Converting my 627 to shoot 9mm

Tanners Owner

Tanners Owner

US Veteran
Joined
Aug 19, 2006
Messages
916
Reaction score
913
Location
Idaho
Considering converting my 627 Pro to shoot 9mm as well. Primary use will be competition, but I want to retain ability to shoot 357 mag/ 38 spl as well

Looking for feedback from those who converted their 627s and thoughts/ experiences. Curious about accuracy with factory 9mm ammo after the conversion. Any issues/ functioning/ accuracy issues with 357/38 spl after the conversion? Any regrets?

I’ve sent an email to TK custom asking for their feedback and guidance.

Thanks in advance
 
Register to hide this ad
Use a second cylinder for the conversion and have it fitted to your gun. Because the 9mm has a tapered case .38 and .357 cases will be loose in the chambers and fire form to the new chamber dimensions which can cause them to swell and, in some cases, split.

I had my 360J converted 9 years ago by Pinnacle and have been very happy with it. I had Pinnacle fit a Ti .38spl cyl to it a couple of years ago, making it a convertible. There's no appreciable difference in accuracy between 9mm and .38spl.
 
Just asking what competition you are doing,
and are you fixed on buying store bought ammo, or reloading?
 
Ignatz said:
Just asking what competition you are doing,
and are you fixed on buying store bought ammo, or reloading?
Click to expand...

USPSA

I can reload, however, time availability has influenced my decision to buy factory vs reloading.

That said, can you explain how reloading would improve my performance
 
Like WC145 said, a second cylinder is the way that you want to go. Mark at Pinnacle also did the work on this one

627%209x23-2.jpg

My second cylinder is chambered for 9x23 Winchester and allows all of the shorter cartridges to be fired as well . . . 38SUPER, 38ACP. 356TSW, 9x21, 9MM Parabellum, 380ACP etc.

When shooting jacketed or plated projectiles accuracy does not change. If shooting lead projectiles, they need to be sized for the barrel or leading will most likely occur.
 
Last edited:
colt_saa said:
Like WC145 said, a second cylinder is the way that you want to go. Mark at Pinnacle also did the work on this one

627%209x23-2.jpg

My second cylinder is chambered for 9x23 Winchester and allows all of the shorter cartridges to be fired as well . . . 38SUPER, 38ACP. 356TSW, 9x21, 9MM Parabellum, 380ACP etc.

When shooting jacketed or plated projectiles accuracy does not change. If shooting lead projectiles, they need to be sized for the barrel or leading will most likely occur.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback- your set up is what I’m seeking to get

Did you provide the second cylinder, or did Pinnacle provide the cylinder?
 
I drank the kool aid and sent my 627 to Mark at Pinnacle for another cylinder rechambered in 9x27. Gun is enroute as I type this.

Now the waiting begins........
 
Last edited:
So I got my gun back from Mark at Pinnacle. Am impressed with his work and communication. Unfortunately, it’ll be a little while before I can get out to the range, so will give a range report later.

Thanks to all whose posts encouraged me to go this route. Am excited to give it a run on the range.
 
I am missing the point here entirely why one would do such a thing... the gun would need a new forcing cone to be somewhat accurate as 9mm bullets stop at 0.356 diameter, not 0.357. Then switching back to the old cylinder? Maybe you can enlighten me.
 
Tanners Owner said:
So I got my gun back from Mark at Pinnacle. Am impressed with his work and communication. Unfortunately, it’ll be a little while before I can get out to the range, so will give a range report later.

Thanks to all whose posts encouraged me to go this route. Am excited to give it a run on the range.
Click to expand...
Pics or it didn't happen!:D I'm glad Mark was able to help you out, he's done work on a few revolvers for me and never fails to impress. Looking forward to your range report.


oysterer said:
I am missing the point here entirely why one would do such a thing... the gun would need a new forcing cone to be somewhat accurate as 9mm bullets stop at 0.356 diameter, not 0.357. Then switching back to the old cylinder? Maybe you can enlighten me.
Click to expand...
Why would you need a new forcing cone for a projectile that is smaller than the original? The .001-.002" difference in diameter is essentially meaningless in actual use. 9mm bullets don't fall out of the barrel or rattle down it when fired, they engage the rifling just fine and, in my experience, there is no appreciable difference in accuracy between .38spl ammo and 9mm ammo in my gun.
 
Last edited:
colt_saa said:
... My second cylinder is chambered for 9x23 Winchester and allows all of the shorter cartridges to be fired as well . . . 38SUPER, 38ACP. 356TSW, 9x21, 9MM Parabellum, 380ACP... .
Click to expand...
With moon clips only, or will any of these cartridges seat in the chamber without them?
 
Kernel Crittenden said:
With moon clips only, or will any of these cartridges seat in the chamber without them?
Click to expand...
With the exception of the Model 547, Smith and Wesson revolvers that fire rimless and semi-rimmed cartridges originally intended for auto loaders, head space on the moon clips. This is why all the shorter variations of the cartridge family can be successfully fired

I have never tried to see if any of my firearms work in any other manner

Yes, I am aware that a large percentage of revolvers so chambered will fire without using moon clips, but you are relying on the case mouth resting against the cylinder throat to hold the cartridge in place. It is happenstance when this works, not a design feature of the revolver. Plus you have to contend with extraction/ejection issues.

I do not see the upside of such an undertaking
 
So was finally able to take the gun out and give it a whirl as a newly minted 9mm.

First off, Mark’s quality workmanship was evident. Gun’s timing with the 9mm cylinder was spot on.

Accuracy was much better than I expected. At 15 ft, accuracy was also spot on with Federal 147 gr. Speer 124s were also good. Crappy Tula 115 gr was a little high.

The Federal, Speer worked just fine with the moon clips. The Tula didn’t stay in the moon clips surprisingly.

However, I had several light primer strikes with all brands, more with Tula, some with Speer, and a few with the Federal.

When I got home, I discovered the strain screw was loose by ~ 2 turns. Likely the culprit. Will try it tomorrow to see if tightening the strain screw did the trick. If not will replace the aftermarket mainspring with the factory version.

Despite the light primer strikes, am happy with this project.

Will try and update this tomorrow, if I get time to shoot it again.
 
Tanners Owner said:
USPSA

I can reload, however, time availability has influenced my decision to buy factory vs reloading.

That said, can you explain how reloading would improve my performance
Click to expand...

If you reload, you could have bought some 38 Long Colt brass from Starline and run them in your unmodified cylinder. Of course you would have been stuck running reloaded ammo since 38 Long Colt isn't commonly available at the store. And 38 LC is essentially a shortened 38 Special case that is just a little longer than a 9 MM case (1.019-1.026 vs .896-.904 case oal)

Tanners Owner said:
So was finally able to take the gun out and give it a whirl as a newly minted 9mm.

First off, Mark’s quality workmanship was evident. Gun’s timing with the 9mm cylinder was spot on.

Accuracy was much better than I expected. At 15 ft, accuracy was also spot on with Federal 147 gr. Speer 124s were also good. Crappy Tula 115 gr was a little high.

The Federal, Speer worked just fine with the moon clips. The Tula didn’t stay in the moon clips surprisingly.

However, I had several light primer strikes with all brands, more with Tula, some with Speer, and a few with the Federal.

When I got home, I discovered the strain screw was loose by ~ 2 turns. Likely the culprit. Will try it tomorrow to see if tightening the strain screw did the trick. If not will replace the aftermarket mainspring with the factory version.

Despite the light primer strikes, am happy with this project.

Will try and update this tomorrow, if I get time to shoot it again.
Click to expand...

I am betting that your light strike problems are directly related to the strain screw being backed off that far. And I am happy that your little project is giving you some satisfaction too. :)
 
I looked into the 38 long colt/ short colt options. Bottom line is due to work and family obligations, my available time to reload has become negligible. I’d either be reloading or shooting a match.

There’s an outlaw match for charity this July combining IDPA scoring and USPSA equipment rules. I’ve shot my revolvers (625, 627) last couple of years and did pretty good. Still wasn’t as good as I wanted- too many reloads w/ the 625 and some wobbly 38s in the moonclips frustrated some reloads. Thought the 9mm option might mitigate that. Besides, I love my 627- a very fun gun to shoot.
 
Curious , so to those who have had a 9mm cylinder made for their 627 ( or other revolver), What was total cost?
As an alternative, could a 929 cylinder be fit?
 
The cost was less than buying a 929. Besides, it has a steel cylinder now vs the titanium cylinder that comes w/ the 929.

The 929 cylinder won’t work as it’s shorter and requires the barrel pushed back into the frame more IIRC.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Modified my 627 stocks
Replies
3
Views
393
rbmac52
rbmac52
S
627 Malfunction Help
Replies
7
Views
210
steelslaver
steelslaver
L
627-PC Doskocil case?
Replies
2
Views
71
Hawg Rider
H
Smith_586
Two newest additions to my stable
Replies
10
Views
859
Smith_586
Smith_586
W
Lew Horton S&W 627-3 5" and S&W 627-PC 6 1/2"
Replies
0
Views
46
weddy2002
W

Latest posts

Back
Top