Glock caliber conversion ???

[Legionnaire]

Okay. I've read about dropping .357 Sig or 9mm barrels into Glock 23s and 27s. Here are some questions for anyone who has done this:

1. Other than the general "I can, therefore I should, why do this at all?

2. Do you stick with Glock factory barrels, or are there better replacements, and what makes them "better?"

3. Does a 9mm Glock barrel have a smaller outside diameter than the .40, and if so, wouldn't this mean the barrel would rattle around in the barrel bushing?

4. If you drop a 9mm barrel in a .40 caliber gun, do you keep using the .40 caliber magazines (like you do with the .357 Sig), or do you need 9mm mags?

Inquiring minds want to know . . .

 

[Tamara]

1.) More calibers is better calibers.

2.) Federal and KKM are reasonably priced and have conventional rifling (good if you reload).

3.) 9mm and .40 barrels have the same OD.

4.) The 9mm rounds will pop right out of a .40 mag; you'll need a 9mm mag. .40 and .357SIG mags are interchangeable, however.

5.) Glock on!

 

[PreserveFreedom]

5. What about the extractor? Isn't the 40S&W/357 Sig spaced differently than the 9x19mm?

 

[Legionnaire]

1.) More calibers is better calibers.

Right. Per the Contender/Long Range Handgunning discussion . . .

3.) 9mm and .40 barrels have the same OD.

I took a look at the Glockmeister site http://www.glockmeister.com/barrels.html, and they say, "WE DISCOURAGE USING GLOCK 9mm BARRELS IN .40 CAL PISTOLS. THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED BECAUSE THE FIT IS NOT 100% AND MAY LEAD TO PROBLEMS." If the ODs are the same, what is the "fit" problem?

Same page lists the KKM 9mm barrel as being specially designed to shoot 9mm ammo from .40 Glocks. PreserveFreedom, they also recommend that the extractor and ejector be changed. They further indicate that such a conversion should be for training only, and should not be used for carry. Don't think I want to go that route if the conversion isn't 100% reliable. And if you have to change the extractor and ejector, it's no longer a simple "drop-in" procedure.

Still would like to hear range experience from someone who has actually put a 9mm barrel in a .40 Glock. I'm itching to see what can be done (even though I just replaced my last 9mm with a Glock 27 and prefer to stock fewer than more different cartridges . . .)