Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns A four inch .41 magnum

I just bought a S&W Model 57-1. Waiting on delivery. This is the first 41 mag I’ve owned in about 35 years, and I’m really looking forward to its arrival. I’ve already started loading some of my cast bullets, a 220 grain Lyman #410459 Keith SWC from a four cavity mold I bought Previously. I have shot these particular bullets in the past from the previously owned 41 mags, both Smiths and Ruger Redhawks. I am loading 7.0 gr of Universal and am expecting velocities of around 950 to 1000 fps. I didn’t own a chronograph when I previously owned and shot this caliber. This will suffice for an everyday load. I will also load a few full power loads, but probably won’t shoot many. The gun is coming from a nephew in Montana and hasn’t been shot much. Comes with the original box, papers, and tools. Also comes with a nice holster made by Idaho Leather out of Boise. (Used to be called Eubanks Leather) I’ll keep all my 44’s, but I’m really looking forward to getting and shooting this one. Sorry, but I haven’t figured out this picture posting thing since Photobucket.

M57 is a great revolver

Good morning JWP,
I agree with them being great revolvers. I have previously owned three blued M57’s and a couple of 657’s. Wish I hadn’t sent them all down the road, but back in those early days I couldn’t afford more than a couple of guns, so any new desire caused a sale or trade.

A great chambering for hand gun hunting and leaves nothing off the table vs a 44 for penetration and stopping power..

Just recently started casting one of my oldies again originally designed for the .401 Winchester 1910 self loading rifle...Drops 245-250 grs,carries a ton of lube,is very accurate and out penetrates my 44 in comparable bullet weights.

I had a four inch 57 many years ago and always regretted trading it off. I picked up a Mountain Gun is 41 Magnum two years ago. Love it. I shoot the old 410459 a lot and carry a 280 grain WLN for the big stuff. Not trading this one off.

wow thats nice!!!

Congrats, lastround. Sounds like a nice one.

i am kind of a 41 whore due to my enabler on here.
own them from a number of different manufacturers.
cast bullets from about 135 grain to 300 grain
favorites are either a 220grain or a 250 grain at about 1000fps
favorite powder probably unique.
7.5. to 8 grains covers most anything
might add, you can make them out of regular brass, or get the casing from starline, for .41special.
little shorter casing, but you can sling a 220 gr or so at around1000fps, which is where i like to load them.

Ron,
Are you shooting the 41 Special in magnum guns or do you have a custom dedicated 41 Special gun?

they are all magnums. which, some are short cylinder for various bullets like a taurus, and the special fits better.
its kind of like the relationship between 38special and 357 magnum.
it took me a while to accept the special as you can always download the magnum.
but the shorter casing has its atvantages.
41's are addictive just fine shooting and you don't have to go balls to the wall on the ammo either.
i see you are in kentucky. few years ago i bought a blued ruger redhawk in 41magnum that came from there.
think the guy did a action job, it's pretty some. also sent three different colored front sights for it too.

i would love to have that long tubed 41. i have all the others, but not the long one.
as to st opping power, i personally know it will anchor an elk drt.

I'll take a 41 over a 44 any day. I love my 4" stainless and it's well fed thanks to Woody's "pills" (FlyBoyFlem).

I'm thinking you'll need to bump that up to 7.5 of Universal (essentially the Skeeter load) to get those velocities, especially from a 4" barrel.
At least that's been my experience with a couple 57s, Blackhawks, FA97, etc.

I would also second the thought of getting some Starline special brass. Would permit you to reduce that charge to 6.5 for the same velocity.

I like my .41 mags. The only 4" I have is a 357 Smith. It's pretty unpleasant to shoot with full-house loads. The others are a very plain, ordinary 6' 657, A 6 1/2" "Classic Hunter" and an early Performance Center "Hunter".

I recently cast a bunch of 1:16 alloy 220 grain Keith-style SWC's from an NEI mold I got several years ago but never used. I'm going to try at-home powder coating and see what I can do with those.

I own 3 41 mag revolvers. A 4" and a 6" both no dash, pinned and recessed. Also a 4" M 357PD

A 210 grain Remington jacketed flat point will out penetrate a 240 grain jacketed flat Remington factory loaded 44 mag. In my experience 41 mag 210's out pentrate 240's in 44 mag. At least all that i have tried

You may be right, Savuti, about bumping up to 7.5 grains. However, in my experience, I’ve usually gotten a little more velocity from Universal compared to Unique at the same charge weight with the same bullet. I’ll find out when my revolver gets here.
By the way, Skeeter’s load was 7.5 grains of Unique in a 44 Special, I would expect some difference in a 41 using Universal. But, thanks for the input.

I've owned a number of .41s over the years (three Ruger Bisleys, all 7-1/2 inch; a Ruger Redhawk blue 5 inch; a S&W Model 58 4 inch; and the only remaining one, a Freedom Arms Model 97 6 inch. At this point in my life, 210-220 grains at 950 fps or thereabouts solves any problem I'm likely to ask the .41 to address. I'd shoot .41 Special brass if I had any, but the current loads in .41 Mag brass seem to work fine and I have more of that than I'll ever be able to wear out.

I like .41s, in part because they are different. I've never owned a .45 Colt or a .44 Mag and only got my first (and only) .44 Special (Ruger Bisley) in the last couple of years.

Plus 1. The 41 Mag doesn't give up much to the .429 magnum.

Congrats on your purchase, lastround. I think you'll love it. I sure love the two I have.

A 7 1/2 inch 657-4 and a 657-3 6 inch. Both are mainly used for hunting.

If you ever want to bump up to a heavier bullet, I really like the Cast Performance 250 grain wfngc and the Rim Rock 240 grain "Keith" style bullets.

Byron