Why Arent 9mm Revolvers More Popular?

[Wilbert]

R.W.Dale,
Thanks, I always like learning new things, and nothing beats a picture

[weblance]

Originally Posted by Liberty1776

they aren't popular because they offer an answer to a non-existent problem...

Um... yeah, whatever

[GLOOB]

Re: Cylinder length
Besides the argument of existing frames, there is a practical reason to NOT have a 9mm-length cylinder. Gas cutting and/or jacket spitting through the cylinder gap could cut you up if you held it wrong.

Due to the long cylinder length, there would be a big jump to the rifling. Cast bullets might have a hard time gripping the rifling out of a 9mm revolver?

I guess I wasnt thinking there was a world outside the USA. That does make sense as I know there are places where the general population isnt allowed a military cartridge(9x19), but I think they need to offer it also in 9x19.

If they are using a traditional design that headspaces off the moon clip, then no, they don't need a 9x19. 9x19 could be fired out of a (suitably strong) 9x21 moon clip revolver with absolutely no downside. Plus retain the ability to fire 9x21.... after a good cleaning, anyway.

[C0untZer0]

I doubt Charter Arms is making 10 a month.

And it's too bad for them because there is a lot of Internet buzz about the guns, and I think a lot of people would get them for range toys or to throw in a bug out bag, and for all the reasons listed here.

I think they would have sold a ton of them in this current environment, but oh well...

[weblance]

I have been looking for a Charter Arms Pitbull 9mm revolver for over a year. They are not available. Simple as that. I have 4 different dealers looking, and nothing. Ok, maybe 10 a month was an exaggeration, its probably more like 12 a month.

[Tomcat47]

My 905 by far one of my most favorite revolvers!

And I also threw my moon clips in the box, do not use them no more, I found speed loaders from 5 star and I use them and do not have any issues at all using Speer Lawman, Federal Premium, Hydrashok, or Hornady Critical defense....

Cases have always fell right out. A couple other brands do need clips, but the above do not stick in my 905.

I have always thought that a little more engineering on the extractor mechanism would make sales of these revolvers skyrocket?

[HiVel1]

I would like to get one myself--by the way those speedloaders, blocks and other accessories from "5-star" are excellent products -I love 'em.

[Waywatcher]

Why Arent 9mm Revolvers More Popular?

Because they are a high pressure, rimless, tapered cased design.

The .357 magnum operates at the same pressure, is straight walled, and has a rim. Heavier bullets are possible due to the case design, although it can use light bullets too. All of these features make it a more useful revolver cartridge.

If a gun is built to handle 35,000 psi, why would I go with 9mm revolver, when I could have a .357 magnum?

[wriggly]

Originally Posted by Waywatcher

Because they are a high pressure, rimless, tapered cased design.

The .357 magnum operates at the same pressure, is straight walled, and has a rim. Heavier bullets are possible due to the case design, although it can use light bullets too. All of these features make it a more useful revolver cartridge.

If a gun is built to handle 35,000 psi, why would I go with 9mm revolver, when I could have a .357 magnum?

In the past, the mere fact that 9mm cost less than half what a box of .357 cost would have been enough to attract some buyers. Less these days though due to the Ammo Madness.

I bought a 905 and a Ruger LCR on the same day, same transaction at my LGS a month and a half back. We have a 72 hour wait here in Illinois, it was enough time for me to come to my senses and cancel the 905. It was the last one they had, and last I saw, it was still in the case.

I did not like the cheap crummy clips that came with it, and the guy down state that EDM's some nice ones pissed me off with his one word responses in some email inquiries about his product, so it was a no brainer for me to cancel.

[C0untZer0]

I have been looking for a Charter Arms Pitbull 9mm revolver for over a year. They are not available. Simple as that. I have 4 different dealers looking, and nothing. Ok, maybe 10 a month was an exaggeration, its probably more like 12 a month.

I've been looking for one for 6 months:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthrea...16#post8274016

Ever since Dee Ecker responded to an e-mail saying the PITBULLs were shipping...

[barnbwt]

Besides the argument of existing frames, there is a practical reason to NOT have a 9mm-length cylinder. Gas cutting and/or jacket spitting through the cylinder gap could cut you up if you held it wrong.

And a slide can tear up your hand if you hold it wrong. And both can shoot your hand if you hold it backwards. Can any semiauto function when fired beneath clothing without hanging up when it cycles? Can a revolver be limp-wristed? Will a semi-auto load a new round if a round is a dud or fails to cycle the slide? There's advantages/disadvantages to both platforms, and a million threads on them.

My theory is 9mm revolvers are unpopular because 9mm has always been synonymous with semi-autos, and the thought just doesn't occur to people (or they are immediately hostile to it). I don't know why it would be any different than a well-accepted revolver in a similar power rimmed cartridge like 38+P+, but it gets people up in arms.

TCB

[easyg]

If a gun is built to handle 35,000 psi, why would I go with 9mm revolver, when I could have a .357 magnum?

Because shooting .357 magnum loads from a small light weight revolver is painful and extremely unpleasant.
This leads to less shooting, which leads to less proficiency.

[oldfool]

Originally Posted by easyg

Because shooting .357 magnum loads from a small light weight revolver is painful and extremely unpleasant.
This leads to less shooting, which leads to less proficiency.

true

but you have an virtually unlimited array of loadings you can choose in 38/357, far moreso than any 9mm, or even a 380/9mm (if such there be other than vaporware)

been tempted by 9mm wheelguns many a time, and I am all for anybody wants one getting one, if/when they can
but you just gotta' want it a little more than most
no special reasons and/or excuses required, just some cash

[PabloJ]

Originally Posted by Waywatcher

Because they are a high pressure, rimless, tapered cased design.

The .357 magnum operates at the same pressure, is straight walled, and has a rim. Heavier bullets are possible due to the case design, although it can use light bullets too. All of these features make it a more useful revolver cartridge.

If a gun is built to handle 35,000 psi, why would I go with 9mm revolver, when I could have a .357 magnum?

There is no reason to make 9x19 revolver when one can shoot .38Spl, .38Spl+, and .357 out of .357 revolver. S&W tried this game by cataloging five-shot J-frame revolver for good while and almost nobody bought them.

[MagnunJoe]

Hey boys, lets revive this puppy, the topic is very interesting. Besides, charter arms keeps telling us about their 9mm revolver.

[alternety]

I have a 9mm Pitbull. I got it for my wife because she does not have the hand strength to operate an auto. It lets us share ammo (if there were any). It is noticeably less pleasant to fire than a Boberg Shorty. But it is not bad and reasonably quick to reacquire the target. Regular 9mm is a better round than a .38 and a .357 is way too much for her. Probably me as well in that light weight gun.

[35 Whelen]

Hey, wait a minute!! If the firearms world "needs" a revolver in 9mm, then they also must "need" a Glock in .38 Special. Right? But like the 9mm revolver, people just haven't come to their senses and realized how bad they "need" a Glock 38 Special...

[housecat]

I know it is not fiscally feasible to put out a line of 9mm revolvers, but that does not prevent me from wanting, and having one. My SP101 Makes me quite happy. I tend to like revolvers, especially those chambered for pistol catridges, (owing a 45 acp and a 10mm also.) They are also quite handy for loads that don't quite work out in auto pistols. I'd much rather shoot them than pull them down.

[MagnunJoe]

Here is link... Enjoy!

http://www.charterfirearms.com/produ...bull_79920.asp

[Dframe]

I owned an SP 101 for a while. Mine always shot way low. No idea why. Eventually sold it after I realised it wouldn't do anything as well as a good 357 snub. To those who like them "more power to you". For me it just didn't click.

[boricua9mm]

I have a decent amount of experience shooting the 547 in both 3" and 4" barrel lengths. I found that variations on case rim thicknesses might result in some cartridges not getting ejected; that fact remains relevant considering that we're still talking full-length ejectors here. Nonetheless, that wasn't the death knell for 9mm revolvers in and of itself. There is a lot of irony when we discuss the so-called "failings" of a 9mm revolver.

-"If I'm gonna have a 9mm, might as well have a _____!" This isn't a bad argument against buying a 9mm revolver in and of itself. What is funny is that the 9mm is ballistically superior to the .38 Special. When we look at the reverse side of the coin, we also have people say "If I'm going to have a 125gr projectile moving at 950 FPS, I'd feel better with a 124gr. 9mm moving at 1200+ FPS with a quicker reload and much more ammo on hand!" I myself have sided with this argument for my own concealed carry needs, however, if a situation calls for a .38 SPL revolver, how can the 9mm revolver be a bad choice? Simple answer: it isn't.

-"Moon clips are a pain in the gleuts!" Loading up magazines isn't much fun for anyone either. Ask companies like MagLULA if they'd agree. If you don't want moonclips, there's the S&W 547 system, but it's a bit more complex and expensive to manufacture.

-".38 SPL is a more versatile cartridge!" LOL! You can have 9mm pretty much any way you want it short of a wadcutter. Remember, Fiocchi even offers a subsonic 158gr. 9mm load, so that argument bears no weight.

-".38 SPL is more widely available!" On what trail head, or should I say planet?

-".38 SPL is cheaper b/c I reload" Up until recent events which have put us in a tailspin, most folks have found that 9mm was cheap enough that it wasn't even worth their time to reload it. Remember, before this madness began you could buy factory 9mm ammo for much, much cheaper than .38SPL.
_________________________________________________________________

At the end of the day, I think the 9mm revolver should be successful endeavor for any company, but consumers keep talking themselves out of the idea time after time. For those that really like to shoot revolvers, guns like the S&W 547 have a huge amount of appeal. For those whose focus constantly shifts to the full capacity 9mm semi-auto, the concept is doomed.

I do find it funny that people would question the sense in a 9mm revolver, yet they withhold that very same judgement from .38 SPL revolvers.

Equally funny is the claims that "it's an answer to a non-existent problem." If I remember it correctly, the S&W 547 was designed for the French Police specifically to solve the problem of ammo commonality & availability in Europe.

[tekarra]

I have been shooting 9 mm revolvers for some years now and have never had a problem with any of them. My 547s have shot more accurately than my 10s, 13s and 65s. The Speed Sixes likewise have been more accurate than the Service Six while the 940 shoots about par with the 640. The 547s feel to have less recoil than the other K frames. No data to back this up, jsut a feeling. Got into 547s when I had access to cheap surplus ammo and wanted to shoot something other than semi autos.

[PedalBiker]

I'm interested in a 9mm revolver, I haven't been able to get my favorite 38sp ammo for a long, long time (135g Speer Gold Dot Short barrel), my second favorite (158g LSWCHP) has been more available.

An LCR in 9mm would be sweet as would a 6 shot GP-100 with a 3" barrel.

[MK75]

Because, there is 38 spl...

[silvermane_1]

i like boricua9mm arguments.