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6/7/2005 12:22:07 PM EDT
I posted this in the handgun forum but did'nt get many responses. My question is: can I convert my 226 .40 into a 9mm with a complete 9mm slide, barrel, recoil spring, and magazine?
6/7/2005 12:24:31 PM EDT
[#1]
Great question.

The only reason I'd guess not is that SS probably made them incompatible to prevent the conversion in the other direction?

I know Glocks can swap extractors, mag  and barels, but guys say they don't "trust" the conversion to be 100% reliable.
6/7/2005 12:30:45 PM EDT
[#2]

Quoted:
I posted this in the handgun forum but did'nt get many responses. My question is: can I convert my 226 .40 into a 9mm with a complete 9mm slide, barrel, recoil spring, and magazine?




I'd bet not because the steel block inserted into the frame is probably contoured for a .40. The ejector may need replacing with a 9mm also. The best bet is to find someone with a 9mm and compare everything.
6/7/2005 12:35:20 PM EDT
[#3]
Why not just the barrel and be done with it:
www.barsto.com/category_main.cfm?ID=226&cco=66
6/7/2005 12:46:50 PM EDT
[#4]
because the sights would be off
6/7/2005 12:54:04 PM EDT
[#5]
You could sell your .40 and probably buy a nice used 9mm for less money. To buy all those replacement parts would probably cost more than a nice used 9mm P226. I have seen plenty of near mint P226 in 9mm for around $450.
6/7/2005 1:29:55 PM EDT
[#6]
I would think a decent barrel (and Bar-Sto barrels are among the best) could be fitted (by Bar-Sto, no less) with the same POI as your current .40SW barrel.
6/7/2005 2:58:27 PM EDT
[#7]
The breechface on the 9mm is 0.394 inches. The breechface on the 40 S&W is 0.424 inches. You would have problems with the extractor and ejector. It may be more appropriate to consider going to the 357 SIG cartridge by replacing the barrel as the breech face measurements are the same as the 40 S$W. The 40 S&W is the parent cartridge of the 357 SIG. Take care.
6/7/2005 3:30:17 PM EDT
[#8]
I'ld 2nd 1911.  The P239 converts from 357 Sig to .40 with just a new barrel.  Uses the same mags and everything else.
6/7/2005 3:37:19 PM EDT
[#9]

Quoted:
The breechface on the 9mm is 0.394 inches. The breechface on the 40 S&W is 0.424 inches. You would have problems with the extractor and ejector. It may be more appropriate to consider going to the 357 SIG cartridge by replacing the barrel as the breech face measurements are the same as the 40 S$W. The 40 S&W is the parent cartridge of the 357 SIG. Take care.



That said, many people on Sigforum.com have converted their 40 cal with a 9mm barrel.

You cannot convert the other way 'round, however.
6/7/2005 3:38:22 PM EDT
[#10]

Quoted:
I posted this in the handgun forum but did'nt get many responses. My question is: can I convert my 226 .40 into a 9mm with a complete 9mm slide, barrel, recoil spring, and magazine?



Have you tried asking Sig Customer Service?

I would think that for the money you would spend to buy a 9mm slide, barrel, spring and mags you could almost buy a whole new P226 in 9mm.
6/7/2005 4:04:53 PM EDT
[#11]

Quoted:
The breechface on the 9mm is 0.394 inches. The breechface on the 40 S&W is 0.424 inches. You would have problems with the extractor and ejector. It may be more appropriate to consider going to the 357 SIG cartridge by replacing the barrel as the breech face measurements are the same as the 40 S$W. The 40 S&W is the parent cartridge of the 357 SIG. Take care.



The .40SW to 9mm conversion has been done successfully on many thousands of Glocks and SIGs.  No problem here.

As for the 357SIG - I've come to the opinion, after owning one of the very first P229s in 357SIG, that the cartridge is flawed.  Neat concept, poor implementation.  Case neck support makes it a bitch to reload and even factory ammo is suspect.  I've been reloading this since RCBS made the first dies and it's been a major PTA.
6/7/2005 5:57:44 PM EDT
[#12]
.40 SIGs convert to shoot the 9mm FX round with just a drop in barrel and a feed ramp extension that sits on the frame. Slide, extractor and magazines are the same. The SIG .40 P226 magazine will not hold 9mm rounds though; the feed lips are too wide. A .40 P229 12 round magazine will hold 15 rounds of 9mm, though. A drop-in barrel in 9mm made for a .40 P226 slide should work, when coupled with 9mm magazines.
6/7/2005 6:04:01 PM EDT
[#13]
40 --> 9mm with drop in barrel - YES
9mm --> 40 NO