David LaPell
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I would get a Model 57, I prefer having adjustable sights in case I want to take it out hunting.
What .41 magnum to get ?
- Thread starter Rockets
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Pilgrim
US Veteran
Sportsterguy
Member
Haven't been on here for quite awhile and loved seeing your post. My very first S&W was a 6.5" 57 in the presentation box I bought for myself as a grad present for 225.00 IMS. I could have bought a 4" model 29 for twice the money. It was not the best FIRST handgun to own as I developed a bad flinch from it
. I now have 8 .41 mags, going from a no IL 3" model 657 to a 8 3/8" model 57 and one model 58. All are no IL's as I saw with my own eyes a model 686 lock itself up 4 years ago.
My 6.5" original is my sentimental favorite. I carried it in Kodiak and Sitka Alaska with some 220 gr. LSWC SSK handloads that J.D. Jones loaded up for me for bears. I watched him shoot groundhogs as a kid with his wildcats on a neighbors farm and he got me into a .375 JDJ barrel for my Contender. Great carry combo as I shot a nice Billy with the .375 from 125 paces and it was good for one shot on a charging bear. That's all you'll get from watching them run! Goat meat is delicious and you have to try it. I carried the two in Alaska after a couple of years as I got tired of humping mountains and going through alder patches with my Ruger .338 Win Mag who's weight made climbing hard and it's barrel getting caught in brush constantly. That 57 has now taken 52 deer since 1976. Last one was a 20 yard head shot and it was lights out with no meat damage. Them hard cast bullets WILL shoot stem to stern on a deer, but I use them sparingly. Had to send it back for maintenance as it was severely out of time but is a very accurate revolver to this day. I notched the grip on it for every deer.
If I was to pick just ONE .41 mag it would be a 4". Can do just about anything, is easy to pack (I like crossdraw or shoulder holsters) and my two are extremely accurate like the rest. The 8 3/8 is a tack driver but not made for carry IMO. Stainless is the better finish for rough usage, but I'm partial to blue. If you maintain it well the finish holds up well and the wear marks are beauty marks IMO.
My favorite to carry is my 3" 657. I keep it loaded with Speer 210 gr. Gold Dots when out hiking, hunting or camping. Lose a little velocity but they will take down a deer with ease and would do the same to the diots out there who might do you harm. I also pack it in the winter with them Gold Dots when everyone is bundled up.
Is true ammo is not as readily available, but Speer and Buffalo Bore make some terrific ammo for it. Georgia Arms also has loads for it. For less than $200.00 one can buy a RCBS reloading set and start homebrewing their own. Great wintertime hobby and makes for cheap and finely tuned ammo.
I would NOT trade or sell any of my .41's for a .44. Owned four .44's and my .41's can do everything they can do with the right bullet/load and a good accurate shot without the recoil. I need to update my pics but here are a few of my .41's. A round that never took off but is one kick butt caliber and with more folks like yourself the manufacturers may take notice!
Merry Christmas and good luck on the .41!
My 3" no IL 657. Puma stilletto is a mini.
Rest of the tribe but missing a few (4).
Me in my younger day having fun. Have 2741 hours flying and jumping out of Coast Guard helos. Saw most of Alaska and the Carribean in them. The best job I was ever paid for!
Please stay safe and join the NRA in beating Obeyme and his cronies from taking our guns!
. I now have 8 .41 mags, going from a no IL 3" model 657 to a 8 3/8" model 57 and one model 58. All are no IL's as I saw with my own eyes a model 686 lock itself up 4 years ago.My 6.5" original is my sentimental favorite. I carried it in Kodiak and Sitka Alaska with some 220 gr. LSWC SSK handloads that J.D. Jones loaded up for me for bears. I watched him shoot groundhogs as a kid with his wildcats on a neighbors farm and he got me into a .375 JDJ barrel for my Contender. Great carry combo as I shot a nice Billy with the .375 from 125 paces and it was good for one shot on a charging bear. That's all you'll get from watching them run! Goat meat is delicious and you have to try it. I carried the two in Alaska after a couple of years as I got tired of humping mountains and going through alder patches with my Ruger .338 Win Mag who's weight made climbing hard and it's barrel getting caught in brush constantly. That 57 has now taken 52 deer since 1976. Last one was a 20 yard head shot and it was lights out with no meat damage. Them hard cast bullets WILL shoot stem to stern on a deer, but I use them sparingly. Had to send it back for maintenance as it was severely out of time but is a very accurate revolver to this day. I notched the grip on it for every deer.
If I was to pick just ONE .41 mag it would be a 4". Can do just about anything, is easy to pack (I like crossdraw or shoulder holsters) and my two are extremely accurate like the rest. The 8 3/8 is a tack driver but not made for carry IMO. Stainless is the better finish for rough usage, but I'm partial to blue. If you maintain it well the finish holds up well and the wear marks are beauty marks IMO.
My favorite to carry is my 3" 657. I keep it loaded with Speer 210 gr. Gold Dots when out hiking, hunting or camping. Lose a little velocity but they will take down a deer with ease and would do the same to the diots out there who might do you harm. I also pack it in the winter with them Gold Dots when everyone is bundled up.
Is true ammo is not as readily available, but Speer and Buffalo Bore make some terrific ammo for it. Georgia Arms also has loads for it. For less than $200.00 one can buy a RCBS reloading set and start homebrewing their own. Great wintertime hobby and makes for cheap and finely tuned ammo.
I would NOT trade or sell any of my .41's for a .44. Owned four .44's and my .41's can do everything they can do with the right bullet/load and a good accurate shot without the recoil. I need to update my pics but here are a few of my .41's. A round that never took off but is one kick butt caliber and with more folks like yourself the manufacturers may take notice!
Merry Christmas and good luck on the .41!
My 3" no IL 657. Puma stilletto is a mini.
Rest of the tribe but missing a few (4
).
Me in my younger day having fun. Have 2741 hours flying and jumping out of Coast Guard helos. Saw most of Alaska and the Carribean in them. The best job I was ever paid for!
Please stay safe and join the NRA in beating Obeyme and his cronies from taking our guns!
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C Broad Arrow
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I don't particularly like locks on my guns... call me "old fashion"
Just remove it and store using some other type of lock, such as padlock around the topstrap or better yet - in a vault. The hole is good for that occasional drop of lube - don't overdo the lube. The key lock is not designed to be locked when it is carried or ready for use anyway, so if you use an alternate method of securing it and can explain it, I cannot see the difference. I imagine there are many who will argue with me on this point, but everyone is entitled to an opinion.
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For some reason I really like the Light Hunter 657.
Sportsterguy
Member
No sir I haven't. Was told the earlier no dash's came with a 6.5" barrel if measured from the forcing cone to the muzzle. I'll get the tape measure out later and check it out. I do know this, them deer never knew the .5" difference
! The longest shot I took one with was 130 paces from a rest and had much younger and sharper eyes.I now keep my shots below 50 yards with my rangefinder for a clean shot. I always use a rest if possible as I would hate to track a wounded or gut shot a majestic animal such as a deer. When I'm shooting groundhogs I'll take a 150+ yard shots for them tractor flipping rodents. Most are misses, but the occassional hit really makes my day!
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charlie sherrill
Member
My friend and fellow forum member Leland has one for sale as we speak at one of the gun auction sites. It is a nickle 4" 57-0. It's a nice gun. I know, I used to own it.
Sportsterguy
Member
OK, your "old fashioned"
657s were made in 2 5/8", 3" and two different 4" barrels (heavy and MG).
Model 57s were offered in 4" blue or nickel. I have a blue, but no individual
picture of it. It is here in an old 41 Magnum group photo.
There is also a 4" model 57 Mountain Gun, but it has a lock.
Then if you are looking to carry all day, there are the 4" 357PD and 2 1/2"
357NG. Being newer designs these also are shipped with the lock
Sorry that I can not provide any model 58 images, they just ever interested
me as firearms
That collection amazes me every time sir! What's with the Colt and the hogleg 686? Both are lookers and one of my recent .41 buys was a hogleg 657 like yours with an unfluted cylinder. It is the MOST acurate S&W I've ever owned. Another addition was a no IL MG. Great carry revolver but has some snap to it.
Too bad you don't have a 58 for that fine collection. It would compliment your others very nicely. I had a beautiful and pristine nickel 58 that I sold like an idiot up in Alaska. I carried it in a hoster I stitched to my rubber boots for easy access if a bear got to me before I could draw my 57 or get a shot off with the .338 Ruger Contender. It never rusted or suffered any damage being exposed completely to the elements and it took a few complete dunks when crossing some small rivers. The day I sold it I had sellers remorse as not only was it a shooter but I had the original box and fixins. I ended up replacing it two years ago with a blued model off of a buddy on here and am glad I did. It shoots my 210 LSWC's loaded with 7.0-7.5 grains of Unique dead on. The Gold Dots shoot 2 inches low and left. I bought 50 Gold Dot bullets and with the Unique 7.0 load it shoots dead on, so it has to be the powder and is much easier on the hand. After the first cylinder from the 58 with them beautiful magnas (IMO) I swapped them out for a set of full coverage Pacs that I always use for hard kickers. Much better on the hand
! I don't shoot it much but do love wiping it down on my monthly wipedowns.That is one great collection and one day I may catch up to you if you quit buying them up and my daughters stop having Grandbabies (We spoil them). I definately need a carbine for my collection as it would make a fantastic deer rifle and I've a fantastic combo.
Stay safe and Merry Chistmas to you and the rest of you .41 mag fans!
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Old Corp
Member
Love the 57's and 58's and have neither. Hope to one day. Hard to really justify, since I have a bunch of other N frames of both 4" and 6". My only .41 is a Ruger BH in 4 5/8" that I hunt with.
Have often thought that the definition of 'near perfection' (IMO) would be a 5" 57 or 657.
Have often thought that the definition of 'near perfection' (IMO) would be a 5" 57 or 657.
JCS&W
US Veteran
Both the M57 and M58 are great Smiths. Personally, I like the M58, but I am a sucker for fixed sight Smiths. Just like the clean look of them. If it were me, I would look for the best deal on either the M57 or the M58. While both are getting relatively hard to find, the M58 is the more difficult one to find, in my opinion. I have both the M57 and the M58, as stated earlier, my favorite is the M58.
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BigBill
Absent Comrade
S&W no longer offers the nickel finish?? I'm happy i purchased the new S&W M58, M57 and M24 in nickel the past year. I did want everything else new in nickel finish.
