Can you change cylinders in a sp101 to shoot 357 and 9mm
- Thread starter mrt949
- Start date
Just so it's clear, I'm not claiming to have done any research on this answer. This is mostly off the top of my head.
1. I have a hard time believing it will be easy to find a 9mm SP101 cylinder. Ruger never really sold them although there may have been a time when you could send an SP101 to Ruger and have them fit one. I suspect if you do find one, it will be pretty expensive.
2. If you find one, it might work or it might not. Sometimes (often?) fitting is required and it's not a super-easy process. If you need it fitted, you'd have to find a decent gunsmith to do it for you and insure that your original .357Mag cylinder still works too.
Possible? Yes.
Maybe not easy or practical.
Let's see what other input you get.
1. I have a hard time believing it will be easy to find a 9mm SP101 cylinder. Ruger never really sold them although there may have been a time when you could send an SP101 to Ruger and have them fit one. I suspect if you do find one, it will be pretty expensive.
2. If you find one, it might work or it might not. Sometimes (often?) fitting is required and it's not a super-easy process. If you need it fitted, you'd have to find a decent gunsmith to do it for you and insure that your original .357Mag cylinder still works too.
Possible? Yes.
Maybe not easy or practical.
Let's see what other input you get.
Jim Watson
New member
I found a .357 cylinder for $75.
$230 to Pinnacle and you are all set for 9mm.
$230 to Pinnacle and you are all set for 9mm.
Carl the Floor Walker
Moderator
Do not know about the Ruger, but if anyone can do this, I would say they are the ones. They do this for a multitude of revolvers.
https://tkcustom.com/services/machining-sw
https://tkcustom.com/services/machining-sw
Call Ruger up and ask them.
They'll want to fit it, but it might not be too bad: https://www.ruger.com/service/partsService.html
336-949-5200
They'll want to fit it, but it might not be too bad: https://www.ruger.com/service/partsService.html
336-949-5200
Jim Watson
New member
Because it is not a double action hideout gun, maybe.
1911_Hardball
New member
Considering the difference in head diameter of the 9mm and the .357 (SAAMI specs of 9.93mm & 9.63mm respectively) I don't see that being a very good idea. The fact that the 9mm is a tapered case may be problematic as well.
Jim Watson
New member
Well, that will be news to TK and Pinnacle, who do it routinely.
1911_Hardball
New member
Well, perhaps. I wouldn't feel comfortable shooting .357 in a cylinder with charge holes that over bored. Seems like it would be awfully hard on brass as well.
Jim Watson
New member
I would consider it a conversion not a convertible. Pinnacle says:
"My 9mm conversions are done using custom made specially ground reamers for re-chambering revolver cylinders, They are ground to the optimum taper and length to work perfectly for ease of extraction and seamless transition into the cylinder sizing area.
* Hotter loaded .357's may stick after the conversion"
TK puts it:
"Our work on cylinders rechambered to 9mm are LIMITED to our customer's using standard 9mm ammo or low pressure reloads, which are 34,000 - 35,000 psi chamber pressure or less. Same chamber pressures apply to firing of .38 SPL & .357 Mag. Examples of FACTORY Brands are: Winchester, Federal & Remington.
Absolutley NO 9mm Nato, 9mm +P or 9mm +P+, all which are far beyond the 34,000 - 35,000 psi chamber pressure our conversion is intended for. Usually 38,500 psi, which WILL Stick!
If you try to use these high pressure ammo, you will experience cases sticking in all chambers.
We cannot warranty our work, if you disregard our warning/notice on high pressure ammo.
When rechambered to 9mm the cylinder will still shoot NON-HIGH Pressure ammo, 38 SPL or 357 Mag with or without the proper moonclip."
"My 9mm conversions are done using custom made specially ground reamers for re-chambering revolver cylinders, They are ground to the optimum taper and length to work perfectly for ease of extraction and seamless transition into the cylinder sizing area.
* Hotter loaded .357's may stick after the conversion"
TK puts it:
"Our work on cylinders rechambered to 9mm are LIMITED to our customer's using standard 9mm ammo or low pressure reloads, which are 34,000 - 35,000 psi chamber pressure or less. Same chamber pressures apply to firing of .38 SPL & .357 Mag. Examples of FACTORY Brands are: Winchester, Federal & Remington.
Absolutley NO 9mm Nato, 9mm +P or 9mm +P+, all which are far beyond the 34,000 - 35,000 psi chamber pressure our conversion is intended for. Usually 38,500 psi, which WILL Stick!
If you try to use these high pressure ammo, you will experience cases sticking in all chambers.
We cannot warranty our work, if you disregard our warning/notice on high pressure ammo.
When rechambered to 9mm the cylinder will still shoot NON-HIGH Pressure ammo, 38 SPL or 357 Mag with or without the proper moonclip."
Right. He still has his original .357Mag cylinder for shooting the original caliber. His 9mm cylinder (.357Mag modified to 9mm) would only be for 9mm.
The main reason for the mod is that finding a .357Mag cylinder to mod is probably a lot easier (and cheaper) than finding a 9mm cylinder.
9mm and 38/357 barrels have the same barrel specifications (0.355" + 0.004" groove diameter).
https://saami.org/wp-content/upload...FP-and-R-Approved-2015-12-14-Posting-Copy.pdf
I have a 7 shot 686 converted by TK Customs to shoot 9mm. I have not tried P+ 9mm ammo but with SAAMI level ammo I have not had any issues.
When you do the conversion you will also be able to use moonclips on 357 and 38 special. .357 and 9mm moonclips are not the same.
I have a S&W 360J that Pinnacle modified for me almost 13 years ago. The original .38spl cylinder was cut for moonclips and the chambers reamed to accommodate the tapered 9mm case. He also chamfered the forcing cone and did an action job and some other work. A few years later I purchased a titanium .38spl cylinder and had Mark fit that to the revolver also. The gun shoots great in both .38spl and 9mm, with no appreciable loss of accuracy with 9mm ammo. Mark Hartshorne's work is top notch and the 360J is one of my most trusted and most carried handguns.
If you're going to do a conversion like this I highly recommend a dedicated for 9mm. I have shot .38s through my converted cylinder and all but the lightest loads will bulge the brass and I've had +P loads split the bass on occasion. This is why I bought the extra titanium .38spl cylinder when I had the chance. Now if I want to shoot one or the other I just swap cylinders.
If you're going to do a conversion like this I highly recommend a dedicated for 9mm. I have shot .38s through my converted cylinder and all but the lightest loads will bulge the brass and I've had +P loads split the bass on occasion. This is why I bought the extra titanium .38spl cylinder when I had the chance. Now if I want to shoot one or the other I just swap cylinders.
At a minimum you’ll lose velocity and accuracy in the 9mm.
Shot some 9 in a convertible Blackhawk and wasn’t impressed.
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