Jim Watson
Member
I bought the 5.5" largely to get the "barn door" rear sight blade without the clutter of the 7" (or revolver.)
Pros and Cons of the Model 41?
- Thread starter giants1
- Start date
If anyone in this thread already owns a Model 41 and wants a free Volquartsen extractor reply to my comment here and send me a PM. First one gets it. US address only.
I bought a firing pin/extractor bundle for the 15-22 and it came with the wrong extractor and Volquartsen sent me the correct one so I will throw this in an envelope for someone that can actually use it.
I bought a firing pin/extractor bundle for the 15-22 and it came with the wrong extractor and Volquartsen sent me the correct one so I will throw this in an envelope for someone that can actually use it.
"If anyone in this thread already owns a Model 41 and wants a free Volquartsen extractor reply to my comment here and send me a PM. First one gets it. US address only."
I can use it...
I can use it...
It's yours. PM me your address
PM sent...thank you.
Exaviator
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[FONT="]Poor performance of the Model 41 is often blamed on the brand of ammunition, when in fact it is the special features of the .22 Rimfire that are often overlooked.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The case is parallel and the same size as the projectile's driving band and only the mid-section engages with the barrel groves.[/FONT]
[FONT="] This feature creates a small, reduced diameter between the crimp and the band, which on discharge allows interaction between the hot gas and the feathered edge of the crimped bullet to melt, which aided by the wax coating of the bullet, acts as a flux to deposit a ring of carbon and lead to the chamber wall.[/FONT]
[FONT="]With successive firing this build up will prevent subsequent rounds from seating properly against the breech face, which in turn cushions the impact of the firing pin and causing a misfire.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Don't expect to see this build up with the naked eye, the barrel may look clean, but examination with a magnified borescope will show otherwise. Regular cleaning of the chamber area after every few hundred rounds fired will keep your Model 41 happy with a wide range of ammunition brands.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]A few photos to illustrate:[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="](1) The cartridge (2) Relatively clean barrel (3) Carbonised cone area (4) Minute lead deposits.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]The case is parallel and the same size as the projectile's driving band and only the mid-section engages with the barrel groves.[/FONT]
[FONT="] This feature creates a small, reduced diameter between the crimp and the band, which on discharge allows interaction between the hot gas and the feathered edge of the crimped bullet to melt, which aided by the wax coating of the bullet, acts as a flux to deposit a ring of carbon and lead to the chamber wall.[/FONT]
[FONT="]With successive firing this build up will prevent subsequent rounds from seating properly against the breech face, which in turn cushions the impact of the firing pin and causing a misfire.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Don't expect to see this build up with the naked eye, the barrel may look clean, but examination with a magnified borescope will show otherwise. Regular cleaning of the chamber area after every few hundred rounds fired will keep your Model 41 happy with a wide range of ammunition brands.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]A few photos to illustrate:[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="](1) The cartridge (2) Relatively clean barrel (3) Carbonised cone area (4) Minute lead deposits.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
Last edited:
PAgunman
Member
I own a model 41 PC made in January, 2021. See my post "Sent my model 41 back to Smith and Wesson….." bottom line that I have experienced—it is a picky gun…..very expensive, not reliable in terms of extracting, feeding properly or firing. Some times it is fun to shoot. Other days it is frustrating. Tried about 6 kinds of ammo……not much difference in results. See my posts. Suggestion—for the money, it is a disappointment. Buy another brand of 22 LR.
outta_ammo
Member
The low production numbers of the 41 today are not due to it being an unpopular model. But due to the fact that bullseye shooting has shed popularity to all of the "action" shooting pursuits.
There are more people who imagine themselves to be "operators", then there are who aspire to the USA Shooting team.
That said, I'd go old over new 41. The man hours lavished on the older guns is unaffordable today. And CNC doesn't overcome all of that.
There are more people who imagine themselves to be "operators", then there are who aspire to the USA Shooting team.
That said, I'd go old over new 41. The man hours lavished on the older guns is unaffordable today. And CNC doesn't overcome all of that.
I'm partial to the old ones myself. A bit of nostalgia and it doesn't hurt it shoots so well it makes me look good! LoL. Not saying new can't be as good, but old has its charms. Did some holiday cleaning and maintenance on mine, a 1960.
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44wheelman
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I have guns with both barrel lengths, and I shoot the 5.5 more accurately. I bought a 5" field slide, put that on the 7 3/8 gun. The 5.5 is more accurate. The 7.38" gun has a cocking indicator, the 5.5" is newer (does not have that feature).
I stumbled into a mint early model 41 with cocking indicator thru an estate. I intended to sell it and quadruple my money because I'm more of a revolver guy. K frames to be specific. The problem is I shot it. Now it's not for sale. Even though I rarely shoot it due to its mint condition. It shoots circles around my K22 my model 48 my Ruger MKII etc….. it eats and digests every thing I've fed it. I believe they're more accurate than 99% of the people shooting them. I can't imagine the extra money for a PC model could improve it all that much.
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