.41 Long Colt
.41 Long Colt | |
---|---|
Type | Revolver |
Place of origin | United States |
Production history | |
Designed | 1877 |
Manufacturer | Colt's Manufacturing Company |
Produced | 1877–1939 |
Specifications | |
Parent case | .41 Short Colt |
Bullet diameter | 0.386 in (9.8 mm) |
Neck diameter | .400 in (10.2 mm) |
Base diameter | .405 in (10.3 mm) |
Rim diameter | .434 in (11.0 mm) |
Rim thickness | .077 in (2.0 mm) |
Case length | 1.126 in (28.6 mm) |
Overall length | 1.397 in (35.5 mm) |
Case capacity | 20 gr H2O (1.3 cm3) |
Maximum pressure (CIP) | 13,000 psi (90 MPa) |
The .41 Long Colt cartridge was created in 1877 for
History and description
The .41 Long Colt was a lengthened version of the earlier centerfire
In the mid-1890s, Colt redesigned the cartridge. They reduced the entire diameter of the bullet to 0.386" OD and lengthened the brass case in order to put both the bullet and its lubrication inside the case. The overall length of both loaded cartridges was about the same. The barrel of the revolver was reduced slightly to match the more popular .38-40 at 0.400–0.401" groove diameter. This meant that the outside diameter (OD) of the new bullet was smaller than the barrel's bore, let alone its groove diameter. A hollow-base bullet can be dropped down the bore by gravity alone. The newer soft lead bullet was made with a large hollow base, like Civil War Minié balls. The intent was for the base of the bullet to expand with the pressure of the burning gunpowder to grip the rifling.[2]
The original .41 Long Colt brass cases came in three primary lengths, although they vary quite a bit within a headstamp.
The accuracy of the .41 Long Colt is adequate for what it was intended; close range self-defense, its drawback had more to do with the heavy double-action trigger pull of the Thunderer.
The .41 Long Colt worked well considering the mismatch of bullet and bore sizes, but by the beginning of World War I it was in serious decline and it fell from use by the beginning of World War II.[1] The .41 Long Colt was a moderately popular chambering in several Colt models. It was available in the Model 1877 Thunderer double action revolver, the series of New Army and New Navy revolvers of 1889, 1892 94,95,96, 1901 & 1903, the Single Action Army, 1878 double action, the Bisley Model, the Army Special-Official Police.[4] Today, the .41 Long Colt is a mere relic of the past and is considered obsolete. It is currently only produced sporadically for high prices by a handful of small manufacturers such as Ultramax, as the Model 1877 Colt Thunderer is considered by collectors too valuable to shoot.
Dimensions
See also
- 10 mm caliber
- Colt Model 1877
- .45 Colt
- .45 Schofield
- .41 Short
- .32 Long Colt
- .38 Short Colt
- .38 Long Colt
- .44 Colt
- .41 Magnum
- .41 Special
- List of handgun cartridges
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7627-4508-1.
- ISBN 978-1-4402-3059-2.
- ISBN 978-1-879356-09-2.
- ^ Colt's Manufacturing Company