.40 - 9mm conversion

[goings_51]

I've heard that many 9mm can be converted to .40 and vice versa with a change of the barell and magazine.

Is there anything I should know before doing this? Does it void the warranty?

I'm considering this for an XD service model. Links to parts and personal experiences would be most useful.

 

[rde]

An XD service in 40 or 357Sig can be converted to 9mm by simply installing a 9mm conversion barrel made by EFK (something or other). Can usually use the same magazines as well. Soooo..if you bought a Service XD in 40 caliber you could install a 357Sig barrel and a 9mm conversion barrel...3 in 1.

 

[wally]

I'd think you'd have a high probability of extraction problems because of the 1mm difference in the cutouts on the breech face of the slide.

--wally.

 

[rde]

As I understand it the conversion barrel is specifically designed with these type of engineering issues in mind. I use to have an XD Service in 357 Sig and had one of the EFK 9mm conversion barrels...fired about 200 rounds through it this way with no problems of any kind. Well, I was actually shooting more accurately in 9mm...which convinced me that 357 Sig was not for me. Traded of the XD in 357 Sig for something else...but I think I still have the conversion barrel around here somewhere as a matter of fact.

 

[TonyT]

I owned a Dan Wesson Pointman 1911 in 40 S&W. To fire 9mm I had an extra slide fiited along with the barrel.

 

[lee n. field]

've heard that many 9mm can be converted to .40 and vice versa with a change of the barell and magazine.

WRT the XD, my understanding is that you can convert .40 to 9 with a conversion barrel, but not vice versa.

 

[yhtomit]

"WRT the XD, my understanding is that you can convert .40 to 9 with a conversion barrel, but not vice versa."

Huh. I wonder why they'd design it that way! I suppose the .40 is stouter than the 9 needs to be? I have right now lots (for me -- I'm sure trifling for many here) of reloadable .40 brass which of course means I want one day to get a handgun to take advantage of it The idea of an XD (I very much like my XD-45) in .40 with a 9mm conversion barrel sure sounds good -- essentially 3 guns for something close to the cost of three ... better if I can find one or both (of the gun / barrel) used.

timothy

 

[sixgunner455]

Quote:
"WRT the XD, my understanding is that you can convert .40 to 9 with a conversion barrel, but not vice versa."

Huh. I wonder why they'd design it that way!

The guns aren't designed to do that, they just can accomodate the change, but only from .40 to 9mm, not the other way around, because the 9mm slide can't accomodate the larger rim. Also, some 9mm slides might not be able to accomodate a larger barrel, and some of them might not be stout enough to handle the heavier recoil.

The ticket here, for the most flexibility with one slide, would probably be to buy a .40 or .357 SIG caliber pistol, and get a 9mm barrel, and the opposite number of .40 or .357, whichever didn't come with the pistol. Then you would have a pistol which you *should* be able to get running with all three rounds. Any other rounds you want to add, you'd probably need a new slide, too.

H&K used to make a pistol that came in a box with 4 barrels, slides, and appropriate magazines. IIRC, it shot .22 LR, .25 ACP, .32 ACP, and .380 ACP. I know that there are some 9mm pistols out there which came with a second barrel in 7.65 Luger. That would be an interesting barrel to add to a 9mm (or your .40), even though the ammunition isn't very common anymore.

 

[lee n. field]

Here ya go: EFK Firedragon XD barrels.

9mm conversion barrel.

***When a barrel contains the word "conversion", it means these barrels work only in 40SW and .357. They will also convert to 9mm.

You cannot go from a 9mm to a 40SW or 357Sig

 

[M2 Carbine]

I have the 40 S&W conversion for my 9mm Kel Tec P-11.
Works fine but is a hand full.
Kel Tec no longer makes the 40 P-11 or the conversion.

 

[yhtomit]

"The ticket here, for the most flexibility with one slide, would probably be to buy a .40 or .357 SIG caliber pistol, and get a 9mm barrel, and the opposite number of .40 or .357, whichever didn't come with the pistol. Then you would have a pistol which you *should* be able to get running with all three rounds. Any other rounds you want to add, you'd probably need a new slide, too."

Yup -- that sounds like a great idea! I am pleased with my XD-45, and was mulling over adding a 9mm XD to the wishlist, but this thread is making me rethink that a bit, and perhaps add instead an XD in .40, and a conversion barrel.

(Make no mistake: my wishlist is just that. But when I get "free" money -- not often, in my current reality of student debt, but once in a while I end up with a very minor windfall -- I like to dedicate it to things I couldn't otherwise justify putting money toward. Right now, a Cz P-01 and a Saiga-12 are vying to top of the list, but an XD in a different caliber has been on there for a while, too.)

timothy