Interesing Shooter

[Edward Tinker]

I think its pretty cool, although I don't remember hearing of this cartridge. What I wonder is the rear diameter of the cartridge? Because if bigger than 9mm, then the toggle / breachblock would have to have been adapted?

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.

History

The .41 Action Express was designed by Evan Whildin, vice president of Action Arms, in 1986.[3] It was based on the .41 Magnum case, cut down to fit in a 9mmP 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.

Ed

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by Edward Tinker

I think its pretty cool, although I don't remember hearing of this cartridge. What I wonder is the rear diameter of the cartridge? Because if bigger than 9mm, then the toggle / breachblock would have to have been adapted?Ed

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.

No, the 41 AE has the 9mm head (on the 10mm case?). I had a pic of it here a minute ago...Don't know the ballistic specs on it, but I have to wonder at the statement about using 9mm magazines...Maybe in a double stack mag, where the larger diameter cartridge body would not affect the magazine size???

I would think that a design like the P08, that is already straining at its design limit with the 9mm Parabellum cartridge, would be right on the edge of catastrophic failure with anything more powerful...

[kurusu]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

I would think that a design like the P08, that is already straining at its design limit with the 9mm Parabellum cartridge, would be right on the edge of catastrophic failure with anything more powerful...

The p08 design is not really at it's limits with the 9mm Parabellum (Every p08 was tested with 10 rounds with a 70% overload). They are only rather old. Catastrophic failures are most likely related to metal fatigue and/or improper reloads (it's really easy to make dangerous reloads in 9mm if you use a fast powder)

Everything is subject to breakage under use. The only problem with that is that the broken parts will be numbered in what is now a rather collectible firearm.

Aside that I also don't think that a P08 chambered for .41 AE is such a great idea.

[rhuff]

It is definitely an interesting concept. As to how, and how long it will function, one can not say at this point. If it had been produced/developed on one of the modern steel Luger reproductions, then perhaps it would be a real shooter. I, like the OP, would like to give it a try, just for S&Gs. One could really develop some velocity from that bbl. length.