Ammo and firearm comparison that I thought was interesting and the type of side-by-side comparisons that I enjoy and try to do myself as much as I can (not really that often  )



Generally what I'll tell folks that ask regarding my opinions regarding use of semi-auto and revolvers for defense.  Add to that the much different triggers on DA revolvers.

I've shot airweights and snubbies with .357 Mag and I think they suck, but not quite painful.  Get up to the .457 and .500 stuff and that I will say is painful. 

I saw this and really enjoyed it. If you like this sort of thing Paul Harrel on YouTube does numerous similar comparisons with different barrel lengths, 40SW vs 10mm etc.

I had the opportunity to take out my Taurus Judge this summer on vacation and give it a workout with 7 or 8 different loads for 45 colt accuracy and recoil, and with the 410 loads for shot patterns at different distances.

A chronograph is definitely on my short list of things to add to my ensemble for experimentation. Hoping the Lab Radar MAC uses won’t pick up interference at KHSC from shooters on other lanes.

9mm rivals the 357magnum???   don't even go there!   

but it is a very good video.   

I saw this and really enjoyed it. If you like this sort of thing Paul Harrel on YouTube does numerous similar comparisons with different barrel lengths, 40SW vs 10mm etc.

I had the opportunity to take out my Taurus Judge this summer on vacation and give it a workout with 7 or 8 different loads for 45 colt accuracy and recoil, and with the 410 loads for shot patterns at different distances.

A chronograph is definitely on my short list of things to add to my ensemble for experimentation. Hoping the Lab Radar MAC uses won’t pick up interference at KHSC from shooters on other lanes.

Thanks.  Will have to check that channel out.  I love head to head tests like tests like these for comparison and only wish I could do more for myself. 

I also wondered about that for the Lab Radar.  It seems like they are sensitive to obstructions as you get closer to the target and I think the zone is wide enough that if you had someone shooting next to you, it would mess things up.  That and the initial reading is from the shot report, so probably no bueno for the bulleye range unless it's pretty empty. 

9mm rivals the 357magnum???   don't even go there!   

but it is a very good video.   

Haha.  Figured there would be a few revolver defenders.   

But yeah, he meant in specific aspects of the comparison that he did.  I still believe that my 686+ with 6" barrel loaded with .357 Mag would be an excellent defensive gun given certain circumstances. . . but not a very wide range of circumstances. . . 

so what I got from that video was shooting a 9mm from both a semiauto and revolver, you'll get better results from a revolver.

the Wheel Gun wins again!!!   

so what I got from that video was shooting a 9mm from both a semiauto and revolver, you'll get better results from a revolver.

the Wheel Gun wins again!!!   

Well, S&W revolvers are better!

I don't own any 9mm firearms, but I've always been tempted to get a Blackhawk convertible 357/9mm so i can shoot cheaper 9mm ammo
I did really like shooting my friends' VP9.  it is a great pistol. 

S&W do make some great and classic revolvers. 
 they have very nice and smooth triggers compared to Ruger revolvers
I'd really like to get a 29 and a 10

i can see how the 9mm would be better than a 38 or equal to 357 if youre using a snub nose revolver for the comparison.  the 357 wont be able to build optimal power and will still have more recoil.

I don't own any 9mm firearms, but I've always been tempted to get a Blackhawk convertible 357/9mm so i can shoot cheaper 9mm ammo
I did really like shooting my friends' VP9.  it is a great pistol. 

S&W do make some great and classic revolvers. 
 they have very nice and smooth triggers compared to Ruger revolvers
I'd really like to get a 29 and a 10

My only revolver is a 686+ that I brought to the revolver shoot. Love that gun. The trigger is nice and it’s supposed to get better after 3000 rounds or so. If so, that will be awesome. But 38 app ammo isn’t cheap.

i can see how the 9mm would be better than a 38 or equal to 357 if youre using a snub nose revolver for the comparison.  the 357 wont be able to build optimal power and will still have more recoil.

Yup. In this specific example.  I was surprised that they were that close. I thought .38 SPL would’ve been higher velocity.

The “muzzle to body” example was also interesting. Seen many stories of that causing malfunction or failure to fire.

Yup. In this specific example.  I was surprised that they were that close. I thought .38 SPL would’ve been higher velocity.

The “muzzle to gun” example was also interesting. Seen many stories of that causing malfunction or failure to fire.

Yeah.

I was going to comment initially that there's no way 9mm would be close to 357.  Then I had to stop and think about the ballistics of 357 and how much power it loses from ultra short barrels.

38 special didn't surprise me.  9mm has higher pressure and more velocity overall.

They make a devise for a Glock that prevents out of battery.

Every type of pistol has it's pros/cons.  So if we could carry in Hawaii, my semi-auto would be in my waist band and a snub nose revolver around the ankle.

My SD gun at home is a 9mm revolver with 3" barrel. A Ruger Speed Six to be exact. 

The 9mm vs .38 Special and .357 Magnum is nothing new. A .38 SPL and .357 Mag can be hand loaded to beat a 9mm but I don't rely on hand loads for SD ammo. 

My SD gun at home is a 9mm revolver with 3" barrel. A Ruger Speed Six to be exact. 

The 9mm vs .38 Special and .357 Magnum is nothing new. A .38 SPL and .357 Mag can be hand loaded to beat a 9mm but I don't rely on hand loads for SD ammo. 

my home defense gun is a Ruger Security Six with 2.75" barrel, with a LCR for backup   

my home defense gun is a Ruger Security Six with 2.75" barrel, with a LCR for backup   

The Security Six is the deluxe version of my gun. And I believe the Security Six also was chambered in 9mm at some point in time. When I bought the revolver I realized it was built like a tank! It will never wear out in my lifetime. I have no doubt it will go bang every time I need it to. That is important.

I don't have a backup. I just keep 7 more full moon clips right next to the gun in case I miss.

Do those 9mm revolvers need moon clips?

Do those 9mm revolvers need moon clips?

clips

ruger speed sixes in 9mm are rarer. I was looking for one a while back. they use moon clips.

Do those 9mm revolvers need moon clips?

Some do, some don’t. Those that don’t require moon clips include:

1. Charter Arms Pit Bull
2. Korth Sky Marshall (I think there are 2 or 3 models from Korth)
3. S&W Model 547 (No longer made)
4. Ruger Blackhawk 38/357/9mm (Intercahngeable cylinders - Single Action Only)

Revolvers that require moonclips include:

1. Ruger Security Six/Speed Six (No longer made)
2. Ruger SP101 (No longer chambered in 9mm)
3. Chiappa Rhino (They have different models)
4. S&W Model 929
5. S&W Model 986 (Currently for sale at a great price here: https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=26695.0)
6. Taurus Model 905 (I think there are a couple of different models)
7. Ruger LCR

These are all I know of. I am sure there are more.

Technically speaking all (or most) 9mm revolvers can be loaded without moonlips as the 9mm cartridge headspaces on the front of the case. Unloading them is another matter. I frequently shoot my 9mm revolver that requires moonclips without using the moonclips. I glued a wooden drawer pull to the end of a 1/4” wood dowel and I use it to poke out the empties.

I think Ruger still makes the SP101 in 9mm
https://ruger.com/products/sp101/specSheets/5783.html