Attention ruger revolver fans

[drobs]

Reminds me of the Medusa Multi-Caliber revolver - was supposed to work with any 38 cal / 9mm round.

I've only seen one years ago working at a gun shop. It was going back to the factory for warranty repair.

http://airbornecombatengineer.typepad.com/airborne_combat_engineer/2007/05/medusa_revolver.html

 

[FrankenMauser]

Screwball, you're putting a 35,000 psi cartridge in an aluminum framed J-frame?
Don't you think the frame will stretch in relatively few rounds to where you begin to have headspace issues?

What's the big worry about 9mm operating at 35,000 psi in an aluminum frame J-frame?

9mm operates with the same max chamber pressure* as .357 Mag. (*MAP)

And, from the factory...
Same frame as .357 Mag.
Same cylinder as .357 Mag (just not reamed as deeply).


If anything, the 9mm conversion should actually be easier on the frame, since the expansion ratio is notably higher and the pressure curve should be smoother.

 

[Screwball]

What's the big worry about 9mm operating at 35,000 psi in an aluminum frame J-frame?



9mm operates with the same max chamber pressure* as .357 Mag. (*MAP)



And, from the factory...

Same frame as .357 Mag.

Same cylinder as .357 Mag (just not reamed as deeply).





If anything, the 9mm conversion should actually be easier on the frame, since the expansion ratio is notably higher and the pressure curve should be smoother.

The reason for the concern is that S&W never made a .357 Airweight. The Airlite is a scandium framed revolver, and all other .357s are steel framed. Alloy frames were rated up to .38 +P.

As mentioned, S&W made one 942 that was given to Wiley Clapp. He stated the recoil was too much and that it would never sell, shelving the idea. There have been a few people that have created "942s," and results have been ok (has been going on for at least six years, and I've yet to see a "destroyed" gun). Shooting mine with UMC 115 grain bulk, recoil was not bad at all. Either ammo selection when the 942 was tried was not the same as today, or Clapp really was overblowing recoil. Scandium revolvers in .357 sell, as does the 9mm LCR, so I guess he was wrong. If S&W made one today, I don't think I'd be interested. Don't really want the lock on it. Making one on a no-lock 642, which I've been shooting/carrying for years, I'm more interested... which is why I purchased the cylinder.

I also feel similar with the stress of 9mm compared to .38 +P. Not going to be shooting 9mm +P, so I feel it will be ok.

 

[samsmix]

44AMP,
Yes, that seems idiotic to me too, but there it is. The .45 ACP & GAP are allowed, but the .44Spl & .45LC are not. No .357 Mags, but .357 SIG & 9mm +p+ are Kosher. 10mm is cool, but no .41 mag...it just is what it is, but you're right, it's silly.

 

[James K]

The single cylinder idea just doesn't work, or at least not very well.

Headspacing the 9mm on the clip will work, but without firm case support (no spring), primer ignition will be erratic and accuracy will suffer, with the possibility of misfires.

Why are some folks too cheap to buy the appropriate ammo for their choice of gun? Of course, if you can steal government ammo....

Jim

 

[DPris]

If interested in the .45 convertible Redhawk & how well it works there, the Kindle book's live on Amazon.com this morning.
Two-gun review, mixed results, but the concept in straight-walled .45 cases is viable.
Denis

 

[FrankenMauser]

The reason for the concern is that S&W never made a .357 Airweight. The Airlite is a scandium framed revolver, and all other .357s are steel framed. Alloy frames were rated up to .38 +P.

The Airlite frame is aluminum. There is only a TINY amount of scandium alloyed into it (well under 1%).
And, while scandium does provide some minor strength increase to aluminum alloys, the real benefit of scandium is that the alloy is easier to machine and weld. (Which really doesn't benefit a S&W revolver frame that is machined just fine without it and doesn't require any welding.)

Thinking that the scandium is all that matters is about like putting slicks on your truck to go drag racing. ...In Barrow, Alaska.
There are other factors that are more important, and a sticking with a myopic view that has been heavily influenced by marketing may not result in the desired outcome.

 

[Laz]

Screwball and Frankenmauser, you both seem to believe that the aluminum 642 frame is amply strong to handle 9 mm pressure. I, for one am interested in how this project plays out. There have been many threads over quite a few years debating the strength of alloy J-frame frames with precious little hard info and a lot of opinion on either side. Screwball, I hope that you post, over time, how this turns out and report either way whether or not you experience top strap stretching and in how many rounds, if at all. A lot of people are anxious to tell John Doe to shoot over pressure rounds in his revolver but you are willing to spend your money and your gun to prove the issue definitively.

A number of years ago, a Winchester spokesman told me their 110 grain .357 sjhp produced average pressure in the neighborhood of 33,000 psi. If that is correct, your choice of standard pressure 115 grain 9mm should be very similar. I'm not sure what I might be missing in this. Ok, sorry for the hijack. Done.

 

[Screwball]

The Airlite frame is aluminum. There is only a TINY amount of scandium alloyed into it (well under 1%).

You do realize that 0.002% of carbon in iron creates steel?

Tiny amounts can be a big difference when you look at alloys.

Screwball, I hope that you post, over time, how this turns out and report either way whether or not you experience top strap stretching and in how many rounds, if at all.

If you aren't a member of S&W Forum, definitely join and subscribe to that thread. Whatever happens will be posted. I already showed that the difference in barrel diameter is moot. Also, there are a handful of other threads regarding the "942" concept.

I've carried that revolver for years. Didn't want to switch to an LCR for 9mm (would have considered it more if there was a 9mm LCRx), so it was worth it in my eyes. It isn't going to cause a catastrophe failure, but if I notice the frame stretching, I'll move either to an LCR or another J-frame (if it happens, then I'll find a stainless gun that can use the cylinder).

 

[FrankenMauser]

You do realize that 0.002% of carbon in iron creates steel?

Tiny amounts can be a big difference when you look at alloys.

Indeed.
But tiny amounts don't always make a big difference.
As I said before, I'm also aware of the fact that scandium's ability to strengthen aluminum alloys is overrated. It's primary purpose as a grain refiner is to improve machinability and weldability. (Just like arsenic, sulfur, and copper in lead alloys.)

It also sounds really good for marketing.