9mm revolvers - good or bad idea ?

[Wanderling]

I plan to buy my first revolver in the next few weeks. Right now I tentatively settled on a stainless GP100 in .357Mag.

I have 9mm pistols for CCW and HD, so the revolver will be purely for fun, or to double as a HD gun.

The question is - am I better off going with a 9mm version to have just one caliber to deal with and save a bit on ammo (don’t shoot that much so don’t plan on getting into reloading just yet). Or, is the part of a “true” revolver experience being able to shoot magnum rounds ? (TBH I doubt that I will do that a lot, probably mainly .38sp).

Just looking for opinions... right now leaning towards the “classic” caliber.

 

[Iron Sight]

The GP looks really good to me.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Nothing wrong with a 9mm revolver for target and HD, very practical actually.
I would still go with a 357, especially if it were my only revolver, much more versatile.

 

[cc-hangfire]

My vote: go with traditional revolver cartridges

My handguns are mostly semiautos and I even have one 9mm revolver, but my S&W Model 10’s are lots of fun at the range. Finding .357mag & .38spl isn’t difficult currently, but it will be more expensive than 9mm.

I have the Taurus 905 revolver - not the highest quality manufacturer, but its cylinder has chambers cut so the 9mm should headspace properly without moon clips. Key word is “should”. I’m still tinkering with it to get it working right (light strikes, new hammer spring on the way).

If you go with a 9mm revolver you’ll be pretty much committed to moon clips, and loading that way for fun range shooting cuts out the “Zen meditative” quality of loading individual cartridges. To me, shooting semiautos is like a basketball game. Shooting revolvers is like a baseball game: a more relaxed pace.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

Dont see the point in a 9mm revolver, needs moon clips unless you go with Charter Arms or single action, I would stick with the .38 nothing the 9mm can do that a proper .38 cant.

 

[PapaG]

For me it was a stupid idea. I traded a six inch Python for a convertible Blackhawk back about '69 so I could take advantage of all that great surplus ammo. Stupid cause the Blackhawk is worth about twice what I paid while the Python would be worth 15x plus the ammo dried up and the Ruger didn't shoot it well anyway.
All that said, I'd like a small frame six shot 9 with moon clips today.

 

[mcb]

/rambling

I think the 9mm revolvers offers acceptable ballistic performance, cheap ammo (especially if you are already invested in 9mm), and the benefit of using moonclips. Most double action revolvers can be converted to moonclips but the moonclips for rimless revolvers (9mm, 40S&W, 45 ACP, etc) are more robust and less finicky about brass-moonclip pairing then rimmed cartridges. That said I have a person affection for moonclip fed revolver that not all share.

The bad part of nearly all current offerings in 9mm revolvers is they are simply cutting a 9mm chamber in a 38/357 Magnum length cylinder and frame. So you still have the bulk and weight of a 357 Mag but the performance of a 9mm. A 9mm revolver made on a frame shortened for the 9mm cartridge would be a very nice revolver but currently everyone (except Korth and Taurus in 380ACP) is just stuffing 9mm in a 38/357 cylinder and frame. I would love to see S&W bring back the I-frame (Terrier) but chamber it in 9mm.

If you really want to add a bit of flexibly buy yourself a 357 Magnum of your liking and send it off to TK custom and have if converted to 9mm and cut for moonclips. This would then allow you to run 9mm, 38 Special and 357 magnum in the same revolver. You would have to use moonclips with 9mm but the moonclips would be optional for the 38/357. The only draw back to this hybrid chamber is you can't run the 9mm +P, +P+, or supper hot 357 magnum or you may have some case sticking issues but if it does make for a more ammo flexible revolver.

Rambling/

 

[Waveski]

9mm is a semi-auto round...

 

[Wanderling]

Ok going with Mag then

Thank you all !

 

[maxxhavoc]

My take on it is this:
9mm is an ideal revolver round for a snubnose SD revolver. I can reload faster and easier with moon clips, and 9mm is a "happy place" between .38 and .357 recoil. And in a snub, the speed is close to a .357. Some of the .357's potential ends in a big fireball, which is impressive to watch but is blinding in the dark and LOUD. Some find the recoil to be too much and stick with a .38. To me, it's not bad.

For any other size and purpose of revolver, it is pointless except for the money saving factor. .357 LOVES longer barrels, and it is much more enjoyable in a larger gun. .38/.357 and .45LC/.454 are also very versatile and perfect for a reloader.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

Where do people come up with this "itll blind you" and "its too loud" nonsense? ANY gun is going to be loud in defensive situation. Ive shot .44 magnums indoors without hearing protection (the internet is no place to specify why) at night with no lights and it was loud but it didnt blind me and I was able to "work" around the hearing impairment.

 

[CZ9shooter]

Purely opinion here, but for your first or only revolver, I'd stick to the tried and true rimmed cartridges. Plus, its hard to beat the versatility of a 357.

In the future you may want to add another wheelgun to your safe. At this point it might be worth considering an odd duck like a 9mm.

 

[P5 Guy]

Not a bad concept if the frame and cylinder were reduced in size to the 9mm overall cartridge length. This not being the case I'd stick with 38/357.

 

[Tophernj]

Purely opinion here, but for your first or only revolver, I'd stick to the tried and true rimmed cartridges. Plus, its hard to beat the versatility of a 357.

In the future you may want to add another wheelgun to your safe. At this point it might be worth considering an odd duck like a 9mm.

It looks like the OP made his decision and I think it was the correct one for the reason stated above.
Have fun with your new toy.

 

[mcb]

My first double action revolver was chambered in 10mm/40S&W and I turned out OK. OP don't be afraid of the moonclip! Rimless revolvers are more fun.

 

[milemaker13]

Yes sir. I'd go with the .357. My favorite!

 

[Jack B.]

People say Semi-Auto's have the advantage over Revolvers because they hold more rounds. Why take a Semi-Auto round put It in a Revolver and limit yourself unless you are competing in a Revolver class? I don't get it.

 

[mcb]

People say Semi-Auto's have the advantage over Revolvers because they hold more rounds. Why take a Semi-Auto round put It in a Revolver and limit yourself unless you are competing in a Revolver class? I don't get it.

Cause you love revolvers and want to reload quickly. The fastest reloading revolver out there is a S&W 625 with 45 ACP/GAP ball ammo on moonclips. Any revolver with short fat cartridges on moonclips works nearly as well but rimless cartridges work the best. The extractor groove is more consistent than the moonclip grove in rimmed cartridges and the extractor groove allows the use of thicker more robust moonclips. It is certainly a technology from a bygon era who origins come from a stop gap war effort but IMHO the full moonclip is a critical component at the pinnacle of revolver technology. Nothing's more fun than giving the bottom feeders a run for their money with the noble round gun at the local USPSA or IDPA match.

 

[FL-NC]

9mm revolvers are fun and relatively cheap to shoot, but the clips can be a pain. As far as a magnum revolver, the GP100 is a great choice. That said, It will be more expensive to shoot, even with 38 sp. As for me, I don't see a point in a revolver UNLESS its a magnum, and I don't see the point of a magnum unless it is used with the intent of shooting critters with more than 2 legs. Just my opinion.

 

[Al-jim19]

would stick with the .38 nothing the 9mm can do that a proper .38 cant.

Except share ammo with your semis.

Ammo commonality for me is a huge selling point. It’s way more efficient to buy a case of ammo for 3 guns to share than to buy 3 different calibers. 9mm is cheaper than 38 too.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

Except share ammo with your semis.

Ammo commonality for me is a huge selling point. It’s way more efficient to buy a case of ammo for 3 guns to share than to buy 3 different calibers. 9mm is cheaper than 38 too.

that might be for some, others not so much, I dont own a 9mm, the only auto I own is in 10mm, I can buy a revolver for that but theres no point since I have other cartridges I reload for that are more useful for the purposes I inteded them for

 

[ray15]

I plan to buy my first revolver in the next few weeks. Right now I tentatively settled on a stainless GP100 in .357Mag.

I have 9mm pistols for CCW and HD, so the revolver will be purely for fun, or to double as a HD gun.

The question is - am I better off going with a 9mm version to have just one caliber to deal with and save a bit on ammo (don’t shoot that much so don’t plan on getting into reloading just yet). Or, is the part of a “true” revolver experience being able to shoot magnum rounds ?

I've had 9mm autos for 30 years but just bought my first revolver last year. I opted for a 4" GP100 in .357.

I think 9mm is an excellent alternative to 38 special. All the dead case volume and low pressures with 38 makes it a different animal, and a pretty cranky one compared to 9mm. At least in my reloading efforts. But shooting full-house .357s is indeed part of the experience to me. A hot 125gr. .357 can make 1500fps out of a 4" GP, for a staggering 624ft-lb. of KE. With hot 9mm struggling to break 400ft-lb. and most warm 38 special being in the 300ft-lb. range it's a whole 'nother ballgame.

No doubt 9mm would be more affordable and practical, if you look at it that way. I'd like to have a 9mm revolver, but it's a vastly lesser priority than a 357 and does not replace it.

 

[Whiterook808]

The .357 is certainly more versatile and magnum revolvers can be, well uh, a blast to shoot!

 

[SharpDog]

I plan to buy my first revolver in the next few weeks. Right now I tentatively settled on a stainless GP100 in .357Mag.

I have 9mm pistols for CCW and HD, so the revolver will be purely for fun, or to double as a HD gun.

The question is - am I better off going with a 9mm version to have just one caliber to deal with and save a bit on ammo (don’t shoot that much so don’t plan on getting into reloading just yet). Or, is the part of a “true” revolver experience being able to shoot magnum rounds ? (TBH I doubt that I will do that a lot, probably mainly .38sp).

Just looking for opinions... right now leaning towards the “classic” caliber.

Personally I would look at a 9mm revolver. Much cheaper to shoot and pretty darn effective in a self-defense situation with something like Federal 147 gr. +p HST Tactical. In fact I would look at theSmith 929:



https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/performance-center-model-929

If you are really leaning towards a .357 magnum, this is the one I'm drooling over:



https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/performance-center-model-327-trr8

 

[Tallball]

You can get a Ruger Blackhawk SA in 357 with an extra cylinder in 9mm. It's the best of both worlds. Plus, I LOVE Blackhawks!