9 mm revolver

[TexasPatriot.308]

I'm looking for a new 9 mm revolver. I know Ruger SP 101 is put out in 9mm but I have one in .357 magnum and grip is small even for my small hands. Any one have experience with the cheaper Taurus 9mm?

 

[Riomouse911]

No experience with the Taurus, sorry .

Regarding your SP, have you tried different grips? The Ruger “peg” style system allows for a ton of options larger or smaller that may fit your hands better.

Just a thought...

Stay safe.

 

[WestKentucky]

Taurus grips are fairly small as well in a J frame size. Stepping up into the k/L frame size you get a much better grip. If your looking at the 905 then I don’t know which frame it was built on so I can’t help with that particular model but the 405 I had had a decent sized grip on every dimension except height. I would have liked another 1/2” of grip height on the little rubber boot grip but that just wasn’t the case.

 

[beag_nut]

I don't have the 9mm, but I do have a 101 in .357. I have large hands, and switched to the rubber Hogue style years ago. Pachmayr also makes similar ones. I pocket carry

 

[mcb]

What are you going to due with this 9mm Revolver? What is your budget?

S&W makes a 7-shot 9mm on the L-frame (model 986) and an 8-shot 9mm on the N-frame (929). Both are large hand friendly especially the N-frame version.

 

[C0untZer0]

Taurus makes a 9mm-only revolver - the 905 and they make the 692 - 357 mag/38 spl / 9mm revolver with changeable cylinder.

There are a few people here at The High Road who have the 692 and they like it.

From the research I've done. the Taurus 905 is a reliable little gun and most owners like theirs. Taurus calls the moon clips "Stellar Clips" and the Taurus stellar clips really aren't very good. They tend to get bent. There are high-quality after market moon clips that can be purchased for the 905.

IMO, the Taurus 905 has the worst double-action trigger of any of the 9mm revolvers out there.

I believe the grip on the 905 is very similar to the 85, so if your hand fits the Taurus 85, it should fit the Taurus 905.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Well, pilgrim, you came to the right place to ask.
I've a 940 Smith, which is a stainless Centennial, in 9mm; like it very much, but my normal 115/1150'sec handloads are surprisingly 'rappy'; feel more like light magnums. Loaded some 147s @ 889'sec in the 940, and they felt more like .38 Spls in a regular steel Centennial. So use heavier boolits in small 9mm revolvers?
I've a Chiappa 'bottom chamber' and a 986/5", and recoil is not an issue in either one, with standard reloads.
These guns are where you find them; the 940 off Gunbroker, and the others were happenstance at gunshops. The 986 was used.
The good news; when the world settles down, nines will remain the cheapest centerfire; still have powder and shot, so can keep shooting here. The 9mm moons make a much slicker reload than any speed strip; 9mm moons work better than the .38 ones.
The downside; it's a good idea to have moonclips; some revos can be fired without them, with the cartridges headspacing on the chamber ring. But you do need to load the moons; most can be done with your hands, but some (like the Chiappas) need a tool. You should have some kind of demooning tool to lever out the empties, or you'll bend the clips.
All you wanted to know about 9mm revos but were afraid to ask?
Moon

 

[Havok7416]

Don't forget about the Ruger LCR9. It can be had with a longer grip (or you can buy the longer one later).

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I'm looking for a new 9 mm revolver. I know Ruger SP 101 is put out in 9mm but I have one in .357 magnum and grip is small even for my small hands. Any one have experience with the cheaper Taurus 9mm?

---
No direct experience with the 905, sorry. My wife has the older Taurus 731 which uses a similar grip size but the older finger-groove style. Any model 85 grip will fit the 731 and 905, I prefer them with the old-style wood Model 85 grip, if that helps establish grip size for you. You said, "[...] grip is small even for my small hands." [emph. added] "Small" is relative, though. My wife wears an average women's glove and finds the 731's grip on the short side, but the perfect width and thickness. I suspect the 905's grip will likewise be short but correct for thickness - a good two-finger grip, not such a great three-finger grip.

 

[Chamgunner]

I have the 905 and the 692. The 905 was my daily carry for years. I have no complaints about either. They both have proven to be reliable. The 905 stellar clips do sometimes have to be adjusted but they have been carried in my pocket at work and banged up

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I plan on using this as a pocket carry type. I am a 1911 person and my current carry is a Ruger SR1911 which is very bulky and at 67 years of age, my arthritic hands are starting to have a problem with the slide. I call it carry but I live and work in the country so I dont carry in town. Im also considering a .45 acp revolver. Budget in the $400-$1000.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I plan on using this as a pocket carry type. I am a 1911 person and my current carry is a Ruger SR1911 which is very bulky and at 67 years of age, my arthritic hands are starting to have a problem with the slide. I call it carry but I live and work in the country so I dont carry in town. Im also considering a .45 acp revolver. Budget in the $400-$1000.

——
Are you going to need a bobbed hammer? Or have whatever you decide on made pocket friendly?

 

[cfullgraf]

S&W still offers a the 9x19 Model 986 in a 2-1/2" barrel Performance Center model but it is above your budget a bit.

You might find one used or they used to offer a 5" barrel version.

They are nice revolvers.

I like the factory rubber grips with the wood inserts on the Ruger SP101. I'm sure someone makes larger grips for the SP101. The 9x19 SP101 is also a nice revolver. I had a little trouble finding the proper moon clips for mine until Ruger got them back in stock.

 

[LoonWulf]

I have a 2.75" Taurus 692. Paid right at 500 for it. I don't care for small "ish" guns and I love the stupid little thing dearly. Ive got pretty big hands but its based on the judge frame, and the grip fits my hands well.
The adjustable sights are really nice, and its got a sight radius about the same as a 4" autoloader.
Being able to swap in the 38 and .357 cyl in less in a second is really nice also. I found both the .357 and 9mm shoot pretty close to POA from my gun. The only .38s I've had were from the 60s and poorly stored.....they are...uh...exciting... to shoot.
I used a large frame taurus sprint kit to do an action job on it, and besides trimming the main spring to fit, it was drop in. Trigger pull is nice, and the double action beats my gp100 (also with a spring kit and polishing)

If theres a knock, i wouldn't call it a "pocket" gun, even with the short barrel. Its still a fairly wide revolver since its got a 7 shot cylinder. It is in fact only slightly thinner across the cyl than my gp100, and I use the same fobus paddle holster for both. I have dropped it into the pocket of my shorts a couple times just to see how it works. Its big and heavy enough, even if I COULD CC it, i wouldn't do it like that.

 

[el indio]

Ruger will install a 9mm cylinder in a New Model Blackhawk 357 for around $150-200.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Ruger will install a 9mm cylinder in a New Model Blackhawk 357 for around $150-200.

---
Isn't that kind of like putting a Pinto engine in a F-350?

 

[mcb]

---
Isn't that kind of like putting a Pinto engine in a F-350?

Agreed, the biggest reason to use a rimless cartridge in a revolver is to allow the use of moonclips for fast reloads. A rimless cartridge in a single-action side-gate loaded revolver nullifies the greatest reason to use a rimless cartridge in a revolver. Moonclips Rule!

 

[kcofohio]

I bought a used LCR in 9mm. Easy shooting revolver. Bought a pack of 10 moon clips for extras. I wear Wrangler jeans, and the LCR is about to the limit of what I can pocket carry.

Keep in mind to shoot quality ammo through any semi-auto cartridge revolver. Neck tension is king in them. Otherwise you may get a pulled bullet and loose gun powder in the cylinder chamber(s).

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I already own a Ruger Convertible .357/9mm but has 5.5 inch barrel. I am looking for a regular external hammer revolver. I would go $1500. Several models mentioned so far I will shop for but pretty much almost everything is out of stock. Guess I better get on the ball and buy one asap.

 

[Buckeye63]

Charter Pitbull in 9mm .. 5 shot built on a Bulldog frame .. no moon clips needed
I have one in 40 S&W

 

[maxxhavoc]

I have the Taurus 692 6.5", the Taurus 905, and the SP101 9mm.

I carried the 905 for awhile before I sent it back (1 of the chambers was rough, extraction was difficult.)

I liked the 9mm revolver so much I got the SP101. Between the two, I prefer the Taurus overall. The trigger is better, and it is much lighter feeling than it should be. Accuracy on both is about the same. The moon clips on the Ruger are MUCH better.

If you reload, be prepared to get a Lee FCD. Although Taurus replaced the cylinder, both the Taurus and Ruger are picky, especially with lead and plated. Factory ammo is fine in both. I have not been able to get a reliable sized batch using a taper crimp die alone. Maybe if I sorted brass by brand and changed the settings for each. Too much work.

Or just squish them in the FCD.

 

[LoonWulf]

Agreed, the biggest reason to use a rimless cartridge in a revolver is to allow the use of moonclips for fast reloads. A rimless cartridge in a single-action side-gate loaded revolver nullifies the greatest reason to use a rimless cartridge in a revolver. Moonclips Rule!

on the flip side the ejector rod don't care if you left your moonclips at home.....

 

[LoonWulf]

I have the Taurus 692 6.5", the Taurus 905, and the SP101 9mm.

I carried the 905 for awhile before I sent it back (1 of the chambers was rough, extraction was difficult.)

I liked the 9mm revolver so much I got the SP101. Between the two, I prefer the Taurus overall. The trigger is better, and it is much lighter feeling than it should be. Accuracy on both is about the same. The moon clips on the Ruger are MUCH better.

If you reload, be prepared to get a Lee FCD. Although Taurus replaced the cylinder, both the Taurus and Ruger are picky, especially with lead and plated. Factory ammo is fine in both. I have not been able to get a reliable sized batch using a taper crimp die alone. Maybe if I sorted brass by brand and changed the settings for each. Too much work.

Or just squish them in the FCD.

same issue with my 692. The ammo that runs fine in our autos needs to be squished into the chambers of the 692.

 

[mcb]

on the flip side the ejector rod don't care if you left your moonclips at home.....

True but a moonclip fed revolver will (with a few notable exception) still fire without the moonclip, better than your semi-auto if you accidentally leave you mags as home.

In my own case if I show up at the range without my moonclips then I also left my ammo at home since I load and check my moonclips at home before a range session, match, or hunting.

 

[LoonWulf]

In my own case if I show up at the range without my moonclips then I also left my ammo at home since I load and check my moonclips at home before a range session, match or hunting.

Admittedly I spent a whole day picking shells out of my 692 because I grabbed the ammo box that DIDNT have the moon clips in it, but even that's not really bad if just plinking or goofing around.