It's a great pocket gun. I have really gotten to like this one.

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dkals,
Nice 940, I sure would like one of those.

dkals, you can have mine for $600

Mas Ayoob pointed out that the 547 has a unique extractor star that's designed to work with the rimless 9mm. This is the best advantage I can think of in favor of the 547. As a side benefit of this extractor, you can't jam the revolver if you accidentally get a cartridge case stuck under the star during a reload. On the practice range this is no big deal, but if it's a defense revolver and your life depends on your ability to get the gun up and shooting again, it's incredibly important.

I bought a standard 547 years ago, with a square butt and 4" barrel and I quickly resold it. If it had been the round butt version with 3" barrel though, I would certainly still own it.

tekarra if I put it on the market in the next year I will shoot you a message.

JumpinJack, sorry you lost me there, I'm not sure what you are referring to.

Thought you were looking for a 940.

Besides the shorter reload package, which is no insignificant thing, and the argueable advantage of reloading from moon clips. In any of the currently produced frame sizes, If you reload, I see no real advantage to the 9mm over a 38special. The 38special case can loaded to the same power specs as the 9mm and you could even use the same bullet, although I would not. If it turns out that the 38special case isn't strong enough then you could use cut down 357magnum cases with the stronger web. In any event, if a manufacturer were to take real advantage of the much shorter 9mm round for a revolver then a shorter cylinder and shorter frame would be best utilized. A long as we're stuck with frames that can accomodate the 38special or 357magnum, for the life of me, I can't really see an advantage except as I noted above. If you don't reload or feel confident of your load development skills then maybe.

Now, having said that, I do covet the 547. I've just never been in the right place with the right amount of money to buy one and now they are stoopid expensive and I won't pay that.

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NRA Benefactor

You can't see the advantage except.....? After your troublesome sounding "except", I'm convinced even more that a revolver in 9x19 is just the ticket, maybe that's why I have two 547s and have more on my wish list (which also includes the 940 and speed six). You can do a lot with handloading, to include having nasty accidents. One of the great advantages of 9x19 is that it is so readily available in so many types of loads, which is another reason revolvers chambered for it are a great idea.

Here's a little comparison utilizing the time proven "a picture is worth a thousand words" concept. Please note the size of the 9x19 in those speedloaders compared to the bulky size of the .38/.357:




I rest my case.

Thanks dkals, I appreciate it.

Finally brought it home...



For awhile, didn't think I'd ever get one on the same side of the ocean as I am.

Congrats M2MG, you are a happy fellow. A fine looking 547 and the grip has some nice figure. Have you taken it out to play yet?

Not yet, may be a little while unfortunately, but I'm ammo'd up and ready. It needs a deep cleaning first; the oil is so old it's sort of coagulated on it. It's not NIB like I had thought, but close enough for my book; still got a good deal on it considering it's the only one in town (or country?). Those are Altamonts on it; I wanted to preserve the stock grips, but may put them back on:



It's been worth the wait. I'll never understand why S&W quit making this one, it's a jewel, but then, I don't have to tell you that!

Here's a photo of Ruger's [SP-101] in 9mm Para. The only extraction 'glitches' came from some aluminum-cased 'Blaser' ammo. Currently, running +P Hornady Critical Defense rounds through it. They are excellent revolvers, and built like tanks. Hopefully, I will acquire a 940 Centennial one day, or a 640 in .357 Magnum.

Nice Ruger!

I keep hearing that about Blaser stuff, sounds like the aluminum casings are just not 9x19 friendly in a revolver. It's okay for me, I don't shoot the stuff, S&B, Magtech and Fiocchi are the most common brands where I am. Handloading is not an option as it's another expensive license that also requires training, both of which I do not have time for. Ruger quit making this in 9x19 also didn't they? I've been eyeing speed sixes a lot lately, but have been holding out for a 4"; seems the 2 3/4" (or is it 2 1/2"?) show up more often.

I have had no problems with Blzer aluminum in my 9 mm revolvers. Some of the 940s had rough chambers which honing cured, but I have not had problems with mine.

If you can fine a 4" Speed Six in 9mm, got for it. As with you, I see mostly 2 3/4" models. I would like a 4" myself.

tekarra,

Finally got it to the range. I was recommended by a German gunsmith extraordinaire to fire some Fiocchi 124 gr. FMJTC; he claims it is hot, maybe +P hot, not sure. I also took some S&B 115 gr JHP ammo. The Fiocchi produced quite a bit of recoil; it must be +P; it's not the same stuff they sell in the US. However, it was all over the place. The S&B was dead on the money. S&B ammuntion is not always that consistent I have found, but reasonably priced and is very common over here. After switching back and forth at different ranges, I found the S&B to perform the best, and my last group was 2 1/4" at fifteen meters, which is good in my book. The qualification for pistol for hunters here is five rounds in a 12" circle at 15 meters, which this group being less than half that. I believe it will shoot even better, wasn't really concentration on accuracy when I shot. No extraction problems, even after 100 rounds. However, I have noticed something peculiar, whether my 547 is dirty or not. After extraction, the ejectors don't return completely into the cylinder. It self corrects on firing the first round. The only issue that it causes really, is when using speedloaders; the rounds will not easily drop in with the extractor slightly distended (visually, you can hardly tell). Is this normal? I have yet to unscrew the ejector rod as that is tricky, have tried oil, grease and cleaning to no avail. It's a small issue, doesn't really bother me; loading rounds singly is not an issue. I suspect that some congealed oil is under the extractors/ejector tines maybe be causing this and I may simply need to tear down the cylinder and clean all that out. When I got this 547 home, I had found thirty+ year old oil that had gummed a little on it even on the exterior, so it may just be a cleaining issue.

Anyway, this 547 has confirmed my stance on 9x19 in a revolver. I still think this power to size ratio thing is a seller. Given all the choices for 9x19 out there these days, it's a pretty logical choice. JMHO, of course!

This thread shows the 2 M547s I got recently.
I'm A Sucker For...
I'm not going to get into the 9mm/38 debate. I just like S&W revolvers and enjoy owning any that are a little out of the ordinary.
BTW, the shop also had a M940 in the box. Price was over $800. Don't remember the exact number.

I was on a compition forum and the OP was at the nationals and talked with Jerry M. and he said Smith is coming out with a 9mm L-frame. I was telling a friend about it and he said Smith is going public on a new gun on the 12th....hummmm.

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2 Timothy 1:7

And man are those beauties.

I hope that what Rapidray heard is true....

Hello M2MG, glad you finally got your new toy out to the range. I have not encountered the problem you described, but I think your analysis is accurate. Clean the extractor area and let us know if it cures the problem.

I have heard the same about European Fiocchi being hotter than that marketed in the US, but have no first hand experience.

Here's the link for the page with the 547 manual. Scroll down.

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Bob

People always talk about their Holy Grail Gun. I really don't know why, but mine would be the 547! And I don't know why. I do like 9mm. I like the fact that a lot of engineering went into a 547. But are they that wonderful? But I would still like to have 1! Bob

bananaman,
I have several 547s and several 65s and I consistently shoot the 547s better. Can't explain why, it just happens.

They are just great!

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2 Timothy 1:7