.357 to 9mm convertible

.Dirty-.30 · 07-24-2009, 01:17 AM

Have any of you guys had your .357 fitted lately with a 9mm cylinder? I was wondering the total cost and time it took to get your gun back from Ruger. .Dirty-.30

knightRider · 07-24-2009, 10:19 AM

i have wanted one for quite a while.

okami515 · 07-24-2009, 04:18 PM

just bought the convertible model when I got mine.

.Dirty-.30 · 07-25-2009, 01:39 AM

If only a guy could order the cylinder and drop it in, it wouldn't be too bad, last I heard the cylinder cost was around $90, but I hate to have to send my gun in and have it fitted and wait and wait and wait. And I think last I heard all they sold the extra cylinders in was blue, sounds crazy but thats what I was told. A blue cylinder on my stainless

jrswanson1 · 07-25-2009, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .Dirty-.30

If only a guy could order the cylinder and drop it in, it wouldn't be too bad, last I heard the cylinder cost was around $90, but I hate to have to send my gun in and have it fitted and wait and wait and wait. And I think last I heard all they sold the extra cylinders in was blue, sounds crazy but thats what I was told. A blue cylinder on my stainless

I think that would make it easy to tell the two apart. No way to mix them up!

What would really be cool is getting one in 9mm and 9mm Magnum. But I'm weird like that.

Jim

LakerDad · 09-07-2009, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .Dirty-.30

Have any of you guys had your .357 fitted lately with a 9mm cylinder? I was wondering the total cost and time it took to get your gun back from Ruger. .Dirty-.30

I find this of interest, have you done this conversion? I think it would be great to have the 2nd cylinder in 9mm. I know Gun Parts have them listed but are out of stock. You can't just drop them in? Iwould have thought that the fit would be such that you just drop one in. I got a New Model BlackHawk .357 yesterday, now would like to have it with the 9. I've had a old mod single-6 converter for 37 years and appreicate the 2nd cylinder concept. I guess Ruger would the only way to get the extra cylinder fitted?

chesterwin · 09-07-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LakerDad

I find this of interest, have you done this conversion? I think it would be great to have the 2nd cylinder in 9mm. I know Gun Parts have them listed but are out of stock. You can't just drop them in? Iwould have thought that the fit would be such that you just drop one in. I got a New Model BlackHawk .357 yesterday, now would like to have it with the 9. I've had a old mod single-6 converter for 37 years and appreicate the 2nd cylinder concept. I guess Ruger would the only way to get the extra cylinder fitted?

A little off topic, but this makes me curious. I read an article years ago about using pieces of heavy wire paper clips to wrap around the extractor grooves of .45 ACP cartridges for use in wheelguns. Could maybe the same principle apply here? Would the 9mm be safe to fire in a .357 or .38 cylinder?

TXplt · 09-07-2009, 11:15 AM

^ you don't need to improvise with paper clips--I have a Smith 325 in .45 ACP using full moon clips (available pretty cheap and readily available) which work extremely well. They make GREAT speedloaders as well.

I had a Super Blackhawk years ago with a 4 5/8" barrel in .357 and it came with a 9mm cylinder (in that the 9mm is rimless and the .38/.357 rimmed I think you'd need a separate cylinder just like you need a separate cylinder for .22 WMR/.22 LR convertibles--but for somewhat different reasons). The 9mm and .357 are essentially the same diameter (with a proper cylinder plenty close enough for a convertible revolver barrel). It was a GREAT shooter and I made a HUGE mistake when I sold it.

samuel · 09-07-2009, 11:43 AM

My opinion,a 9mm,.354/.355 bullet in a .357bore would be sloppy,a gas leaker and no potential for power or accuracy.It would be safe to shoot them but useless. ,,,sam.

TXplt · 09-07-2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samuel

My opinion,a 9mm,.354/.355 bullet in a .357bore would be sloppy,a gas leaker and no potential for power or accuracy.It would be safe to shoot them but useless. ,,,sam.

Good thing my Blackhawk barrel didn't know this

I never chronographed any of the 9mm rounds but they were as accurate as the .38/.357's and seemed to do quite OK.

Maybe I was just lucky.

I really did make a mistake in selling it though. Lesson learned: NEVER sell any gun you like.

DaTeacha · 09-07-2009, 01:21 PM

I think the lead bullet 9mm loads would upset enough to fill the grooves. Of course, the difference in bore sizes between various individual guns could make a difference, too. A minimal .357 rather than one on the upper limit of tolerances would be a better shooter.

What is a 9mm magnum? I've heard of a 9 x 21, but not a 9mm mag.

LakerDad · 09-08-2009, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chesterwin

A little off topic, but this makes me curious. I read an article years ago about using pieces of heavy wire paper clips to wrap around the extractor grooves of .45 ACP cartridges for use in wheelguns. Could maybe the same principle apply here? Would the 9mm be safe to fire in a .357 or .38 cylinder?

Hey chesterwin, where did you read the article from on the use of the paper clip ? That might work but I would be afraid of any damage that the paper clip might infict on the cylinder? I see what samuel said and that is a concern, sure makes a lot of sense. I know that there are a few of these guns out there, I wonder if there are many reviews in the past 40 years that might be around to read? The 9mm in a 357 cylinder may be a problem due to the taper of the 9mm shell? It would cause the 9mm to expand and maybe rupture kind of like if a 22 Long Rifle were to fired out a 22 mag cylinder. I guess someone would have had invented a set of moon clips for the 9mm already

I came across a 9mm cylinder and won the bid and should have it in a week or so. I guess I'll be able to do some on hands myself

Timmy · 09-26-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samuel

My opinion,a 9mm,.354/.355 bullet in a .357bore would be sloppy,a gas leaker and no potential for power or accuracy.It would be safe to shoot them but useless. ,,,sam.

The 9x19 Parabellum uses a 0.356 dia bullet, the .357 mag uses .357 bullet.
The .001 should make no difference.

sdoyl123 · 09-30-2009, 11:38 PM

You can find the online alot. Measure the length of your 357 and look to find one as close as that. From what I have been told, you just have to file off on the front of the cylinder where it meets up with the Cone. You want a tight fit here. .001 to .003. I know I picked up a 41 mag cylinder and it works perfect.

Ten Man · 10-01-2009, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .Dirty-.30

If only a guy could order the cylinder and drop it in, it wouldn't be too bad, last I heard the cylinder cost was around $90, but I hate to have to send my gun in and have it fitted and wait and wait and wait. And I think last I heard all they sold the extra cylinders in was blue, sounds crazy but thats what I was told. A blue cylinder on my stainless

The cylinder has to be fitted by a gunsmith so the timing is corrected. All the Ruger conversions with two cylinders have been fitted and timed at the factory.

I have had a couple of these. They work as advertised. I just didn't get any thrill from shooting 9MM from a revolver, so I sold mine.

DWFan · 10-01-2009, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaTeacha

What is a 9mm magnum? I've heard of a 9 x 21, but not a 9mm mag.

The 9mm Magnum was developed by Winchester for the Wildey semi-auto. It is a 9mm lengthened to 1.16" and has ballistics similar to the .357 SIG or 9x23 Winchester. Brass is available from Starline. The last semi-auto to chamber it was the AMT Automag III.

LakerDad · 10-03-2009, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdoyl123

You can find the online alot. Measure the length of your 357 and look to find one as close as that. From what I have been told, you just have to file off on the front of the cylinder where it meets up with the Cone. You want a tight fit here. .001 to .003. I know I picked up a 41 mag cylinder and it works perfect.

I paid $103 to my door for a cylinder that had not been used, and you're correct about filing the front cylinder crane pivot shaft. It took me a while to get it down to with in .002" of the original cylinder's length. Once I started fitting it to the gun, it was at a slight larger length which cause the rotation to be too tight. I polished the last few .0005" to the same length as the original. Pretty cool at this point. Now to figure the alignment, the lock up is a tight fit as it is with the .357 cylinder. I made a sleeved shaft to check for interferes at the cylinder and forcing cone, going thru the end of the barrel. Good so far. I then got my lazer light to do a visual on the match up looking down the barrel to the cylinder. This is a cool way to see any edges that you have a hard time seeing other wise. Will do some more checks before heading out to do some hole punching.

LakerDad · 10-03-2009, 12:34 AM

Update: The 9mm will not work in the .357 mag cylinder due to it's tapered casing, it's too wide to fit all the way. I saw a 9mm cylinder on GunBroker that a gun smith had reamed out to the 9mm to .357 mag. This may work, but I would think that the difference between these two rounds is enough to cause the 357 to bulge where the wider 9mm base area is, it may be stable enough and extract okay. May be like shooting a 22LR in the 22 mag?
And thanks for all of the replies!

07-24-2009, 01:17 AM	#1
.Dirty-.30 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 71	.357 to 9mm convertible Have any of you guys had your .357 fitted lately with a 9mm cylinder? I was wondering the total cost and time it took to get your gun back from Ruger. .Dirty-.30

07-24-2009, 10:19 AM	#2
knightRider Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: you know where Posts: 3,777 Images: 19 Blog Entries: 17	i have wanted one for quite a while. __________________ God doesn't give rights. Men have to fight for them.

09-07-2009, 11:15 AM	#8
TXplt Traveling Libertarian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 4,722 Images: 4 Blog Entries: 2	^ you don't need to improvise with paper clips--I have a Smith 325 in .45 ACP using full moon clips (available pretty cheap and readily available) which work extremely well. They make GREAT speedloaders as well. I had a Super Blackhawk years ago with a 4 5/8" barrel in .357 and it came with a 9mm cylinder (in that the 9mm is rimless and the .38/.357 rimmed I think you'd need a separate cylinder just like you need a separate cylinder for .22 WMR/.22 LR convertibles--but for somewhat different reasons). The 9mm and .357 are essentially the same diameter (with a proper cylinder plenty close enough for a convertible revolver barrel). It was a GREAT shooter and I made a HUGE mistake when I sold it. __________________ Old fighter pilots never die.....They just wind up in Texas Last edited by TXplt; 09-07-2009 at 03:05 PM.

09-07-2009, 01:21 PM	#11
DaTeacha Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: near Funk, Ohio Posts: 2,913	I think the lead bullet 9mm loads would upset enough to fill the grooves. Of course, the difference in bore sizes between various individual guns could make a difference, too. A minimal .357 rather than one on the upper limit of tolerances would be a better shooter. What is a 9mm magnum? I've heard of a 9 x 21, but not a 9mm mag. __________________ Teach NRA -- If you're reading this, you should be a member. United, We Stand.

07-24-2009, 04:18 PM	#3
okami515 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 261	just bought the convertible model when I got mine.

07-25-2009, 01:39 AM	#4
.Dirty-.30 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 71	If only a guy could order the cylinder and drop it in, it wouldn't be too bad, last I heard the cylinder cost was around $90, but I hate to have to send my gun in and have it fitted and wait and wait and wait. And I think last I heard all they sold the extra cylinders in was blue, sounds crazy but thats what I was told. A blue cylinder on my stainless

09-07-2009, 11:43 AM	#9
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 10,911	My opinion,a 9mm,.354/.355 bullet in a .357bore would be sloppy,a gas leaker and no potential for power or accuracy.It would be safe to shoot them but useless. ,,,sam.

09-30-2009, 11:38 PM	#14
sdoyl123 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Northeast Kansas Posts: 356	You can find the online alot. Measure the length of your 357 and look to find one as close as that. From what I have been told, you just have to file off on the front of the cylinder where it meets up with the Cone. You want a tight fit here. .001 to .003. I know I picked up a 41 mag cylinder and it works perfect.

10-03-2009, 12:34 AM	#18
LakerDad Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Central Missouri Posts: 507	Update: The 9mm will not work in the .357 mag cylinder due to it's tapered casing, it's too wide to fit all the way. I saw a 9mm cylinder on GunBroker that a gun smith had reamed out to the 9mm to .357 mag. This may work, but I would think that the difference between these two rounds is enough to cause the 357 to bulge where the wider 9mm base area is, it may be stable enough and extract okay. May be like shooting a 22LR in the 22 mag? And thanks for all of the replies!