WB
About then the 10mm was gaining interest
Saturday, July 26, 2025, 12:01

but both it and the .40 S&W were some years away. The .38-40 was very popular from the late 1800's in both revolver and long gun. It shot a little flatter and recoiled notably less. The heeled, then hollow base .383", .41 Long Colt failed to really get hold. It died quietly about the depression. The .41 Colt was always a .403" bore proposition just like the .38-40.

One of my favorite articles, maybe early mid 70's were the G&A crew, Ernie French's pop was somehow involved, making a .40 cal. Browning HP that they ran a few issues as a development series. OF all things they trimmed the belts off Weatherby .224 Magnum brass, reamed the inside and loaded .38-40 projectiles. They finally got the modded HP running it and THAT was actually the true origin of what later was developed as the .40 S&W. The D&D Bren 10 was an independent development but basically a lengthened version of this early pioneered round. Specific brass was contracted. The Delta Elite was the first widely available 10mm but too hot and beat the gun to death. Many say it was recoil, but it was rough on the 1911 chassis. The .40 S&W could be adapted to smaller 9mm chassis platforms so marketing pushed that forward and for 150 fps lass than the downloaded 10mm, yes it recoiled a little less.

I feel very privileged to have handled an original period ".41 Magnum Python" creation. I think the .357 barrel was rebored (with the highest skill) and remarked. The cylinders sure were thin at the bolt cuts. Obviously too thin, even I noted that.