41 magnum

[1nsanity]

[5shot]

Originally designed to be a police cartridge, but never really took off.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.41_Remington_Magnum

[BigDogatPlay]

.41 Magnum is an excellent round, depending on how it's loaded, across a number of purposes. SFPD actually authorized them for duty carry for a while. IMO, it was never really loaded 'right' at the factory for use as a LE round, and that's why it didn't catch. The 210 grain factory JSP was way too hot, and the 210 grain Keith style lead semi wadcutter factory round really needed to be a hollowpointed lead semi wadcutter. Both were loaded by Remington and were the only real factory loads for many years. The move to semi-autos in LE would have killed it off anyway, and being N framed they were heavy and smaller statured cops would have issues carrying them around all day.

I bought a nickled Model 58 S&W, the M&P model, on a whim in the early 80's and fell in love with the cartridge then and there. The 58 is a terrific fighting revolver properly loaded. I later added a Model 57 and regret to this day that I let both guns go eventually.

The .41 is, perhaps arguably but it's my experience, better ballistically across the board than comparably loaded .44 Magnums. You sacrifice a bit of bullet weight, but the .41 is an awesome hunting cartridge. It is also a handloader's cartridge as there has never been a very good variety of factory ammo in the caliber. If I had to spend an extended period out in California's back country a Ruger Blackhawk or S&W 57 / 58 paired with a Marlin 1894FG would make a very good single cartridge combination.

FWIW... going by the information written in the box you almost certainly have handloads. 210 grains is pretty much the "standard" bullet weight in the .41 Mag, but 1600 FPS is going to be on the warm side I think. The original Remington JSP loads were in the 1300-1400 fps range IIRC, and Speer currently lists their Gold Dot .41 Mag at 1280 fps at the muzzle.

[-hanko]

What BigDogatPlay posted, + a bunch.

.41 mag is an ideal caliber. Factory ammo available only in 210gr...you really need to reload to appreciate the .41 mag, since you can tailor your loads from low power target loads to mini-sledge hammers.

Lil' Gun powder does a great job in maximizing velocity while keeping pressures reasonable.

I'd agree as to the ammo as probably reloaded.

hth

-hanko

[SVRider]

the person wrote inside 11/22/94 210gr (as far as I can make out) blue dot 166 rs, vel. 1600 fps. These look like factory loads not reloads

Blue dot is an Alliant powder. It sounds more like is probably says:

"Blue Dot 16grs (grains), vel. 1600fps."

The only way they would know the powder used is if they rolled it themselves. They are not factory loads.

They may be perfectly fine, but use with caution.... Anytime you shoot someone elses loads, you are assuming the risk that they did everything in a safe and controlled manner....

[shooting4life]

41 mag is to revolvers as 10mm is to autos.

[1nsanity]

[BigDogatPlay]

From having probably three dozen or more S&Ws pass through my hands over time, and having a dozen or so in the safe now.... it's a disease. Once you catch it, there is no immunity and resistance is futile.

[dfletcher]

The 41 magnum was introduced in 1964 and in two basic loadings - a 210 grain LSW at about 1,000 fps for police work and a 210 grain JHP at about 1,400 fps. Introduced in 1964 and started "dying" in 1964 but it still hangs in there because it's good. I currently have 3 - Smith 6", Smith 3" and a ported Taurus titanium with 2.5" barrel and will probably snag a Ruger Blackhawk soon. Great round, but reloading is almost a requirement for lots of shooting.

[lazs]

agree with most of what is being said but.. The 44 is just better. Not that much but far more useful. Back when the 41 came out no one was shooting 300 grain lead out of 44 mags.

I never got a 41 because I already had 44's and didn't want to have two calibers so close in size and performance with just that many more reloading goodies and confusion to contend with.

Nothing at all wrong with a 41 mag.. it is just not worth choosing it over a 44 mag. Lots more stuff available for the 44.

[nn3453]

I prefer the 41 to the 44 magnum even for general range use. It is way softer shooting than a 44 and harder hitting than a 357 with the right load. You can shoot hundreds of rounds comfortably, yet knocking down pins and heavier plates/poppers is a piece of cake.