New S&W 41

[Wild Rose]

I recently purchased a Model 41 and am going to compete in the Postal League with it this winter. I have shot 300 rounds through it now using CCI, Remington and Geco amo and have experienced a fair amount of jamming. After cleaning it and going to the range, the first cartridge will only partially eject, or not eject at all. When it doesn't eject at all, the action doesn't move and when I try to pull it back it only opens a short way and stops. After the first 5 rounds it will partially eject one more time in the second 5 rounds and then not jamb at all for the next 100 rounds.
Any ideas??

 

[Ceapea]

Sorry to hear about the problems. Did you buy a new 41 (new production and you are the original purchaser)? Or is it used?
I bought a very lightly used, 1996 M41 and I had tons of problems. These happened after my initial 200-400 rounds.I sent it into S&W and the repaired the thumb safety. I never used the safety as I am a lefty and I only fired the pistol immediately after loading a mag. It was never holstered or moved around after it was loaded.
Anyway, after I got it back from S&W, it worked...for a while. Before it stated acting up again (jamming, FTE, FTF, etc...) I bought 8 more mags, thinking that I would use it for steel plate shooting.
Long story short, it fails way too often for me. I won't sell a problem gun to someone else, I have over $1300 wrapped up in it and I HATE it. My MKIII Hunter (which also had early problems, now corrected), Beretta 87T and a Neos (of all things) are nearly perfect. I can shoot dozens of mags before a failure (other than bad ammo) of any kind occurs. The 41? A failure on just about EVERY mag...sometimes several/mag.
I am reading about more and more problems w/41's. It seems that either you get a good one, or you don't! I didn't!! Junk!!!

 

[Barrie]

Clean it again and only use CCI SV ammo in it. You may be creating your own problems by bouncing around with different ammunition in it.I would also suggest putting a drop of oil on top of the last bullet in the mag as well. Is this a New Gun? Or a used gun? It does make a difference on how deeply you clean it as well. Check the internet for the cleaning instructions as it can make quite a difference on these pistols. If its a used gun I would suggest putting a new set of springs in it which may possibly resolve this issue also. If its a new gun you can send it back to S&W for free with a shipping label from them.

 

[Troystat]

It does seem like the model 41's either work great or are a big pain in the backside. Mine is an older one and is quite happy with anything I put in it. I would try CCI SV and change the recoil spring. Also clean the snot out of it particularly around the extractors and all the nooks and crannies. Also scrub the chamber really well to. Here is a link to help you.
Model 41 maintenance
Sorry for your difficulties, all of us who have them that work great but like you I would be tearing my hair out if I had one that did not.

good luck

 

[andyo5]

Forgive me if I mention things that you have already tried.
1. Get a .22 chamber brush and clean the chamber thoroughly with it, using Hoppe's or a similar product. Do this now and each time when you are cleaning the bore.
2. Make sure the trigger stop is not adjusted so close that it does not always allow the trigger to reset after each shot. Let the trigger overtravel a little.
3. Use standard velocity ammo such as CCI Standard. You will hear folks say that HV ammo is OK. My experience with my first M41 tells me that it accelerates wear.
4. Clean the breach face thoroughly, especially the round cut out where the cases sit against it. Use a wooden tooth pick to dig the junk out.
I have owned two M41s. My first one was bought new in 1997 or so. It shot great for the first 2 years, then started to mess up. A return to the factory provided only a temporary cure. I am on my second one now. It was bought used, and is from the mid-'80s. No HV ammo for this gun. So far it has been glitch free.

 

[Aussie Collector]

Welcome to the forum, not good to see that your first post is negative, any luck someone can help solve your problem.
I have seen a similar problem, not as predictable, but completely random, it was caused by a missing safety spring plate, the safety was moving occasionally. With "..when I try to pull it back it only opens a short way and stops" is a concern and could be key to the issue.

I have a few model 41s and have very little problems with them at all. They can and do operate faultlessly however like everything mechanical can break and do need servicing.
Good luck with yours.

Can I suggest you post again in the "S&W-smithing" section, the guys that hang there may not necessary see your post here.

 

[Barrie]

I suspect Wild Rose may be a Canadian as well as new to the Forum. Alberta is home to the Wild Rose Country. If he comes back with the answers we need I strongely suspect we can give him the correct answers to his problem he claims to have. Its a shame to have such a nice handgun and Not be able to fully enjoy it full time.

 

[oldRoger]

When breaking in a new M41 barrel I have always very lightly oiled the top round (case only) in the magazine. I keep an oily patch handy for that purpose.
This is advice I was given by Clark Custom.

It is not absolutely guaranteed but smooths out the break-in. I would not change ammunition during the break-in; I would use CCI-SV if you have it.

 

[Wild Rose]

Thanks for all the advise. This is a new gun that had only had one shot through it. I have cleaned it using the advise above and went out and shot 50 rounds without a problem! I'm hopeful this has fixed it and will go out tomorrow and put some more rounds through it. I sent a message to S&W last Wednesday but have not gotten a reply. I will consider adjusting the trigger stop, if I experiance the problem of not being able to pull the slide all the way back after a shot that doesn't eject. Very hard to get amo here, so I will continue using what I have and look for some CVI-SV. I'm in the Northeast.
Thanks everybody!

 

[Barrie]

I have in Ontario as the Postal league's are fairly common here. The CCI SV ammo has been hard to get here in London even. WE are a city with around 385,000 people and only 2 actual gunshops. Our Canadian Tire stores do not carry much or the Walmarts either in ammo selection. We usually pick it up out of town around the London area. The word travels fast when someone has any. Blazer,Wolf and some Eley also work well in our guns. Thats where I am down to myself at this time. Again

 

[gmborkovic]

First off, welcome to the Forum. We feel your frustration. 22s have a chronic eating problem. They are curable. Stick with one ammo for awhile and clean. Firm wrist, no limpy here. Try this at the range. Sand bag and see what happens. Just start to whittle away the could be problems. Thats all I got. And keep a log of what you do.

 

[68sixspeed]

The guys at Clark gave me an interesting tip, during break-in put a drop of oil on the top round in each magazine for a while, just a drop. Also as others mentioned keep that chamber clean.

 

[wproct]

Congratulations on your new model 41, and I'm sorry to hear of it's hiccups. I hope you get this sorted out. I know that many have experienced problems with their model 41 pistols feeding, but I have been fortunate I guess. I have owned 3 of them in my lifetime and all have functioned flawlessly. Please keep us informed about your pistol.

 

[Barrie]

Thank You JackRabbit000 for your hint on ammo supply. Its much appreciated. I hate running low of the CCI SV but sometimes it cannot be helped no matter what you try.

 

[gwpercle]

My 1970's era model 41 had a lot of miles on it when I brought it to Clark Custom Gun's about three years ago, Jim Clark and son were known for their work.
Had a reliability package and trigger job done. Oh My Lord...worth every penny, best money I ever spent, every trip to the range is pure pleasure and the trigger is just magical.
Think about it it may cost a few bucks , but all your problems will be gone.

Gary

 

[Ceapea]

My 1970's era model 41 had a lot of miles on it when I brought it to Clark Custom Gun's about three years ago, Jim Clark and son were known for their work.
Had a reliability package and trigger job done. Oh My Lord...worth every penny, best money I ever spent, every trip to the range is pure pleasure and the trigger is just magical.
Think about it it may cost a few bucks , but all your problems will be gone.

Gary

Hmmmm, gonna give that some thought. I will check their site for prices. Maybe there's hope for mine after all.

Thanks!