9MM Revolvers

[dawggunner]

Have an itch to own a 9MM revolver. Looking at a S&W 940 or a Taurus 905. Lot of difference in price! If you have experience with either or both please share your opinion.

THANKS!

 

[UncleEd]

When you get an itch, you get an itch and just have to scratch it.
I've had plenty of those.

But wait a bit and think about getting yourself a really nice .38 Special, say a Model 15 or some other K-frame.

I guess a plus for a 9 mm is the easy availability of ammo and
the fact you may own 9 mm autos. But the noise is terrible out
of a revolver and you might be surprised by the recoil.

Have you tried a rental 9 mm revolver?

 

[Cal44]

Not the two you mentioned, but I have and LCR 9mm (Ruger)

 

[bobbyd]

I have a S&W 940 for carry. It is quick and easy to load/unload and a extra clip for a reload is small and easy to carry. It has plenty of power to reasonably deal with any situation.
Having said all of that, it is an absolute beast to shoot and really hammers my hand. I am not particularly recoil sensitive and can shoot 38+P's in a J-frame all day long but, for me at least, the 940 is meant to be carried a lot and shot a little.
It would seem that your decision be tied to your intended use.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

I actually am in the same position;I own a Blackhawk .357 with a 9mm cylinder and like it.I think having a DA revolver in 9mm would be nice.I'm considering the S&W but must add that I've had the pleasure to try an Alpha and,looking at the innards,found it to be quite well made.The frame is smaller than a K frame but larger than a J.While the action is not S&W smooth,it still is pretty good.I'd say if you can live with the action of a DA Ruger,you can live with that one.And the price is considerably lower(not a quality issue but rather exchange rate;they are manufactured in Czech).Like I said,still hesitating!
Qc

 

[dawggunner]

Thanks for the feedback! Well, this itch may not get scratched after all since I have a few.38 Specials, K and J frames. My Ks are a M10, M14, M15 and the J is a M642.

Home defense and a truck gun would be the two uses of a 9MM. The availability and price of ammo is reason too for thinking about a 9MM revolver. A M3906 is a favorite semi-auto.

I need to find a range that has a rental 9MM revolver. Convinced I need to fire one before buying one.

 

[NYlakesider]

When you get an itch, you get an itch and just have to scratch it.
I've had plenty of those.

But wait a bit and think about getting yourself a really nice .38 Special, say a Model 15 or some other K-frame.

I guess a plus for a 9 mm is the easy availability of ammo and
the fact you may own 9 mm autos. But the noise is terrible out
of a revolver and you might be surprised by the recoil.

Have you tried a rental 9 mm revolver?

Wow I have a K frame revolver (547 3'') and the noise is no big deal. As far as recoil, for me I find it much better than the couple 9mm autos I had/do now own. FWIW since I got the 547 I have not shot my autos and I do have a good bit of 9MM at the house.

 

[DB30]

I'm a big fan of J-frame snubbies. Shoot a 50's era Centenial often. I fired a 940 several years ago, very snappy recoil, lots of muzzle flash. Good enough accuracy but second shot recovery was tough. Didn't get one, got a 9mm Ruger Speed 6. Really like that one.
Good luck scratching that itch.
DB

 

[Cal44]

The first time I touched off a round in my LCR 9mm I was surprised. Ouch.

I replaced the grips with a larger Hogue grip that is shipped on the LCRx 3" model:

Ruger LCR No Finger Groove Rubber Tamer Cushion Grip Black | Hogue Inc.

That grip made the gun usable for me. But it's larger in your pocket.

Another issue with the Ruger (18 oz gun) is crimp jump with some types of ammo.

Fortunately the problem is only with a few ammo types, and most of the leading SD ammo works fine. I don't know if crimp jump is a problem with the slightly heavier M940.

 

[Lee's Landing Billy]

I bought 2 of the little Taurus 9mm to use together. A pair of fellow sophisticates. I had to send both back 2 times and when they failed again I sold them with full disclosure. They both would freeze up and Superman couldn't pull the trigger. As with most Taurus revolvers they are head and shoulders above everybody in concept just not too much at QC. The only 3 I have left are my wife's chicken pen Judge [snake, possum, coon killer] a Light Weight 2 inch 45 Colt, and a View loaded with shot that I carry for Mr. No Shoulders. I always thought if they charged $75 more and worked out the QC problems they would have a product to match concept.

 

[twodog max]

I never understood 9mm revolvers. Having to use moon clips or some other means of extraction just made the whole concept seem sort of odd. When a 38 or 357 is about the same or a lot more I just never got it. However different things make the world go round.

 

[326MOD10]

I have the same itch and am in the process of scratching it.

One of the posters here had a 360J converted to 9mm and speaks highly of it. Hopefully he will be along soon to add to the conversation in regard to recoil, etc.... since his is on the scandium frame.

Following his lead I just had the cylinder on my 360J pulled to be sent in to TK for a conversion. Going to have it installed and then add a Big Dot sight.

I also purchased an unfluted cylinder from a forum member and plan on having it done as well and placed into a 649.

Ironically after committing to all this I stumbled into a 940 for $650.00 total cost. Haven't had the time to take it to the range yet but am thinking about adding some different grips first to lessen the bite. Currently has the UM boots on her.

I guess I can't add much to the conversation now but hopefully will be able to in about a month.

I do know that I have a problem with itching and have to figure out a cheaper way to scratch it.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I would love to find a S&W 940 from a dealer at a reasonable price, but I have given up for now. I would hold out for the S&W or go 38 special. There are those who swear by their Taurus guns, but I am not one of them.

 

[rangemeister]

I have had two 940's and recently a Ruger LCR 9mm. I like the niche they fit, as I went exclusively to 9mm self defense weapons. The guns recoil is pretty harsh. The LCR did crimp jump on me once, with cheap ammo. For me, installing a larger grip on the gun took away from the purpose of having the thing, concealment.

There are a lot of folks out there who like the 9mm's revolvers, and the supply is drying up. Good luck

 

[bearpa]

I have a 940 and don't find the recoil or muzzle blast objectionable, but then both are a subjective matter dependent on the person firing the gun. As far as Smith vs Taurus, you get what you pay for! The Smith will increase in value, the Taurus will depreciate.

Plus with Taurus you can buy a dozen and your lucky if 25% shoot! A buddy is a dealer and he has found this to be the situation with Taurus guns. All the time shipping new guns back to the factory for repair!

My 940 is a 3" barrel model, quite rare! Nice gun and a great buy!

Just my opinion.

 

[H Richard]

As others have stated, the 940 recoil is not what I would call punishing, but "sharp", and bites you right at the base of your thumb. I put Pachmayer compacts on it and it handles the recoil very well. The original grips are just too small and don't fit very many shooters hands very well.
The 940 is the top left in this picture. The top right is a 640 and with the Altamont grips is a pleasure to shoot, and the blue one is a Mod 40.

 

[Mister X]

I like the concept of a 9mm revolver and had contemplated getting one a few times over years, but after some research and asking a few knowledgable instructors whose opinion I highly respect about them, I decided against getting one. They just come with too many issues and potential problems for a defense gun IMO and it is with good reason they aren't very popular. YMMV

 

[Skeetr57]

I have two S&W 9mm revolvers, a 940 and a 547. The 940 has a 2" barrel and the 547 has the 4" heavy barrel, and both have the factory grips that came on them. I have no problem with the recoil or noise from either. The rubber grips that came on the 940 fit my large hand very well.
i did my qualification for my CWP with the 547 and scored 100%, but feel that I would have had no problem qualifying with the 940.

 

[colt_saa]

I have been shooting 9MM and other rimless autoloading cartridges, out of Smith and Wesson revolvers for decades.

I have several 940s at the moment. All of mine have had their chambers opened up so that they can now shoot 38 Super, 38ACP, 9x21, 9MM Luger, 380ACP as well as every other cartridge that fits in the moonclip

I also have a pair of the Performance Center 940 Specials. These are chambered for 356TSW. The Performance Center 940 Specials can also shoot 9x21, 9MM Luger, 380ACP, etc.

I even ordered a NY Reload holster for myself

And it is not just the J-frames. I have two of the K-frame snubby 547s as well.

Plus I have converted a second cylinder for my N-frame Pinto 627. The stainless cylinder is the original 357 Magnum cylinder while the black cylinder has been chambered for 9x23 Winchester. This allows the gun to safely fire 9x23 Winchester, 38 Super, 38ACP, 356TSW, 9x21, 9MM Luger, 380ACP and more.

Sorry, I never felt the need to try the Taurus 905 since I already owned several S&Ws

If you already own a S&W built on the modern J-Magnum frame that is chambered in 357 Magnum or 38 Special, consider having a second cylinder converted for it.

I am about to re-chamber a model 60 cylinder for 356TSW to make a convertible J-frame.

Mark at Pinnacle can do this re-chambering for you. He is very good.

So go and scratch that itch.

 

[bigchuck83]

Glad to see I'm not the only person thinking of getting a 9mm revolver. I'm set on finding a S&W model 547 to use as a shooter


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