Glock 23 barrel question

[maxxwilde]

I just recently aquired my Concealed Carry permit and am thinking of a new gun. With the economy going the way it is my hours are cut at work until the summer so this will likely be the last gun I can afford until I'm full time again this summer and can pick up overtime as well. This is why I'm being so picky on deciding what I'm going to buyLOL
On to the question, please excuse me if it's been asked before elsewhere, couldn't find it.
I've never owned or fired a .40 caliber handgun, but I like the "bigger than 9mm" idea. So if I'm understanding all my research correctly I can buy a Glock 23 in .40 caliber, shoot it for a few monthes and if I don't like it, simply switch out the barrel for a 9mm and have basically, a Glock 19 right?
My other question though is how is the accuracy? Is it as accurate as an out of the box Glock 19, or is it "It'll feed, fire and eject, but not as accurate as if you just got a Glock 19" type deal?
All opinions would be very helpfull!


M

 

[REAPER4206969]

To just fire 9mm in your 23 you need an aftermarket conversion barrel and a Glock 19 magazine. If you want a full 9mm conversion you also need a 9mm extractor/spring loaded bearing and trigger mechanism housing. To shoot .357SIG all you need is a factory model 32 barrel and you have a 100% model 32 with 23 markings.

 

[maxxwilde]

To just fire 9mm in your 23 you need an aftermarket conversion barrel and a Glock 19 magazine. If you want a full 9mm conversion you also need a 9mm extractor/spring loaded bearing and trigger mechanism housing. To shoot .357SIG all you need is a factory model 32 barrel and you have a 100% model 32 with 23 markings.

Kool, thank you, I hadnt heard that last part about the "full" conversion before. So whats the difference between "just firing 9mm" and the full conversion? Is the full conversion more reliable? Is shooting just the 9mm barrel and mag prone to problems? This will eventually end up as a carry gun so reliability is important.....
Oh and Merry Christmas!


M

 

[Dr_2_B]

Yeah, that's good information. And as far as I know, he's right. But do check the Glock forums too to be sure.

 

[groundhog34]

I would NEVER convert calibers on a carry gun too risky to bet my life on but to fire 9mm from a 23 all you need is a barrel and magazine. To FULLY convert the extractor and springs and MAYBE some other parts need to be changed. That said I have a 23 and it's little cousin the 19 there is not a lot of difference in recoil. The main advantage of the 9mm is ammo cost.

 

[maxxwilde]

Dr 2 B said:

Yeah, that's good information. And as far as I know, he's right. But do check the Glock forums too to be sure.

Funny I never even thou8ght about the Glock forum's LOL I'll check there as well. I'm sure they probably know something about Glocks, heh.


M

 

[maxxwilde]

groundhog34 said:

I would NEVER convert calibers on a carry gun too risky to bet my life on but to fire 9mm from a 23 all you need is a barrel and magazine. To FULLY convert the extractor and springs and MAYBE some other parts need to be changed. That said I have a 23 and it's little cousin the 19 there is not a lot of difference in recoil. The main advantage of the 9mm is ammo cost.

You know, I'm kinda starting to lean that direction myself. It's turning out to not be as simple as I'd originally thought. And I'm glad I asked here.
My main hangup with .40 is I've never fired it, in ANY gun. And a lot of what I'm hearing is that it has kind of a "snappy" recoil. Now, I have a few .45's and I love 'em, but for concealed carry I prefer 9mm just because I can deliver follow up shots faster. I know thats partly training and practice, though. Oh well thats off the subject anyway and I'm not trying to turn this into another caliber warLOL I think that's been done once or twice heh.


M

 

[Oro]

Maxxwilde, the recoil of a .40 is not much different than a .45acp. It's certainly no worse. Don't let that concern you.

Many 23's will be stone reliable with just a barrel change. Even the .40 magazines run fine with 9mm. You have to just put the barrel in your gun and go see how it behaves. If you then need to swap the other parts and get dedicated 19 magazines. My 23 worked 100% with only the barrel change. But the point is to just plink and play with the 9mm, then carry .40 S&W. That would be your ideal plan.