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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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  #1  
Old 10-15-2019, 04:19 PM
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Default Converting J frame to shoot 9mm

I am considering having TK Custom convert my Model 60-14 3" to be able to shoot 9mm along with 38 Special and 357 Magnums. Has anyone had this conversion done and how did it work out for you?

Thanks!
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Old 10-15-2019, 06:10 PM
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I've done it to three 637-2 airweight J-frames, using titanium cylinders and center pins to reduce weight (12.5 oz).
Works great, with good accuracy.
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Old 10-15-2019, 09:08 PM
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Had TK Custom do a 360J cylinder and an older Model 60 unfluted cylinder for me.

Both work well and the work was top notch.
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Old 10-15-2019, 09:14 PM
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I have a 340 that was converted to accept 9mm up to 9x23 (IIRC, I've never shot anything but store bought 9x19). One of my few true keepers.

It's a great mod, chances are you'll not only love it, but if your a higher volume shooter who doesn't reload it can pay for itself.

DO IT!
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Old 10-15-2019, 10:32 PM
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It's also much faster to reload.
I keep three extra moon clips in a Walmart pill bottle.
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Old 10-16-2019, 09:51 AM
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Quote:
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It''s also much faster to reload.
I keep three extra moon clips in a Walmart pill bottle.
I'm curious who you found to machine the titanium cylinder. My understand was that in general only the steel cylinders can be modified. I know that's not technically true but I couldn't find anyone one when I searched a few years ago. I thought (assumed) it might be due to the higher case pressures of 9mm vs the difficulty of machining titanium, but I could be wrong.
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Old 10-16-2019, 09:56 AM
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Have no background on this conversion but one might think that shooting a round that's .355 out of a bore that's .357 would result in a good bit of blowby past the slug. Don
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Old 10-16-2019, 10:08 AM
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Have no background on this conversion but one might think that shooting a round that's .355 out of a bore that's .357 would result in a good bit of blowby past the slug. Don
And I wonder why too?
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Old 10-16-2019, 10:14 AM
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Anybody check for crimp jump in the lightweights?
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Old 10-16-2019, 04:17 PM
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TKC did my three titanium cylinder conversions (I think they may have since quit doing them). My last one was done about six months ago.
With the titanium cylinder and the Altamont combat grips, the 637-2 weighs 12.5 oz.
No crimp jump with 147gr 9mm JHP - I haven't tried .357 mag in them, and don't intend to, even though the peak pressures are the same and projectile weights are similar. Muzzle energy for the 147gr 9mm conversion with 1-7/8" barrel averages 292 ft-lb if I remember correctly.
No blowby or accuracy problems, the J-frame 9mm & .38Sp barrels reportedly have the same land diameter (that has been addressed here before, by others).
With the titanium cylinders, I do need to keep projectile weights above 120 grains to inhibit cylinder face erosion.

Last edited by JimCunn; 10-18-2019 at 05:34 AM.
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Old 10-19-2019, 05:19 PM
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Is there an advantage to convert a j-frame to shoot 9mm?
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Old 10-19-2019, 06:45 PM
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Several reasons.
9mm is more powerful than .38Sp+P.
Most of my other pistols are 9mm.
Cause I could.
9mm is cheaper than .38Sp, but you'll never shoot enough of it to pay for the conversion.
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Old 10-19-2019, 10:58 PM
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Both the .357 and 9 mm operate at over 30K PSI pressure while the .38 +P will do it at a tiny bit over 20K PSI.
If the gun can take .357 pressure it will take 9mm pressure.But dimensions both in width and length of the hole to be drilled in the cylinder might be problematic.Besides,performancewise,the 9 is quite limited in bullet shape and weight compared to the .38.
And if you, like I,are a believer in penetration,the .38 has a lot more flexibility than the 9(9mm max 147gr;.38 you can go up to 200gr while a 158 to 170 gr will offer optimum in an agressive SWC shape).
As a conclusion,financially speaking,I'd say that your money would be better invested somewhere else than this conversion.
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Old 10-20-2019, 03:23 AM
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The idea 9mm in a small frame wheel gun appealed to me for the increased Velocity presviuosly mentioned. I bought a Ruger LCR and tried it out. With target ammo I did experience crip jump more than once. I believe it was Winchester white box and some American Eagle. However, with Hornady and Gold dots dots I did not have an issue. I have since purchased some HST in volume to test as a carry load when I get back to the range.
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Old 10-20-2019, 04:36 AM
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Truly pointless unless you're a 9mm fanboy
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Old 10-20-2019, 10:59 AM
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Helps if you like your bug to use the same ammo as your primary.
In a airweight, also gives a lot more power than .38SP+P without the severe recoil of .357Mag.
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Old 10-20-2019, 11:08 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimCunn View Post
Helps if you like your bug to use the same ammo as your primary.
In a airweight, also gives a lot more power than .38SP+P without the severe recoil of .357Mag.
I know this used to be true. Is it still true? .357Mag is a really flexible round depending on powder and projectile chosen.

Aren't there 357Mag defensive loads now that are designed to be used in shorter barrel revolvers?

I think this idea of converting tevolvers to 9mm has become a "because I can and want to" exercise. Nothing wrong with that. Freedom is great.
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Old 10-20-2019, 11:08 AM
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"As a conclusion, financially speaking, I'd say that your money would be better invested somewhere else than this conversion".

No argument there, but since my three 637-2 airweights each have three cylinder and yoke assemblies (original unmodified stainless, unmodified titanium .38Sp/.357Mag, and titanium 9mm conversion), I don't see financial investment as a consideration. I do confess that I am somewhat overrun with cylinders and yokes.

BTW, I use 158gr .38Sp and 147gr 9mm.
Not much into .357Mag in a 12oz gun.

Last edited by JimCunn; 10-20-2019 at 08:36 PM.
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Old 10-20-2019, 11:11 AM
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I had considered it in the past but also just having my M&P 340 cut for MOON's for faster reloading of .38's. I realize that the shorter and in most cases more rounded configuration of the 9mm would likely feed easier. Have any of you done that or purchased a revolver already cut for moon clips and how well does that work?
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Old 10-20-2019, 11:12 AM
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"Freedom is great".

True 'nuff, it is.
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Old 10-20-2019, 08:34 PM
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I've only had my 9mm cylinders cut for moonclips. It is much faster, and more convenient when loading and ejecting. I speculate the same would be true for .357Mag and .38Sp, but can't confirm that.
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Old 10-20-2019, 09:38 PM
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The conversion looks super cool. Would make a great winter project...
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Old 04-16-2020, 07:58 PM
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Default Reloading with moon clips

I have factory 9mm LCR and a converted Smith 686 that will use 9x23, 38 Super, and 9x19 with moon clips. I suspect it would also use .380 but have not tried it. I still have the original 686 cylinder for 357 & 38 I also own several 9mm autos and handload. When I have a 9mm reload that doesn't feed in my autos, it goes into my box for the converted 686.

I have found that reloading either revolver with moon clips and round ball is much faster than 38 or 357 with speedloaders.

I first figured that out years ago carrying a 1917 with a shortened barrel on duty. A N frame double speedloader pouch would carry 24 rounds of 45 ACP while only 12 rounds of 357 or 38. I still carried a 38 J frame BUG in an ankle holster with a 2x2x2 dump pouch between the speedloader pouch of 45 and my duty holstered 4" 1917.
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Old 04-18-2020, 03:19 PM
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Default What cyl?

Quote:
Originally Posted by JimCunn View Post
I've done it to three 637-2 airweight J-frames, using titanium cylinders and center pins to reduce weight (12.5 oz).
Works great, with good accuracy.
Were these cylinders made from 38SPL cylinders or custom made cylinders?
Why not just buy a 940 or have a 940 cylinder fit to your frame?
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Old 04-18-2020, 07:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by reccpd101 View Post
I first figured that out years ago carrying a 1917 with a shortened barrel on duty. A N frame double speedloader pouch would carry 24 rounds of 45 ACP while only 12 rounds of 357 or 38. I still carried a 38 J frame BUG in an ankle holster with a 2x2x2 dump pouch between the speedloader pouch of 45 and my duty holstered 4" 1917.
Thanks for the tip. I occasionally carry a 625 .45ACP with 2 moon clips in a double case made for K/L frame speed loaders. I've got a double pouch and a single pouch for N frame speed loaders I used back when I carried a 25-5 .45 Colt. Sure enough, they hold twice as many moon clips as speed loaders.
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Old 04-19-2020, 06:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jcelect View Post
Were these cylinders made from 38SPL cylinders or custom made cylinders?
Why not just buy a 940 or have a 940 cylinder fit to your frame?
jcelect
I have 2 of the 940s with rubber boot grips. Recoil with both is sharp. Almost as sharp as my SP101 with 357 mag.
My opinion is that a Ruger LC9 is similar profile (Sort of), larger capacity, and LC9 recoil is much more manageable, to me.
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Old 04-20-2020, 10:39 AM
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"Were these cylinders made from 38SPL cylinders or custom made cylinders?"

Standard Titanium .38Sp/.357Mag cylinders reamed to 9x19 and cut for moonclip.

"Why not just buy a 940"

940 is heavy. Goal was to reduce weight of 637-2.

"have a 940 cylinder fit to your frame?"

940 cylinder is both heavy and too short to fit the 637-2 window opening.
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Old 04-20-2020, 11:11 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 326MOD10 View Post
Had TK Custom do a 360J cylinder and an older Model 60 unfluted cylinder for me.

Both work well and the work was top notch.
How is the accuracy? Acceptable?
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Old 04-20-2020, 11:42 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimCunn View Post
Several reasons.
9mm is more powerful than .38Sp+P.
Most of my other pistols are 9mm.
Cause I could.
9mm is cheaper than .38Sp, but you'll never shoot enough of it to pay for the conversion.
They're comparable, at least as reads to muzzle energy.

9mm vs 38 Special | Ballistics 101

Underwood +p's smoke 'em- but I imaginge firing one out of a J frame would be "uncomfortable"
38 Special +P 158 Grain Hard Cast Keith – Underwood Ammo
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Old 04-20-2020, 11:50 AM
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FWIW, my friends who own convertible Ruger Blackhawks say the 9 mm in a .357 bore works well if you stick with jacketed bullets. Cast, don't bother.
I imagine the same holds true with this conversion.
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Old 04-20-2020, 12:05 PM
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I think the conversion would be a consideration if you are shooting competition and want to carry only one caliber ammo.

For self defense purposes, rounds on target are the key regardless of the caliber. As for reloading speed, that will count in competition. In real life carry and shoot situations if you are still shooting after five rounds or six you are in deep S&%t.

My LOD shooting experience were 2 shots and the fight was over.
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Old 08-25-2020, 06:16 PM
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"Have no background on this conversion but one might think that shooting a round that's .355 out of a bore that's .357 would result in a good bit of blowby past the slu".

Since the Saami spec for .38Sp, .357 Mag, and 9mm land and groove diameter are all identical at .346 and .355, what causes the blowby?
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Old 11-13-2020, 06:50 AM
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Been a year since this thread started, so I thought I'd post a follow up.
My 12.5oz 9mm 637-2 J-frame conversions are still by far my favorite carry.
So far, no problems with crimp jump, and the conversions are far more accurate than I am.
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Old 11-13-2020, 12:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jcelect View Post
Why not just buy a 940
You're reading my mind, again, Joe! I like my 940.

Jim offered a reasonable answer, "weight," but I quit worrying about that when I gave up my M&P 340 for my 640 Pro.
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Old 11-13-2020, 01:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nicky4968 View Post
FWIW, my friends who own convertible Ruger Blackhawks say the 9 mm in a .357 bore works well if you stick with jacketed bullets. Cast, don't bother.
I imagine the same holds true with this conversion.
Stick a .359" in the 9mm and it is very acceptable. Just a matter of a couple of coats of powder and a bake.
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Old 11-13-2020, 06:13 PM
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My 940 does not like cast lead bullets. They tumble at 7 rds.


Jacketed or plated no problems.



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Old 11-13-2020, 06:19 PM
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" but I quit worrying about that when"

I'll bet you are younger than me :-)
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Old 11-13-2020, 07:46 PM
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Aren’t 940 barrels hard if not impossible to find?
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Old 11-13-2020, 08:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike, SC Hunter View Post
And I wonder why too?
Actually, you don't need a 940 barrel at all. Years ago I converted a 1992 mfg. no dash 640 from .38 to 9mm with one of the last 940 cylinders the S&W Performance Center had on the shelf and that gun will put 5 rounds into one hole at 7 yards with 3 different loads. The guy who sold me the cylinder told me that the 940 barrels were .357 caliber despite the 9mm rollmark. The only difference was the external contours.

Last edited by roundels; 11-13-2020 at 08:09 PM.
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Old 11-13-2020, 11:03 PM
CherryRiver CherryRiver is offline
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My experience with shooting 9x19 in a Smith revolver is a mixed bag.
Years ago, Tom the founder of TK Custom came to the ICORE regional, the Wheelgunner's Revenge at Niles, Michigan.
He saw my future wife, a sponsored USPSA Single Stack/Limited shooter, taking a dab into round guns, competing with my 6" 686 that I'd worked over for action pistol competition.
She was fine with the shooting part, of course, but without having put time into reloading she wasn't going to get into the top ten. And, given the amount of practice she devoted to Single Stack, the Comp IIIs weren't going to get the call.
Still, Tom saw potential and sponsored her with a new cylinder and a pile of his excellent 9x19/.38 Super moonclips plus a loader.
Basically, factory 9mm ammunition could not get anywhere near to making the power floor in USPSA, even in a six-inch barrel.
I made some moderate .38 Super loads with SnS 147s but she never did cotton to the whole thing.
I tried some souped-up .38 Supers that made Major power level. I hesitate to think of what the pressure may have been, but the stout 686 didn't seem to mind.
In the end, I got better scores with my .45 ACP revo, which is a lot faster to reload and rather milder to shoot compared to mid-level .357 magnum, so the outfit got put aside.
These days, the converted cylinder goes into the 4" 586 and gets fired mostly with .38 Super; I have quite a supply of the stuff from the USPSA days.
If ever I were to carry it, I'd consider the 9x23 Silvertips I have a small supply of. These 125s exit the blue gun at just over 1500fps. That's serious.
In general, though, getting full power out of the conversion is not usually the case.
In our training business, we did see a number of the Ruger LCR 9s, and many of them did have some crimp-jumping issues with ordinary factory FMJs. This often ties the gun up completely, so if it's a self-defense gun, this would need to verified.
Oddly, we have not seen one of these guns in a class in several years now.
To the point about 9x19 and .38 Special being more or less equal in effectiveness for self defense, or the .38 being less powerful, I'd say that only stands until some Buffalo Bore is located.
His 158gr SWC-HP comes smoking out of my 2" Detective Special at well over 900fps, and in some of my 4" guns comes close to 1100fps. That power level, combined with the highly-effective bullet design, puts just about any 9x19 on the trailer.
One more thing- the quality of the TK work and products is absolutely excellent and a joy to behold. Top notch.
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Old 11-14-2020, 11:31 AM
armprairie armprairie is offline
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Were these some you reloaded yourself? How snugly did the bullets fit the throat of the revolver? Do you know what diameter the throat is and what diameter the bullets are? I'm considering a 9mm conversion myself and trying to see how feasible it is. Any info appreciated.
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Old 11-14-2020, 12:04 PM
CherryRiver CherryRiver is offline
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armprairie, I have to confess to not doing the science.
The only factory loads I tried were the aforementioned 9x19 FMJs. I might guess they were Blazer Brass, but it was long ago.
Everything else was by me. I pretty much always use SnS Casting, and most all of what I've shot through this cylinder were 147gr round-nose coated.
At this suggestion, I measured the throats with inexpensive calipers I happen to have near my computer and got between 0.356 and 0.357", for whatever that's worth.
The accuracy of my .38 Super loads has been satisfactory, but then, I don't use them for bullseye, just mostly action pistol.
Edited to add:
While you are cautioned by the gunsmith conversion guys not to shoot .357 Magnum in your re-cut chambers, on the few occasions I've tried it, not much unusual happened. The fired cases did show a small ring at the Super's mouth cut but it wasn't a big deal to me.
If I was carrying a small revolver heavier than a 642, my preference would be something like the 640 Pro with the good sights, and cut for .38 Super.
9x23 Winchester would be shootable I suppose but I will guess the blast and recoil would be prohibitive. Super is a good balance.
Why Super over .357 Magnum reduced recoil? Because of the reloading process.
.38 or .357 cases in a moon are pretty floppy and the moons themselves are quite fragile. The .38 Supers are much less of both of those faults and can be thrown around with some force.
And the big advantage of the moons during a reload is ejection. Even when I was at the top of my revo action pistol game, my .38 Special reloads in the 586 were never as swift or as positive as the moonclipped .38 Super ones were.
Under stress, the moonclip with the short case length is superior.

Last edited by CherryRiver; 11-14-2020 at 12:12 PM.
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Old 11-14-2020, 03:53 PM
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I have a novice question, why is the pressure less for 38sp+P vs 9mmLuger (20,000psi vs 35,000psi resp.) when the volume of powder is much greater (almost 1/2” longer), powder type?
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  #44  
Old 11-14-2020, 03:59 PM
CherryRiver CherryRiver is offline
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steve, the .38 Special is an older cartridge that was used in revolvers that could not handle more than that specific pressure, 17,500psi if my memory holds.
That is true of many older cartridges from the black powder era. Black powder required far more volume yet produced lower pressures than smokeless powder.
That's why the old Special case is so big.
The 9x19 was designed for smokeless propellants and never needed that volume. Meanwhile, the improving designs of the guns it would be used in allowed the higher pressure level, 35,000psi.
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Old 11-14-2020, 06:36 PM
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two-bit cowboy two-bit cowboy is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimCunn View Post
I'll bet you are younger than me :-)
Perhaps.

At 6'3" and 250 lbs, the difference in Airweight and steel is pretty inconsequential in a pancake holster.
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Old 11-17-2020, 01:28 PM
JimCunn JimCunn is offline
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Bigger'n me too.... :-)

P.S. TK quality is indeed superb.

Last edited by JimCunn; 11-17-2020 at 01:30 PM.
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Old 11-20-2020, 06:30 PM
Joezilla Joezilla is offline
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If I were interested in doing the conversion from 38 special to 9mm for my j-frame 642, any one have an idea of how much $$ it would take? and also, how long to get it back?

Joe
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  #48  
Old 11-20-2020, 06:41 PM
CherryRiver CherryRiver is offline
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You should find the answers here:
TK Custom - Revolver Moon Clips, Tools, Parts & More - TK Custom
Cylinder Work | Pinnacle High Performance

Last edited by CherryRiver; 11-20-2020 at 06:42 PM.
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  #49  
Old 11-21-2020, 11:36 AM
v84x4 v84x4 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joezilla View Post
If I were interested in doing the conversion from 38 special to 9mm for my j-frame 642, any one have an idea of how much $$ it would take? and also, how long to get it back?

Joe
it took 7 days from Michigan from the time I shipped to the time I received my Cylinder back (USPS)

I purchased all the bells and whistles so I spent about $500
but you can just get the conversion and clips for under $350

And with the price of ammo (If you go to the range a lot like I do)
The conversion will pay for itself in about 5 weeks

About to go to the range today (First shots and thoughts)

regards, Rick

Last edited by v84x4; 11-21-2020 at 11:37 AM.
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  #50  
Old 11-24-2020, 04:41 AM
JimCunn JimCunn is offline
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Buy a titanium .38Sp/.357Mag cylinder from Midway for $139. Have TK or Pinnacle convert it (check first to see if they will still do titanium). Use your existing star and yoke with it. That way, your pistol isn't ever out of operation.
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