Sig Caliber Exchange Kits = $$$

[SharpDog]

So, first of all, I just ordered a Sig Caliber Exchange kit in 9mm Legion Rx for (one of) my p229 EDC pistols.

I have been using my S&W M&P Pro's on the range and really like the Trij RMR's I have on them.

However,

And this is not the first or even the third Caliber Exchange Kit I have bought from sig,

The PRICES ARE OUTRAGEOUS

While, I am truly excited to get this on my sig. I will be cringing for quite a while paying down the credit card

 

[ATLDave]

So you've bought at least 4 of these kits despite the "outrageous" prices?

 

[SharpDog]

So you've bought at least 4 of these kits despite the "outrageous" prices?

yes. My first was a 9mm conversion for the Classic .22LR p226 which actually cost less in combination than getting a p226 in 9mm.

The next two were to convert my two p229's from .357 sig / .40 to 9mm

and this last one is to get the RX optic on one of those two EDCs.

Each one is less than acquiring a new pistol but not by as much as I would like.

And my OCD (CDO) is telling me to do the other EDC as well. I would if the price were not so high

 

[Zerodefect]

Had to make the same decision with Glock, convert, or buy another pistol.

I chose another complete pistol.

 

[ATLDave]

Sharp', I'm actually pretty sympathetic. I'm about to get set up to start shooting a new equipment division in USPSA. I could just stick a new upper on my existing gamer gun frame (and throw on an optic), but I'm pretty sure I'm going to have a new gun built. The cost difference isn't that great, and not concentrating all the wear on one frame seems like the prudent thing to me. At least if one goes down entirely, I can switch to the other.

 

[ATLDave]

Had to make the same decision with Glock, convert, or buy another pistol.

Jeez, at Glock prices, that doesn't seem like that bitter a pill to swallow!

 

[JR24]

I thought about buying one for my 226.

Then realized I could get a whole new 226 in that caliber (well, a trade in) for the same price or less.

 

[SharpDog]

I thought about buying one for my 226.

Then realized I could get a whole new 226 in that caliber (well, a trade in) for the same price or less.

My p229's are perfectly broken in or that may be an option. And I mean like super smooth triggers / actions. I don't have any other pistols or revolvers that shoot like these.

 

[pblanc]

I agree with you entirely. Both the SIG caliber X-change kits and magazines in general are way too expensive. I did buy a caliber X-change kit for my SIG P229s because I had a 25% discount coupon from getting a P320 "upgraded". That brought the price of the kit down to a little over $300. But there is no way that I could have touched a decent SIG P229 in 9 mm for that price. There is no way that I would purchase a caliber X-change kit for a P320, however.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

So... Most P320 X-Change kits go for $399... Has anyone priced out what a barrel, slide, magazine and night sights would go for if you parted it out? I'm guessing that a barrel would run you a buck seventy five to two bills and a blank slide would run you two to two and a quarter.

Which means you are getting the grip frame, magazine, night sights and recoil spring/rod assembly for free.

They aren't cheap, but they are a pretty good deal considering everything you get with them.

 

[SharpDog]

So... Most P320 X-Change kits go for $399... Has anyone priced out what a barrel, slide, magazine and night sights would go for if you parted it out? I'm guessing that a barrel would run you a buck seventy five to two bills and a blank slide would run you two to two and a quarter.

Which means you are getting the grip frame, magazine, night sights and recoil spring/rod assembly for free.

They aren't cheap, but they are a pretty good deal considering everything you get with them.

The Caliber XChange kits for the p22x series start at $589 for the RX optics. It might be a good deal if I needed every part of the kit but I really only needed the slide. The Optic is OK but I would prefer a Trijicon RMR (no batteries).

 

[Tallball]

Are they only available from Sig?

I got a Lone Wolf 9mm barrel and mag for my Glock 22 for a grand total of $126 shipped.

 

[Casefull]

I just picked up a sig 229, 40 cal with trijicon nite sights for $ 399. Used police obviously. It shoots great. Already broke in.

 

[JR24]

My p229's are perfectly broken in or that may be an option. And I mean like super smooth triggers / actions. I don't have any other pistols or revolvers that shoot like these.

Right. But you can still use the slide from the new gun and your broken in lower.

You just get the option of another whole gun if you want it.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

The Caliber XChange kits for the p22x series start at $589 for the RX optics. It might be a good deal if I needed every part of the kit but I really only needed the slide. The Optic is OK but I would prefer a Trijicon RMR (no batteries).

Why wouldn't you just send the slide of to get milled then instead of a full Caliber X Change kit?

 

[Patocazador]

I bought a .357 Sig barrel for my 239 from Midway and saved a lot over what Sig wants. I got extra mags from them too. All the stuff was made by Sig not aftermarket.

 

[SharpDog]

Why wouldn't you just send the slide of to get milled then instead of a full Caliber X Change kit?

Well, firstly, I have an unfounded bias against sending out firearms or parts and getting them back. That aside, If I was going to have work done I would want it set up for a Trij RMR and not the Romeo so that probably eliminates Sig and puts me in the hands of a custom gunsmith. All in all, I figured I'd be better off getting the parts from Sig.

BTW, since I made the order I can see that RX slides only are available from Sig for p320 (didn't see any for p22x series). They are still exorbitantly expensive, almost as much as a full caliber xChange kit.

 

[pblanc]

So... Most P320 X-Change kits go for $399... Has anyone priced out what a barrel, slide, magazine and night sights would go for if you parted it out? I'm guessing that a barrel would run you a buck seventy five to two bills and a blank slide would run you two to two and a quarter.

Which means you are getting the grip frame, magazine, night sights and recoil spring/rod assembly for free.

They aren't cheap, but they are a pretty good deal considering everything you get with them.

I have purchased two complete P320s for less than $500 NIB. My full-size P320 chambered in .45 ACP came with SIG Lite night sights and cost just under $500. My compact 9 mm with contrast sights cost about $50 less.

New SIG P320s come with two magazines. Caliber X-change kits come with only one. Obviously, a complete pistol comes with a grip frame, barrel, and recoil spring assembly as well, plus a fire control group, and a hard case to store all of the above in. SIG magazines being as expensive as they are, you might have to add as much as $45 to the cost of that P320 caliber X-change kit if you want a second magazine, which I expect most people will.

Paying around $445 for a P320 caliber X-change kit and a second magazine becomes an unattractive proposition for many, when you can buy a complete new P320 in another caliber for $500, and not have to mess around with switching the FCU back and forth.

 

[ATLDave]

I think a lot of the value of caliber exchange kits is that, because they are not a firearm, many regulatory regimes do not require them to go through the time-and-expense adding processes of obtaining a firearm. For those of us fortunate enough to live in comparatively free places where the marginal hassle of acquiring a new firearm are low, this isn't a big value-add.

For people who live in places where every firearm must be individually licensed or added to a license, or where waiting periods are similar to NFA-item wait periods, or where per-firearm fees/taxes add hundreds of dollars to the cost of any firearm, a caliber exchange kit that costs 90% of the raw cost of the firearm may still be significantly cheaper and easier to get than a whole new firearm.