Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 41 Magnum Fans ???

Back in the dark ages I just had to have a .41. A fellow in Nevada, where I lived had one and when I went to buy it I was disappointed, it was a 3 screw (all they made) but it had the squared off trigger guard. I knew it was a .44 and told him I'd pass. He laughed and said read the caliber on the thing, it said .41 Magnum. I hardly believed it so he got a .44 Magnum round and said chamber it, by golly it didn't fit. It was the only one I ever saw and kept me company for years until I just had to have, I forget. Never took a photo and don't know the barrel length but I think it was a 7 1/2". It was a 4 digit serial number, also unknown. Just dang. Remorse hurts. Let me tell you about my Model 58 S&W that left, too. At least I kept my RH in .41 along with a wood boxed Model 57 6" with an S series serial number. It's amazing how long it takes to get smarter

The gun shown here belongs to RJM52.

It is what I consider to be the ideal "Mountain Gun/Packing gun platform.

It is a skinny barrel Model 27 that was in rough shape that he had rechambered to .41. Complete with my personal favorite 5" barrel length. There are a fair bit of rough spots on the gun, corrosion wise that were cleaned up as best as possible before the gun was refinished. This makes it even better in my eye. It was never meant to be a safe queen. It is a true working gun.

With that 5" barrel and a good general purpose load, it makes for a great belt gun for all around field use. Been enjoying this one!

That is super cool!

I did not know that such a beast existed!

Pics for fun!

Had a 6" M57 back in the 80's but foolishly traded it for some other now forgotten gotta have. Only two I have now are snubbies
.

.

.

.

I've got 2 657's I picked up from a collector after 2-3 years of bad influence from RJM.

One 4" and one 6".

Those look like some serious little powerhouses Paul105!

RJM is how a lot of this all started.

The M27 shown is his!

I have a few 657's and a 357PD (which, with full house loads, is one of the most uncomfortable revolvers to shoot that I own.) I found a 58 no dash recently on consignment at the LGS. In the case, it looked new. In my hands, it looked refinished and the cylinder was a sort of weird, off color. Also, it just didn't feel right when manipulating the various mechanical functions. To me, it didn't feel like a S&W should feel. I passed.

So don't shoot full house loads.

Try a 210 hardcast SWC at about 1200 FPS. MUCH more pleasant...

Have you considered pistol in 10mm like: Glock, M&P, FNH, XD,...? Unless you are willing to buy specialty loads or roll your own and use it for hunting I see no point in getting .41Magnum revolver. Why not .44 Magnum for greater power & versitility? Both .41 Magnum and .44 Magnum guns are offered in same size package.

I bought a .41 about 3-1/2 years ago right after I posted this.

I have an NEI .41- 220 grain Keith style SWC mold (square bottom lube grooves as EK preferred) and the plan has been to develop a load of around 1000 - 1200 fps around that bullet for the 357PD, but other concerns keep pushing that project to the back burner.

The "Skeeter" load works well in the 41Mag just like it does in the 44 Special, obviously using the 220 H&G Keith, the 412429 (or in my case the 230 NOE) Keith bullet and 7.5 grs. Unique.

I sub 8 grs CFE Pistol for the 7.5grs. Unique.

I've tried & tried to prove that the 44 magnum is better than the 41 magnum for 50 years but in the field I just haven't been able to do it. Mostly I've used the excellent Saeco 230 gr Keith bullet in the 41 magnum but sometimes it's been a 250 gr bullet. After over 40 head of game in Idaho, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Texas & Africa with the 41 magnum I've recovered perhaps 4-5 bullets from deer, elk, bear, antelope & African plains game up to 450-500 lbs. All of these animals were taken with cast bullets, none with jacketed & none with factory ammo. I've also taken somewhere around the same amount of game with my 44's & I love them but put 250 gr bullets in both & I don't think anyone can show a difference. I think you would have to go bigger, perhaps, 280 gr bullets or heavier to outrun the dandy 41 magnum.
In a model 57 S&W the same frame as a 44 magnum model 29 S&W the 41 will out last the 44 with heavy loads. I've taken several animals with model 29's & love them too but you can abuse them with heavy bullets & heavy loads, that's hard to do with a model 57 smith. The big cow elk was shot almost length ways with a 230 gr Keith bullet, hitting her just behind the right front shoulder & exiting on the left hip, you can see the exit, she ran about 25 yds.
That mean looking hombre holding one of my guns is RJM52 & he is deadly shooting double action out at long range, trust me.









[img]https://i.imgur.com/gXaQvOrh.jpg[/im
Dick

Nice!

[img]https://i.imgur.com/WfGikrYh.jpg[/img]

Absolutely fantastic pics!

Whenever there is a pic of a dead badger and handgun, you can expect to see Dick in the picture

I have the Taurus tracker titanium 5 shot in 41 mag. Purchased from Carabou Jack after a note from RJM alerting me. It weighs out very close to the 357.

I feed it mostly 165 to 175 cast at about 800 fps. It is very accurate with that load. I will throw some 1000 fps 210s in it if packing it out where I might run into a predator.

Sure do miss that guy around here.

Yep,

He was a good source of knowledge in a number of areas.