single action 9mm

[USAF_Vet]

Does such a beast exist? As a lefty, I've abandoned the idea that I'll ever become proficient with a swing out double action revolver. Sadly, virtually all production double action revolvers are swing out, and they swing out the wrong direction. Before you mention the Charter Arms Southpaw, I'm aware, and if I ever see one, I'll buy it immediately.

So I've all but sworn off the DA revolver, but I still enjoy shooting single actions. Everything about a single action makes sense, ergonomically, for a lefty.

So, is it feasible to chamber a single action wheel gun for a rimless cartridge? I expect not, since moon clips don't seem like they would jive with the fixed cylinder.

Just a thought experiment, and a little wishful thinking on my part with my nice boost to my 9mm ammo supply.

 

[TomJones]

http://www.ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkConvertible/models.html
this is the Ruger Blackhawk convertible that comes with 9mm luger extra cylinder. Not sure if that is what you are looking for.
Tom

 

[CraigC]

Yep, Ruger has offered .357/9mm (and .45Colt/ACP) convertibles for years. I have an extra 9mm cylinder for my .38Spl USFA Rodeo II.

 

[Gary A]

If you are willing to consider .45 acp instead of 9mm your options increase greatly. In addition to the Blackhawk convertible in 45 Colt/acp, Ruger makes runs of the New Vaquero as a 45 convertible. Recently they made a run of short-barrelled (3.75 inch) New Vaqueros with Birdshead grips in dedicated .45 acp chambering. I'm not sure if they have ever offered the Vaquero or the New Vaquero as .357/9mm convertibles but they formerly offered the older Vaquero as, I believe, a 10mm/.40 caliber convertible.

I'd kinda like a .357/9mm New Vaquero.

 

[rcmodel]

I'm not left-handed, but I fail to see the problem?

I practice both ways.
No matter the strong hand, you still have to do some gun & ammo juggling to speed-load ammo with your strong side hand.

When I shoot DA left hand, the right thumb punches to cylinder release, then keeps the gun while the left hand punches the ejector rod and goes for the ammo.

Once loaded with the strong left hand, the gun goes back to it on the way to target alignment again.

It would seem to be faster then a right hand reload, if I practiced it more.

I always thought DA revolvers were built bass-ackward for a right handed shooter myself!

Rc

 

[USAF_Vet]

I'll look into the conversion cylinder for the Blackhawk, as that is pretty much exactly what I was thinking of. Thanks Tom, the 6.5" bbl 9mm is precisely what I want.

RC, I also practice with both hands, and when shooting. DA revolver with my right hand, my left had does all the work. The cylinder is easily opened with my right hand (thumb releases cylinder, index pushes out cylinder along with a flick of the wrist), left hand dumps the empties and reloads, either with a speed loader, or individually. Left hand then snaps cylinder shut, does a quick rotation check, and goes back to a support position. Gun barely comes off target. Its easy because the cylinder is now centrally located and easily accessed with the support hand.

Left handed operation, the cylinder is as far from the support hand as it can get, keeping the frame of the gun in the way. Rotating the gun to access the cylinder closes the cylinder.

I don't know if you are changing shooting hands from left to right, but shooting a DA revolver from my dominant hand is a charlie foxtrot, and shooting it with my weak hand patterns like a shotgun. I can operate out, just not very accurate with it.

To me, single action guns are more lefty friendly. You may not have the problems I have. But that really isn't relative to my question.

 

[TRX]

I normally just move the gun to my right hand to reload, but if the latch is easy to operate (or it's a Dan Wesson front latch), I just use my right thumb to unlatch the cylinder, shift my left hand to hold the frame and push the cylinder out, reload with my right hand, push the cylinder back with my left thumb, reposition left hand to grip. It's more operations, but I don't have to shift the gun from hand to hand.

There are some revolvers with cylinders that swing to the right, but the ones I'm aware of are all variants of the French design the Belgian Nagant is an example of. While they're mostly good firearms, most of them are well over a hundred years old and are chambered for odd foreign cartidge.

Of course, if you go to a top break revolver, the "handedness" isn't nearly as big of an issue. Some are fully ambidextrous, while others like the later stirrup-latch Webleys can be fitted with a modified latch for left-hand operation.

Most top-breaks are chambered for older cartridges Wal-Mart or your LGS might not have on hand, or at least not have for cheap, but the .44 Russian and .455 Webley will still git 'r done, as will most of the others.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Top breaks I've tried, but like you mentioned, uncommon or obscure calibers not readily available.

 

[BobWright]

The Ruger Blackhawk is indeed a fine 9mm Single Action revolver. Better yet, if you can find an older Three Screw in .357 Magnum. These guns were built on a smaller frame than New Model .357 Blackhawks and are more suited to the little 9mm Luger cartridge.

As a further note, no clips; quarter moon, half moon, nor full moon; are required for use in a Single Action. The cartridges headspace on the case mouth, and the rod ejector has no need for a rim.

If you find such a revolver and it lacks the 9mm cylinder, most any 'smith can fit one. I'd imagine that if you do find such a gun, you'll probable find you shoot more .357 Magnums and soon forget about the 9mm cylinder.

Bob Wright

 

[340PD]

9mm/38-.357. Great versatility, maybe the best "take to the cabin" gun I have ever seen.

 

[JR47]

To the original question, the Browning HP is perhaps the most recognized single-action 9mm around. The Helwan, a copy of the 1951 Beretta Brigadier is similarly single action. I also believe that the Commander sized 1911 was designed originally for 9mm. Rock Island Armory now produced a line of single-action 9mm pistols on the 1911 pattern.

 

[kBob]

Another Vote for the Ruger Blackhawk pervertable. I regret trading my 6.5 inch away. I will say that it was not as accurate with 9x19mm as with .357 or even .38 Special. But more than accurate enough still for can busting or most chores.

The revolver was very popular with the TEOTWAWKI pre fall of the soviet union crowd.

I really liked having a handgun that had the flexability of the BH. I followed up that purchase with a .45 Convertible. I always wondered why Ruger did not offer a .30 Carbine/.32 H&R magnum or I suppose now a .327 magnum convertible. Maybe with a .32ACP option. Wonder if a 7.62 Tok cylinder might be doable?

-kBob

 

[sixgunner455]

JR47, the original question was about single action six guns chambered for rimless rounds like the 9mm Luger, not single action autos. Being that this is the revolver section, that only makes sense.

Only one I've ever seen was the Ruger convertible. Really felt like a popgun shooting 9mm through it.

 

[BobWright]

Convertable Single Action revolvers have always had some sort of following as far back as pre-WW II and maybe even further. Single Actions because of the ease of swapping cylinders, plus the rod ejector is no dependent on a case rim.

Interesting examples of recent guns are the .40 S&W/10mm/.38-40; .30 Carbine/.32-20; .44-40/.44 Magnum/.44 Special and untold wildcat cartridge combinations. S&W went that route with the .22 Rem. Jet/.22 L.R. The S&W had a two-position firing pin for centerfire and rimfire.

Webley, in its heyday, had a .22 L.R. conversion kit for its .455 revolvers. A barrel liner was fixed in place and a shorter .22 R.F. cylinder was installed. The rimfire problem was solved by having the chambers angled in the cylinder so the firing pin struck the cartridge rim. So what if the barrel and chamber axis didn't line up?

Bob Wright

 

[USAF_Vet]

Thanks for the info, gents. I've got a Blackhawk convertible on my short list, as well as a RIA 1911 9mm. While the 1911 is slightly higher, the Blackhawk might be more all around useful.