Sig P210 and MAC 1935A

[batjka]

I really like the looks of Sig P210, but the prices on these are way out of reach. French Mle 1935A is the design that P210 is based on, but it's chambered in .32 French Long. Is it possible to convert 1935A to 9mm using a 9mm barrel and mag? Sort of like they use to convert 7.62 TT into a 9mm Luger?

Just a thought for creating a quasi-P210 for a fraction of the cost (and a fraction of quality).

Any opinions are appreciated.

 

[Jim Watson]

I don't think so. Unlike the Tokarev conversion, 7.65 French is a straight case and there does not appear to be enough room in the gun for a 9mm barrel and magazine. The 1950 French 9mm is mechanically similar but a good deal bigger gun.

Buffalo Arms sells brass for $44/100, probably made by turning the rims off of .32 S&W long.

I have wondered if it would be feasible to bush the chamber for .32 ACP.
Main issues would be feeding of the semirimmed round and whether it would have enough recoil to function the action.
The guns are no longer cheap enough to experiment on, though.

 

[batjka]

Thank you for your answer. The case diameter for 7.65 French is 8.6mm, for 9mm Para is 9.8mm. There's a 1.2mm difference, but I guess the pressure for 9mm Para is much higher, thus the barrel has to be thicker, not fitting into the slide. Maybe a gunsmith can modify the slide lightly to allow for a thicker barrel to fit? Just hate to kill such a great idea...

 

[Jim Watson]

I think the magazine will be more trouble than the barrel.

By the time you pay a gunsmith to rebuild the 1935, you will have spent enough to buy a P210 or at least a Danish M49 surplus.

 

[batjka]

Well, I've seen P210s and M49s listed for around 3000 on gunbroker. M1935A is about 200-300. You think the modification will run that much?

 

[rcmodel]

Maybe a gunsmith can modify the slide lightly to allow for a thicker barrel to fit?

Wouldn't be prudent!

The 7.65 MAS cartridge fires an 85 grain bullet at 1,120 FPS, giving a muzzle energy of 240 ft-lb. Sort of like a .32 ACP on steroids.
That is all the power the gun was designed for.

Even a modest 9mm Luger load is half again more powerful with heavier bullets, and will produce 350 - 400 ft-pounds energy.

Milling out the slide for a larger chamber would lighten the slide.
And reduce the depth of the locking lugs in the slide and barrel.

But if anything, it would need more slide weight & all the locking lug depth to handle the slide velocity & pressure a 9mm Luger would produce.

Even if you could do it, the 1935 MAS would still be a SIG 210 in appearance only.
You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear!

rc

 

[Jim Watson]

I think it would be quite easy to spend a couple of thousand dollars on the project, if it could be done at all.

Have you got a 1935A to play with?

 

[jyo]

I know SIG P210s are expensive---they were high when I bought mine way back in the late 80s---BUT, they are a joy to own, shoot great and have a very nice ($$$) .22 conversion unit. You DESERVE a REALLY nice gun---don't deny yourself!!

 

[batjka]

) I've been looking at those P210s since I was a kid. This is my dream gun, a real thing of beauty. I like M1935 as well, but it's chambered in such an odd-ball caliber that it's not worth it getting it.

 

[chriske]

IMO rcmodel is right : the French 1935 can't stand 9mm pressure, whatever the modfications .

 

[bannockburn]

batjka

I seem to recall that someone experimented with making an insert for the 7.65 Long barrel that would have allowed them to use .32 ACP ammo in the M1935A. I can't remember exactly but I think at one point, they tried using a section of a steel cased .30 Carbine round for the chamber insert.

 

[Jim Watson]

I thought of that, but the days of sub $100 surplus guns to mess around with are gone. (Unless you like the Czars' and commisars' stuff.)

 

[mjackson]

Batjka, Why fight it? When I pull the slide stop pin on my P210 and point the pistol ever so slightly downward, the slide assembly glides forward like the whole thing rides on bearings. I love watching peoples faces when I do that! The most affordable source of P210's for now is Colorado Gun Sales- cogunsales.com. Their cheapest pistol is a shade under $2000. I got my -1 for under 2K from a shop in Ohio, he had the most consistent prices for P210's for at least 5 years straight. That's unheard of with these pistols. You will only cry once for buying a Sig P210.