USPFS Converted to USP Tactical (Almost)

D

dmc235

Inactive
Here's a question...
Could I take my full size USP .40, and get an aftermarket Jarvis or Bar-Sto 9mm extended length, threaded barrel and make (almost) a Tactical?

Do the USP 9mm Mags fit the .40 Mag well? ( I know where plenty of 9mm 10rd mags are right now for $26) Does the Mag release still work? Does the height of the 9mm mag put the round at the bottom of the chamber for the slide to peel it off and chamber it? Anybody tried?

I know the front of the pistol may not look as nice due to the smaller 9mm barrel not quite filling the gap. I have seen sites that will put the o-ring on the barrel as well, maybe that would tighten up the gap?

What about the chamber, will a .40 extractor pull out a 9mm round? Will the firing pin still hit the primer "on center"?

What's your opinion?
 
DMC, I don't fool with enough USPs to answer your questions. Sounds like a good project. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than me on these guns will post an answer. George
 
dmc235,
I can only give empirical data, as I have not, nor will not try this particular substitution. Let's look at this from another angle for a moment. You are proposing to put a 10mm cartridge in a 9mm magazine. Does this sound like a good idea to you? Also, you are talking about buying a new barrel, custom made and then altering it with an o-ring to tighten the fit. That will cost some major money. Why not trade the full size in on a tactical and just add the extra money to the purchase?

Regarding the extractor. I feel confident that the larger .40 case (.380 - 9mm vs .423 - .40) will cause problems. The base of the forty is both larger and thicker than the nine is. If it works at all, it is sure to place undue stress on the extractor. You could probably get a .40 extractor that would fit your 9mm, if you can get HK to send you one (iffy proposition at best). And will the firing pin hit the primer 'on-center'? Probably not, but 'close enough' to cause the gun to go bang. But you are going to an awful lot of trouble to modify a firearm that doesn't need to be altered, as what you are trying to create, basically exists in a slightly large caliber. I would personally recommend against this. And if you do, the first time you fire it should be with a really long rope tied to the trigger, in case it blows up. This is not criticism, as I personally have modified a few pistols in my day for personal reasons and usage. In each instance, it turned out to be a lot of work that generally didn't accomplish the goal I was trying to reach. There's not enough time for us to repeat all the same mistakes. Trying to help. Jim :)
 
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