S&W 41 - Anyone own one/have trigger time with one

[Houndog]

With the price of ammo being what it is, I've been thinking about getting a good quality .22. Been considering a number of alternatives, including the venerable S&W 41.

Looking for some feedback. I assume they are extremely accurate. What about reliability? Shootability? Preferred barrel length? If I buy used, anything I should watch out for?

Also, in researching prices I'm finding that used ones in good condition can be $14-1500. Yet, I've found at least one dealer that's offering a new model 41 for $1100. This is obviously somewhat confusing. Are the older ones simply considered higher quality/more accurate and therefore more desirable? Is it a collectability thing?

 

[ameridaddy]

I cannot tell you about new vs old, but I've owned both a 5" and 7" version from ca. 1977-1980, and never had a single problem with either. Some report a sensitivity to the ammo chosen, but mine ate Remington Gold, Winchester bulk pak and CCI SV all equally well. And yes, they are accurate, shooting better than me even when I was competing in bullseye matches back then.
Get one and have fun. Pick up a few extra magazines as well.

 

[sherwood49]

New Model 41 Padded Case

Just bought one and will pick it up Friday when I can get it from jail. My question is this: can anybody recommend a padded case for it. I want to use it when going to the the range instead of the plastic case it came with. Thanks.

 

[FlyFish]

I've had my Model 41 for about 40 years and shot it extensively in Bullseye competition for about 20 years before upgrading to a Walther GSP. They are unquestionably fine guns, as evidenced by the fact that they're probably the most commonly seen gun on the line in Bullseye matches except for perhaps the entry-level Ruger, which is a fine gun in its own right, just not at the same level.

They are, of course, very accurate but can be a bit fussy about ammo. Some of them, thankfully including the one I own, will run with just about everything; others will have problems with many brands of ammo. Most folks I know seem to have good luck with CCI SV and I've heard the gun is "designed" to use that ammo, but frankly I don't know what that means. My experience is that it's a good idea to keep them very clean if you're looking for reliability.

The triggers are quite good and somewhat adjustable, but they don't begin to compare with the near-infinitely adjustable two-stage triggers on the high-end European guns. But of course you can buy two very nice 41s for the price of a Walther or Pardini. You'll hear that the 41 is the finest target pistol ever made, which is simply not true, but they're probably the best US-made target pistol.

You should be able to find a used specimen in very good condition for under a grand, and $1400 is an unreasonably high price. I see you're in Boston - there's a well-known LGS not too many miles north of you that currently has three on their used gun list at $900, which seems to be the going price in our neck of the woods.

I have both the long and short barrels - I set the long barrel up for gallery pistol (so I could use the optional barrel weights if I wanted) with a red dot sight and left the short barrel with open sights for general plinking. I think you should try to find an example of each and judge for yourself which feels best in your hand. The longer barrel would provide a longer sight radius if you intend to use open sights.

 

[wetdog1911]

Prior to the early 1990s the M41s were pretty much hand assembled/fitted by one gunsmith from start to finish. Sadly, that is no longer the case due to cost cutting manufacturing changes. A quick visual check would be laser engraving rather than roll stamped markings on the pistol and less polishing for the finish.

This did not happen all at once, but over a few years time, but, 1990 is a decent date for the before and after changes. Mine is a 1990 manufacture, roll stamped, with the frame highly polished, but the bbl much less so. Still, it has run like a champ for over 30 years and has from the git. A internet 'buds' 1991 M41 has the laser engraving and did take some fiddling to get it to 100%.

It doesn't surprise me in the least that older (pre 1990), pistols are bringing more than brand new models. The attention to detail in building the older ones compared to just assembling parts now, is almost like night and day.

Rob

 

[Houndog]

Thanks for the comments.

Thought maybe that was the case with older guns. Don't want to get off topic, but my understanding is the S&W in general is not what it used to be. Even the Performance Center guns, which were quite good 20 years ago seem to have gone down hill.

Flyfish - moved to Colorado about a year ago, so no longer in Boston. Is LGS Four Seasons? Carl has gotten an awful lot of my money over the last 20 years? Of course, shipping is always a possibility.

 

[Barbarosa99]

I purchased a PC 5” last spring, absolutely love it. No problems at all, very accurate.

 

[Sevens]

The Performance Center built unquestionably the finest firearms in the history of S&W going back to the Registered Magnum, but the Performance Center was phased out around 2011.

Today the “PC” name lives on but guns produced after 2012 were not hand fitted by elite craftsmen in a separate facility. Today the logo only indicates different features, sometimes merely visual (and gaudy) at increased prices. There is no improvement in quality on a post-2011 “PC” gun and for dead sure certain, S&W has followed basically the entire industry with a nosedive in quality.

S&W has outsourced all quality control to the buyer now.

 

[Houndog]

Not trying to insult anyone who recently bought a S&W, PC or otherwise. I'm sure there are some fine PC guns, but I think QC is less rigorous, and the affection some of us old guys have for our 20 year old guns is not just nostalgia.

Personally, I own a PC 945 that I will never part with. Also have a SW1911 with a serial number under 1000, which I think has a Briley barrel. And then there's my Gen. 1 SW610 with a 6" barrel. Perhaps the most accurate pistol I own. Bought used and the prior owner must have had some trigger work done on it because the trigger is spectacular.

 

[colt_saa]

I have two that I have been shooting for the last 25 years or so.

As many have said, the Model 41s are quite accurate

As to ammunition even though mine are only 298 serial numbers apart, they both have different ammunition that they love as well as different ammunition that they do not like. Once you figure that out they are very reliable

Both of mine left the factory with the 7 3/8" barrels with the removeable V-Comps. One of mine has a red dot on it and I have a spare 5" barrel should I desire the shorter tube.

I have a batch of Factory magazines, both the older 10 round versions and the newer 12 round magazines. All the mags work perfectly in either Model 41.

 

[GypsmJim]

I started shooting bullseye when I joined a club in 1971. Used a High Standard H-D Military for a while and got a basic handicap. In 1972 I bought a 7 3/8" Model 41 for 100 bucks. It was built in 1967. Improved my score and it ran 100% with any ammo.

Then came marriage and kids and a demanding job, so I had no time to compete any more. When I saw a deal on a Single Action Army .45 Colt I traded the Smith.

I always sorta wished I hadn't let the 41 go, but truthfully I probably wouldn't have shot it much any more. At my age I can't see the target and sights simultaneously, so I'm just a plinker now. The semi .22 I like the best of all ever is my new Ruger Mark 4 SS Target. I have a Reflex sight mounted on it and I can (almost) do as well as with the 41. Of course its with a 2-hand hold and if I deliberate too long I wiggle a bit....LOL.

Anywhoot, if I were in your position I'd buy a Mark 4 Bull AND a Mark 4 Fluted long barrel target, and still come in under the cost of a 41. As far as accuracy, either one is better than I am, and the reliability is 100%.

 

[KalamazooKid]

S&W 41 - Anyone own one/have trigger time with one

I don’t shoot competitively but do have a couple M41’s that I enjoy immensely. Very accurate and (knock on wood) have both run flawlessly with bulk ammo (I shoot a lot of Federal stuff). And I mix in both vintage and new magazines with no issues.

7 3/8” from 1971 .....

And a 5” model from 1965 .....

 

[gwpercle]

I shot NRA Bullseye indoor competition during the 1970's . We had a shooting league and shot every Wednesday night .
The 5" heavy barrel always seemed to get higher scores than the 7 3/8" barrel ... the pistol is fitted for both and has the sweetest Clark Custom Guns Target trigger Job ... worth every penny ! Picked up a few prizes and trophies with that rig . It always amazed me how the longer barrel moved around more than the shorter heavier barrel ...but shooting one handed, the short heavy bbl won out every time .
Gary

 

[silverstateS&W]

dont overlook a high standard victor(Connecticut made only) or trophy or citation.
many dealers/younger shooters dont know what they are and they can be had well under $1000
great guns
good luck either way
Larry inReno
Ohio state pistol team 1973-4
team shot 41's
i shot a HS

 

[RCL-09]

My early Mod-41. Definitely one of my favorite shooters and I'e never had any problems with it.

 

[FlyFish]

Houndog - Yes, Four Seasons. I used to live in Mass and left a lot of money with Carl as well, mostly on older S&W revolvers and I'm glad I did - prices on those are really getting crazy. www.fsguns.com/used

 

[Camster]

Just bought one and will pick it up Friday when I can get it from jail. My question is this: can anybody recommend a padded case for it. I want to use it when going to the the range instead of the plastic case it came with. Thanks.

Boyt.Available with and without a side pocket.

 

[rjm6120]

I'm waiting on my 1985 5.5" heavy barrel version, which I hope to be able to pick up on Saturday. A range report will be quickly forthcoming. My first semi-auto S&W.

 

[Houndog]

Flyfish - figured it had to be Four Seasons. Sadly gun shops near Boston are few and far between, and when you said north of Boston there really weren't a lot of choices. Don't think I've ever been in there when it wasn't packed, including at 10 or 11 on a weekday.

Not much of a revolver guy personally, but I did make a nice chunk of chain when I sold a couple of AR's/AK's prior to leaving MA.

Glad to hear most people like their 41's. I know they've been making them for many years, and people keep buying them, so they must have something going for them. Have also found a couple on Gunbroker that seem pretty reasonable (if they don't get bid up), so I'm definitely going to consider getting a used one. Hoping that, since they've always been relatively pricey compared to other pistols and their potential customers are more likely to be serious shooters they'll have been relatively well taken care of. And with a .22 I'm going to assume that, as long as someone hasn't put 80,000-100,000 rounds through it, the barrel won't be shot out.

Have also been considering a Sig Trailside, which would probably be cheaper, but I know some people have had problems with parts breaking.

 

[jjfitch]

I have a couple M41's 62' and 80 vintage and H/S's and Ruger MKII's. The 62' was shot at weekly matches for many years and probably > 25,000 rounds. Looks and shoots like new!

They all shoot to point of aim and are suitable for most pistol games. Each can be made to be 100% reliable with any ammo. Most issues with these are shooter induced due to maintenance or negligence. And each has it's "personality"!

M41's can be ammo sensitive. Easy fix!
H/S's can have magazine issues. Easy Fix!
Rugers are Rugers but need trigger work! Easy fix!

I have shot identical scores with each but the Ruger required intensive trigger work. Precision pistol requires sight alignment and trigger control! It's the Indian and not the arrow!

Get the M41 of your choice. 5" models rule in my neighborhood matches.
H/S's are going up in value! Love mine!
My Rugers had some very hard to find Herret's grips that fit my hands like gloves! I gave mine to my son!

If you are planning on competition by sure to understand your natural point of aim! And use this when making your choice of a Precision Pistol.

Lots of guys are going to Nelson 22 conversions and putting them on their favorite 1911's. Mine is on a dedicated Fusion receiver. Equal to the others and feels, well, like a 1911!

Serious shooters won't waist their time an anything but CCI/SV or Ely ammo!

Smiles,