P226 question

[Cpl_Peters]

I have a P226R in .40

I know i can switch out the barrel to a .357 sig and use the same magsbut my question is would it be possible to switch out with a 9mm barrel? I know i would have to get new mags (actually the .40 mags hold 9mm and i am told will function). But would it work? I know someone who said he did this to his glock 22.

If it is just a simple as changing out the barrel then it might not be a bad investment to shoot the cheaper 9mm.

[QuarterBoreGunner]

Nope; not gonna work. Since the .357 Sig is just a .40 necked down to .357 (or so) the breech face; extractor and ejector are the same between the two calibers. This allows you to do the barrel switch and shoot one or the other.

Since 9mm is a smaller case it requires a whole new top end; different breech face/extractor/ejector.

So no cake and eat it too for you!

[homerm14]

Yes you can. Check www.barsto.com.

[Sig226]

homerm14 is correct. You can infact shoot 9mm out of your .40/.357sig frame and slide. However, you CANNOT buy the SigArms barrel.

The barsto barrel is the way to go. You also *may* need to get a different strength main spring if you are shooting crappy/target 9mm.


Taken from the ALL Mighty SigForum FAQ: (Own a Sig? READ it! )

"

The .40S&W barrel and the .357SIG barrel are interchangeable for the same model of gun (e.g. P226 .40S&W and P226 .357SIG, or P229 .40S&W and P229 .357SIG, etc.). You may use the same springs AND magazines (same case width as the .357SIG is a necked-down version of the .40 case). It's like having two-guns-in-one! Just know that your POA/POI ("Point Of Aim"/"Point Of Impact") might rise or drop a tad when switching to the other barrel if the pistol is zero'd for the first barrel, due to the differences in the ballistics between the .40S&W and .357SIG.

You can convert a .40/.357Sig pistol down to a 9mm barrel, but you CANNOT convert a 9mm pistol up to .40/.357SIG.
This has to do with the size of the slide's breechface.
1. You can purchase an aftermarket conversion barrel (like from Bar-Sto, but be prepared for a looooooooooooooooong but worth it wait) which is correctly engineered to fit a 9mm caliber barrel in your .40/.357SIG pistol slide. Bar-Sto makes a drop-in and a semi-drop-in version of their barrels and offers to correctly fit/adjust the barrel for you if you'll send them *just* the slide (not the entire pistol).
2. You need to use 9mm mags when shooting 9mm ammo through your 9mm barrel (the 9mm case is smaller than .40/.357SIG case and will not fit or feed correctly in a magazine made for .40/.357SIG).
3. You should use a recoil spring designed for the pressures of the 9mm (the recoil spring for the .40/.357SIG is a little too strong).


"

ETA: You can have your cake and eat it too! That's WHY I bought this pistol---well that and it being one of the finer combat pistols ever created.

[Cpl_Peters]

thanks guys. I am looking into both options. So let me get this straight. I can either buy the barsto barrel and a 9mm mainspring or buy a the complete upper set from sig (slide, barrel, spring) and it will work? Anything else for either? I found a 9mm slide, barrel , and spring for sale just wonderined if i need anything else. If i new a new slide option is there anything I would need for the grip frame?

Also on the barsto site it says allow 12-14 weeks for delivery, but then some where esle it says 2-4 weeks. Which is correct anyone done business with them before that would know? thanx

[QuarterBoreGunner]

wow. I stand corrected. Apologies!

I'm curious as to how this works; it would still seem to me that the breech face is too wide for the 9mm... I think I need to see this in action.

[Cpl_Peters]

I am looking at an upper on ebay and it is coming with the locking insert. How easy is this to change out or is it even needed?

also what is the difference between the semi drop in and the drop in?

[Sig226]

I can either buy the barsto barrel and a 9mm mainspring or buy a the complete upper set from sig (slide, barrel, spring) and it will work?

Yep.

Anything else for either? I found a 9mm slide, barrel , and spring for sale just wonderined if i need anything else. If i new a new slide option is there anything I would need for the grip frame?

Nope. (Assuming it is a slide for your model)

Also on the barsto site it says allow 12-14 weeks for delivery, but then some where esle it says 2-4 weeks. Which is correct anyone done business with them before that would know? thanx

As the FAQ states--- "be prepared to wait". I believe the 12-14 would be for the "fully fitted" model in which you send you slide in. (Seems to make sense that it would take longer to make "perfect" for each customer)

I should add-- That I personally have not got a Barsto barrel, however I have shot one with this convertion in place. (I have elected to stay out of 9mm for now) I own a .357sig barrel for my 226 (came with a .40) and I LOVE it! No need to go "down". :-P

One point I want to make--- As you shoot this pistol---and others---the metal wears a bit. (Sig smileys are a good example) Once a pistol has worn in with one barrel and is seated properly there is the possibility that a new/different barrel will wear differently thus throwing the tight lockup of the first barrel out the window.

I have shot close to 5k .40 with my 226, and probably about 800 .357sig. I have not noticed a single problem other than .357sig POI being about 2'" higher at 20yds.

So on that note-- You may want to get the slide with 9mm barrel so that both lockups happen independantly, and you KNOW your POI is always where the pistol is zero'd on each slide. It hasn't made any difference as I can tell for me however...

G'luck, and above all enjoy that fine weapon you have there!

Dave

[guimus]

I have a p229 in .40sw and a barsto 9mm barrel to go with it. I've found that my 40 mags will feed 9mm just fine, but I've heard that this isn't always the case. Also, as stated above, the 40 spring is a little too strong for low power 9mm (I shoot winchester white box at the range) and if my hold is anything but perfect and strong, I get an ftf or fte once or twice per mag. I wouldn't use the 9mm barrel for hd purposes w/o swapping out for a properly calibrated spring and lots of testing. I've never had a problem with 40's in hundreds of rounds.

When ordering the barrel, make sure that you get a 40>9 barrel designed to go in a 40 frame, and not a 9-9 barrel designed to replace an existing 9mm barrel.