Why is the 9MM such a champion in AUTO, but not so in revolver..??

9mm revolvers probably won't take the shooting world by storm any time soon.
But for IPSC revolver division I am quite taken by the Smith and Wesson Jerry Miculek 929.

I have shot one several times and like how fast 9mm in moon clips can be loaded into the gun.
A short length round like 9 just plunks straight in with no shimmying and is cheap to shoot.

But traditionally revolver cartridges are rimmed And most revolver guys seem big on tradition.
 
Nothing wrong with a 9mm revolver if it is what you like. But I prefer revolvers in either 22 (cause they are fun) or more powerful- 357 and up. If you only have 6 shots, may as well make them have some punch. :)

A semi outclasses a revolver in virtually any type of gun fight, I would rather have 10 9mm's than 6 357 in a fight.
 
I don't know about the police, but I can tell you guys that I was shooting at our Kelowna range alongside the boys from Brinks, my 6" Ruger GP100 printing 4" groups at 25 yards and those boys mainly missing torso targets at 15 yards with their polymer semis. Their trainer, a fine gent, asked me twice if I'd consider joining Brinks. :) That was several years back, but I do know that I can pick up any 4.2+" barrelled revolver in .38/.357/.45LC and shoot pretty decent groups, and the first time I shot my CZ Shadow (with usual mods) I printed 4" groups at 15 yards...running the gun slowly. I think a LOT of the inaccuracy coming from inexperienced handgun shooters has to do with these light polymer semi-auto pistols, and the very steady firm grip that needs to be learned to keep them from flopping around. I know my groups were awful the first day I shot my Ruger SR9, coming from revolver shooting. The weight of a steel handgun makes a big difference in how well a novice can shoot versus a plastic fantastic...it's a more important factor than revolver versus pistol.
 
NHunter said:
The FBI puts its belief in the 9MM auto once again...why the same ammo in a revolver so shamed...?
Is there a fear when you only have 6 to pull instead of 10, 17+..? (17+ USA..owners...)
Would a 9mm caliber exist and flourish if autos never became successful and affordable?
Is the revolver now a just an old western movie prop...?
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Here's some interesting background on the S&W TRR8 (8 shot 357mag revolver) h ttp://www.policemag.com/channel/weapons/articles/2008/05/smith-wesson-327-trr8-revolver.aspx

I've competed with semi-auto and revolvers. There's no question my times and scores are better with semi-auto, but the revolver is just it's own kind of fun :)
 
canmic said:
There are at least 3 different 9mm auto revolvers, that I have seen, and I'm not much of a revolver expert at all.

Rimless is a big pain in a revolver, and the chambers are generally a lot longer than in autos. Not so great to have the bullet so far from the rifling so revolver brass is generally rimmed and longer than 9mm auto.

38 special is basically 9mm in a different case, 357 magnum is similar to 9mm+p in a lot of ways.
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Revolvers are a different animal, it's not the distance to the rifling that important. It's the distance to the cylinder throat, then the bullet goes through the forcing cone, then it engages the rifling in the barrel. So long as you have ~.001 oburation at each point, you will be fine.

I think you will see 9mm revolvers like the S&W 929 will be becoming much more popular in competitions like IPSC, now that 8 shot minor is allowed. It's just easier to do a speed reload with a moon clip of 9mm rounds vs a moon clip or speed loader of longer 38sp rounds. People that do compete with a 627 will reload 38 short Colt for faster reloads, but then you get into expensive brass.

For casual range plinking, rimmed ammo is probably the easiest way to go.
 
This is almost like the 45acp vs 9mm feud.

I got a GP100, SW686 with a relic Aimpoint 3000 dot scope and an Alfa Proj 9mm revolver. I like them all equally for different reasons that we already know. These three revolvers are all I need for variety at the range and for the off chance of a zombie or two in the future. I traded my SW17 because it wasn't fun anymore and my ammo cost was the same (I reload). Lost my desire for .45acp revolvers too as that itch was scratched by my 1911s.

No the 9mm revolver is not dead, IMO. Its been around for a while and likely stick around some more. It will fill a niche requirement especially for wheelgun lovers.

I am just a sport shooter, don't compete nor have any intentions of doing so. My last competition was 25 yrs ago but I still remember how much fun it was, but required a lot of dedication which meant time and cash.
 
Anyone that has played with moon clip will tell you rimmed cartridge for general revolver shooting.


How about 10 9mm vs 8 357. I much rather have 8 357 in VComp. How many time did they shoot those thugs with 9mm in that famous FBI 70s shootout. Several 357s would have made a huge difference.
Gatehouse said:
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A semi outclasses a revolver in virtually any type of gun fight, I would rather have 10 9mm's than 6 357 in a fight.
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Hitzy said:
This. Plus LEO used 38spl revolvers for decades, which performance wise is pretty much identical to 9mm. Nothing wrong with it, just expensive to aquire and maintain compared to modern autos.
Glock can pump out a 17 for under $100US, it's compact, lightweight, holds 3 cylinders of ammo in a mag, and is likely more reliable then a revolver as well.
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More reliable than a revolver ?

It has been a while since I have had a FTF or FTE in any of my revolvers.
 
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