What S&W .41 Mag?

R

RhinoR

Inactive
Is there a S&W .41 magnum that will absorb a steady diet of heavy factory loaded hunting rounds without shooting loose and/or destroying the gun? I'm getting different opinions. Some say don't worry, S&W's will handle factory .41 mag just fine. Some say I should start looking for a Ruger Redhawk. I hated the 44 Redhawk I had a few years ago and much prefer the weight and feel of S&W N frames. However, I do intend on shooting mostly 250's and do not want to destroy whatever I decide on. Is there a S&W I should be looking for? Thanks for the input.
 
The Ruger is a tougher gun.
The M657 Smith is pretty good.
You can loosen the Smith if you shoot enough.
Neither will be perfect.
I have both brands.
Only one Smith had to go back in 40 years.
 
I've had a Model 57 for years and have fed it a steady diet of near-maximum handloads with no problems. I've shot the Ruger also, and it's a nice gun but not as refined as the S&W. If you shoot a lot of hot handloads, the Ruger is probably going to stand up to the abuse better, but factory loads should be no problem in the Smith. I much prefer it to the Ruger.
 
Have 57,657 and shot them extensively over the years with Federal 210grainers. Pobably over 2k rounds with no ill effects so far.
 
I think the Smith 41 Magnums will hold up just fine, especially the newer ones. The real problem with the N-frame comes when you fire 44 Magnum loads with bullets heavier than 240 grains. The 41 Magnum just doesn't generate the recoil of those heavy 44 rounds. I tried to find a model 57 with a six inch barrel, but had to settle for a 29. Model 57's are very scarce in my neck of the woods and I really did not want the full underlug barrel found on the current 657.
 
My 657 is just as tight as the day I bought it with prolly 2000 or more of my handloads through it.
Thanks to it having a lot of safe-mates, it's a lower mileage gun.
Must admit, my ruger blackhawk is prolly better at handling hotter loads over time, but the smith has a better trigger.
Unless you want to shoot fire-breathers, and a lot of them, the 657 is prolly good enough.
 
I have both Smith 57s and Ruger Redhawk .41s. I don't shoot any of them as much as I'd like to, but have shot the six-inch Smith M57 the most. So far, none of the guns are showing any weaknesses.
 
Dan Wesson is still making .41 revolvers. I do have a short list of guns I'm going to get, and the .41 DW is on that list. (Along with the Marlin 1894 in .41)
 
I put many rounds downrange via a 1970 production
Smith & Wesson 4" barrel model 57; with virtually NO
problem's! The model 657 should be NO exception.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top