S&W M-41: Quirks & Features

[9mmepiphany]

A S&W M-41, with both barrels, may be coming available shortly as part of a estate sale...and I'm interested.

I was wondering if current or past users/owners would be willing to share their experiences concerning them. Especially interested in quirks they may have and possible hacks/tweaks that might make operation smoother...ammo preferences, lubrication preferences, etc.

TIA

Just a little background.
My current rimfire pistols consist of a 5.5" Ruger Mark II Target, 6" S&W M-17, 4" Colt Diamondback, and a Jennings (don't tell anyone, but mine works)

One of my long time desires was a High Standard Victor. Just never came across one and wasn't looking forward to tuning the magazine lips. My other was the Hammerli 280, but it was always slightly beyond justification

 

[1KPerDay]

Congrats. I know High Standards are a PITA so I'm with you there. Jealous about your 41. Be sure to keep us updated.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

I have owned my Model 41 for about 20 years now. Mine has the 5 1/2" barrel. I have only shot standard velocity ammo in it as recommended by S&W. As a matter of fact I have with only minor exceptions shot CCI SV in it. My pistol has been completely reliable with only the rare misfire. In case you didn't know the trigger pull is adjustable. Mine has an absolutely clean crisp break.

My Model 41 is is definitely on my never part with it list.

 

[rabid wombat]

I bought a beat 41, since I always wanted one. Sent it to Clark’s, and it came back a dream. I have a couple of Clark barrels, too. Like Bill above, a steady diet of CCI SV. Enjoy it, they are great.

https://clarkcustomguns.com/custom-gun/sw-model-41/

 

[Rembrandt]

Not much to add concerning the 41's, they came from S&W pretty much ready to go with little needed for tweaks and improvement.

Only issue I ever had was when Herritt target grips were added, the magazines weren't long enough to remove easily. Addition of weights let gravity drop them more easily and the length allowed the insertion without poking my finger up into the mag well.

Once you find the ammo they prefer, you'll have a ball.

 

[Jim Watson]

Picture with weights and brake has an uncanny resemblance to a ca 1960 Hammerli Walther American.

 

[rabid wombat]

Mine....The hard chrome took care of the cosmetic issues (it was beat...). It looks a lot better with the factory, iron sight barrel. The rail over the slide is aesthetically better. Anything other than a Trijicon reflex will help the looks...

GREAT to shoot...

 

[DJW]

my model 41 is a joy to shoot. occasionally it gives me trouble ejecting/feeding. the cure seems to be a drop of auto trans fluid on top of the top round(on the brass) and back to normal operation. fitted mine with the short barrel and a micordot red dot and all set. hope you get it and use it in good health. also bought a "shock buff" from Gil Hebbard for about $10 and it fits inside the slide and prevents slamming and damage. I use hi-velocity and have had no problems.

 

[Jim Watson]

a drop of auto trans fluid on top of the top round(on the brass) and back to normal operation.

About any oil will work. I use auto AC compressor oil my mechanic gave me. A teeny little needle oiler goes in the box with ammo and magazine loader.

Most needed after a good cleaning. A little bullet lube and soot seem to ease extraction after some shooting.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Unless you have an array of other .22s to use ammo up in, buy relatively small amounts at first to see what yours likes in terms of accuracy and cycling.

If you have feeding issues initially, don't assume it's all about the gun as I run across badly modified, repaired, bad re-po, and dropped magazines quite often as the cycling problem for .22 pistols.

Note when you get it whether both barrels are in fact S&W or not. Just good to know if they perform differently.

For me, Eley Tenex Practice and Match has been a dream. Clean and consistent.

Todd.

 

[SwampWolf]

As a matter of fact I have with only minor exceptions shot CCI SV in it.

Same here. I've used my Model 41 in Bullseye matches for the past several decades using CCI standard velocity cartridges for the most part and have been very satisfied with the accuracy and reliability of this ammunition.

 

[Walkalong]

Once you find the ammo they prefer, you'll have a ball.

Agreed, and a joy to shoot. Very ergonomic for my hands.

 

[Cemetery21]

I don't shoot it much anymore. The only thing I did was add the buffer, just in case. It doesn't affect operation like a buff can in a 1911.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Quick question for those who have installed the buffer. A quick look shows that this is produced by Buffer Technologies. Is this the one folks are referring to?

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Quick question for those who have installed the buffer. A quick look shows that this is produced by Buffer Technologies. Is this the one folks are referring to?

They and I think Wolff sells one with an attendant spring - at least they used to.

Todd.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

Use your Model 41 for what it was designed to do and a buffer is totally unnecessary. I have tens of thousands of rounds through mine with virtually no malfunctions except some rare misfires. If you saw my 41 you would think it is almost new. There are a fair number of stories out there of buffers causing feed problems. Some people have had no problems with them and others do. Just shoot a decent quality SV ammo and your 41 will last forever.

 

[DJW]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Quick question for those who have installed the buffer. A quick look shows that this is produced by Buffer Technologies. Is this the one folks are referring to?

Yes, the one from Buffer Technologies.......
Smith & Wesson Model 41 Recoil Buffer - Buffer Tech




Item #: BTR160
$10.95


In Stock for Immediate Shipping
Qty
Manufacturer MPN:
Buffer Technologies 41SW
UPC: 855727000662
Weight: 0.50 pounds

Product Description
The Smith & Wesson Model 41 Recoil Buffer. This buffer will eliminate the shock experienced when the pistol is fired and the slide moves to the rear and impacts the receiver. This shock is what causes movement in your sights when firing.
Installation instructions for S&W 41 recoil buffer
1. Make sure pistol is unloaded.
2. Remove barrel from frame.
3. Looking down on the frame in your hand place recoil buffer over recoil spring assembly with your other hand.
4. Reinstall barrel. Buffer is held in place by downward pressure from the barrel after it is in position.

 

[barnetmill]

I installed a buffer during the last ammo crisis and with the federal automatch that was available and since then function has always been perfect. It will not work with standard velocity aguila mexican ammo that works well in my other pistols. i have some CCI standard velocity on hand, but will wait until the all of federal is used up. It could be about 100 fps faster than standard velocity. In a rifle it is rated at 1250 and I suspect standard velocity is like aout 1100 fps or so. Basically the extra velocity is enough to cause the slide to function. During a match the only alibis I ever have is when a cartridge misfires and that is very rare. Most of the 41 users in our group except me are oiling their cartridges and still have alibis. Oiling a cartridge imparts more recoil to the parts of the gun. If you use the oil you should use the buffer. For my gun the buffer does not cause malfunctions and I do not recall at the moment its vendor. The S&W mod 41 is an intricate pistol. Mine works well, but some of the others do not. One of our members figures he has 30,000 plus rounds through his gun and the surfaces where the slide makes contact with the frame/barrel are peened from the repeated impacts.
i would want to test fire any used 41 prior to purchase.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

I guess I must have the only smoothly functioning 41 around. I am not one of those that keeps a log of round count. But my 41 probably has 30,000 or more. It has never shot anything but SV. I have never put any oil on any cartridges. I have never used a buffer. The gun has always been kept cleaned and lubed. The only alibis I ever had were the rare misfires. But then again I am sure there are those 41's that might need some assistance, especially if the gun is not used as designed.

 

[barnetmill]

I guess I must have the only smoothly functioning 41 around. I am not one of those that keeps a log of round count. But my 41 probably has 30,000 or more. It has never shot anything but SV. I have never put any oil on any cartridges. I have never used a buffer. The gun has always been kept cleaned and lubed. The only alibis I ever had were the rare misfires. But then again I am sure there are those 41's that might need some assistance, especially if the gun is not used as designed.

Buffer would only be needed if your ammunition causes an increase of slide velocity over factory specifications. I suspect that not all 41s are equal either. What I am doing works and so there is no great driver to change it.

 

[Master Blaster]

I own three model 41 pistols. I have always shot CCI SV in them. No issues. They are great target pistols and extremely reliable with the right ammo, CCI SV or other top quality 40 grain standard velocity ammo, and recoil spring changes every few thousand rounds.

 

[barnetmill]

I own three model 41 pistols. I have always shot CCI SV in them. No issues. They are great target pistols and extremely reliable with the right ammo, CCI SV or other top quality 40 grain standard velocity ammo, and recoil spring changes every few thousand rounds.

Well at today's morning 900 match at the pensacola rifle and pistol I did shoot one 5 round mag loaded with CCI standard velocity and functioning was perfect. I will shoot up the cheaper federal auto match HV that I first and then start working on the CCI SV that I have on hand.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

It is just me but if I had something else to shoot that HV in that is what I'd do. The 41 is just too nice for it's designed use. Why abuse it?

 

[.38 Special]

I agree that there is nothing the guns really "need", though the worked-over gun from Clark's that I had a chance to play with was noticeably better. - not that I could outshoot either it or the stock gun.

I mounted a scope on my mine to test ammunition. Best was RWS R50. Second was Eley Tenex. Third was Federal Match with the dimple, which I understand is no longer made. Fourth was CCI Green Tag. Fifth was RWS Target Rifle. Now, the catch is that all of them shot ridiculous groups from a rest. Offhand I never could tell a difference between any of them. I stocked up with RWS Target Rifle because it was the least expensive by far.

The only issue I ever had with the gun was the custom grips. One of the pins in the frame was held in place by the stock grips. With the custom grips that pin was exposed and it came loose during a match, causing the gun to double with each trigger pull. The R.O. was not amused, and the pin was later staked into place.

 

[Mike OTDP]

The S&W Model 41 is a bit dated compared to the Olympic-grade European guns, but it'll shoot. The biggest issue is the sights...American gunmakers have never caught onto the idea that target sights need a large rear sight notch to let lots of light in. And a good pair of grips would not come amiss.