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Moon clip 9mm out of Model 10
- Thread starter Snarferer
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I would be very concerned. The average pressure specification for 38 SPL is about 17,000 CUP, 9mm is about 33,000 CUP, about a 94% increase. The proof load for 38 SPL is about 22,950 which 9mm far exceeds. Does not sound like a smart or safe idea to me.
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mjr
Member
The Israelis tried something similar in the late 1940s. The revolver was a copy of the M&P and, I believe, took half-moon clips. They don't seem to have stuck with the concept very long.
Trying this with a 4-screw M&P seems very dangerous, not to say crazy. Building a 9mm from a Model 13 or 65 or other .357 would be much safer, but really, what's the point?
Trying this with a 4-screw M&P seems very dangerous, not to say crazy. Building a 9mm from a Model 13 or 65 or other .357 would be much safer, but really, what's the point?
Big Lou
SWCA Member
DWalt
Member
Safe or not I can't say. But to use half-moon clips, the rear face of the cylinder would have to be shaved back, also the extractor star. Seems like somewhat complicated gunsmithing would be required to make it work - a lot more than simply running a 9mm chambering reamer into each cylinder. Seems pointless to consider, at least for me.
mjr
Member
Frankly, I'm not 100% certain your 9mm conversion would be safe in a K-frame .357, either. I hope you'll consult a competent gunsmith before attempting it.
As far as fun goes, I get a lot of that shooting my S&Ws using the cartridges they were designed for.
Jack Flash
SWCA Member
Nobody here wants to be a killjoy, good buddy, but that sounds like some mighty expensive fun.
Just be sure they do not charge tons of money for their work!
Seriously, a .38 Special can be quickly reloaded with speed loaders, if you practice it some. Then you are only out the initial cost of the gun plus a few $10 speed loaders. Way less than buying a 686 and having it gunsmithed.
Waywatcher
Member
First response was spot on.
Nobody here wants to be a killjoy, good buddy, but that sounds like some mighty expensive fun.
Just be sure they do not charge tons of money for their work!
Seriously, a .38 Special can be quickly reloaded with speed loaders, if you practice it some. Then you are only out the initial cost of the gun plus a few $10 speed loaders. Way less than buying a 686 and having it gunsmithed.
You're pretty spot on with this. I just had a fantasy of running an old model 10 in ESR and the reality just doesn't cut it. Thanks for the advice everyone.
A model 10 is most emphatically not a 686! There are major differences in frame size, barrel shank dimensions, metallurgy, and heat-treating. If you want moon clips, have the cylinder cut for them and shoot clipped 38 Spl, or even 38 Short Colt if you want to be sporty. BTW, the barrel dimensions are different too, 9mm ammo uses a nominal .355 to .356 bullet as opposed to .358+ for 38 Spl.
Also, the original 38 Spl chamber would remain intact, adding a great deal of freebore to the equation. Roughly about 3/8 inch, and the chamber mouth would be grossly oversized for a 9mm. Look up the chamber dimensions on your browser.
Also, the original 38 Spl chamber would remain intact, adding a great deal of freebore to the equation. Roughly about 3/8 inch, and the chamber mouth would be grossly oversized for a 9mm. Look up the chamber dimensions on your browser.
A Ruger Speed Six or 357 Blackhawk convertable. I had a 4 5/8" 357
Blackhawk with the extra cyl for 9mm and traded it off in a weak
moment and now wish I hadn't. The 357 with two cylinders is probably
cheaper than an unsafe conversion and you'll never wear it out.
Blackhawk with the extra cyl for 9mm and traded it off in a weak
moment and now wish I hadn't. The 357 with two cylinders is probably
cheaper than an unsafe conversion and you'll never wear it out.
bmcgilvray
SWCA Member
No way.
The K-Frame .38 Special is a perfectly good revolver in a perfectly good cartridge as-is. No need to trade it for a stub of a cartridge operating at higher pressure.
Sorry but I actually consider the .38 Special, in some of the more enthusiastic factory loadings available and certainly with some previously published handloads, to be a notch better than the highly touted, yet curiously overrated and arguably how-hum, 9mm.
Not exactly "conventional wisdom" on the subject but there it is.
The K-Frame .38 Special is a perfectly good revolver in a perfectly good cartridge as-is. No need to trade it for a stub of a cartridge operating at higher pressure.
Sorry but I actually consider the .38 Special, in some of the more enthusiastic factory loadings available and certainly with some previously published handloads, to be a notch better than the highly touted, yet curiously overrated and arguably how-hum, 9mm.
Not exactly "conventional wisdom" on the subject but there it is.
