Best 9mm Revolver

[Phidelt208]

I'm in the market really considering getting a 9mm Revolver
I was wondering of the people who have actually owned a 9mm Revolver.
How they do they like them and do they shoot them very often.

Would you buy one again?

Thanks

 

[earlthegoat2]

The only one I have owned is a Smith 940. I enjoyed it and consider it a top offering but of course it is long out of production and was a neat enough revolver that it gained significant collector value so I sold it.

I would guess most of the good 9mm revolvers out there are at least partially collectible. The S&W 547 comes to mind. That one is highly collectible

 

[cfullgraf]

The S&W Model 986 is a 9x19 L frame, 7 shot revolver. In the past they were available in standard models with 2-1/2" and 5" barrels.

Currently, S&W catalogs Performance Center models with the same barrel lengths.

Great to shoot with moon clips. I'd get a good moon clip loading tool such as BMT Equipped. They are a bit pricey for some but really improves the efficiency of loading and unloading moon clips.

I also have an SP-101 chambered in 9x19. It is an ok firearm.

 

[Beancounter81]

I have a S&W 986. I really like revolvers but I am only lukewarm on this one. I shoot it occasionally but probably would not buy it again.

 

[earlthegoat2]

That reminds me that there were also Ruger Speed Sixes in 9mm and a few LCRs in addition to the SP101 mentioned earlier.

You really can’t go wrong with any of them. The production numbers are always quite small

 

[mcb]

What would you do with such a revolver? There is a big difference between a 9mm Revolver for CCW vs a 9mm Revolver for USPSA competition, vs a 9mm Revolver for some other use.

 

[IMAhobbyist]

Wow, I didn't even know what model I have.....the 929 is worth looking at.

 

[NorthBorder]

Maybe a Ruger Blackhawk 357/9 mm convertible.

 

[alfsauve]

S&W 929. Use it in USPSA Revo and ICORE Limited competition. Probably 5,000 rounds easy. Have to keep the chambers clean for easy extraction. It works like a champ. Moon clips of course. Oh, and I cut off the extra 1/2" threaded part of the barrel. Can't use a comp in those divisions and didn't need the extra weight to swing around.

 

[Space Ghost]

A revolver is a bigger, bulkier design by nature, and .357 magnum is the same diameter as a 9mm round, so if you're gonna get a revolver anyways...
May as well just get a S&W 686 and be done with it.
Shoot .38 special when you don't feel like punishing your hand.

If I were gonna get one it would be the 986, but I think the only reason I ever would... would be to have a revolver that shoots cheaper ammo.
Not a bad thing at todays prices.

 

[BrotherMaynard]

I have a S&W 986 5” that I like and would buy again. It has proven to be accurate and reliable. The titanium cylinder requires a bit more care to be taken when cleaning but it is not a significant hassle.

I also have an Alfa Proj AL9.0 that I would not recommend. It had to go back to RIA due to the cylinder holes being under spec and not lining up with the bore. I have tried multiple bullet weight and powder combinations in addition to factory ammo and the group sizes vary between bad and horrible. I understand some have had better luck with them but I would not buy it again.

 

[mcb]

A revolver is a bigger, bulkier design by nature, and .357 magnum is the same diameter as a 9mm round, so if you're gonna get a revolver anyways...
May as well just get a S&W 686 and be done with it.
Shoot .38 special when you don't feel like punishing your hand.

If I were gonna get one it would be the 986, but I think the only reason I ever would... would be to have a revolver that shoots cheaper ammo.
Not a bad thing at todays prices.

Moonclips and rimless cartridges makes for a very fast reloading combination, hence the reason the 929 currently dominates the USPSA Revolver division since reloading speed directly effects you score.

 

[BoBo522]

I have a Ruger LCRx 9mm and a Ruger New Model Blackhawk .357/9mm convertible.

Shooting 9mm in the Blackhawk is very nice. POA=POI up to 20 yards, which is as far as my crappy vision will let me shoot with any accuracy. Recoil? What recoil? This gun is almost 3 pounds and is designed to take full-house .357 magnum loads, so my standard 9mm round is quite tame by comparison.

Shooting 9mm in the LCRx took some getting used to. Even with the Hogue Tamer grip it was rather punishing to shoot. Eventually I got used to it, but unfortunately the LCRx is prone to crimp jump problems when using budget ammo like Blazer Brass. It didn't happen every cylinder, but it did happen once almost every range trip (usually around my 12th or 13th moon clip). I've never had a problem with premium ammo like Federal HST, but I haven't shot nearly as much of that through the LCRx - usually just a moon clip or two to remember the sting of the +P recoil.

I must say, loading and unloading with moon clips is awesome and quick. This is probably why I keep the LCRx around despite my complaints. If I were to do it over, I'd probably avoid a 9mm revolver and stick with a .357. Or even a .38 Special. Of course, I'm stubborn and *won't* do it over, so I'll keep shooting my 9mm revolvers and whining when they sting my tender li'l hand. YMMV.

 

[mcb]

I have a Ruger LCRx 9mm and a Ruger New Model Blackhawk .357/9mm convertible.

Shooting 9mm in the Blackhawk is very nice. POA=POI up to 20 yards, which is as far as my crappy vision will let me shoot with any accuracy. Recoil? What recoil? This gun is almost 3 pounds and is designed to take full-house .357 magnum loads, so my standard 9mm round is quite tame by comparison.

Shooting 9mm in the LCRx took some getting used to. Even with the Hogue Tamer grip it was rather punishing to shoot. Eventually I got used to it, but unfortunately the LCRx is prone to crimp jump problems when using budget ammo like Blazer Brass. It didn't happen every cylinder, but it did happen once almost every range trip (usually around my 12th or 13th moon clip). I've never had a problem with premium ammo like Federal HST, but I haven't shot nearly as much of that through the LCRx - usually just a moon clip or two to remember the sting of the +P recoil.

I must say, loading and unloading with moon clips is awesome and quick. This is probably why I keep the LCRx around despite my complaints. If I were to do it over, I'd probably avoid a 9mm revolver and stick with a .357. Or even a .38 Special. Of course, I'm stubborn and *won't* do it over, so I'll keep shooting my 9mm revolvers and whining when they sting my tender li'l hand. YMMV.

Try an Ergo Delta grip. I have one on my J-frame and though ugly as sin they work very well to tame recoil from small revolvers. Well worth the ~$26 to try.

 

[twarr1]

I see somebody already mentioned the Ruger Blackhawk convertible. +1
Of course it has a gate, not a roll-out cylinder. Don’t know if that matters to you.

 

[BoBo522]

Try an Ergo Delta grip. I have one on my J-frame and though ugly as sin they work very well to tame recoil from small revolvers. Well worth the ~$26 to try.

Thanks. I did try one - I actually thought the recoil was worse with the Delta, but then again that was well before I learned to just live with it. Maybe I'll dig through my bin of parts and try it out again.

 

[Tallball]

I ran across a compatible 9mm cylinder for my Blackhawk 357 magnum. The 9mm round is very pleasant in a Blackhawk. It seems to be as accurate with 9mm as it is with 357 or 38 special.

The SP101 in 9mm was sitting there looking lonely at the LGS, and it has a nice trigger for an SP101. I owned a 357 version previously. The 9mm is a little sharper than shooting 38 special, but not nearly as exciting as 357 magnum was.

Both of those Rugers are good 9mm revolvers. At the range, the Blackhawk is as accurate as any other good long-barreled revolver, meaning way more accurate than I am. The SP101 shoots just like any other SP101 I've ever shot, meaning the trigger takes some getting used to and you have to have suitable grips on it, but I can shoot it as well as I can a j-frame, anyway.

Between the two of them I can get some nice revolver practice in, even when I only happen to have 9mm ammo on hand.

Ruger Blackhawk 357 Magnum

• Tallball
• Jul 30, 2018

Ruger SP101 9mm

• Tallball
• Mar 6, 2021

 

[cfullgraf]

Besides my S&W 986's (2-1/2" and 5" barrels, both I like to shoot), I also have a Ruger Blackhawk convertible 357 Mag/9x19 revolver. I've never fired a round through the 9x19 cylinder. I can reload mid-range 357 Magnum ammunition for less than the cheapest, garbage-ish surplus 9x19 ammunition. So, the 9x19 cylinder goes unused.

It is kind of the same for my Single Six convertible. I don't think I've ever fired a full box of 22 WMR through the 22 WMR cylinder.

But, at least with the single action Blackhawk, you do not need moon clip loading tools. If a single action revolver really floats your boat and you do not reload, the Blackhawk convertible is a viable option.

Ruger single action revolvers are good revolvers.

 

[RON in PA]

I've had a Smith 547 for decades, but don't shoot it anymore because of its collectors value. The extractor system is excellent, no need for moon clips. Too bad S&W stopped making them, but the market wasn't there in the 1980s.

I also have a Taurus 692. This revolver comes with two cylinders, one for 9mm and one for .38 special/.357 mag. Changing them is easy as can be. You can use moon clips with the 9mm cylinder for easy extraction or just drop your 9mm cartridges in the chambers. They will either drop out after shooting or can easily be pulled out with your finger nail. A very versatile revolver.

 

[Tallball]

The moon clips for my 45acp revolver are a beast. You definitely need a tool. Luckily the empty brass practically falls out of that revolver, so at the range it's easier to not use clips. I point it up, bump the butt once, and the brass is either out or most of the way out.

The SP101 is the opposite. The clips are extremely quick and easy to load and unload with my fingers. That's a good thing, because if I don't use clips I have to poke the brass out with a pencil or something.

 

[TarDevil]

If you shoot revolvers a lot 9mm is pretty cheap. Otherwise, 357/.38 spcl.

 

[AzShooter1]

I like my 929 the best. I use it for USPSA and SCSA matches. I use only new Winchester Brass and it extracts perfectly. Groups are around 1.5 inches with my loads at 25 yards.

I do not use the compensator and have never felt like I needed one.

 

[Phidelt208]

Thanks, guys for all the info. It seems like the smith is the way to go. Besides the grip someone mentioned did you have to do any work to them?

 

[mcb]

Minor rant here, to hopefully help out the OP.

If your going to invest in a moonclip feed revolver invest the time and/or money into getting sufficient number of moonclips and decent moonclip tools. You can make moonclip tools for nearly nothing if you are handy or buy them from modest to fairly expensive. Also buy enough moonclips so that you do not have to mess with them at a range session or match. Load them and test them before you go, then break them down and reload them at home at you leisure. TK custom is the Cadillac of moonclips, but Revolvers Supply and Ranch Products make excellent moonclips too. BMT mooner is the Cadillac of moonclip tools. That said you can make an excellent de-mooner from an old hollow golf club handle and a cheap pair of channel lock pliers from Harbor Freight makes a passable mooner. Plano tackle boxes make excellent ways to carry/protect loaded moonclips on the way to the range/match. In the end you can have a heap off moonclips and moonclip tools for less that 4-5 spare magazine for a name brand semi-auto pistol.

Failing to have sufficient moonclips and tools for a moonclip feed revolver is akin to the guys that spend thousand on a Wilson Combat 1911 and carry it in an Uncle Mikes holster and complains about how poorly his gun carries. Or the guy that spend thousands on a custom built bolt action rifle and put a sub-$100 scope form Acadamy on it and complains it won't hold a zero.

 

[alfsauve]

I only had the BMT tool till it came unscrewed while at LoCap Nats, then I realized how dependent I was on it, so I got the TK mooner and de-mooner. Now I use the TK to break out the first case, or just to remove the live rounds and the BMT to finish the rest of the de-mooning.