657-41 Magnum-Lew Horton-RSR-Davidson's-Dealer Specials and Regular Production
- Thread starter ko41
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at_liberty
Member
Puzzled, since I think of 625 as .45 ACP (pictured is .45 Colt stamping). I really have to read more of my S&W book on my Kindle.
Frank237
Absent Comrade
My $ .02 on the .41 mag ammo issue.
Many of you are FAR younger than I and don't recall when ammo was always plentiful, supply was seldom ever an issue. Back then .41 mag ammo was relatively easy to find. Heck I can recall buying up 210 gr lead factory ammo in the 70's and early 80's in New Jersey. NOW try to find ammo in Jersey.
Like the .454 Casull , .45 colt and a few others....to me the .41 mag IS best fed by the handloader. One can load cast slugs from light to heavy and tailor your loads and bullet weights to the task at hand. Your not stuck with too hot or too low a load. You can load what you wish.
95% of the time my .41's shoot a 210/215 gr Lead, Keith style over 7.0 of Unique for 950 fps. Accurate, easy on the gun and the shooter yet still powerful enough to shoot flat out to a reasonable distance.
Many of you are FAR younger than I and don't recall when ammo was always plentiful, supply was seldom ever an issue. Back then .41 mag ammo was relatively easy to find. Heck I can recall buying up 210 gr lead factory ammo in the 70's and early 80's in New Jersey. NOW try to find ammo in Jersey.
Like the .454 Casull , .45 colt and a few others....to me the .41 mag IS best fed by the handloader. One can load cast slugs from light to heavy and tailor your loads and bullet weights to the task at hand. Your not stuck with too hot or too low a load. You can load what you wish.
95% of the time my .41's shoot a 210/215 gr Lead, Keith style over 7.0 of Unique for 950 fps. Accurate, easy on the gun and the shooter yet still powerful enough to shoot flat out to a reasonable distance.
at_liberty
Member
That sounds like a load I would like, but as we often read re 357s, many owners are not experiencing these guns as true Magnums. At least we have no .41 "Special" option like the .44 and 357 (38 S&W Special). The reloader can stay with the intended case length and load the performance range desired.
OP
From Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 3rd edition....
"657-4 (1997): Change frame design to eliminate cylinder stop stud; eliminate serrated tangs; change to MIM hammer with floating firing pin; change to MIM trigger; change internal lockwork."
KO
The Model 25 and 625 were made in either .45 ACP or .45 Colt. You will have to look at the engineering changes. I've got a 25-9 and a 625-7, both in .45 Colt, that are wonderful revolvers.
Thanks KO for the info...A SW Model 57 was my first N frame gun purchased way back in 1977.. l kept it awhile but traded it for a long barrel Model 29 when l got into IHMSA silh back in the late 70s...After about 30yrs plus absence l got back into shooting them a couple years ago...To my surprise one of the most popular calibers to knock down those 55 lb rams @ 200 meters is yours truly..The 41 Magnum....NOT in a Smith & Wesson revolver tho...Freedom Arms Silh 41Mag models reign in Production Revolver Class...357mag is too lite for the rams...44mag is just bit too much recoil... These guys claim the 41s to be flatter shooting than the 44..Biggest problem with the 41 Mag is lack of component bullets offered.. Speer ,Hornady,Sierra used to make fine bullets for Silh shooting in 41.. No more tho..About the only weight available is the old standard 210gr jhp...Sad to see such a great caliber neglected...41Mag is kinda like the 16 Gauge shotgun..Not too little.. Not too big...Just Right...l guess 'just right' calibers/gauges are not too popular these days...
Except for me maybe..Looking for a 41mag Smith in my future
Except for me maybe..Looking for a 41mag Smith in my future
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at_liberty
Member
I have been using the 215 Gr LSWC ("41 Trooper") from Missouri Bullet. kaaa-BOOM!
SuperMan
Member
...except you don't have a full underlug barrel... Wow..that is a rare one...that may be a 1 of 1...
Nice to see this old thread come back alive...since the last time I posted I picked up a 657-2 Hunter but mine is like the one in the S&W catalog in that it has a fluted cylinder... It has the HTR serial prefix and maybe the reason it has a fluted cylinder is because it was #5.
Bob
Nice to see this old thread come back alive...since the last time I posted I picked up a 657-2 Hunter but mine is like the one in the S&W catalog in that it has a fluted cylinder... It has the HTR serial prefix and maybe the reason it has a fluted cylinder is because it was #5.
Bob
OP
Performance Center Classic Series
Makes you wonder if there are any 6" or 8 3/8" Classic Series 657s.
Eric's 3" Classic Series and my 4" Classic Series serial numbers are 80 apart.
S&W probably had a handful of 3" barrels and a couple dozen 4" barrels in the parts bins 11 years after 3" and 4" were last made and said Hmm, what should we do with these........Aha let's make a stainless steel "Classic Series"!
KO
Makes you wonder if there are any 6" or 8 3/8" Classic Series 657s.
Eric's 3" Classic Series and my 4" Classic Series serial numbers are 80 apart.
S&W probably had a handful of 3" barrels and a couple dozen 4" barrels in the parts bins 11 years after 3" and 4" were last made and said Hmm, what should we do with these........Aha let's make a stainless steel "Classic Series"!
KO
http://smith-wessonforum.com/wanted-buy/427558-wtb-657-removable-muzzle-brake.html
kdiver58 took this picture of my 657 at our May shoot in Gainesville...l picked this up USED about a year ago and have enjoyed shooting it since. l got the bo and paperwork but did not get the unvented mezzle cap...l mounted a TRS 25 red dot on it with a Weigand base. Notice the funny circular powder burns on the cylinder...These come from the pre-drilled factory scope mount hole in frame near the cylinder gap...The gun shoots great with moderate cast loads--heavy loads..
A N Y - L O A D
kdiver58 took this picture of my 657 at our May shoot in Gainesville...l picked this up USED about a year ago and have enjoyed shooting it since. l got the bo and paperwork but did not get the unvented mezzle cap...l mounted a TRS 25 red dot on it with a Weigand base. Notice the funny circular powder burns on the cylinder...These come from the pre-drilled factory scope mount hole in frame near the cylinder gap...The gun shoots great with moderate cast loads--heavy loads..
A N Y - L O A D
OP
Here is another one that I picked up. It has the fluted cylinder of Product Code 103958 and the Altamont rosewood conversion grips of Product Code 103959. I did not get the box with it so I do not know if this is the way it came from the factory. The S.N. prefix is CCA so that puts it right with loeman's 103959.
KO
KO
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Very impressive collection! I HAD a nice LH 657 3"��
RobO
Member
Wow, I never knew my classic hunter II was one of 300. Cool.
Here is another one that I picked up. It has the fluted cylinder of Product Code 103958 and the Altamont rosewood conversion grips of Product Code 103959. I did not get the box with it so I do not know if this is the way it came from the factory. The S.N. prefix is CCA so that puts it right with loeman's 103959.
KO
Looks much better when you own it!
Although it doesn't have much paint on it currently.
OP
Updated my posts with new links to photos on a new host.
Attached missing photos of 3" 657 Classic Series from gumpys' post.
KO
Attachments
OP
3 inch 657 product sheet courtesy of Gunhacker.
KO
KO
SAFireman
Member
3 inch 657 product sheet courtesy of Gunhacker.
KO
Thanks for sharing!
I have had several of this model over the years and have not seen any literature for them. One of ~5000 or so produced
OP
Thanks for sharing!
I have had several of this model over the years and have not seen any literature for them. One of ~5000 or so produced
.........5490 revolvers made and 15,000 product sheets printed......I have two of the revolvers but have never seen the product sheet in person.
KO
SAFireman
Member
Just how on earth did you find that out? It is hard enough to get quantities on guns.....now I am going to have to ask Roy how many brochures were printed???
I got really lucky and snagged one of the ~153 full lug 41's, a 657-4 for my collection. Now if I could find some of those papers......
Merry Christmas y'all
OP
Just how on earth did you find that out? It is hard enough to get quantities on guns.....now I am going to have to ask Roy how many brochures were printed???
I got really lucky and snagged one of the ~153 full lug 41's, a 657-4 for my collection. Now if I could find some of those papers......
Merry Christmas y'all
There is a date and quantity printed on the lower left of the product sheet below "Printed in U.S.A."
KO
SAFireman
Member
Well....I'll be danged, there sure is 15M......I learn something everyday around here. Thanks for the lesson
charlie sherrill
Member
I have since picked up a scarce 4" 657 that I have been looking for a long time. It's a model of 1988 made in 1989. Anybody have any production figures on that one?
BigBill
Absent Comrade
I'm happy so far with my choices in 41 mag. I m57 & m58 in nickel and a Redhawk stainless 5.5" in 41 mag too. I might add a ruger Blackhawk in 41 mag someday. Lots of single action SBH and BH sitting in the case at the dealers.
OP
Is it marked "Model of 1988"? I've never heard of one of those, so I never knew I should be looking for one.
Please post some photos.
KO
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