9mm okay in .357/.38?

[JShirley]

Yup.

'Course, I've also fired .32 ACP cartridges in .32 Magnum Single-Six. A little pop, and just enough recoil to let you know you were firing.

John

 

[bflobill_69]

Not that I want to, but it was my understanding that I COULD fire 9mm out of my S&W 19-3 if I were to get some moon clips for it.

I was also told there would be "less accuracy" firing 9mm out of a .357, so I have never bothered to pick up moon clips for said gun.

Is there a safety issue?

Just curious,

Bflobill_69

 

[Tribal]

9mm SAAMI specs are a maximum chamber pressure of 35,000 PSI.

.357 magnum is also 35,000 PSI.

Please forgive what may be an off-topic and dumb question, but if the two rounds have virtually the same size bullet and the same pressure, why is 9mm considered not to be a major caliber while .357 is thought of as a serious manstopper?

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, unless you can stick the gun barrel up his nose where he can get the full benefit of the pressure, a .357 Magnum will drive a heavier bullet at any given velocity (or a lighter bullet faster) for greater bullet momentum and energy. It is not just the chamber pressure, but the volume of gas at that pressure that counts. Among many other things.

 

[Old Griz]

bflobill_69;

Problem #1: A 9mm cartridge will not fit in a .357 cylinder (your Model 19 for example). The bullets may be almost the same size, but the cartridge isn't. The 9mm is tapered, so it will start to enter the cylinder but it will not go in all the way. It will stop with about 1/4" of it sticking out. Therefore, you cannot close the cylinder.

Problem #2: I could be wrong on this one, some shooters more experienced with moon clips might help, but unless your cylinder has been designed to use moon clips, the clip and the rear of the cartridge would again take up too much room, and you would not be able to close your cylinder. BUT, since the 9mm cartridge will not fit anyway (Problem #1), it's a moot point.

 

[Janitor]

Problem #2: I could be wrong on this one, some shooters more experienced with moon clips might help, but unless your cylinder has been designed to use moon clips, the clip and the rear of the cartridge would again take up too much room, and you would not be able to close your cylinder. BUT, since the 9mm cartridge will not fit anyway (Problem #1), it's a moot point.

- Well ... while I suppose you could be wrong, you're not. There isn't enough room at the head end of the cylinder to fit a moon clip in, unless it's designed/modified for it. Not nearly enough head space in a stock setup. Here, you can see how far the boolits stick out with the clip in there.

 

[Old Griz]

Wow, Great illustration. Thanks.

 

[buttrap]

9mm is a perfect fit in a .38 Smith and Wesson AKA .380MkII round chambered gun. I have done that with light .38 loads in the 9mm case and with .360 lead slugs and it works just fine out of the extraction issue. But factory 9mm loads in a .38, no way in heck would I try that as its a good way to wreck a gun and your hand both.

 

[rgs1975]

Most versatile revolver is one chambered for the new .327 Magnum. You can safely and accurately fire .327 Magnum, .32 H&R Magnum, .32 S&W Long and .32 S&W (short) out of the one gun.

 

[zxcvbob]

I tried resizing a 9mm case using a .38 Special die. The case dropped right in a .357 magnum chamber, but it stopped with about 1/8" too much of the case head sticking out to close the cylinder.

 

[bflobill_69]

I love this forum - TY all for the enlightening information!

Bflobill_69