Glock caliber conversions????

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KI4LIV

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I just read in another thread that a Glock 40 cal can be converted to 9mm with just a mag and barrell swap?

Is this true???

Is there a catch? Or just buy a 9mm Glock factory barrell (same length of course) / mag and drop it in? Or do you have to buy a special aftermarket one?

Would this work as well for the C (compensated) models?

What other caliber conversions can be done as simply as this??
 
GLock 20&22 (10 mm/.40) have same frame as G17, so the calibre changing is made by changing the slide&mag. 45ACP cal Glock has a little different frame.
 
Could this be done with say a Glock 23 and a Glock 19 barrel?

I knew putting a .357sig barrell into a .40 would work - but never knew of other possibilities like this.
 
If the 2 calibres share same frame then it doesn't care which slide is on top of it. G17/G20/G22/G18 are interchangable, compacts should be too. .45 cal Glocks don't take other Glock slides as the frame is a tad different, but 9mm/10mm are interchangable.
 
Glock conversions

Sorry to disagree, but the glock full size break down differently than Medusa claims. The 20 and 21 are identical frames with different slides and barrels.
the 17, and 22 are the same. Glock built the 10mm and 45 on larger platforms with additional parts to reinforce the frames to accept the 700 plus ft lbs of energy generated by the 10MM and used it for the 45 because it was large enough. All glocks in 9mm, 40S&W, 357 Sig are I believe based on the same frame for full size, compact and sub compact and the 10MM and 45 are the same but different than the 9mm groupings.
 
Going from .40 or .357 to 9mm requires a conversion barrel specifically designed to allow the extractor to work properly. You can't go from 9mm to .40 or .357 because the rims are larger, unless you go somewhere like Glockmeister and get a new top-end.

To expand on what Marty said, Glocks have five basic frame sizes (I don't know how the .45 GAP pistols work into this). Large frame is for 10mm (G20) and .45 (G21). You can switch between the two calibers with one frame by swapping out the entire top-end (slide and barrel assembly).

Standard frames are for 9mm (G17, 34, and 17L), .40 (G22, 35, and 24), and .357 (G31). You can swap out top ends, magazines, and/or barrels to switch one frame between all of these models, although certain conversions also require a new ejector. For example, you can convert a Glock 22 to a Glock 17 with either a new top-end, magazines, and a 9mm ejector, or just the conversion barrel, mags, and ejector.

Compact frames are for the 9mm G19, .40 G23, and .357 G31. However, they are not compatible with the compact frames for the G29 10mm or the G30 .45. They are similar in size but not the same. The same rules apply for conversions.

Sub-Compact frames are for the 9mm G26, .40 G27, and .357 G33. The same rules apply for conversions.

On top of that, barrels can be used from larger pistols in their smaller counterparts, as can magazines, so you can put a 4.5" barrel from a Glock 17 into a Glock 19 without a problem, it will just stick out 0.5" from the muzzle. You can also stick a Glock 17 magazine into a Glock 19, but it will not fit flush with the frame.

Furthermore, you can convert a 10mm pistol to .40 with a barrel specifically designed for this, but you can't go the other way without major surgery as the 10mm cartridge is generally too long for 9mm/.40 frames. I've seen it done with a H&K USP, but it wasn't cheap.

Unfortunately, top-end kits from Glockmeister are almost as expensive as a whole pistol, so I personally would just buy another one in the caliber I wanted.
 
Sounds like it's more of a pain in the rear (and Wallet!) than it's worth... Ok guys - thanks for the info! I think if I want both calibers I'll just buy 2 guns and be done with it.
 
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