657 - 41 mag question

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Dusty Rivers

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Is a 686 4" similar in size to a 657 4"?
I am trying to talk myself into and out of a 41 mag. I do not reload. I have too much other stuff going on. I have a 44 mag ( 4" Ruger Redhawk) and a 357. For some reason that 41 Mag caliber keeps calling my name.

I carry the 44 mag around the ranch (wild hogs). would a 41 mag like a Model 57 find a use?
 
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Is a 686 4" similar in size to a 657 4"?
I am trying to talk myself into and out of a 41 mag. I do not reload. I have too much other stuff going on. I have a 44 mag ( 4" Ruger Redhawk) and a 357. For some reason that 41 Mag caliber keeps calling my name.

I carry the 44 mag around the ranch (wild hogs). would a 41 mag like a Model 57 find a use?
 
The 686 is built on the L-Frame which S&W describes as a "Medium" frame and the .41 Mag is built on the larger N-Frame (44 Frame).

The .41 Magnum makes an excellent deer and pig revolver. In the brush, a 4" .41 Mag works well on pigs. In open areas, the 6 barrel anchors them nicely. Ammo is as expensive as .44 Mag ammo and reloading really brings out the excellence in this cartridge.

One thing is for sure. If you buy a 657 or 57 revolver, try it out and decide to sell it, there are many .41 Mag fans on this forum who'll probably want it.
icon_biggrin.gif
 
Originally posted by BillCa:
The 686 is built on the L-Frame which S&W describes as a "Medium" frame and the .41 Mag is built on the larger N-Frame (44 Frame).

The .41 Magnum makes an excellent deer and pig revolver. In the brush, a 4" .41 Mag works well on pigs. In open areas, the 6 barrel anchors them nicely. Ammo is as expensive as .44 Mag ammo and reloading really brings out the excellence in this cartridge.

One thing is for sure. If you buy a 657 or 57 revolver, try it out and decide to sell it, there are many .41 Mag fans on this forum who'll probably want it.
icon_biggrin.gif
Click to expand...

I'm with you BillCa. Love the .41 mag!
 
Dusty,

Buy the S&W 657. I have several revolvers and I prefer the 657 above all of them. It has the kick of a .357 and the punch of a .44. The ammo isn't that expensive if you buy in Bulk. I order it from Georgia Arms. You won't regret it, I assure you.

RLTW,
Ken
 
yep i gotta concur on the 657.i bought one last winter ,didn't realize it was a 7+" revolver.
i was suppose to sell it,unfortunately i shot it,and now i can't bring myself to sell it.
luckily i reload,and cast ,so my stock of 41s
is in pretty good shape.dan
 
657-4s.jpg

As others have said, if you buy the 657 and do not like it, there are many 41 Magnum fans on this board that would be willing to take it off your hands.

I bought my first 41 Magnum by accident. A friend need cash for his divorce and begged my to take it from him. At the time I was not to familiar with the cartridge.

Now more than 25 years later, I still have that first 6" nickel model 57 and a stable full of 41s to go with it. Here is an old group photo. Many have been added since this was taken.
41-stable.jpg


The 41 really shines when you hand load. There are more projectile offerings today than there have ever been. Fortunately good folks like Georgia Arms help out those of us that do not hand load.
 
I love my .41's. I do reload so it makes it easier to enjoy them. I recently picked up a 4" model 57 that is sort of a 'holy grail' gun. It has character.
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It has been carried and shot a good bit. I call it a holy grail gun because I wanted a 4" barrel shooter and I found this one for a great price. The action is super and she is very accurate with my loads of 7.5gr of Unique under a 215gr LSW. I have this one, plus a Mountain Gun and a couple of 58's in 4" barrel. I may be a little prejudice.
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Tim
 
colt_saa,
Is that an actual .41 mag Python at the bottom of your photo? I have yet to see a factory one, even though they are rumored to have made a couple as prototypes. Every one I've seen at auction was made-up by a gunsmith, and they have looked very unsafe. I don't think a Python cylinder can hold 6 .41s safely.
 
Originally posted by Nframe_is_no1:
colt_saa,
Is that an actual .41 mag Python at the bottom of your photo? I have yet to see a factory one, even though they are rumored to have made a couple as prototypes. Every one I've seen at auction was made-up by a gunsmith, and they have looked very unsafe. I don't think a Python cylinder can hold 6 .41s safely.
Click to expand...
Nframe_is_no1,
5 blue carbon steel 41 Magnum Python prototypes were produced in 1965. Production never went forward because of the limits of metallurgy at the time and the pressures of the 41 Magnum cartridge.

Fortunately metallurgy is an ever advancing field. Otherwise we would not have 12 ounce 357 magnum pocket guns today. Back in the 80s a gunsmith made 125 nickel 41 Magnum Pythons. The rumor was that these were done with the help of Colt, it was said that the barrels were tapered bored just like all other factory Python barrels. The smith that did the work was called Bubba by his friends and these became known as the "Bubba Pythons." There used to be a GREAT article on this subject that I think was on John Taffin's website. I can't find it any longer and foolishly did not copy or print it at the time.

Several gun smiths have done these conversions over the years. Some were well done others were not.

Many years ago (93 OR 94), I had one of the original blue Pythons in my hand and could have owned it if I had a spare $10,000 in my pocket. ufortunatly I was a few dollars short at the time. I have handled 3 of the "Bubba Pythons" over the years and have purchased one for my own shooting pleasure.
 
colt_saa,
Thanks for the interesting info. That is what I have always heard, that with the metallurgy of that time, the chamber walls were too thin. It's neat that yours is shootable. The ones I have seen were those you refered to politely as "not well done".
 
I know what you mean by the 41 mag calling your name. Over the years I have had numerous 357's and 44's, but there is something special about the 41 mag. I know alot of it is physchological, but nevertheless the draw is still there. After having several, and then trading them away for some compulsive want, I am now the owner of 2 more. I really like the caliber. Your question was about the size compared to a 686. Although they are "N" frames and somewhat larger, they are by no means hard to pack with a good holster and belt. The 4" or 6" are both great. I would venture to say not much harder to pack than an "L" frame such as the 686. wyatte
 
Another .41mag fan checking in. I enjoy the 3" 657 for ccw, and have taken a few deer with my 657 Mt. gun and Classic Hnter II, as well as a huge doe with my .41 mag Mark VII Desert Eagle. I don't hunt with my 58, but it is a sweet shooter. Colt_Saa and SupermanBob, as well as others, have larger collections than mine, but you gotta start somewhere...
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