Smith and Wesson Lightweight HiViz .41 magnum

[jimmyp50]

 
This 4 inch barreled gun might be reasonable as a carry gun back up when hunting pigs this spring with a spear. Does anyone have a comment on the durability of one of these scandium .41 (or 44) magnums? I am not worried too much about recoil, but accuracy and durability is of interest. Any users of this gun here?

[Tom C.]

I have one of the scandium .357s, a 3” model 360 Kit Gun. Nice and light. Accurate as far as I can tell. Recoil is high enough that it is a little difficult to shoot well. I had to square up the rear V notch sight. I couldn’t hit a thing with the V sight. Square notch is ok. I also switched grips to Pachmayr. They absorb and dampen recoil much better than the hard plastic grips it came with.
I think of it as a carry much, shoot little gun. I waited for the .38 version to be improved to .357 capability, but I plan on shooting mild .357 or .38 +P loads in it. I don’t know how the aluminum/scandium will react to stress, but aluminum doesn’t react to stress with an elastic region like steel, but even light loads cause plastic deformation. I conclude that shooting a lot of heavy loads is likely to cause frame stretching. Rather than getting the frame replaced, I will shoot sparingly with milder loads. I have steel frame guns for heavier shooting.

[jimmyp50]

I found a 4 inch 44 magnum Mountain Gun that I will probably get instead.  Heavier and I wish it were in 41 magnum, the 41 give 788 FP energy at 1300 FPS with the 210 grain bullet, while the 44 magnum gives 744 FP energy at 1100 FPS.  The 41 shoots flatter with more energy.  At any rate I still cannot believe the price on S&W revolvers (steel or Titanium), they certainly have gone up since the last time I looked! Then there is that lock thingy.

[Tom C.]

I have several with the locks. I don't bother it and it doesn't bother me. I don't know if I could find one of the keys if I had to.

[LEO]

I haven't shot the 41 lightweight, but if it is anything like the 44 durability of your wrists/hands is more of an issue than durability of the firearms, recoil is brutal even with mild 44 magnum loads.  On the other hand, I am one of the lucky few to own a 41 magnum mountain gun and absolutely love it.  I haven't carried my six inch since I got it.  It is very managable and extremely accurate, it is one of the few handguns that I have ever bought that I was happier with after I got it than I thought I would be.  Now if I can just find one of the 71/2" Performance Center revolvers at a good price or one of the Ruger Bisley Hunters, I will be set. 

[jimmyp50]

LEO you are 100% right. The 41 magnum makes a lot of sense when you look at ballistics! I reload and would rather have the .41 if I could find it in a steel gun mountain gun which as you indicate may be near impossible...