Converting .38 to 9mm?

[Sarge7402]

You would be surprised to find that Israel did just that after WWII with a bunch of Victory S&W revolvers. Believe they were brit guns in .38 S&W which is very close in size and shape and the smaller 9MM bullet in the .358 barrel let pressures drop to a safe level.

 

[Tilos]

Why bother. Just go buy a 9mm firearm if you want to shoot 9mm.

Yes. like this one:
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/2084_21_203/products_id/415003672/Charter+-+Pitbull,+9mm,+6\Bbl.,Adjustable+Sights+Stainless+S
A range size revolver that shoots cheap 9mm ammo/adjustable sites/no moon clips...what's not to like
I handled one but didn't buy it as I was in another state.
Ct. in fact, about 30 miles from the CA factory, could of had it shipped I guess.
I have been wanting that gun for a while now, buy one and post a review
It's not on the CA website(or wasn't), so I emailed them about availability and the President of CA emailed me back
All the reviews I have read have been good though.

 

[il.bill]

I feel compelled to throw this post in, even though it does not address the OP's question.
The DA/SA Taurus 992 looks interesting & feels good in hand. It has adjustable sights, holds seven, and looks nasty with the unfluted cylinders and full underlug ported barrel.


The cylinder / crain assemblies change out with the push of a button. One shoots .357 magnum / .38 special - the other 9x19mm using Moon Clips. I have not had a chance to shoot it yet, but am looking forward to trying it out.

OOPS! Correction - as noted below, this is a Taurus Model 692 (not 992). Sorry!

 

[Tilos]

I feel compelled to throw this post in, even though it does not address the OP's question.
The DA/SA Taurus 992 looks interesting & feels good in hand. It has adjustable sights, holds seven, and looks nasty with the unfluted cylinders and full underlug ported barrel.

View attachment 831789
The cylinder / crain assemblies change out with the push of a button. One shoots .357 magnum / .38 special - the other 9x19mm using Moon Clips. I have not had a chance to shoot it yet, but am looking forward to trying it out.

Nice, thanks for posting
I had a smith with a ported barrel, I was living in the Pacific North Wet at the time, and shot it at a range with a covered firing line the 1st time out.
OK then, how loud was that, never shot it again and sold it.
I live in the high desert now, so maybe it's time to consider another ported gun .

 

[Varminterror]

Buy a Ruger SP101 in 9mm. Stalk eBay for a price you like on a 357mag cylinder assembly (typically go for $75-150). Convertible SP101. Done.

 

[Tilos]

I feel compelled to throw this post in, even though it does not address the OP's question.
The DA/SA Taurus 992 looks interesting & feels good in hand. It has adjustable sights, holds seven, and looks nasty with the unfluted cylinders and full underlug ported barrel.

View attachment 831789
The cylinder / crain assemblies change out with the push of a button. One shoots .357 magnum / .38 special - the other 9x19mm using Moon Clips. I have not had a chance to shoot it yet, but am looking forward to trying it out.

I went to https://www.taurususa.com/taurus-introduces-new-692/ and found the model # for a .357/9mm combo is actually 692 and it says they only come with a 3" or 61/2" barrel
" Taurus brings real-world advancements to the industry with the introduction of the 692 Multi-Caliber revolver. The 692 is designed for reliable everyday carry with its 3-inch barrel, and also offers a range-friendly option in the 6-1/2-inch model. Both size variations offer the ability to change the caliber from .38 Special +P/.357 Mag. to 9mm Luger with a simple swap of the cylinder."

 

[Tilos]

Buy a Ruger SP101 in 9mm. Stalk eBay for a price you like on a 357mag cylinder assembly (typically go for $75-150). Convertible SP101. Done.

Maybe I missed it, but I could only find one 9mm SP101 with 2 1/2" barrel and fixed sights at the Ruger site: https://www.ruger.com/products/sp101/overview.html.
I could not find a drop-in .357 cylinder either, what am I missing, are those cylinders some kind of gray market item?

 

[Varminterror]

I could find a drop-in .357 cylinder either, what am I missing, are those cylinders some kind of gray market item?

eBay, as I stated in my original post.

 

[Tilos]

eBay, as I stated in my original post.

I of course looked on ebay because you stated it, and didn't see any cylinders for sale.
2 searches:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...osacat=0&LH_ItemCondition=4&rt=nc&_dcat=35566
and here:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...at=0&_odkw=SP101+.357+cylinder&LH_TitleDesc=0

I'd be more inclined to do what you said if Ruger sold drop-in cylinder assemblies, they don't, and I don't consider anything with fixed sights and a 2 1/2" barrel a range gun.
So in the words of Rosanna Rosanna Dana...oh, nevermind.

 

[Varminterror]

As I also said in my original post, stalk eBay until you find the part you need. You might not be familiar with the premise of eBay, but it is an auction site where individual users can sell items, such the availability of certain specific items does change. However, Ruger cylinders are typically common enough to be found a few times each year at reasonable prices, and I have bought several Ruger DA cylinder assemblies over the years from eBay. There are several eBay sellers who are parts resellers, typically supplied through destroyed firearms via gun buybacks, best I can determine, as some will have massive parts inventories once you scratch the surface.

If there isn’t one tonight, just keep checking back in. There will be.

It shouldn’t need to be spelled out, but it really is this simple: if you really want a convertible SP101, buy a 9mm SP101, despite not having the sights you want. Buy another SP101 in the configuration you do want, in 357mag. Buy a take off 357mag cylinder from eBay. Put the take off cylinder into the 9mm revolver, pay an engraver to remark the chambering, sell it used and swallow the price difference as the price of admission, leaving you with a 9mm cylinder assembly, a 357mag cylinder assembly, and the frame, barrel, and sight configuration of your liking. I’ve been down this road, it ends up FAR less expensive than having a custom cylinder machined.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I went to https://www.taurususa.com/taurus-introduces-new-692/ and found the model # for a .357/9mm combo is actually 692 and it says they only come with a 3" or 61/2" barrel...Both size variations offer the ability to change the caliber from .38 Special +P/.357 Mag. to 9mm Luger with a simple swap of the cylinder."

It shouldn’t need to be spelled out, but it really is this simple: if you really want a convertible SP101, buy a 9mm SP101, despite not having the sights you want. Buy another SP101 in the configuration you do want, in 357mag. Buy a take off 357mag cylinder from eBay. Put the take off cylinder into the 9mm revolver, pay an engraver to remark the chambering, sell it used and swallow the price difference as the price of admission, leaving you with a 9mm cylinder assembly, a 357mag cylinder assembly, and the frame, barrel, and sight configuration of your liking. I’ve been down this road, it ends up FAR less expensive than having a custom cylinder machined.

So, both of these are pretty cool posts. I generally don't consider Taurus for anything anymore, but that's a nice idea they have. Varminator's plan is pretty simple. All you need is one complete gun and a spare part off the other. For my purposes, however, I was looking for something interchangeable using the same cylinder such that switching calibers required only a moon clip for the 9mm. I wasn't looking for a gun that I had to disassemble (especially if it required tools) and reassemble to change calibers, nor was I wanting to carry a second cylinder on me all the time. However, I do believe that option is completely unfeasible, at least economically, and either of your plans would be a pretty good replacement plan.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I went to https://www.taurususa.com/taurus-introduces-new-692/ and found the model # for a .357/9mm combo is actually 692 and it says they only come with a 3" or 61/2" barrel

At $659, that's probably the cheapest way to have one revolver that fires both 357 and 9mm.

 

[Varminterror]

The base of a 9mm is greater diameter than that of the 357/38’s, such a 9mm chamber must be cut into the rear of the 357 chamber, as well as the milling done for the moon clips. This can be done, but it’s considered a risky proposition, as it leaves too much slack around 357mag and 38spcl cases, risking case rupture, or at best, excessive case expansion above the web. Much akin to shooting 22LR in 22WMR revolvers - it’s been done, but that doesn’t prove it is really safe. This is why we run multiple cylinders in the 357/9mm convertibles, even when using moon clips. If a guy is reloading, the lower half of the 357maf cases get far overworked, being blown out and resized so much, again, risking work gardening and eventual (premature) rupture.

 

[Tallball]

I had the Taurus "convertible" revolver in 22lr/22magnum. Switching out the cylinders just took a few seconds. It's a clever design. I had it for several years and never had any trouble with the mechanism. I eventually sold it due to the horrible DA trigger, but I liked the convertible aspect very much.

 

[BSA1]

D.B.,

I am guessing that you were considering a double action revolver since you are asking about moonclips but you might consider a Ruger Blackhawk 357/9mm Convertible revolver.

It does of course use two different cylinders which in the real world should not be much a problem other than keeping track of where you keep the other cylinder. You could have the Blackhawk customized into a really slick Perfect Packing Pistol by shortening the barrel, round butting the grip frame, action job, hard chrome finish and different sights.

Dang now you got me thinking about one myself.

Oh the screen door idea for submarines has possibilities. You should apply for Government grants to do a study.
,

 

[Tilos]

As I also said in my original post, stalk eBay until you find the part you need. You might not be familiar with the premise of eBay, but it is an auction site where individual users can sell items, such the availability of certain specific items does change. However, Ruger cylinders are typically common enough to be found a few times each year at reasonable prices, and I have bought several Ruger DA cylinder assemblies over the years from eBay. There are several eBay sellers who are parts resellers, typically supplied through destroyed firearms via gun buybacks, best I can determine, as some will have massive parts inventories once you scratch the surface.

If there isn’t one tonight, just keep checking back in. There will be.

It shouldn’t need to be spelled out, but it really is this simple: if you really want a convertible SP101, buy a 9mm SP101, despite not having the sights you want. Buy another SP101 in the configuration you do want, in 357mag. Buy a take off 357mag cylinder from eBay. Put the take off cylinder into the 9mm revolver, pay an engraver to remark the chambering, sell it used and swallow the price difference as the price of admission, leaving you with a 9mm cylinder assembly, a 357mag cylinder assembly, and the frame, barrel, and sight configuration of your liking. I’ve been down this road, it ends up FAR less expensive than having a custom cylinder machined.

Really no need to "spell it out" with your pie in the sky way to get a 9mm SP101/38 conversion, I'm sure it's nothing you've done, and only something you dreamed up on the spur of the moment.

"Buy a gun, buy another gun, buy some parts(keep searching for them), (try and) swap parts", not really my idea of a way to get a 9mm type revolver/range gun, when they are available already.
Sorry but it reads like geezer speak...don't know something, make something up.
Post up some pics of your gun like this and I'd probably change my views on what you posted.

FYI, there are sites that will continually search ebay for anything, and will notify you when it finds said item, so you don't have to.
I use that, as well as a bidding service, but both have a cost though.

At the risk of being repetitive...Oh OK, never mind, no need to post pics, as I'll be adding you to my ignore list so this will be the last condescending/"spell it out" post I will have to read/respond to.
happy posting,

 

[Tilos]

D.B.,

I am guessing that you were considering a double action revolver since you are asking about moonclips but you might consider a Ruger Blackhawk 357/9mm Convertible revolver.

It does of course use two different cylinders which in the real world should not be much a problem other than keeping track of where you keep the other cylinder. You could have the Blackhawk customized into a really slick Perfect Packing Pistol by shortening the barrel, round butting the grip frame, action job, hard chrome finish and different sights.

Dang now you got me thinking about one myself.

Oh the screen door idea for submarines has possibilities. You should apply for Government grants to do a study.
,

Have one
9mm accuracy always sucked until a loaded some 0.358" bullets in 9mm cases
Something I learned about on THR
I never thought of cutting it down to carrying size though, mines a perfect range gun if single action is you preference.
Mine's kind of a collectable as it has a first digit "D" in the serial number.

 

[Varminterror]

I'm sure it's nothing you've done, and only something you dreamed up on the spur of the moment.

Admittedly, I have not done the transplant process to make a 357/9mm convertible SP101. However, I did it with a Redhawk to produce my convertible 357/44 B&D + 357/38spcl Redhawk, and suppose technically the same path I've done 3 different times with Redhawks (transplant a Super Redhawk 454 cylinder assembly into a 45 colt Redhawk = 454C Redhawk). Equally, I did the same process of transplanting take off cylinder assembly into a Taurus 85 to correct an excessive wear and timing issue - sourced through Numrich that time. I've been rebuilding revolvers for many years, these are relatively low level smithing jobs - no smithing required for Rugers, almost all of them drop in and time perfectly, and the resale market value on used parts is very forgiving. On the single action side, the late 1990's and early 2000's saw an aesthetic trend where I made good money sourcing Super Blackhawk and Bisley cylinders and repolishing them to be transplanted into Vaqueros for cowboy action shooters - admittedly these have FAR greater parts availability, but it's mechanically the same job. Sometimes the market was dry and it was simply easier to watch for a good deal on a used Bisley or SBH, then brush down the Vaquero cylinder to match and send it out the door - still used - for about the same price. I've even gone as far as return revolvers to Ruger, claiming the cylinder was lost and paying to have new cylinders made.

I offered advice on how to get what you want without the extreme cost of custom gunsmithing. I can appreciate it's not common, so you doubted the veracity of the process, but I'll assure you, it's been done long before I ever asked about doing so when you challenged the fact THIS IS DONE, I provided more evidence, with a clear script of how to accomplish it. It does take some effort to accomplish, but it's really a matter of a couple gunbroker listings and leaving your house a few times. The net result ends up being HUNDREDS of dollars cheaper than contracting a custom cylinder made by the few top end revolversmiths who take on such work. A convertible 9mm/357 SP101 doesn't exist, and not everyone is satisfied with a Taurus. If a guy wants a convertible 9mm/357 revolver they can work together themselves, then Ruger is really the one place you can reliably transplant cylinders without timing and dimensional issues - so I provided a pathway which will reach the objective, which I've proven does work. You don't have to believe it, you don't have to pursue it yourself, but the fact you didn't know it was possible doesn't mean you weren't simply ignorant.

There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

 

[MAKster]

In addition to the Taurus 692 mentioned by another person you should look at the M47 Medusa revolver. It was designed to fire any .38, .357, and 9mm round.

https://lockedback.com/m47-medusa-revolver-shoot-100-cartridges-1-handgun/

 

[jmorris]

Sounds like one of my Blackhawk converables.



Open the loading gate, pop the pin out and install the 9mm cylinder, don’t even need moon clips. They make them in different calibers as well.

https://ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkConvertible/models.html

One reason they come with two cylinders is because of they just hogged out the 357/38 cylinder so the tapered 9mm would fit in there you would be blowing out the base of the 357/38 spl cases

 

[Tallball]

My bought a 9mm cylinder for my 357 Blackhawk from eBay. It works fine. My understanding is that they might or might not need small adjustments if it's not the cylinder that actually came with the gun. Maybe I was fortunate, maybe they fit most of the time. I dunno. The Blackhawk in question is an older one... I think from the late 70's.

IIRC the accuracy is fine. If the 9mm cylinder isn't as accurate as the 357 one, I'm apparently not a good enough shot to be able to tell the difference.

 

[rpenmanparker]

And some revolvers have interchangeable cylinders for .38/.357 and 9 mm...don’t they?

Whoops! I see I missed the posts about this just above mine.

 

[il.bill]

I went to https://www.taurususa.com/taurus-introduces-new-692/ and found the model # for a .357/9mm combo is actually 692 and it says they only come with a 3" or 61/2" barrel
" Taurus brings real-world advancements to the industry with the introduction of the 692 Multi-Caliber revolver. The 692 is designed for reliable everyday carry with its 3-inch barrel, and also offers a range-friendly option in the 6-1/2-inch model. Both size variations offer the ability to change the caliber from .38 Special +P/.357 Mag. to 9mm Luger with a simple swap of the cylinder."

Thank you for correcting my mis-information! Don't remember if it was poor eyesight or sloppy typing.

The 3" Stainless Steel Taurus Model 692 is P/N: 2692039 / UPC: 725327616009
MSRP is $659. Local street price (when available) is ~$610 Out the Door.

The 3" Black Taurus Model 692 is P/N: 2692031 / UPC: 725327616023
MSRP is $609. Local street price (when available) is ~$560 Out the Door.

I am sorry for any inconvenience caused by my posting error.

Gun.Deals search for the SS Model 692: https://gun.deals/search/apachesolr_search/725327616009

Gun.Deals search for the Black Model 692:
https://gun.deals/search/apachesolr_search/725327616023

 

[Tilos]

Thank you for correcting my mis-information! Don't remember if it was poor eyesight or sloppy typing.

The 3" Stainless Steel Taurus Model 692 is P/N: 2692039 / UPC: 725327616009
MSRP is $659. Local street price (when available) is ~$610 Out the Door.

The 3" Black Taurus Model 692 is P/N: 2692031 / UPC: 725327616023
MSRP is $609. Local street price (when available) is ~$560 Out the Door.

I am sorry for any inconvenience caused by my posting error.

Gun.Deals search for the SS Model 692: https://gun.deals/search/apachesolr_search/725327616009

Gun.Deals search for the Black Model 692:
https://gun.deals/search/apachesolr_search/725327616023

Not a problem, thanks for posting about the Taurus 9mm/357 as I had not seen them before.
If they made a 4" or 5" barreled version/with adj sights/NOT ported I'd be all over it.
I have emailed Ruger about selling such a gun, on either the GP100 or SP101 platform, and have yet to get a response, e-mailed twice in fact.

 

[rpenmanparker]

Admittedly, I have not done the transplant process to make a 357/9mm convertible SP101. However, I did it with a Redhawk to produce my convertible 357/44 B&D + 357/38spcl Redhawk, and suppose technically the same path I've done 3 different times with Redhawks (transplant a Super Redhawk 454 cylinder assembly into a 45 colt Redhawk = 454C Redhawk). Equally, I did the same process of transplanting take off cylinder assembly into a Taurus 85 to correct an excessive wear and timing issue - sourced through Numrich that time. I've been rebuilding revolvers for many years, these are relatively low level smithing jobs - no smithing required for Rugers, almost all of them drop in and time perfectly, and the resale market value on used parts is very forgiving. On the single action side, the late 1990's and early 2000's saw an aesthetic trend where I made good money sourcing Super Blackhawk and Bisley cylinders and repolishing them to be transplanted into Vaqueros for cowboy action shooters - admittedly these have FAR greater parts availability, but it's mechanically the same job. Sometimes the market was dry and it was simply easier to watch for a good deal on a used Bisley or SBH, then brush down the Vaquero cylinder to match and send it out the door - still used - for about the same price. I've even gone as far as return revolvers to Ruger, claiming the cylinder was lost and paying to have new cylinders made.

I offered advice on how to get what you want without the extreme cost of custom gunsmithing. I can appreciate it's not common, so you doubted the veracity of the process, but I'll assure you, it's been done long before I ever asked about doing so when you challenged the fact THIS IS DONE, I provided more evidence, with a clear script of how to accomplish it. It does take some effort to accomplish, but it's really a matter of a couple gunbroker listings and leaving your house a few times. The net result ends up being HUNDREDS of dollars cheaper than contracting a custom cylinder made by the few top end revolversmiths who take on such work. A convertible 9mm/357 SP101 doesn't exist, and not everyone is satisfied with a Taurus. If a guy wants a convertible 9mm/357 revolver they can work together themselves, then Ruger is really the one place you can reliably transplant cylinders without timing and dimensional issues - so I provided a pathway which will reach the objective, which I've proven does work. You don't have to believe it, you don't have to pursue it yourself, but the fact you didn't know it was possible doesn't mean you weren't simply ignorant.

There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

Nice quotation. True dat.