Ruger 357/9mm blackhawk

[merlinfire]

I'm looking at a Ruger Blackhawk with convertible cylinders of 357/9mm


I have a few quick questions regarding cartridges.


Would this mean that I can shoot .38 special and .357 magnum in the .357 cylinder, and 9mm and .380 in the 9mm cylinder still? I heard that .380 is a 9mm short, though I really don't know much about the round.

How would the accuracy be comparatively? Any experiences to share?

 

[merlinfire]

My google-fu tells me 38 and 357 use a .357 or .358 bullet where the 9mm and 380 use a .355


so... 2 thousandths of an inch? Wonder how much difference that would make in accuracy

 

[merlinfire]

And also, since the .38 and the .357 are rimmed, how does the other cylinder hold the 9mm and .380 (if it does)?

 

[BCCL]

The auto calibers headspace on the cartridge mouth, so .380 won't work in the 9mm cylinder.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

.38 special and .357 magnum in the .357 cylinder

Yes. These cartridges headspace on the case rim.

9mm and .380 in the 9mm cylinder

NO! These are rimless cases, headspacing on the case mouth. (Moon clips are not required for ejection, because the single-action's ejector rod pushes through the case.) The .380 will likely drop so far into the chamber that the firing pin won't strike it. If the cartridge does fire, the case is likely to blow back and/or rupture.

 

[merlinfire]

Interesting. Good to know. Now that I think about it though, I'm not sure why i'd want to shoot 380 ACP in it anyway, as 9mm is both more plentiful and cheaper

 

[merlinfire]

I see...so the 9mm probably headspaces on the end of the cylinder itself, then?

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Yes, on a rimless case, the mouth of the case headspaces ( i.e., abuts against) on a shoulder in the chamber.

 

[John Wayne]

IIRC, accuracy wasn't too stellar with one caliber or the other. As others have stated, 9mm uses a .355 bullet and .38/.357 uses a .357 dia. bullet. My guess is that they'd have to make the barrel to the slightly larger .357 dimensions (which would also be cheaper given that they already produce a revolver in that caliber), and that 9mm accuracy would suffer.

If you only want to shoot 9mm for cheaper, low-recoil practice because you don't reload for .357, then it's probably not a bad route to go. If you plan on doing any target shooting with 9mm then I'd avoid it.

 

[ClemY]

The 9mm in a .357 NMBH convertible isn’t know for fine accuracy, but with mine I was pleasantly surprised that it is nearly as accurate with Elchepo 9mm CCI Blazer as it is with good .357.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

With my 4 5/8 convertible in 9mm mode free standing I can still keep em on a paper plate at 80 feet. I call that good enough for screwing around. For my eyes it's practically amazing.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I had the 9mm/.357 convertible a few years back, very nice gun. 9mm only in the 9mm cylinder, .357/.38 in the other.
My 9mm cylinder shot very well, not a target gun, but I could do 4 inches or so offhand at 25 yards when I was having a good day. Back then 9mm ammo was real cheap and I didn't reload so it made good economic sense.

There's only a .001" gap between a 9mm (.355") slug and a .357" bore, and manufacturing tolerance probably exceed that. Besides, the rifling squeezes the bullet at the lands, so it probably helps to fill that .001" gap in the grooves.

 

[merlinfire]

Thank for all the info. I've decided: that's probably my next purchase now.....unless its an AR-15

 

[robctwo]

I have the long barrel .357/9mm and the short barrel .45 Colt/ACP. I like the shorter barrel. Accuracy is fine with the .357/9mm, but I have .357s and 9mms more accurate. The Ruger fits a niche in my collection, doesn't get shot as much as other guns.

 

[OrangePwrx9]

I have one with the 4-5/8" barrel. Great little gun. It's fairly accurate with 9mm. It outshoots my BHP and G19, however it can't beat my Kahr K9.

One problem it does have is pierced primers with 9mm factory loads. About half the rounds fired have a dark smudge in the primer's firing pin indent. I decapped a few fired cases and found a tiny hole at the bottom of the indent. It doesn't do this with .38/.357 or with lightly loaded 9mm handloads.
Bob

 

[Lar1911]

Get an AR in 9mm to go with it

 

[Barr]

Cannot tell a functional accuracy difference between the 9mm and .357 Magnum in mine. Maybe with a pair of calipers you might be able to tell a difference accuracy wise but it is still minute of soda can at 20 yards or so. If a lead handload is used in 9mm with sufficient pressure (cartridge is rated SAAMI 35ksi) the base of the bullet should obturate and fill most of the 0.002" difference.