Is the .41 magnum an "obsolete" cartridge?

[aterry33]

Not trying to start a flame war here

Just curious what your thoughts are, as pretty much every shop where I live has stopped carrying it, because they feel it's an "obsolete" cartridge. It seems like it is easier to find .38 Long Colt here than .41 Magnum!

 

[P&R Fan]

Well, if it is then I am too.
Come to think of it, I probably am. I can live with that.

 

[Brian41]

I can find ammo but it's costly. My last box of 20 Win Platinum Tips ran $30.00. That pretty much makes it a handloader's cartridge and there are plenty doing just that myself included.
Like the .44 Special it has followers and won't go away but likely will never be real popular either. The 44 special got a shot in the arm with popular cowboy action loads but don't see anything similar with the .41 any time soon.

 

[Marshall 357]

I hope not,I am looking for a 41 magnum!

 

[Iggy]

When I bought my .41, the dealer threw in a box of shells. I couldn't afford them on a cop's salary back then.

That's the last box of factory ammo I ever fired through a .41.

I'm like P@R Fan, The .41 mag and I may be obsolete, but we ain't got the memo yet.

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

The Wife has told me to Stop buying 41 mag guns. She says I have too many.....

I will admit that I do have a "few"

I have more 41 ammo than all the local gun stores here. All have very few boxes(if any) or none at all. I cleaned out one gun store of ALL their 41 cal heads. They had a sale and I told them to make me a deal I couldn't refuse. They did and I got their entire inventory of 41 jacketed heads. I also bought, I think, the last cast heads from another store. Not sure if he brought any more in as the 41 is/was a very slow seller.

Casting heads are the best way to go for shooting the 41. I have over a half dozen different molds. Including one or two using gas checks. Yep, got them too. Don't know if gas checks for the 41 are still availible.....

I do have a half a case or so of NIB factory loads. I find them to be a bit on the "blasty" side.

I've loaded the 41 so weak that 38 spl were stronger. And then, full magnum loads are less irritating than full 44 magnum loads.

Is the 41 obsolete? No, I don't think so. It's a thinking man's cartridge, as one gun wag put it. It can do a lot of things better than a lot of other cartridges and calibers. Can be reloaded to equal a 38 spl or almost a 44 mag.
Course, I also like the 44 spl and 45 (Long) Colt too.

 

[kscardsfan]

I have a soft spot in my heart for "obsolete" or otherwise rare calibers. The .264 win mag, the .41 mag, 9.3x62 mauser, etc are all cartridges I find to be among the greatest at what they are designed to do. I tend to buck trends and enjoy shooting cartridges that aren't popular for the sole reason that they aren't mainstream and easy to come by. I am hoping to add a 10mm and a .38 super into the stable here in the next 3-5 years if time and finances allow just because nobody else I know owns or shoots one.

 

[stmry]

You cannot find that cartridge in any of the stores in the Nh & Maine areas. I suppose it not gaining in popularity.

 

[mkk41]

I still see guns , componants and ammo being made so it's not obsolete. I recently saw new production PMC 210gr JHP ammo at a LGS for $25 a box of 50. Yeah , I bought all 5 boxes , but there was 5 more the next week.

 

[murphydog]

I would guess with the current ammunition shortage/hoarding that many low volume cartridges are not being produced, in favor of .22 LR/9 mm/5.56 mm/.40 S & W. Low supply and/or demand, yes; obsolete, no.

 

[fredj338]

It pretty much is, at least it has dropped to cult status. I love the round, have a nice M57-1, but few new guns or factory loads are made for it & while it will probably always be around, it will never be anymore popular than it is today.

 

[Jellybean]

It might be obsolete for some people, but not for me. Most .41 shooters I know of load their own ammo and with the unbelievable prices of factory ammo I'd say that is also the reason the stores can't sell any. I'd say that if the insanity ever ends and ammo prices become more reasonable it will start appearing on retail shelves again.

Or, if Hollywood ever made a movie that glorified the round it would be and instant "must have" caliber.

 

[GregG]

when I bought my first Model 57 ammo was plentiful. Now it's not. Good thing I handload.

It is for this reason I want another Model 29. I can walk into any gun store and get ammo.

Not ever getting rid of my .41's though. They're my first love.

 

[chp]

Most .41 shooters I know of load their own ammo . . .

I think you'd have to reload in order to shoot a lot of .41. But that's OK - it's party of the shooting experience. Nice this about revolvers is you don't have to case your brass

 

[ljmvaw124]

Color me obsolete - I have a 4" and 6" Model 57 (both P & R) , both are very accurate, and fun to shoot. And it goes without saying that you definitely want to "roll your own" for this caliber ........

 

[cp1969]

I sure hope it isn't going to be obsolete but the chances are good that it will be. A lot of good calibers are going dormant because of the introduction of all the new calibers in the last decade or so.

 

[yaktamer]

If it is, somebody better tell S&W -- they have been making new Model 57 & 58 "Classics" for over a year now.

 

[revolverfan2]

I roll my own 41 mag so I don't consider it dead

 

[SAFireman]

obsolete?

The 41 mag obsolete?.........yeah, yeah it is, please forward any unused ammo, components, and reloading dies to me for proper disposal

I have 'converted' several folks over to the dark side (10mm and 41 mag). Smith and Wesson is making them today....in fact, they just came out with a new Ultimate Defense Revolver with a 2 5/8" barrel. Better get one while you can. Lots of folks overlook the 41, but some of us have seen the light. Heck, I heard that Dirty Harry actually carried a Model 57 in some of his movies....probably just a nasty rumor though

No, it is not dead, obsolete or going away anytime soon, and sure as heck, I am not giving up on mine.

 

[flop-shank]

Just because a cartridge isn't amongst the half dozen or so "annointed ones", doesn't mean that it is obsolete. If it's performance didn't put it on par with the better contemporary cartridges, then it would be, IMO. The .41 magnum is by no means outdated. Although I have never owned one, I think it is an excellent caliber.