9mm in a 357 revo???

[bu-bye]

I was doing an install the other day and the home owner was a gun collector. We start talking and one thing leads to another and we are in is gun room . So he pulls out a S&W in 357/38 and says the last time he fired it was a long time ago and that he used 9mm bullets. I ask if he ment 38's and he said no 9mm auto . He said a buddy told him it was ok to shoot 9mm auto bullets in his pistol and that he did not have any problems with the rounds. I have never heard of this. Is this true? Can you shoot 9mm bullets out of a 357/38 revo? I know the bullet Dia is just about the same but how would the auto case stay in place?

[Stanze]

moon-clips?

[Overkill]

I think he might have been BSing you with regards to it being a S&W revolver, unless it did have moon clips.

It can be done, however. Ruger makes a Blackhawk revolver with interchangeable .357/.38 and 9mm cylinders.

[icormba]

did he specify 9mm bullets? or 9mm rounds/cartridges? did he reload his .38 brass with 9mm bullets?

[xenophobe]

If you had a cylinder designed for 9mm Parabellum, it should shoot just fine in a .38/.357 barrelled revolver. 9mm has a rebated rim, so half or full moon clips would be necessary.

Nominal bullet diameters:
9mm = .355
.38/.357 = .357

[bu-bye]

Nope, he does not reload. He said he used 9mm auto "rim-less". I asked about moon clips and he said no, he just put them in like any other bullet. He is an older guy and did not seem to be the joking type. He says they fired just fine. I don't think I would be willing to try it.

[guimus]

as grandpa used to say, "can and should are entirely different animals."

[Stanze]

I'd do it, if it was S.H.T.F., but why not just buy the intended caliber? To save a few bucks? What's your hand and eye sight worth?

This revolver was actually made for the purpose described in the original thread post: http://www.theothersideofkim.com/index.php/ggps/4653/

Popular Mechanics explantion of how it works: http://www.popularmechanics.com/outd...s/1277301.html

[Python2]

Nope, he does not reload. He said he used 9mm auto "rim-less". I asked about moon clips and he said no, he just put them in like any other bullet. He is an older guy and did not seem to be the joking type. He says they fired just fine. I don't think I would be willing to try it.

OK, guys, the revolver must have been a 38 Smith & Wesson CTG that uses the shorthend 38S&W. The case length is the same as the 9MM. The only difference, one with rim the other without. You dont see the ammo around anymore but it still show in reloading book.

[bu-bye]

OK, guys, the revolver must have been a 38 Smith & Wesson CTG that uses the shorthend 38S&W. The case length is the same as the 9MM. The only difference, one with rim the other without. You dont see the ammo around anymore but it still show in reloading book.

That would explain a lot. He must have been confused about it being a 357.

[CALI-gula]

There is/was the Medusa - not sure if still made, and I know there were talks by one company to revive it under license, and actually get it on CA's SB-15 "Safety list". It was a revolver that would chamber most ANYTHING in the realm of 9mm, .357Mag, .38 S&W, 9x18, 9mm Steyr, 9X21, .38 Spcl, etc., etc., etc.

And Smith & Wesson did make the 547 at one time (I have a couple of these) which chambered 9mm without moonclips, headspaced on the rim, but it did NOT take .357 or .38 Spcl., though it looked like it could.

.

[saki302]

Hmm.. he may have had a S&W 547- I have one, it looks like a .357 revolver, but shoots 9mm auto with NO moon clips. It used an interesting extractor system. Last one I saw sold on gunbroker for $900 :O

-Dave

[Python2]

And Smith & Wesson did make the 547 at one time (I have a couple of these) which chambered 9mm without moonclips, headspaced on the rim, but it did NOT take .357 or .38 Spcl., though it looked like it could.

.

No, it will not take either 357 or 38spcl, the diameter in the cylinder get smaller passed the case length. 9mm or 38S&W only.

[Rumpled]

OK, guys, the revolver must have been a 38 Smith & Wesson CTG that uses the shorthend 38S&W. The case length is the same as the 9MM. The only difference, one with rim the other without. You dont see the ammo around anymore but it still show in reloading book.

Do you mean 38S&W or 38S&W that has been shortened?
I ask 'cuz 38S&W is still made, I just bought some S&B to use in my Enfield.

[CALI-gula]

No, it will not take either 357 or 38spcl, the diameter in the cylinder get smaller passed the case length. 9mm or 38S&W only.

Yeah, which is kind of like what I said, which was "but it did NOT take .357 or .38 Spcl" .

If I had more time, I would post some photos of the two NIB versions that I have, one with a sqaure butt, and one with a round butt.