blackhawk half moon clips

[triggermortis]

Hello boys,

   I picked up an old blackhawk in 9mm today.  Where do I get the half moon clips?

T. Mortis

[Flint]

A single action revolver does not use half moon clips, the cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case, just as it does in an automatic.  It is ejected by the ejector rod one at a time just like a rimmed cartridge.  Half moon clips are for double-action revolvers that open or swing out the cylinder to eject all the cartridges at once, and are required to give the ejector star something to push against.

[triggermortis]

Thanks for the info.  I didn't realize the slightly larger taper of the base of the casing was enough to hold the round in there.  I thought the clips were to help stabalize the rounds, and the cylinder had to be removed to eject the emptys.  

   I did see in the cylinder that there is a constriction that does not allow for 38 brass to be inserted.  Is this for safety or is it a type of stop for the 9mm brass?  

T. Mortis

[John Traveler]

Howdy, TriggerMortis!

The 9mm Luger (or Parabellum), the .45 ACP, .380 ACP, .30 Caliber US Carbine, and several other tapered, rimless rounds headspace on the mouth of the case.

The chamber "ledge" you see in the 9mm chamber is what stops the 9mm cartridge from going too deep into the chamber.  It establishes the headspace from recoil shield to the cartridge base.

I've known several owners of the .357/9mm convertible BlackHawk, and none liked to use the 9mm cylinder.  For some reason, firing 9mm in that gun frequently causes difficult extraction AND difficult loading of lead bullet 9mm cartridges.

YOu might consider a re-chambering to a wildcar for better performance.  How about the .357 Bain & Davis?  That uses a .44 Magnum case necked down to take a .357 bullet.  Guns & Ammo Magazine had a writeup on it back in the late 1970's.

HTH
John

[triggermortis]

Those are interesting conversion ideas, but I got the gun at a a real bargain, and I like the idea of using up some of the huge supply of 9mm's I've got.  I seldom shoot my semi-autos in the country 'cause the emptys are too hard to find.  I can stand a slow reload when I'm sittin' in the shade jawin' with the boys and blastin' off a few rounds.

T. Mortis

[securitysix]

It sounds like you may have gotten a .357/9mm convertible without the .357 cylinder.  The .357 mag cylinder would allow use of .357 Mag. and .38 spl. rounds.

As far as rechambering goes, I think I'd shoot the gun first, just to see if it is an exception to the rule.  Otherwise, you might consider getting it converted to .38 Super, 9x23 Winchester, 9mm Largo, .38 Spl., .357 Mag., or some other cartridge that has a similar bullet diameter, but is longer than 9x19mm.