I'm intrigued by the idea of having 3 slides and 1 pistol frame. Dan Wesson offers a semiauto pistol pack (1911 style) with a 9mm, 40 S&W, and 10 mm slide along with the frame. E-mailed STI and they could offer something similar through their custom shop but quite a bit pricier. Are these designs (slide different caliber slides mated to a single frame) good in terms of reliability, etc., or would buying 3 separate pistols be better.
Would you get a semi-auto pistol pack?
- Thread starter Tman
- Start date
Lot's of manufacturers offer that as a package or options. For example, if you start with one of the SiG 40S&W or 357SiG pistols, you can get the other barrel as an option. Mags, slide and frames remain the same, all you do is swap barrels. Barsto makes some aftermarket 9mm barrels so you can have 3 in 1 with only a barrel change.
I've been shooting 40S&W and 357SiG threw my 2340 for about a year or so. I never looked into the 9mm barrel because I alread have a 2009, but the 2340 mags work just fine in my 2009.
Check out the Sig 239, 226, 228, 2340 or 229.
I've been shooting 40S&W and 357SiG threw my 2340 for about a year or so. I never looked into the 9mm barrel because I alread have a 2009, but the 2340 mags work just fine in my 2009.
Check out the Sig 239, 226, 228, 2340 or 229.
Legionnaire
New member
Tman, my experience is limited to a short period when I owned a Kel-Tec P11 (9mm) and a .40 conversion kit (barrel and slide assembly). Although I experienced no problems, I decided that multiple guns was better than multiple slides. I hope others will comment as well, but here's my thinking.
Part of the break-in for a semiauto is the mating of the slide and frame through use. I don't see how you avoid the following scenario:
Break in the 9mm. The slide and frame polish each other so that they are perfectly mated.
Move to the .40. Now you have the .40 slide working against the frame that was already polished to the 9mm slide. As the frame mates to the .40 slide, it no longer perfectly matches the 9mm slide.
Compound the situation when you add the .10mm slide.
It seems to me that you would be perpetually "breaking in" your gun, with the frame taking the brunt of it. Obviously, the better the original tolerances the less of a problem this would be.
I don't think you'd have the same issue shooting different barrels in the same slide like jar describes.
I'll be interested to see what others think.
Part of the break-in for a semiauto is the mating of the slide and frame through use. I don't see how you avoid the following scenario:
Break in the 9mm. The slide and frame polish each other so that they are perfectly mated.
Move to the .40. Now you have the .40 slide working against the frame that was already polished to the 9mm slide. As the frame mates to the .40 slide, it no longer perfectly matches the 9mm slide.
Compound the situation when you add the .10mm slide.
It seems to me that you would be perpetually "breaking in" your gun, with the frame taking the brunt of it. Obviously, the better the original tolerances the less of a problem this would be.
I don't think you'd have the same issue shooting different barrels in the same slide like jar describes.
I'll be interested to see what others think.
Pigshooter
New member
This is kind of my plan on the witness side. They are definitely cheap enough to do this. I eventually want to have several different colors, calibers and setups so I can mix-n-match. Polymer frame vs blue vs stainless, different calibers, iron sight slides and target sight slides, comp barrels, compact and full size, different accouterments for the safety and slide pin, maybe different grips for the steel ones too.
Why? I'll be danged if I know, but it sure sounds cool.
Why? I'll be danged if I know, but it sure sounds cool.
It is an interesting idea and has been done in custom shops. If the law limited you to one receiver, a 1911 or a Witness frame would be the way to go. But, the law does not put such restrictions on gun owners (yet), so I prefer one slide per frame.
Also, to get the most out of a pistol, the slide and frame need to be matched to each other. If you are satisfied with average accuracy and a little slop in the slide to frame fit, then multiple slides are fine. At least until the frame is worn out, then you have to have a new frame matched to multiple slides.
Now consider costs. Bare slides cost only slightly less than bare frames. Once you factor in all the parts that go into completing top ends and frames, the cost difference narrows considerably. A pistol pack that has 9mm, 40 S&W and 10mm top ends is nice, but the 40 and the 10 overlap. Why not just buy a 9mm complete gun and a 10mm complete gun. If you want to shoot 40, a barrel and recoil spring swap put you back in the game. Or cheaper yet, those 10mm mid range loads brought to you by the FBI. Now you have two complete guns for just a little more than one with a bunch of top ends. And, if one frame fails, you still have the other gun to shoot while repairs are made.
Also, to get the most out of a pistol, the slide and frame need to be matched to each other. If you are satisfied with average accuracy and a little slop in the slide to frame fit, then multiple slides are fine. At least until the frame is worn out, then you have to have a new frame matched to multiple slides.
Now consider costs. Bare slides cost only slightly less than bare frames. Once you factor in all the parts that go into completing top ends and frames, the cost difference narrows considerably. A pistol pack that has 9mm, 40 S&W and 10mm top ends is nice, but the 40 and the 10 overlap. Why not just buy a 9mm complete gun and a 10mm complete gun. If you want to shoot 40, a barrel and recoil spring swap put you back in the game. Or cheaper yet, those 10mm mid range loads brought to you by the FBI. Now you have two complete guns for just a little more than one with a bunch of top ends. And, if one frame fails, you still have the other gun to shoot while repairs are made.
Thanks everybody for some good info
Hadn't thought about having to fit the different slides with the same frame as causing eventual problems. I guess its analogous to having keys to the same lock, if one key hasn't been used in a while it might not fit later on (did that make any sense?). Anyway, I wanted to make one last gun purchase so I wouldn't want to be tempted to buy any more pistols, but I guess you guys forced me to buy 3 or 4 more
Hadn't thought about having to fit the different slides with the same frame as causing eventual problems. I guess its analogous to having keys to the same lock, if one key hasn't been used in a while it might not fit later on (did that make any sense?). Anyway, I wanted to make one last gun purchase so I wouldn't want to be tempted to buy any more pistols, but I guess you guys forced me to buy 3 or 4 more
If it is a gun that locks the barrel to the slide and the sights are on the slide........I see no problem with switchin slides. Slide to frame fit is a very minor factor in accuracy. Biggie is that the fit is loose enough to function under adverse conditions and yet not so loose as to fall off.
Sam
Sam
Mike in VA
New member
I believe Magnum REsearch (desert Eagle) also offers a variety of calibers (.357, .41, .44, .50 AE) on the same frame
Don't forget the springs. There's a lot of difference between the energy in a 9mm vs a 10mm. tho the piustol may function (for a while) with a lighter spring, youwill beat the crap out of the frame over time. Prolly not a big deal with cartridges with similar performance/pressures (e.g. .40 S&W vs .357 SIG), but some of the more 'enegetic' loads need proper consideration. FWIW.
Don't forget the springs. There's a lot of difference between the energy in a 9mm vs a 10mm. tho the piustol may function (for a while) with a lighter spring, youwill beat the crap out of the frame over time. Prolly not a big deal with cartridges with similar performance/pressures (e.g. .40 S&W vs .357 SIG), but some of the more 'enegetic' loads need proper consideration. FWIW.