.40 SIG 229 to 9mm conversion?

[420Stainless]

I've been toying with the idea of getting a low cost plinker/range gun to take advantage of the low 9mm ammo costs. Saw on another thread where it was suggested that a 9mm barrel could be placed into the 229, but I didn't want to threadjack with followup questions there.

Is it as simple as purchasing a 9mm barrel (and probably a recoil spring) for the 229 and dropping it in, or will there likely be some fitting involved? Any other parts required to do the job? If this is any more difficult than a drop in, I'll probably buy a Ruger or used S&W (something under $300) and leave the SIG as is.

 

[justsurvivingincalifornia]

I don't think that a cost effective conversion. How ever try to find a lists of parts (part numbers) for both guns and check how many of the part numbers do not Match.
You might have to change the whole slide assembly as well as the ejector on the frame as well. That would be very expensive.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

I looked into the same idea w/ my Glock a while back. I don't think it is that simple. The breechface (where the base of the round is seated) is completely different for 9mm and .40S&W. Plus I think the extractor wouldn't end up in the right place either. The internal dimensions of the slide might be different too. For Glocks you have to get a completely new slide and barrel, which costs almost as much as a new gun.

I think a seperate, dedicated 9mm is your best bet.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I think Bar-Sto can make a conversion barrel that make the extractor work and the headspace is adjusted. Breechface issues don't seem to crop up -- although you'd expect they would. EAA's guns have interchangeable 9mm and .40 barrels for the same size frame. Its certainly possible, if someone has done the technical homework.

Bar-Stod does offer this type of conversion with other SIG models. All you have to do is change the barrel (and maybe the mag in some cases).

I have NOT see or heard of this with the 239 model, however. A couple of SIG-owning friends have SIG .40s with .357 and 9mm barrels.

Check with Bar-Sto. Quality barrels -- but they're not cheap.

 

[antsi]

Check over on SIGforum.com

Lots of guys have done this conversion. SIG does not make a barrel that will do this, but Bar-Sto does. Most people are reporting the gun functions fine with just the barrel swap; some talk about a lighter recoil spring. The mags seem to work fine.

There may be some less-than-optimal fits for the extractor, breechface, etc., so I would switch back to the correct factory caliber for carry/defense.

But for range use, the conversion barrel seems to please a lot of folks.

PS: Please note the story is different if you are changing between .357 and .40 - in this case, a SIG factory barrel will work. If the gun is originally a 9mm, you can't do conversion barrels. Comments above apply only to a 357/40 original gun, converting it to shoot 9mm.

 

[420Stainless]

Thanks for the replies so far. It didn't seem likely that it would function well using the slide of the .40, but the impression I've had in reading some posts was that it is possible to get reasonable function. It sounds like it may very well be possible. I'll go check the SIG forum (don't know why I didn't think to do that in the first place) and do a little more digging. It is not something I'll try even if there is only a little doubt that it will be safe for me or the pistol. And I would definitely return to the .40 configuration for HD.

I don't use the SIG for carry (I have a personal preference for the commander in that role). It is, however, the only weapon I have with night sights and is always at the ready for home defense.