My 9mm 642-1

[Screwball]

I've been looking at the 9mm Ruger LCR for sometime now, and really wanting it in the X configuration... but decided to go down another road.

I've owned a 642-1 (no lock) for a few years, which I had Robar redo in NP3 Plus. Really happy with it, but it is a .38 Special. I'm not a fan of .357 Magnum, but deal with the negatives (for my use) of .38 Special because of its form. Being issued a 9mm, I prefer that round over something different... and .38 Special really is different (long, in bulky speedloaders, etc).

I picked up a cylinder from a 360 off AR15.com, which was converted by Pinnacle Guns to 9mm. Also got a 642 crane (in case I need it for fitting) and twenty moon clips with it. After I get it squared away, I'm likely going to have Robar redo it in NP3 Plus so it matches my revolver, but also looking to see if they can engrave it so I can easily see which one is 9mm/.38. I feel this is superior to getting a 9mm LCR, as I already know my J-frame. Cost me $285 for the parts...

Gunsmith was a little backed up, but got it able to be shot in 9mm by swapping the ejector rod (very minor work to get it in spec, so I can try it out). I just dropped it off to him again to fit the cylinder parts so it will be a quick change from .38 to 9mm (said a few weeks... then, it is going to Robar).

But did get out to the range with it...

Only fired 50 round through it (UMC 115 grain), and the range officer did try a moon clip. I do see that not shooting the gun for the past three months has degraded my accuracy with it, but was able to get ok groups.

Anyways, the range officer was all over the gun once he saw me pull out a bulk box of UMC 9mm. Thought I was some guy that bought the wrong ammo and was going to try and make it work. When I pulled out the moon clips and the BMT loader, he was all ears on what I had in front of me. If you use moon clips, and BMT makes a loader for you, I'd definitely say to look into spending $90 for one. Loads quickly (once you get the hang of it; I'd put it in the same group as the Uplula), keeps your moon clips straight, and unloads even faster.

BMT Equipped, Inc.

Anyways, the first couple clips I fired were at 5/7 yards. Recoil is nice, and less sharp than a .38 +P, but definitely didn't feel like .357 Magnum loads. I'd probably place it around standard pressure .38 loads. As I said, having not shot it recently, I really had to warm up to it. The range officer decided to tell me how he could double the range and get better groups than what I was getting (did a 3", two 2ish", and then the one before he said anything was 1.5"; don't think he saw the last one). So, I pushed a new target out to 15 yards, and handed him the gun and a moon clip. Out of the four that actually hit the paper, it was just under a 6" group...

The two in the 7 ring, one on the 6:00 "9", and the one on the right side arm were his (I feel the fifth shot missed right). Pulled it up to show him that a 1.875" barrel isn't easy to shoot, then I used a black marker to tell which were his (only thing I had in my range bag). Pushed it back out to 15 yards, then got all the rest in the center... coming out to a 2" group. I was expecting within the 9 ring, but even that kind of shocked me with the amount of time I haven't been behind this gun.

I'm probably going to pick up some more moon clips and then send them all to CCR for cera-plating (worked great for my Garand clips). Shy of that, really rounding out to be a nice project.

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

Very nice!

I'd love to have a 9mm J-frame but figured a 640 would be the base gun.

I will be following this thread to see how it turns out with more rounds through it.

 

[tekarra]

Very nice indeed.

 

[Screwball]

Thanks guys.

I'm about four weeks out from getting the cylinder back, then whatever it take Robar to plate the assembly. So, I might get another range trip before sending it out.

In regards to longevity, I'm feeling it should be fine. I'm probably going to shoot some lighter loads... whether it is bulk for practice/qualifications or self-defense loads. Not going to be putting +P or higher through it.

 

[ladder13]

I like it, alot. If Smith won't make an Airweight 9mm, make your own.

 

[WC145]

Nice piece. Like Ladder13 says, if they won't make what you want make it yourself. I had Pinnacle convert a 360J to 9mm (9x23) and do some other work on it for me about 6 years ago for that exact reason. I wanted a light weight 9mm snubby and nobody made one. I carried it as a BUG until I retired from LE and still carry it regularly. I had Robar coat the cylinder with NP3 because it would get surface rust with the least bit of humidity or when carried in an ankle holster. A few years ago I had it made DAO and bobbed the hammer. Right now it's back at Pinnacle getting a titanium .38spl fitted to it so I can swap back and forth. Mine weighs 13oz with the steel conversion cylinder, it'll be a little over 10oz (same as a 337ti) with the new cylinder.

 

[WC145]

Thanks guys.

I'm about four weeks out from getting the cylinder back, then whatever it take Robar to plate the assembly. So, I might get another range trip before sending it out.

In regards to longevity, I'm feeling it should be fine. I'm probably going to shoot some lighter loads... whether it is bulk for practice/qualifications or self-defense loads. Not going to be putting +P or higher through it.

If you're LE, and I assume you are since mention qualifying, tell Robar when you send the gun and they'll put a rush on it.

I've put a lot of rounds through my gun without any problems. Pinnacle cuts the chambers to 9x23 so it'll shoot .38 Super and others as well, though I generally stick to 9mm. I use regular pressure 115gr for training/practice/quals but my carry load is Federal 9BPLE 115gr JHP +P+. Might be hot for a 642 but the 360J uses the same frame and cylinder blanks as the .357mag M&P 360. There's been a number of folks here that have done conversions on their guns, lots of posts going back til before I did mine and that was about 6 years ago. The earliest were using 940 cylinders in 642s but those were pre-J magnum framed guns. I bought a 940 cylinder to try that and it was a no go with my later model gun.

Let us know how your gun shoots and holds up for you.

 

[Slowhanddd]

Do you have any ejection problems with the 9mm?My 940 is hella hard to get the empties out.

 

[ladder13]

Nice piece. Like Ladder13 says, if they won't make what you want make it yourself. I had Pinnacle convert a 360J to 9mm (9x23) and do some other work on it for me about 6 years ago for that exact reason. I wanted a light weight 9mm snubby and nobody made one. I carried it as a BUG until I retired from LE and still carry it regularly. I had Robar coat the cylinder with NP3 because it would get surface rust with the least bit of humidity or when carried in an ankle holster. A few years ago I had it made DAO and bobbed the hammer. Right now it's back at Pinnacle getting a titanium .38spl fitted to it so I can swap back and forth. Mine weighs 13oz with the steel conversion cylinder, it'll be a little over 10oz (same as a 337ti) with the new cylinder.

WC, I remember when you did the initial work.
I think member Headknocker, did a 642 and called it a 942?

Here's Gary's post:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-smithing/92860-how-fit-new-cylinder-j-frame-942-a.html

 

[Screwball]

I had Robar coat the cylinder with NP3 because it would get surface rust with the least bit of humidity or when carried in an ankle holster.

Yep, I know that... I had CCR plate my entire LCP due to that. Especially those two screws for the CT grips. I do sweat, which is why I'm even looking at plating the moon clips to be proactive with rust prevention.

I like your gun. Was considering a two-tone look with the 9mm cylinder, but don't know of a comparable finish in that color (CCR just released cera-plate in black, but I don't want it wearing off a year down the line and having to redo the cylinder). If I were doing it again, I'd probably have found a stainless gun to convert, but felt comfortable with what I had. I've had that gun since mid-2009, so didn't want to change guns and lose all the training I've done on it (my father had a .357 LCR, and the trigger is DIFFERENT).

If you're LE, and I assume you are since mention qualifying, tell Robar when you send the gun and they'll put a rush on it.

Didn't know that. I have the .38 cylinder, so it isn't like I need to put the 9mm assembly in front of someone else. I'm actually changing agencies in the upcoming months, so the wait isn't that big of a deal. Rather have those guys that really need the gun back get them than me getting my cylinder back.

Do you have any ejection problems with the 9mm?My 940 is hella hard to get the empties out.

Nope, not at all. I trained to upend the revolver and hit the ejector rod to get the empties out for the speedloader, but didn't notice any issues in the ten reloads I did. I think if I just inverted the revolver, they would have just fell out. Think the 9x23mm chambers stop that from happening.

Likewise, I didn't notice any issue with accuracy and the 9x23mm chambering. You can see the group above at 15 yards, which was with me doing my part. Gun is capable with the 9mm cylinder in.

 

[sw dan]

9mm rev

I think you have a great idea here, but do see one problem no one has said. I think most 38 special barrels are going to run .357-.358, and most 9mms are in that .355-.356 range. do not know if your groups will get better....sw dan

 

[Screwball]

I think you have a great idea here, but do see one problem no one has said. I think most 38 special barrels are going to run .357-.358, and most 9mms are in that .355-.356 range. do not know if your groups will get better....sw dan

I hear you. I didn't go with a Ruger .357/9mm convertible revolver due to that (got the .45 version, instead), but even if that is all I can squeeze out of it (2" at 15 yards), good enough for qualifications. Just got to see which loads work the best.

 

[WC145]

Do you have any ejection problems with the 9mm?My 940 is hella hard to get the empties out.

No problems with mine either, but, while that's a common problem with 940s, I've never heard of anyone having case sticking issues with cylinders cut by either Pinnacle or TK Customs.. The sticking problem with the 940s is due to rough chamber walls, it's been proven here on the forum that honing them smooth takes care of it.

I think you have a great idea here, but do see one problem no one has said. I think most 38 special barrels are going to run .357-.358, and most 9mms are in that .355-.356 range. do not know if your groups will get better....sw dan

That couple of thousandths of an inch are more of an issue in theory than in real life. The projectiles engage the rifling well, they don't fall through or rattle down the barrel. There was no appreciable difference in accuracy from my gun with 9mm compared to .38spl. I had no trouble qualifying on our duty weapon course of fire with it (3-25yds) and even used it to win an IDPA BUG match.

 

[Realgunner]

Nice gun; bad range officer.

 

[Screwball]

Got it back today. $50 for fitting it... and it locks up just like the original cylinder. Really happy with how it came out.

Did find out the "new" crane arm that's grabbed with the cylinder was bent. Wasn't needed, but annoyed that I bought it and wasn't 100%.

Unsure whether I'm going to do another range trip before sending the assembly to Robar. Going to try to get out there, depends on work and the upcoming holiday.

In regards to refinishing it, I'm not going to engrave it or anything. Figured being cut for moon clips is a big enough giveaway for it being 9mm.

 

[WC145]

Sounds like it worked out great. Let us know how it shoots.

BTW, if anyone is interested in trying a project like this and is looking for a base gun Palmetto State Armory has 360J's on sale for $349 this weekend. That is a steal!! That's the same gun I used for my 9mm build. It's chambered for .38spl but they use the same frame as the .357mag M&P 360 so it's plenty strong. Smith & Wesson Revolver Model 360 .38Spl 5rd Black Scandium Frame 160360

 

[Screwball]

Got a package from Robar today...

Putting the cylinder in was a little tougher than normal, but some opening/closing and dry firing got it back to where it should be. Really happy with how it came out, and hoping to get out to the range with it in the next week or so.

I had three screws in the same box from Robar to try out something else with the gun...

Not a second laser, but their 125 lumen light. Got it cheap off DVOR, so going to give it a chance. Can't use it with any of my ankle or belt holsters since it changes the profile, but LaserMax included a pocket holster for it.