S&W Model 57

[Danbo]

At the Tulsa gun show a week or so ago, I managed to find a sweet model 57 Smith & Wesson in .41 Magnum with 4" heavy barrel, and big honkin target grips and target trigger and hammer. Probably 95% condition, with the wood box and cleaning kit. An older one, with the pinned barrel. Impressive pistol, to say the least!

Took her out Sunday, and shot a few cylinders of Winchester 175 grain jacketed hollow points rated at 1250 fps. Fairly hot load, but not max. Certainly hot enough to stop most anything I need to stop. I was very impressed with this pistol! Recoil out of that 4" heavy barreled "N" frame was like shooting a +P .38 Special! I really think I am in love!

 

[Cougar Allen]

IMHO the only reason the .41 Magnum never caught on is they gave it the wrong name. If they had named it the .46 Super Magnum all the gun magazines would have mentioned in the reviews that it's actually slightly less powerful than the .44 -- and everybody would have bought it anyway.

 

[mwerner]

I shot a 6" barrell version way back in 65 or so, when a guy showed up at the military range with one. As I recall, it was beautifully finished, and a pleasure to shoot.
The only ammo we had was the full-jacketed factory load, and just the rather sharp-edged S&W grips, but it still wasn't as punishing as the full-bore .44 I shot a few years later.
With good loads an excellent revolver.

 

[The Tourist]

I've never owned one, but it is an excellent pistol, and a great calibre.

Many people prefer the old versions.

I hate to harp on this, but get some casting blocks (either an Elmer Keith design or the new LBT style) and cast your own bullets. You'd be amazed on how accurate this calibre can become.

As to calibre, there is not much difference in the real world.

A Model 57 is a true .410 of an inch. A Model 29 is .429 of an inch. I doubt any game can tell the difference.