.41 Specials from .41 Magnum Brass?

fishhead1 · February 10, 2015, 08:53 PM

Awhile back I found a couple of articles online (one an April 2011 exert from "Shooting Times" and the other from a site called 'sixguns.com") discussing and describing the process of creating .41 "Special" ammo from .41 Magnum cases. The process involved shaving down .41 Magnum brass to "replicate" .41 Special cases (which, heretofore, didn't exactly exist), then loading to full-up .41 "Special" rounds with recommended projectile/powder combinations.
Having a couple of .41 Mag revolvers, the articles drew my interest. Sooo, was wondering if anyone out there has actually tried this; and,if so, what were the results. (OK, you're probably saying "Why would you want to do this"? It presents an interesting reloading challenge is about all I can say)

griz · February 11, 2015, 08:04 AM

My understanding (I've never owned one) is that the 41 "Special" can be chambered in revolvers that are physically too small to handle the pressures of the 41 Mag.

TimSr · February 11, 2015, 08:54 AM

Quote:

OK, you're probably saying "Why would you want to do this"?

I'm still wondering. As I understand it, .41 Special revolvers do not exist, except as a wildcat, therefore I don't understand the point in trimming the cases shorter to shoot reduced loads in a .41 magnum when plenty of .41 magnum reduced load data in normal cases is readily available.

ligonierbill · February 11, 2015, 09:01 AM

The article is on the web. Apparently some custom revolvers have been made. It goes back to Elmer Keith and the 41 Colt. But I think the 44 Spl has taken that role in smaller revolvers. I like the old 41.

T. O'Heir · February 11, 2015, 03:21 PM

According to Taffin, the .41 Special is what Elmer Keith, Skeeter Skelton, and Bill Jordan asked for as the perfect defensive six gun. They got the .41 Magnum instead and nobody else wanted it.
No such thing unless you make it. As mentioned, there's no point in cutting .41 Mag cases for something you can't get, but can just down load.
And you'll probably want to re-think the idea as .41 Mag brass is either just plain unavailable, seasonal or iffy. According to Midway.
http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt41spec.htm

Tom68 · February 11, 2015, 04:12 PM

not to mention that if you were shooting cut-down .41 Mag brass in a 41. Mag revolver, you'd have to clean the crud in the cylinders the same way we do after shooting .38 Spc in our .357 magnum revolvers.

GeauxTide · February 11, 2015, 11:37 PM

Just load 8gr of Unique or Power Pistol under 215 cast and there you go.

**Mike Irwin** · February 12, 2015, 10:28 AM

It's been discussed here a number of times over the years.

I've tried loading 215-gr. LSWC .41 special loads in .41 Magnum brass, but wasn't all that impressed.

I was getting some evidence of keyholing around, IIRC, 750 fps.

Recoil was very light out of my Model 58, but to be honest, it's almost as light with loads running around 900-950 fps, and those are absolute laser beams out of my gun.

February 10, 2015, 08:53 PM	#1
fishhead1 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 134	.41 Specials from .41 Magnum Brass? Awhile back I found a couple of articles online (one an April 2011 exert from "Shooting Times" and the other from a site called 'sixguns.com") discussing and describing the process of creating .41 "Special" ammo from .41 Magnum cases. The process involved shaving down .41 Magnum brass to "replicate" .41 Special cases (which, heretofore, didn't exactly exist), then loading to full-up .41 "Special" rounds with recommended projectile/powder combinations. Having a couple of .41 Mag revolvers, the articles drew my interest. Sooo, was wondering if anyone out there has actually tried this; and,if so, what were the results. (OK, you're probably saying "Why would you want to do this"? It presents an interesting reloading challenge is about all I can say)

February 11, 2015, 03:21 PM	#5
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	According to Taffin, the .41 Special is what Elmer Keith, Skeeter Skelton, and Bill Jordan asked for as the perfect defensive six gun. They got the .41 Magnum instead and nobody else wanted it. No such thing unless you make it. As mentioned, there's no point in cutting .41 Mag cases for something you can't get, but can just down load. And you'll probably want to re-think the idea as .41 Mag brass is either just plain unavailable, seasonal or iffy. According to Midway. http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt41spec.htm __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

February 12, 2015, 10:28 AM	#8
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	It's been discussed here a number of times over the years. I've tried loading 215-gr. LSWC .41 special loads in .41 Magnum brass, but wasn't all that impressed. I was getting some evidence of keyholing around, IIRC, 750 fps. Recoil was very light out of my Model 58, but to be honest, it's almost as light with loads running around 900-950 fps, and those are absolute laser beams out of my gun. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

February 11, 2015, 08:04 AM	#2
griz Senior Member Join Date: July 31, 2000 Location: Middle Peninsula, VA Posts: 1,588	My understanding (I've never owned one) is that the 41 "Special" can be chambered in revolvers that are physically too small to handle the pressures of the 41 Mag.

February 11, 2015, 09:01 AM	#4
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,456	The article is on the web. Apparently some custom revolvers have been made. It goes back to Elmer Keith and the 41 Colt. But I think the 44 Spl has taken that role in smaller revolvers. I like the old 41.

February 11, 2015, 04:12 PM	#6
Tom68 Senior Member Join Date: September 20, 2011 Location: Alabama Posts: 349	not to mention that if you were shooting cut-down .41 Mag brass in a 41. Mag revolver, you'd have to clean the crud in the cylinders the same way we do after shooting .38 Spc in our .357 magnum revolvers.

February 11, 2015, 11:37 PM	#7
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	Just load 8gr of Unique or Power Pistol under 215 cast and there you go.