Model 41 customer service

[Kenneth L. Walters]

Recently I bought a Ruger Competition and a Smith Model 41. I'm using Federal value pack ammunition. I've used that for years with virtually no problems. The Ruger has worked perfectly. The Smith jams about once per magazine full. The cartridge gets about 60% extracted when a round coming up from the magazines slams into it.

The gun was sent back to Smith with a letter explaining exactly what was going on. They test fired the gun. Said that it was fine. And sent it back. Of course the problem was not addressed nor fixed.

Any suggestions as to what to do next?

 

[colt_saa]

Model 41s are ammunition specific.

When you sent the S&W back, did you include a sample of the ammunition you were having trouble with so the problem could be duplicated?

Just because your Ruger likes a particular ammunition has no bearing on how the model 41 will perform with it.

You do not mention if the model 41 is current production or a used piece that you bought.

Have you test fired the 41 with more than one brand and style of ammunition?

Does this occur with that ammunition and any shooter?

Is your jam on the first round, last round, totally random?

 

[Fkimble]

Not sure about the newer M41s but the olders ones seem to prefer CCI standard vel ammo. When I got mine I went thru about 5 or 6 different types that I had for my target rifles and ruger revolver. No real high end stuff. it all would actup within a mag or two after a super cleaning. Findly found some CCI standard vel and now only clean after each brick. I can push the cleaning out much farther but just stay ahead of it. PS; I have head that the factory uses CCI standard vel to test them.

 

[AKRuss]

I tried several varieties of ammo with my old model 41 and found it never bobbled a single round with Remington Target ammo. I think (made up?) that these guns are built to tight tolerances hence their ammo diet. Though the 41s like specific ammo, they're well worth it if you're into target shooting.

 

[johngalt]

+1 for CCI SV. 41s are picky, Lots of people use HV ammo, but that should not be necessary.

 

[gdauth]

Recently I bought a Ruger Competition and a Smith Model 41. I'm using Federal value pack ammunition. I've used that for years with virtually no problems. The Ruger has worked perfectly. The Smith jams about once per magazine full. The cartridge gets about 60% extracted when a round coming up from the magazines slams into it.

The gun was sent back to Smith with a letter explaining exactly what was going on. They test fired the gun. Said that it was fine. And sent it back. Of course the problem was not addressed nor fixed.

Any suggestions as to what to do next?

I bought a new Model 41 last year and it choked on most types of ammo, even CCI SV. Several points: make sure that your fingers do not come in contact with the slide. Clean the chamber often, I carry a special brush to clean the chamber. It is L shaped so I can clean it through the ejection port. Until it was broken in, it liked to run wet. Check the rounds for too much wax, if you dump the rounds out of the plastic holder, the ones with too much wax will not fall out. Finally the most effective treatment was the oil that I used on the slide. Mobil 1 5W20 synthetic is your friend. I still run mine wet and I have only had 1 stove pipe in the last 3000 rounds. I still use CCI SV.

 

[rbert0005]

The model 41 guru at the Performance Center told me I should use CCI Standard Vel ammo, only...

Who am I to argue with him?

Bob

 

[Kenneth L. Walters]

thanks

I bought a new Model 41 last year and it choked on most types of ammo, even CCI SV. Several points: make sure that your fingers do not come in contact with the slide. Clean the chamber often, I carry a special brush to clean the chamber. It is L shaped so I can clean it through the ejection port. Until it was broken in, it liked to run wet. Check the rounds for too much wax, if you dump the rounds out of the plastic holder, the ones with too much wax will not fall out. Finally the most effective treatment was the oil that I used on the slide. Mobil 1 5W20 synthetic is your friend. I still run mine wet and I have only had 1 stove pipe in the last 3000 rounds. I still use CCI SV.

Thank you. That was a useful answer.

 

[Barrie]

I have 2 friends who are both Gun Smiths and have attended the Smith&Wesson school of gunsmithing. Both of them state quite clearly that the 41 is to be used with the CCI SV ammo which is what they were taught at the Smith school. Neither one has any reason to lie about this and both my 41 and 46 behave perfectly when I use nothing but it thru them. Federal is too greasy for both of my guns so I only use it in my rifles.

 

[03Fatboy]

I bought a mint 1960 model 41 several years ago, and was nervous when I took it out for its first outing with CCI SV. Well it was crazy reliable and accurate with that ammo. I have several ruger mk2's with improved triggers and they still don't compare with the 41. The Rugers have a place but the 41 is at the top. Don't get discouraged just try the recommended ammo!

 

[TMoore]

I have 500 rounds though my purchased new M41. I've had exactly one stovepipe using CCI standard and Ely target. The gun was designed to shoot standard velocity ammo. As I've learned from the web the vast majority of M41 owners use CCI standard. Mine seems to like too, but it doesn't mean it won't shoot anything else as I've had zero failures with Ely target. As a previous poster said keep the chamber clean.

 

[GM4spd]

The 41 is pretty much ammo specific. I have shot many
over the past 40 years and they never failed me on any
SV ammo I used.If you have an expensive race car you
don't put 87 octane from Costco in the tank,. Pete

 

[rmb1950]

Hope this help

Recently I bought a Ruger Competition and a Smith Model 41. I'm using Federal value pack ammunition. I've used that for years with virtually no problems. The Ruger has worked perfectly. The Smith jams about once per magazine full. The cartridge gets about 60% extracted when a round coming up from the magazines slams into it.

The gun was sent back to Smith with a letter explaining exactly what was going on. They test fired the gun. Said that it was fine. And sent it back. Of course the problem was not addressed nor fixed.

Any suggestions as to what to do next?

Stop using Federal 36 grain bullets. Federal used to make a good bullet in 40 grain years ago but they're cutting costs and producing cheap ammo. You'll have jamming problems and also extraction issues with them. I would use CCI standard velocity or high velocity and even try the CCI Blazer.

 

[Kenneth L. Walters]

I've got over 70,000 rounds of the stuff so I'm sticking with it. Beside only the Smith is having trouble with it.

 

[Kenneth L. Walters]

This was a brilliant idea

I bought a new Model 41 last year and it choked on most types of ammo, even CCI SV. Several points: make sure that your fingers do not come in contact with the slide. Clean the chamber often, I carry a special brush to clean the chamber. It is L shaped so I can clean it through the ejection port. Until it was broken in, it liked to run wet. Check the rounds for too much wax, if you dump the rounds out of the plastic holder, the ones with too much wax will not fall out. Finally the most effective treatment was the oil that I used on the slide. Mobil 1 5W20 synthetic is your friend. I still run mine wet and I have only had 1 stove pipe in the last 3000 rounds. I still use CCI SV.

I clean the chamber before each shooting. Also I lubricate the slide with Tri-Lube. Haven't had a single problem since. Thanks!

 

[andyo5]

I shot Federal 550 pack ammo through my first Model 41 for a couple of years. Finally, the gun started to malfunction (would not reset trigger) and showed significant wear at the breach. My current Model 41 shoots only standard velocity ammo, and I can't remember it messing up even once! I've probably shot 2000 or so rounds through it.
S&W customer service says that the 41 can handle HV ammo, but my own experience says not to use it unless perhaps you use a stronger recoil spring.
Hint: It is important to clean under the extractor and in the circular cut-out in the breach where the base of each round seats. A tooth pick is a handy tool for this.