9mm Revolvers - Opinions

Status
Not open for further replies.
C

CTGunner

Member
Joined
May 31, 2009
Messages
934
What are your opinions on the 9mm round out of a 2" revolver for self defense? I am intrigued by the Taurus 905...at $330 new it seems like a good deal and relatively inexpensive to shoot. Are there any other 9mm revolvers out there that are a better gun/better value?
 
What are your reasons for getting a 9mm revolver? Do you already have 9mm guns and want to stay with the same caliber, less expensive round, etc? I don't think that you will be able to find many revolvers in this caliber that are currently being produced.
 
It is a novelty as far as I'm concerned. I had the S&W 547 and except for the range and target, it didn't make sense. For range/target, it is cheap to feed and is a lot more fun than a 22LR but if you're going to use a 9mm for SD/HD then it should be in a semi-auto.

Semi-auto 9's saves the shooter from fumbling with moon-clips, extracting a single round at a time, or even with the 547 - slap a whole cylinder free of its cases. The 547's special cylinder is fragile and will wear out a lot quicker than standard cylinders because all that is holding the cartridge is the little spring loaded nub that expands when the cylinder extractor pin is engaged.

If you were to get a revolver in 9mm, I would recommend the Ruger Blackhawk in 357 with a 9mm cylinder. The Taurus 905 is fun too, but it only comes in 2" - not too much fun at the range IMO.


CTGunner
9mm Revolvers - Opinions
What are your opinions on the 9mm round out of a 2" revolver for self defense? I am intrigued by the Taurus 905...at $330 new it seems like a good deal and relatively inexpensive to shoot. Are there any other 9mm revolvers out there that are a better gun/better value?
Click to expand...
 
Originally posted by Onward Allusion
The Taurus 905 is fun too, but it only comes in 2" - not too much fun at the range IMO.
Click to expand...

I know I have had the 2" model and I would have prefered a 4" model; heck, I would have even bought a 3" model.
 
I so want a 547.
In any case, most 9mm revolvers (except the 547 and the Blackhawk, may be others I am not aware of) require the use of moonclips for proper extraction if not also for firing. But I believe most will headspace on the case mouth as most .45acp revolvers do.
Moonclips are great for carry and competition as they are both faster to use and more compact than speedloaders. They can be a pain at the range.
For most purposes I would choose a .38 special revolver over a 9mm revolvers as it just works with the platform better. No need for moonclips or strange extraction systems (547). When I started shooting a 9mm revolver made no sense to me. Of course at the time, .38 ammo was less expensive than 9mm ammo. Times have changed and it would be nice to shoot my prefered platform in the lowest cost ceterfire available.
 
I have the Taurus. Before switched to carrying 1911s, the thought was that it would be a same caliber BUG for my Kahr CW9. It shoots pretty well, but the trigger on mine is a bit heavy and has a gritty feel to it. It is not finished as well as a Ruger or Smith. However, for the price it isn't terrible. I'd say felt recoil was a bit higher than .38 in a similarly sized gun.

As others have said, it's not a lot of fun at the range unless you load up a whole bunch of moon clips ahead of time. I don't regret buying it, but if it were going to be my only revolver I'd look elsewhere.
 
l dislike the bulkiness of hi cap autos. l am a fan of the 9mm ctg. A small 5 shot 9mm revolver is a natural marriage. Cheap 9mm more than makes up for the slight reload inconvenience. Revolvers ALWAYS work. You cant say that for a bottom feeder
 
It is a novelty as far as I'm concerned. I had the S&W 547 and except for the range and target, it didn't make sense. For range/target, it is cheap to feed and is a lot more fun than a 22LR but if you're going to use a 9mm for SD/HD then it should be in a semi-auto.

Semi-auto 9's saves the shooter from fumbling with moon-clips
Click to expand...

The cartridge doesn't know what it's being fired out of and a 9mm is fine for SD/HD out of a revolver just like out of an auto.
And what's the difference between fumbling with moonclips or mags? Same principle and the short pointy 9mm rounds pop right in plus fully eject with a single stroke. Very fast and easy to use. (except for Taurus "Stellar" clips, they suck)
 
 
If you must buy this revolver, make it your BUG ( Back Up Gun ) and buy a good pocket holster to carry it in, DeSantis makes the best pocket holsters. Or buy a really good revolver like the Ruger LCR in either .38+P or their new LRC in .357 magnum.

Buy once - Cry once.

Keep your primary a Glock with extra mags for self defense.

TK
 
I own a Blackhawk 357/9mm 4 5/8 barrel revolver and love the revolver. I can shoot three different types of ammo and the revolver is very accurate . Its not the best for carry or self defense but it is a great revolver and I recommend it. If you want a smaller revolver that shoots 9 mm luger, Ruger made Security Sixes in the 2 3/4 inch barrels for awhile and you can find them on the market. They are higher price than a Taurus but in my opinion they are a better revolver.

I do think in 9 mm you are better off to go to a semi-auto. Lots of good choices.

Good luck,
Howard
 
Hey Guys - Thanks for all the comments. Yeah, I'm not too anxious to get a 9mm revolver, more curious than anything. I currently have a 642 that I carry when I don't want to carry my Glock. I really like revolvers though and I'm hoping to find a carry revolver with a little more juice than the 642.
 
While I have not done any ballistic testing myself, I have read that the velocity of 9mm from a 2" barrel is greater than that of a .38 spl. I can vouch that the recoil from a S&W 940 is snappier than that of a 640.

With regard to the S&W 547, the cartridge headspaces on the case mouth. The extractor is only for extracting the case. I have not noticed any appreciable wear in cylinders of my 547s and two of them, being ex-service revolvers, have fired a lot of rounds.

A 9mm revolver may not make a lot of sense when there are a lot of good 38s and 357s available, but they are fun to shoot.
 
I checked out a couple of links from this thread and it brought up an interesting point. Could you just get a new cylinder for 9mm and put it into a 357/.38 J-Frame? I thought I read before that the Ruger Blackhawk .357/9mm convertible had poor accuracy with the 9mm. Would that be the same case if you were (provided it's possible) to simply put a say 940 frame on a 442?
 
I truly "enjoy" wheel guns for shooting. the smoke and fire.. Maybe my age..
My Smith 38 snubby airweight is a great for carry but hate to cycle a lot of rounds at the range. The Smith M66 is heavy and a great shooter. An assortment of semi autos for CCw.. Yet I had a Taurus 905 follow me home from a local pawn shop today. Why? just because! I TOLD THE WIFE it was for her :).. She likes it so far as feel -we will take it to the range and enjoy the 9mm cheaper rounds and use the expensive SD rounds for the important things in life... You just cant have enought guns and ammo - CAN YOU!!
 
If you already own a 9mm or two (or seven) a 9mm revolver is a great thing.

If you don't, you might as well stick with a .38 or .357.
 
>>Yeah, I'm not too anxious to get a 9mm revolver<<

Then don't waste your money... they're no big whoop. (and yes, I have had one before) ;)
 
sw282 said:
l dislike the bulkiness of hi cap autos. l am a fan of the 9mm ctg. A small 5 shot 9mm revolver is a natural marriage. Cheap 9mm more than makes up for the slight reload inconvenience. Revolvers ALWAYS work. You cant say that for a bottom feeder
Click to expand...
^^^This is said by a person who has never had a primer back out, cyl. gap/ forcing cone problem, or an ejector rod come un-screwed.
Yes, revolvers are usually trouble free, but they have been known to also give problems..
 
I've got a 4" 547 and a 2 3/4" Ruger service six in 9mm. Both are pretty sweet shooters.

I also used to have a Blackhawk wiht 9 mm cyl - another good shooter.
 
Nobody likes 9mm more than I do so I thought a 9mm would be an ideal addition to the collection.

Borrowed one. As the man before me said "no big whoop."
Just didnt feel it.
Gonna stick to 38/357 wheelguns and 9mm auto and carbines
 
I love my 905, it has a nice trigger and awesome lockup. It kicks a bit, but when I tested +p 124gr Gold Dots on melons I was real impresssed. Great for back up to a small 9mm auto like my CW 9.
 
Love my 905. The only thing is that I would like a 4" version and Taurus does not make one. I called and asked if they would make one custom with a 4" barrel and they refused. Here it is next to my S&W 36:

View attachment 130513

Click Image to Enlarge
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

efeng9622
  • Locked
Recommended any 9mm revolver you knew.
2 3
Replies
61
Views
11K
Coyote3855
Coyote3855
R
  • Locked
Your opinion please
2
Replies
25
Views
1K
tprice
T
Orion8472
  • Locked
Your opinion on Charter Arms Rimless 9mm for CCW?
Replies
5
Views
675
weblance
weblance
efeng9622
  • Locked
about difficult to load ammo or unload case to a 9mm revolver
Replies
4
Views
264
halfmoonclip
H
C
  • Locked
Taurus 905?
Replies
7
Views
1K
461
4
Back
Top