Source for 9mm Federal Rimmed

[keeta]

Does anyone know where you can get the discontinued 9mm Federal rimmed rounds. I saw one source but they were asking $2.50 per round which is more than a bit much!!

Thanks.
Larry

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I don't know about that round, but Old Western Scrounger is often a good source for odd ammo. Check his web site or give him a call.

ows-ammo.com/catalog/

 

[BluesBear]

If you reload, you can use the slightly longer .38 S&W cases. (NOT .38 Special)
You'll just need to trim the length from .780" to .754".

 

[unspellable]

9 mm rimmed

They out to bring the 9 mm rimmed back again. There are a number of new 9 mm revolvers out there. I suppose the main thing against it is that you can buy regular rimless 9 mm so cheap.

 

[BluesBear]

The 9mm Federal round was NOT a "9mm Auto Rim" type of cartridge.
It was not designed to work in a standard moon clipped 9mm revolver.

 

[unspellable]

9 mm

Well, what we need is a reasonably priced 9 mm "auto rim" cartridge. For that matter it wouldn't hurt to bring back the 45 auto rim.

 

[keeta]

If the Federal 9mm rimmed was not designed to work in revolvers with moon clips just exactly what was it designed to work in?

 

[DBR]

As I understand it, the 9mm rimmed was designed to work without moon clips in revolvers like the S&W 940 that used moon clips with standard 9mm auto ammo. I'd like to see it come back. 9mm is a much better round for small, light revolvers than 357 - less blast and recoil with almost the same ballistics.

 

[only1asterisk]

If you reload, you can use the slightly longer .38 S&W cases. (NOT .38 Special) You'll just need to trim the length from .780" to .754".

This works perfect.

David

 

[DBR]

What shell plate would you use on a progressive press to accomodate the case rim?

 

[BluesBear]

If the Federal 9mm rimmed was not designed to work in revolvers with moon clips just exactly what was it designed to work in?

It was designed to be used in the short lived (poorly conceived) Charter Arms Pit Bull revolver.




DBR, on a progressive press you might be able to use the same shell holder as is used for .38 Special.
In regular presses it's different. My Lyman #1 shell holder (.38 Special) is very tight and won't accept some .38 S&W brass (I have a separate Lyman shell holder #21 for .38 S&W), while my RCBS holder #6 shell holder works well with both .38 Special and .38 S&W.

 

[only1asterisk]

Properly handloaded 9mm Federal will also work most 9mm revolvers so long as the chambers are properly cut to allow the cartridge to headspace on the mouth. The rim alone will not provide proper headspace in this instance.

David

 

[only1asterisk]

Dillion has a coversion for the 38 S&W that cost the same as the 38 Special if you don't already have one. I'd be willing to bet the powder funnel is the only part that is different. In fact, if I get my shop set up in the near future I'll try a 9mm powder funnel and buttons on a 38 Special shell plate and see if I can make it work.

David

 

[BluesBear]

as the chambers are properly cut to allow the cartridge to headspace on the mouth. The rim alone will not provide proper headspace in this instance.

David, my friend, once again you have hit the nail squarely on the head.

I said it back in 1988 and I am still saying it today.
If Federal had introduced the 9mm Federal in a true Auto Rim configuration back in 1989, so it could be used in the majority of 9mm revolvers but would NOT chamber in .38 S&W revolvers it would have been a smashing success instead of an embarassing failure.

But no one at Federal listened to me back then and I expect nothing more today.

 

[keeta]

BluesBear

Will the 9mm Federal Rimmed work in a model 905 Taurus?

Thanks

 

[BluesBear]

I really don't know.
I finally got rid of my remaining cases (yes cases) of 9mm Federal in 1999, and I don't have access to a Taurus 905 to measure.
But I am inclined to say, "They might".
But since the Federal ammo has become so scarce we may never know for sure.