41 vs Pardini

I have a question for the forum.  Which gun is front end heavier.  The guns being as is from the factory.  A Pardini SP or S&W 41.  I think both models of the 41 feel about the same.  Thank you

Pardini has 6 weight in the barrel adapter which can be changed out.
Some use Tungsten to really create weight and reduce recoil movements

A lot of this depends on the grip design.  The Pardini and 41 are conceptually different.  I find the 41, either barrel, nose heavy when compared to the 1911.  But there was a consensus when the 41 was designed that a nose heavy pistol reduced sway and wobble.  Hence, the added weights and mass distribution on the High Standard and Colt Match Target.  I’m not sure that consensus was correct, but there it is.

Right now I'm using a Ruger 22/45. Tricked out.  I do ok with it but I have that itch.  You know the one I'm talking about.  The new gun itch.  I like the way the Ruger balances in my hand.  But I don't think either of the guns I mentioned would feel close to the way the Ruger feels.  I need a lighter feeling gun.  I would put a 1911 grip on the SP.

I do have an Xesse but don't like the trigger much.  Probably sell it because I don't use it.  I had it out the other day and happened to hit the grip against something and broke off put of the shelf.

Xesse trigger can be made good

So let me try to tackle your question in pieces.  
I have never tried long barrel M41.  
I have had Pardini in both the 5 and 6 inch barrels. 

M41 with 5.5 inch barrel feels very well balanced.  Single stage trigger.  Pistol can be buggy, depending on your luck. 

Pardini with 5 inch barrel feels a bit nose heavier due to magazine front design and weights.  Some weights can be removed for more comfort, or remove all and then it feels all around lighter than M41 and well balanced.  You will feel recoil more though. 
Pardini 6 inch feels too much front heavy.  I posted somewhere on this thread the weights, but 6 inch with 4 weights (or was it 2?) is slightly heavier than 5 inch with 6 weights. 6 inch always feels a bit heavier since weight is all the way at the front. I did not see a benefit in 6 inch, even with the sight radius.  

M41 grip angle will feel similar to Xesse.
Pardini grip is angled a lot more than M41.  You can shim Pardini grip upright, or get a more upright grips made from Rink and Horton, but comparing it out of the box. 

M41 is a single stage trigger.  That is there is zero pre-travel resistance. Just a wall and a break.  Some like that, some do not. 
Pardini can be made to feel as a single stage or 2 stage or anything in between.  Stages can be as long or as short as you like. 

So my take on the subject - I like Pardini grip rake, trigger staging and reliability.  I like M41 magazine in handle and balance. So I got myself a Ruger MK3, VQ ignition, Rink grips.  So now I have best of all worlds and did not break a bank to do it.

james r chapman wrote:Xesse trigger can be made good

+1  what exactly don't you like??

285wannab wrote:Right now I'm using a Ruger 22/45. Tricked out.  I do ok with it but I have that itch.  You know the one I'm talking about.  The new gun itch.  I like the way the Ruger balances in my hand.  But I don't think either of the guns I mentioned would feel close to the way the Ruger feels.  I need a lighter feeling gun.  I would put a 1911 grip on the SP.

Having been bitten by the same itch myself, I have the ruger you have with better grips, a Marvel conversion
and the 41.  Still trying to decide which is better.  The 41 will probably lose the contest, but it is not certain.
I was not happy with the 41 grips and got a more ergonomic set from someone on this forum, and they have
caused me to hold off selling the 41.  I think it's like my old boss used to say: "it's just like catching the clap,
you gotta get exposed".  Problem is if you can't find one to "try out", it is an expensive proposition.
I put optics on all three, and the Ruger is lighter than the Marvel conversion and the 41, but that did not
matter much at the range.

I have had both a Pardini and a 41. It was a long time ago so I can't remember how they feel.  I do remember 1/16" @ 1lb for 1st stage and the same for the 2nd stage on the Pardini. Something like that.
I don't think the Xesse can come close to something like that. 
 I had the longer 41 which I cut down the barrel to 6" I think.  So maybe I thought that was to heavy???
Sold that to KC.

What do you think the 41 will lose to?  The Ruger or the Marvel.

If you want beautiful, buy a pre-A model 41. Accuracy and Reliability, Pardini takes the cake. I have a drawer full of 41 parts.
The Pardini has the spare recoil spring, firing pin and bag of tiny o-rings Larry’s Guns sold me with the SP22 back in 2005.

Hey 285:

I own a Pardini SP new 2013 bullseye model and I also own a couple of SW 41's with a good handful of different barrels with different sighting devices.  SW #1 has Dick Horton Grips while #2 has Nills grips.  The Pardini has Dick Horton 1911 angle grips.  

You can analyze them on paper, you can pick them up and imagine shooting them in a gun store, but after shooting hundreds, if not thousands, of bullseye matches with all of them I simply prefer the Pardini. 

I have a FWB AW 093 as well and like the Pardini better.  

They are all different, different weights, balance, grip angle, etc.  To me, the 093, 41's, take more mental concentration to deliver good scores then the SP New.  Maybe a better description is that it takes more intellectual strength to shoot them as compared to the Pardini.  

While I really enjoy every bullseye match I compete in, I enjoy the matches I shoot the Pardini in a little better then the other handguns.  

Regards, 
Crankster

285wannab wrote:What do you think the 41 will lose to?  The Ruger or the Marvel.

After some range time yesterday, I think the 41 may be better than the Marvel.  My particular Marvel continues
to show jams, and the choice of magazines, metal or plastic, does not matter. Others on this site have had
different outcomes, so it really depends on which gun works better for you.  With a tube optic on, the Marvel
is about 3oz heavier than the 41 with an optic.  I don't find the weight to be the issue near as much as
the grip (I must have ergonomic) and the jamming. All 22's will shoot small groups, my Marvel came with 
a test pattern of 0.75 in at 50 yards, so no issue there.  My Marvel is going to be sold.

I wanted to thank everyone for their opinions.  I appreciate it.

I don't know much about Pardini's but I have an older model 41 and it is a joy to shoot, mine came with the 7.375 inch barrel and I am used to it .  I have both a 5.5 inch heavy barrel and a 5 inch "field" barrel and each barrel really changes the feel of the gun.  Most of the top shooters shoot Pardini's and other Euro guns but the 41 does have a similar grip angle as the 1911 so for some people that is important.  

Good luck

Pardini, the grip angle will put that barrel a bit further away. All things being the same the front sight will have a heavier feel. I shoot a morini CM22, similar ergonomics to the pardini, fantastic pistol.

I ended up with a brand new Smith & Wesson 41, with the longer barrel.  Beautiful gun.  It was ordered through a distributor. So I didn't get to handle it.  Unfortunately it is way to heavy for me.  And I can't bring myself to cutting the barrel.
I shot a ten shot group of a rest at 50ft.  It was a good group and everything functioned fine.  Beautiful piece of machinery.  But, I think I will end up selling it.
I have a question on Rugers so I will start a new post.