Why Arent 9mm Revolvers More Popular?
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aka108
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At one time I owned a good number of 9mm pistols. Luger, p38's and about 4 others. Sold all except for a Star M30. A few months ago I ran across a Ruger Blackhawk Convertible. Came with two cylinders. One for 9mm and the other for 357/38 Spec. Was really tickled to get it since I load for 9mm. The only difficulty I had to overcome was getting the cartridges to go far enough into the cyinder. All my reloads workd fine in the semi autos. Found I had to set the crimping die to where it really squeezes bullet into the case like king kong gone mad. Now everything is fine and I find the Blackhawk a nice firearm to spend some time with.
45_auto
Member
realgun said:
I haven't bought any centerfire pistol ammo since the 1980's. It all cost the same for me, about $.10 per round depending on the bullet I use.
However, I have friends that don't shoot as much, and they use factory ammo. So I've been keeping an eye out for them to see what's available for their purchase since Sandy Hook. The only thing reasonably priced and available locally is Tulammo 9mm at Wal-Mart for $10.87 per box of 50, which is about $.23 per round. 38 and 357 were higher than that BEFORE Sandy Hook, so I doubt if they'll be less if they ever become available around here again.
Even the online ammo finders such as Gunbot show plenty of 9mm available for around $.25 per round. Cheapest .38 is $.35, cheapest .357 is $.45 per round.
I guess because it has several hurdles in terms of demand.
First, like it or not, majority of the pistol shooters now choose self-loaders than revolvers. Walk into any range, and this will be evident.
Seond, out of the revolver shooters, who will be the customers of 9mm revolvers? Definitely not the 357 Magnum and up crowd. It's the 38 Special crowd.
Who shoots 38 Special? Of course, there are some exceptions, but generally from my observation it is either beginners, people who bought a revolver as their first gun, or revolver era cops who never transitioned to self-loaders.
The point is that shooters of 38 Special, the most likely ammo 9mm would substitute, are only a small segment of already minority revolver shooters, and they're generally not an enthusiastic bunch at that either.
How many of those people even know that the smaller 9mm cartridge is more powerful than 38 Special?
Among that small segment of people who knows that 9mm is more powerful, how many of them knows it is even possible to use 9mm in a revolver?
Among that small segment of people who knows it is possible, how many of them are willing to go through the trouble of using clips and deviate from standard revolver usage?
Of course, there are more enthusiastic shooters who shoot 38 Special for their M642 type snub nose revolvers. But, those recoil hard as it is, and 9mm is even more powerful than 38 Special +P. It can make recoil even harder. For what performance gain? From a less than 2 inch barrel and a cylinder gap that does not exist in a self-loader, how much gain for the trouble?
First, like it or not, majority of the pistol shooters now choose self-loaders than revolvers. Walk into any range, and this will be evident.
Seond, out of the revolver shooters, who will be the customers of 9mm revolvers? Definitely not the 357 Magnum and up crowd. It's the 38 Special crowd.
Who shoots 38 Special? Of course, there are some exceptions, but generally from my observation it is either beginners, people who bought a revolver as their first gun, or revolver era cops who never transitioned to self-loaders.
The point is that shooters of 38 Special, the most likely ammo 9mm would substitute, are only a small segment of already minority revolver shooters, and they're generally not an enthusiastic bunch at that either.
How many of those people even know that the smaller 9mm cartridge is more powerful than 38 Special?
Among that small segment of people who knows that 9mm is more powerful, how many of them knows it is even possible to use 9mm in a revolver?
Among that small segment of people who knows it is possible, how many of them are willing to go through the trouble of using clips and deviate from standard revolver usage?
Of course, there are more enthusiastic shooters who shoot 38 Special for their M642 type snub nose revolvers. But, those recoil hard as it is, and 9mm is even more powerful than 38 Special +P. It can make recoil even harder. For what performance gain? From a less than 2 inch barrel and a cylinder gap that does not exist in a self-loader, how much gain for the trouble?
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Hondo 60
Member
ME!
I HATE losing brass, so a 9mm revolver is way cool IMHO.
And I think as we age, bending over to pick up all that brass ... well you get the picture.
It also works as a BUG (backup gun) for those who carry a 9MM semi-auto.
(2 guns, same ammo)
The backup deal makes the most sense if I wanted to go 9mm all the way . Had a bud who carried a HK 9mm pistol , then he had a 9mm MP 5 full auto for his truck gun and carried a 942 S&W snub in an ankle holster for his back up piece. 9mm for everything.
He liked that set up a lot.
He liked that set up a lot.
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weblance
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I started this thread over a year ago. My Taurus 905 has been perfect, through almost 2,000 rounds now. The comments about moon clips dont add up for me. I dont see them being a problem at all. The argument about there being no advantage over 38/357, the cost of factory ammo is the advantage. When things settle down, and the costs return to normal, there is a big difference in cost compared 38 Special.
I would like to see sales numbers for the world, and compare that to the USA. It would be interesting to see how popular the 9mm revolver really is.
I would like to see sales numbers for the world, and compare that to the USA. It would be interesting to see how popular the 9mm revolver really is.
wally
Member
What brand(s) of ammo are you using?
My 905 has a very high misfire rate with some brands -- Win USA "white box", CCI Blazer Brass, & CCI Blazer aluminum in particular -- these are three of the most widely available "inexpensive" 9mm ammo.
My 905 seems to like S&B 115gr FMJ, PMC 115gr FMJ, Federal American Eagle 147gr FMJ, & Remington UMC 147gr FMJ.
My Pitbull has had no issues with any of these so far.
Both have difficult ejection issues with hotter loads or steel cased ammo.
I know I'm not the only one to report ignition issues with the 905. Like with anything, if you manage to get a good one, be happy but don't extrapolate too wildly.
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weblance
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Almost all of the ammo through mine has been Federal FMJ and some Hornady Critical Defense, and Hornady Custom. I have never had a light strike, and ignition has been 100%. Extraction can be sticky at times, but only after maybe 70-80 rounds without a cylinder brushing. I have been very pleased with my 9mm revolver.
wally
Member
Federal has been fine in mine, as has Winchester SXT. Try some CCI Blazer brass next time out, I'm curious. My Blazer stash is five or six years old (mostly I shoot reloads in autoloaders), things could be better or worse now but I was averaging two misfires in five shots with it last time I had the 905 out (when I was comparing it to my new Pitbull).
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
I take it you have never shot a 9mm revolver. My 642 conversion to 942 shoots better than 38 but not quite 357. It handles well and shoots straight. I can shoot 15 rounds quite quickly. I use the ruger moonclips they hold the rounds tighter than the S&W.
rbernie
Contributing Member
There just aren't enough of them out there to get any interest in them. I had a 942; it was OK, but I'd have preferred a 9x19 649 or 638 or 637/37 in J frame and a 9x19 15/10/12.
Limiting the offering to just a small special run on the DAO J frame didn't really give the combination of 9x19 and revolver much of a chance....
Limiting the offering to just a small special run on the DAO J frame didn't really give the combination of 9x19 and revolver much of a chance....
Dunno about that - I bought one locally from sumdood and AFAIK there was nothing particularly special about his possessing it. It was just a short run item.
I agree. I wanted a 9mm revolver but I really wanted adjustable sights, that's why I passed on the Ruger Speed Six and SP 101, at the time I thought that someone would make a model with adjustable sights - I didn't know 9mm revolvers were going to become so scarce.
And when I talked to Dan Brown at Czechpoint U.S.A, I asked him if there were any way to order the 6" Alfa Proj 9261 or the 4" 9241 models and he said no - he was only importing the 3" 9231 model.
I'd love to have the 6" barrel version, but Dan obviously doesn't think he could sell enough to make it worthwhile.
Here is a bit of a cornball video on it, I think most of us can guess what he is saying - maybe use this video to begin learning Czech:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlGD1nNzyEU
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Picked up a Charter arms Pitbull nice little toy! Put 100rds thru it last week, seemed to like Ranger 147 gr the best. Used WW 115gr, 124gr reloads and 147 gr. No problems so far, next will be the Bulldog mine was stolen about 30yrs ago, now they make them in stainless, not bad for the price and they are only 8 miles from me.
Me too.
The only real issue is that some 9mm ammo will not eject well even with the moon clips.
I experimented until I found a factory load which would reliably eject (Winchester 115gr Silvertips).
Nice little revolver which I enjoy shooting and is plenty accurate.
Allows for versatility.
Don't know what all the Hub-Ub is about.
The only real issue is that some 9mm ammo will not eject well even with the moon clips.
I experimented until I found a factory load which would reliably eject (Winchester 115gr Silvertips).
Nice little revolver which I enjoy shooting and is plenty accurate.
Allows for versatility.
Don't know what all the Hub-Ub is about.
Well, I just came across a YouTube video of the new, for 2014, S&W 929...compensated eight-shot 9mm on built on an N-frame
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBW3IJdU4bQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBW3IJdU4bQ
Nite Ryder
Member
weblance:I find it hard to understand how inserting cartridges in moon clips is any different than inserting cartridges in magazines... Granted, a standard style revolver requires nothing but dropping the cartridge in the chambers of the cylinder, but I think the savings of $5 per 50 is worth the inconvience. I guess those of us with rimless revolvers should enjoy our little "secret" and just be happy.
Possibly you find it hard to understand because you don't have one, or haven't used one very much. 9MM in revolvers don't sell, if they did more would be built. I have a Ruger BH that fires 9 MM, I never ever use that cylinder, I prefer 39 special over 9 MM. If I'm going to use moonclips, I want something that I consider worthwhile. I have over 30 moonclips for my S&W 610, they are faster than using a speed loader but carrying around four loaded moonclips is troublesome unless I'm in a hunting situation. Where I live I can buy 45 ACP as cheap as I can buy 9MM, and I would much rather spend my money on 45's. I do have a 1911 that shoots 9MM, but again, I don't shoot that much 9 MM when something else is available.
Possibly you find it hard to understand because you don't have one, or haven't used one very much. 9MM in revolvers don't sell, if they did more would be built. I have a Ruger BH that fires 9 MM, I never ever use that cylinder, I prefer 39 special over 9 MM. If I'm going to use moonclips, I want something that I consider worthwhile. I have over 30 moonclips for my S&W 610, they are faster than using a speed loader but carrying around four loaded moonclips is troublesome unless I'm in a hunting situation. Where I live I can buy 45 ACP as cheap as I can buy 9MM, and I would much rather spend my money on 45's. I do have a 1911 that shoots 9MM, but again, I don't shoot that much 9 MM when something else is available.
Willie Sutton
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Why?
For the same reason there aren't too many .38 Special autoloaders.... (and yes, there are some).
Willie
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For the same reason there aren't too many .38 Special autoloaders.... (and yes, there are some).
Willie
.
I read most of the comments on this thread initiated over a year ago and must say, I agree with Weblance's premise entirely. It seemed odd why production had ceased on the venerable little SP101 in 9mm. From what I gather (and contrary to the conjecture on this thread), production had commenced in the first place to fulfill overseas demand for ammo commonality with semi-auto pistols and selling stateside was merely a secondary consideration from Ruger and had ceased when these contracts overseas were fulfilled and not necessarily because of any lackluster domestic sales. A lot of guns would have met their production demise if sluggish U.S. sales were the sole consideration.
One likely reason to kill further production of revolvers in 9mm is that continued production would appeal to a customer base who would otherwise purchase a traditional caliber revolver, such as .38 special, etc., thus cutting into ammo sales of those other calibers. Gun manufacturers are beholden to ammo manufactures to some extent or, at the very least, don't want to rile them.
About moon clips: Moon clips are quite convenient, not inconvenient. In Ruger's SP101 9mm revolver moon clips were provided for convenience but aren't even necessary to shoot this model due to rim shoulders inside the cylinder wall to ensure proper head spacing and retention of the 9mm round.
If anything, moon clips are more convenient than the speed loaders that are used with traditional revolver calibers, such as .38 special/,357 magnum because the moon clips stay with the shells in the 9mm caliber and you simply close the cylinder with the rounds in place - as opposed to the need to turn some knob to release the rounds, as is necessary with traditional revolver caliber speed loaders... oh, then you gotta deal with this empty speed loader in your hand before shooting. Therefore, the moon clip is more convenient (and speedier) than actual speed loaders, but I repeat myself lol!
Bottom line: Weblance presents meritorious points here. The practicality of a 9mm revolver are under appreciated and not even understood by many.
"We're all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." ~~
"Never pass up a good opportunity to keep your mouth shut." Sir Winston Churchhill
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