Any 9mm revolvers?

[k22fan]

Security Six 9mm?

Ruger made a run of Security Sixes in 9 mm back I believe in the seventies. Actually they are rare and comand a good price.

I've gotten curious enough to beg for a Ruger expert to straighten out the information in this thread or for a verifiable source. The reason is, I'd love to have a 9mm revolver that is competitive against moon clip loading model 686s, 627s & 625s in matches, and I'd pay a "good price" to get one. Security Sixes were affordable utility guns that lacked the class of S&Ws, but my experience with one has been quite positive. It is my understanding that Ruger only made Service Sixes and Speed Sixes in 9mm, not Security Sixes. I see the 9mm Speed Sixes around, but not the Service Sixes, so were more of the snub noses made?

Getting back to S&Ws, David Sinko writes "S&W is notorious for putting .357" barrels on some of their Supers (like the expensive first run PC eight shooters)." Do the current, or 2nd run of 627 .38 Supers have smaller groove diameters and what about the L frame .38 Supers?

Thanks in advance for any additional information.

Gil

 

[tekarra]

There is a lot of discussion of 9mms here.

Big Foot; How about some more photos and details on your 547s? I have several and all the triggers are superior to my other S&Ws.

David Sinko; Your comments about S&W and 9mm revolvers may have validity, but I sure would like to see them prove you wrong and re-introduce the 547 and 940.

Here are a few of my 9mm revolvers, apologies for the photo quality.

 

[Tupperware]

Why not a trigger job? Most purists want a undisturbed piece.

Don't give up so quick. It's possible to dramatically improve the double action trigger pull on a Smith revo without any permanent modifications to original parts.

 

[Engine49guy]

Ruger made a Blackhawk with convertable 357 and 9mm cylinders.
( also made on in 30 M1 carbine caliber.)

Saw a blued one listed on a local forum here....

Also saw a Colt Trooper in 9mm but it was apparently a rare gun.

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

547s are known for having a heavier than normal trigger pull originaly as they were designed for Hard primer military ammo & they have two firing pins one that strike the case to push it farward & the other to set the primer off.. I always assumed S&W made them with a heavier hammer spring than they used in other revolvers to maintain 100% reliability with any ammo used..
Both the hammer spring & rebound springs can be changed & a few areas internaly such as the rebound slide can be smoothed & the trigger pull can be as good as any K frame..
Also the original springs can be kept & labeled were they came from if you ever sell it..
I've always liked the Ruger Speed Six in 9mm but have never came across one when the finacial advisers were graceing me with their presence..
The Idea of being able to shoot the much cheaper 9mm para cartridge in a revolver is a great one..
Gary/Hk

 

[5Wire]

The 3-inch's trigger was different than the 4-inch's on mine. The 4-inch double action felt more "normal" to pull where the 3-inch's double action pull felt more like a "high lift" cam, a shorter, faster but heavier stroke. The single action pulls were about the same, to me, pretty crisp.

 

[Big Foot]

Thanks Headknocker & Tupperware, good suggestions for a lighter squeeze. Maybe my strength isn't what it used to be..I don't have a trigger guage, I bet it exceeds 14 lbs. My friends guage only goes to 12 lbs and it exceeds his scale.
Also, like many out there, you have the quandry of firing a rapid appreciated pistol, the usage vs the rewards when selling. I have other range guns and so it makes the choice easier for me...

 

[David Sinko]

A six shot 9mm revolver really has no place in the gun games, especially if moonclipped. In IDPA it would be an ESR gun and have to be loaded to 165 PF. It could be used in USPSA but then at minor and would have no advantage. A six shooter doesn't hold enough rounds to be really competitive in Steel Challenge type events and it doesn't have much to offer for ICORE either. And besides, use of the moonclipped .38 Short Colt in eight shot .357 Magnum revolver works so well that not many serious shooters want to bother with 9mm.

In my experience the 9mm revolver is most viable and useful as a pocket gun. The 9mm and .38 Special produce similar ballistics out of the 2" barrels and the 9mm is more convenient with moonclips and full length extraction. The 547 seems to be a very expensive and complicated revolver to produce. And who today wants a 9mm revolver that uses speedloaders and can NOT use moonclips?

In this day and age I fear the 9mm revolver is dead, at least as a new production item.

Dave Sinko

 

[5Wire]

Dave, not all people buy revolvers to play games.

 

[k22fan]

A six shot 9mm revolver really has no place in the gun games...

I don't doubt you are correct for highly populated areas that can turn out large enough numbers of shooters to split them between disciplines and turn away would be participants who show up with equipment that does not meet nit-picky rules. In my small city the only match that is run "correctly" by somebody else's official rules is a monthly IPSC match that draws shooters from out of the area. Nearly all the other matches except for cowboy have these rules in common: maximum 6 ctg. in any gun, .380 ACP minimum, and steel targets must fall down for a decent score. 9mm reliably knocks down all the steel at our club and all the clubs within 2 hour's drive. The six round rule is popular so revolvers do not have to be scored separately. A weekly series just started that is limited to open sights primarily so that new shooter don't arrive, take one look at gamers' exotic guns, turn around and leave. I love open sights only!

I can shoot in my back yard for free. If I get motivated to spend over 3 hours on the highway and pay the fees for a correctly run match, bullseye gets 1st priority. I wish there was enough interest to run a bullseye series by the rules, but bullseye is set up so you can spend a lifetime trying to improve your score, and most shooters want high scores to take less effort. For a revolver enthusiast at most of the matches run locally, a 9mm with moon clips would be the most economical to feed when I don't have time for reloading.

Best regards;

Gil

 

[cherokee5425]

I was just going to put a new post out there when I seen this one on the 940 Revolvers. I have the opportunity to buy one for $425.00 like new. I have always liked the idea of a snubby in 9mm. I have 4 "J" frames in .38 spl. and thought a 9mm one would be a great addition.

 

[5Wire]

I was just going to put a new post out there when I seen this one on the 940 Revolvers. I have the opportunity to buy one for $425.00 like new. I have always liked the idea of a snubby in 9mm. I have 4 "J" frames in .38 spl. and thought a 9mm one would be a great addition.

You haven't bought it yet?

 

[tekarra]

cherokee,
Don't let it slip away! That is a good deal.

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

Buy it quickly with a smile as you score it..
My 940 is probobly my favorite J Frame..
Gary/Hk

 

[hastings]

In this day and age I fear the 9mm revolver is dead, at least as a new production item, Dave Sinko

Wow. this comment really gave me pause. Not because I disagree with it, but because it highlights the extreme differences in perspective we are capable of. The validity of a cartridge/handgun paring based on it's performance in competition never even entered my mind. Shooting, for me, has always been centered around family, friends, and the outdoors. If it can roll a pinecone, it's a viable firearm. While dropping a black bear is a common litmus test for a woods-gun in my parts, any cartridge will do for fun. Holsters need to retain revolvers while climbing rocky ravines, and the only timer is the sun hitting the hills marking time to head back to civilization (physically).

I've shot in some competitions, and qualification training (back in the early 80's) and enjoyed myself, but shooting tin-cans with my grandfather, hunting deer with friends, teaching my son to shoot, these are more pleasant memories and more of what shooting is about for me. With ammo prices at ridiculous levels, 22lr and 9mm revolvers are worth their weight in lead as far as I'm concerned. I've been eyeing a nice older 9mm/357 Ruger at the local gunshop, and thinking of having a model 10 converted.

If competition shooting and gun games are the driving forces in revolver development and sales, I've lived to long. I've been taxed, timed, ruled and regulationed to death and shooting, for me, is a relaxing step back in time to a simpler, more rational place where conscience and honor dictated conduct and peace officers carried 38 specials, not glocks and M4's. Gun games deserve a huge amount of respect, in my book, and a healthy share of the market. Just leave some room for plinkers, woods-walkers, and tin-can hunters. That's how I started shooting, how I started my son and daughters, and how I will soon start my grandson.
A model 34 and a 9mm revolver with a 3 or 4 inch barrel would be a good way to get going.

Reeling from perspective shift
Hastings

 

[5Wire]

Nice post, hastings.

 

[redcoat]

I have a couple of 9mm revolvers, too.

Well said, Hastings. I believe you have voiced the opinion of thousands of us who share the thoughts you so eloquently put in your post. Bravo!

 

[David Sinko]

Don't get me wrong here... I'm not looking at the 9mm revolver only from a competition gun perspective. The one and only 9mm handgun I own (my 940) is a deadly serious gun but can be a lot of fun too. It's not for everybody though, because even though I believe that mine is an outstanding example that was made right it still has some quirks that can bite the casual shooter, or at least the shooter who doesn't take the time to understand it. Mine has good chambers but it can still be disabled by inferior ammo, such as ammo with brass that is too soft (A-Merc and Norinco come to mind) or too fast a powder in high quality brass, either factory loaded or handloaded. The autos take all the bad ammo in stride, and we revolver shooters tend to expect the same. The 9mm revolver can be very problematic, but it's the nature of the beast. The tapered case can be very unforgiving. I'm sure S&W went through hell with the 940; most owners probably expected these revolvers to shoot everything well, and I'm sure there were some bad expamples that shot nothing well. So this revolver developed a bad reputation. Even if S&W did not cut corners and made a new 9mm revolver with perfect chambers (pure fantasy, but for the sake of argument we'll presume they get it right) I'd still expect problems with at least some types of ammo. I think S&W has learned that there's no such thing as a foolproof 9mm revolver. Making a new model is not worth the headache to them, and that's why we'll not see any more.

But all said and done I would like to see them prove me wrong.

Dave Sinko

 

[stiab]

The 9mm revolver can be very problematic, but it's the nature of the beast. Dave Sinko

I have not had any problems with any ammo in mine. Did I just get lucky or is that because mine is the dash 1 model (940-1)?

 

[HEADKNOCKER]

You just got lucky!!
I've loaned the 9mm cylinder hones out enough times to know that many are rough & won't extract well..
There are some that are very ammo finicky as David said above..
Anyone who has a 940 with a finicky cylinder email me & the flex hones can be on their way to your door FREE..
Gary [email protected]