S&W 41 Ammo issues
This is based upon my experience and understanding, from shooting S&W 41s for more than 30 years. Have a number of them, of all vintages, but don't consider myself an expert. So, take these comments for what they are worth to you.
I hold the Model 41 in high regard, but agree that they can have issues. I have had good luck these past years with Federal Auto Match, and all CCI 40 grain ammunition. CCI Pistol Match being the most accurate I have ever seen in two of my particular guns (One a 7x,xxx range 5-1/2 inch heavy barrel with thousands and thousands of rounds through it, the other an "optics only" 5 inch 41, offered briefly in the mid-1990s. That one isn't often fired, and has a Leupold "Gilmore" red dot)
1) The Behlert article on punch-peening the Model 41 extractor to change its shape slightly is quite old. I have it somewhere. Tried it once, and didn't find that it made a difference. One observation I would make today -- I believe that currently manufactured extractors are MIM parts, not forged. Trying to dimple them with a punch and move metal that way may cause a fracture, not a reshaping. Haven't tried it.
2) I agree with those that believe that a Model 41 can be used with "high velocity" 40 grain .22 Long Rifle cartridges without causing damage. I agree that using a lighter recoil spring could make using thousands of rounds of high velocity ammunition unadvisable in terms of long term wear, but I have never used a lighter recoil spring. I understand that others are adamant about the issue, and only use standard velocity ammmuntion. If it works well for them, great. If there is data regarding the relative pressure curves/peak pressures/slide velocity - whatever - in a 41 when using high velocity versus standard velocity, I would certainly be interested. There may be a measurable difference, but my next questions would be whether any differences are meaningful in terms of durability of the gun. Note that I am not speaking of HV .22 Shorts in a 41-1, or, for that matter, HV ammo in a Model 46 with the thin slide rails/90 degree angle. My preferred ammo these days is the CCI Standard Velocity, having said all of this.
3) Finally, based upon my experience, I have founf that making sure that there is a clean chamber can resolve some, if not all, of the failure to eject "sideways" jams in a 41. I know from experience in the past with the hard (i.e., "non-sticky") lube used on some brands of ammunition that brushing the chamber well, and even rubbing a thin film of Break-Free on the cartridges before loading seemed to help a lot during matches. I have always thought that, like with plastic shotshells and wads, there can be a thin buildup of the lube around the case mouth, and extending back slightly into the chamber that creates friction and slows the extraction and ejection cycle enough to cause jams. This my not be visible as fouling -- just like the choke tubes in my shotguns can look smooth and clean, but still have a film of plastic in their bore. Back in the day, I recall that Federal ammo, which had a very hard plastic like bullet coating, seemed to cause this in the 41 I shot in Bullseye matches, whereas the Remington Std. velocity ammo with a soft/greasy wax lube didn't seem to be a problem.
I also recall that my 41 would not extract/eject Eley Club ammunition reliably, after I bought a case at a very good price. I tried the same Eley Club in a Model 18 revolver that never had issues, and the Eley stuck in the chamber of that revolver. I assumed it was a case of the brass being soft. Fortunately, I had a Ruger 77/22 that loved the stuff, and still have some left.
I think that any .22 rimfire autoloader that has a chamber and barrel intended for maximum accuracy may be ammunition and fouling intolerant. I do feel bad for people that are willing to spend the kind of money it usually takes to purchase a Model 41 having a bad experience out of the gate. I hope that the comments on this BB of those of us who are die hard Model 41 fans can help some.
