Smith and Wesson 57 41 mag

[historicfirearms]

Recently I bought a S&W 57-1 41 mag with the long 8 3/8 barrel. Looking to find a good cast boolit load and need a mold recommendation. NOE has a few different styles in stock, keith, wfn, and a LFN style. In the past I have had better accuracy with WFN or LFN styles but that Keith boolit just looks right. This will be my first foray into the 41 magnum so just looking for some advice.

[megasupermagnum]

Your timing could not have been better. My 57-1 with 4" barrel has been rather touchy on loads. Today I really made it sing.

Federal LP primer
11 grains 800x
Arsenal 41-220 RF
1.59" OAL

2 1/2" CTC 6 shot group at 50 yards. 10 and 10.5 grain loads were right in there as well.

I never had any luck with either Lee mold design. I would recommend the Arsenal 41-220 RF with 11 gr 800x or the NOE 412-220-SWC with 13 gr Bluedot.

[littlejack]

Boy, did you open up a can of worms. Lol
Quite a few .41 enthusiasts. I shot for years, and still do with the Lyman 410459. A couple weeks ago, I heated up my two double cavities and dropped about 660. That particular slugs resembles the slug that Elmer Keith designed, but Lyman changed a couple things and Elmer wouldn't claim their changes. Namely, the rounded grease grooves and also all three driving bands not being of equal width. Anyway, it is a great slug and casts well. We don't know if you like lighter weights or heavier. I have the Ranch Dog mould, and really like it. The slugs, all dressed up with grease and gas check, weigh in around 270 grains. With its tight ogive, stubby and flat front end, makes it coupled up about as short as one can get for that weight. I just bought a Ruger SBH Hunter, and this revolver is built like a tank. It will handle the heavies better than my 57. I have the SSK 300 grain gc mould, I bought on ebay a couple months back, but haven't cast or shot any of that particular style yet, but it should do well in the beefy Ruger. I had the lighter SSK pb that weighs at 297 grains sized and lubed. This slug shot very well in my model 57.
Lucky for all of us, there are lots and lots of moulds for the .41. The .41 magnum is one great cartridge, and will not die.
If a .410 magnum won't stop it, I wouldn't bet my life on a .429 magnum. Lol

[sixshot]

For many, many years I've used a 230 gr Keith bullet from a Saeco mold, you'll be hard pressed to find that mold but some of the commercial caster make that bullet, its a dandy. I've taken a lot of game with it including elk, bear & antelope. Another good bullet is the LBT 250 gr WFN, I also taken elk with that bullet but it's not as good at long range as the 230 gr slug. Lately I've been shooting a few deer with a Miha 217 gr HP & its a dandy in both my old model shorty & my 5.5" bisley.

Dick

[GLynn41]

NOE has a several styles as does any of the custom makers.. but he has a Keith boolit that can be a solid, a cup point and a hp...solid is 230 ish depends on alloy and then goes down to 220 something as a hp. I just got one this week so just getting started. I like getting 3 boolits from one mold. If you like keiths… he has others of course. Keep an eye on Ebay as well as swapping and selling here on cast boolits. Mountain Mold will let you design your own and they are good and of course as Dick mentioned MIHA molds are very good

[mattw]

This is my favorite 41 mag mould, Saeco #411, tough to find and now days expensive when you do find it. I also shoot an LBT OWC 230 and a 275 SWC. Please note, the bullet holding the case up is another variation of the 41 Mag. SWC.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1847/29207704377_79bca1bea9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/LuZ7VX)

[littlejack]

Nice bullet, nice mould.

[mattw]

Once up to temp, that is likely the best behaved mould I own. All of my Saeco moulds tend to work well with minuscule reject rates. This one might reject 2 or 3 per 100 bullets, and I am fairly picky about bullet quality, not snail trails, not base indentations, no less than sharp shoulders. I do not mind rejecting.

[littlejack]

Ditto for myself.

[Don Purcell]

I really like my H&G 8 cavity #258 220 grain Keith. 4" Blued Model 57-1. It shoots pretty much everything well and some better.

[megasupermagnum]

I really like my H&G 8 cavity #258 220 grain Keith. 4" Blued Model 57-1. It shoots pretty much everything well and some better.

Is this a true H&G brand mold? Do you mind sending me a handful of samples?

[RJM52]

Nice thing about the .41 it is just hard to go wrong with any bullet or load...

I have a "few" .41s and after a lot of shooting have decided that as far as the S&Ws go was going to keep the bullets 230 grains and under...250s and up have been dedicated to the single actions...

If you want a Keith bullet, of the two already mentioned, I'd go the MP or NOE.

The MP 220 Keith with pins for HP and Penta Point pins.... This the original 1960s Keith design with a smaller meplat than his later design. I have this mold and as is usual of MP molds, it is a work of art and casts great. In the Smiths I'm running 8, 9 and 10 grains of Unique for 950, 1100 and 1180 fps from a 4" barrel.


The 230 NOE is the later Keith design with a larger meplat. I have purchased some bullets made from this mold design and they shoot great. With solid, cup point and HP pins one can do everything needed from a .41 in just one mold...

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/product-category/410/412-237-swc-bc2



But if you want a heavy, my current favorite is the Accurate Molds 41-250L. Have been using it in a couple of heavy duty single actions and it has been a stellar performer...

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=41-250L-D.png

If you have not seen this thread, everything .41 under one roof...you are most welcome to post over there....

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?276144-41-Magnum-41-Special-Load-Data-Center


Bob

[historicfirearms]

Thank you so much Bob and everyone else. Such a helpful bunch... its fun to think about reloading and casting gor a new cartridge.

[Don Purcell]

megasupermagnum, yes it is an original H&G I bought in 1988. I had a four cavity Hensley I bought in 1978 in the Keith and the bullets were identical even with 10 years separating the manufacturing of the two molds. I would be happy to send you some but at the moment I am in the process of cleaning and reorganizing my shop but should be able to cast you some in a couple of weeks. P.M. me and we will work it out. All the best, Don.

[Three44s]

Speaking from the perspective that this was in a .44 Mag SW MG, back when I was working with HS6 & 800X, I had a load for each pushing the RCBS 250K.

I was already biased against the 800x because it meters poorly compared to HS6, but my next test was recoil.

I placed three of each load staggered in the cylinder and filled the other three then open ones with the other load being careful to index my cylinder such that I knew which load was firing upon pulling the trigger.

The 800 X lost.

I did not place the 800 x on paper because the better metering, easier on the paws HS6 was now printing better than my stellar H110, 2400 and Unique loads I saw no room for 800 X to need to be investigated further.

Velocities were comparable.

So my love and admiration for HS6 was set right there.

Some folks berate HS6 because it is a little dirty and while there is a bit of truth in that I also treat ALL my metallic brass to an inside flashole demurring, a lesson I learned while testing red dot in the 44 for shot loads. The practice cleaned those up significantly.

Since my lesson with HS6 in the 44 I began using it in every magnum hand gun cartridge I run for that power regime: 357, 41, 44 and 480.

Best regards

Three44s

[megasupermagnum]

There is nothing wrong with Unique or HS6. Even being a ball powder, HS6 is quite forgiving. What 800x has is the accuracy. Not every load, but once in a while it turns out something that makes you smile ear to ear. I have yet to get that with HS6 or Unique.

[RJM52]

I've had the opposite experience with Unique...all my loads from 9mm and .38 Super to target/mid-range loads in the big boomers up to and including .500 S&W have been stellar....

[silhouette_shooter]

I just bought a new model 57. The cylinder throats were oversize so I sent it to S&W and they replaced the cylinder with one that is undersized. It's on its way back from Bowen Classic Arms as of today. My load is a 220 gr, gas checked semi wadcutter, (Accurate Molds). I use a starting load of Titegroup.

[megasupermagnum]

I've had the opposite experience with Unique...all my loads from 9mm and .38 Super to target/mid-range loads in the big boomers up to and including .500 S&W have been stellar....

I wouldn't say opposite. I think Unique is the best I've found in 9mm. It is always a good option. Heck, even consistently bad performers for me like power pistol, have their proponents that get great results.

[osteodoc08]

My recent do everything magnum load has been a 230 WFN with 18gr 2400. Has shot well in every 41 I have which is several. I also like 7gr of 231 and some 210-230gr class LSWC for general practice.

[Don Purcell]

My recent do everything magnum load has been a 230 WFN with 18gr 2400. Has shot well in every 41 I have which is several. I also like 7gr of 231 and some 210-230gr class LSWC for general practice.

That sounds like a dandy load.

[Rodfac]

I've had good success (sub-2" at 25 yds from rest) with both Lyman's 410459 & RCBS' 41-215 in my Smith M57. I size both bullets to 0.411" and load up to 1100 fps with them. ACWW's + 50-50 lube. Unique (7.5 gr), Win 231, and Herco all work well for me with minimal to zero leading issues. The same loads do equally well in a trio of Ruger BH's in .41 Magnum. HTH's Rod

[dverna]

It is a great cartridge. I am so heavily invested in .357 (four pistols. three rifles) that I cannot justify making the switch. Adding another caliber does not meet my logistics parameters.

For a new shooter starting out it is an excellent option to consider if they want a cartridge that will work well in both pistols and lever action rifles. But get a few thousand cases!!

I fear it will die a slow death. Sad really.

[osteodoc08]

It very may well die a slow death as us boomers and Gen X get older. Until then, I’ll continue to enjoy it as my favorite caliber.

[historicfirearms]

I bought a Lee tl410-210-swc this weekend and fired up the pot this afternoon. Boolits dropped at .4105 by .412. I tumble lubed them in 45-45-10 and they are drying as I type. Im just looking for a plinking accurate load for these.

[sixshot]

If I could only have 2 loads in the 41 magnum it would be 8 grs of Unique with the 230 gr Keith & 17 grs of 2400 with the same bullet. I've used both since the late 60's with incredible success.

Dick

[gwpercle]

If you're into the 41 magnum and 41 special and like wadcutter designs, you might want to check out NOE's # 413 - 215 - WC (413432) mould . It's based on Lyman's 358432 design just enlarged to 41 cal and 215 grains . Makes a great target and gen use boolit , hollow point it and it would be an excellent stopper . It's about the only 41 I cast now days for my S&W model 58 ...in my avatar.
Loads shoot to it's fixed sights perfectly .
Gary

[Drm50]

I’ve got two 57s, both nickle 83/8”. One is NIB in case. Only S&Ws I have that I don’t load WCs for. I load 210gr SWC cast/ 18.0gr 2400 approx 1150fps. I don’t shoot them very often I hate nickle guns and cleaning them.

[Texas by God]

I bought a Lee tl410-210-swc this weekend and fired up the pot this afternoon. Boolits dropped at .4105 by .412. I tumble lubed them in 45-45-10 and they are drying as I type. Im just looking for a plinking accurate load for these.
Try 6.5 grains of Unique with that Lee boolit for fun.

[missionary5155]

So far we have never had a 41 Mag revolver that did not shoot nicely. From Dan Wesson to Rugers to S&W to a couple Taurus they all have loads that we can depend on year after year.
But if I could only have one it would be the Dan Wesson. Still the most accurate revolver we have ever owned.

[Three44s]

Viva DW in .41 Mag!

Three44s

[shaggybull]

I have 57 and mountain gun in 41 mag we shoot gold balls and play red neck golf. Excellent calibre

[megasupermagnum]

I got to chronograph my loads last weekend. With 220 gr Arsenal 412-220 RF and 11gr 800x I got 1140 fps from my 4" model 57-1. It was windy sunday, but I shot groups anyway. I shot four 6-shot groups at 45 yards, and every single group was 3 1/2". No variation at all. You can't beat that consistency!

[dverna]

I got to chronograph my loads last weekend. With 220 gr Arsenal 412-220 RF and 11gr 800x I got 1140 fps from my 4" model 57-1. It was windy sunday, but I shot groups anyway. I shot four 6-shot groups at 45 yards, and every single group was 3 1/2". No variation at all. You can't beat that consistency!

That will harvest a ton of game.

[historicfirearms]

I have 57 and mountain gun in 41 mag we shoot gold balls and play red neck golf. Excellent calibre

What are gold balls you shoot? Maybe autocorrect golf balls? That sounds like a fun game. Do you set up a hole of sorts to get the ball into?

[RJM52]

If one wants WCs and doesn't cast...

https://www.gtbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=6

https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=83&zenid=v2hj1hc1m9qucvctancgnk0jc7

[Highway41]

The best thing I ever did for my 41's was to have the cylinders throated on both my Blackhawk and Redhawk. The accuracy improvement was dramatic. 8.0gr of unique under a 210-225 cast has always been a tack driver of a load in either revolver and my Henry Big Boy.

[Wally]

Have a M-57 with the 8" barrel. I have used many different cast bullets in it with all the types offered by Lee and most of the Lyman (when they still offered them)...never found any bullet that was not accurate in the M-57. I used a variety of powders; again never found any loads that weren't good~excellent. The .41 caliber seems to be intrinsically accurate. Lately I shoot SWCs cast at 210~220 grains with a fast powder to attain 1,000 FPS as that is all I find necessary for plinking.


Recently I bought a S&W 57-1 41 mag with the long 8 3/8 barrel. Looking to find a good cast boolit load and need a mold recommendation. NOE has a few different styles in stock, keith, wfn, and a LFN style. In the past I have had better accuracy with WFN or LFN styles but that Keith boolit just looks right. This will be my first foray into the 41 magnum so just looking for some advice.