Who Makes 9mm Conversion Cylinders?

[The Mighty Beagle]

In reading the thread about the Medusa revolver, I became curious - are there any OTHER outfits who could take a Ruger GP100 cylinder or Smith M10 cylinder and convert them to 9mm, or perhaps even construct a new cylinder in 9mm? I'm going crazy trying to find an affordable D.A. 9mm wheelgun, and with all these cheap police trade-ins out there ....

The 9mm is simply the cheapest caliber to practice with. Even my .38 reloads can't beat the cost of Win. WB 9mm ... ok maybe they come close, but then factor in all my labor to produce 100 rds. and it's obviously kind of a waste. Besides, I'm just lazy, and I don't need any more barriers to keep me from just going out and shooting when I want. If I have to reload first before each impromptu session, I'll never shoot, especially combat-type drills which require a lot of ammo expenditure to get good, like point shooting.

Thanks!

 

[Old Fuff]

In theory someone could make a custom cylinder for the guns you mentioned, but the cost would be out of sight, and probably more then you paid for the gun. The only popular revolver I can think of with an optional 9mm cylinder is the Ruger Blackhawk .357 convertable, which I suspect is not your cup of tea.

 

[Jim Watson]

TK Custom makes clips and I think will convert a 686 to take 9mm in moonclips like so:

9x23 - S&W Model 686 - conversion of .357 Magnum cylinder
Cylinder must be rechambered to 9x23.The cylinders will then fire 9x23, 9x22, 9x21, 9mm, and .38 Super making it a very versatile conversion. Clips are .035 Thick.

http://www.moonclips.com

You will have to contact them about the conversion work, whether done there or elsewhere. It won't be cheap.

 

[The Mighty Beagle]

Unfortunately, the TK Custom guy doesn't seem to be doing the 9x23 conversion any more.

As for the Blackhawk, I haven't found a used one around here, but if I do I'll pick it up. I'll still eventually want double action though.

 

[JNewell]

Is there a bore diameter issue? Isn't the 9x19 .355" OD vs. .357" for .38 Special/.357 Magnum?

 

[Jim Watson]

No.
There is more variation than that within the same caliber. Lots of fine old Colt .38 Spl - .357 Mag at .354"; lots of furrin 9mms way big, I know of some at .359".

Even if TK doesn't do the conversion, he still advertises the clips, I bet Somebody could to the rechambering and facing operations.

 

[The Mighty Beagle]

OK, I did some more research. Here are some interesting findings ...

I found no one (except the Medusa people) offering any kind of 9mm cylinder or conversion.

Yes, there is a bore diameter discrepancy, but the Ruger Blackhawk 9mm conversions work adequately with the larger .357 bore. I would much rather have a 9mm barrel, but they are scarce and I was interested in creating a conversion with as little expense as possible.

Also, there's may be a slight difference in rifling twist between .357 and 9mm. I'm thinking it would have negligible results.

I found Clymer makes a 9mm cylinder reamer (Brownell's) and it's really not even that expensive if you might be doing more than a few conversions for a small fee. The real problem may be that a .38 Spec. chamber would start out too large to be converted to 9mm. If this is true, what size cylinder would you start with, a .32 Long or something? Where can you even buy blank cylinders?

How you would machine the cylinder to receive moonies though, that's a little outta my league.

 

[tomthel]

If it be a K frame Numrich shows a .32 Mag cylinder assembly in stock for $111. I would think the 9mm pressure is way stouter than the .32 so would wonder about metallurgy.

Perhaps Numrich will get in a Security/Speed/Service Six 9mm cylinder some time in the future.

Dave Clements makes .44 Spc. conversions on the GP-100 using an unfluted cylinder so the cylinder blanks may be available from him.

 

[The Mighty Beagle]

Thanks Tom,

I e-mailed Clements, we'll see what he says.

 

[Big Daddy]

As far as the Medusa goes, I have one. I toy with selling it from time to time, so if I do I'll contact you. Mine has a 4" barrel and the black teflon finish.

Many people question the accuracy of the Medusa as .38/.357 and 9mm have slightly different bore diameters. I don't know how to explain it, or if it even needs explaining, but mine has always been accurate enough for me. I get 2" groups or slightly larger at 20 to 25 yards. Maybe the few thousandths aren't as big of a deal as everyone makes them out to be. As for if they are still made, I am not sure. All of the phone numbers I have are no longer any good, and the web page that Phillips and Rodgers had is no longer any good.

 

[The Mighty Beagle]

Thanks Big Daddy, I may take you up on that.

Dave Clements says that it would require a new cylinder with a minimum cost of $700. Bummer, looks like I'm out of ideas.

 

[Old Fuff]

Ya know ....

If I was in your shoes I'd see about getting a progressive loading press (if you don't have one already) and turn out .38 or .357 Magnum reloads using cast 148 or 158 grain bullets. One of these presses turns out ammunition pretty quick, and I don't think the components would be all that more expensive then GOOD 9mm ball. Someday an affordable 9mm revolver may come your way, but this would do in the meantime. There are lots of ways to inexpensively customize a handgun, but having a custom cylinder made is not one of them.

 

[The Mighty Beagle]

Hey Old Fuff,

I have a Hornady Lock-N-Load progressive, it's just that I hate using it unless it's absolutely necessary, like for magnum pistol calibers and 7mm Mag. I don't really reload 9mm anymore, preferring to just buy it. I think you are right though, I'm just going to have to buckle down and reload a bunch of light .38's for what I want (a cheap police trade-in). They'll be more accurate anyway.

 

[Old Fuff]

Well, being elderly and old-fashioned (not to mention set in my ways) I still turn out handgun loads on an old single-station Pacific press that should be in a museum along with its owner. Fast I am not, but I have been known to kick over an 8-inch plate at 80 yards with a .45 and interlock holes at 25 using a .38 Special. A lot of that “inexpensive†(read that “cheapâ€) ammunition you find nowadays didn’t see much quality control when it was put together. Course some of the folks that blast away with it are satisfied if they can hit a barn if they’re inside and the door's closed. The only way I’ve found to have accurate cartridges that aren’t budget-busters is to make my own. When you start cutting playing cards in half by hitting them edgeways at 7 yards using rounds you put together yourself you’ll understand what I mean.

 

[Big Daddy]

http://www.reedercustomguns.com/revolvers/skorpion.htm

Gary Reeder bought the remaining Medusa parts and is making them in a slightly different fashion. He has named it the Scorpion.

Anyway, I thought I would add that to this thread. I have one of the original Medusa guns and will probably sell it. It is very neat and nice to have but with a new house on the way and needing a new car it isn't practical for me.

 

[DeakonG]

I don't know if this might help but what about the old S&W 940??? It was, if my memory serves me well, a 9MM J-frame. I bring it up because I think Brownells might still have replacement barrels and cylinders for it. Don't quote me on that though. Now if I'm right, couldn't you transfer those parts onto a .357 J-frame??? I say .357 because I believe it would handle the pressures better than the .38. Of course this is only if you want a little gun as opposed to a full-sizer.

Just something I've pondered before...

G

 

[Brian D.]

DeakonG, I've got a similar set up. My friendly local pistolsmith/ex-armorer was able to order me a model 940 cylinder direct from S&W. After a bit of fitting I put it into a (nickel) model 37 frame. I just left the ".38" barrel in place, and the gun seems to fire either caliber reliably/accurately. Of course, less than full power loads are used to practice with my "Model 937"--clever, eh?