Auto Caliber Chambered Revolvers

[stantheman86]

For me personally a 9mm revolver would be neat as a range toy, but I am solidly a .38 - .357 guy and the vast majority of my many revolvers are .38's or .357's.

 

[S&W-Keeper]

I have a couple of 625"s and a 646, I think they are great.

 

[huthike]

I've got several 610's, a 625, a 25 in 45 ACP, and a 1917. I'm hooked. The 610's are routinely the best shooting Smiths I own, and the 625 is another favorite. Get a 625 - you won't regret it.

 

[Tinygnat219]

Lou,

Interesting perspective. I've just always seen these kind of revolvers as a niche, with them being curiosities at best.

 

[Lou_NC]

Lou,

Interesting perspective. I've just always seen these kind of revolvers as a niche, with them being curiosities at best.

I shot .38's and .357's for over 10 years before I bought my first model 625 in .45 ACP. I used to think of these revolvers the same way.....mostly as curiosities......until I bought one and started shooting it. Then they became my favorites!

 

[Mack]

Autos have a huge edge over revolvers when it comes to combat use, they have a somewhat smaller but growing edge for self defense use. I say this about self defense due to the increasing chances of having to defend yourself against more than one attacker. While the brain knows this the heart sometimes longs for a wheel gun, if you had to defend yourself with a revolver and required a reload or two or three the answer for me would be something moon clipped. Some seem to have an instinctive dislike for moon clips I love them. I consider them the perfect feed device for revolvers as long as Ranch Products makes them. Perfect feed device because they they keep your ammo organized, make for speedy reloads and capture your spent brass so you don't lose it. The reason I like Ranch Products is because they produce a good quality serviceable product at a very reasonable price. Others might make a "better" clip but being able to clip up hundreds of rounds without breaking the bank is a super big plus and no one else allows you to do this. As a company they deserve a big thank you for doing this. IMO S&W is missing the boat big time when it comes to this, when I become president of S&W expect to see 5,6,7 and 8 round 9 mm's, 6,7 and 8 round .40 S&W's, and 6 and 7 round 10 mm's in L and N frame. Oh and no locks and a return to forged parts. Vote for me .

 

[williamlayton]

I am waiting for my 586 to come back from pinnicle--it will shoot the 9x23 & and if you have never shot a 9x23 you are missing out on a great round & fine shooter.
Blessings

 

[M2MikeGolf]

Interesting perspective. I've just always seen these kind of revolvers as a niche, with them being curiosities at best.

And yet, for nearly as long as there have been auto cartridges, there have been revolvers chambered for them. The Model 1917 is a great example. It was a successful service weapon, and a great way to bridge a gap for an organization to have different capapbilities for the same cartridge. There is a huge following for .45 ACP revolvers, just read some of the posts here. I own a Model 1917, and as old as it is, with those moon clips it has much more value to me as a modern shooter than a collectors piece. It's a fantastic innovation, and only ninety four years old. I might add that it has not lacked in sales in all that time, and that includes all the .45 ACP revolver models S&W has produced to date.

So why aren't there more caliber/cartridges available? One must wonder a little. Most speedloader users will pretty well tell you how superior the moon clip is to a non-moon clip user; look how many serious shooters like to convert rimmed cartridges to moon clip usage.

I am still amazed at the fact that 9mm is not more prevalent in the revolver world. I have a strong suspicion that it has much more to do with marketing and deal making than anything. 9mm autos are a bit on the wane now due to the popularity of .40 S&W/.357 SIG, and by making a revolver in those two caliber/cartrdges, the undercutting of sales for those models could occur. There seem to be a lot of just S&W fans out there that would like to see 940s and 547s back on the shelves. 9mm just makes sense, it's a great bridge gapper between .38 Spl and .357 Magnum. But I suspect that's the problem; 9mm would almost make .38 Spl redundant, and then K-frames might be a troubled issue; there are a lot of traditionalists out there that would have fit if .38 K-frames suffered or were discontinued. It's a shame, because 9mm is perfectly suited for the K-frame, and can give that .38 +P and even +P+ a real viable alternative. Personally, I think it would re-vitalize K-Frame sales since S&W won't re-issue .357 K-frames. The time is ripe for a new model 547. I wouldn't even complain about the IL on it.

Just a thought.

 

[RobC2]

I love my 547 9mm. I have never tried a moonclip gun, but I would like to at some point. A model 25 in .45 ACP would be very nice. Maybe a 940 and a 610 too?

 

[Richard Simmons]

I'm quite partial to my 610-2 in 10mm

as well as my 25-14

and 22-4

which are both chambered in 45 ACP.

 

[BobR1]

Well I guess I am a moon clip kinda guy. I have owned Webleys converted to 45acp. I have owned a couple 1917's, two or three 25's, and a couple 625's. I currently am shooting a 625 in the 3" version. It has been to Ron for his Power Custom Combat work.

I have a 610 No Dash that I bought when they first came on the market. It was a factory 5". I dropped it off with Ron Power and had his Power Custom Combat work done to it, as well as having it shortened off the back to 4" like it should have been in the first place in my opinion.

I also have a 310 Nightguard that I just bought today. I am sure it will be a favorite carry gun. I see a Lobo Enhanced Pancake holster in it's Christmas stocking.

I had an SP101 in 9mm at one time. I now wish I still had it.

I also have a 686 Power Custom Combat that Clark converted to take moon clips many years ago. It is still chambered in 38/357.

I also shoot my 64 using Safariland Comp III speedloaders. I am not a total moon clip user.

As was said numerous times above, it is nice getting home with all your brass at the end of the day. Even at matches where you would normally have to leave your brass on the ground, you still pick it up with your moon clips.

Bob

 

[Dick Craig]

I just don't agree that revolvers chambered in .45ACP are novelty items or niche guns. The Models 25 and 625 in all of their iterations have been wildly popular sellers for Smith for decades, and for good reason: .45ACP has turned out to be a superb revolver round and the 25/625 series has been a wonderful platform for these rounds. My 625JM is remarkably accurate with about as much recoil as a mid-sized revolver chambered in .38 special. Moon clips, which sound like a potential problem, turn out to be an asset when one learns how to use them properly. Anyone who's watched one of those Jerry Miculek video clips will know that it's possible to reload a 625 using moonclips faster than one could ever reload a revolver with speedloaders or faster even than changing magazines in a semiauto.

I agree with most of what you said. I have a 22-4,TRR 45acp, and shoot it on occasion at our local USPSA type matches. I just acquired a 627-5, which doesn't meet the semi auto caliber round format but I haven't had the opportunity to shoot it in a match. Great guns and quick to reload but for speed I find my 1911's much much faster to reload, but I ain't Jerry Miculek.

 

[Dave T]

For the most part, I look at them as novelties...

On the contrary, I see them as eminently usable and practicle revolvers, particularly those chambered for the 45 ACP cartridge. They will serve as target, competition or defensive revolvers depending on the model, the ammunition used and the application and intentions of the owner. Hardly novelties, which is probably why I have 5 of them.

Just sayin',
Dave

 

[LOBO]

I got my 625-4 5" a few years back, and I just knew that I was going to love it. Well.....I didn't, not the moonclips anyway. Thought about selling it for a good while. Then I learned of this glorious little round called the .45 auto rim. Hallelujah!!!! I am not a moonclip fan, but I'll take all the .45 auto rim that I can find!! Here is what eats 'em.....


625-4 .45 acp/ar

Springfield Armory 200 year Commemorative .45 acp/ar (basically a 625-4 Mountain Gun)

model of 1917 .45 acp/ar

 

[Maximumbob54]

I thought the same thing until I shot my three inch 625. Now it has joined the ranks of several of my "from my cold dead hands" guns and will be staying that way.

It may have to be something to feel in the hand before it really hits you how great they are.

 

[M3Stuart]

....I am still amazed at the fact that 9mm is not more prevalent in the revolver world. I have a strong suspicion that it has much more to do with marketing and deal making than anything. 9mm autos are a bit on the wane now due to the popularity of .40 S&W/.357 SIG, and by making a revolver in those two caliber/cartrdges, the undercutting of sales for those models could occur. There seem to be a lot of just S&W fans out there that would like to see 940s and 547s back on the shelves. 9mm just makes sense, it's a great bridge gapper between .38 Spl and .357 Magnum. But I suspect that's the problem; 9mm would almost make .38 Spl redundant, and then K-frames might be a troubled issue; there are a lot of traditionalists out there that would have fit if .38 K-frames suffered or were discontinued. It's a shame, because 9mm is perfectly suited for the K-frame, and can give that .38 +P and even +P+ a real viable alternative. Personally, I think it would re-vitalize K-Frame sales since S&W won't re-issue .357 K-frames. The time is ripe for a new model 547. I wouldn't even complain about the IL on it.

Just a thought.

Ok - no reflection on you at all, but I just had to say: since when has S&W given a rat's #$% about K frames? When was the last time they built a K frame with anything but a 4" barrel (referring to the current 64, 67 & 'bogus' 10)?

Sidenote: My 3" 10-4 is probably my favorite gun to shoot. I'd buy the 9mm version in a nanosecond if such a thing existed.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I have only one revolver chambered for a rimless pistol cartridge, other than a couple of M1917s, a Model 25 and a Model 625. As a general rule I don't like them, because of the need to work around the extraction issues.

However, with a single action revolver, there is no extraction problem, as the ejector pokes out any kind of a case. I do have this Ruger old model Blackhawk, chambered for .357/.38 special, with a factory-fitted cylinder for the 9mm Parabellum cartridge. It allows more economical practice with the cheaper 9mm ammo, and I can get ammo for it practically anywhere in the world. I favor the old "4 click" actions not only because of nostalgia, but because I think they operate more smoothly. Of course, this type is always carried hammer down on an empty chamber when loaded.

This particular gun was manufactured in 1970. I have the original box, papers, grips and red felt pouch and box for the extra cylinder.

John

 

[5Wire]

Three Inch (Hogue Bantams for comfort).

Four Inch

 

[mtgianni]

Not Smiths but I like the versitility of the 9mm & 45 acp in my Blackhawks.

 

[Tinygnat219]

Sweet!
Looks like the auto-chambered revolvers aren't as much of a niche as I'd thought. Especially in .45ACP. I don't typically carry a revolver as they tend to be bulky for their size and capacity. I'm kind of a diehard semi-auto carry guy. I tend to carry a revolver solely for a BUG and then it's either my 640 or 940 revolver.

However, there's something about these revolvers that's just plain neat, especially when I can find an affordable one chambered in a cartridge that I already carry: 9MM, .40 S&W or 10MM, I tend to purchase it. The 310 Nightguard might be my next purchase in this category (it's been discontinued damnit). Unless I come across a 625. I already have the S&W 1917 in .45ACP so that niche in particular doesn't need anything further. Still, with the 625 I won't worry about an 80-90 year old part failing and then having to replace it.
Some other neat revolvers I want: S&W 547, S&W 646, and possibly an SP101 in 9MM.

Thanks again!