9mm in a revolver?

[bdjansen]

Every once and a while I've seen a 9mm revolver. Why isn't that done more often? 9mm is 2/3 the price of 38spec and a little more powerful.

Are there some disadvantages to 9mm in a revolver? I don't think I've seen any new models being made for this caliber, just used discontinued guns.

 

[TimboKhan]

I don't know that there is any particular disadvantage to a 9mm revolver, I just think it's one of those things that never caught on. By and large the 9mm is seen as a auto cartridge (which I guess it is), and because of that, most people interested in the round just go and buy an auto. It's possible I am wrong, but I am betting I am not.

 

[ARGarrison]

The big problem with a 9mm revolver is the need for moon rings. 9mm being a rimless case needs the moon ring to hold the cartridges.

 

[full metal]

They still make those 9mm revolver's I almost bought one.
The one I saw was a taurus stainless snubnose 5 shot.
It was a very compact revolver,I think the reason I did't buy was I could get a semi that could hold 10 round and up that's twice the amount a revolver can hold.

 

[TimboKhan]

well, moon clips is true, but I don't know if that is a disadvantage or not. I suppose it depends, but lots of .45 revolvers are sold with moon-clips, plus moon-clips allow for pretty fast reloads...

 

[Brian Williams]

It is a great idea, it could and should work in the new S&W scandiums. It is a great combo with a short round and moonclips it would make for a great SD gun and most cops would love it as a BUG.

A 9mm revolver could be built on the old S&W I frame with its shorter cylinder. It would be fast and very accurate. and with the shorter frame a bit longer barrel could make it a sweet shooter. A 9mm coming out of a 3 or 4 inch barrel in a small I frame would be in the ballpark of a 357 factory load out of a 2"

 

[mavracer]

I have a tauri 905 only problem I've encountered is sticky ejection with brass +p rounds,haven't tried nickel yet just been using standard pressure, still as hot as +p38.from what I understand this is common because of tapered case.

 

[ranger335v]

Moon clips work great. Until they get lost. Rimmed cases work well in revolvers and don't need the clips. Anyway, a revolver is BEST served with proper rimmed ammo for rapid ejection without concern for clips. Ditto for autos using smoother feeding rimless ammo.

(Brief history lesson: IMHO, all the 9mm Parabellum cartdrige amounts to is a +P .38 loaded with a light bullet so wimpy Europeans can handle the recoil without being intimidated by their handgun's bounce. Seriously! The ONLY reason our forces adopted the 9mm handgun round was due to a NATO trade off when we wanted the 7.62 (.308) round for rifles. Europe wanted a lighter recoiling rifle round too but agreed with the 7.62 only if we would use their wimpy pistol round. The deal was struck.

Then we almost immediately abandoned the better combat round by going to the 5.56 but we got stuck with the puny handgun round anyway. Then the FBI wanted more power than the 9mm but they went to the .40 instead of returning to the superior .45ACP. Now I hear constant rumblings that the troops in the sandbox want to return to the .45/1911 combo and I THINK that would be a good move; a higher velocity +P .38 with a light bullet is nice but it still has a poorly penatrating light weight bullet!)

 

[TimboKhan]

but it still has a poorly penatrating light weight bullet!)

The 9mm bullet that went all the way through me would disagree with your assertion that they poorly penetrate.

And you know, the 9mm revolver as a carry piece actually isn't all that bad of an idea. I just think that it would be largely overlooked in favor of small autos with up to three times the capacity.... Still, it's not a horrible idea.

 

[Black Knight]

Most revolvers that use the 9MM do use moon clips but there was one that did not. That was the S&W 547, It used spring loaded fingers in the ratchet star. The FBI asked S&W to come up with a revolver in 9MM years ago. They tested it and decided that there was no real advantage and decided to go the semi-automatic pistol. I have no idea how many were made in 3 inch round butt and 4 inch square butt but it wasn't a great number. The one I have is a 4 inch.

 

[Shear_stress]

The 9mm bullet that went all the way through me would disagree with your assertion that they poorly penetrate

.

Wuh? Did I just read that?

By the way, to avoid hijacking this thread, let me just say that I occasionally carry a S&W 940. It's neat.

 

[aka108]

I bought a Ruger SP101 about 15 years ago in 9mm since I had the dies. Uses a 5 rd. moon clip. Currently at the gunsmiths as the cylinder started to bind up and it hasn't had 1000 mild rounds go thru it. Another Ruger success story.

 

[smee781]

9mm

I have a taurus 905 and a S&W 940 and I like them both, I like the moon clips because the are quick to reload and carry very easy Ammo is cheap and they are a hoot to shoot.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

I'm currently looking for a CCW and the concept of a 9mm snubbie appeals to me. Cheap and available ammo moving at better than .38 Spl speeds while moving the same size round yet retaining revolver reliability and safety.


However try finding one that isn't $$$$.
I've seen one and it was a S&W something with all of the bells and whistles...just way out of my price range...

 

[zinj]

(Brief history lesson: IMHO, all the 9mm Parabellum cartdrige amounts to is a +P .38 loaded with a light bullet so wimpy Europeans can handle the recoil without being intimidated by their handgun's bounce. Seriously! The ONLY reason our forces adopted the 9mm handgun round was due to a NATO trade off when we wanted the 7.62 (.308) round for rifles. Europe wanted a lighter recoiling rifle round too but agreed with the 7.62 only if we would use their wimpy pistol round. The deal was struck.

Then we almost immediately abandoned the better combat round by going to the 5.56 but we got stuck with the puny handgun round anyway. Then the FBI wanted more power than the 9mm but they went to the .40 instead of returning to the superior .45ACP. Now I hear constant rumblings that the troops in the sandbox want to return to the .45/1911 combo and I THINK that would be a good move; a higher velocity +P .38 with a light bullet is nice but it still has a poorly penatrating light weight bullet!)

I don't know whether to laugh or to cry.

 

[McCall911]

Quote:
(Brief history lesson: IMHO, all the 9mm Parabellum cartdrige amounts to is a +P .38 loaded with a light bullet so wimpy Europeans can handle the recoil without being intimidated by their handgun's bounce. Seriously! The ONLY reason our forces adopted the 9mm handgun round was due to a NATO trade off when we wanted the 7.62 (.308) round for rifles. Europe wanted a lighter recoiling rifle round too but agreed with the 7.62 only if we would use their wimpy pistol round. The deal was struck.

Then we almost immediately abandoned the better combat round by going to the 5.56 but we got stuck with the puny handgun round anyway. Then the FBI wanted more power than the 9mm but they went to the .40 instead of returning to the superior .45ACP. Now I hear constant rumblings that the troops in the sandbox want to return to the .45/1911 combo and I THINK that would be a good move; a higher velocity +P .38 with a light bullet is nice but it still has a poorly penatrating light weight bullet!)

I don't know whether to laugh or to cry.

Laugh and the world laughs with you...

History lesson????

 

[Brian Williams]

Ranger335v, I guess that You have never shot a 9mm+p 125gr JHP out of a revolver. It has a good bit of kick in my S&W 642 converted with a 940 cylinder.
I really like the 940 cylinder in my 60-4.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

So how's the recoil with these things and the various 9mm bullet weights?

 

[Bearhands]

Still on the market and very popular

http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firea...btype=Single Action&famlst=19&variation=Blued


the 9mm makes a cheap plinking round for this revolver

 

[FerFAL]

(Brief history lesson: IMHO, all the 9mm Parabellum cartdrige amounts to is a +P .38 loaded with a light bullet so wimpy Europeans can handle the recoil without being intimidated by their handgun's bounce. Seriously! The ONLY reason our forces adopted the 9mm handgun round was due to a NATO trade off when we wanted the 7.62 (.308) round for rifles. Europe wanted a lighter recoiling rifle round too but agreed with the 7.62 only if we would use their wimpy pistol round. The deal was struck.

Then we almost immediately abandoned the better combat round by going to the 5.56 but we got stuck with the puny handgun round anyway. Then the FBI wanted more power than the 9mm but they went to the .40 instead of returning to the superior .45ACP. Now I hear constant rumblings that the troops in the sandbox want to return to the .45/1911 combo and I THINK that would be a good move; a higher velocity +P .38 with a light bullet is nice but it still has a poorly penatrating light weight bullet!)

??? …ok…
A 9mm revolver seems like a good backup for a 9mm main auto, but as many said before, a small auto would hold more ammo.
There’s also that Ruger SA 357 magnum with the spare 9mm cylinder.
38, 357 and 9mm, talk about a versatile tool.

FerFAL

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Everyone seems to want a 9mm revolver, but every time the gun companies make them, they get discontinued for ... lack of sales.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

People are afraid to step out of their box.

 

[TimboKhan]

People are afraid to step out of their box.

Well, I don't know that this is true. My buddy Rockstar.esq and I have had some pretty good arguments over the years about different gun ideas, and he has charged me with the same thing. If you rephrase the original question and ask what the advantages are to a 9mm revolver, I think you will find that it's hard to come up with anything really overwhelming, especially when compared to a higher capacity auto.

Now, that said, I will say again that I think it's a neat idea. I won't be buying one for a number of reasons, but I also wouldn't think someone goofy if they did buy one.

And Shear Stress, you did read that right. I was shot in Desert Storm as the result of friendly fire, and the round that zipped through me was a 9mm.

 

[Sunray]

"...Why isn't that done more often?..." Getting a rimless case to work properly in a revolver is a pain in the posterior. Even with moon clips.
"...they get discontinued for...lack of sales..." Yep.
"...The ONLY reason our forces adopted the 9mm handgun round was due to a NATO trade off when we wanted the 7.62 (.308) round for rifles..." Nonsense. The 7.62NATO had nothing to do with it. The 7.62mm was jammed down NATO's throat in the 1950's. The U.S. adopted the 9mm in 1980. Twenty-five years LATER.
The M9 was adopted because the other NATO countries were complaining about the vast balance of trade difference in military equipment. Far more kit was and is purchased from the U.S by other NATO countries than the U.S. buys from them. In the late 70's/early 80's, the U.S. couldn't afford to lose the markets or the alliance.
The U.S. jammed the 5.56 down NATO's throat in the late 60's too. Another round nobody else wanted or needed. In both cases, it was a case of, buy from us or we'll take our money and go home. At the time, it mattered due to the Cold War.

 

[Jack2427]

The real advantage of a 9mm wheelgun has never been offered, that is the revolver could have a really short cylinder. I have a couple of the Rugers and the Smiths, and I like them. I use it as a BUG for my service 9mm, the 940 carries nicely in a BDU or vest pocket or holster. Gives a really fast 5 shots(I know, a Glock will also), and with moon clips(which I find work fine, I use them in all my revolvers) reloads are really quick. Also gives traditional revolver reliability, and second strike ability on a bad primer(not with Glock or most semis). Hot 9mms are every bit the equal of a .357 in the short barrels, and are much shorter.
It is true that we went to the 9 as a political decision, but it does have its advantages. No doubt the 45 is a better stopper, but with the 9 we have more chances at a hit, and most of our soliders are NOT well trained on a handgun. Most of our NATO allies(?) use the military handgun primarily as a badge of office for officers and some NCOs, and do not consider the handgun as serious fighting tool as we do, or kind of do.
If the revolver 9 had caught on, then Federal would have kept making the rimmed 9 round, and it probably have been picked up by other ammo makers, giving us the really short effective wheelgun round mentioned above.
I stocked up on the Federals, and probably have a lifetime supply, but I use the moon clips, and am happy with them.
Alas, another good idea gone, and probably gone forever given the costs of new handgun production.