in625shooter
Master
- Mar 21, 2008
- 2,136
- 48
The market is tiny for a 9mm wheelgun. Moon clips are required and most people don't want to monkey with them. Besides, if you're getting one of the above mentioned pistols they are available in a much more potent cartridge (357 mag). Doesn't make sense to handicap yourslef with a 9mm. And it's not as simple as a cylander swap, the barrel needs to be made .002" smaller.
9mm rimmed would work, but a weaker cartridge doesn't make sense. I guess a J-frame could be shortened slightly. Overall length for a 38 is 1.55", for a 9mm it is 1.169". So I guess technically the revolver could be re-designed and shortened by about 0.381".
The returns don't justify the costs for the manufacturer, that's the bottom line.
Actually you don't need Moonclips for a few 9mm DA revolvers. S&W marketed their 547 K frame revolver in 9mm. It was made for a few years back in the early 1980's. They had 3" and 4" barrels (that I know of) They had some type of extraction system within the chambers of the cylnder. Ruger made their Speed Six in 9mm around the same time. Not familare with the Ruger though.
You can find them but it will cost you. One suggestion is for around 250.00 S&W K & L frame as well as Ruger GP 100 is a company called Penical can bore the cylnder for 9mm. Actually they make it 9X23 which lets you run 9X23, 38 Super, and 9mm through it with moonclips. I love using moonclips with my 625's. there is a learning curve with moonclips but they work very very well.