Elliottsdad
New member
I've been wasting a silly amount of time at ballisticsbytheinch, comparing cartridges, ft lb of energy at different barrel lengths, etc. I've printed out some of their charts that interest me, and highlighted specific barrel lengths and their corresponding muzzle energies in a search for the perfect wheelgun setup for me (if such a thing exists).
I've never paid .41 Mag any mind. I know there are a couple still being made, and ammo is harder to find. But looking at these numbers, I really do not understand why it didn't take off, or why it isn't more popular today. It seems it is a goldilocks cartridge: more power/reach/lead downrange than the .357, but less of the violent recoil of the .44. Why is this cartridge so obscure? On paper at least, it seems to fill quite a useful niche.
I've read there's no "41 special" for practice (like the magnums have the .38, and .44 special, respectively), and that may be one reason. Others have written it was a solution to a non-existent problem, but.. unless I'm missing something, it kind of sounds perfect to me?
If there are any .41 experts out there, please fill me in as to what is going on with this cartridge!
I've never paid .41 Mag any mind. I know there are a couple still being made, and ammo is harder to find. But looking at these numbers, I really do not understand why it didn't take off, or why it isn't more popular today. It seems it is a goldilocks cartridge: more power/reach/lead downrange than the .357, but less of the violent recoil of the .44. Why is this cartridge so obscure? On paper at least, it seems to fill quite a useful niche.
I've read there's no "41 special" for practice (like the magnums have the .38, and .44 special, respectively), and that may be one reason. Others have written it was a solution to a non-existent problem, but.. unless I'm missing something, it kind of sounds perfect to me?
If there are any .41 experts out there, please fill me in as to what is going on with this cartridge!