Any 9mm revolver options?

i have a smith and wesson model 940 which is a 9mm revolver and also a smith and wesson model 640 which is a .357 revolver. same size gun, same weight, same grips,both steel, same basic gun. 115 grain standard 9mm has harsher recoil to me than 130 gr standard .38. the recoil of the 9mm is snappier is the best way that i can put it.
 
Charter Arms makes a Pitbull in 9mm.
Click to expand...
They seem rather scarce. There are plenty out there in .40S&W, and several of the gun rags have tested 9mm Pitbulls since they were announced in late 2012, but Charter reportedly shipped very few of them prior to late summer of 2013. One of my local dealers told me that he can't get one, and it's not for lack of trying- he thinks they're months behind filling existing orders.

OTOH maybe the OP will be lucky. :)
 
I'm a fan of 9mm revolvers and have had several, the one that I've kept is a custom S&W 360J that I had worked over and rechambered to 9x23 by Pinnacle. For me, a 13oz 9mm snubby is the perfect BUG/pocket gun, for my wife, not so much. The recoil is similar to +P .38spls in a light revolver, to much for her at her level of experience. Out of all the guns she's tried out the one that she chose is a S&W 317 8 shot .22lr revolver. It only weighs 10oz and, of course, even at that light weight there's no recoil. Would I like her to carry something in a larger caliber? Sure I would, but this is a gun that she chose, she shoots it well, she likes to practice with it, and she'll actually carry it, which is the most important thing.

Like most things in married life, what you think is right for your wife and what she thinks is right for her are usually two vastly different things. Let her try stuff out and decide for herself.

BTW, I agree with Weblance, and LCR in .22mag could work, S&W also makes the 351 in .22mag (it's a 7 shot). I'd be willing to carry either in a pinch.
 
Last edited:
She's doing the shooting portion of her CCW class today with a GSG 1911/22. She likes the way it shoots. Other than being too big to carry she likes it more since she's learned a lot more about pistols than she did two days ago. I showed her a bersa thunder today before she left and said shed like to shoot it. I believe she'll still end up with a revolver, however she is coming around her way of thinking on the semi auto now that she understands them more.
One more important note: she wears a most powerful hearing aid in right ear and completely deaf in left. She's shooting with aid in place but turned off with ear muffs over that. I informed her that if she ever had to use a gun in self defense, especially a revolver with hearing aid on with no protection, that she may be totally deaf afterwards. Absolutely a life or death situation if ever used. She does seem to enjoy target shooting and we use hand signals with her aid off and muffs on. She also reads lips very well
 
Gary... have you thought about a revolver combo, like the LCRs? A 22 LCR for practice, and a 38 or 357 LCR for carry? Or a pistol combo like the Bersa Thunder 22 for practice and Thunder 380 for carry? Or a pistol in a centerfire cartridge, with a 22 conversion? That way she can shoot the 22 version, get used to the trigger and mode of operation, and then carry the powerful version.
 
If you want to go non-revolver think about a Sig P238 or Colt Mustang. Both will recoil less than 9mm or most .38spl loads. She liked a 1911 so she might like these. I have one out of production 9mm revolver but don't carry it. I agree with those saying felt recoil is heavier than most .38sp loads, even more than many +p loads
 
I've got a p238 she can try. I like that they're a small 380 with manageable recoil. She finished her shooting today with the 1911/22. She hit the target at 3',5' &15' 60 out of 60 shots. He even had her shoot left handed 10 Rnds. He suggested a 3" or 4" 357 Colt with low recoil 38 spl Rnds. I have a heavy barrel S&W model 10-5" she could use at home, but I think she needs something smaller for portability or for CCW gun
 
Gary, I have owned four 9MM revolvers, S&Ws and Rugers, and still have two. I've chronographed a fair amount of 9MM fired from the revolvers, standard pressure, NATO, +P and +P+. While I certainly have not chronographed all .38 Spcl. ammo available, I cannot recall any 9MM ammo that displayed less recoil than standard .38Spcl. ammo. Within my experience, most 9MM exceeded even .38 Spcl. +P ballistics, being somewhere between .38 +P and .357 Magnum. The lightest recoiling .38 Spcl. ammo I've ever shot in any revolver is the factory loaded lead 148 grain wadcutter. I don't think a 9MM revolver is the way to go if you're seeking the lightest recoil...ymmv
 
Last edited:
I think the 9mm may be out. But I did notice Taurus Triad will shoot 9mm-38 spl & .357.
They also make a .2" .357 with ported barrel.
The instructor suggested no shorter than 3" but I'll see what she thinks. I haven't looked at the colts yet. I'm sure the price is double though. She has already said whatever she gets, she'll want to shoot once a week. Not sure how much she'll shoot a gun that small though. . I have a SS Ruger security six she can try if its not too heavy for extended target practice.
I want her to try many types and model to make its what she wants.
She wasn't too excited about taking the class, but was amazed by how much she enjoyed it!
Now I'm excited :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top