Questions about PC 986 snub nose 9mm

[A.J.R.]

Hello,

My LGS has a NIB Performance Center 986 9mm with a 2.5 inch barrel. I am guessing that this one is new old stock since the 986 snub nose seems to have been discontinued as there is not much information about it available. The SKU number is 10227. The action is exquisite and the pistol is lovely. My main concern question does anyone know if this revolver is only designed to be used with moon clips? The arms on the extractor do not seem to have enough metal to extract 9mm cases without them being in a moon clips. We even tried with spent cartridges and they failed to extract. Is this a problem with the pistol itself or if I purchased it be locked into using moon clips exclusively?

I am not much of a moon clip guy, I understand the benefits to reloading more quickly during competition but I am more of weekend plinker. I do have a 640pro that is cut for moon clips but the pistol functions perfectly without them. Is the Performance Center 686 designed the same way? If anyone has any knowledge about this model of pistol or information about the PC 686 it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[A.J.R.]

Further research tells me that because of the inherent rim gap in the 9mm round this pistol needs to be used exclusively with moon clips.

Consulted the 4th edition SCoSW and there is no information about it either.

Would still like to know if the Performance Center 686+ has to exclusively use moon clips or can it be charged singularly.

[Found this thread]
(http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...986-pro-series-vs-686-performance-center.html) with more answers apologies for not searching.

 

[WC145]

I need to pay closer attention. When the 986 first came out I thought it would make a great carry gun with a short barrel, I wasn't aware that S&W had produced one until I saw this post. That's a pretty cool, and very tempting, piece. I'll be looking into it more closely, thanks for your post.

 

[A.J.R.]

I need to pay closer attention. When the 986 first came out I thought it would make a great carry gun with a short barrel, I wasn't aware that S&W had produced one until I saw this post. That's a pretty cool, and very tempting, piece. I'll be looking into it more closely, thanks for your post.

It is a neat revolver, would definitely be suited for someone who is already suited up to reload moon clips or wants to go all in on it. The rare nature and it being cheap to shoot 9mm intrigues me. I'm going to take the night to think it over.

 

[WCCPHD]

I had not seen this before. It also intrigues me. I have found several on line and one dealer, in his ad, says that only several hundred were made prior to it being discontinued.

Does anyone have any information on the actual number produced?

 

[Pizza Bob]

A.J.R. -

A quick lesson on moon clips and the guns that use them.

Generally there are two types of cartridges for handguns. Revolvers use a cartridge with a rimmed case, defined by a flange that extends beyond the diameter of the case body. Semi-auto pistols use a rimless or semi-rimmed case where the cartridge head is the same diameter (or only slightly larger in the case of semi-rimmed) as the case body.

In revolvers chambered for rimless rounds it is imperative that you use moon clips, otherwise, as you have found, there is nothing for the extractor star to push against. They also use the clip to properly headspace. Yes, I know there is a shoulder in the chamber, but you will get inconsistent headspace results in a revolver, without moon clips, if you rely on them (in a semi-auto the extractor holds the case against the breach, so case length is not as critical).

Cylinder for rimmed without moon clips, or rimless with moon clips...

With a rimmed case, when the cylinder is machined for moon clips there is a ridge left around the circumference of the rear face of the cylinder. The case rim rests on this ridge for proper headspacing, whether moon clips are used or not. With a revolver chambered for a rimmed cartridge, moon clips are nice to able to use, but not a necessity. Revolvers chambered for rimless or semi-rimmed rounds require the use of moon clips.

Cylinder machined for moon clips and rimmed cartridges..

There are exceptions - Just as there are revolvers chambered for rimless rounds, there are some semi-autos that are chambered for rimmed cases, but for the most part: Rimless = semi-auto / Rimmed = revolvers.

You should have grabbed the 986 snub. It will be an instant collectible. As others have already said, I wasn't even aware it existed.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[Macinaw]

986 is only available with a five inch barrel.

 

[Pizza Bob]

986 is only available with a five inch barrel.

Now. Dig a little deeper - that is a valid SKU#

 

[b_san]

Looks like a new one, I see a few listed on various retailers/distributors websites and our favorite online auction site.

 

[F224]

Find some of the 9mm Federal rimmed ammo. You can run that without the clips, and a few hundred cases will last you years of reloading if you keep the pressures on the normal side.

 

[Macinaw]

Now. Dig a little deeper - that is a valid SKU#

Thanks! Just received my 4th ed. SCSW didn't see it listed.

 

[Wayne]

Pretty cool !

 

[rbmorse]

I've got a 5 inch 986 and I want one of these, too.

What are the chances that unfluted cylinder could be used with the five inch barrel?

 

[A.J.R.]

Took the plunge. It was tough decision as there are a lot of great pistols in that price range. What made me make the final decision was that I wanted something different in a revolver and I have a nice quantity of 9mm on hand. I ordered up some moon clips from two different manufacturers so I can do a proper range visit, and a case removal tool. Will post a picture of the 986 tomorrow.

 

[WC145]

Took the plunge. It was tough decision as there are a lot of great pistols in that price range. What made me make the final decision was that I wanted something different in a revolver and I have a nice quantity of 9mm on hand. I ordered up some moon clips from two different manufacturers so I can do a proper range visit, and a case removal tool. Will post a picture of the 986 tomorrow.

Congrats on your purchase. I'm looking forward to your range report and pics. I saw a few of them on gunbroker but I've been on a bit of a buying jag lately, I'll probably need to sell a couple before dropping another grand on something new.

Find some of the 9mm Federal rimmed ammo. You can run that without the clips, and a few hundred cases will last you years of reloading if you keep the pressures on the normal side.

Yeah, easier said than done. 9mm Federal hasn't been made in a couple of decades and was only on the market briefly before Federal stopped making it. It's not like .45 Auto Rim which is still being made, both loaded ammo and components.

 

[Pizza Bob]

I ordered up some moon clips ... and a case removal tool.

Congratulations! You will need a tool to charge the moon clips too. My suggestion would be to cancel whatever removal tool you purchased, and buy a BMT tool (model L9-7), to both charge and de-moon your clips. It's not cheap (but consider what you just spent on the gun), but you'll be a happy camper. Hands down the best tool for moon clip guns.

BMT...
BMT Equipped, Inc.

Good luck.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[Protocall_Design]

If you reload, you can use .38 Short Colt in the 9mm chamber. The cases are the same length with the same case volume, so is essentially a rimmed 9mm case. You could use those with or without moon clips in terms of extraction, they take a different moon clip than the 9mm case. May need moon clips for headspace though.

 

[A.J.R.]

Congratulations! You will need a tool to charge the moon clips too. My suggestion would be to cancel whatever removal tool you purchased, and buy a BMT tool (model L9-7), to both charge and de-moon your clips. It's not cheap (but consider what you just spent on the gun), but you'll be a happy camper. Hands down the best tool for moon clip guns.

BMT...
BMT Equipped, Inc.

Good luck.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

Thank you for information and the link.

 

[wolverine]

Took the plunge. It was tough decision as there are a lot of great pistols in that price range. What made me make the final decision was that I wanted something different in a revolver and I have a nice quantity of 9mm on hand. I ordered up some moon clips from two different manufacturers so I can do a proper range visit, and a case removal tool. Will post a picture of the 986 tomorrow.

Evening A.J.R.;

I don't know much about the 986 snubby but do know about the longer 986.

Just a caution to you (IF) your new 986 comes with titanium cylinder (both of my 986 have a titanium cylinder)

If your new gun has a titanium cylinder be very careful in how you clean it & what you clean it with.

Very easy to damage a titanium cylinder by cleaning it incorrectly or using a cleaning solvent that removes the special factory coating on the titanium. (basically, if your gun comes with a titanium cylinder be sure to FULLY research on how to clean it correctly & what NOT to use to clean it)

 

[A.J.R.]

Evening A.J.R.;

I don't know much about the 986 snubby but do know about the longer 986.

Just a caution to you (IF) your new 986 comes with titanium cylinder (both of my 986 have a titanium cylinder)

If your new gun has a titanium cylinder be very careful in how you clean it & what you clean it with.

Very easy to damage a titanium cylinder by cleaning it incorrectly or using a cleaning solvent that removes the special factory coating on the titanium. (basically, if your gun comes with a titanium cylinder be sure to FULLY research on how to clean it correctly & what NOT to use to clean it)

Thank you. As far as I can tell it has the same cylinder and coating as the longer barrel 986 except that it is unfluted.

Which cleaning products do you recommend using? I am normally a CLP, Hoppe's guy.

Pictures coming guys