Smith & Wesson Model 41 chambers

[D A Wood]

Recently, I finally worked out a deal to obtain a 1991 Model 41 with a 7-inch barrel.



While I have worked on these pistols over an extended period of time, this is the first one that I've actually, ever owned. I have found these pistols to be some of the best firearms that have come out of the Smith & Wesson manufacturing facility, not counting the duration of time that "Bangor Punta" was in control. A post, that I came across, in another rimfire forum, addressed an issue with the OP stating that "he" needed to ream the chambers on several Model 41 pistols, to eliminate high points in the chamber that were tight and made feeding and extraction difficult. I've never encountered that situation, in the 44+ years that I've been doing gun repair, involving the S & W Model 41 pistols......have you?

 

[Leonard]

Maybe he meant ironing out firing pin damage?

 

[11e40]

no ! I have two now & have owned/shot several over the years. just good ammo, no problems.

 

[Barrie]

Mine was produced in 1958 and has never been touched since new except for a broken extractor. My 46 has never been touched ever and its a 1963 vintage gun. These are extremely well designed and built guns for sure.

 

[civil1977]

I saw that post too and no, I've never done it. Seems it would be a last resort and only if there were real issues. These guns have tighter chambers than other .22s but that contributes to accuracy and I wouldn't want to sacrifice that. Mine run fine on CCI SV.

 

[D A Wood]

I'm glad you saw that post also. I just couldn't imagine that Smith & Wesson would turn a Model 41 loose to be marketed in that condition. From all the shooting I've been doing with this pistol lately, my face sorta hurts from smiling. I'm really liking the Model 41 I just acquired and I'll be doing some testing of this pistol in my Ransom Rest, shooting at least 12 different brands of .22 rimfire for group size at 40 meters, hopefully next week. I just got the grip frame plates in from California for my Ransom Rest, so I'm ready to go.

 

[D A Wood]

Maybe he meant ironing out firing pin damage?

No, that's not what he meant, but I know what you write about, when ironing the chamber mouth. He wrote that there were tight spots in the chambers, which made the chambers smaller, or tighter, so he "reamed" the chambers to open them up. I asked him which reamer he used, and his response was, a Manson, and that's the brand that I use and prefer. I asked if it was a "finish reamer", but that question never got answered. My best guess is, he's blowin' smoke, like other stuff he's posted about, but that's not polite to write about in some circles.