I am thinking of buying a Ruger SA .357mag/38spl Blackhawk and was wondering about getting the 9mm convertable cylinder. Are there any common problems with this setup? Was wondering about accuracy with the 9mm bullets plus any long term ill effects of shooting 3 types of ammo in one revolver. I'm new to the revolver shooting scene so any advice is appreciated. Thanks.
Ruger .357mag w/convertable 9mm cylinder
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Sharps Shooter
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I never got what I concidered acceptable accuracy (less than 3" 25 yard groups) from the .357 Blackhawk I had when using the 9mm cylinder. But I read many times on this forum of others who had much better results.
If you already have a 9mm, can get 9mm ammo fairly cheap and your not really into reloading, I think the .357 Blackhawk with the 9mm cylinder is a probably good way to go. My situation was the opposite though - I load almost all my own ammo and I didn't have a 9mm other than that Blackhawk convertible. Consequently, the 9mm cylinder spent most of it's time sitting in the gun safe.
If you already have a 9mm, can get 9mm ammo fairly cheap and your not really into reloading, I think the .357 Blackhawk with the 9mm cylinder is a probably good way to go. My situation was the opposite though - I load almost all my own ammo and I didn't have a 9mm other than that Blackhawk convertible. Consequently, the 9mm cylinder spent most of it's time sitting in the gun safe.
silliman89
Member
So how does this work exactly?
The ruger web site says you can change the cylinders without any tools. Is it quick and painless, or does it take a while?
The 9 mm cylinder must use moon clips, right?
I couldn't find a price on the extra cylinder. Any idea how expensive it is? Is it really that much cheaper than a 2nd gun?
This sounds like a great idea, if all the details work out right.
The ruger web site says you can change the cylinders without any tools. Is it quick and painless, or does it take a while?
The 9 mm cylinder must use moon clips, right?
I couldn't find a price on the extra cylinder. Any idea how expensive it is? Is it really that much cheaper than a 2nd gun?
This sounds like a great idea, if all the details work out right.
xring44
Member
Push a button, pull the cylinder pin, slap in the other cylinder, push in the cylinder pin, your ready to play.
I don't own a .357/9mm conversion, but I do own a .45 colt/.45ACP, no moon clips, it head spaces on the case mouth. Love it.
I don't own a .357/9mm conversion, but I do own a .45 colt/.45ACP, no moon clips, it head spaces on the case mouth. Love it.
No need for moon clips, they headspace on the mouth and the ejector rod pushes them out from the inside of the case.
My 9mm/357 Blackhawk worked great. 3-4" groups at 25 yards with 9mm when tested on a bench.
There are several good threads here recently on this subject, a search will give you a lotta info.
My 9mm/357 Blackhawk worked great. 3-4" groups at 25 yards with 9mm when tested on a bench.
There are several good threads here recently on this subject, a search will give you a lotta info.
I should have my Blackhawk 357/9mm conversion in a few days. It is the 4 5/8" model. I have a 6 1/2" 357(only) Blackhawk and it has proven to be an accurate revolver for me.
If the 4 5/8" can be as accurate with 357s I'll be satisfied. The 9mm , I'll shoot it some as well but I am not expecting accuracy as good as the 357. I'll post results either on this thread or another when I test out the new BH with both cylinders.
If the 4 5/8" can be as accurate with 357s I'll be satisfied. The 9mm , I'll shoot it some as well but I am not expecting accuracy as good as the 357. I'll post results either on this thread or another when I test out the new BH with both cylinders.
.38special
Member
I went through the same thing you are going through. I bought the 6.5 inch convertible 9mm/357. The gun was fairly accurate on the bench, but in the hands it did not balance well at all. I have heard the 4 5/8in barrel balances much better though.
I did aquire a 4 5/8" Blackhawk convertable. Compared to my 6 1/2" (non convertable) the 4 5/8 might balance a bit better. But the 6 1/2" still balances very well for me and shooting offhand it has proven to be a very accurate revolver for me with 357 mag loads.
I have not fired too many rounds through the convertable Blackhawk yet , did fire a few 9mm rounds and they hit very low on the 25 yard target. The grouping were not that great and I was making adjustments as well , so really just try to get the feel of the 9mm in a revolver.
After working on the trigger and loading up some 9mm with quality bullets like my XTPs I will be able to determine better what the 9mm is capable of doing in a revolver.
I have not fired too many rounds through the convertable Blackhawk yet , did fire a few 9mm rounds and they hit very low on the 25 yard target. The grouping were not that great and I was making adjustments as well , so really just try to get the feel of the 9mm in a revolver.
After working on the trigger and loading up some 9mm with quality bullets like my XTPs I will be able to determine better what the 9mm is capable of doing in a revolver.
BluesBear
member
I consider the accuracy of every .357 convertable Blackhawk I have ever fired to be acceptable.
Not great, but considering the huge jump that 9mm bullet has to make to just get to the barrel it's satisfactory.
Not great, but considering the huge jump that 9mm bullet has to make to just get to the barrel it's satisfactory.
unspellable
Member
9 mm cylinder
The 9 mm cylinder is provided so that you can have it reamed out to 357-44 Bain & Davis.
The 9 mm cylinder is provided so that you can have it reamed out to 357-44 Bain & Davis.
MCgunner
Member
3-4" at 25 yards ain't good 'nuf to suit me. I get sub 1" with .38 spl wadcutters. All it requires is an elevation change in the sight. With that sort of accuracy, if you miss, it ain't the gun's fault.
If I didn't reload, I might consider the 9mm cylinder for cheap fun, but if that's all the accuracy I could get out of it, I wouldn't be real satisfied.
I'd think the longer, heavier bullet weights might shoot better in the over-bore .357" barrel. Just thinkin' about it, a longer bullet would rock side to side less than a shorter one and give more bullet to grab on the rifling. However, I don't know about the twist rate of a Blackhawk and how compatible it is with the 9, have no idea about that. I'd think it'd be pretty close or same rate as a 9mm handgun, but I don't know. .38/.357 shoots heavier bullets on the average, though, and that's another reason I'd think the 9 would work better with 147 grain stuff in it. Just a guess, though, not based on any experience since I've never fired a 9 in a Blackhawk.
If I didn't reload, I might consider the 9mm cylinder for cheap fun, but if that's all the accuracy I could get out of it, I wouldn't be real satisfied.
I'd think the longer, heavier bullet weights might shoot better in the over-bore .357" barrel. Just thinkin' about it, a longer bullet would rock side to side less than a shorter one and give more bullet to grab on the rifling. However, I don't know about the twist rate of a Blackhawk and how compatible it is with the 9, have no idea about that. I'd think it'd be pretty close or same rate as a 9mm handgun, but I don't know. .38/.357 shoots heavier bullets on the average, though, and that's another reason I'd think the 9 would work better with 147 grain stuff in it. Just a guess, though, not based on any experience since I've never fired a 9 in a Blackhawk.
BluesBear
member
I suspect some are missing the point
A .357 actually requires a faster twist than a 9mm so that shouldn't be of any concern.
I have only owned one Ruger Blackhawk .357 (even though I have shot several more). The barrel on mine slugged out at .356.
It's in the cylinder throat where a light weight 9mm bullet has problems. Believe me there is plenty enough rifling depth in the barrel to get a good grip.
Due to the excess cylinder length there's no way the 9mm cylinder will ever bee as accurate as the .357 cylinder.
But that's not what it was designed for.
It was designed for ammo versatility and cheap plinking ability.
There's probably no place on the planet that you can't find ammo for a .357/9mm convertable.
A .357 actually requires a faster twist than a 9mm so that shouldn't be of any concern.
I have only owned one Ruger Blackhawk .357 (even though I have shot several more). The barrel on mine slugged out at .356.
It's in the cylinder throat where a light weight 9mm bullet has problems. Believe me there is plenty enough rifling depth in the barrel to get a good grip.
Due to the excess cylinder length there's no way the 9mm cylinder will ever bee as accurate as the .357 cylinder.
But that's not what it was designed for.
It was designed for ammo versatility and cheap plinking ability.
There's probably no place on the planet that you can't find ammo for a .357/9mm convertable.
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