9mm Revolver CCW
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washerman
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Charter Arms makes a nice 9MM revolver that doesn't require moon clips. I think a 9mm revolver has a couple of advantages over 38 special . one advantage is ammo cost. 9mm is substantially less expensive. The second is a 9mm bullet has much more power than a 38 special +P. 357 Mag is more expensive yet than the 38 special. Don't think i'd want to shoot 9mm out of a 12 ounce revolver but 20 ounce gun be ok
I like them. I am carrying a Smith and Wesson PC 940 Special today
However, I now carry my 940 loaded with 38 SUPER ammunition and I carry my PC 940 Special loaded with 356TSW ammunition
Both of these cartridges exceed 38 Special balistics
The rest of the time I carry a 357 Magnum J-frame
This is me, I realize that MORE POWER is not for everybody.
There are folks that either are quite pleased with a 38 Special or not tolerant of the recoil that the More Powerful cartridges generate
You are the only person that can make this decision for you
You might want to find a local range, or a buddy, where you can try out different firearms before buying them,
However, I now carry my 940 loaded with 38 SUPER ammunition and I carry my PC 940 Special loaded with 356TSW ammunition
Both of these cartridges exceed 38 Special balistics
The rest of the time I carry a 357 Magnum J-frame
This is me, I realize that MORE POWER is not for everybody.
There are folks that either are quite pleased with a 38 Special or not tolerant of the recoil that the More Powerful cartridges generate
You are the only person that can make this decision for you
You might want to find a local range, or a buddy, where you can try out different firearms before buying them,
Ziggy2525
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I see on internet forums (it has to be true, right) that there is an issue with revolvers shooting semi-auto cartridges. Supposedly recoil can cause the bullet to be pulled from the case and jam the cylinder. Has to do with the lighter crimp on the semi-auto ammo.
I've been thinking about a 9mm LCR and am wondering if this is really a significant issue or just internet fodder that's more a "possibility" than a real problem.
I've been thinking about a 9mm LCR and am wondering if this is really a significant issue or just internet fodder that's more a "possibility" than a real problem.
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Bullet pull is a fact of life.
The higher power the cartridge is
or
The lighter weight the revolver is
The more inertia there is to pull the bullet forward
It does not matter what the caliber is or who makes the revolver.
Erich
Member
I had a no-dash 940 for a few years, and shooting a couple thousand of that round from a J-frame gives a fellow a healthy respect for it. It's more than a .38+P in recoil snap, if no .357. Anyhow, I liked the gun a lot and got to where I could practically throw the moon clips into the cylinder for faster reloads than with a semiauto. Neat gun.
Me being a fool, I eventually traded it away on something I had to have (after I'd bead-blasted it and modified the stocks to fit my hand delightfully). It's one of the few I regret having traded.
My no-dash gun did have extraction problems with certain rounds - the 2k of Blazer aluminum cased stuff that I got for $4.88/box from Natchez pretty much had to be hammered out (man, did the heel of my palm get tough from whacking that ejector rod, but not before it got a little divot carved out of the center of it). I understand this was improved on the 940-1.
Never ever had a round pull. I shot everything from that gun, too, but not a whole lot of +P+.
Me being a fool, I eventually traded it away on something I had to have (after I'd bead-blasted it and modified the stocks to fit my hand delightfully). It's one of the few I regret having traded.
My no-dash gun did have extraction problems with certain rounds - the 2k of Blazer aluminum cased stuff that I got for $4.88/box from Natchez pretty much had to be hammered out (man, did the heel of my palm get tough from whacking that ejector rod, but not before it got a little divot carved out of the center of it). I understand this was improved on the 940-1.
Never ever had a round pull. I shot everything from that gun, too, but not a whole lot of +P+.
M E Morrison
Member
I have a 2-3/4" Ruger Speed Six in 9mm. It has never had a problem with bullet pull, perhaps because it is heavier than a J frame? 
Wee Hooker
Member
I used to have a Ruger Sp101 in 9mm . It was "OK" but I didn't care for reloads bouncing around in my pocket in the moon clip. They got bent easily and fouled on lint, etc as compared to a speed strip or (certain brands of) speed loaders. Putting the loaded moon clips in a pill bottle (as some suggest) just made them bulkier and harder to get too. In the end ( once the novelty wore off) I just didn't see where the 9mm snubbie had anything significant over the cheaper and easier to find +P rated 38 flavor. I have no desire for another but I do believe S&W is missing the boat by not offering one to those who do.
M E Morrison
Member
I carry a Ruger LCR in 9mm quite frequently.
I have experienced no bullet jump with 115 thru 147gr factory ammo.
It has a better trigger than the 640 PRO I owned for awhile. But the Ruger was more expensive.
I find it easier to line up the shorter 9mm rnds. when reloading w/ moonclips than the longer .38 Spec. rnds.
I have had no problem with the stock moonclips beconing bent in my pocket. Yet.
I have experienced no bullet jump with 115 thru 147gr factory ammo.
It has a better trigger than the 640 PRO I owned for awhile. But the Ruger was more expensive.
I find it easier to line up the shorter 9mm rnds. when reloading w/ moonclips than the longer .38 Spec. rnds.
I have had no problem with the stock moonclips beconing bent in my pocket. Yet.
Unless you’re trying to consolidate your ammo I can see no real advantage over the thirty-eight revolver, but I may not be as objective as others. My issued .38 saved me three times during my 30 year LEO career so IF you carry a revolver the old police gun has street creds.
hillbillydruggist
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I am considering one for CCW carry myself
RGVshooter
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snowman.45
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I've owned a 940 and found it to be a great little revolver. It did occasionally have the sticky cylinder problem described above, but it shot great otherwise. From the recoil, I could tell that the 9mm was a bit more stout than most .38 loads. I wish I'd kept that little gun, but I have one stainless k-frame cylinder and one j-frame cylinder I'm considering sending to TK Customs or Pinnacle to be cut for 9mm/.38 Super/9x21 for the versatility.
Being an old, retired cop who started with a revolver and still carry one often today, I haven't lost my appreciation for the .38 Special, especially in the +p loads. I tend to carry my 340 M&P with Buffalo Bore 158 gr.+p FBI LHPSWC/GC at 1020 fps out of a 2" barrel most of the time. I recently was able to develop a hand load that comes pretty close to it using a similar lead cast HP bullet and Blue Dot powder. It makes for a heavier bullet traveling damn near as fast as the 9mm. In my mind, that gives the .38 better than equal footing with the 9mm loads.
Being an old, retired cop who started with a revolver and still carry one often today, I haven't lost my appreciation for the .38 Special, especially in the +p loads. I tend to carry my 340 M&P with Buffalo Bore 158 gr.+p FBI LHPSWC/GC at 1020 fps out of a 2" barrel most of the time. I recently was able to develop a hand load that comes pretty close to it using a similar lead cast HP bullet and Blue Dot powder. It makes for a heavier bullet traveling damn near as fast as the 9mm. In my mind, that gives the .38 better than equal footing with the 9mm loads.
Rammer Jammer
Member
My first revolver was/is a 9mm SP101. I have never had crimp jump issues with it because it is a heavier gun. Some loads do have issues with crimp jump in lighter revolvers like the LCR 9mm.
TomkinsSP
Member
.38 Special is really rimmed 9 Parabellum, 9 Parabellum is really .38 Special without a rim. Balistically 9 has 2x standard pressure in 0.5x useful case volume of .38 when loading the SAME bullet (as I do with Badman 125 grain LRNFPs, I use the same charge as well).
The difference is platform and history. The typical .38 Special commercial loading is a heavier round 158 grains or so, at a lower velocity. The typical 9 load is 115 grains or so faster. You can load (or sometimes find commercial) heavier slower 9 or faster lighter. 38.
The difference is platform and history. The typical .38 Special commercial loading is a heavier round 158 grains or so, at a lower velocity. The typical 9 load is 115 grains or so faster. You can load (or sometimes find commercial) heavier slower 9 or faster lighter. 38.
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Echo40
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If you're going to go snubby, then you might as well go with a .357 Magnum. Even if all you plan to shoot out of it is .38 Special +P, it just makes more sense to choose the one that gives you an option for more powerful cartridges.
Personally, I don't care for pistol cartridge revolvers since they require the use of moon clips and are generally weaker than revolver cartridges, nor am I fan of the 9mm Luger cartridge which is offers more hype/rhetoric than it does actual performance.
If you want to carry a snub-nose revolver, then get one chambered in a proper rimmed cartridge which was designed for a revolver. If you want to carry a 9mm Luger, then get a semiautomatic pistol, because just about the only legitimate advantage to carrying 9mm Luger over anything else is ammo capacity, which obviously isn't a factor in a revolver.
.38 Special +P is more than adequate for self-defense seeing as even a standard pressure .38 will get the job done, and if you desire more power than obviously a proper .357 Magnum load (optimized for short-barrels) will run laps around the 9mm Luger.
Personally, I don't care for pistol cartridge revolvers since they require the use of moon clips and are generally weaker than revolver cartridges, nor am I fan of the 9mm Luger cartridge which is offers more hype/rhetoric than it does actual performance.
If you want to carry a snub-nose revolver, then get one chambered in a proper rimmed cartridge which was designed for a revolver. If you want to carry a 9mm Luger, then get a semiautomatic pistol, because just about the only legitimate advantage to carrying 9mm Luger over anything else is ammo capacity, which obviously isn't a factor in a revolver.
.38 Special +P is more than adequate for self-defense seeing as even a standard pressure .38 will get the job done, and if you desire more power than obviously a proper .357 Magnum load (optimized for short-barrels) will run laps around the 9mm Luger.
typetwelve
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I own a new Charter Bulldog in 9mm.
I'm not sure I'd trust my life with it just yet, but once I initially broke it in, it has yet to fail me.
The gun is easy to shoot and because it weighs in at 21oz, is very mild in the recoil dept.
So far, it seems to shoot more accurately with 124 gr std pressure rounds (NOT 9mm NATO) over 115gr bulk box. I really want to try the guy out with 147gr std pressure rounds like the Federal HST, Gold Dot, Golden Saber, and Win Ranger bonded, etc. ( According to Charter, +P rounds don't get you anything over std offerings)
I need to buy a stinking chronograph already so I can really figure out how these rounds are spitting out.
Anyway...I bought this for cheap(er) range revolver plinking and it's been just that. With factory ammo 50% less than that of .38 scpl, I cannot complain.
I'm not sure I'd trust my life with it just yet, but once I initially broke it in, it has yet to fail me.
The gun is easy to shoot and because it weighs in at 21oz, is very mild in the recoil dept.
So far, it seems to shoot more accurately with 124 gr std pressure rounds (NOT 9mm NATO) over 115gr bulk box. I really want to try the guy out with 147gr std pressure rounds like the Federal HST, Gold Dot, Golden Saber, and Win Ranger bonded, etc. ( According to Charter, +P rounds don't get you anything over std offerings)
I need to buy a stinking chronograph already so I can really figure out how these rounds are spitting out.
Anyway...I bought this for cheap(er) range revolver plinking and it's been just that. With factory ammo 50% less than that of .38 scpl, I cannot complain.
Rock185
US Veteran
SATX, I have little doubt that the vast majority of people interested in a small revolver for SD would be more comfortable with one chambered in .38 Spcl. or .357. They are traditional, they are simple, there are no complications with moon clips, possible bullet pull issues, etc.
That being said, I do like the 9MM revolvers, and have a S&W 940 and Ruger SP-101 chambered in 9mm. The moon clips required are not an issue for me. Ballistics of the 9MM cartridge in these little 2" and 3" revolvers fall between 38 Spcl. +P and .357 Magnum. Over all good, bad? Each will decide, but most will choose a traditional revolver cartridge....
BTW, trigger pull with any manufacturer's production guns will vary. I have more than one S&W. No two with same trigger pull. My Ruger trigger is heavier, but just as smooth as the S&Ws. But someone else might have the exact same models, with better or worse triggers.
That being said, I do like the 9MM revolvers, and have a S&W 940 and Ruger SP-101 chambered in 9mm. The moon clips required are not an issue for me. Ballistics of the 9MM cartridge in these little 2" and 3" revolvers fall between 38 Spcl. +P and .357 Magnum. Over all good, bad? Each will decide, but most will choose a traditional revolver cartridge....
BTW, trigger pull with any manufacturer's production guns will vary. I have more than one S&W. No two with same trigger pull. My Ruger trigger is heavier, but just as smooth as the S&Ws. But someone else might have the exact same models, with better or worse triggers.
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typetwelve
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People make too big of a deal out of moon clips (EDIT: "big deal" as in making them out to be a negative thing). My 627 uses them and I simply load them up before I go to the range, no big deal. I bought a nice loader/unloading tool and it's easy as pie.
The Pitbull has a nifty little detent that holds the casing in place until you eject it, loading initially takes a few times before you get the knack of it, but it's not problematic. My only complaint about Charter's system (and it's a minor one) is how the brass falls when you eject it. You have to turn the firearm upright and give a good amount of pressure to eject the brass, the detents seem to work like some sort of ejector so instead of the brass falling straight down like other revolvers, it all shoots out in 5 different directions. Because of this I'll eject into a small cardboard box vs my brass bag like I do with my other revolvers.
Small thing, really, but worth noting.
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