WHY A .41 MAGNUM?
Long ago, there was a time when gun and ammunition makers listened carefully to famous gun writers like Elmer Keith and lawmen Bill Jordan and Skeeter Skelton. These were big names known to shooters, hunters, and law enforcement, and they lobbied for a revolver cartridge more powerful than the .357 Magnum but with less kick than the .44 Magnum.
Remington Ammunition and Smith & Wesson decided to produce the new ammo and new revolver to shoot it. Aimed at the law enforcement market, the Model 57 was introduced in 1964. Reducing the average bullet weight from 240 grains to 200 grains, it kicks considerably less than the .44 Magnum.
Related Review: Smith & Wesson Model 57 – Just Like Heinz, A Classic Flavor
Although many police departments adopted the .41 Magnum, it never caught on in the private market. Eclipsed by the .44 Magnum’s “Dirty Harry” fame, the .41 Magnum might be today’s most overlooked revolver cartridge.
MY S&W MODEL 657
Influenced by a friend who had just purchased a new Smith & Wesson Model 657, I decided that I had to have one, too. With concealed carry in mind, I selected a stainless-steel revolver with 4-inch barrel and adjustable sights. At under 3 pounds, it is concealable and light despite being a full-size N frame revolver.
The Model 657 fits my hand well and looks good. Broad, checkered walnut grips with a Smith & Wesson medallion give excellent control when drawing and aiming. The black front blade sight fits well into the rear adjustable square notch rear sight. Its 4-inch barrel is just long enough to provide and accurate sight picture.
I usually fire the revolver in single action to take advantage of the 4-pound trigger. It breaks cleanly without take-up and has predictable let-off.
The Features
I love the oversized controls of the Model 657. The wide, serrated hammer is quick to cock, and the broad, smooth trigger is simple and precise. When I am in a hurry, I shoot double action. Although heavy, it is smooth. As on my Smith & Wesson Model 586, the trigger breaks crisply. The cylinder release is broad and serrated, which allows for solid lockup and quick manipulation to open and empty spent cartridges.
My favorite two features of the Model 657 are its pointability and power. Smith & Wesson also makes this revolver in a 6-inch or 8.375-inch barrel, but I believe my lighter 4-inch barrel revolver is faster on point. It is a close-quarters revolver and conceals well in my vest. Although I lose some muzzle velocity over the longer barrels, the large .41 bore slug makes up for it.
The .41 Magnum is no slouch. Depending on the load, it delivers between 760 and 1,107 foot-pounds of muzzle energy – nearly equal to the mighty .44 Magnum. My hand-loaded ammunition uses a 200-grain Speer jacketed hollow point bullet. Reloaded ammo saves me a bit of money and allows me to customize my loads for reduced felt recoil and better accuracy. Shooting steel and root beer jugs will show what I mean.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Caliber: .41 Magnum
- Barrel Length: 4 inches
- Weight: 2.75 pounds
- Overall Length: 10 inches
- Trigger: Fully curved; 4-pound single-action pull, very heavy double action
- Action: Single/double action revolver
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Sights: Notched rear adjustable for windage and elevation, front blade
RANGE TIME
A mixture of steel targets and 2-liter soda jugs set between 7 and 35 yards are a good test of the Model 657’s accuracy, power, and functioning. Loading my hand-loaded ammunition is done by releasing the cylinder and swinging it out to the left to insert six rounds. The cylinder and ejector rod fit precisely into the frame, and cocking the hammer is nearly effortless.
My first accuracy test on a 7-yard steel target landed three shots grouped nicely near center. At 35 yards, each shot again hit steel. The iron sights are effective, and no red dot sight is needed. Ejection is quick and positive, making for smooth reloading.
The explosive power of the .41 Magnum vaporized my root beer jug targets. My first three shots were fired in single action, and the 200-grain jacketed hollow point bullets turned the 2-liter jugs into mist. I fired the fourth shot in double action, which requires a long, steady pull, but I still knocked over two jugs with one shot. That certainly demonstrates the power of the .41 Magnum. I fired my final shots double action at 35 yards with only one miss, proving I can rely on this Smith & Wesson to defend my turf.
Pros & Cons
