GP100 .41 Special

[epj]

Anyone made this conversion? Interested in any and all info, pro or con.

 

[Calthrop]

No mistake my favorite caliber is a .41. However the GP-100 can shoot a 200gr. hard cast. Or perhaps more importantly it can be converted to 10mm Auto. I know I did not answer your question yet it might just need to be a five shooter. Calthrop

 

[Don Lovel]

Oh that we could have a moonclip 40 S&W/10mm double action revolver for CCW, Ruger are you listening?

Hamilton Bowen did a 41mag GP-100 one time but said that it was too much work and that he would not do any more

 

[epj]

If you want a .40/10mm, S&W makes such a gun. M610. However, it is an N frame. At one time they made a M646, .40 only, on the L frame. I have no personal knowledge, but from what I've read, there is a problem with these guns and moonclips due to some differences in .40 rim thickness among various manufacturers. In any event, S&W no longer manufacturers the 646.

 

[Sugar River]

You might give Dave a call. Maybe he'll do this in 41 Spec?

Pete

http://www.clementscustomguns.com/rugerdarevolvers.html

 

[mattsbox99]

I'd love a GP in 40/10... I would like a 610, but its a full 8 ounces heavier than the GP...

 

[dixie884]

When I was considering having a .41spl built, Dave Clements said either GP100 or 686. He built mine on a 3in 686. If you are considering a .41spl, I recommend it, highly. If you do have a dedicated .41spl built, send me a copy of your envoice for the conversion marked, paid, and a couple of pictures, and I'll send you 100 rnds of .41spl brass to get you started.

 

[hughuno]

of a CImarron SAA. It was originally a .357. I also had a Smith & Wesson rear sight milled into the backstrap. I would have used a Blackhawk. but for plinking, I hated the NM BH grips and went with a SAA type pistol. Except for the frustrations of dealing with Mr. Gallagher (i.e. "3 months" = 2 years), it is a pretty special piece. Douglas barrel, shallow forcing cone etc. Has some nice grips also, but I prefer the Pachys. I originally made my brass with a dial micrometer and a copper pipe cutter, but have a nice RCBS brass trimmer now that is much faster and easier! New made custom brass is insanely expensive (via Midway I think).

 

[THE .41 MAN]

of a CImarron SAA. It was originally a .357. I also had a Smith & Wesson rear sight milled into the backstrap. I would have used a Blackhawk. but for plinking, I hated the NM BH grips and went with a SAA type pistol. Except for the frustrations of dealing with Mr. Gallagher (i.e. "3 months" = 2 years), it is a pretty special piece. Douglas barrel, shallow forcing cone etc. Has some nice grips also, but I prefer the Pachys. I originally made my brass with a dial micrometer and a copper pipe cutter, but have a nice RCBS brass trimmer now that is much faster and easier! New made custom brass is insanely expensive (via Midway I think).

I've got three .41Specials at present. A Ruger .357 Anniversary FT, a 4-digit .357 FT, and a S&W 3-inch 686. They all shoot great. Next is a 6-shot .41Special GP-100. As for brass, the properly headstamped brass Dixie sells is the way to go. As soon as a few things settle down, I'm getting another 500-1000 pieces. Cost is ALOT better than the Quality Cartridge stuff Midway sells.

 

[Sugar River]

Brian,
Who did the work on your 41 specials?
Any chance of pics?

Pete

 

[THE .41 MAN]

Brian,
Who did the work on your 41 specials?
Any chance of pics?

Pete

The .357mag/.41Spcl Ruger Anniversary was one of Reeders's Wichita Classic line to which I added a Bisley hammer and stags. The four digit Blackhawk was converted to .41Spcl by Clements, and the S&W 686 is a Bowen conversion. Sorry, no camera = no pictures. Reeder has a stock picture of the Wichita Classic and Clements has one of a Quinn special which is basically the four digit blackhawk. The 686 just has bigger holes in the cylinder and barrel. Again, sorry. I've been meaning to get a camera one of these days but the money always goes toward guns or ammo.

 

[dixie884]

I posted pictures of my 686 3in .41spl on the smith&wesson forum, I don't know how to post pics here.
.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

I think dave quit doing the smiths

 

[41]

I would like to see S&W bring back the M696 which is a good CCW gun due to it's size, caliber, and adjustable sights. While 357 Mag is fine, I still like a bigger bore and you can also load it for shot shells using a 444 Marlin case.

While S&W reintroduced the M58 this year, maybe there is some hope for the M696 in the future. I want something to shoot a lot and not a light weight like the Night Guard series.

41

 

[dougader]

What specs/ballistics do you see with the 41 Special? I'm thinking a 215 grain SWC at ~900 fps???

 

[dixie884]

John Taffin says;
5grs Unique-215 to 220 cast swc= just under 800 fps
6grs''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''just over 9oo fps
12.5grs 2400''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''just over 1050 fps
14.5grs 2400''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''just over 1225 fps

This is from a 5.5 inch barrel, listed on his Sixguns site, under Taffin tests,,,,,, .41spl

I have shot a good bit of 5.5 to 6grs Unique-215swcbb, as well as 6.5grs Universal. These are a delight to shoot in my 686, light recoil satisfying thump on the other end. I have been stretching the envelope a little more lately, just to see how versatile the .41spl can be. I wondered about the advisability of shooting loads over 1,000 fps in the mid, or .41 frame DA envelope.

Recently I have been shooting some more agressive loads. I have tried 7grs Power Pistol-215gr swcbb, 13.5grs, and 14.5grs 2400-170gr Sierra jhc, 14.5grs 2400-210gr KT swc. All of these loads seem to be safe in my little mid frame S&W. Ejection on all is gentle thumb pressure, and all primers are rounded and show no flattening or any othe signs of pressure. I have no chronograph, but need to get one, so I will know what I'm getting from my 3in barrel. The recoil was sharper with the Power Pistol load, but more of a gentle push, with 2400.

I hope some one has a GP100 converted, it would be great if Lipsey's or someone would do a run of them. Ruger wouldn't have to retool, just bore and rifle with a different tool. They already chamber in .41 mag all it takes is chambering .125 shallower.

 

[dixie884]

Anyone got one, my 686 is lonesome.

 

[MadBadger]

I chose the 686 platform (with Mountain Gun barrel) for my first .41 Special & yes there will be more!

To me, holding each, the 686 just felt a bit trimmer and more packable for all day wear. That said, I'd still like to see a GP converted.

I have an Anniversary Blackhawk just waiting for a Mdl 57 barrel & a .41 bored 686 barrel just waiting for a 681 frame. The search goes on!

MadBadger

p.s. dixie884 - the brass is great. I'm digging out my invoice for your very generous offer. I've been needing to order more regardless, but getting restocked on .414 brass took first priority.

 

[Aggie01]

If you do have a dedicated .41spl built, send me a copy of your envoice for the conversion marked, paid, and a couple of pictures, and I'll send you 100 rnds of .41spl brass to get you started.

I don't have an invoice for my .41 Special on a midframe NM flattop.
I don't know if it would count anyway, sionce it also has a .41 mag cylinder.

 

[454]

MadBadger who did the work on that?