Any 41 magnum shooters?

[Wyatt Smith]

The 58 looks like a big model 10. It has a four inch barrel and fixed sights. I don’t know about the finish as I’ve only seen one and didn’t get to handle it. The 28 is just about the same thing as a 27, without the top checkering and high polished finish. It was called the “Highway Patrolmen”

 

[Neophyte]

I have a 58 that I carry as an edc.
Also carried it in Alaska for bear protection. I found the .41 to be very versatile. You can load it mild to wild. I only switched to the 10mm because of the capacity but don’t feel undergunned with the last magnum of Elmer Keith’s.

 

[Lone Star Bluegrass]

I have a 58 that I carry as an edc.
Also carried it in Alaska for bear protection. I found the .41 to be very versatile. You can load it mild to wild. I only switched to the 10mm because of the capacity but don’t feel undergunned with the last magnum of Elmer Keith’s.

The 58 is a fine, under appreciated piece.

 

[Neophyte]

Very under appreciated.
The friend that turned me on to the Model 58 shot three suspects in three different shootings with one.

 

[HankBuck]

Very under appreciated.
The friend that turned me on to the Model 58 shot three suspects in three different shootings with one.

@Neophyte who was your Friend - Wyatt Earp? Seriously, That’s some very rare “real life experience” and someone that has real credibility vs just another opinion…I would listen and pay attention to that Man.
From what I’ve read about the origin & history of the .41 mag and model 58 - it was close to a perfect handgun round for Police and had a balistic advantage over other common Police Revolvers used by Law Enforcement ( .38spl and .357). It’s downfall was that most Police Officers could Not handle it’s recoil and could Not shoot it accurately….similar to why the .40 S&W has more recently been dropped from some Law Enforcement agencies and they went back to 9mm.
I like fine revolvers in general - especially the .41 mag and the S&W models 57 & 58. I wish they were made in a slightly smaller frame as the “N” frame makes the gun heavy and if carrying it - might as well just go with the .44 mag, since you’ll be lugging around the same weight & bulk. (Recoil feels similar to me). I assume financially it would Not have made sense for S&W to develop an entirely New frame for the .41mag both because of the cost and the fact most shooters had trouble with the recoil on the heavier N frame already.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

@Neophyte who was your Friend - Wyatt Earp? Seriously, That’s some very rare “real life experience” and someone that has real credibility vs just another opinion…I would listen and pay attention to that Man.
From what I’ve read about the origin & history of the .41 mag and model 58 - it was close to a perfect handgun round for Police and had a balistic advantage over other common Police Revolvers used by Law Enforcement ( .38spl and .357). It’s downfall was that most Police Officers could Not handle it’s recoil and could Not shoot it accurately….similar to why the .40 S&W has more recently been dropped from some Law Enforcement agencies and they went back to 9mm.
I like fine revolvers in general - especially the .41 mag and the S&W models 57 & 58. I wish they were made in a slightly smaller frame as the “N” frame makes the gun heavy and if carrying it - might as well just go with the .44 mag, since you’ll be lugging around the same weight & bulk. (Recoil feels similar to me). I assume financially it would Not have made sense for S&W to develop an entirely New frame for the .41mag both because of the cost and the fact most shooters had trouble with the recoil on the heavier N frame already.

Don’t forget they sold a lot of 357s on the N frame as well. I would assume the 41 was never meant to be a light gun.

 

[HankBuck]

Don’t forget they sold a lot of 357s on the N frame as well. I would assume the 41 was never meant to be a light gun.

@Wyatt Smith - yes and if the N frame was still not enough to “tame recoil” on the .41mag then a smaller frame would be even worse. At least with the .357 on an N frame they can drill the cylinder for 7-8 rounds…so you get something additional from the extra weight/bulk.

 

[meigsbucks]

I had a S&W 57 8 3/8”, years ago. Like an idiot, I got rid of it. I now have a Ruger Blackhawk. 210gr Hornady XTP = dead deer

 

[Neophyte]

No, his name is not Wyatt.
I will only say he has been involved in more justified shootings than most. He was local before he went federal and turned me on to the 10mm and 357 Sig as well.
He taught me a lot when I was working federal law enforcement.

 

[Neophyte]

A lot of the problem with the .41 Magnum was the ammo.
They came out, initially, with two 210 grain SWC loads. One for hunting and the other for police duty. Pencil pushers ordered the ammo and some of them ordered the hunting ammunition as they didn’t know any better.
I carry Winchester Silvertips which is a downloaded .41 Magnum load. I like its recoil impulse, felt recoil, over the 125 Grain .357 Magnum “full house” load. I think if they had today’s ammo, Winchester Silvertip, when the .41 Magnum came out it would’ve been better received.

 

[Tradmark]

I have a fa83 in 41 mag and the beautiful best made pistol i have is my jack huntington built super blckhawk. I have loads that run 210 aframes up over 1700fps outta the fa gun. Also have a henry big boy 41 mag that has killed about 10 deer. With pistols i have taken several whitetail, axis, and a bison.

 

[RayAtkinson]

MY favorite hunting pistol..

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I finally developed a good load for this revolver. I used 296 and 210 XTPs. They are running 1170fps which is good enough for me.
I want to try Vihtavuori N110. Everyone seems to really like it, and it’s not as temperamental as 296.

 

[Inkgardener]

I know it’s not a 44 mag, I plan to get a 29 later on. I have a thing for the Smith and Wesson revolvers. I currently on have a M28 and now the M57. I would like to get a 29 for sure, and perhaps a 25 in 45 colt. I also must get a pre lock 4” 686.

I just recently became a S&W junkie myself. I have acquired 7 over the past few months, all 38 or 357. Wanting to add a 22 wmr, 44 mag, 45 colt, 22 rem jet, and a 22 j frame.

My first was the 4” 686 pre lock with aftermarket wood grips. Worse than drugs…

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I did get a pre lock 686 in the meantime, now I am really wanting a 5” 27. I guess my favorite is I’ll always be the next one.

 

[HankBuck]

I have a custom 41 Magnum built by John Gallagher. It has a custom holster with Gallagher’s name on it that was actually made by Thad Ribka.

It is a very fine hunting revolver and it will do anything I need a revolver to do. The Ruger 41s are built on a 357 sized frame so they are lighter than the comparable gun in 44.

The famous bear guide, Wayne Boscowitz used a Ruger in 41 for yeas because it was light but very effective on wounded bear and moose.

The 41 was also popular in Idaho where hound hunters liked it for bear and lion.

The much more popular 44 magnum uses bullets of .429 inches. The 41 uses bullets of .41 inch.

The difference of .019 inches in diameter. Meaningless in terms of effectiveness on game in my experience and opinion.

@Ruraldoc - who is “Wayne Boscowitz”?…where does he guide?
Very Interesting about the Ruger building a .41mag on their .357 frame - I did not know that …but it makes sense because Ruger’s frames are very strong (even “over built”) so I guess their .357 frame can take a lot. S&W made a very fine .41 mag (model 57) but it was made on their “N” frame same as their .44 mags and therefore a bit heavy. I have the older model 57 w/4” and looked for a long time to find one ANIB, and it has perfect bluing, nice high luster, smooth trigger, but a bit heavier then needed for a .41 mag, recoil is slightly less then the .44 mag but still “recoils” like a Magnum.

 

[HankBuck]

I just recently became a S&W junkie myself. I have acquired 7 over the past few months, all 38 or 357. Wanting to add a 22 wmr, 44 mag, 45 colt, 22 rem jet, and a 22 j frame.

My first was the 4” 686 pre lock with aftermarket wood grips. Worse than drugs…

@Inkgardener - nice that you got a 686 “pre lock” and they often sell “used” for more then a New model. I’ve found the older Smith’s have a better trigger (smoother) then the new models unless comparing to Smith’s Custom Shop and I also like the Bluing on the older Smiths —-back when “environmentally friendly” was Not a consideration for Bluing chemicals. Enjoy “collecting” they have so many older guns in great condition, still many ANIB 40 years old+ and all you need is $$.

 

[Sheldor]

I can't say anything bad about the .41 Mag, I've had several Blackhawks in .41 including one that was stainless, a 5.5" Bisley Blackhawk 41 mag, several 7.5" Super Blackhawk Hunters in .41 mag as well as a S&W 57.

 

[BGGMKLR]

I just picked up a nice model 57. You don’t hear much about the 41 and wondered if anyone had experience with it.
I have brass and bullets but need to get some dies.

Many years ago as an assistant guide (Bear hunts) I carried either a .41 or .44 ...personally...I preferred the .41.
Great revolver.
Congrats.
You have a wonderful classic there...and becoming rare as hens teeth
Best
Spike

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I casted my very first batch of bullets ever last night and loaded some tonight. The mold is an RCBS 41-210 SWC. I think I had my melter too hot, I’ll play with that next time.
I loaded them over a mild charge of BE-86, I’m hoping for about 1000 FPS. Later I’ll work up a load with 4227 for magnum use.
Hopefully this weekend I’ll see how they do!