Sig P320 reconfiguration question

O

OhioGuy

New member
When I read about the modular kits available for the P320, they all seem to be about changing caliber. So, buy a full size 9mm, and you can convert it to a full size .45 for the cost of some parts.

Can the sizes themselves be changed out too, and if so, does it make financial sense to do this?

I'd be interested in getting the full size 9mm for range and competition, and converting it to a subcompact for carry. Effectively this would mean changing absolutely everything but the trigger group since the frame, slide, barrel, etc. will all change.

1. Can this be done (are kits available)?
2. Is it cost effective...or should I just buy the two sizes separately?

I shot both today at the range, and I think I have some new loves in my life :)
 
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that to my knowledge while you can exchange frames and the serialized chassis between 9mm, 357SIG, and 40SW you cannot exchange between those and 45ACP. The 45ACP is a different size due to the cartridge size.

1. Yes it can be done.
2. I can't answer that for you. I'm not sure what you consider cost effective. It will be cheaper to buy one size and then the conversion kit to the other size as opposed to two pistols, but now you have one pistol and a conversion kit rather than two full pistols. Whether you'll get as much money back out of it in terms of percentage of original investment were you to sell the pistol and a kit as opposed to two pistols is hard to answer. Usually conversion kits don't fetch much of a return and the same is true I imagine for the size kits. Depending on the cost of the conversion kit and the cost of the pistol you might find you'd just rather have two pistols. It is easy and quick to switch between frames and slides, but some people personally would rather two pistols. To me the biggest advantage of this kit is if you live in a municipality where purchasing a full firearm is a hassle, as the kit doesn't add a serial number.


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The caliber X-change kits include the slide, barrel, recoil spring assembly, grip module, and one magazine. Basically, everything except the fire control unit (FCU) which SIG Sauer calls the "frame". So yes, if you have the appropriate FCU you can buy a caliber X-change kit and go from a subcompact to a compact, or full-size pistol if you like.

However, the FCU for the .45 ACP is different from that for the 9mm/.40 S&W/357 SIG. SIG Sauer says that the .45 ACP FCU is incompatible with the other calibers. But I have heard that some people have used it with the other calibers successfully. I think doing so defeats the "magazine safety" aspect of the pistol, i.e, the fact that you cannot field strip the pistol unless you remove the magazine first.

In my opinion, at the current price point of the caliber X-change kits, they are not cost-effective for most people. The cost is close enough to that of a complete pistol that it makes more sense for most to just buy the whole unit. But folks who are restricted to the number of distinct serialized handguns they can own or carry might find the kits attractive. The FCU is the only serialized part, so the caliber X-change kits can be sold and delivered without an FFL transfer. Another person who might find the kits attractive is someone who has had a fancy trigger job done on their FCU.

When the P320 first came out, the kits were priced over $100 less. A few years ago, on April Fool's Day, SIG raised the price of the kits $100 overnight without warning. At the original price point, the kits were attractive IMO.

Although the kits might not be cost-effective, changing grip modules can be. As an example, if you have a "carry" model P320 with a compact length slide/barrel and a full-length grip module with 17 round capacity magazines, you can easily swap the grip for a compact grip module that takes 15 round flush-fit magazines. Grip modules go for $35-45 so purchase of a grip module and a different magazine or two is not too painful.

Once you have done it a time or two, it takes less than a minute to remove the FCU from one grip module and switch it to another.

SIG has not done terribly well keeping up with the demand for different sized grip modules, magazines, and different caliber X-change kits, so you may have to search a bit and be patient.
 
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that to my knowledge while you can exchange frames and the serialized chassis between 9mm, 357SIG, and 40SW you cannot exchange between those and 45ACP. The 45ACP is a different size due to the cartridge size.
Click to expand...

That is my understanding as well.

You'd have to switch barrels' from full size to compact so the bottom frame itself would be different. Might as well buy two separate pistols at that point.
 
Makes sense.

I don't suppose there's anything out there that's (as close as possible to) a single-stack P320? I know it wouldn't go by that model number, but if I could get that P320 subcompact as a single-stack, I'd probably buy three guns :)
 
Sorry OhioGuy I think I may have misinformed you. I pulled this off of arfcom in the Sig subforum. The M17/M18 and P320 specs.

1. The P320 is the pistol series with a removable serialized trigger pack. The P226 is part of the classic series of pistols and are traditionally designed pistols.

2. The game is just a simple plastic shell. You can put any of the configurations on any slide length. Change the color, stipple the frame, change the length is just a $35-50 plastic shell piece that's not a firearm.

3. You can build a similar configuration, but if you want all the features of the M17/M18 (internal coatings, safety, deltapoint pro mounting*, etc...) sounds like you'll need to wait for the civilian release.

*The M series was designed to mount the Leupold Deltapoint Pro, not the SIG Romeo that's currently being offered.
 
Personally, I don't think it is cost effective. You might as well buy a new compact pistol. Easier, I believe, in the long run.

To make a full size a truly compact would require new barrel, receiver, slide and magazines. I don't know the cost of all this stuff but would hazard a guess one is 80 to 90% the cost of a new pistol.
 
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From what i understand, there are Exchange Kits (complete slide and mags) for 9mm, .357 Sig, and .40 ACP. the FCU fits all three.

I believe, if you buy the P320 in .40, Bar-sto makes conversion barrels in .357 Sig and 9mm (I may be wrong).

There are also swappable grip modules in Full, Carry, Compact, and Sub Compact. Full and Carry share the same grip length. All come in 3 different girths (.20 up and down from Medium) and 3 colors.
 
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