9mm in a revolver?

[rWt]

I picked up a S&W reference book and discovered that they made a Model 547 on a k frame with 3" barrel and round butt in the early 80's.

Is a revolver a good platform for the 9mm?

How is the Model 547 regarded? If seems like it would fit between the Model 10/64 and 13/65 in terms of defensive use preferences?

 

[Marko Kloos]

The Model 547 is exceedingly hard to find...good luck if you have your heart set on one of those. I've seen precisely one specimen at gun shows in the last six years, and some harlot who shall remain unnamed snatched it off the table while I was on my way to buy it, money in hand and all.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I had a Blackhawk with a 9mm cylinder and liked it quite a bit. It was actually more accurate than the .357 cylinder.
In DA revolvers, the 9mm has the advantage of using moon clips which speed loading and give better extraction.
If you like the 9mm and want a revolver, mabey you could find one of the Ruger SP 101's that were made in 9mm for quite a few years.

 

[Brian Williams]

Not only were the S&W 547 and the Rugers in 9mm but there is a few S&W 940's out there, a centenniel snubbie, and a company made a cylinder that would chamber almost any .355-357 round, it was called the Medusa. 9mm is a great round out of a snubbie, I have just sold my 940 because I have created a 942, a 940 cylinder in a 642 frame. S&W made one Mod 942 and sent it to the writer Wiley Clapp for eval and an article.

 

[Black Snowman]

Taurus has a 9mm snubby offering as well, the 905. I haven't found anyone that can get me one yet. Davidson's has a couple but I want the bobbed hammer version. Street price appears to be about $350.

 

[Bullet Bob]

I've had 2 S&W 547's, a 4" that was stolen by some low-life sneaking cowardly thief, and this 3" one:



I don't think there's a noticeable difference in defensive capabilities between them and K frame .38/.357's, but I like 'em. I could shoot the stolen one better double action than any gun before or since. They were the first S&W centerfire revolvers to have a frame mounted firing pin, out of nearly unbreakable beryllium copper, if I remember correctly.

Their big difference was in the extraction system - no moonclips required for the 9mm auto cartridge. Instead individual "fingers" extracted each cartridge. I've only heard of one person who had trouble with this arrangement; most like it because it does away with one disadvantage of DA revolver's - empty cases getting stuck under the extractor when reloading. If a case didn't come out, it's "finger" would slip back under the case rim into it's extractor groove to give it another go.

Originally designed for a French contract, I've heard the ones sold here were either an overrun, or that the contract was cancelled.

 

[4thHorseman]

you want a 9mm for a revolver?
Get a 357 revolver and put medium velocity rounds in it.
There you go. You now have basically the same thing.

 

[steelhead]

Brian,

Will that cylinder swap work on my 637? Other than the cylinder change - what else needs to be done. Finally, where did you get the extra cylinder.

Thanks

 

[Tamara]

I've only seen one 3" RB 547 at a gun show in all my years of prowling tables. I barely beat some avaricious Smith aficionado to it, despite the fact that he was heading there with money in hand and all.

 

[Brian Williams]

Will that cylinder swap work on my 637? Other than the cylinder change - what else needs to be done. Finally, where did you get the extra cylinder.

Huge Disclaimer
637 and 642 and most other lightweights cannot handle +p ammo soooooo!!!
this is not a reccommended operation by me or my smith and maybe S&W....


You can get a cylinder from S&W and all of the ejector goodies for about $145+-.
I first tried it with a cylinder from my 940 and then I ordered the cylinder direct from S&W. I have heard about one other 942 and one other 937 frankenlightweights. The 937 was on S&W forum and I do not know where I saw the reference to someone talking about their 942.

The guy who had the 937 made promised his smith to only practice shooting catsneeze reloads in 9mm other than a cylinder of regular loads to check POA-POI and then carry some golddots.

I plan to swap cylinders to shoot 38s for practice and one cylinder full of my 9mm carry load.

It will be carried lots and shot little.

 

[GrandmasterB]

Don't forget the Ruger 9mm Speed Six with 2 3/4" barrel.

 

[DT Guy]

My dad's got a 547 in the three inch RB configuration.

Nice gun, but that extractor is, well, just ODD.


Larry

 

[unspellable]

9 mm revolver

How do the ballistics stack up given that we've acquired a cylinder gap and shortened the barrel to two inches or so? In a four inch pistol the 9 mm requires careful choice of load and bullet to get really good stopping power.

I guess the logical comparison would be how does it stack up against a 38 Special in a snubbie.

 

[Tamara]

unspellable,

How do the ballistics stack up given that we've acquired a cylinder gap and shortened the barrel to two inches or so?

A 2" snubby has a barrel rather longer than a G26 or MK9. A 3" Model 547 has a barrel longer than a G19 or P-228. Think about it.

 

[albanian]

I had a Ruger Speed Six in SS with a 2 3/4" bbl in 9mm. While I love this gun size, I really didn't see the point of the 9mm platform in a gun this large. It is a perfect gun for the .357mag. If I find one like it in .357, I will buy it. In a lightweight snubbie like the S&W 637 or 642, I think 9mm would be outstanding! If S&W made one that didn't require moon clip and didn't have any extraction problems and sold for the same price as the 637 and 642, I would buy at least two of them. Better yet, if they made the 342PD in 9mm, I might buy one of those as well!

Come on S&W, if you build it, we will buy it.

 

[unspellable]

9 mm vs 38 Special

Guess there are such things as "snubbi" self loaders. But it still comes down to how does a 9 mm stack up against a 38 Special in a snubby revolver.

 

[Tamara]

unspellable,

Guess there are such things as "snubbi" self loaders. But it still comes down to how does a 9 mm stack up against a 38 Special in a snubby revolver.

Well, that's the $60k question, isn't it? The only real advantage that .38 Spl has is the ability to launch 158gr projectiles. Your typical 9mm 124gr load out of a snubby is much hotter than your typical .38 Spl 125gr +P load. As it should be, since the 9mm is operating at vastly higher pressures...

 

[Tamara]

albanian,

Better yet, if they made the 342PD in 9mm, I might buy one of those as well!

If they make one, it'll be on the Scandium 340 platform. 9mm and 9mm +P pressures will mean nothing but warranty headaches for Smith in the standard Airweight configuration.

 

[Tacoma]

I've got two. A Ruger Blackhawk Convertable 6"and a Ruer SP 101, 3". I particularly like the moonclip system and overall size in the 101. Avantages are that the moomclips load FAST and that mil surplus /commercial 9mm ball ammo is only $10/100. Shooting Mil Spec Ball out of the gun is like shooting +P 38 for range practice. ( Not advocating it for defence.) I have plenty of 38/357 revolvers but the 101 is a growing favorite. ( The BH is as of yet unshot.) I'd like to get a S&W for my collection but they sell fast and high.

 

[unspellable]

9 mm vs 38 Special

Tamara, got any numbers so we can compare apples and oranges?

 

[desmark6]

This is still pretty much in line with the topic. What is the going price on these 547's. I have located a 3 and 4 inch new in the boxes and want to see what the "market value" is in your opinion as the prices are above the blue book and a couple other references. Thanks all.

 

[2guntom]

Replace Cylinder or Modify?

"You can get a cylinder from S&W and all of the ejector goodies for about $145+-. I first tried it with a cylinder from my 940 and then I ordered the cylinder direct from S&W."

Instead of replacing the cylinder, can you hone the chambers so they will take 9mm and still accept .38 and .357?

2gun

 

[Domino]

I, like Black Snowman would like to get the Taurus 905. I have seen them for a lot cheaper than $350 (as cheap as $160 ) at THIS place. In fact, all of their products are very well priced and I guess all you would have to do is order from them and have them ship it to your local FFL. Seems like they should only charge $15-$25 or so for the transfer. They have some of the Ultra-lightweight versions IN STOCK.

 

[Brian Williams]

Instead of replacing the cylinder, can you hone the chambers so they will take 9mm and still accept .38 and .357?

It then will become a 357 brass eater, because it will bulge 357/38 brass to a point of unreloadability, plus you have the jump from a 9mm case to a 357 chamber ridge and the larger 357 throat.

 

[2guntom]

Okay, so you pretty much have to replace the cylinder- got it. The barrell is fine with this setup?

I'm asking because I think the 9mm would be the perfect inbetween caliber (.38 and .357), but I would like it in a different platform. I'm looking at a 3" model 60 w/adjustable sights or even a 649 Bodyguard with a 3" barrel.

The other option(s) involve more questions, if you will humor me. In the k-frames, what is the difference between a .38 and a .357 as far as the frames and barrels are concerned? Is it conceivably safe to do a 9mm conversion to a model 10 or a model 64? Or would it be better to do it to a .357 model 65?
Are moon clips available for the k-frames?

Those "medusa" cylinders you mentioned, are they still around?

I'm seeing all kinds of possibilities blossoming. A .38 is okay in skilled hands, a .357 is better but may be excessive. The 9mm is a viable compromise.

I appreciate you sharing your knowledge on this topic.

2gun