929 is NOT 9x19, but 9x21!

[WhistlerSWE]

About the S&W 929.

Fact 1:
People are reporting trouble with accuracy when using light to medium weight bullets up to 124 gn. Most people get reasonable to good accuracy with heavy bullets 140-160 gn.

Fact 2:
People report residue build ups in the chamber, right before the throats. Similar to those found when shooting .38 Special in a .357 Magnum cylinder.

Fact 3:
9x21 brass fits like a glove in the 929 revolver, that is sold and heavily marketed as a 9x19 revolver.

So, we have a cylinder cut for 9x21, that is sold as 9x19 and when people use 9x19 they have accuracy troubles, since light bullets will clear the case before they reach the throat.

I'm thinking liability issues on S&W's part. Will they even acknowledge this, or will they just blame Taurus (who manufacture all S&W titanium cylinders)?

 

[aw93se]

ALL 929 and 986 users do this check. If the 9x21 case fit's nicly like the pictuers above you have a 9x21 cylinder.

 

[qballwill]

I dont have either gun, but I am interested to see what other owners results are.

 

[loveaffair#686]

I'm with qballwill ^

Also, I wasn't aware of this:

...or will they just blame Taurus (who manufacture all S&W titanium cylinders)?

 

[CALREB]

Well, I will check mine first thing tomorrow, because I havent even shot it lately , I was so disappointed in its accuracy,compared to any other S/W revolvers I own.
Tested it with 105/115/124/ a couple 147 gr 9X19 ammo and nothing shot worth a darn.. AND I had to push the last few moonclips to seat them into the cylinder (wasnt thrilled about that either) after 70 -80 rounds. Thanks for the tip. Bob

 

[M3Stuart]

Who was that character who used to say; "veerrrreee eenteresting"?

 

[625smith]

Who was that character who used to say; "veerrrreee eenteresting"?

Arte Johnson..........Laugh in

 

[dentkimterry]

Who was that character who used to say; "veerrrreee eenteresting"?

Arte Johnson

 

[9146gt]

Not surprising as Smith made a 9X21 revolver for export to Italy a few years ago.

Tom

 

[old&slow]

I didn't have any 9x21 brass in my misc. box. So, I trimmed a 38 super comp. brass to .833 length. And it seemed to fit fine. FWIW , a 38 super brass ( .900 ) sized in a 9mm die was to long.

I'll have to see if I can find some real 9x21's to try.

I've been using 147 gr cast and FMJ in my 9x19 brass and I'm quite satisfied with the accruacy of my 929. And since I have a 5 gallon bucket of 9x19 brass I probably won't be switching to 9x21 brass any time soon.

But it is,, verry interesting.

 

[gose]

S&W claims that all 929s are 9x19. This is from an email I received earlier this morning:
"It is 9 x 19. There is no other version of that model."

 

[H Richard]

Did anyone else see the "Impossible Shots" program last week? Jerry Miculek was doing fast reloads using his new 929. He shot it and reloaded it (average 1.84 sec.) very quickly.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

As I recall, the whole quote was......

"Veerrrreee eenteresting.... but stupid!"

 

[colt_saa]

I can not believe that a chamber that is 2MM longer then expected is causing an accuracy issue.

Not even a tenth of an inch, it is .078"

If that extra length were such a big deal, there would be millions of 357 Magnum and 44 Magnum owners complaining about the accuracy of using 38 Special and 44 Special in their firearms that have Magnum chambers.

After all, the 357 & 44 Magnum chambers are 3.7/3.6MM longer than the 38 & 44 Special cartridge. This is .135" and .125" respectively

 

[_Dylan_]

Not surprising as Smith made a 9X21 revolver for export to Italy a few years ago.

Tom

9x21 is far more popular in Europe too.

I can't even think of any guns here in the US that are sold in 9x21.

 

[FF112173]

I don't have any 9x21 brass to try in my 986 but even with light loads and light bullet heads it runs like a dream for steel shooting. I'm not a bullseye shooter so I just need to hit a plate.

 

[old&slow]

I can not believe that a chamber that is 2MM longer then expected is causing an accuracy issue.

Not even a tenth of an inch, it is .078"

If that extra length were such a big deal, there would be millions of 357 Magnum and 44 Magnum owners complaining about the accuracy of using 38 Special and 44 Special in their firearms that have Magnum chambers.

After all, the 357 & 44 Magnum chambers are 3.7/3.6MM longer than the 38 & 44 Special cartridge. This is .135" and .125" respectively

I've never really checked on paper my model 610 accuracy with 40 S&W -vs- 10mm .. But the major of the rounds used in it are 40 S&W and it has always been good enough for minute of steel plate ,, or minute of A zone..

I haven't shot 38 spl. in my .357's for years. But use to, and I've known lots of folks that have used 38 specials in .357's for years.

One of these days I'll have to put it on paper and see if I can tell a difference.

I've been happy with the accuracy of my 929 using .356 , 147 gr cast & xtreme plated bullets in 9x19 cases. Don't know if it made a difference. But when I purchased the 929 I checked the cylinder throats to make sure they were all the same at .356.

 

[gose]

I've never really checked on paper my model 610 accuracy with 40 S&W -vs- 10mm .. But the major of the rounds used in it are 40 S&W and it has always been good enough for minute of steel plate ,, or minute of A zone..

I haven't shot 38 spl. in my .357's for years. But use to, and I've known lots of folks that have used 38 specials in .357's for years.

One of these days I'll have to put it on paper and see if I can tell a difference.

I've been happy with the accuracy of my 929 using .356 , 147 gr cast & xtreme plated bullets in 9x19 cases. Don't know if it made a difference. But when I purchased the 929 I checked the cylinder throats to make sure they were all the same at .356.

My PPC gun is built on a 686 and I never shot anything but .38s in it and out of a ransom rest it was shooting just over an inch at 50 yards.
Though, I never tested with 357 brass, so maybe it shoots even better... Can't be much of a difference though.

 

[BubbaBlades]

I posted a thread on 10-1-14 concerning my 986 revolver having 9x21 chambers. I have found no difference in accuracy using 9x21 (without moon clips) or ANY weight 9x19 ammo.

I have no idea why these "new" S&W 9s were not bored for 9x19. The need for moon clips (to use 9x19) plus the unavailability and cost of 9x21 ammo makes the 9x21 chambering my least favorite feature on these guns.

Mark

 

[KEN L]

As I recall, the whole quote was......

"Veerrrreee eenteresting.... but stupid!"

Actually...........it was, Veerrrreee eenteresting, but silly, stupid, dumb! In a German accent, of course.