Could not resist responding about my favorite revolver round, the .41 Mag.
I came upon my S&W Model 57 via a trade. I had a Model 25 that I had sent back to the factory to have a 45 Colt cylinder fitted to it. A friend was enamored with it and he had an 8 3/8” 57 that I wanted because I was going try handgun hunting. So we traded.
I have almost 22,000 rounds through the 57 and have taken (23) Wyoming Mule Deer, between it and another .41 revolver, all with cast bullets and iron sights. The first one was taken in 1982. The majority of the rounds in the 57 were shot doing load testing but mostly handgun silhouette matches. In those matches I entered the categories of Revolver, Production and Standing at the matches with that 57, using cast bullets only.
H &G 220 grain plain base bullets were used a lot. For hunting a SSK 275-grain bullet or a Hoch 300-grain bullet were used. Many powders were tried. Early on WW 296 and H-110 were used. But, most notable are H-4227 and WW 680. But WW 231, Bullseye and WST worked well for target shooting. At one time I believed gas checks were needed. But eventually concluded that was not the case.
For a long time I wanted a Model 58. N frame, 4” barrel, fixed sights. Then I found one on Gun Broker that was bought. But then a year later one surfaced in a local gun shop on consignment. The owner had died and his wife was stuck with selling his toys. This one has the diamond service grips, serial numbered grips, correct box, etc. and had never been fired. I bought that one but have not yet fired it, the only gun I own that I have not shot.
I have owned .41 Mags from Freedom Arms, Dan Wesson and Eldorado. Even though the Freedom Arms version was the most accurate revolver I’ve ever owned, I still prefer S&W’s.
Tom
