The .41 Remington Magnum occupies a special place in handgun history—a compromise between the thump of the .44 Magnum and the reduced recoil of the .357 Magnum. It was intended to be the “Goldilocks” cartridge: sufficiently potent for serious work without being so savage that it demoralized the shooter. But its history has been one of potential, lost opportunities, and a hardcore fan base that refuses to see it disappear.
The concept of the .41 Magnum began forming during the early 1960s, courtesy of three of the most influential voices in the world of shooting sports: Elmer Keith, Bill Jordan, and Skeeter Skelton. They all felt that law enforcement required a revolver cartridge that existed in ideal harmony between stopping power and ease of control. Together with Smith & Wesson, Colt, Ruger, and Remington, his dreams came true in 1964 when the cartridge and the Smith & Wesson Model 57 revolver were introduced.
Ballistically, the .41 Magnum falls in between its noted siblings. It expels a .410-inch bullet, with standard factory ammunition propelling a 210-grain bullet down range at 1,200 to 1,500 feet per second, varying by load and barrel length. The result? A flat-shooting revolver round with muzzle energy equal to the .44 Magnum but a little milder recoil—a combination that is still enjoyed by shooters today.
But among its initial target audience—police officers—the .41 Magnum had a tough row to hoe. Revolvers such as the Model 57 and the more practical Model 58 were heavy N-frame revolvers that most officers found cumbersome. Even the “police load” models, which were made to reduce recoil, still kicked harder than the .38 Special revolvers most departments were issuing at the time. The popularity of semi-automatic handguns in law enforcement and the .44 Magnum’s pop culture popularity (due in part to “Dirty Harry”) hurt its prospects.
Where the .41 truly gained a following was in hunting and target shooting. Handgun hunters appreciated its flat trajectory and how it could efficiently bring down deer, hogs, and even black bears without the wrist-jarring recoil of the larger magnums. Silhouette shooters also enjoyed its accuracy and consistency, which made it a favorite at long-range handgun competitions.
Nevertheless, the .41 Magnum never had the broad ammo and gun range as the .44. Its model stock has always been more specialized, but it’s hardly gone out of business. Hornady, Remington, Federal, and Underwood still make good-quality loads, including high-end hunting bullets such as the XTP and Swift A-Frame. Revolver enthusiasts can discover it in such classic lines as the Smith & Wesson Model 57, Ruger Blackhawk, and Ruger Redhawk, and some lever-action rifles preserve the caliber in the long-gun scene.
Today, the .41 Remington Magnum is a cult hi, adhered to for its combination of power, accuracy, and shootability. Handloaders particularly appreciate tuning it to everything from soft-shooting range ammunition to heavy big-game loads.
It might never have been the commercial hit that its inventors hoped, but the .41 Magnum’s combination of power and sophistication guarantees it will forever occupy a place of honor in the arsenals of shooters who care more about performance than popularity.
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