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Undid revision 868142057 by 216.16.105.99 (talk) if it's unofficial, where's it known this way?
 
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{{Short description|Pistol cartridge designed by Evan Whildin}}
{{Infobox firearm cartridge
{{Infobox firearm cartridge
| name = .41 Action Express
| name = .41 Action Express
| image = 41aeand9mm.png | image_size = 250px
| image = 41aeand9mm.png | image_size = 250px
| caption = A .41 AE cartridge next to a [[9×19mm Luger]] cartridge for size comparison.
| caption = A .41 AE cartridge next to a [[9×19mm Luger]] cartridge for size comparison.
| origin = [[United States]], [[Israel]]
| origin = [[United States]]<br>[[Israel]]
| type = Handgun
| type = Handgun
<!-- Service history -->
<!-- Service history -->
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| design_date = 1986
| design_date = 1986
| manufacturer = Action Arms
| manufacturer = Action Arms
| production_date =
| production_date = 1986–2005
| number =
| number =
| variants =
| variants =
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| is_SI_specs =
| is_SI_specs =
| parent =
| parent =
| case_type = Rebated rim, straight wall
| case_type = Rebated, straight
| bullet = .410
| bullet = .410
| neck = .434
| neck = .434
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| rifling = 1 in {{convert|14.2|in|mm|abbr=on}}
| rifling = 1 in {{convert|14.2|in|mm|abbr=on}}
| primer = Small pistol
| primer = Small pistol
| max_pressure = 32600
| max_pressure = 35000
| max_cup =
| max_cup =
<!-- Ballistic performance -->
<!-- Ballistic performance -->
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| en5 =
| en5 =
| test_barrel_length =
| test_barrel_length =
| balsrc = Hodgdon <ref name="hodgdon">"[http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp .41 Action Express (Pistol) data] {{Webarchive|url=https://www.webcitation.org/5TO9dFZMR?url=http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp |date=2007-11-16 }}" from Hodgdon</ref>
| balsrc = Hodgdon <ref name="hodgdon">"[http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp .41 Action Express (Pistol) data] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111143616/http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp |date=2007-11-11 }}" from Hodgdon</ref>
}}
}}


The '''.41 Action Express''' is a pistol cartridge developed in 1986 to reproduce the performance of the [[.41 Magnum]] '''police load''' (which is a weaker-than-standard load) in semi-automatic pistols.<ref name="cotw">{{cite book
The '''.41 Action Express''' is a pistol cartridge developed in 1986 to reproduce the performance of the [[.41 Magnum]] '''police load''' (which is a reduced load) in semi-automatic pistols.<ref name="cotw">{{cite book
| last = Barnes
| last = Barnes
| first = Frank C.
| first = Frank C.
Line 68: Line 69:
| year = 2006
| year = 2006
| publisher = Gun Digest Books
| publisher = Gun Digest Books
| location = Iola, WI, USA
| location = Iola, WI, US
| pages = 330, 338
| pages = 330, 338
| isbn = 0-89689-297-2}}</ref>
| isbn = 0-89689-297-2}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
The .41 Action Express was designed by [[Evan Whildin]], vice president of [[Action Arms]], in 1986.<ref>[http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/p41ae.html Reload Bench]{{Self-published inline|date=January 2015|certain=y}}</ref> It was based on the [[.41 Magnum]] case, cut down to fit in a [[9×19mm Parabellum|9mmP]] frame, and using a [[Rim (firearms)#Rebated rim|rebated rim]]. Performance was compared to the ballistics of the 41 Magnum police load.<ref name="cotw"/> The .41 AE was thought to be a very attractive concept, as the rebated rim allows a simple change of barrel, mainspring, and magazine to convert many 9mm guns to 41 AE.<ref name="cotw"/>
The .41 Action Express was designed by [[Evan Whildin]], vice president of [[Action Arms]], in 1986.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} It was based on the [[.41 Magnum]] case, cut down to fit in a [[9×19mm Parabellum]] frame, and using a [[Rim (firearms)#Rebated rim|rebated rim]]. Performance was compared to the ballistics of the 41 Magnum police load.<ref name="cotw"/> The .41 AE was thought to be a very attractive concept, as the rebated rim allows a simple change of barrel, mainspring, and magazine to convert many 9mm guns to 41 AE.<ref name="cotw"/>


The powerful [[10mm 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 the 10mm 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 10mm Auto case, designed to fit in a 9mm-sized gun, with a reduced pressure loading that allowed a lighter, easier to shoot gun.<ref name="Speer">Speer Reloading Manual Number 12 (1994) pp. 534–542.</ref><ref name="Nosler">Nosler Reloading Guide Number Four (1996) pp. 529–534.</ref> Because most ammunition manufacturers backed the .40 S&W, there was little use for the very similar .41 AE, so production of both firearms and ammunition was soon phased out;<ref name="cotw"/> it was designated as an 'inactive' cartridge by [[SAAMI]] in January 2005.<ref name="Jones">{{cite journal|last=Jones|first=Allan|date=May 2017|title=The .41 Action Express|journal=[[Shooting Times]]|publisher=Outdoor Sportsman Group|location=New York|volume=58|issue=4|pages=18–19|issn=0038-8084}}</ref>
The powerful [[10mm 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 the 10mm 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 10mm Auto case, designed to fit in a 9mm-sized gun, with a reduced pressure loading that allowed a lighter, easier to shoot gun.<ref name="Speer">Speer Reloading Manual Number 12 (1994) pp. 534–542.</ref><ref name="Nosler">Nosler Reloading Guide Number Four (1996) pp. 529–534.</ref> Because most ammunition manufacturers backed the .40 S&W, there was little use for the very similar .41 AE, so production of both firearms and ammunition was soon phased out;<ref name="cotw"/> it was designated as an 'inactive' cartridge by [[SAAMI]] in January 2005.<ref name="Jones">{{cite journal|last=Jones|first=Allan|date=May 2017|title=The .41 Action Express|journal=[[Shooting Times]]|publisher=Outdoor Sportsman Group|location=New York|volume=58|issue=4|pages=18–19|issn=0038-8084}}</ref>
Line 80: Line 81:


==Ballistics==
==Ballistics==
The .41 AE can be 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. Original IMI factory cartridges are much higher powered, pushing a 170 gr (11.02 g) bullet at 1215&nbsp;ft/s. The .41AE actually outperforms the .40SW by a significant amount. Current (April 2018) production cartridges from Reed's Ammunition and Research lists the following:170 grain JHP at 1230fps; 185 grain JHP at 1180fps and 210 grain JHP at 1150fps. Old Speer reloading manuals also list 210gn JHP at 1150fps. The .40 S&W will NOT duplicate this performance.. The .41 AE uses {{convert|0.410|in|mm|adj=on}} bullets, whereas the .40 S&W uses {{convert|0.400|in|mm|adj=on}} 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leverguns.com/articles/saami_pressures.htm |title=SAAMI Pressures |accessdate=2007-11-29 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014041459/http://leverguns.com/articles/saami_pressures.htm |archivedate=14 October 2007 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref><ref>{{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|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216044120/http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCaliber2Guide/Handgun/Standarddata/40Cal(10mm)/40%20Smit%20Wesson%20pages%20116%20to%20118.pdf|archivedate=16 February 2008}}</ref>
The .41 AE can be 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. Original IMI factory cartridges are much higher powered, approaching 10mm levels, pushing a 170 gr (11.02 g) bullet at 1215&nbsp;ft/s. The .41AE actually outperforms the .40SW by a significant amount. Current (April 2018) production cartridges from Reed's Ammunition and Research lists the following:170 grain JHP at 1230fps; 185 grain JHP at 1180fps and 210 grain JHP at 1150fps. Old Speer reloading manuals also list 210gn JHP at 1150fps. The .40 S&W CAN duplicate this performance. The .41 AE uses {{convert|0.410|in|mm|adj=on}} bullets, whereas the .40 S&W uses {{convert|0.400|in|mm|adj=on}} bullets. However, as it lacks the backing of ammunition manufacturers in making .410 caliber bullets suited for semiautomatic pistols, the .41 AE has not achieved widespread popularity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leverguns.com/articles/saami_pressures.htm |title=SAAMI Pressures |accessdate=2007-11-29 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014041459/http://leverguns.com/articles/saami_pressures.htm |archivedate=14 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{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|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216044120/http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCaliber2Guide/Handgun/Standarddata/40Cal(10mm)/40%20Smit%20Wesson%20pages%20116%20to%20118.pdf|archivedate=16 February 2008}}</ref>


==Usage in firearms==
==Usage in firearms==
There have been several firearms chambered for this cartridge, most notably the Israeli [[Uzi]] and the [[Jericho 941]].<ref name="cotw"/> The potential for success for the 41 AE was sound, and for this reason, other manufacturers offered firearms chambered at the factory for this round. Additionally, aftermarket conversion kits were available as well.
There have been several firearms chambered for this cartridge, most notably the Israeli [[Uzi]] submachine gun and the [[Jericho 941]] pistol.<ref name="cotw"/> The potential for success for the .41 AE was sound, and for this reason, other manufacturers offered firearms chambered at the factory for this round. Additionally, aftermarket conversion kits were available as well.


===Factory chambered===
===Factory chambered===
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*[[Colt M1911]]
*[[Colt M1911]]
*[[Browning Hi-Power]] this was only offered for the MK-I series.
*[[Browning Hi-Power]] this was only offered for the MK-I series.



==Variants==
==Variants==
In 1988, [[Israel Military Industries|IMI]] also developed a 9&nbsp;mm Action Express, which was a .41 AE necked down to 9&nbsp;mm. It offered a much larger case capacity than the standard 9&nbsp;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.<ref name="cotw"/>
In 1988, [[Israel Military Industries|IMI]] also developed a 9&nbsp;mm Action Express, which was a .41 AE necked down to 9mm. It offered a much larger case capacity than the standard 9&nbsp;mm case, allowing velocities that matched that of the [[.357 Magnum]], when loaded with lighter weight bullets. This move anticipated the parallel development of the [[.357 SIG]] from the [[10mm Auto]] in 1994.<ref name="cotw"/>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 112: Line 112:


{{DEFAULTSORT:41 Action Express}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:41 Action Express}}
[[Category:.41 Action Express firearms | ]]
[[Category:.41 Action Express firearms| ]]
[[Category:Pistol and rifle cartridges]]
[[Category:Pistol and rifle cartridges]]
[[Category:Magnum pistol cartridges]]
[[Category:Magnum pistol cartridges]]

Latest revision as of 17:00, 18 August 2024

.41 Action Express
A .41 AE cartridge next to a 9×19mm Luger cartridge for size comparison.
TypeHandgun
Place of originUnited States
Israel
Production history
DesignerEvan Whildin
Designed1986
ManufacturerAction Arms
Produced1986–2005
Specifications
Case typeRebated, straight
Bullet diameter.410 in (10.4 mm)
Neck diameter.434 in (11.0 mm)
Base diameter.435 in (11.0 mm)
Rim diameter.394 in (10.0 mm)
Rim thickness.045 in (1.1 mm)
Case length.866 in (22.0 mm)
Overall length1.17 in (30 mm)
Case capacity21.60 gr H2O (1.400 cm3)
Rifling twist1 in 14.2 in (360 mm)
Primer typeSmall pistol
Maximum pressure35,000 psi (240 MPa)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
170 gr (11 g) JHC 940 ft/s (290 m/s) 334 ft⋅lbf (453 J)
180 gr (12 g) HP 890 ft/s (270 m/s) 317 ft⋅lbf (430 J)
210 gr (14 g) XTP 797 ft/s (243 m/s) 296 ft⋅lbf (401 J)
Source(s): Hodgdon [1]

The .41 Action Express is a pistol cartridge developed in 1986 to reproduce the performance of the .41 Magnum police load (which is a reduced load) in semi-automatic pistols.[2]

History

[edit]

The .41 Action Express was designed by Evan Whildin, vice president of Action Arms, in 1986.[citation needed] It was based on the .41 Magnum case, cut down to fit in a 9×19mm Parabellum frame, and using a rebated rim. Performance was compared to the ballistics of the 41 Magnum police load.[2] The .41 AE was thought to be a very attractive concept, as the rebated rim allows a simple change of barrel, mainspring, and magazine to convert many 9mm guns to 41 AE.[2]

The powerful 10mm 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 the 10mm 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 10mm Auto case, designed to fit in a 9mm-sized gun, with a reduced pressure loading that allowed a lighter, easier to shoot gun.[3][4] Because most ammunition manufacturers backed the .40 S&W, there was little use for the very similar .41 AE, so production of both firearms and ammunition was soon phased out;[2] it was designated as an 'inactive' cartridge by SAAMI in January 2005.[5]

The .41 AE was doomed by circumstance to obscurity, but the concept of using a rebated rim to allow easy cartridge interchangeability was not lost. The .50 Action Express, developed by Magnum Research for the Desert Eagle pistol, uses a similar rebated rim that is the same diameter as the .44 Magnum.[6] This allows a caliber change with replacement of just the barrel and magazine.

Ballistics

[edit]

The .41 AE can be 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. Original IMI factory cartridges are much higher powered, approaching 10mm levels, pushing a 170 gr (11.02 g) bullet at 1215 ft/s. The .41AE actually outperforms the .40SW by a significant amount. Current (April 2018) production cartridges from Reed's Ammunition and Research lists the following:170 grain JHP at 1230fps; 185 grain JHP at 1180fps and 210 grain JHP at 1150fps. Old Speer reloading manuals also list 210gn JHP at 1150fps. The .40 S&W CAN duplicate this performance. The .41 AE uses 0.410-inch (10.4 mm) bullets, whereas the .40 S&W uses 0.400-inch (10.2 mm) bullets. However, as it lacks the backing of ammunition manufacturers in making .410 caliber bullets suited for semiautomatic pistols, the .41 AE has not achieved widespread popularity.[7][8]

Usage in firearms

[edit]

There have been several firearms chambered for this cartridge, most notably the Israeli Uzi submachine gun and the Jericho 941 pistol.[2] The potential for success for the .41 AE was sound, and for this reason, other manufacturers offered firearms chambered at the factory for this round. Additionally, aftermarket conversion kits were available as well.

Factory chambered

[edit]

Aftermarket conversion

[edit]

Variants

[edit]

In 1988, IMI also developed a 9 mm Action Express, which was a .41 AE necked down to 9mm. 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 lighter weight bullets. This move anticipated the parallel development of the .357 SIG from the 10mm Auto in 1994.[2]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ ".41 Action Express (Pistol) data Archived 2007-11-11 at the Wayback Machine" from Hodgdon
  2. ^ a b c d e f Barnes, Frank C. (2006) [1965]. Skinner, Stan (ed.). Cartridges of the World (11th ed.). Iola, WI, US: Gun Digest Books. pp. 330, 338. ISBN 0-89689-297-2.
  3. ^ Speer Reloading Manual Number 12 (1994) pp. 534–542.
  4. ^ Nosler Reloading Guide Number Four (1996) pp. 529–534.
  5. ^ Jones, Allan (May 2017). "The .41 Action Express". Shooting Times. 58 (4). New York: Outdoor Sportsman Group: 18–19. ISSN 0038-8084.
  6. ^ Hendrick, Hal W.; Paradis, Paul; Hornick, Richard J. (12 December 2010). Human Factors Issues in Handgun Safety and Forensics. CRC Press. p. 84. ISBN 978-1-4200-6297-7.
  7. ^ "SAAMI Pressures". Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  8. ^ ".40 Smith & Wesson/.41 AE" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2008. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
[edit]
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