Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns The new 41 Short Magnum?

If anybody hears anything more about this "Short Magnum" be sure to let us know - case size length and especially any SAAMI pressure max.

Pure guess here, but it sounds like a .41 Special that went through the marketing department and got a name that someone hopes Joe Nimrod will associate with the success of the Winchester line.

OR - I'm wondering/hoping that maybe these will be Special in length but loaded to a +P+ level from the get-go? Say in the 25k psi range? Haven't done the homework but it seems like a 6 shot L-frame or GP-100 could handle a .41 case at that level.

Oh well, just Saturday morning speculating, but it's always interesting when someone comes out with something new for the handgunners.

I'd be very happy with a 5 shot 41 mag in an L-frame or GP100...have not held my breath....may have to do the FA97 someday.

Jim, that's exactly what it sounded like to me, also. They could have called it the 41 Marketing Special, or the 41 Gawdwehopethissells.

Now you're talking.

The .41 magnum Blackhawk is on the New Model frame, which is larger than the old model (flat top) .357 frame, and is the same size as the .44 Super Blackhawk frame.

I am with you, GP100 would be the perfect platform for a 41 mag in my eyes.. Even spoke to a smith about building one for me. Just have not found the donor as of yet...

The 41 Magnum on the Old Model 357 platform is a dandy too. I have a friend that had one and I could have bought it. Still regret that one too... The 41 Special does make into a nice Single Six though.

You ain't just woofin'! Got this one 'bout a year ago. Gotta say, though, the GA stocks are not comfortable for my hand. Have put an old small set of Pachmayr Presentation grips on it until I pick a custom set out. This revolver [img][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/elrata/SmithWessonModel574-inPRblue.jpg[/img][/img] puts the Georgia Arms mild SWC load into one hole.

P.S. While it's apparent USFA is trying to produce a new "New Frontier" the coatings are just plain awful. Only the graphite black doesn't induce the swim head and near nausea. USFA makes otherwise beautiful revolvers. Blue/CCH/Bone stocks would be the right way to go with a New New Frontier.

Why not just build a faithful copy of Elmer Keith's No. 5 and call it good? Now THAT'S a hunting revolver.


Okie John

Tony..that is one beautiful Single-Six...and I'll bet a handful when you touch it off..

What loads are you using and what velocity are you getting...

Bob

I treat it gently using 6 grs of Unique and a 215 gr SWC which goes ~850 fps.

I shoot a 4" S&W model 57 and have absolutely no objections at all for the .41 magnum.
Steve

Could some one please give out with some spec's. on this
41 Mag. the suspense is killing me. I looked up
a 44 special in and old Sierra Reloading Manual and this is what
I found Gun S&W Model 1950 4" barrel 180 gr.top load 1150
240 gr. top load 1100fps is this any where near what might
be expected from this 41 short Mag. ? I am waiting
Cheers NC

I'll have to agree, That's an awful big price for such a utilitarian finish. It looks like a colored parkerized finish.

I might pay less for something like that, but not more.

Has anyone found a viable article on the .41 short mag yet? I'm a .41 fan, but don't get the new cartridge.

Mister Rabb, you are poorly informed. I tried to get Starline to offer the .41SPL *-* as a standard item. I tried to split a run with them, and donate the headstamp, which I paid $500.00 to have made. I had no recourse, but to have a special run made.
This meant fronting half the money for a run of 50.000 pieces. The run was an overrun of 54,600 pcs. On completion I paid for the other 29,600 rnds. My total expenditure was nearly $7,000.00. I have never asked for more than I am now asking for this brass, and I would be glad to sell you half of it for $3,500.00, if you think there is a bonanza in selling a handfull of odd brass at a time with postage, and handling included.

Well, Friday I happened to be at the US Firearms factory in Hartford. They are no longer made "under the Dome" in the old Colt building but have a nice facility only about a mile from where my parents grew up.

Ended up at the factory because the timing on the .22 Magnum cylinder of the SAA Target I have was a little off causing the action to bind...what GREAT folks... I got there about 1145 and after explaining the problem to one of the CS people I was escorted right into the heart of the factory and turned over to one of their senior gunsmiths. After fixing the problem with the Target I asked him about the new "Magnums"...and then appeared one of the test guns still in the white.

The gun was chambered for .327 Federal and he said at the test range the gun was just making one hole groups. I asked about the .41 Special and .44 Magnum and asked if the gun would also be available in .41 Magnum...yes it would. The big reason that the .41 Special is being brought out is because the CASs wanted one chambered in the short case first...but the gun will handle full load .44 Magnums just fine. He said they loaded test .44 Magnum rounds up past "proof" to the point that the gun RECOCKED itself...and the frame/cylinder sustained no damage... Don't ask me how a SA recocks itself...all he said was that the pressure did it...

As to the finish I forgot to ask if there would be a nicer finish than the baked on one...


Bob

It's a pleasure to talk to the guy that had the .41 Special brass made. I apologize for any inaccuracies in my post.

I'm prying egregiously, but is it part of the special run arrangements that Starline will not offer the brass on their own in "competition" with you? That would have been a wise thing for you.

RJM,
You seem to be saying that the "new" USFA 41 Short Magnum and the wildcat 41 Special are 2 names for the same cartridge? Is that the impression you got?

Very interesting if true.

SOS

Northcountry, I load the 41 Special exclusively with cast 215 SWC bullets. I have a few pet loads but have tested more than 50 trial loads using more than 15 powders. NONE of them were what I'd call bad combos. The shortened case (compared to the Magnum) seems to promote much more consistent ignition, burning or both. I regularly get velocity SDs (over long strings) in the single digits. Groups are all alike: about 2.5 inches for ten shots at 25 yards handlheld on a rest. Most of the ten go into about half that spread.

I don't hotrod mine. My most common velocity is between 900 and 1000 fps. I have tested a few to 1200, but can't imagine that they'd do any more for me than the much more pleasant 950 fps loads.