What are your thoughts on the .41 Magnum cartridge and what do you think is the best handgun chambered for it?

FA 97 if you have the money or a new Ruger flattop. Smallest serious hunting handgun

I have one 41mag a Tauras Ti. For what I use it for it works. A light weight revolver for back packing and hiking.

Is the 41 mag better or worst then others naw.

It is a worth while caliber to own and use.

great and unappreciated round best gun - S&W mod 57

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
great and unappreciated round best gun - S&W mod 57

i would love to have one of the S&W Classics model 57.

I have three, sold the Ruger Blackhawk. I love the cartridge, but as p dog shooter said, is it better or worse than others, naw. I like it because it does everything I want with lower recoil than the 44 mag. I have a 8 3/8" custom model 57, a 7" Performance Shop Hunter and a Taurus Tracker. I take the Tracker almost everywhere with me. It just fits my hands. The 57 is set up for hunting and the Hunter is actually just part of my collection since they only made 500 of the version I have.

I stoke them all with any good 210 grain jacketed bullet and 20.2 grains of H110 and they all get great accuracy.

I like it a lot more than the .357 Magnum and a little more than the 44 Magnum. I shoot 265 gr cast bullets that zip right through every pig that got in the way. I'm on my second Blackhawk. If I ever spring for freedom Arms it wil be in .41.

something i want to add just as a point of interest here is that in real life Buford Pusser the sheriff portrayed in the movie ''Walking Tall'' carried a .41 magnum and used it at least once to defend himself in a deadly gunfight. sometimes he also carried a .357 magnum too though. i love the first 2 ''Walking Tall'' movies from the 1970s but i've never even seen the modern remake one.

I have absolutely no use for it. I can do anything the .41 can do with a .44 or .45. For a fighting revolver the 625 with moon clips is better. For a hunting or bear gun the model 29/629 is better.

That said the fixed sight 41 (is it the 57?) gives me a woody. I want one... but in .45 Auto.

The .41 Mag and the .357 Mag are two calibers that I've mostly jumped around and over. I did have a Ruger Blackhawk in a .357 Mag for a while and sold it for some reason that I can't remember now.

On the top end of my pistol calibers I have three Old Ruger Vaqueros in .44Mag and 45Colt. With that frame it's easy to turn the 45Colt into a 45Mag and I have a mild and a wild load for both calibers.

Moving on down the caliber ladder I've gone with .45ACP and .40S&W and 9mm in a couple of autos.

In my opinion I've got all the applications that will likely face in a hunting, plinking, self defense situations that I think I'll ever need. Reloading for all these calibers have expanded the range for each caliber.

I guess each guy just needs to figure out his needs and fill them in as he sees fit.

I have owned a couple of S&W Model 57s over the past three decades, and thoroughly enjoyed them all. I found the .41 to have nearly the power of the .44 magnum, but with only a little more recoil than a .357. It's also a very accurate cartridge.

The N-framed Smith with Pachmayr Presentation grips fits my hand better than any other revolver I've ever handled. My last 4" nickel Mod. 57 was burglarized from my home quite a few years ago, and having .44s and .45s, I just never replaced it. The Model 29 will do everything the .41 mag will do, and more. Plus, a much greater selection of components are available for the .44s.

But for those who are a little recoil shy, I thing the .41 magnum gives the most power with the least recoil of any of the revolver magnums. It's a much better cartridge than it's given credit for.

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
great and unappreciated round best gun - S&W mod 57

Like he said. For all-around fun a M-57. That said, I have a 10" Contender bbl with a Leupold-Gilmore red dot that REALLY helps resolve my "Aging-eyes" issues and prints TIGHT 50yd groups with boring regularity.

First pistol I bought was a very slightly used M57 Smith in 1967. Has a pinned barrel and recessed jugs. Still have it and still hunt it. Have taken deer with 210 gr cast bullets (H&G 256) and with 210 gr factory SPs. Both work well.

Longest kill was at 124 yards lasered. Done w a 2x Leupold scope.

Added a 3" M657 round butt some years later. Was a small Horton's special run build by S&Ws custom shop. I use it as a carry gun during the hunting season. Goes nicely under a coat. Kinda of a giant snubby. Not as nicely made as the original M57.

I have 44s but have not found them to be much more effective than the 41 Rem Mag and the 41 is not as vigorous in recoil.

I have a Ruger Bisley .41 with 5 1/2 in. and a Tracker 4 in. . The Ruger is very accurate and easier to shoot than anything I have tried. The Tracker is ok with mild hand loads and being 5 shot is a nice woods carry gun. My carry gun is a sp101 in .357 and the bisley is easier on the hand

Well, you asked for it. I've had a love affair going since I bought my first one in the late '60s. Since then, the most I've accrued is 45 or 46 .41Magnum firearms and several .41 caliber wildcats. I believe I have @ 18-20 left. Getting old and paring the collection down. I've had everything from an American Derringer to all of the Marlin 1894 carbines in .41Magnum. In the Marlins, I've got the SS LTD version left. Don''t think I'll part with that one.
I've shot alot of rounds through them. Have a friend crank out a few thousand practice loads every now and again on his Dillon RL650. I like the RCBS 210gr SWC KT or a LBT 220gr. LFN for plinking at 850 to 1000fps . I've more or less settled on a LBT 250gr.LFNGC for big critters. My Redhawks will run it down the pipe at 1450 with no sweat. I've tried the real heavys and found that they don't kill any better than the 250s placed right.

As far as hunting goes, I've never told any animal before firing at it that I was ONLY using a .41Magnum. Everything from picket pins to ornery range cattle have fallen to the 250gr.LFNGC. In Africa, I've taken everything from duiker to Kudu, waterbuck, black wildebeeste, and gemsbok with the .41Magnum and the same load.

At present, my favorite .41Magnum revolver is a Ruger OM with 6.5 inch barrel. It was my first in a long line. It'll be buried with me for the afterlife. Next is a well used S&W 657MG. Handy for packin' and accurate to a fault.

I've got a real "Jones" for the cartridge and it's never let me down. If there ain''t no .41Magnums in heaven, I ain't goin'.

41 Special, 41 mag or 414 Supermag, it doesn't matter to me as long as it is a 41. Not because it does anything better than a 44 or 45 but jsut because I like the way every one of my 41 shoots and because it is not liked by everyone else. Like Joe Mak, the vast majority of my revolvers are 41's. A little old model 357 Ruger coverted to a 41 Special by Andy Horvath is the smallest while my 5 shot Freedom Arms 83 and the 5 shot 414 Supermag are the largest with the most whump. Toss in the Marlin CB and a few customs here and there and I could get by without another custom revolver for the rest of my life.

I've always been intrigued by the 41 magnum. Have a good article from an old gun digest somewhere that speaks highly of the Model 58 Smith and Wesson. By summer I will be in the market for a nice hunting revolver and the 41 magnum will be on my list. Have owned 45 LC bisleys and 44 mags in the past but think the 41 will serve just as well.

I saw a nice fixed sight model 58 this winter in the box at a local shop this winter for a sweet price but I kicked myself thinking I oughta find one with adjustable sights for hunting, but oh well...

If I recall, they did have plans for the Model 58 for police use but it never panned out... kinda like the 10mm didn't...

I have a pair, Smith and Wesson 57's. A 6 inch blue unfired and a 4 inch nickel lightly used. Seems to be an ok round, light recoil with more power than a .357. I much prefer the 44 mag. as it has a wider selection of bullet weights and it much easier to find componets for.

quote:

Originally posted by JOE MACK:
Well, you asked for it. I've had a love affair going since I bought my first one in the late '60s. Since then, the most I've accrued is 45 or 46 .41Magnum firearms and several .41 caliber wildcats. I believe I have @ 18-20 left. Getting old and paring the collection down. I've had everything from an American Derringer to all of the Marlin 1894 carbines in .41Magnum. In the Marlins, I've got the SS LTD version left. Don''t think I'll part with that one.
I've shot alot of rounds through them. Have a friend crank out a few thousand practice loads every now and again on his Dillon RL650. I like the RCBS 210gr SWC KT or a LBT 220gr. LFN for plinking at 850 to 1000fps . I've more or less settled on a LBT 250gr.LFNGC for big critters. My Redhawks will run it down the pipe at 1450 with no sweat. I've tried the real heavys and found that they don't kill any better than the 250s placed right.

As far as hunting goes, I've never told any animal before firing at it that I was ONLY using a .41Magnum. Everything from picket pins to ornery range cattle have fallen to the 250gr.LFNGC. In Africa, I've taken everything from duiker to Kudu, waterbuck, black wildebeeste, and gemsbok with the .41Magnum and the same load.

At present, my favorite .41Magnum revolver is a Ruger OM with 6.5 inch barrel. It was my first in a long line. It'll be buried with me for the afterlife. Next is a well used S&W 657MG. Handy for packin' and accurate to a fault.

I've got a real "Jones" for the cartridge and it's never let me down. If there ain''t no .41Magnums in heaven, I ain't goin'.

i enjoyed reading your post very much. hopefully i can get the S&W model 57 this year, if not then definately next year. i went ahead and bought a box of Speer 210gr Gold Dot HPs because buying a box of ammo before i actually get the gun is just something i do most of the time.

What's your intended use?

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:
What's your intended use?

nothing in particular because i'm more of a shooter and collector these days but i probably would like to try and take a whitetail deer or two with it.

Definately theS+W 57.When Bill Jordan helped with the design he envisioned using a K frame instead of the N which is standard.It was felt to be too "beefy" for the patrolmen. (I know,I know,don't mention the mod. 28 Highway Patrolman.)Moot point now as almost all P.D.'s have gone to the semi's over revolvers.I cast mine w/linotype;keith style 210G. using 2400.

quote:

Originally posted by Pez:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by JOE MACK:
Well, you asked for it. I've had a love affair going since I bought my first one in the late '60s. Since then, the most I've accrued is 45 or 46 .41Magnum firearms and several .41 caliber wildcats. I believe I have @ 18-20 left. Getting old and paring the collection down. I've had everything from an American Derringer to all of the Marlin 1894 carbines in .41Magnum. In the Marlins, I've got the SS LTD version left. Don''t think I'll part with that one.
I've shot alot of rounds through them. Have a friend crank out a few thousand practice loads every now and again on his Dillon RL650. I like the RCBS 210gr SWC KT or a LBT 220gr. LFN for plinking at 850 to 1000fps . I've more or less settled on a LBT 250gr.LFNGC for big critters. My Redhawks will run it down the pipe at 1450 with no sweat. I've tried the real heavys and found that they don't kill any better than the 250s placed right.

As far as hunting goes, I've never told any animal before firing at it that I was ONLY using a .41Magnum. Everything from picket pins to ornery range cattle have fallen to the 250gr.LFNGC. In Africa, I've taken everything from duiker to Kudu, waterbuck, black wildebeeste, and gemsbok with the .41Magnum and the same load.

At present, my favorite .41Magnum revolver is a Ruger OM with 6.5 inch barrel. It was my first in a long line. It'll be buried with me for the afterlife. Next is a well used S&W 657MG. Handy for packin' and accurate to a fault.

I've got a real "Jones" for the cartridge and it's never let me down. If there ain''t no .41Magnums in heaven, I ain't goin'.

Thanks for the kind words. I've tried .44s and .357s but just never could let them into the inner circle of guns I like. Get the M57 in whatever barrel length you like and shoot the bejesus out of it.

Whatever gets you to the light.

Killed elephant, buffalo (handgun hunting demo to head office brass), lion, Hyaena and poacher in self defence with my M58. Great cartridge...but must say I prefer the weight of my 329 on my hip these days.

I have a 57 mountain gun. It is light, easy to carry and kills anything I hit well with it. I had a 4" Nickel model 57 which I carried as a Law Enforcement Officer. As I worked in the field I killed quite a bit of game, small and large with it.

I had a mod. 29 classic with a 5" barrel. Beautiful gun but we never hit it off. Ended up selling it. There are quite a lot of .41 mag componets available to reloaders these days.

I have been saving for a 57 for a couple of years. Might even sell a shotgun so I can finally buy a 57. I do own a Blackhawk in .41 mag and I have shot a deer, a mt. lion, and one elk with it. Great round. Under appreciated.

I have a 6" #57 and a 4" #58RB. After owning several #29's and having accuracy issues with both (years ago) I switched to the 41's and never looked back. I have a 14" Contender in .44 mag. that I normally use when purposely handgun hunting, although I'm still carrying the 58 on my hip. The 44 Contender is so accurate that I can't replace it with a 41 barrel, even though I would like to. When I do use my 41's they seem to hit just as hard as the 44. I think that the 41 mag. is better suited to the N frame than a 44 mag.

Unlike Joe Mack, I only have eight or nine 41 mags, and I have a 41 GNR as well, which I haven't had the time to wring out yet.

I started with a 6-1/2" blued, pinned and recessed Model 57, a Lyman 410459 mould and a can of IMR 4227, based on the recommendation of some guy named Ken Waters. With 21 grains of said powder and a standard LP primer, the revolver was boringly accurate.

A few years later, I was casting the NEI 411-275 that dropped from the mould at about 290 grains. When Freedom Arms offered their 654 Silhouette model, I bought one. The 1 in 14" twist in the FA allowed it to digest the big NEI projectile with aplomb, and I saw chronographed 1800 fps from the five shot revolver. (The Smiths and Rugers can't shoot that bullet accurately because the twist is slower.) In my mind, nothing on the planet could take that bullet and walk away, but that is just me.

Since then the collection has grown to include a MG, a Performance Center Light Hunter, a nickel Model 58, and a few others... I have also owned (and sold ) a NIB fluted and roll-marked Smith 657 Classic Hunter, the only one I have ever seen with a fluted cylinder. I will look for another of those as long as I am breathing...

I have moulds for the .41 that go from 190-grain full wadcutters to the 290-grain hammer I just talked about. The SAECO 220 is another incredibly accurate cast projectile in the Model 57, for whatever it is worth, as is the RCBS 210 KT spoken of earlier. The Smith and Ruger will shoot well at weights up to about 250 grains before barrel twist starts to affect accuracy.

This diatribe has gone on way too long, but as a caster and handloader, I can build a load for my 41s that will take anything I plan to hunt, and will do it swiftly, cleanly and humanely, assuming placement is proper.

In my mind, if it can't be done with a 41 Mag, I probably need a 40-caliber rifle or larger...