9mm revolver question

[jonrjen]

I picked up a new Taurus 9mm revolver in a the stainless steel finish many years ago. I have never fired this pistol, have never felt the need. The price when I picked it up was under $165, so that and the intrigue of a 9mm in a revolver was enought to make the purchase.
However, In the last few years, I have seen a number of post from people who don't seem to favor this style of firearm. I have never heard a reason other than the comment "Isn't that the gun that uses Moon Clips" Is there a history of poor performance when a pistol uses Moon Clips, or is there another reason for negative comments? Or is it a use of ACP ammo in a rim fire that people have a problem with?

[A-R]

For a defensive revolver, some don't like the fact you can't load in single cartridges one at a time like you can with rimmed revolver cartridges in .38, .357, .44, .45 colt etc. For those who WANT moon clips, a gun chambered to fire rimmed cartridges with a cylinder cut to accept either moonclips or "naked" cartridges (early S&W K-frames, for example) seem to be preferred.

Also, I've heard that recoil on these little guns can be something above a .38 +P but not quite in full-house .357 Magnum territory ... but I've never shot one.

[couzin]

Yep - just don't see the advantage myself.

[jonrjen]

I guess part of my train of thought at the time, was that is would be kind of like using a speed loader to reload....only you didn't need to release the rounds from the speed loader. Just slip the loaded moon clip in, close the chamber and fire.
I have been thinking of using it as a carry piece, but I keep coming back to my Taurus 856 Magnesium 38 spl. It is extreemly lightweight and holds 6 rounds.
Or as advertised "Holds 20% more fire power than a 5 round 38 spl"

[tacticool]

Does it headspace on the case mouth? If so, I have no worries about carrying a 9mm revolver. However, if it won't headspace without the moon clips, they become a necessity instead of a convenience and I personally wouldn't carry it. It might be a fun range gun though, for the right price.

[y5e06]

hassle.
thats my guess, if you have to use moon clips that means you have to pry those cases in/out each and every time you want to load up a cylinder. May work fine for a carry piece that isn't shot much but a PITA if you take it to the range regularly. Lots of folks use .45 ACP in a wheel though with moons. However, if you are shooting a .355? might as well just use the .357" .38 special. I think the performance delta from 9mm to .38 is diminishing returns in a short barrel wheel and most just stick with a .38.
A 9mm moon clip'ed wheel gun is cool though, but then again, i have a thing for all types of revolvers...

[gringop]

Moon clips work really well when carried in a protective moon clip holder. We've all seen videos of Jerry Michlek's incredible shooting and lightning fast reloads with his 625 moon clip guns.

Moon clips work horribly when they get bent from being carried in a pocket all day. All that reloading speed goes away when the bullets don't line up or the cylinder wont close on a bent moon clip. Speedloaders and flat speed strips are slower but much more durable.

The 9mm cartridge has almost double the pressure of the 38 Special. That means that unless the chambers are perfectly smooth, you may have cases sticking and the whole moon clip can be hard to extract.

9mm revolvers aren't made and sold in the volume that 38s are because they don't work as well as 38s, at least in the small revolver arena.

Gringop

[speedsix]

...Taurus' moon clips, at least in the .45ACP caliber, are weak and flimsy...not like the WWII versions...and, dropped from the waist, lost 3 rounds out of 5...the old moons could be tossed across a parking lot without losing rounds...there are better moon clips available from other manuf...recharging the clips in a hurry is pretty much not doable...try Ranch Products for some better ones...