S/W M-41 Trigger reach

I was looking at a S/W M-41.  Measuring from the stock where the web of my hand wraps around to the trigger bow I get these measurements.

M-41 2.7"
Woodsman match target 2.56"
1911 with short trigger 2.5"
IZH 41 Air pistol 2.4"
S/W K-frame hammer cocked 2.36"

The only ones that I can pull straight back are the K-frame and IZH.  All the rest are to all long. The M-41 wobbles side to side way to much when dry firing.  My index finger hits the trigger bow at about 45*.  I was hoping to use the 41 for competition but doubt that is possible. 

Is there anything to be done to shorten the trigger reach on the M-41?  IT is old and absolutely Mint NIB I do not want to make permanent mods.  I was thinking of getting a set of non matching grips and remove as much as possible in the web.  I do not see a way to move the trigger rearward. 

I am a bit shocked that S/W would make it like this and that most people get a good result with it.  You'd have to have crazy long fingers to make it work right.

Added later..................

I was wrong, I am the problem!  I measured the length of my trigger finger from the tip to the fold in my hand where the back strap goes, on a ruler, I got 4.2".  IT is significantly shorter than my wife or son.  I then noticed that the measurement to crease where the first digit bends.  IT is more like theirs.  The tip of my right finger is short.  I then compared to my left hand.  It has a longer trigger finger, 4.6".  The tip of my left index finger is longer.  I held my hands palm to palm, my right index finger is noticeably shorter. So there you go, I have a weirdly shaped right hand.  I never noticed before.  I have no recollection of breaking that finger as a child.  I did break that bone at the end about 20 years ago.

What match grade 22s have a short trigger reach, are readily adjusted, or can have the grips modified to achieve that end?

Different grips would be the lowest handing fruit.

After the Holidays, I'd send a query to Rink in Germany.  They would know how much the Model 41 grips can be adjusted to help out.

Many European target pistol have an adjustable trigger position.  Maximum flexibility requires moving the magazine out of the grip.  Then you can do almost anything.  I coach a college team with a number of very small Asian women.  There is no way they could ever shoot a Model 41 very well.  We can get XXS small grips from Rink for our Pardinis & Benellis, and they are all set.

What makes and models of forward magazine pistols with adjustable for length triggers are also on the California list?

https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/firearms/forms/op.pdf

No affiliation but Andrew Berryhill can make an anatomical grip set at a nice price. One of these days I might get a set myself.   I am not a fan of the M41 grips, but inherited my father's gun. Would be nice to enjoy shooting it.

https://www.precisiontargetpistolgrips.com/

Not sure I know anyone who likes the stock grips on a M41.  They're just too round, wide and all around large for most people.  I use the CMM grips on mine and have been very happy with them.  Trigger reach is same but they're much thinner (shape of 1911 grip) and give me same reach as a short trigger on my 1911.
Have you thought about joining the leftie club???  Just another option given the difference in the length of your fingers.

Scota4570 wrote:What makes and models of forward magazine pistols with adjustable for length triggers are also on the California list?

https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/firearms/forms/op.pdf

If you want a pistol that is currently in production, and has parts readily available, I think you are largely limited to either Pardini or Walther.  The catch is that they (IMHO) are WAY overpriced.  

My personal favorite (if you can get one that works) is the MatchGun MG2.  In addition to serious reliability issues, they are going through a major ownership shakeup.  With luck, the new management will make more reliable guns, but it will be a while.

There are lots of great guns on the list, but the magazine-forward Hammerlis are out of production.  The Benelli MP90S is a great pistol, but is no longer imported, and you can't get parts.  Etc.

I had the same problem. My hands are too small to comfortably use the factory grips and to reach the trigger well.

 I started with the Herrett Flat "Trainers" but the grip was still not comfortable. The front of the frame is exposed and most of the bulk of the grips is behind the actual frame. I still had difficulty getting my finger positioned on the trigger to pull straight back.

The CMM Adapter is less bulky and because it has part of it's "depth" in front of the frame and part behind, rather than all behind the frame, it moves your whole hand forward in relation to the gun, particularly the trigger. Think of it as not only changing the shape to that of a 1911, but adding a short trigger. For someone with small hands that's a big deal.  For larger hands, the Herrett Flat trainer grips may work as well. 

The CMM does not require much fitting. As I recall, it took 2 small swipes with a fine file to get a friction fit.

The frame where one of the screws attaches is thin and if you try to do more than snug it down, it could strip. The frame adapter is aluminum and the screw steel. First, it doesn't need to be more than snug. All it does is help keep the adapter aligned. Second, if you are concerned about it loosening, it is covered by the grips and can't back out. The grip tape also holds the halves together, and you can put a dab of Locktite on the screw if it makes you more comfortable. I did. And finally, if it does strip, CMM has a fix which is a 4-40 nut which is inlet into the grip panel and a slightly longer screw.

Scota4570 wrote:I was looking at a S/W M-41.  Measuring from the stock where the web of my hand wraps around to the trigger bow I get these measurements.

M-41 2.7"
The M-41 wobbles side to side way to much when dry firing.  My index finger hits the trigger bow at about 45*.  I was hoping to use the 41 for competition but doubt that is possible. 

Is there anything to be done to shorten the trigger reach on the M-41?  IT is old and absolutely Mint NIB I do not want to make permanent mods.  

I had the same issue as you with my trigger joint at a 45 degree angle. The CMM flat mainspring grip made the pistol feel perfect.
Some pictures that may help you.

Looks like the mainspring housing is left open to the world?  Mine is as the picture below.  I also made some notes on the pictures. 

https://www.cm-machine.com/assets/images/Catalog/2024%20Shooting%20Sports%20Catalog.pdf

I can not see how the scale grips work on the M41.  The description is lacking.  Is there a cover that goes over the mainspring strut? 

Bottom line is, will their product get me to the same or shorter trigger reach as a 1911 with the shortest possible trigger? 

Looks like your finger is longer than mine from the web to the first joint (2-3/4").
Hopefully these additional pictures will clarify the additional questions about CMM grips for you.
The 41 grip you have are "arched mainspring" type, are thicker and I believe this may be your issue.

Is there something about my frame or mainspring strut that is a problem?  The frame is what it is.  Can I get or make a mainspring strut to help?

CMM replied to my email.  Their grips make the trigger reach the same as a medium length trigger on a 1911.  That is to long for me.  A shorter than short trigger I modified in my 1911 is a bit to long for me. 

 I guess I bought an expensive paper weight.

Grip extensions and thicker grips are easy to make.  Why smith made the frame ridiculously large makes no sense to me.

I think you mentioned that you are up to the trigger bow OK, but then at 45 degrees. Part of that is that the trigger bow in M41 is beveled, thickening toward the middle. My suggestion is to take dremel to the trigger bow itself to flatten it out through entire width and maybe take more material as well. Basically you will be re-profiling a trigger, rather than grips. This should give you more purchase on the trigger. A little off goes a long way. If more length is required you can re-profile the grips. Starting from the back and around, especially on the right side. There is tons of wood to play with on the oem grips. Take your time and you will get it right. Remember that hands expand and shrink throughout the day, seasons, etc. So keep cutting a little and checking back in few hours. It takes me weeks to get my grips right where I want them to be.

It is absolutely mint, 55 years old,  in the fish paper, original box, all documents and tools are present.  I am quick to modify my stuff, not this one.  I have made that mistake several time when I was younger. 

I may make or buy other grips.  I will not modify the ones that came with it.  I saw a number printed on the grips, it may be the matching serial number, I have to check.

Oh, makes sense. Sorry did not catch that it's mint like that. Definitely dont want to modify any factory parts then.  Maybe worth trying out buying and carving another set of grips. Look into anatomics, Nills or Rinks. They rotate your hand to the side slightly, so the gun feels more like a handshake, by doing that they provide better finger reach.  At least that's how I feel them.  M41 Nills feel amazingly comfortable.  Dad had them on for a while and I remember reach did feel better. 

I too find trigger reach on M41 a bit long, and with that very wide trigger that also bevels in the middle I never found it comfortable.  My dad has pretty much same aize hands and he never has problems with the reach, he loves it. I think it's the way one prefers to pull a trigger.

I'll probably make a set of grips.  When I make grips to fit me for other pistols my had is in line with my forearm. Making my hand rotate to a weaker grip is something I struggle with.   It feels like the pistol is not secure in my hand.  I like the meaty lump under my thumb to be over the back strap.  There is a groove that forms in my palm when I grip the pistol.  That seems like the correct place to let the back strap ride.  I am probably wrong on that? 

 I could make a set of minimalist scales then build them up with epoxy putty.  I have found that is a good way to prototype this kind of thing.  It is such  beautiful pistol and I want it to work.

I just did some dry firing.  With both my Woodsman and the 41 I have to rotate my hand a bunch to get a straight back pull.  The bony part of my first thumb joint need to be on the center line of the frame.  That seems very wrong.  It is also very uncomfortable.  The sights move less for sure though.

Maybe try a revolver?
In single action mode, the trigger reach is very short.