design and versatility limits you. Either is a great gun but the 41 will challenge you with available molds and checks.

 

[n4zov]

I prefer the .41 simply because I shoot it noticeably better than the .44. I don't know or care why, but it works for me. You may be completely different.

 

[kscardsfan]

Well I found a deal at Cabelas (!) of all places on a clean used model 57. So next up will be a used 29 to make my safe a harmonious place again.

 

[bennettfam]

.41 vs .429, not much difference there. Having a .41 and not being a reloader I don't shoot it much. If I were choosing today and $ was an issue I would go .44 I guess.

I did find some .41mag JHP at Cheaper Than Dirt going for $27 for box of 50 and just ordered a couple boxes.

 

[DGNY]

.41 vs .44 mags

For years I have figured the .41 is about 7/8 of the .44. Look at the bullet weights and powder charges. The math doesn't lie. [Overloads in the .41 are just that.] And the .41 revolvers are a trace heavier because of the smaller bore. So less recoil both ways - the load and the gun.

I love the .41, but the .44 got there first.

Enjoy them both!

Dyson

 

[nutsforsmiths]

I have two 41s and one 44. I shoot the 41 a lot more then the 44. I also reload for the 41 and not the 44. They are both good rounds, likes others have said.

One thing I do like about the 44 is that it will also shoot 44 Special, as mention here already and that is an outstanding round. The 41 of course will only shoot 41.