How Popular/Common are/were 7-inch S&W 41s?

Almost named the thread "does anyone still use 7-inch M41s"

I shot one a lot when I was a kid (16-17) and was always scared by how much the front sight wobbled in the notch. The High Standard with shorter barrel just seemed rock solid in my hand.

But I shot better with the M41, at least a little bit. My high RF (probably ANY bullseye target for that matter) with anything was a 98-x Idon'tremember. Was shooting slightly above 270s with the .22 back then.

Seems I just don't see the 7-inch M41s anywhere, including avatar pics here.

I use a 7" Model 41 - I shoot it better than all of my other .22s, somehow.

I would shoot my 41 more if the grip was more agreeable to me.  It has a 7" bbl cut to 5.625", and the original 5.5 bbl relined by Alex H and tapped by Roddy. 

The tail of the frame digs into my hand.  Even with a Nil grip, I am unhappy with the 41's feel.  Slide bite is also a problem 

However the cut barrel has fired under 1" at 50 yds.  with 900B

It seems that when you saw them they were oftentimes in the hands of the better shooters. I was like you Grumps, preferring the 5 or 6" (a Giles) brl.

This, of course, is anecdotal and from a sometimes reliable memory.

Maybe borne out by rvlvrlvr's class. Nice gun & grips revolver guy.

Ron

I started Bullseye as a teenager in the 70's.
This was when High Standard was really starting to give the 41 a run for money.
I remember 41's being predominantly the heavy barrel then with a small percentage being the long barrel.  I always liked the look of the long barrel with the flash hider.  I'm sure if I had to scrape the leading out of it I wouldn't like it so much.

Now, with the rise of the Marvel and some of the Euro guns you see fewer 41's anyway.  I have one but have a Clark barrel on it as I think it offers a far better balance.