More thoughts on the 9mm revolver

[BobWright]

Back when I first got into the shooting game, the only 9mm handguns were mostly war surplus pistols (Surplus Lugers were $49.95 mail order + a box of cartridges.) and the word that there was an Israeli revolver patterned after the S&W Military & Police (There being no model numbers in the public minds at the time). Colt did announce the Government Model and Commander in 9mm, but, who cared?

9mm ammunition was available, but that was surplus German stuff, with steel cases and sintered iron bullets. Word was it was submachine gun ammunition and was therefore "too hot" to use in pistols. The H.P. White laboratories did a test and found it was of no more, actually less, pressure than commercial 9mm ammunition. And most surplus ammunition was Berdan primed, so not easily reloadable.

Then Smith &Wesson did the unheard of thing, they introduced their Model 39, and later Model 59, pistols using modern metals and manufacturing, in 9mm caliber. I'm guessing that it was Ruger who really got the ball rolling with the introduction of the .357 Magnum Blackhawk with auxiliary 9mm cylinder. Ruger advertised that there was no place in the world that one could not find ammunition for that combination. The 9mm worked well in the Single Action as no clips were required for ejecting. In time, more and more shooters began begging for 9mm revolvers.

So today, with 9mm ammunition selling at very attractive prices, and readily available, the 9mm has become very popular, Not of too much use in the fields, nor formal target ranges, but for those who enjoy a Saturday of plinking and informal target shooting, its here to stay for awhile.

Bob Wright

 

[horsemen61]

I’ve always thought I wanted a 9mm revolver but I’ve never acted on it

 

[JohnKSa]

The shorter, tapered rounds with bullets designed for feeding in semi-autos make for fast and easy loading with clips. Revolver rounds tend to wobble more due to their extra length when held by the clip and can be a little more finicky in terms of each one lining up with their own chamber simultaneously.

What is needed is revolvers made especially for 9mm so they don't carry the extra cylinder length/frame length penalty of a revolver designed for .38Spl/.357Mag that has just had the cylinder replaced with one chambered for 9mm.

Shorter rounds are also a big plus for top break designs--they make the ejection systems easier to design. A good quality top-break revolver designed around the 9mm cartridge would be just about the ideal self-defense revolver.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

As John, above, said. IF they made a revolver for a 9mm from the start I may be interested in it. However, most are simply 38 sized frames with a shorter cylinder in them which is not optimal, I'll just buy a 38 in that case.

I have been hoping for years that someone out make a 38 sized down just for wadcutters. Bit silly I know, but could make it shorter and lighter that way. Likely won't happen. However, that would be about what a 9mm revolver needs to be.

Given how 9mm is THE semi round now it seems like it may be time to make a 9mm revolver "correctly" and size it right from the start. I may get one then.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

The Israeli 9MM revolver never got past the prototype stage.
Expecting manufacturers to redesign and tool up for a new design-that may not sell that well. Has anyone ever complained that S&W used the same frame for 22 LR, 32 S&W, 38 Special and 357 Magnum ?

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I like my Charter arms Pit bull 9mm.

 

[Chevelle SS]

I've thought about getting one but never have, main reason it is the cheapest off the shelf centerfire available.

 

[BobWright]

The shorter, tapered rounds with bullets designed for feeding in semi-autos make for fast and easy loading with clips. Revolver rounds tend to wobble more due to their extra length when held by the clip and can be a little more finicky in terms of each one lining up with their own chamber simultaneously.

What is needed is revolvers made especially for 9mm so they don't carry the extra cylinder length/frame length penalty of a revolver designed for .38Spl/.357Mag that has just had the cylinder replaced with one chambered for 9mm.

Shorter rounds are also a big plus for top break designs--they make the ejection systems easier to design. A good quality top-break revolver designed around the 9mm cartridge would be just about the ideal self-defense revolver.

Of interest is the fact that Colt produced two New Service revolvers for the 1906 trial by the US Army. One was a standard New Service, while the other was a one-of-a-kind made especially for the short M1906 .45 Cartridge. The cylinder and frame were shortened to the correct length for the short revolver cartridge. The whereabouts of this revolver is unknown.

The M1906 revolvers cartridge was a rimmed version of the .45 Auto cartridge. And no, this was not the .45 Auto Rim, as the M1906 had the thin rim of the .45 Colt and S&W cartridges.

Bob Wright

 

[JohnKSa]

For awhile, Federal made a 9mm revolver round called, oddly enough, the 9mm Federal. It was basically a rimmed 9mm, but loaded considerably hotter than standard 9mm, at least according to the old Federal catalog I had that listed it. Obviously it never went anywhere...

 

[Tallball]

Yes, the 9mm cylinder was a good investment for my Blackhawk. I've gotten my use out of it.

I like having a revolver or two in 9mm. It's useful when ammo/primers are hard to find.

Since 9mm revolvers don't even sell very well, I can't imagine Ruger or S&W or someone making a whole new frame for one. It sounds like a great way to lose a bunch of money.

 

[Reinz]

I got the dual cylinder thinking how cool it was.

In ten years I never shot it, so I regrettably sold it.

 

[Rock185]

Since the 9mm cartridge is a favorite of mine, I guess it's no surprise I might like 9mm revolvers. I've had S&W 547s, a 940, Ruger convertibles, an SP101, and a S&W 686 with an extra cylinder converted to 9mm. With the convertibles, I have actually used the 9mm cylinders quite a bit.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

In addition to being too "proprietary", the 9MM Federal was easily confused with the 38 S&W.

 

[halfmoonclip]

As a sometime fan of the .45AR, I recall the 9mm Federal. The AR is kind of an aggravation, so I'm guessing the Federal would be more of the same.
If you're going to shoot autopistol rounds in a revolver, they might as well be autopistol rounds.
Yeah, I've got a couple three 9 mm wheelies, a Chiappa, a 940 and a 986. The 940 was a little bit of a disappointment; shoots well enough, but surprisingly rappy to shoot with 115s.
That problem is solved with 147 9mms, which turns out about the same ballistics as a .38 Spl.
BTW, the trick with moons is to have the tools to moon/demoon. The 9mm moons, especially, require a real push to seat. Much more so than the .45s.
Moon

 

[BobWright]

..........................................................................................................................................................
If you're going to shoot autopistol rounds in a revolver, they might as well be autopistol rounds......................

Moon

The market of the .45 Auto Rim cartridge in the 1920 era was to those who had bought surplus M1917 revolvers but did not have a supply of .45 Auto cartridges, either surplus or commercial. And, the .45 AR was loaded with a lead bullet, the jacketed bullet of the Auto cartridge thought to be conducive to premature bore wear.

Bob Wright

 

[tactikel]

Both Ruger and Taurus make 9mm revolvers. About the same size and weight as a .357 Mag version. I get wanting a common cartridge, and 9mm is the perfect choice.
BTW I’d take the .357.

 

[Smaug]

Both Ruger and Taurus make 9mm revolvers. About the same size and weight as a .357 Mag version. I get wanting a common cartridge, and 9mm is the perfect choice.
BTW I’d take the .357.

357 is something over $40/50.
9 mm is half that.

If you’d “take” The 357, remember that you also have to PAY for it.

 

[JimCunn]

I seat 9mm bare handed.
I unseat using a ballpoint pen as a tool.

 

[BobWright]

I seat 9mm bare handed.
I unseat using a ballpoint pen as a tool.

Funny you mention that. When I had the S&W Model 625 in ACP, I considered making an ejector similar to a ball point pen. Have a rounded nose that would fit against the chamber mouth and a spring loaded ejector. Place the end against the chamber mouth and push a rod extension to eject those pesky rimless cartridges!

Even gave serious thought to making a prototype. Then sane thought returned!

Bob Wright

 

[JimCunn]

Hi, Bob. I'm in Collierville.

 

[Bill M.]

I ran out of .357 reloads during my stay in FL last year. I was glad I had the 9 mm cylinder when I had to buy ammo to shoot. 9 mm was a whole lot cheaper.

 

[PapaG]

In the ignorance of youth, I traded my old 6" Python, a very early one which I shot very well, for one of the first convertible Blackhawk 357/9mms. Just about then the cheap surplus 9s dried up. I did get my first handgun deer with that 357 but never grew into it.
Had another 4 5/8 unfired out of an estate a couple years back but sold it the same way.
I think an 8 shot moon clip revolver in 9 might be fun but can't seem to keep up with the 38/357s I need to shoot. Slowing down a little at 78.

 

[browneu]

I shot a S&W 547 and it's a great shooting revolver. No moon clips needed and very accurate. I wish Smith would sell them again because they're expensive and harder to find.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Some .45 moons can be done by hand, some not so much. A late buddy was determined to demoon by hand, and had misfires due to sprung clips.
Nines are another matter; of the three kinds I have, none can be seated/unseated by hand. At least not by me. The mandrel tools work well for seating, and the hollow tubes for demooning. Unlike the .45 moons, that were available at the gunshow for $0.50 @, the 9mms can be a couple bucks @.
Moon

 

[cfullgraf]

I like moon clips.

Besides 9x19, 10mm and 45 ACP revolvers, I have three 38 Special revolvers machined to accept moon clips.

I have a couple S&W 986 revolvers plus an SP101, all chambered in 9x19. They are fun to shoot.

But, I reload so it does not matter much I reload, all have fairly similar cost per round so "cheap" 9x19 does not mean much to me. Besides, I'd rather shoot good ammunition in my guns, not some surplus Combloc stuff.

I have Blackhawk convertible. The 9x19 cylinder has never seen a round of ammunition since the gun has been in my possession. In fact, it would probably take me a while to locate the 9x19 cylinder.

Besides some fun days at the range, I like having a 9x19 revolver or two just in case. It gives me some flexibility.

As I said in another thread on 9x19 revolvers, 45 ACP revolvers have a certain degree of popularity due to the WWI revolvers made by S&W and Colt. There has not been the same degree of interest with 9x19 revolvers.

I'm pleased to have some revolvers that are chambered for 9x19 but I do not feel 9x19 revolvers will replace 38 Special or 357 Magnum revolvers.