Does anyone mfg a .22 Cal that can be (factory!) upgraded to 9mm?

[BoozeBaron]

Greetings from London, Vail, CO and Auckland, New Zealand . Total forum noobie here... and whilst I’m not new to firearms (raised on a dairy farm in Minnesota before I “went corporate”) As a kid we had all kinds of rifles, shotguns and a few revolvers to play with but mostly rifles to take out coyotes in TX when I lived on a ranch their during the summers in my college dAzE. I didn’t get into serious handguns until my work required me to carry (concealed) as we had highly confidential IP materials on or near me and my company vehicle that was kinda like the handcuff and briefcase routine as I’d meet w/ top level clients. I got my training in Massachusetts of all states and a great Marine/trooper was my personal trainer (I still think he was a SEAL or Ranger) - I mean I’m in between ages for military duty so whilst I know the divisions and such for each branch of the military and know if he was a Marine then obviously those aren’t possible positions- But he’d just say stuff at times that made me think he was. Wow. Talk about off topic and a massive tangent!!

Anyway. I listed the 3 areas I now live and work at and sadly last year had to empty out my Gun Safe in one country and ship everything I owned (of sentimental value) or that was worth going thru the hassle of shipping (some nice Sig’s and one new STI) as the country in question wasn’t paying enough during their buy back. Obviously everyone knows what I’m talking about but don’t wanna say it publicly for obvious reasons. But I’m AM curious as a non-Glock guy (current S/A pistols are Beretta, Ruger, S&W, CZ, Sig and have a HK on order (now, on back order). Just never liked the look or feel of Glocks and know everyone else loves them but are just not my cup of tea. That said. Am looking for a semi automatic .22 that can be upgraded at the factory level to 9mm. (Like Glock has their internal guts registered and stamped etc) and think they may offer one? But rather go w/ Beretta or Sig if possible. For those in the know, you know why I’m asking. Not saying it’d be there forever. Not even saying I’d do the swap. Just saying should the wheels ever fall off during the “zombie apocalypse” I’d like to have the option to have a bit more umph than a .22. You feel me? The reason I like Beretta’s is they make theirs “heavy” then step down (e.g. I have a .40S&W APX full size which is MADE for the .40 cal but can be stepped down w/ a factory kit to 9mm. (vs other mfg’s that put a .40 cal on a 9mm frame and it gets a bit sketchy. But easy to swap guts out back to a 9mm where is meant to be anyway) I just dont want to have any concerns over something blowing up in my face. I’d like to think Glocks are made the same. Their .22 is built on a 9mm frame? (That’s a question not a statement) for as already said; I’m more of a rifle guy and only been into pistols (again) for 18 months now. Not into LR and just wanna keep things minimal... I need an education please if anyone can guide me here? I’d appreciate any positive suggestions. Cheers. BB

 

[Ks5shooter]

I believe Sig did,but you cant find the upper assembly anywhere.

 

[UncleEd]

Beretta 92FS 9mm with a .22 kit
that includes slide, barrel and
magazine.

$340 direct from Beretta USA

 

[SimonRL]

I thought Sig did this withe the 226, but the kit is hard to find and beaucoup bucks.

 

[BreechFace]

CZ Kadet in .22 (if you can find one) and then a CZ 75b?

 

[OcelotZ3]

There are a number of 9mm handguns that have 22lr conversion units available.

 

[wiscoaster]

Welcome to the forum Minnesota native and World citizen!! I was also raised in Minnesota (SW corner small town).

 

[drband]

Sig P938 can be purchased as a .22 or 9mm and the corresponding slide added later. 1911s can all have a .22 conversation added I believe, 9mm models included.

 

[SharpDog]

I have done that with a Sig Classic p226 in .22lr. Buying the pistol and the exchange kit is / was cheaper than buying the p226 in 9mm to start. IDK if it is still offered or what the prices are but it is the same gun. Identical to a p226 in 9mm after upgrading (I have several / many)

https://sigsauerguns.com/229r-22blk-adjustable-dasa.html

 

[PO2Hammer]

For 1911s most conversions work only with 45 cal pistols. Some exceptions like Marvel and Nelson which work on 9mms.
The 9mm 1911 with Nelson 22 conversion would be my bet for a best accuracy setup and one that will work with target velocity ammo.
Many conversions need hot ammo to work.

 

[aarondhgraham]

Lots of kits to convert a centerfire to a rimfire,,,
But these are the only guns I know of that start as a .22 rimfire and then get converted to centerfire.

Sig: SIG P220 in .45 & P220 Classic 22 in .22 LR.



Sig: SIG P226 in .357 Sig /.40S&W & P226 Classic 22 in .22LR


Sig: SIG P229 in 9mm/.357 Sig/.40 S&W & P229 Classic 22 in .22 LR.


There is an interesting thing about these .22 Sigs,,,


Sig sells the SIG SAUER X-CHANGE Kit™ conversion kit for all three of the Classic 22's,,,


That kit converts the .22 pistol up to shoot the appropriate centerfire cartridges.

A bunch of years ago on another forum,,,
Several members and I compiled a list of guns,,,
That either had an exact or near exact rimfire counterpart,,,
Or had a factory or an aftermarket kit to convert centerfire to rimfire.

Sig Sauer had the only kits to go the opposite direction,,,
This is copied from a document that's at least seven years old.

I have no idea whether they are still available,,,
But a quick visit to the Sig Sauer website will tell you.

Hope this helps.

Aarond

.

 

[Havok7416]

Years ago I bought an EAA Witness. It came with both .45 ACP and .22 LR "upper" assemblies. The price was right at $550 at the time. I want to say it came with the .22 upper installed but I can't remember. Not sure that it matters in any event.

 

[MAKster]

Buy a Glock 9mm and an Advantage Arms 22lr conversion kit.

 

[toivo]

Sig P938 can be purchased as a .22 or 9mm and the corresponding slide added later. 1911s can all have a .22 conversation added I believe, 9mm models included.

The .22 conversion appears to be out of production. I purchased mine as a .22, and when I tried to buy the 9mm upper from SIG, they insisted that I send in the pistol so that they could "install" it for me. Huh? OK, it was on their dime, so I played along, but I "installed" it myself dozens of times once I got it back. That's what conversion kits are for. Maybe they were just trying to foil resellers or something.

 

[drband]

The .22 conversion appears to be out of production. I purchased mine as a .22, and when I tried to buy the 9mm upper from SIG, they insisted that I send in the pistol so that they could "install" it for me. Huh? OK, it was on their dime, so I played along, but I "installed" it myself dozens of times once I got it back. That's what conversion kits are for. Maybe they were just trying to foil resellers or something.

That’s pretty strange.

 

[CapnMac]

Greetings to THR.
Usually the conversion is expressed the other way--from, say, a 9mm "down" to a .22LR

One, generally, cannot take an inexpensive .22 pistol and "bump" it up to a larger centerfire caliber.

Now, there are no end of compact pistols in larger calibers that are the size of a small .22--now, few of those have inexpensive prices. Fewer of the compacts have .22 conversions, too.

That's not a failing of the gun makers, it's more of an artifact of how 9x19 went from an inexpensive caliber to being very hard to find. This scarcity is unlikely to last--so there's not much reason for SIG or HK or any of the other makers of the "micros" to tool up a .22 conversion.

 

[toivo]

That’s pretty strange.

That's what I thought. Maybe there was limited stock and they wanted to be sure that the conversion kits went to the people who actually own the pistol, and not to speculators.

 

[drband]

Well, I guess I’m lucky to have gotten my .22 conversion for my P938 when I did!

 

[Thunderchicken]

I had a Witness in 9mm and .22. You could probably find one on the used market. It worked okay—I had the idea I could train with .22 for a lower price, but I found that a dedicated .22 was just nicer to shoot, and the experience was different enough with the center fire that I didn’t get the big training benefit I’d hoped for.