S&W's Model 57 Classic 41 Magnum Part 2

The S&W Model 57 41 Magnum is a soft shooting revolver. A hand filling N frame, it weighs 48 ounces, but its good balance causes it not to feel heavy. Even with hefty hunting loads, recoil and muzzle rise are about the same as a light/ medium frame 357 Magnum… which is probably why it was shot so much more than necessary during this project.

Accepting that everyone doesn’t handload,  a cross section of popular factory hunting ammo was selected for a checkout. The Barnes and Federal rounds are listed for deer and similar medium size game, Winchester’s cartridge is listed for deer and black bear… which is pretty much the same application. There are plenty of self defense loads for the 41 Magnum, however, they were outside of the scope of our project.

I would chalk up differences in velocity ratings versus those recorded to differences between test barrel standards and the S&W 6″ barrel with an 0.009″ cylinder to barrel gap. Test barrels are vented to simulate a cylinder gap, but this is typically in the range of 0.004″ with a significantly lesser gas bleed than a real world revolver. Ultimately, the difference in velocity for typical hunting applications is negligible.

Roll your own…

Left to Right – The Hunter’s Supply 200 grain hard cast has a  Brinnel hardness of 15 in comparison to pure lead which has an approximate Brinnel hardness of 4. The Hunter’s Supply bullet is a  antimony, tin and lead alloy that makes it non-expanding in soft tissue, but won’t shatter on bone. It is rated to 1,600 fps without a gas check and without bore fouling. Its applications are target practice, competitive shooting, small to medium size game.

The Nosler 210 is pure lead encapsulated in a tapered copper jacket. It fits the same applications as the cast bullet, but it offers controlled expansion and lesser penetrate. There is no lead fouling, but of course there is copper fouling which is easier to remove and takes much longer to accumulate.

The Cast Performance .41 caliber 250gr. WFNPB (wide flat nose plain base) is heavier and harder than the Hunter’s Supply bullet and falls somewhere between 18-21 Brinnel as a result of alloy blend and heat treating. The Cast Performance bullet alloy is represented as good for up to 3,100 fps without leading… which is pretty sensational and not anything I’ve qualified. Good for big and dangerous game, but they also will not bounce off of deer or pigs.

True Shot is an Oregon Trail bullet brand. Another gas checked bullet, but with a long nose that extends assembled ammunition beyond the SAAMI COL spec of 1.590″ to 1.710″. They fit the S&W’s long cylinder with approximately 0.040″ to spare. I do not know the Brinnel number for this bullet, but I do know that they are hard cast which puts them between 11 and 30. They are made from a proprietary mixture of alloys and precious metals, including silver, which suggests werewolves can be added to the list of applicable types of big game.

Warning: Bullet selections are specific, and loads are not valid with substitutions of different bullets of the same weight. Variations in bullet length will alter net case capacity,  pressure and velocity. Primer selection is specific and primer types are not interchangeable. These are maximum loads in my firearms and may easily be excessive in others. All loads should be reduced by 5%,  and developed following safe handloading practices as represented in established reloading manuals produced by component manufacturers. Presentation of these loads does not constitute a solicitation for their use, nor a recommendation.   Cartridge: 41 Remington Magnum   Firearm: S&W Model 57   Max COL: 1.590″ (Exceptions noted)   Bullet Diameter: 0.410″   Primer: CCI 350   Barrel: 6″   Reloading Dies: Lee Precision   Max case length: 1.290″   Groups: 25 yards 3 Shot  Note: 265 Grain near cylinder length maximum

COL and Capacity   Load Data & Performance Bullet Type Bullet Weight C.O.L. Inches Case Grains Water   Powder Charge Grains Muzzle Velocity FPS Muzzle Energy Ft/Lbs 25 Yard Group Inches Hunters Supply FP 200 1.555 23.3   H110 22.5 1342 800 1.6 Hunters Supply FP 200 1.555 23.3   Lil’ Gun 22.5 1380 846 1.4 Hunters Supply FP 200 1.555 23.3   Trail Boss 7.0 766 261 0.9 Nosler HP 210 1.580 22.1   H110 21.5 1300 788 0.9 Nosler HP 210 1.580 22.1   Lil’ Gun 21.5 1364 868 1.2 Nosler HP 210 1.580 22.1   Trail Boss 7.0 736 253 1.0 Cast Performance WFNGC 250 1.570 19.3   H110 19.0 1205 806 0.8 Cast Performance WFNGC 250 1.570 19.3   Lil’ Gun 18.5 1223 831 1.1 Cast Performance WFNGC 250 1.570 19.3   Trail Boss 6.0 769 328 0.7 True Shot WNFPGC 265 1.710 21.4   H110 19.5 1167 802 1.3 True Shot WNFPGC 265 1.710 21.4   Lil’ Gun 19.5 1227 886 1.2 True Shot WNFPGC 265 1.710 21.4   Trail Boss 7.0 798 375 1.4 265 Grain bullets are seated more shallow than 250 grain and have greater net capacity

 

There are some very good handgunners who I am sure could plop in shots are 300 yards on running game. None of them are me. I don’t work at it and I like unscoped handguns with fast metallic sights. So I will, after due consideration, set my limit for hunting with the S&W Model 57 at 150 yards with deer, hogs and black bear in mind.

 

210 Grain Representative Ballistics
Yards	0	50	100	150	200	250	300
Velocity – fps	1364	1231	1125	1046	986	938	897
Energy – ft.-lbs.	867	706	590	510	454	410	375
Momentum – lbs-sec	1.27	1.14	1.05	0.97	0.92	0.87	0.83
Path – in.	-1.5	2.7	1.1	-7.2	-23.6	-48.8	-84.0

 

Best Zero Results
Near-Zero – Yards	12	Midrange – Yards	63
Far-Zero – Yards	110	Max Ordinate “	+3.0
Point-Blank – Yards	129

Shooting personality…. the gun, not mine`

Hmmm… The Model 57 evokes a good deal of nostalgia. No, not old timer memories of old time firearms, perhaps more of a modern firearm that reminds me of the distant past origins of the N frame and the less distant 41 Remington Magnum. I sometimes carry a 44 Magnum lightweight, or a 454 Casull single action, but I don’t shoot them often because they are less than fun in large doses. As noted previously, the Model 57 with full power loads feels like a mid weight 357 Magnum.

Muzzle rise is moderate; certainly not anything that would prevent a quick follow up shot. The grip form is narrow, but vertically long, so it fills the palm. I wouldn’t mind if S&W took the edge off the checkering a bit or perhaps offer smooth combat grips. I spent some time, over the course of a couple of weeks, to do some tree stump stalking and snap shooting; it was fun… satisfying, revolver shooting confidence building. Makes me want to go Texas hog hunting… maybe I will.

S&W’s Model 57 Classic 41 Magnum Part 1
S&W’s Model 57 Classic 41 Magnum Part II