High velocity ammo in Model 41: Yes, or no?

[GOOFA]

There is a small group of individuals at S&W that build the 41. I spoke to them last week and they said there is nothing wrong with shooting CCI MiniMags, they will not hurt the pistol. However they do recommend SV and Green Tag if you're shooting competition due to the improved accuracy. They mainly think that those who purchase a 41 are those that shoot competition. If you look at the S&W website you will notice that there are no restrictions to only using SV ammo, and they also give you a link to CCI MiniMags as a acceptable round along with the Green Tag and SV.

 

[SundownIII]

I've seen several references to a buffer in the Mod 41.

I'd be very interested in hearing more about it.

My 41 is a mid 80's model and I finally broke the firing pin retaining pin last week. Mostly shoot CCI SV, but with the ammo availability I've found myself shooting some mini-mag.

Not sure the mini-mag caused the failure, or just wear, but the idea of a buffer (if available) sounds interesting.

I replace the fiber buffer in my 22A Target on a regular basis and that item takes a beating.

 

[Dixiejack]

I've owned five 41's over the last 40 years and have shot HV, standard, and high priced target rounds and never damaged any 41I owned. Super X seemed to be the most accurate in anyone of them. 41's are tough pistols.

 

[Karl in NY]

I have a customized M41, with ventilated rib heavy barrel, and hard-chrome finish. It's a field gun and plinker, not used for bullseye shooting.

Steady diet of CCI Minimags exclusively...many thousands, both before and after the custom work. Will use bulk Federal when the CCI Minimags are nowhere to be found, like right now, however, but reliability is marginal with them, vs. 100% with the CCI Minimags...

At least in Northern NYS, right now, there is no .22 ammo available except from countries I have never heard of before...and brands I don't recognize, and they smell really odd when shot...if they even fire, that is.

I suspect the shortage is the result of panic-hoarding, since .22 rimfire is not being bought by the military, or Homeland Security.

 

[Ed Fowler]

Yesterday I picked up several boxes of Remington Sub Sonic 22 LR. I never took this ammo seriously, but figured I would try it in my Mod 41.
In still air with good light it proved to be as accurate as my last box of Federal Target. The sub sonic ammo fed perfectly.

Anyone else have a similar experience?

 

[Georgia Yankee]

I had a M41 which I shot competitively years ago. I tried many kinds of ammo. I would have no qualms whatsoever about shooting HV ammo BUT it will not be as accurate as target ammo. I found the Remington "blue box" standard velocity target ammo was noticeably more accurate than even the best HV ammo. The most accurate ammo I ever tried in it was Eley target ammo. which was quite pricey.

Good quality HV ammo will not hurt the M41; it is all steel, heavy and very solid, as you know. If you are a serious target shooter, you will find that HV ammo is not accurate enough to polish your competitive target shooting skills.