Best 9mm revolver for EDC -or- just stay with my 357

[jstert]

i am a revolver guy who can’t reload and wanted to shoot cheaper 9mm ammo in something other than a ruger blackhawk convertible single-action revolver. i got a charter arms pitbull 9mm revolver. total waste of time and p.o.c. that i happily got rid of.

i now have a nice springfield xd semiauto pistol to shoot 9mm ammo.

 

[KevininPa]

I carry a Ruger LCR9 a lot. Never had a problem with jumping crimp with any ammo except
for CCI shot shells. Tip: get some 35 mm film cases and you can carry ammo in them without
damaging the stars. put them in primer first and you can one handed thumb off the lid and
dump the ammo right into the cylinder. I asked Ruger about +P ammo since the manual does not mention +P. Attached is their answer.
View attachment 1208719

View attachment 1208720

View attachment 1208721
Hope this answers so of the questions you might have.
Dano

I have two old narrow prescription bottles that have pop tops. Holds two moonclips.

 

[KevininPa]

As to the OP, I have a Ruger LCRx that shoots and carries nicely in a pocket. The triggers are great out of the box. Never had that crimp problem. And the moon clips don't require any tool to empty and reload. I have a Pachmayr Guardian Grip on mine. Works well for me, though some have called them "gimmicky".

 

[halfmoonclip]

My one question for the bullet jump is how often-?

I've never noticed bullet jump in a 940, a 986, or a Rhino. Full disclosure; I believe in a firm crimp on reloads.
My only complaint with the 3; the 940 feels much more a JV .357 with 115s (which clock around 1100 in autoloaders).
My fix is to shoot 147s, which produce a .38 Spl-like recoil, and .38 Spl ballistics.
I'm guessing complaints about recoil are what led to the 940's cancellation. Smith did add a heavier barrel, to tamp it down somewhat.
Personal observation about moon clips; they work far better with autopistol rounds. The longer revo cartridges don't slide as smoothly into the cylinder, and are more apt to dislodge, or spring the moon.
Moon

 

[ms6852]

What does this mean?

Because the case on the 38 is much shorter, when the 38 is ignited the bullet itself has a longer jump to the cone vs the .357 which the case length places the bullet very close to the cone. Many find it the length of the case to be miminal where the .357 is 33mm and the 38 is 29 point something. The .357 can handle it but my reason for not recommending this is that many hand loaders and reloaders are new and if the bullet is not set straight it can hit the edge of the cone before it is forced into it, leaving flakes or shards of lead, also your accuracy will suffer.

 

[fxvr5]

Because the case on the 38 is much shorter, when the 38 is ignited the bullet itself has a longer jump to the cone vs the .357 which the case length places the bullet very close to the cone. Many find it the length of the case to be miminal where the .357 is 33mm and the 38 is 29 point something. The .357 can handle it but my reason for not recommending this is that many hand loaders and reloaders are new and if the bullet is not set straight it can hit the edge of the cone before it is forced into it, leaving flakes or shards of lead, also your accuracy will suffer.

I'm sorry, but your posts make zero sense.

 

[ms6852]

I'm sorry, but your posts make zero sense.

My sincere apologies for lacking the skills to make you comprehend . Hopefully someone here on this forum, more skillful than I am in communications can provide an assist.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

My sincere apologies for lacking the skills to make you comprehend . Hopefully someone here on this forum, more skillful than I am in communications can provide an assist.

Pardon my ignorance as well but I can't say I ever heard of this particular issue. I understand what you are saying. I just truly never encountered it.

The one issue I am personally aware of and have actually dealt with is the burnt powder ring that can build up in front of the shorter case. But that is mainly a cleaning and inconvenience issue.

I reload for my 357's and haven't had any experience with lead shavings because of bullet seating.

 

[dobedo]

QUESTION:

1) Do you EDC a 9mm revolver-?
If so what is your 9mm revolver-?

2) why would you not EDC a 9mm revolver-?

3) Your opinion on Charter Arms 9 mm revolver as it does require moon clips-?

I am exploring all next revolver purchase
The 9 mm revolver affords a lower cost to practice

I look forward to your input

Thank you

I just purchased one of theses no moon clips.

Model # 79920

The 9mm Rimless Revolver Pit Bull now features a 5-shot cylinder in line with the rest of the Pit Bull family. The 9mm uses same unique rimless cartridge extractor assembly system as the Charter Arms .40 caliber Rimless Revolver. A dual coil spring assembly located in the extractor allows...

charterfirearms.com

 

[toxophilus]

I just purchased one of theses no moon clips.

Model # 79920

The 9mm Rimless Revolver Pit Bull now features a 5-shot cylinder in line with the rest of the Pit Bull family. The 9mm uses same unique rimless cartridge extractor assembly system as the Charter Arms .40 caliber Rimless Revolver. A dual coil spring assembly located in the extractor allows...

charterfirearms.com

Would appreciate a range report (can be in another thread), when you've spent some time with your Pitbull please.

 

[fxvr5]

My sincere apologies for lacking the skills to make you comprehend . Hopefully someone here on this forum, more skillful than I am in communications can provide an assist.

I apologize for confusion on my part. The solution to the problem you describe is simply to use jacketed or plated bullets in the 38 Special.

 

[omega5]

I have two old narrow prescription bottles that have pop tops. Holds two moonclips.

Yep, I carried those for awhile, even learned to trim the plastic insert in the lid so it didn't
take as much pressure to open and learned to do it one handed. But with the 35mm film
canisters it's easy to pop the lid off and dump rounds almost like a speed loader with more
practice. Either way, it saves the moon clips.
Dano

 

[bangswitch]

QUESTION:

1) Do you EDC a 9mm revolver-?
If so what is your 9mm revolver-?

2) why would you not EDC a 9mm revolver-?

3) Your opinion on Charter Arms 9 mm revolver as it does require moon clips-?

I am exploring all next revolver purchase
The 9 mm revolver affords a lower cost to practice

I look forward to your input

Thank you

1) no
2) A: I don't care for rimless cartridges in a revolver, having to deal with moon clips
B: Not a big fan of 9mm in general
3) No opinion on Charter Arms, I've never owned one, don't plan to buy one.

Of the 24 handguns I own, 14 are revolvers, and only one of the semiauto's is a 9mm. I reload for everything I shoot except the two rimfire pistols, and I don't bother much with loading 9mm because I don't shoot it much. Of the revolvers, five are .357's and one of them is a frequent carry. I practice mostly with moderate power magnum loads because that is what I carry.

 

[hso]

My one question for the bullet jump is how often-?

Once is too often with a defensive handgun.

Fine for a range gun where the consequences are trivial.

Unacceptable when your life is on the line.

 

[Anchorite]

I think of the 9mm as the 38 Special of the semi-automatic pistol world.
That said, I think of the 9mm in a revolver as going backwards, if you have a 357 revolver. That 357 can be used to shoot 357s. That 9mm might be able to shoot a 38 Super but the Super won’t out do a 357.

As others have said, keep the 357 and carry it with 38s. There aren’t any substantial ballistic advantages with a 9mm in a revolver that I can see (including moon clips) that would make me intentionally carry one in a revolver over a revolver loaded with 38s.

 

[fxvr5]

I think of the 9mm as the 38 Special of the semi-automatic pistol world.
That said, I think of the 9mm in a revolver as going backwards, if you have a 357 revolver. That 357 can be used to shoot 357s. That 9mm might be able to shoot a 38 Super but the Super won’t out do a 357.

As others have said, keep the 357 and carry it with 38s. There aren’t any substantial ballistic advantages with a 9mm in a revolver that I can see (including moon clips) that would make me intentionally carry one in a revolver over a revolver loaded with 38s.

9mm revolver ballistics fall right between 38 special and 357 mag. I've shot all three in a Ruger Blackhawk with a conversion cylinder.

A more equal comparison would be the 38 Special and 380 Auto. Both produce about 200 ft lbs of energy from their respective firearms.

You likely won't be able to shoot a 38 Super from a 9mm revolver. Some auto-chambered revolvers are cut for the proper headspace which allows them to shoot the auto cartridge without moon clips, even if they use moon clips. My Taurus 380 revolver works that way. Thus, a 38 Super won't go in far enough. On the other hand, a 38 Super will fit in some 38/357 revolvers.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have a Ruger SP101 and an S&W M986, both chambered in 9x19. In part they are a range toys but they give me capability to shoot 9x19 ammunition in an emergency. Both use moon clips.

When I carry a revolver, it mostly is a 38 Special J-frame. Most of my carry J-frames are machined for moon clips but with rimmed revolver cartridges, the moon clip is not a requirement.

 

[lee n. field]

QUESTION:

1) Do you EDC a 9mm revolver-?
If so what is your 9mm revolver-?

I do not. Contemplating it, but I do not.

2) why would you not EDC a 9mm revolver-?

If excessive recoil or report turned out to be a problem. And, I'm not seeing any good way to carry a reload, compared to the variety of speedloader and speed strip solutions for rimmed revolver rounds.

3) Your opinion on Charter Arms 9 mm revolver as it does require moon clips-?

Charters break too much.

(Specifically, the transfer bar. Unless they've changed it recently. I've had 3, still have 1. Each has broken the transfer bar at least once.)

I am exploring all next revolver purchase
The 9 mm revolver affords a lower cost to practice

That's the major reason I would be looking at 9mm, given that even your basic 158 grain LRN .38 is $30 or more for 50, locally.

I look forward to your input

Thank you

 

[lee n. field]

The Taurus revolvers have served me well
But I have no experience with the 905 - my LGS does have this revolver for sale - so doing my research now

Have them order one.

 

[Buckeye63]

2) why would you not EDC a 9mm revolver-?

As a handloader I've never had any interest in a 9mm revolver.
I can go from mild to wild with 38/357.
From 130grn HSTs at 850fps (2 1/4in SP101) to 1400fps 180grn XTPs ( 6.5in Blackhawk)
.. and everything in between!

View attachment 1208616

9mm defensive ammo functions well out of short barrel's
Great option for a non- reloader
90grs to 150grs bullet weights standard pressure, +P , +P+ .. hardcast options
Inexpensive practice ammo

I have been thinking hard about getting a Taurus 905 .. but I have been hoping Taurus or Rossi would come out with a 6 or 7 shot 3 inch barreled option