Any 9mm revolvers?

I was just going to put a new post out there when I seen this one on the 940 Revolvers. I have the opportunity to buy one for $425.00 like new. I have always liked the idea of a snubby in 9mm. I have 4 "J" frames in .38 spl. and thought a 9mm one would be a great addition.
 
I was just going to put a new post out there when I seen this one on the 940 Revolvers. I have the opportunity to buy one for $425.00 like new. I have always liked the idea of a snubby in 9mm. I have 4 "J" frames in .38 spl. and thought a 9mm one would be a great addition.

You haven't bought it yet?
 
In this day and age I fear the 9mm revolver is dead, at least as a new production item, Dave Sinko

Wow. this comment really gave me pause. Not because I disagree with it, but because it highlights the extreme differences in perspective we are capable of. The validity of a cartridge/handgun paring based on it's performance in competition never even entered my mind. Shooting, for me, has always been centered around family, friends, and the outdoors. If it can roll a pinecone, it's a viable firearm. While dropping a black bear is a common litmus test for a woods-gun in my parts, any cartridge will do for fun. Holsters need to retain revolvers while climbing rocky ravines, and the only timer is the sun hitting the hills marking time to head back to civilization (physically).

I've shot in some competitions, and qualification training (back in the early 80's) and enjoyed myself, but shooting tin-cans with my grandfather, hunting deer with friends, teaching my son to shoot, these are more pleasant memories and more of what shooting is about for me. With ammo prices at ridiculous levels, 22lr and 9mm revolvers are worth their weight in lead as far as I'm concerned. I've been eyeing a nice older 9mm/357 Ruger at the local gunshop, and thinking of having a model 10 converted.

If competition shooting and gun games are the driving forces in revolver development and sales, I've lived to long. I've been taxed, timed, ruled and regulationed to death and shooting, for me, is a relaxing step back in time to a simpler, more rational place where conscience and honor dictated conduct and peace officers carried 38 specials, not glocks and M4's. Gun games deserve a huge amount of respect, in my book, and a healthy share of the market. Just leave some room for plinkers, woods-walkers, and tin-can hunters. That's how I started shooting, how I started my son and daughters, and how I will soon start my grandson.
A model 34 and a 9mm revolver with a 3 or 4 inch barrel would be a good way to get going.

Reeling from perspective shift
Hastings
 
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I have a couple of 9mm revolvers, too.

Well said, Hastings. I believe you have voiced the opinion of thousands of us who share the thoughts you so eloquently put in your post. Bravo!
 
Don't get me wrong here... I'm not looking at the 9mm revolver only from a competition gun perspective. The one and only 9mm handgun I own (my 940) is a deadly serious gun but can be a lot of fun too. It's not for everybody though, because even though I believe that mine is an outstanding example that was made right it still has some quirks that can bite the casual shooter, or at least the shooter who doesn't take the time to understand it. Mine has good chambers but it can still be disabled by inferior ammo, such as ammo with brass that is too soft (A-Merc and Norinco come to mind) or too fast a powder in high quality brass, either factory loaded or handloaded. The autos take all the bad ammo in stride, and we revolver shooters tend to expect the same. The 9mm revolver can be very problematic, but it's the nature of the beast. The tapered case can be very unforgiving. I'm sure S&W went through hell with the 940; most owners probably expected these revolvers to shoot everything well, and I'm sure there were some bad expamples that shot nothing well. So this revolver developed a bad reputation. Even if S&W did not cut corners and made a new 9mm revolver with perfect chambers (pure fantasy, but for the sake of argument we'll presume they get it right) I'd still expect problems with at least some types of ammo. I think S&W has learned that there's no such thing as a foolproof 9mm revolver. Making a new model is not worth the headache to them, and that's why we'll not see any more.

But all said and done I would like to see them prove me wrong.

Dave Sinko
 
You just got lucky!!
I've loaned the 9mm cylinder hones out enough times to know that many are rough & won't extract well..
There are some that are very ammo finicky as David said above..
Anyone who has a 940 with a finicky cylinder email me & the flex hones can be on their way to your door FREE..
Gary [email protected]
 
I've had more than one person with a 940-1 that was having the same problems..
I think it has more to do with the condition of the reamer that's being used on the cylinder & being the 9mm cartridge is tapered..
Here's what a problem cylinder looks like when viewed with an eye loupe

940 Factory Chamber
roughcylinderslt1.jpg
 
The acid test is A-Merc brass. I would expect anything loaded in A-Merc brass to tie up any 9mm revolver no matter how good the chambers are. Funny thing is, any auto that can chamber this junk can always extract it when it is fired. At least that's how it always works for me after it has been handloaded.

If your 9mm revolver can fire and extract A-Merc brass, either factory or handloads, I'd like to hear about it!

Dave Sinko
 
OH this subject again.
One day S&W may see this stuff and decide to NOT make another 9mm revolver.
Here's my home made model 936 9x23-38 super-9mm shooter
cs2.jpg
 
OH this subject again.
One day S&W may see this stuff and decide to NOT make another 9mm revolver.
Here's my home made model 936 9x23-38 super-9mm shooter
cs2.jpg

Nice!! I like the way it came out, how's it shoot?
 
i asked this question in another thread a while back but it was never answered. A model 36 is not suppossed to get a steady diet of 38+P according to smith and wesson. How does the model 36 frame handle the higher pressure of 9mm ammo over the long term? do you think it may become a problem?
 
i asked this question in another thread a while back but it was never answered. A model 36 is not suppossed to get a steady diet of 38+P according to smith and wesson. How does the model 36 frame handle the higher pressure of 9mm ammo over the long term? do you think it may become a problem?

I've asked similar questions on the forum before and never received answers. The only difference I can imagine is if they were heat treated differently.
 
The model 36 has a 940 cylinder and barrel installed and I doubt that there will be any issues with 9mm or 38 super, Now the 9X23 round is something that I dont relish the thought of shooting many of them.
Let u consider that the 940 was also made in the 356? TSW round which has very high pressures.
I understand that the older J frames are not supposed to shoot 38+Ps, Now let us look at lawyers, The failure rate of an older J frame shooting 20K rounds of +P and the fact that an old J frame may already have untold thousands of rounds down the pipe, Condition unknown by the factory and their team of lawyers, So they want to stay safe and cautious in their recommendations about what YOU shoot in your firearm that has THEIR name on it.
I AM NOT SUGGESTING that you ignore S&W recommentations, They are there for a reason,
With that said, I will limit the use of 9X23s but I wont worry about 9mm at all,
Now I have shot about 100 38 Super+Ps with no effect on the firearm.
I have said enough for now.
I like my 36 gone 9mm, Stainless/Blue Pinto, Also happy I was able to find the parts and luck into a Like new 36 for 3 bills to complete the project.
Now what will I ever do with the 3" 340 barrel I still have collecting dust?
Peter
OH I forgot to add.
A 2" J frame is NOT a range gun, So it wont be getting 1000ds of rounds down the pipe like a 6" model 27 or a model 14 may see.
My carry guns get "Tested" every couple months with live ammo, Mostly just carried.
 
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I get asked alot about my 642/942 convertible..
I have tested it with a few cylinders of 9mm Nyclads but haven't had the range time to run a whole bunch of different loads & test the accuracy of each threw the little Airweight..
I still also need to take some +P+ 38 Supers, 9x21 & 9x23 to test in my 940+..
When I do get a chance to get to the range I'm always rushed by people waiting for a range table etc. & it realy cuts into the experience
Last range trip there was a guy picking up my brass while I was shooting & even went in front of me while I was shooting..
I stopped & put my pistol down on the table & screamed at him to get away & to never step in front of me again, I told him if he did & he got shot it's on him + the brass is mine until I leave range..
There were several people there just to scavenge brass even 22lr..
So "Maybe" I can find time one of these weekends to spend the whole day trying different rounds.. Hell I've got two new handguns that I have never shot yet..
Gary/Hk
 
I'll thank Headknocker for the loan of the flex hones. They saved me from a really sticky extraction problem. I enjoy my 940 very much, and a 125 gr. RNL at 906 fps seems just the ticket for target practice fun. I'm currently working up loads with a 147 gr RNL.
 
I have found a tornado brush for cleaning my 940 charge holes works better than a brass bristle brush. Stainless steel loops.

My 940 with CTC lasergrips, and melted edges.
ALX_0007.jpg

ALX_0009-1.jpg
 
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Well I checked with my friend and he is going to get the model 940 that I asked about earlier. Best news is it's a 3". I have a unfired 3" model 36 from 1962 that will be a great companion for it. Now if I can round up a Tyler "T" grip in polished alum. for it......
 
Thought I'd share some pics of my 940 & 642/942 9mms + a pic of my Glock 19 RTF2 all with Federal Nyclads for carry..
Buy a set of Grips from Craig Spegel & be done with searching for the perfect J frame grips..
Gary/Hk

9mmairweight942.jpg

942940.jpg

942spegelslh.jpg

942spegelsrear.jpg

g19942.jpg
 
Nice 9mm's HEADNOCKER!!!

I didn't know the airweight frame could handle 9mm, now I am looking at my new 638 all funny. I may have to get a twin for her and have the cylinder converted over to 9mm.
 
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