Got my 41 Special

Real Gun · April 27, 2016, 09:36 AM

After 15 months and over $1300 invested overall I have a Ruger GP100 3" w/adj sights in 41 Special. Yesterday I tested the load of 7.4 gr Power Pistol and 200 gr LRNFP and loaded up more for a full outing today.

Pictured is the new arrival from Clements Custom with ammo loaded in Starline's new cartridge offering. I will also do some XTP's for SD, since this is definitely a carry piece.

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/a...160427_001.jpg

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/a...7e810829d8.jpg

DaleA · April 27, 2016, 10:09 AM

A handsome looking firearm!

Sounds like you knew what you wanted and finally got it. Good for you! Life is short.

If anybody gives you any grief about the price just think of it the way I do...the gun is going to last...well, forever...so the cost per month (let's see, the price divided by forever) is about zero. Seriously, you'll be able to shoot it for years and years and when the time comes you'll be able to pass it off and someone else will be able to do the same.

Good luck.

Tex44 · April 27, 2016, 12:31 PM

Very nice! Congrats on your new revolver. That beauty will be an heirloom.

tulsamal · April 27, 2016, 02:23 PM

I just got mine out of the safe this morning. Took it out to the reloading area since I'm finally ready to try some .41 Specials. Had the gun and the brass for at least a couple years.

Mine is a bit different thought. OM Ruger Blackhawk in the smaller .357 Magnum size. Converted to .41 Magnum. I've been assured by people who should know that it would be fine that way... but I'm going to treat it like a .41 Special. Always wanted one and this one will have the Magnum flexibility if I ever have need. Real elephant ivory grips. Custom rear sight. 4 5/8ths barrel.

It's a nice gun.

Gregg

Slimjim9 · April 27, 2016, 10:05 PM

A lot of trouble over 0.03, eh? Can't be that much different right?

Love my 3" GP100s. I have a fixed sight in .38 and adj. sight in .357. The .357 was the model 1708 from the recent reissue batch. What did yours start out as?

Model12Win · April 27, 2016, 10:07 PM

I would have had them put a new rollmark on the barrel with ".41 Rem Spc. CTG" or something like that, to make people at the range go "is that fo' real yo?"

Guv · April 28, 2016, 05:35 AM

What kind of ballistics does a 41spl have? Nice looking gun!

9ballbilly · April 28, 2016, 08:03 AM

Very Nice!

I'm curious, was .44spl an option?

tulsamal · April 28, 2016, 09:30 AM

http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt41spec.htm

Lots of good info, history, reloading, and data from John Taffin.

G

tulsamal · April 28, 2016, 09:35 AM

Quote:

A lot of trouble over 0.03, eh? Can't be that much different right?

They are 1/8th of an inch shorter. Just like .38 Special and .44 Special. I don't know where you are getting .03". An eighth is .125".

http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammo/am...pecial_040711/

G

Slimjim9 · April 28, 2016, 06:05 PM

.41 - .38 = .03 Can't be that much difference between 38 special and 41 special, right? It was a joke.

Model12Win · April 28, 2016, 06:08 PM

I'd be interested in seeing a ballistics chart between .38 special and .41 special.

Are the ballistics about like a .40 ess n' dubya?

Hunter Customs · April 28, 2016, 07:21 PM

Real Gun,

Congrats on the new blaster, looks good, love 3" barrel revolvers.
If you get time specs on what was done, I'm a spec junkie.
Also anxiously waiting a range report.
Thanks for the pictures.

Best Regards
Bob Hunter

spacecoast · April 28, 2016, 07:29 PM

Quote:

.41 - .38 = .03 Can't be that much difference between 38 special and 41 special, right? It was a joke.

Actually, it's .41 - .357 = .053" (quite a difference)

However, there really isn't much difference between .429 and .41, so I would ask why this would be much different than/superior to a .44 special, which is probably my favorite revolver cartridge. My 3" S&W Lew Horton Model 24-3 is extremely accurate at 25 yards.

tulsamal · April 29, 2016, 03:34 PM

I'm a .44 Special lover as well. Skeeter's fault. I probably have more .44 Specials than anything else. (If we exclude .22's and 5.56mm.)

But there actually is just a bit of functional difference between .44 and .41 Special. Not really ballistically but "what is possible or safe" to convert. The small frame Blackhawks that were originally .357 Magnum for instance. Ruger maintained there just wasn't enough metal there to safely chamber them in .41 Magnum. So we got the bigger model Blackhawks for .41, .44, .45, etc.

People decided the smaller frames were fine for lower pressure so they started re-chambering them for .44 Special. And I have several and they are fine guns. But very few gunsmiths are willing to chamber one of those in full .44 Magnum. There are gunsmiths that believe, properly done, .41 Magnum leaves just enough steel as long as you use sane loads.

So in my case, I got the .41 Magnum revolver. I can use all the .41 Specials I want. In theory it should have a bit more tolerance for higher pressures than the same gun in .44 Special since it has more steel. But I had a bunch of .44 Specials and I liked the idea of flexibility... I've shot a lot of .41 Magnums over the years... so getting the smaller revolver in .41 Magnum and then using it as a .41 Special made sense.

I suspect it is the same thing in the GP-100. I've seen those converted to .44 Special. But if you drop down just a bit to .41 Special, you gain just a bit of steel at really no loss ballistically. Probably the GP-100 could have been chambered in .41 Magnum if wanted.

And it is fun to have something different!

Gregg

Erich · April 29, 2016, 04:12 PM

Cooler than a fan!

Model12Win · April 29, 2016, 04:37 PM

This is neat. I wish Ruger would add this to there product catalog.

ThomasT · April 29, 2016, 04:55 PM

I like that it is a 6 shoot. But I really wish Ruger would just make a 5 shot 44 special on the GP-100. But I doubt they ever will. I suspect the reason is ruger would be afraid nutty handloaders would see "Ruger" on the barrel and decide it would take full blown Keith loads that match straight 44 mag loads.

SG29736 · April 30, 2016, 01:37 PM

Nice. I'm a 44 special fan and shoot 44 Russians with blackpowder in my cowboy guns. There is an article in the June Guns magazine about 41 special guns and loads. Perfect timing. Enjoy your custom gun. Mark

Real Gun · May 1, 2016, 07:25 AM

The TKO factor on .41 Special is higher than .357 Magnum, considering the increase in bullet diameter.

44 Special would be limited to 5 shots, while this gun is 6 shots, displacing my 3" 44 Specials. It also allows a smaller grip, mine being the compact Altamont repro. The resulting forcing cone looks like it should not be expected to support going out as far as .429.

This gun was originally 38 Special, KGP-831, originally bought for the adjustable sights (but overkill for 38 Special), so the throats were already cut to the right depth. Neither the cylinder nor the barrel were replaced.

The 41 Special ID (".41 Spec.") is stamped near the cylinder release.

Hunter Customs · May 1, 2016, 08:23 AM

Real Gun,

I know you are wanting to shoot that baby.

When you get a chance how about an accuracy report.

Best Regards
Bob Hunter

pappa · May 1, 2016, 12:02 PM

Sounds like a great gun, especially for a reloader. I'm not, only reason I haven't gone from .38Spl to .44Spl - cost of ammo.
I am sure you have a good gunsmith to ream 8 and rifle one holes. But me being a "checker" I would do my own after check to be sure the holes start largest at rear 6 ( all nearly identical and aligned with bore axis. Assuming original 6 .357 holes were correct, and that reaming was done in multiple small increments) then go smaller on 7th ( forcing cone ), 8th same as 7, and taper in barrel to smallest of all nearer muzzle. I realize I may sound anal retentive to some, but "never gonna be accurate" revolvers have come from major makes because THEY didn't get it right, and they made thousands of the same on CNC Equipment. I hope it shoots like a one holer for you. Pat

Real Gun · May 2, 2016, 05:52 AM

Quote:

When you get a chance how about an accuracy report.

I don't have a rest, shooting all free hand without leaning on a bench. In simple terms, I was happy with how it grouped at 50 feet and seemed like a good gun and grip for me, given the short barrel.

Real Gun · May 2, 2016, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Sounds like a great gun, especially for a reloader. I'm not, only reason I haven't gone from .38Spl to .44Spl - cost of ammo.
I am sure you have a good gunsmith to ream 8 and rifle one holes. But me being a "checker" I would do my own after check to be sure the holes start largest at rear 6 ( all nearly identical and aligned with bore axis. Assuming original 6 .357 holes were correct, and that reaming was done in multiple small increments) then go smaller on 7th ( forcing cone ), 8th same as 7, and taper in barrel to smallest of all nearer muzzle. I realize I may sound anal retentive to some, but "never gonna be accurate" revolvers have come from major makes because THEY didn't get it right, and they made thousands of the same on CNC Equipment. I hope it shoots like a one holer for you.

Sometimes surprising where these responses wind up. It hadn't occurred to me to question Clements Custom. The gun shoots and otherwise operates great, so I have no interest in messing with it and making it a Bubba gun.

rclark · May 3, 2016, 09:40 AM

Cool! Congrats and enjoy your .41 Special!

April 27, 2016, 09:36 AM	#1
Real Gun Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: SC Posts: 2,743	Got my 41 Special After 15 months and over $1300 invested overall I have a Ruger GP100 3" w/adj sights in 41 Special. Yesterday I tested the load of 7.4 gr Power Pistol and 200 gr LRNFP and loaded up more for a full outing today. Pictured is the new arrival from Clements Custom with ammo loaded in Starline's new cartridge offering. I will also do some XTP's for SD, since this is definitely a carry piece. http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/a...160427_001.jpg http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/a...7e810829d8.jpg __________________ Not an expert, just a reporter.

April 27, 2016, 10:05 PM	#5
Slimjim9 Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2015 Posts: 783	A lot of trouble over 0.03, eh? Can't be that much different right? Love my 3" GP100s. I have a fixed sight in .38 and adj. sight in .357. The .357 was the model 1708 from the recent reissue batch. What did yours start out as? __________________ Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.

April 28, 2016, 05:35 AM	#7
Guv Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2012 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,126	What kind of ballistics does a 41spl have? Nice looking gun! __________________ Walnut and Gloss Blue, mostly!

April 28, 2016, 08:03 AM	#8
9ballbilly Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2008 Location: northeast Florida Posts: 611	Very Nice! I'm curious, was .44spl an option? __________________ may God eternally bless the American Rifleman--- as long as one stands, resolute, liberty shall not perish.

April 28, 2016, 06:05 PM	#11
Slimjim9 Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2015 Posts: 783	.41 - .38 = .03 Can't be that much difference between 38 special and 41 special, right? It was a joke. __________________ Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.

April 27, 2016, 10:09 AM	#2
DaleA Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2002 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 5,313	A handsome looking firearm! Sounds like you knew what you wanted and finally got it. Good for you! Life is short. If anybody gives you any grief about the price just think of it the way I do...the gun is going to last...well, forever...so the cost per month (let's see, the price divided by forever) is about zero. Seriously, you'll be able to shoot it for years and years and when the time comes you'll be able to pass it off and someone else will be able to do the same. Good luck.

April 27, 2016, 12:31 PM	#3
Tex44 Member Join Date: April 20, 2016 Posts: 56	Very nice! Congrats on your new revolver. That beauty will be an heirloom.

April 27, 2016, 02:23 PM	#4
tulsamal Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2004 Location: Vinita, OK Posts: 2,552	I just got mine out of the safe this morning. Took it out to the reloading area since I'm finally ready to try some .41 Specials. Had the gun and the brass for at least a couple years. Mine is a bit different thought. OM Ruger Blackhawk in the smaller .357 Magnum size. Converted to .41 Magnum. I've been assured by people who should know that it would be fine that way... but I'm going to treat it like a .41 Special. Always wanted one and this one will have the Magnum flexibility if I ever have need. Real elephant ivory grips. Custom rear sight. 4 5/8ths barrel. It's a nice gun. Gregg

April 27, 2016, 10:07 PM	#6
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	I would have had them put a new rollmark on the barrel with ".41 Rem Spc. CTG" or something like that, to make people at the range go "is that fo' real yo?"

April 28, 2016, 09:30 AM	#9
tulsamal Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2004 Location: Vinita, OK Posts: 2,552	http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt41spec.htm Lots of good info, history, reloading, and data from John Taffin. G

April 28, 2016, 06:08 PM	#12
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	I'd be interested in seeing a ballistics chart between .38 special and .41 special. Are the ballistics about like a .40 ess n' dubya?

April 28, 2016, 07:21 PM	#13
Hunter Customs Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2005 Location: Osborn, Missouri Posts: 2,697	Real Gun, Congrats on the new blaster, looks good, love 3" barrel revolvers. If you get time specs on what was done, I'm a spec junkie. Also anxiously waiting a range report. Thanks for the pictures. Best Regards Bob Hunter

April 29, 2016, 03:34 PM	#15
tulsamal Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2004 Location: Vinita, OK Posts: 2,552	I'm a .44 Special lover as well. Skeeter's fault. I probably have more .44 Specials than anything else. (If we exclude .22's and 5.56mm.) But there actually is just a bit of functional difference between .44 and .41 Special. Not really ballistically but "what is possible or safe" to convert. The small frame Blackhawks that were originally .357 Magnum for instance. Ruger maintained there just wasn't enough metal there to safely chamber them in .41 Magnum. So we got the bigger model Blackhawks for .41, .44, .45, etc. People decided the smaller frames were fine for lower pressure so they started re-chambering them for .44 Special. And I have several and they are fine guns. But very few gunsmiths are willing to chamber one of those in full .44 Magnum. There are gunsmiths that believe, properly done, .41 Magnum leaves just enough steel as long as you use sane loads. So in my case, I got the .41 Magnum revolver. I can use all the .41 Specials I want. In theory it should have a bit more tolerance for higher pressures than the same gun in .44 Special since it has more steel. But I had a bunch of .44 Specials and I liked the idea of flexibility... I've shot a lot of .41 Magnums over the years... so getting the smaller revolver in .41 Magnum and then using it as a .41 Special made sense. I suspect it is the same thing in the GP-100. I've seen those converted to .44 Special. But if you drop down just a bit to .41 Special, you gain just a bit of steel at really no loss ballistically. Probably the GP-100 could have been chambered in .41 Magnum if wanted. And it is fun to have something different! Gregg

April 29, 2016, 04:12 PM	#16
Erich Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Albuquerque, NM, USA Posts: 2,543	Cooler than a fan!

April 29, 2016, 04:37 PM	#17
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	This is neat. I wish Ruger would add this to there product catalog.

April 29, 2016, 04:55 PM	#18
ThomasT Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 2,753	I like that it is a 6 shoot. But I really wish Ruger would just make a 5 shot 44 special on the GP-100. But I doubt they ever will. I suspect the reason is ruger would be afraid nutty handloaders would see "Ruger" on the barrel and decide it would take full blown Keith loads that match straight 44 mag loads.

April 30, 2016, 01:37 PM	#19
SG29736 Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2007 Location: Northern Ca. Posts: 107	Nice. I'm a 44 special fan and shoot 44 Russians with blackpowder in my cowboy guns. There is an article in the June Guns magazine about 41 special guns and loads. Perfect timing. Enjoy your custom gun. Mark

May 1, 2016, 07:25 AM	#20
Real Gun Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: SC Posts: 2,743	The TKO factor on .41 Special is higher than .357 Magnum, considering the increase in bullet diameter. 44 Special would be limited to 5 shots, while this gun is 6 shots, displacing my 3" 44 Specials. It also allows a smaller grip, mine being the compact Altamont repro. The resulting forcing cone looks like it should not be expected to support going out as far as .429. This gun was originally 38 Special, KGP-831, originally bought for the adjustable sights (but overkill for 38 Special), so the throats were already cut to the right depth. Neither the cylinder nor the barrel were replaced. The 41 Special ID (".41 Spec.") is stamped near the cylinder release. __________________ Not an expert, just a reporter.

May 1, 2016, 08:23 AM	#21
Hunter Customs Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2005 Location: Osborn, Missouri Posts: 2,697	Real Gun, I know you are wanting to shoot that baby. When you get a chance how about an accuracy report. Best Regards Bob Hunter

May 1, 2016, 12:02 PM	#22
pappa Member Join Date: April 6, 2002 Location: Dade City, Florida Posts: 51	Sounds like a great gun, especially for a reloader. I'm not, only reason I haven't gone from .38Spl to .44Spl - cost of ammo. I am sure you have a good gunsmith to ream 8 and rifle one holes. But me being a "checker" I would do my own after check to be sure the holes start largest at rear 6 ( all nearly identical and aligned with bore axis. Assuming original 6 .357 holes were correct, and that reaming was done in multiple small increments) then go smaller on 7th ( forcing cone ), 8th same as 7, and taper in barrel to smallest of all nearer muzzle. I realize I may sound anal retentive to some, but "never gonna be accurate" revolvers have come from major makes because THEY didn't get it right, and they made thousands of the same on CNC Equipment. I hope it shoots like a one holer for you. Pat

May 3, 2016, 09:40 AM	#25
rclark Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2009 Location: Butte, MT Posts: 2,622	Cool! Congrats and enjoy your .41 Special! __________________ A clinger and deplorable, MAGA, and life NRA member. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. Single Action .45 Colt (Sometimes colloquially referred to by its alias as the .45 'Long' Colt or .45LC). Don't leave home without it. That said, the .44Spec is right up their too... but the .45 Colt is still the king.