9mm S&W Revolvers

[AxeHandle]

While I own a 986 Pro Series S&W 9mm I have not shot it at any respectable distance. Last week a buddy pulled out a 986 Performance Center snub nose. We shot it at 25 yards with factory 115s and his hand loads with 115s. Accuracy was abysmal. A quick look and I see that these things routinely have 38/357 barrels in them. I remember S&W telling me that my 38 Super L frame S&W had a 357 barrel in it. This means we will load .357/.358 bullets for the little beasts next week and reevaluate. If they still won't shoot they will be trade fodder. If they do shoot that doesn't help much. The only real draw we see to the platform is inexpensive off the shelf ammo. Doesn't matter to run fast shoot fast guys but when accuracy matters these guns miss the boat.

[bradshaw]

Jan 14, 2024 11:21:36 GMT -5 AxeHandle said:

While I own a 986 Pro Series S&W 9mm I have not shot it at any respectable distance. Last week a buddy pulled out a 986 Performance Center snub nose. We shot it at 25 yards with factory 115s and his hand loads with 115s. Accuracy was abysmal. A quick look and I see that these things routinely have 38/357 barrels in them. I remember S&W telling me that my 38 Super L frame S&W had a 357 barrel in it. This means we will load .357/.358 bullets for the little beasts next week and reevaluate. If they still won't shoot they will be trade fodder. If they do shoot that doesn't help much. The only real draw we see to the platform is inexpensive off the shelf ammo. Doesn't matter to run fast shoot fast guys but when accuracy matters these guns miss the boat.

*****

May have been the Model 940, round about 1980, dedicated 9mm revolver, primarily for foreign sales. The extractor featured s spring-loaded hot for each chamber. Velocities were very good for the short barrel. Reckoned at the time groove diameter scaled to 9mm Luger. Handled one at the factory but didn’t shoot it. Machine work on extractor appeared precise, a bit complex.
David Bradshaw

[potatojudge]

How are the throats sized on those 9mm revolvers? Of course properly sized 9mm throats with a 357 barrel would wreck accuracy using 9mm or 357 bullets.

[AxeHandle]

Excellent point... Bigger bullets won't matter if the throats are for a 9mm... More investigation!

[revolvercranker]

Many who assume that 38 Special and 357 Magnums have .357 or .358 grooves are incorrect. Yeah like most of you I know the Colt Python didn't have those measurement. Most the .357's and 38's I checked the grooves on were more on the side of 9mm dimensions.

If you don't believe me here's are SAAMI Centerfire Pistol and Revolver specifications. Go look at the bore and groove dimensions and you'll be surprised.

saami.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SAAMI-Z299.3-2022-Centerfire-Pistol-Revolver-Approved-12-13-2022.pdf

Yeah I know, I've too measured many of them and they are all over the place. Mainly because there is a +/- factor on the dimensions. The rest have to do with tool wear and other various reasons.

I had this same debate on another forum about 35 calibers rifles. If you actually measured the bore and groove dimensions of many of them your eyes would pop out, but yet there were big fights over the Winchester's 350 Legend not being .358.

[revolvercranker]

On that 9mm revolver if you measure the bore and groove of the barrel (use a V mic for 5 groove barrel) and then ream the cylinder for the appropiate bullet diameter there is no reason in the world it shouldn't shoot more accurate. That might mean you can't use off the shelf 9mm ammo. If you load your own there's not problem then. Should shoot cast bullet very well. If it does indeed have a .357 groove there are bullets that diameter in the 9mm weights.

[AxeHandle]

We are over analyzing this... There most likely won't be a pseudo 9mm Revolver that requires specific hand loaded ammo to perform living at my house.

[potatojudge]

Jan 14, 2024 15:40:15 GMT -5 AxeHandle said:

We are over analyzing this... There most likely won't be a pseudo 9mm Revolver that requires specific hand loaded ammo to perform living at my house.

If the throats aren’t undersized to the bore and it won’t shoot, move it along. If undersized, have them corrected and if it still won’t shoot move it along.

When I’m taking the time to handload for a revolver it’s not gonna be 9mm.

[Encore64]

Me either. If it won't shoot cheap factory ammo...gone.

[AxeHandle]

When I’m taking the time to handload for a revolver it’s not gonna be 9mm.

Exactly... Moon clipped at that.

[revolvercranker]

One thing I like about revolvers is they don't leave brass at the scene of the crime! Come on fella's, I'm just kidding.