Ruger 9MM revolver

[The Norseman]

9MM Revolver

I think the idea of a 9MM Revolver is neat.
Easy to master and shoot.

One thing I like about a 9MM, is Ammo can be
easily gotten, it is everywhere and low cost.

I appears that Ruger listens to their Customers.

 

[gsn]

BE-either the U.S. or German Army adopted as a minimum that 58ft lbs of energy be provided by a 'battle' round-tend to think it was the U.S. as any German measurement would have been in joules but of course the conversion could have been made for the article I read.

It is quite easy to obtain this number with most any .22lr ammo and many wmr rounds easily attain 80 or so ft lbs. Yes these measurements are at the muzzle but remember that the civilian can expect to be involved in near touching distances.

However impressive this may be to you the the numbers of the 9mm cartridges show just why the 9 is the mack daddy of self defense ammo for either professionals or civilians.

Ammo for the 9mm can be had which slightly exceeds the energy delivered from a .357 on the low end and at least meets the delivered energy delivered on the high end-from just over 200 to about 340 ft lbs.

How do these apples rate on your stinkometer?

 

[gsn]

How great would it be if there was a Smithized version of the K6 in 9mm ? of course it would have to fire without moonies...

 

[WC145]

I'm a fan of the 9mm in snub revolvers but I can tell you that it does not equal, nor exceed, the ballistic performance of the .357 mag out of any length barrel with equivalent bullet weights.

The 9mm excels in snubbies because the performance falls between .38spl +P and .357mag with substantially less recoil and muzzle blast than the .357.

And the popularity of the 9mm is due to cost, availability, light recoil, and size, which allows for greater capacity while still giving acceptable terminal performance with modern expanding projectiles, and again, cost, cost , cost, because everybody, and every agency, is on a budget. All of that is a direct result of the military adopting it as their standard and the military went with it because of NATO, cost, and weight, not because of performance.

And, most people that carry guns professionally have little say in what they are issued, they have to work with what they're given.

 

[Erich]

So . . . getting back to the thread topic . . . what do you think of it, murdock23? I have to tell you, your putting up this thread really has put a bug in my head about this gun. Years ago I was wishing for one when they were hard to come by, and there's nothing really stopping me now other than . . . well, a sense that I don't need another gun. (You know where that scenario can lead!)

I think I like the Ruger inside-star clips better than the S&W outside-stars, but they're both kind of a hassle to use. I don't bother loading 9x19 because it's so inexpensive to purchase, so having another revolver in the caliber would actually be sort of liberating in that it wouldn't be yet another gun I'd feel I would need to load for - I could just go out and have fun with it the way I do with my .22s and 9x19 semiautos. (Everything else, I have this vague weighing "Is it really worth it to shoot up this ammo for this range trip, because then I'll have to load more" thing going on.)

And I certainly have liked the two .357 Magnum SP-101s I've owned. The newer one (3") has a remarkably smooth action, and I love how simple and solid these things are.

Dang it!

 

[Rock185]

I have no argument with what anyone chooses to carry, or not carry. Just a comment though on carrying a .357. As others on my department, I did carry a .357 every working day for several years. I don't recall any situation where an officer or "civilian" used a .357, and the prosecutor convinced a jury that use of a .357 was reckless. I'm not sure how a"civilian" would be considered reckless by a prosecutor for carrying a .357, and officers who responded to the scene of such an incident carrying .357s would not. I didn't think I was "nuts" for carrying a .357. Had I been in a shooting while carrying a .357, my concern would have been whether department and prosecutor considered it a "good" shooting. Not what caliber I was carrying......ymmv

 

[hoc9sw]

My "allowed" carry guns were either .357 or .45. I generally carried a 1911 .45.

I have an SP101 in .357, but carry it with Ranger .38 +P or Golden Saber.

Lately Academy has had their Monarch 38 brass case at 12.99.

But if I see a stainless SP101 in 9, I'd probably buy it on the spot.

 

[Mtnfolk325]

I have been carrying and shooting an LCR 9mm since August of 2015, have about 2k through my Primary & about 500 through the Secondary that I recently let go to a Friend. Both of mine shot & extracted 100% without Moonclips, also have had NO problems after three hundred 147 Grain Bullets with jumped crimps. I would jump on a 9mm SP101 if the opportunity ever presents itself ......

 

[fiasconva]

I have a question for you 9 mm revolver owners. How accurate is your revolver compared to a semi 9 mm? More, less, or about the same?

 

[murdock23]

That's a lot better price than mine..

 

[murdock23]

1st Impressions and range report

Comfortable, loud and more kick than expected; I'm used to 9mm in a Beretta 92FS. Accuracy up close with both is about equal, further out I shoot the Beretta better.
I was shooting 22 for about 2 hours when I switched to the GP101. 1st group of 5 was about 12". Each successive group was smaller down to 3" with the 6th group.

 

[max503]

Never met a gun I didn't like.

 

[Erich]

I have a question for you 9 mm revolver owners. How accurate is your revolver compared to a semi 9 mm? More, less, or about the same?

My recollection is that my 940 (it's been quite a while) shot about like any J-frame. I generally am able to shoot the tiney Nineys (made that up today! - edited: a friend showed me someone else using it in 2012, so I guess I didn't!) like the Kahr PM-9/Glock 43/Beretta Nano more accurately than I am able to shoot a J-frame and there is no question that I am able to shoot a larger 9mm (say the Glock 19/Beretta 92/BHP) significantly more accurately than I am a J-frame.

This probably has more to do with the way the guns fit my hand's grip and length of pull than any inherent accuracy of the guns themselves.

 

[gsn]

Erich, is there any accuracy advantage between your semi auto handguns and a j at about a yard or so away?

Shooting Illustrated | Clearing Handgun Malfunctions

 

[gsn]

rock, how often will the -average- civilian take his/her .357 to the range and train with .357 ammo?

Or, how often CAN the -average- civilian AFFORD to take his/her .357 to the range and train with .357 ammo??

OR OR-how often can the -average- civilian TOLERATE firing .357 ammo at the range for practice???

 

[Erich]

Erich, is there any accuracy advantage between your semi auto handguns and a j at about a yard or so away?

This sounds like it's a sarcastic question, but I'll treat it as if it's not.

I can't say: I've never shot any of my micro-nines in that close and have only shot J-frames that close in extremely rare CQB classes. In all honesty, how a gun points (what's crucial at that distance) will vary from individual to individual and gun to gun. And can be varied even then: the Delta Grip from Ergo Grips makes my 640-1 point perfectly for me. My Glock 43 doesn't point well (it's high, as most Glocks are for me) for me, but my Beretta Nano is right on.

For handloaders, there is no notable difference in the price of .357 Magnum ammo and .38 Special ammo.

 

[gsn]

Question was sincere.

Do you recommend buying a semi as the first handgun-to be used for personal protection- for the average civilian ?

 

[Rock185]

fiasconova, I can only say that I cannot shoot the little 9MM revolvers as accurately as I can shoot full size 9MM pistols. I can't say it's the revolver's fault. They may be just as accurate as the average full size pistol in a better shooter's hands.....

 

[Erich]

Question was sincere.

Do you recommend buying a semi as the first handgun-to be used for personal protection- for the average civilian ?

Thanks for replying.

Honestly, based on my experiences taking first-timers to the range for thirty years now (sheesh, it's been over 30 years since I got my instructor's cert - man, I'm old), I'd say that it depends on the individual. There's no reason a person shouldn't use a semiauto . . . and I've introduced many men and women (I'm immediately thinking of a beloved colleague and a beloved neighbor) to guns who preferred them. I've also introduced many men and women (my wife, for instance) to guns who preferred revolvers.

It's just going to depend on individual preference and individual need. I hear people explaining their preference for semiautos by saying that revolvers are slow to load, seem to transmit more recoil and seem to be more difficult to shoot accurately. I hear people explaining their preference for revolvers by saying they prefer the simplicity of the action, the triggers, the ease of ensuring the gun is safe/secure. One woman's absurdly long fingernails prevented her from being able to use a semiauto efficiently - but that's what she preferred. Some carry methods seem to be easier with a semiauto (the full-figured gal who carries AIWB beneath a blouse), and others a revolver (the myriad dudes I know with a J-frame in their front pocket right now) - but that's just on average (I know a guy who carried a SIG-Sauer P220 in his pants pocket).

I personally like both, but find myself carrying a semiauto somewhat more often.

 

[Practical]

wc, with regard to the -use- of a .357 snub in a civilian self defense shooting; I am of the opinion that a prosecutor would have little difficulty in convincing a jury that one who used this gun/caliber was reckless for the reasons anyone who has shot this platform with the magnum ammo is aware of.

The platform that is chosen, the caliber of the handgun and the amount of ammo that one has available show intent-mindset, I am convinced of this.

Should you prefer the .357 then good for you-I think you're nuts and really hope that you don't need that second shot especially if it is a very quickly needed second shot.

The Mrs. left today with her .22 wmr and there is no doubt in my mind that she has all the bases covered.

I fully support the right of anyone to legally carry any gun they wish regardless of how over gunned and over ammo capacity I think they are.

Remember 'we' will require less than 2 at about arms length away and that is IF simply showing the wheelie doesn't take care of the problem.

You make a lot of statements without any supporting evidence.