Ot- when the .38 SPL ain't enough

[336A]

Thought a few fellas' here would like these old posters.




and the back

[Malamute]

Nice old ads, thanks for posting them.

[Sixgun]

Dang, I ran into one of those 58's at a show several weeks ago. It was NIB---$1400--ouch---------------------------Sixgun

[rjohns94]

kewl adds, thanks

[336A]

Sixgun, I have my late father's M58. When i saw these ads I wondered if they led to him making his purchase. I wish I could afford to buy one of the new S&W M58 classics. However it looks like I'aa just have to keep on wishing.

[Rexster]

I contentedly carried a Model 58 from 1985 to around 1991, when it became so loose I had to pull it from service. It had been a San Antonio PD duty sixgun before I bought it, and it had definitely seen better days by the time I acquired it. According to gunwriter Tom Ferguson, who had been an SAPD officer, the officers in the Alamo City were happy with the terminal results of the .41 mag.

[JohndeFresno]

What a great gun and caliber.

born of Border Patrolman and Fast Draw Expert Bill "No Second Place Winner" Jordan and Elmer Keith, it fell victim to some police agencies that purchased it but didn't pay attention to the proper loads they should have used. And then the autos were just being ushered in with their superior load capacities and reload factor.

It was an outstanding idea that failed because it was improperly introduced and came about too late. But it is still an outstanding defense caliber in a wheelgun.

Thanks for the terrific poster display!

(Edited - added "Jordan" - JdeF)

[piller]

With an auto, if you aren't aiming, you just miss more and faster. That .41 caliber sounds like it would be good for its purpose.

[Rifleman336]

I notice on the ammo comparison chart a .41 M&P Cartridge , below the .41 Magnum.

I got to shot a Model 58 once and the recoil, even with light loads was something else. I know of a wildcat cartridge called the .41 special where a hand loader cut the case length to .38 Special case length and drop the powder charge.

But I never heard of .41 M&P, anyone know anything about this?

Rifleman 336

[revolvergeek]

Very cool old ads. Thanks for posting them.

[Booger Bill]

When those came out they had a police load that was tame compared to the magnum load. That gun really was meant for that police load but would handle the hotter mag load. I think a lot or most people shot the hotter mag load as it probley was harder to find the police load. San Francisco PD was probley one of the earliest depts to use the gun.

[stretch]

Very cool old ads! Thanks.

The 210 (or 215gr) LSWC is a pussycat to shoot in the
"police" loading. It still steps out at 1100fps or something.

I love the 41 Mag! Another underrated caliber.

-Stretch

[the telegraphist]

JohndeFresno & stretch, I am with ya all the way on the 41mag. Superb cartridge. Still like the old 38spl though!!!

[stretch]

Telegraphist, I'm a fan of the 38 Special, too.

It got a bad rap with the old 158gr. LRN police load, but
with a 158 gr. LSWCHP, it's a good self-defense round.
(4.5gr. of WW231 driving it.)
Also a terrific target round, and I've shot it loaded down
to only 3.1gr. of WW231 with no trouble. About as cheap
to reload as possible with a centerfire pistol cartridge,
especially if you're setup to cast.

And there are lots and lots of REALLY good revolvers around
for it at decent prices. I bought a S&W Model 10 not too long
ago that's just superb.

S&W makes some dandy wheel guns for the 41Mag, too!

Hey, would anyone consider a Ruger Redhawk in 41 Mag with
the short (4.5") barrel for $650 a good deal?
I dearly love S&W revolvers, but I'm looking for something to
load with 250gr. and up bullets, and I don't want to ruin
a nice S&W.
-Stretch

[tman]

wonder if the 41 mag is enough not to get you killed 40 years later. maybe a 500 s@w would work today

[336A]

Telegraphist, I'm a fan of the 38 Special, too.

It got a bad rap with the old 158gr. LRN police load, but
with a 158 gr. LSWCHP, it's a good self-defense round.
(4.5gr. of WW231 driving it.)
Also a terrific target round, and I've shot it loaded down
to only 3.1gr. of WW231 with no trouble. About as cheap
to reload as possible with a centerfire pistol cartridge,
especially if you're setup to cast.

And there are lots and lots of REALLY good revolvers around
for it at decent prices. I bought a S&W Model 10 not too long
ago that's just superb.

S&W makes some dandy wheel guns for the 41Mag, too!

Hey, would anyone consider a Ruger Redhawk in 41 Mag with
the short (4.5") barrel for $650 a good deal?
I dearly love S&W revolvers, but I'm looking for something to
load with 250gr. and up bullets, and I don't want to ruin
a nice S&W.
-Stretch

Hey stretch I agree with you about the bad rap the .38SPL got. I really enjoy my S&W M10-14 that I purchased back in 2006. I've been loading 4.6gr of Unique under 158gr SWCBB from Tenessee Valley Bullets with good results. I even tried a few Hornady 158gr SWCHP bullets over 5.4gr of Unique with good results as well. That last one BTW really sizzles out of my M10 and is quite accurate. Speaking of WIN 231 I heard a lot of good things about it and finally broke down and bought some to try out. I'm hoping that I can get a load that hits about 850fps that is accurate as well with it.

[Rusty]

I carried a M58 on duty in 1977&78 using the Remington 210 SWC at 1050 FPS. It was a great load when you could find them. The reason I gave up on the .41 was because back then you could have any bullet you wanted for it as long as it weighted 210 grains. It would still do the job and the SWC would still punch through a car body better than a 158 grain .357 Mag. It's too bad they never caught on any better than what they did.

[ohio hunter]

wonder if the 41 mag is enough not to get you killed 40 years later. maybe a 500 s@w would work today

I am a wimp and would need a .500 S&W "special".
Jay