Automatic Pistol Cartridges in Revolvers ?

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theshootist

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Anyone have any experience or opinions on revolvers set up for shooting automatic pistol cartridges? I'm talking about the common ones such as 9mm / 40 S&W / 45 ACP.

I've heard there are DA/SA revolvers that come with a second cylinder chambered for 357 Mag / 45LC. Or perhaps its the second cylinder that is set up for the rimless cartridges.

Anyone know where to find such a item? Do they shoot well? I don't see how the .357 barrel would shoot 9mm (.355) bullets very well.

I'm set up for reloading the commom rimless pistol cartridges and have an interest in getting a revolver. I've never owned a revolver and thought perhaps it would be I good idea to have one capable of shooting the ammo I can already load for.

Thanks for your input!
 
S&W makes 9mm revolvers 929 and 986.
178055_01_md.jpg

If you want something cheaper, Alfa Proj does 9mm, too.
alfa_project_9mm_luger_4.5in_blued_revolver.jpg

https://www.canadaammo.com/product/detail/alfa-project-9mm-luger-4-5-blued-revolver/
 
S&W makes DA revolvers in 9mm and 45ACP. They have a long track record for reliability and accuracy :)

Ruger SA Blackhawk convertibles come in ethier 45LC/45ACP or 357/9mm. But shooting 9mm out of a 357 bore may have mix results from what I heard.
 
The moon clips used to hold the cartridges and allow faster reloads can prove to be awkward and annoying to load and unload to some folks. And the moonclips need to be handled with some reasonable care because if they get bent at all it really binds up the gun when trying to reload.

There are a very few 9mm revolvers that don't require moonclips to provide ejection via the ejector rod. But they aren't all that common. S&W had one some years ago but they are fairly rare and command high prices when they do show up for sale.

The Alfa Project revolvers are working well for many of us. And at less than half the cost of the new S&W 9mm models or .45apc models one could consider them as a reasonable gamble over the long term. Will they prove to be as long lived and durable as the S&W? It's still way too early to tell.

So if you really MUST be sure of getting S&W or Ruger like reliability then be prepared to pay the piper. But if you're OK with a little bit of a gamble then join the AP club and get to play with a pretty darn nice revolver for as long as it lasts. All the indications are that it's a nicely made gun. But we simply won't know for sure until folks start attaining round counts of up around 10K and then strip it down to look at wear or find that parts are breaking.

If you opt to buy an AP then DO treat yourself to the reduced power mainspring sold by Rusty Wood Trading. It's simple to install and makes a HUGE difference to the trigger pull.
 
I waited for a S&W 929 and am very happy with it. Moonclips are a different way to load a revolver and I'm just starting to get the hang of it. Was at the club today shooting and zeroing in the beast. The double action on this is something else. Very smooth and fast.
Need to figure out which is the most accurate load, but that's half the fun. :)

The 986 and 929 have a true .355 bore for 9mm rounds.
 
Any double-action revolver chambered in .45LC can have the cylinder machined to run .45ACP instead.

This is a Ruger Redhawk that's been done.

IMG_2060.jpg
 
Dsiwy said:
The Model 25 Classic is a ###y 45ACP revolver

sw25-2-6in-left-full-hi.jpg
Click to expand...

I wish they had gone this route with the new 9mm revolvers. I'm not big on the quasi-futuristic look of their new line. Give me a fine blued revolver with wood grips any day.
 
Dsiwy said:
S&W makes DA revolvers in 9mm and 45ACP. They have a long track record for reliability and accuracy :)

Ruger SA Blackhawk convertibles come in ethier 45LC/45ACP or 357/9mm. But shooting 9mm out of a 357 bore may have mix results from what I heard.
Click to expand...

No luck at all out of mine with 9mm. .357 is awesome though!
 
wbaad said:
No luck at all out of mine with 9mm. .357 is awesome though!
Click to expand...

i run cam pro 9mm pills through mine and right now that shoots better than the 357 lol

i think plated or jacketed is a must for 355 in a 357

my only issue is that rimless cases don't drop in to either of my rugers. they often need some thumb pressure to seat. OAL maybe a bit long?


The classic line from Smith look nice. I'd buy the 25 in 45 colt if I could swing it right now. :)
 
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If I go with a revolver, I'd prefer one that is capable of shooting both 45ACP and 45LC or the 9mm and 357. Trouble is, the only one I can find so far is a SA in the Ruger Flat Top convertable. I'd prefer a DA/SA and not just a SA.

Does anyone know of a DA/SA revolver that can shoot the multiple calibers? I'm hoping for one that has the second cylinder or has its cylinder modified to digest both calibers, if it possible.

Any suggestions? Or does such a revovler even exist?
 
The only example I have is an item I picked up at a gun show in Naniamo a few years ago. It's a 4 5/8" single action, stainless Ruger Blackhawk convertable in 45LC/45ACP.;)A keeper, shoots both calibres well:).



 
For as long as there have been auto cartridges people have been finding ways to stuff them in revolvers.

Look hard enough and you'll find .25acp and .32acp revolvers from the turn of the century.
 
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