986 or 929 ? Need advise from the group.

[rd97]

For some reason I have an itch for a 9mm revolver. I love revolvers and have a new 586 3" with the ported barrel that I enjoy. I have read the posts and it seems most of you reload who shoot the 9mm revolvers. I don't reload and am too old to start so I am limited to factory loads. I just use it to target shoot and maybe an occasional steel challenge match. It seems that there may be some accuracy issues without the right load.

What are your thoughts? I have autos I shoot but there is nothing as satisfying to me as a wheel gun.

 

[colt_saa]

Since you are already have an L-frame shooter, perhaps the 986 will be more to your liking.


I am an N-frame person. 4+ decades now. So I would go for the 929 if I were in your shoes.

For many years now I have been shooring 9x23 Winchster and the rest of the shorter cartridges (including 9MM Parabellum) in my dual cylinder 627.

I do like the 8 shots

 

[g-dad]

7 rounds vs 8 rounds. 6.5" vs 5" or 2.5" barrel length. L frame vs N frame as colt_ssa points out. A lot of combinations to consider. I don't believe you can go wrong with any of them.

I chose the 986 2.5" for weight and appearance. I just like the way it looks! It's easier to carry if I choose to do so, the others not so much.

 

[Lou_the_welder]

The 929 will shoot Winchester white box ammo great! Absolutely no recoil.
The 986 will have to be reloaded to tinker with the perfect loads. And my "pro"series trigger was heavy. It is still a work in progress even as we speak.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Macinaw]

Steel Challenge=929
You will be glad you have eight shots.

 

[505Gibbs]

I kept it simple I bought all three versions!

 

[rd97]

Thanks so much for your input. Wish I could get all three but maybe someday. I need to think on this one a while.

 

[photoracer18]

For some reason I have an itch for a 9mm revolver. I love revolvers and have a new 586 3" with the ported barrel that I enjoy. I have read the posts and it seems most of you reload who shoot the 9mm revolvers. I don't reload and am too old to start so I am limited to factory loads. I just use it to target shoot and maybe an occasional steel challenge match. It seems that there may be some accuracy issues without the right load.

What are your thoughts? I have autos I shoot but there is nothing as satisfying to me as a wheel gun.

Like you I had a 9mm revolver on my bucket list for competition use. One day I went into my shop and found a used 986 on display. Bought it. Now while I do reload some things I prefer not to reload anything as cheap as 9mm. So I decided to find ammo it liked and used it. Also realizing that without reloading you won't be able to use as light a trigger pull as you can when reloading and using Federal primers. Stock trigger was about 12#. Worked it down to 8# then backup to about 9-10# which made it fire any type of Federal ammo.
Now between the 986 and 929, you would be better off under most cases with the 8-shot 929 over the 7-shot 986, depending only on whether you shoot competitively. I shoot local matches and Steel Challenge with the 7-shot and I am fine with that (now that OSR is a separate division again, that is what I shoot).
Just remember that 9mm guns require moonclips to run. It comes with a couple I think and you want TK brand if you have a choice for more (although I find Ranger moonclips from MidwayUSA work OK, I use my TK ones mostly). If you don't shoot competitively then either gun is fine.

 

[old&slow]

I like the feel of the 986 L frame. But, I purchased the 929.
The 8 rounds ,, longer sight radius ,, recoil like a .22, made it a game changer.
As it came out of the box , mine needed a little TLC and I never cared for the comp / muzzle cap.
Other than that it was a pretty good firearm. I used 147 gr reloads and they worked fine. Never tried anything else.
A friend was really wanting a 929 ,,, and I was really wanting a 627 , 8 shot. So, I sold it. One of these days I might have to get myself another one..

 

[S&WIowegan]

I have a 929 and use it for steel shooting and USPSA revolver class. I bought the 929 because I need all the shots I can have to cover my misses. A shooting friend bought a 986 for steel shooting and says he likes having one less round because he is forced to focus and not miss. Personally, I think he just couldn't find a 929 when he was in a buying mood.

In terms of factory ammo these guns seen to be more accurate with the heavy bullets. I run Federal 147 gr truncated cone and they're reasonably accurate(I sight my gun in but don't shoot and measure groups).

I suggest the 929 is better for your first 9mm revolver.

 

[reddog81]

I chose a 929 back in December. For general target shooting or competitions I see no reason to choose the 986 other than it costs $100 less. I briefly considered the 986, but it was a much closer decision between the 627 PC and the 929.

I've put 800+ rounds through mine in the last 2 months, however most of those have been reloads. If I didn't reload I would have chosen the 627.

 

[old&slow]

I really like my 4" 627 Pro. And probably shouldn't have sold my 929.
However shooting it back to back with the 929. Light 38 specials reloads -vs- 9mm reloads, the 929 seems to have less recoil and better tracking from target to target.. Or at least it seem that way to me..