Thinking about sending my S+W 442 to TK Custom

[slabside2]

To Have the the cylinder machined to shoot 9mm ammo. 38 special is pretty hard to find right now and if you can it's very expensive. I have full auto's in 9mm so I have plenty of that on hand and I was wondering if any of you guys ever had this done by them and if you're happy with it and how does a it shoot?
Thanks
Mike

 

[seldon14]

The same goes for 9mm ammo. If you want a 9mm carry revolver, go for it, but the quantity of ammo that you would need to shoot to make is a cost saving proposition, is far more than most people are going to put through a j frame.

 

[326MOD10]

I had TK do the 9mm conversion on one of the 360Js that were .38 Special. Great work done by TK and I really like it.

Also had them do an unfluted Model 60 cylinder for me which is pretty sweet when in my 649.

Have I recouped my money on ammo? I really don't know but I like the conversion and TKs work is quick and exceptional.

 

[slabside2]

Thanks guys still thinking it over.

 

[JimCunn]

I've had TKC convert three Airweight 637-2 J-frames to 9mm. I use titanium. 357Mag cylinders (from Midway) for the conversion in order to knock an additional 2 ounces off the weight, and I shoot 147gr 9×19 in them. When I am pocket carrying without a holster, I leave the chamber empty and carry 4 rounds (which I was today). I pulled off the road today and fired 4 rounds one handed single action at 15 yards. 3 rounds into a 7/8" circle and slung the 4th 8" high and 3" right. I may have flinched on the fourth (probably did). I love these 12 ounce J-frames, but they do hurt your thumb when shooting 9mm. That said, I am very happy with all three of them.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

OP-
You might be able to trade some of your 9mm for an equal quantity of .38 Spl.

I owned a 940 for several years but could never get happy with it as a pocket gun- too heavy, and extended practice beat up my thumb. The moon clips were easy to bend and awkward to carry- looked like I had a golf ball in my pocket. I went back to Airweight/Airlite .38/.357 guns, carried only with .38.

 

[JimCunn]

I carry three extra 5-round moonclips of 9x19 in a Walmart pill bottle. Easy to carry and don't bend. I'm no speed demon, so ejecting and reloading takes me on average, about 3 to 4 seconds (which for me, is faster than a speed strip). I use Range moonclips that cost about two dollars apiece.

These are much lighter than a 940, so are harder on your thumb.

 

[Joe.45]

So how much does this 9mm conversion go for?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[JimCunn]

$175 to machine / chamfer and return your cylinder and star.

In my case, I do it to a titanium .357 Magnum cylinder that I buy from Midway for $140.

I also buy a used crane/centerpin assembly off ebay (about $40-$60) so I can swap calibers in about two minutes.

 

[slabside2]

So how much does this 9mm conversion go for?


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I ask them and they emailed me back $350.00

 

[JimCunn]

$175 to machine / chamfer and return your cylinder
$70 for (10) Stainless Steel Match Moonclips (.025)
$65 for Moon Clip Loading Tool (prevents bending)
$30 for Moonclip Stripper Tool (prevents  bending)

You can get moonclips elsewhere for $1.50 to $2 each.
The loading and stripper tools aren't actually needed - an old 12 point boxend wrench out of your toolbox will work fine.

 

[JimCunn]

Carrying moonclips.
Walmart pill bottles are free.

 

[BSA1]

Kool idea.

With the new management taking over the gun and ammo market is likely to remain tight for quite some time in the future so having guns that use different cartridges could be desirable.

 

[armorer951]

I've had TKC convert three Airweight 637-2 J-frames to 9mm. I use titanium. 357Mag cylinders (from Midway) for the conversion in order to knock an additional 2 ounces off the weight, and I shoot 147gr 9×19 in them. When I am pocket carrying without a holster, I leave the chamber empty and carry 4 rounds (which I was today). I pulled off the road today and fired 4 rounds one handed single action at 15 yards. 3 rounds into a 7/8" circle and slung the 4th 8" high and 3" right. I may have flinched on the fourth (probably did). I love these 12 ounce J-frames, but they do hurt your thumb when shooting 9mm. That said, I am very happy with all three of them.

Just curious, obviously you shouldn't pocket carry without a high quality pocket holster, but why would you remove one of the live rounds from the cylinder?

 

[max]

I have known Tom for years and he does first rate work. He is a former ISP officer.

 

[JimCunn]

For the same reason you carry five in a single action six-shooter. So there won't be a live round under the firing pin if you drop the gun.

While I agree that one should always use a high quality pocket holster (mine only cost a little over a hundred dollars, so I don't know if it is really good enough), sometimes with small pockets, I leave it behind. I'd rather do without it than without the pistol.

The real issue is why did I sling that 4th round yesterday? Painful thumb anticipation shouldn't have caused that.

Tom does do first rate work.

 

[Dan Zulu]

9mm is in very high demand right now. I agree with the poster above that you can likely find multiple people willing to trade their 38 Spl for your 9mm 1 for 1.

 

[armorer951]

Modern S&W revolvers have several built in safeties, including a hammer block, and a hammer seat on the rebound slide which prevent the gun from going off when it is dropped. Even if the hammer is cocked when dropped and the hammer falls, the gun will not discharge. (I'm referring to an unmodified, factory equipped gun here of course)

For the same reason you carry five in a single action six-shooter. So there won't be a live round under the firing pin if you drop the gun.

While I agree that one should always use a high quality pocket holster (mine only cost a little over a hundred dollars, so I don't know if it is really good enough), sometimes with small pockets, I leave it behind. I'd rather do without it than without the pistol.

The real issue is why did I sling that 4th round yesterday? Painful thumb anticipation shouldn't have caused that.

Tom does do first rate work.

 

[JimCunn]

While I agree that there are several high quality built in safeties, a Sheriff friend of mine dropped an unmodified J-frame, and it went off. Nobody injured, but he was embarrassed. An empty chamber will not do that.

When I am using an in pocket holster, I will carry all five chambered. If bare pocket, then empty chamber. I don't mind being too conservative.

 

[duncan]

Just sent off my 629 V-Comp cylinder to TK Custom for moon clip conversion and cylinder chamfer.