So I am considering one of the 9mm revolvers either 929 or the 986?, what is the word on these? I am used to moon clips have 2 627s, are moon clips required for these, I suspect so and that may be the deal breaker. Though those short 9mm cases would slip in real fast.

Thanks

Your considering said 9mm revolver for what purpose ?
...a clear response requires knowledge of its intended purpose IMO .

Regardless of purpose, I can buy or reload 9mm a lot cheaper than .38/.357 or any other centerfire cartridge. I still prefer .38/.357 because I don't like loading and unloading moon clips. I rarely shoot my model 25 for that reason. If it's for competition, I'd definitely go for the moon clip guns, which is why I bought the model 25 in the first place. When you show up at the range with a pile of loaded moon clips, it sure is a lot of fun while it lasts.

Just picked up a 929 today. My first foray into moon clips. The firearm comes with one moon clip. Really? Just one? Anyway it is a very smooth shooter and easy to keep on target. Not a competition guy, just thought it would be fun to have something different in 9mm. Shield, P30 and now a 929. That oughta do it!

Now I have to get more clips and a loader...........
There is always something else.

I have had a 929 for just over 2 months and love it as much as my 686. Cheap 9mm ammo, moon clips, fast reloads, 8 shots, big tough N frame, fits in the same Bladetech holster as my 686-3 6" ...... What's not to like ?

I am basically a revolver guy (look, I have 40+ years of shooting revolvers and semis including instructing with both, I just prefer revolvers) so a 9mm revolver makes sense to me to utilize available ammo. I also believe that any round works about the same as any other, anecdotes about this-or-that round failing here-or-there not withstanding.

A 929 sounds like a good gun but too big for daily carry. I would like a medium frame 4" barrel fixed sight 9mm revolver (a plain ol' service revolver) for carrying 9mm. Hard to find, hard to find at a reasonable price (I am also cheapskate, not a collector). I will wait and watch for a "921" (the 9mm equivalent of the 581?). That gun I would buy in a minute.

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"Sacramento" Bruce Conklin

9mm revolvers are a great concept. People have been clamoring for them for years (decades). S&W finally listened. Now we have the M929 and the M986 and I think they are both going to be BIG sales hits. Next, we need a new 9mm J-frame.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

They had one close to it-the 547.

The old 940 fit the bill.

It did, but for what ever reason it didn't last. The time was wrong, then national mood didn't favor a 9mm, S&W didn't give them enough time to gain acceptance. What ever it was Smith's previous 9mm wheel guns, like the M940 and M547, never caught fire. Maybe the current success is due to "buzz" from the internet.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

I really like the idea of 9mm revolvers (also .45ACP). Obtaining one or two is on my list but no specific models yet. Just more interesting guns to add to a growing collection. Maybe a snub nose 9mm and one with a long barrel.

I started looking for a 940 in the mid 90's. Didn't find one till 2010 long after it was out of production. I thought I paid a little too much at the time, but I'm sure I got it when I did. I'll never sell it. I have other moon clip guns but this gun has a real purpose. The others are game guns.

I shoot static as well as falling steel so this is the reason I purchased mine. I did have to do some work to it to get it the way I wanted.

Just a fun range gun that can be used to introduce others to our madness. I once had a Ruger Single Action convertible that came with a 9mm cylinder. Was before I started reloading and I didnt appreciate it then 355 versus 357 in the same barrel . But moon clips and an N frame is a whole different ball game.

The Ruger didn't require moon clips do these new beasts? Even with my 627s Smith and Wesson provided 3 moon clips.

Duvall,the 929 is fun to play with. Everyone that has fired mine loves it.

Yes! With a 4 inch barrel. Double yes!

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"Sacramento" Bruce Conklin

Ruger makes a 9mm snubbie revolver. I think it would be interesting if S&W did that. (A 9mm 640?)

Now THAT'S a proper looking 929!

The reason your Ruger did not require moon clips is because it has a built In rod for pushing each piece of brass out of the cylinder individually. I've heard that one can fire the double action guns without moon clips and poke something thru the cylinder to knock each piece of brass out individually. I've never tried it.

I have a 986 and like it a lot. I plan to get a 929 this year.

If I had a 9mm auto loader, and no revolver in 38/357 I'd consider a 9mm revolver.

If I didn't reload, I'd consider a 9mm revolver for the cheap (relatively speaking) available ammo, and put up with the mandatory use of moon clips.

If I shot competitively and needed the absolute fastest reload, I'd consider the 9mm revolver.

As someone who already reloads 38/357, doesn't own a 9mm auto loader and isn't fond of using moon clips for range sessions (but LOVES them for the ease of loading and unloading outside of the range) I opted for the 627 PC .357.

Moons if I want to use them ( I keep my carry ammo loaded up in the moon clips), and no moons for range sessions.

In certain cases, I see a nice niche for 9mm revolvers... but for my own purposes, the .357 makes more sense.

S&W1911... that 929 is one great looking revolver!!

I picked up a 929 yesterday. I ordered it last week from my LGS. I was really surprised they received it so quick.
I am a semi-auto guy and this is my first wheel gun.
I hate to say it but I was very unimpressed with the way it performed today at the range. I was shooting my reloads and factory ammo. Ran about 125 rds thru it at 50 ft off a rest and the groups were horrible. 3 of my friends also tried with one being the best shooter I know and they did not do much better.
I did not scrub the bore before shooting but did run a bore snake though twice before firing. I'm not sure if it's the gun or if it needed cleaned better.
I brought it home tonight and cleaned it up and was checking the trigger pull with a gauge. Single action was 3 3/4 lb. I was not impressed with that either. But I want to get the accuracy thing under control first.
I'm going to shoot another 200 rounds thru it and see if anything improves and if not I will be giving Smith a call.




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I would sand bag it just to be sure.

As others have suggested the 9mm in moon clips have a certain advantage for competition and faster reloads, if you dont compete or reload 9mm might as well get a 14 shot 9mm auto if you need a 9mm..

If strictly as a range gun to introduce new shooters to the sport consider a S&W Model 617 or 18 in .22lr instead ,
Far cheaper ammo, far easier to shoot on the range, much easier to introduce new shooters.

The .45 acp revolver makes sense to me for people that reload as the ammo is a bit more pricey than 9mm ,
Problem with 9mm in moon clips is if just tossing the clips with the empty cases what money would you actually save over cheap .38's ?

The reality is the clips must be picked up and demooned,
The Model 547 had a different extractor that allowed the use of 9mm ammo without the moon clips but they have become pricey and hard to find.

Well interesting, Since I do reload and like being able to shoot with and without moon clips and like the flexibility 38/357 affords I am going to steer clear of these. jerry miculek can continue to amaze me, but he gets moon clips for free. I always verify accuracy myself and has to be what the gun can do itself as much as can be ascertained. I don't have a ransome rest but can tell when a gun can shoot better that I can.

Thanks all just saved me some money or well maybe not as I will likely get an L frame 7 shot 357 or maybe the Sig 227 instead. Or maybe another blood work snubby

The 7 shot Model 686-4 (center) is hard to beat...

(Model 686 snub and 629-4 flanking)

All shots were taken from a sand bag.

This is exactly how I feel about it. Mine would group a few shots right on top of each other, then throw one way out. And they were not bad shots. Everything felt good with what I was doing and to see it throw a few out so far was very disappointing.

I have a 547 (K frame) and like it. I bought it because it is a bit different.

From what I have seen many people never even have heard of this revolver, let alone handle one or fire one. I do to circumstances have a lot of 9MM (both factory and hand loads.) When I show them the extractor/ejector system they tend to get impressed. My kid a machinist forman said "Dad I would hate to tell you what I think it cost to design/build that system."

Have a 6906 which I really do not care for so the 547 gets rounds fired.

I did not get it as a CCW but I have no doubts it would do a good job if called on. I have the 3” heavy barrel and to me the balance is perfect and this gun shoots well... I know there are speed loaders available (expensive) but as stated just shooting at the range or back yard not a problem If I get the right deal in the future might pick up a 9MM that uses Moonie clips.

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

For me personally, it just isn't a gun I have any interest in.

I'll take a no moon-clip J Frame, please.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I've had mine (929) since Christmas (this year's present to myself). Normally, a big bore shooter (model 25, 625, 460). Was looking for small caliber target gun. Was thinking of 38 spec and this presented itself. It shot ~4" groups 1st time out with blazer brass at 50ft. Am in the process of developing target handloads. Seems to like Berry's THP 124 gr. and unique. Cut groups in half thus far. I really it.

For the M25 you should look into a company called "rimz".
They make some sort of synthetic moon clips that are soft enough to allow you to insert/remove the cases easily with your fingers - no tool required.

My early M625 is about 50/50 about firing without clips. It seems as if the newer ones have tightened up the tolerances and do better.

Beautiful revolvers. I am partial to anything S&W especially a model 29 or 629. Just love them big bores. lol

I would love to have one, but not at $1100+ and it would be nice if they had a 3" - 4" barrel option.

I am like "sac-gunslinger" above - also a "revolver guy". I have S&W .357 Magnums and a moon clip for my R8. To me, a revolver just feels more like a gun. I just cannot warm up to semi-autos. I use inexpensive .38's for target, but with .357 rounds closeby, I feel my concerns are met. According to a Hornady Ballistic chart, at 50 yrds a 125gr .357 round packs about 1.5x the wallop of a 124 gr 9MM. Although the 9MM is a nice looking gun, I have not tried it myself.

Most gun makers have tried a 9mm revolver a time or three and we don't buy them. It may be different now that there is not so much more cost savings in reloads as many of don't have the time. The economics of reloading are not as good as they used to be if components don't come down as fast as 9mm ammo.

Jerry pushing 9mm revolvers will give them some momentum too.

I would sure like to have a 9mm in S&W stainless steel 649 with a 3 inch barrel a pinned front sight and a little better rear sight that could be drift for windage.

That was the first snub nosed 357 magnum on J Frame with a shrouded hammer. I have 649-2 38 Special with a2 inch barrel that I can roll a5 inch ball out to 30 yards on a good day in good light with these 70+ year old eyes.

If the ever strike oil on me I'll just fined a 649-3 in 357 and have one made. It should cost about 2 grand for the parts and work.

The reloading speed and ammo choice are the main things I see gnu for a 9mm wheel gun.

GC

Lock or not, I'd love a reissued 547. Great idea, nice to shoot and it's time is now. I'd love to find a Smith 0,38 Super revolver too..

My first question is "Why?". Once past that, it seems like a very small case for such big guns (N & L Frame). Might be a good package for resurrecting the old 9mm Winchester Magnum.

I bought a M986 quite by accident. Was buying a SIG p262 and noticed the M986 in the showcase. The concept appealed to me, so I took it home. Was I surprised? It was so good that when I heard about the M929, I immediately ordered one. That was on August 15, 2014.

Since then I've exchanged emails with S&W, twice. All I get from them is there is a lot of demand. Yet, I read on the bulletin boards of folks receiving theirs.

I'm at the point where I don't even want to hear the S&W name. I'll continue to shoot my M986 until my disgust with S&W grows too bad; then I'll sell it. But, I'll never sell my S&W M41, an outstanding handgun. :-)

I've experienced similar problems with SIG and their MasterShop Series guns. My order for a SIG p210 Legend Super Target is almost a year old. At the six month point we were told it would be here in a week. Never happened, no explanation, just a new delivery date which has also passed. I asked my FFL dealer to remind them when he's shooting with them at SHOT. I may hear their response tomorrow. On three occasions, I've tried to order guns shown on their website to find they've been discontinued.

On the other hand I picked up 4 H&Ks in December, all were models that aren't always easy to find.

I miss the 547 4" SB I had years ago....lost it to ex wife in the divorce.
the 9mm in a revolver works pretty good, and has good muzzle velocity in
the short barrel J frame guns as well. I too would pick up a 547 if they did a reissue.

Just a thought, and not trying to cost S&W business, but if you are a reloader have you thought about using 38 short Colt rounds in your 627s? Lee sells the dies, the case is almost identical to a 9mm, and your 627 moon clips will work. This has been a well known "secret" for several years.

Larry

S&W is sometimes lazy with their cylinder dimensions. Go to your favorite gunsmith (that specializes in S&W revolvers; they are easy to screw up completely if the smith is not a pro) and ask him to run a cylinder hone through each cylinder to verify the sizes. I did this on my competition revolvers and all of the guns (not all holes in the cylinders) had undersized chambers. Next have him mike the cylinder throat and verify it is the proper size. This is harder to correct and may require a new cylinder if one or more is way out. This step is more important if you are reloading to get the right size projectile (yes, .001 makes a difference) but if one is different you will get fliers and poor consistency.
A diagnostic thing you can do at the range is mark the cylinder over each chamber and see if the same chamber gives you the fliers. With the revolver you actually have 6 guns since each chamber and throat amount to a semi-auto chamber (even though the bullet has to jump to get to the rifling).
If you have a bore scope available (or your smith does) have him look in the barrel right after the forcing cone where the threads have screwed into the frame. It is not unknown for the barrel to be distorted there because the assembly process had to apply a little extra twist to get the barrel properly oriented. The gun will still shoot safely but it will never be as accurate as it could be.
You could just ignore all this crud and send it back but where it the adventure in that??
I have been down this road with 617, 686 and 625. I did not have all of the problems (except the undersized holes) but it was fun anyway.

Thanks. I sent the gun back to Smith today. When I get it back, I will see how it shoots. If there are still problem then I will pay attention to the cylinder and if that plays a factor into which ones are flyers.

I picked up a model 986 about three weeks ago and can't say enough good about it. Ran four boxes of jacketed through it to break it in and when I tried my first hand load cast it shot a two inch group at twenty yards with a two hand hold standing. Love this gun!

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Lost in Penn's Woods

love my 929...

The 9mm gives less recoil than a 38 Special, and a hell of a lot less than a 357 mag!

What sight and mount is that?

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Old paratrooper in NC

A lot of people like using the 9mm in a revolver because the ammo is cheaper than .38 0r .357 and some recent test have indicated that even out of a small snub nose (like the new Ruger 9mm LCR) have better terminal ballistics than the .38 +P loads.

I dunno. I just picked up a [virtually] never fired nickel Colt Detective Special in .38 special thah is in perfect condition. I saw the Ruger 9mm LCR and dry fired it. It was nice, too. for those of us who carry a 9mm, having a car gun in 9mm makes sense.

"Dunno, Mongo just pawn in great game of life."
Alex Karras (in Blazzing Saddles)

Shoot safe.

MDR

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Shoot safe.

MDR

Certified NRA Instructor
Certified NRA Range Safety Officer
NRA Life Member

When I die, I want to go like my Grandfather did, in his sleep--not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

I like the idea of a 9mm j frame as a back up to my semi autos other than that I prefer the 38/357 revolvers.