.41 Action Express

Infobox Firearm Cartridge
name= .41 Action Express


caption=
origin= USA
type= Handgun
service=
used_by=
wars=
designer= Evan Whildin
design_date=1986
manufacturer=Action Arms
production_date=
number=
variants=
is_SI_specs=
parent=
case_type=Rimless, straight
bullet=.410
neck=.434
shoulder=
base=.435
rim_dia=.394
rim_thick=.045
case_length=.866
length=1.17
rifling=16-18
primer=Small pistol
is_SI_ballistics=
bw1=170
btype1=JHC
vel1=940
en1=334
bw2=180
btype2=HP
vel2=890
en2=317
bw3=210
btype3=XTP
vel3=797
en3=296
bw4=
btype4=
vel4=
en4=
bw5=
btype5=
vel5=
en5=
test_barrel_length=
balsrc= Hodgdon " [http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp .41 Action Express (Pistol) data] " from Hodgdon] The .41 Action Express is a pistol cartridge originating from the 1980s to reproduce performance of the .41 Magnum cartridge in semi-automatic pistols. cite book
last = Barnes
first = Frank C.
editor = Skinner, Stan
title = Cartridges of the World
edition = 11th Edition
origyear = 1965
year = 2006
publisher = Gun Digest Books
location = Iola, WI, USA
pages = 330,338
isbn = 0-89689-297-2]

History

The .41 Action Express (41 AE) was designed by Evan Whildin, vice president of Action Arms, in 1986. [ [http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/p41ae.html Reload Bench] ] It was based on the .41 Magnum case, cut down to fit in a 9 mm frame, and using a rebated rim. The .41 AE is a very attractive cartridge in many ways, as the rebated rim allows a simple barrel and magazine change to allow many 9 mm guns to be converted to .41 AE.

The powerful 10 mm Auto cartridge, which had been suffering from poor acceptance from its start in the early 1980s, was eventually accepted by the FBI in a reduced power, subsonic loading. Smith & Wesson then decided that the 10 mm Auto was too much cartridge for the reduced power loading, and that the .45 ACP sized guns that chambered it were too heavy and bulky; out of this came the .40 S&W, a shortened 10 mm Auto case, designed to fit in a 9 mm sized gun, with a reduced pressure loading that allowed a lighter, easier to shoot gun. Because most ammunition manufacturers backed the very similar .40 S&W, there was little use for the .41 AE and production of both firearms and the ammunition itself was soon phased out.

Ballistics

The .41 AE is ballistically similar to the .40 S&W, to the point that many reloading manuals suggest using .40 S&W load data in the .41 AE. The .41 AE uses .410 inch bullets, whereas the .40 S&W uses .400 inch bullets. However, as it lacks the backing of ammunition manufacturers in making .410 caliber bullets suited to semiautomatic pistols, the .41 AE has not achieved widespread popularity. [cite web |url=http://www.leverguns.com/articles/saami_pressures.htm |title=SAAMI Pressures |accessdate=2007-11-29] [cite web |url=http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCaliber2Guide/Handgun/Standarddata/40Cal(10mm)/40%20Smit%20Wesson%20pages%20116%20to%20118.pdf |title=.40 Smith & Wesson/.41 AE |accessdate=2007-11-29]

Firearms Chambered for 41 Action Express

There have been many firearms chambered for this cartridge. The potential for success for the 41 AE was sound, and for this reason, many major manufacturers offered firearms chambered at the factory for this round. Additionally, aftermarket conversion kits were available as well. With the ease of application in virtually any firearm chambered in 9mm, a large variety of models saw at least some .41 AE use.

Factory Chambered

*Uzi Carbines and pistols
*Jericho 941
*Baby Eagle (the later name for the Magnum Research imported Jericho pistol)
*TZ-75
*Taurus PT91
*Beretta Cougar

Aftermarket Conversion

*Colt M1911
*Browning Hi-Power
*Glock 22

Variants

In 1988, IMI also developed a 9 mm Action Express, which was a .41 AE necked down to 9 mm. It offered a much larger case capacity than the standard 9 mm case, allowing velocities that matched that of the .357 Magnum when loaded with light bullets. This move anticipated the parallel development of the .357 SIG from the .40 S&W in 1994.

ee also

*.40 S&W
*Jericho 941

References

External links

* [http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt41ae.htm TAFFIN TESTS THE .41 ACTION EXPRESS]
* [http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/p41ae.html Description of the .41 AE]
* [http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/w9mmae.html Description of the 9 mm AE]