On The Horns of a Dilemma

[Magnumdood]

Gentlemen,

As the title suggests, I'm on the Horns of a Dilemma. First a little history, just a few sentences; I purchased the second S&W revolver in my life off of Gunbroker a few months ago. I was just looking; I had no intention of purchasing anything until I saw that S&W 500 Magnum from the Performance Center. When I saw that revolver I knew I had to have it. I bought it and am very happy with my purchase. I'm in line at Cylinder & Slide to have adjustable night sights installed, and have them perform an overall assessment of what needs to be done to make the revolver as perfect as it can be. It takes 4 to 6 months to get the call from Cylinder and Slide to let you know they are ready for your gun, and another 4 weeks for the work.

Shortly after I purchased my 500, I found this site. It was meant to be. I am completely obsessed with S&W revolvers. My biggest problem is my disposable income is not all that great at the moment. Having the money to buy my 500 Mag was the result of not spending any money on "toys" for several months.

Now I want to buy one of all the Magnums, and I can't even decide within each Magnum caliber which representative I want to purchase.

The Horns of my immediate Dilemma; which to buy next, a .41 Magnum or a .44 Magnum? I have two delightful specimens located and marked on Gunbroker; one in .41 Magnum and the other, naturally, in .44 Magnum. The one I want the most changes hourly. I must admit, I like the .41 Magnum, my Dad was smitten by the .41 Magnum and I couldn't help but be influenced by him, but…the other is…well, a .44 Magnum! Everyone can at least say .44 Magnum. They may not have a clue what it means, but they can say it. There are probably guys who fancy themselves pretty knowledgeable about all things firearms that probably know very little about the .41 Magnum, but they can recite from memory the 10 most popular .44 Magnum loads, the energy at the muzzle, at 50 yds., 100 yds. and 200 yards and the corresponding drop in inches at each yardage.

So, which shall it be; the .41 Magnum or the .44 Magnum?

 

[Sprefix]

Well 'dood, Given the choices, I'm a .44 mag guy 'cause you can buy ammo for it at EVERY mom and pop store in the nation. Try that in .41 mag. Let me suggest looking into a 625 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt. If you are a recoil guy, this will get you all buzzed up. If not, you can shoot cowboy loads and have crazy fun with your clothes on. I should tell you I think the .41 is cool, I just think the .44 is "cooler". Oh, check ammo prices also (?disposable income). Good Luck 'dood, N be mindful of them horns.......

 

[Babalooie]

N frames are nice. It really depends on what you like and want.

In my case, I bought a couple of .44 magnums but found most firing ranges in my area will not allow them to be fired on them.

I got bit by the .357 bug and acquired an almost new model 28-2 with box, papers and cleaning kit. Also, a model 27-3 50th anniversary Registered Magnum found their way into my gun safe.

Collect what you like and you'll be a happy man.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

If it can't be done with .357, it can't be done!

 

[olcop]

Dilemma

Buy them both, prices are only going up, so you will save money in the long run.
olcop

 

[mg357]

Why not start with the oldest magnum that s&w manufactures the .357 magnum. Plus you can save money by shooting .38 special ammo in a .357 magnum revolver.

 

[JCS&W]

I was in your shoes about 2 years ago. I bought the .44 mag first. However, I could not stop looking at the .41 mag and bought one just a few weeks later. Whichever one you buy first, you will purchase the other shortly thereafter. It is the nature of the "disease".

 

[beach elvis]

IMO and only IMO, the .41 and .44 are close enough ballistically that when considering other factors i.e. ammo availability if you don't handload, flexibility to shoot lower recoil ammo (.44 Special in this instance. Not aware -personally, anyway- of a .41 Special or somesuch), along with versatility of load choices (180 gr. to 320 gr.), etc., my vote goes to the .44. Also, it's got enough juice, practically speaking, to do about anything one would ask of a handgun in the real world. No, it doesn't hit as hard as a .500 mag. but did anyone call it underpowered before the advent of the .500?
Noone I know of.

And then there's accuracy potential. Granted, I have less experience with the .41 so I'm a tad biased but I'm very familiar with the abilities of the .44 and it's pretty easy for me to come up with loads that will print tighter groups than I'm capable of instigating.

Whatever choice you make, may it bring you years of happiness.

 

[kennyb]

i have all the magnums...based on your post...41 mag.it's a great caliber

 

[nawilson]

I am having the same problem. It really isn't a bad problem to have.

Personally, I am leaning towards the 44. It can be a little more with full house magnum loadings. It can be a little less (read that more pleasant to shoot) with special loads. Ammo is a little easier to find, too. Reloading changes all that though.

 

[Frank237]

If I were YOU...I'd spend the money on a reloading set up so You can load your own .41's and .44's to feed your upcoming hoard of guns. Being relegated to ONLY factory ammo IMHO really limits a guy with enjoying the N frame mags.

I don't care to or really NEED to sling full power mag loads around the range at steel or paper. But a mellow handload with a Keith slug at 850 or 900 fps...thats another story.

Frankly if it were me...I'd sell the .500 use that money to finance a reloading set up....then start buying 29's, 629's , 58"s , 57's , etc.

FN in MT

 

[A10]

I'd keep shopping for a pre-29, 5 screw. They don't come much prettier than that! And as previously stated, it seems the price will only go up. That would be a great starter for your nframe collection. Then work your way down the spectrum (I understand there has been an nframe .22 built in the past....custom order from S&W). You may get to the model 28's and get stuck, they have a certain attraction. Happy hunting!

 

[perrazi]

very first thing to buy, if you haven't already, is a good realoading set-up. then good instruction along with at least 2 loading manuals. this makes shooting everything much more reasonable, load the kind og ammo you want,when you want it. btw, there is a 41 special now,for a previous poster.

 

[vytoland]

buy em both.................you will be happy with your new S&W's and the economy will be stim u lated.

 

[chellesdad]

You don't mention if you reload of not. To me this would make a difference in the decision just because as pointed out you have more factory versatility with the 44 because there is just more out there, and because of the 44special. So while I have, like and normaly lean towards the 41, if I were making the same decision without the ability to reload it would be the 44

 

[NE450No2]

I would go with the 44 Mag.

It does not make a whole lot of sense to me to shoot a lot of light practice loads in a 500. I would save it for full power loads.

The 44 Mag can easily be loaded from 44 Special low power loads to full power loads. So can the 41 mag, but 44 mag ammo, cases, and bullets are so muc easier to find than 41 Mag stuff.

In a S&W the 45 Colt cannot be loaded up as much at the 44 Mag, and there are not that many factory loads for it.

A 500 and a 44 Mag would make a good pair.

 

[DeadAye]

I'll have to go with the crowd (kind of)
41 if you reload
44 if you don't

But ----
Get a .357 and you're covered - Between the 500 and the 357 you can handle anything from those brownies in the trees to the Brownies that think you're part of a healthy menu, and everything in between.

 

[Magnumdood]

Thanks for all the replies guys!

I do handload; I have enough powder and primers to blow up half my neighborhood. I've been reloading for shotshell and metalic cartridges for 20 years. I've never needed a progressive press until now though. In the years from 1983 to 1999 I was a Deputy Sheriff in Texas. I was one of the departmental firearms instructors so pistol ammunition (10mm for me) was free. I shot all I wanted. When I was drug kicking and screaming to this state I lost the ability to carry (I felt naked for 6 or 7 years) and no more free ammo.

I'm probably going to get the .41.

 

[quneur]

.454 Casell?