Pros and Cons of the Model 41?

[giants1]

I'm considering buying a Performance Center Model 41, because it's a beautiful, high-end gun with a history. It's a bit on the pricey side and, from what I've read, is ammo fussy. However, I haven't decided whether I want to actually shoot it or have it as an unfired display gun at home. I would be buying it new from an LGS.

I wanted to check in with fellow forum members about the pros and cons of this pistol, particularly the 5.5" vs 7" barrel.

22plinkster said that S&W only makes 300-500 per year. Does that necessarily mean that there's not much of a market for this pistol?

Finally, I recently bought a 5.5" Browning Buck Mark, which has a manual of arms similar to the Model 41, though I dislike the inability to a complete deep cleaning easily (due to the hex screws and Browning's admonition not to disassemble the slide). I have shot only about 400 rounds on the Buck Mark and my groupings are looser than my Glock 17 with a .22LR conversion, using the same batch of ammo. In all fairness, I've shot and dry fired Glocks a lot and feel comfortable with the grip and manual of arms.

 

[sikacz]

I have a 1960 Model 41. It’s fun and it’s accuracy is only dependent on the skill of the shooter. I tend to use only standard velocity ammo as recommended. It’s not picky about which manufacturers ammo I use. Can’t really come up with a con, I bough used and old and knew I wanted it. Sorry I can’t advise on the new model 41.

 

[giants1]

I have a 1960 Model 41. It’s fun and it’s accuracy is only dependent on the skill of the shooter. I tend to use only standard velocity ammo as recommended. It’s not picky about which manufacturers ammo I use. Can’t really come up with a con, I bough used and old and knew I wanted it. Sorry I can’t advise on the new model 41.

Thanks. It's my understanding that it's optimized for 40 grain. What grain ammo do you find works best with it?

 

[teletech]

Reliability on the 41 is hit-or-miss. Some folks report they run great with a variety of ammo, where others find it fussy about ammo, and some don't find they are reliable regardless.
I've had somewhat mixed results in terms of reliability.
The Buckmark I tried was pretty amazing with a red-dot on it, but still didn't make me smile like my 41 on the better days. If you run the Clark barrel for shooting, that seems to produce a much more reliable gun, but I don't care for the look so would put the factory barrel back "for display" at least. I'd be inclined to get a vintage one with the cocking indicator just for the cool factor, but if you want to help keep Smith&Wesson in business with a new one, the good on ya!
Sent my Performance Center model 41 back to S & W….
Picked-up new Model 41 7" - Good Grief S&W!?!
Model 41 ejection issues
Model 41 STILL just as picky an eater as ever!!

 

[cherrypointmarine]

I got lucky and found a nib 41 a couple of years ago , a 1979 model . All I can say is it eats anything and is super accurate .

My range buddy has a Browning Buck Mark , he's practicing for our clubs bullseye matches . I can say it's an accurate piece of hardware , he wouldn't own it if it wasn't . He shoots it more than his 41 . I'm guessing it's up to the shooter .

 

[BB57]

I’ve shot Bullseye since the 1980s and over the years I have used a Mk I 678 Target, a MK II 512 Target, a pair of Hi Standard Victors and a 7” S&W 41.

I prefer the Victor to the S&W 41, but that’s more a matter of how they fit my hand and a slightly better trigger on both of my Victors.

The S&W 41 trigger is still better then the Volquartzen triggers on my Rugers and by any standard it’s a very good trigger. The S&W also doesn’t rely 100% on perfectly tuned magazine lips for feeding like the Victor, so there’s no need for a magazine tool or any skill in tuning a Mag. People might complain about picky S&W 41s but believe me it’s all relative.

You will of course get the inevitable crowds of S&W 41 experts who insist the only ones worth owning are the old ones, but the fact is the S&W 41 is still a great pistol for target work.


The 5.5” and 7” standard model pistols are very similar in weight 46 oz and 45 oz respectively and for me the choice came down to balance and feel.

The performance center 5.5” weighs in at about 42.5 oz. It frankly did not impress me at all. It makes mounting an optic slightly easier but I dislike the front sight intensely. The trigger didn’t impress me compared to the standard model. Overall, it has a bad case of ugly and strikes me as a way to separate people from more of their money for no real gain in capability.

The S&W 41 will outshoot a Ruger target model when both are in very capable hands, although some aftermarket mods will bring the Rugers performance very close to that of the S&W 41. For shooters just starting out they probably won’t shoot one any better than the other, but the S&W does offer better growth potential. While the S&W 41 costs more (a lot more) it will also hold its value a bit better than a Ruger.

 

[kas9412]

I bought my 41 in 1997. When I first got it, it had stove piping issues, no matter which ammo I shot. However, after running 5-6 boxes of high velocity ammo through it, the gun settled down and began to shoot reliably. From then on, I've shot 100% CCI standard velocity 40 grain ammo through it, and it runs like a champ. I only clean it when it gets dirty, about 800 rounds or so, at which point, it starts to malfunction. I then clean it, and after cleaned, it may malfunction for the first few shots, but then goes on to shoot reliably. My gun has well over 10,000 rounds through it, and other than cleaning, the only part I've replaced is the rebound spring. It is my favorite pistol.

If you intend to mount a red dot on it, I recommend the 5.5 barrel, as I think it balances best, however if you plan to shoot iron sights, the 7inch barrel provides a longer sighting radius, which may improve your (not the gun's ) ability to shoot accurately. The only drawback I find with my 41 is its weight, which is around 52 ounces with the red dot. This is a chunk, but I have a Matchdot on it; a reflex red dot will weigh less.

Good luck with your purchase and enjoy your 41! I highly recommend it!

 

[505Gibbs]

Personal opinion is DON"T pay the extra for a Perf Center model - stick to a basic 41. The bells and whistles on the PC model don't allow it to shoot any better!

 

[first-model]

I have one of the first thousand Model 41's made in the late 1950's. Other than some new springs, it's in its original factory configuration and I shoot it somewhat regularly.

My 41 has a bit of a "personality." Some nights I'm on fire with it and can do surgical work with it that few other guns can match. Other nights it's temperamental and fussy and just doesn't want to cooperate. I haven't found a good reason for this, since I generally run the same ammo. Just seems to be the way with these higher end guns.

(as a point of comparison: my Glock 44 always runs perfectly. It doesn't have the surgical precision of the Model 41, but it's not fussy in the least and runs like a champ, even if it isn't all that clean.)

If you're open to a used one, I have a 1970's vintage Model 41 that I'd consider parting with. It won't have the same sparkle as a new gun, but it's arguably a better made Model 41 than anything coming out of the factory now.

Mike

 

[ol777gunnerz]

info

Mine is a 1958 shipped model 41, purchased from my gunsmith-FFL guy, selling an estate's guns. It was used very little, the only problem I have had is problems extracting Aguila ammo, Winchester & Federal plinker ammo shoot great at 75 ft. with good accuracy. CCI standard velocity also.

 

[first-model]

Mine is a 1958 shipped model 41, purchased from my gunsmith-FFL guy, selling an estate's guns. It was used very little, the only problem I have had is problems ejecting Aguila ammo, Winchester & Federal plinker ammo shoot great at 75 ft. with good accuracy. CCI standard velocity also.

Extracting or ejecting?

My gun wouldn't extract (or eject) worth a darn until I detail stripped the slide. There was ages of crud in there, not to mention springs that had long since lost their springyness. With the crud gone and some new springs and everything well oiled, it extracted and ejected like a champ.

Mike

 

[clang444]

I own 2 older ones (a 5.5" and a 7"), both bought used years ago. Both are very accurate and not fussy about ammo. I don't really have a preference on barrel length, they both handle nicely.

I also have a High Standard Supermatic Citation and a Ruger Mk II Government Target Model. They are all great guns, but I shoot the Model 41s the most.

 

[wproct]

My preference for balance and feel is the 5.5 inch heavy bbl model. My current model is of 2007 manufacture and is not a performance center model. You either like the looks of the performance center model or you don't and i prefer the standard model, just personal opinion. If you spend some time on the model 41 section of this forum you will find a wealth of reading, opinions, etc. I've always had an interest in .22lr target pistols and own a few, including the model 41 and Victory Smith & Wesson pistols. The 41 just has a special feel all of it's own and I get a lot of satisfaction out of shooting and just owning one.

 

[diyj98]

I've owned several 41's over the years. I've owned them in 5.5", 7" and the old 7 3/8". I'd suggest the longer barrel just for the increased sight radius, but I really don't remember much difference in them accuracy wise. They do have fantastic triggers, but I've found many aren't any more accurate off the bags than some of the Ruger's I've owned. The 41's trigger is superior to any stock Ruger by a long shot, but with a trigger replacement, the Ruger's can be close.

 

[StakeOut]

I've owed a few 41s while I was a 2700 match shooter but never used one in competition because of issues with them and the mags.
I had at the time:
Ruger Mk 1
Hammerli
Model 41(1967)
High Standard Supermatic Citation
I used the High Standard with Bull Barrel and the tuned Ruger Mk1 for all the matches.

 

[John_M52]

I've had short and long slide. My father always shot std velocity but when I was young I didn't have the cash for std vel so I shot whatever. Only issue I had was when they got really fouled and dirty. I used the compensator at times but when that got dirty I'd get fliers. I also have a browning and have had Rugers. I'm very partial to the M41...looks, feel, etc. but I know guys who shoot a Ruger very well. But when I think 22 pistol, I always think M41. Wish I had a PC!

 

[350mag]

I have the new PC M 41 5.5 “ and I really like the sights and the rib with a red dot. I also have a early M 41 7.5” with the muzzle break. I enjoy both.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[wagwan]

Interestingly, I’ve read a couple of reports of people shooting the 5.5 inch barrels more accurately than the 7 inch. Not that the actual barrel is any more accurate, but the theory is that the microsecond longer that the bullet remains in the 7 incher can induce more movement error than the longer sight radius makes up for. (Hope I explained that clearly enough).

I only have 5.5 inch barrels so can’t comment from personal experience.

 

[teletech]

Interestingly, I’ve read a couple of reports of people shooting the 5.5 inch barrels more accurately than the 7 inch. Not that the actual barrel is any more accurate, but the theory is that the microsecond longer that the bullet remains in the 7 incher can induce more movement error than the longer sight radius makes up for. (Hope I explained that clearly enough).

I only have 5.5 inch barrels so can’t comment from personal experience.

Another theory is that those of us whose hold is steadier than their vision is sharp, the shorter sight radius means the rear sight is less out of focus so can result in increased accuracy from shorter barrels. It would be interesting to test both of those theories. Of course, the weight and balance change with different barrels and that could have an impact.
I have seen a reasonable amount of barrel to barrel variation in M41s, Just now I've got two 7" barrels, one shoots 1.25" at 25 yards and the other is closer to 1.75" with the same frame and ammunition. My 5.5" falls in between.

 

[sikacz]

Thanks. It's my understanding that it's optimized for 40 grain. What grain ammo do you find works best with it?

I believe the ammo I use is 40gr.