Hello all. I'm brand new to this forum and have found a ton of great information here. I recently acquired a Model 657 4" and a no-dash Model 66 from the daughter of a a late LEO friend of mine. The 657 was shot less than a couple of hundred rounds as he had just got it in 1986 when an arrestee pulled out a gun and started a gunfight. My friend (standing in a crossfire situation) took a round from his partner's .41 that passed through the guy who had shot at him. My friend's injuries ultimately ended his LEO career and he passed away in 2001. Since that time, his guns were left to neglect and rust. The 66 is still slick as glass but the .41 needed some attention. I cleaned the action and noticed that he had clipped about 1 1/2 coils from the rebound spring (he was a S&W Armorer) I have the gun running great now but plan to replace the rebound spring with a median weight spring in the neighborhood of 15 or 16 lbs. The outlaw didn't survive rounds from the .41 that summer night in 1986 and the gun has never been fired since that time. I plan to change that soon and am quite honored to now own it. My first duty revolver 40 years ago was a Model 57. I'm always interested in learning from other Smith and Wesson Revolver owners and operators.
Re-acquainting with the .41 Magnum
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A bit of a sad story there, but happy to know you now have your late friend’s guns and are taking good care of them. You’ll have to come back with a shooting report when you’ve had the chance to get to the range. 
Michaelp57
Member
Welcome to the forum. If you seek knowledge on wheel guns, you came to the right place. Some of the guys on here forgot more than I'll ever learn about Smith revolvers.
Welcome to the Forum
It is very sad that your friend's career and life were shortened. However like most Law Enforcement Officers, he knowingly placed himself in harm's way to protect the people of the community in which he served. I am hopeful that the Texas Department for which he worked, not to mention his community, properly honored him for his service
You do him honor by returning his firearm to serviceable condition and continuing to use it
Back in the olden days we did not have the ability to buy rebound springs of varying strength, so clipping a coil or two was not an uncommon modification back then. A 15 or 16 pound spring will be on par with what the Factory supplied. Most of the larger spring manufacturers will offer rebound springs as light as 12 pounds these days. If you go that light you will need to verify that the trigger resets properly each and every time as other issues within the lock work can cause enough friction to prevent proper reset. Including dirty intermals.
There are quite a few of us here that are EXTREME enthusiasts of the Smith and Wesson 41 Magnum cartridge. This includes all of the various Factory firearms in the model 57/357/657 Family of Revolvers
Some of us even like 41 Magnums from other manufacturers
I myself have been a fan of the cartridge since I accidentally acquired one back in 1980. I still own that first 6" nickel plated revolver (lower left corner of image) and have added several dozen 41 Magnum firearms to the stable. Everything from revolvers to auto loaders to single shots to lever actions and I enjoy each and every one of them
If you have not noticed already, our fellow Forum members do love photographs. so please post a few of your revolver
Here is a 12+ year old group photo of my various 41 Magnums
While choices for 41 Magnum Factory ammunition is far better today than it was 40+ years ago, those of us who did a lot of shooting back in the old days were usually hand loaders already. So feel free to ask any questions along those lines as well
Back in the mid 1990s I was working out in Dallas County in a small town called Irving. We did have a famous football team the Irving Cowboys.
During my time in Texas I did make friends with quite a few members at DPS including several of those who were involved in the selection of the 357 SIG cartridge. I had some wonderful early exposure to what has become one of my favorites for auto loading firearms.
It is very sad that your friend's career and life were shortened. However like most Law Enforcement Officers, he knowingly placed himself in harm's way to protect the people of the community in which he served. I am hopeful that the Texas Department for which he worked, not to mention his community, properly honored him for his service
You do him honor by returning his firearm to serviceable condition and continuing to use it
Back in the olden days we did not have the ability to buy rebound springs of varying strength, so clipping a coil or two was not an uncommon modification back then. A 15 or 16 pound spring will be on par with what the Factory supplied. Most of the larger spring manufacturers will offer rebound springs as light as 12 pounds these days. If you go that light you will need to verify that the trigger resets properly each and every time as other issues within the lock work can cause enough friction to prevent proper reset. Including dirty intermals.
There are quite a few of us here that are EXTREME enthusiasts of the Smith and Wesson 41 Magnum cartridge. This includes all of the various Factory firearms in the model 57/357/657 Family of Revolvers
Some of us even like 41 Magnums from other manufacturers
I myself have been a fan of the cartridge since I accidentally acquired one back in 1980. I still own that first 6" nickel plated revolver (lower left corner of image) and have added several dozen 41 Magnum firearms to the stable. Everything from revolvers to auto loaders to single shots to lever actions and I enjoy each and every one of them
If you have not noticed already, our fellow Forum members do love photographs. so please post a few of your revolver
Here is a 12+ year old group photo of my various 41 Magnums
While choices for 41 Magnum Factory ammunition is far better today than it was 40+ years ago, those of us who did a lot of shooting back in the old days were usually hand loaders already. So feel free to ask any questions along those lines as well
Back in the mid 1990s I was working out in Dallas County in a small town called Irving. We did have a famous football team the Irving Cowboys.
During my time in Texas I did make friends with quite a few members at DPS including several of those who were involved in the selection of the 357 SIG cartridge. I had some wonderful early exposure to what has become one of my favorites for auto loading firearms.
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I've got a Ruger BH, a Model 57, and a Model 58. Love the cartridge.
BigMuddy
Member
Welcome to the forum from another huge fan of the 41 Maggie. Got my first one, a Ruger BH, in 1983. That was back when I would tell people what my gun was and the response was usually “don’t you mean 44 Magnum?”. I wasn’t a reloader then, but quickly became one to feed my 41. Many have passed through my hands, and quite a few remain. My 4” 657 is among my favorites.
Dan
Dan
hkcavalier
US Veteran
Welcome to the Forum and thank you for sharing that very interesting story! We don't see many LEO tales re: the .41 Magnum.
While I put a 657 3" in use in my fiction novels, I actually don't own one, and only got a .41 earlier this year, a 57 4".
While I put a 657 3" in use in my fiction novels, I actually don't own one, and only got a .41 earlier this year, a 57 4".
Thanks to all who responded. Giving a nod to them all, will comment that I'm sorry I don't know how to link a photograph to this forum as I don't have them on a website (url). This .41 will likely put me back into reloading which I had gotten away from decades ago. The community/agency really didn't acknowledge this officer adequately. I have written a fairly detailed account of the incident in a folder somewhere but too lengthy to post here. I will say, the outlaw took 10 rounds as I recall from both officers and was still trying to run his .32 caliber revolver until the friend who had this revolver from the ground, sent four silvertips upward and through the middle of the boiler room. Due to drugs, alcohol, and maybe adrenaline, he just wouldn't go down. What wasn't known to the two officers, when the other officer who was being shot in the direction of returned fire, he empty the cylinder of his .41, one those rounds, had struck the outlaws revolver rendering both his revolver as well as his trigger finger. But he kept lifting it trying to run it until he checked out. If I get to reloading, I will for sure hit some of you up for current loading suggestions.
Rock185
US Veteran
Hello WM, I bought my first S&W revolver the summer of '65, a new Model 57. It was not my last 57, had one or two more afterwards. I loaded and shot .41 Magnum for some years. The .41 Magnum cartridge and Model 57 were longtime favorites of mine. Enjoy yours..
I love shooting the Georgia Arms "Cowboy" load. It's a pussycat, and my favorite range target load for my favorite revolver; a nickel-plated Model 58. They still make this ammo, Thank Goodness (I no longer reload).
HANDGUN - COWBOY LOADS - (SASS) - .41 MAG - Georgia Arms
I also enjoy shooting Winchester Silvertips, but they are not easy to find. When I run across some, I stash away a few boxes. And I have a few boxes of full loads. Steinel makes a good ammo.
HANDGUN - COWBOY LOADS - (SASS) - .41 MAG - Georgia Arms
I also enjoy shooting Winchester Silvertips, but they are not easy to find. When I run across some, I stash away a few boxes. And I have a few boxes of full loads. Steinel makes a good ammo.
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OK, nickel, unfired outside the factory, and also a 4" 57.
Bought my first 58, new, back in the 70's when money was tight so it was sold. It took a while to find another blue example but another one finally came around. Then I over compensated a little. I do like the 57/58.
Bought my first 58, new, back in the 70's when money was tight so it was sold. It took a while to find another blue example but another one finally came around. Then I over compensated a little. I do like the 57/58.
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Picked up 3 41 mags this year...
1976 vintage 4" and a 57-3 6" boxed.
Also scored a like new nickel model 58...but the
front sight is missing.
Still not sure how to unscrew that.
1976 vintage 4" and a 57-3 6" boxed.
Also scored a like new nickel model 58...but the
front sight is missing.
Still not sure how to unscrew that.
Doug M.
Member
My first revolver was an M58, and it was my first duty weapon. I did my first LEOSA qual with it, using really rank hunting loads as the indoor range did not allow the lead SWC. (I bought a 1000 or so from Georgia Arms and as other have said, nice load to shoot and likely to do all I ever need.)
SuperMan
Member
...welcome aboard...another LE fan of the .41.
Worked for Dallas PD in the 70s and 80s. Carried two different 4" 57s and a 58 during that time...
Just after I started in 1977, the officer with the locker next to mine shot an armed robber between two buildings with a Model 58. Was a moderate handload with the old Hornady 210 JHSP bullet. It went right through the guy and took out a good size chuck of one of the buildings bricks...
If you are looking for some moderate velocity ammo to get you through before you start back into handloading, one of the posters here has a new target load in .41 which is sold commercially.
.45 ACP +P 250 Grn Hard Cast Flat Point (50 RND)
...and once you get back into it, here is a thread that has lots of great data and links:
.41 Magnum / 41 Special Load Data Center
...and our own .41 Thread....
1964-2014...The .41 Magnum
Sorry to hear of your friends passing.... I'm sure he will be pleased to see his personal favorite back on the line....
Bob
ps...I've found that a 13# trigger return spring to be the softest that will reliably return the trigger every time....they are in almost all of my Smiths...
Worked for Dallas PD in the 70s and 80s. Carried two different 4" 57s and a 58 during that time...
Just after I started in 1977, the officer with the locker next to mine shot an armed robber between two buildings with a Model 58. Was a moderate handload with the old Hornady 210 JHSP bullet. It went right through the guy and took out a good size chuck of one of the buildings bricks...
If you are looking for some moderate velocity ammo to get you through before you start back into handloading, one of the posters here has a new target load in .41 which is sold commercially.
.45 ACP +P 250 Grn Hard Cast Flat Point (50 RND)
...and once you get back into it, here is a thread that has lots of great data and links:
.41 Magnum / 41 Special Load Data Center
...and our own .41 Thread....
1964-2014...The .41 Magnum
Sorry to hear of your friends passing.... I'm sure he will be pleased to see his personal favorite back on the line....
Bob
ps...I've found that a 13# trigger return spring to be the softest that will reliably return the trigger every time....they are in almost all of my Smiths...
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I bought a second hand Model 57 from my first Chief for about $200 in 1984. Young, dumb, and poor, I traded it back to him for a Model 19 and he never would let me trade him back out of it. It took me a few years to get smarter and manage my pocket book to where I quit selling one to buy one or trading one off. Wish I had that one back. I only have five Smith and Wesson revolvers now but I cherish them. By the way, thank you and others for your service Sir.
