Switching barrels on a Glock

[Charley C]

I recently read an article in a gun magazine that stated you could use a 9mm barrel and a .357 Sig Barrel on a Glock 35; Also that you could buy a complete .22 LR Kit for it.

On a trip to a local gun store I was told that this is not true.

Also, the store did have several .22 LR Kits available, but they can only be used with a Gen 3 model and NOT with a Gen 4. (because of the difference in the recoil spring on the two models. ) I examined the the kit and it appears to be quite well made, however it's NOT made by Glock.

I then sent an email to Glock Customer Support, and they replied that it was not possible to interchange barrels between different calibers of Glocks;

So far I have not been able to find the magazine article or I would attempt to contact the author of that article.

When I ran across this forum I noticed a whole thread about firing more than one caliber ammo with the same pistol, and there was also some mention of using .22 LR kits in the thread. Apparently there are more than one company making .22 LR kits for pistols.

I had intended to buy a Glock 35 (.40 cal) and also a 9mm barrel for it.

Now I'm thinking that I'll probably buy a G 34 (9mm) instead, but I definitely want the improvements that the Newer Gen 4 models offer

 

[ugaarguy]

I recently read an article in a gun magazine that stated you could use a 9mm barrel and a .357 Sig Barrel on a Glock 35; Also that you could buy a complete .22 LR Kit for it.

Advantage Arms, Tactical Solutions, and probably a few others, do offer .22 LR conversion kits for Glock GEN 4 pistols. No, Glock doesn't make a factory .22 LR conversion, and very few other pistol manufacturers do either. It's a niche market that most manufacturers have chosen to let be served by the aftermarket.

You can run a 9mm bbl in a .40 S&W Glock, but not a factory Glock 9mm bbl. You'll need a 9mm conversion bbl that has the larger outer diameter to match the .40 S&W and .357 SIG factory bbl outer diameter. Most shooters report no problems, but some folks even swap to a factory 9mm extractor for maximum reliability.

Unless Glock has made some change I'm not aware of (and that's entirely possible) the Gen 4 factory .357 SIG bbls should have the same outer dimensions as the .40 S&W bbls.

Glock, and most other manufacturers, don't endorse using aftermarket conversion bbls, even though they typically work just as well as the factory parts.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Lone Wolf offers numerous barrel swaps. Just about the only thing you can't do well is run a 9mm on a large frame glock (20 or 21) due to slide weight. I run .40 (even use the factory 10mm mags) but I have some trouble running some .40 well with the additional weight of a silencer.

Right now there is much better after-market support for G2 and G3 Glocks than G4.

Mike

 

[SDGlock23]

Whoever said you can't is wrong, simple as that.

Lone Wolf, KKM, Storm Lake, etc. all make conversion barrels for the .40 Glocks. Understand that you can buy a 9mm conversion barrel for the 35 to essentially make it a 34, I've done it and many others have too. You're not supposed to use a 9mm barrel, say a 34 barrel in a 35, you have to get the G35 9mm conversion barrel.

For the 357 Sig while you are converting it to .357 Sig with a barrel swap, it's not a conversion barrel, since the 357 SIg and .40 are nearly identical except for the 357 Sig being bottlenecked down to 9mm. This means you can use a G32 barrel in a G23, I did so for a long time.

Also, in case some didn't realize, there is no difference in Gen4 barrels vs. Gen3 barrels, so you don't have to look for Gen4 specific barrels, all Glock barrels will fit Gen4.

The bottom line is this, if it wasn't legit then you wouldn't have Lone Wolf, KKM, Storm Lake, etc. wasting their time and money selling these products.

 

[Jim Watson]

Agree with the mechanics, but I don't understand the yen to buy big and shoot small.
Except for .22, of course.

 

[herrwalther]

Agree with the mechanics, but I don't understand the yen to buy big and shoot small.
Except for .22, of course.

Ammo availability, cheaper, consistent manual of arms. Take your pick. Plenty of manufactures are toying with the idea of modular pistol designs like the Sig 250/320 and the X-Five. Glock never outright endorses caliber conversions but they sure do make it convenient to with similar parts across models and calibers. My favorite firearm is a P99 and if the parts existed to shoot 9mm and .22 through it, I would pick those up and eat Ramen for a few years if I had to.

 

[wally]

Agree with the mechanics, but I don't understand the yen to buy big and shoot small.

Consider 9mm vs. 40S&W, about $11/50 vs $16/50 in practice ammo costs. Its nice that you also get the same trigger with both when using a conversion barrel. Needing 9mm mags ups the cost a bit but if you shoot a box a week you'll have recouped your barrel and mag expenses in less than a year with ammo cost savings.

 

[Teachu2]

My G23s both work fine with a LW 9mm conversion barrel and a LW .357Sig barrel, both using stock factory .40 S&W magazines. They are all 10-round mags (I'm in CA) but the G23 mags will hold a dozen 9mm rounds....

 

[Jim Watson]

I am a handloader, the difference in my ammo costs is trivial.

I have determined that Murphy's Law will insure that whichever caliber you want to shoot today is NOT the caliber the gun is set up for today.

 

[psyopspec]

Since it hasn't been mentioned here, I'll also throw out that if you ever intend to use the firearm in a defensive role, it would be wise to make one more change in addition to the magazines, barrel, and extractor. The ejectors from 9mm .40 are also distinct, and can impact reliability.

 

[RustyShackelford]

FWIW....

In Lenny Magill's Glock part videos; www.glockstore.com he states you do not need to change the extractors or springs when you switch barrels in the Glocks. This is with the special conversion barrels too.
The confusion(both with poorly trained gun shop staff & a few new Glock owners) is that the factory barrels & conversion barrels(Storm Lake, LoneWolf) are not the same. They are different designs.
The exception can be using the .357sig barrel in a .40S&W pistol. Pretty much any .40S&W can just use a .357sig(with the proper barrel). Magazines & parts do not need to be converted.

 

[Bamashooter]

FWIW, I have a glock 22 G3 I use a genuine G33 357 sig barrel in that shoots perfectly with no mods using the .40 cal mags as well as a G27 G3 with a Lone Wolf 357 sig barrell with no mods and .40 mags. Both have worked flawlessly with hundreds of rounds.

 

[george burns]

The 23 is about the most commonly swapped out glock

 

[RustyShackelford]

Modular....

Id call the Glock 23 .40 the Ikea of the Glock line.

It's a good pick for a new shooter or CCW holder(who has training/skills with semi-auto models). You can swap barrels, carry different calibers or add white-lights/laser systems.
Most Glock 23s either in gen 03 or gen 04 won't break the bank and they have plenty of good holsters/sights/after market stuff.

I had plans to buy a Glock 23 .40S&W law enforcement trade-in last spring(2014) but the whole idea was cut off due to problems not related to the purchase. A Glock 23 can be toted open carry or concealed and many people shoot them well.

 

[herrwalther]

In Lenny Magill's Glock part videos; www.glockstore.com he states you do not need to change the extractors or springs when you switch barrels in the Glocks. This is with the special conversion barrels too.
The confusion(both with poorly trained gun shop staff & a few new Glock owners) is that the factory barrels & conversion barrels(Storm Lake, LoneWolf) are not the same. They are different designs.
The exception can be using the .357sig barrel in a .40S&W pistol. Pretty much any .40S&W can just use a .357sig(with the proper barrel). Magazines & parts do not need to be converted.

This is all due to the .357Sig being a necked down .40S&W to accept a 9mm bullet. The only part I have ever seen recommend, other than barrel, to replace in a .40 and 357 conversion is a different recoil spring depending on how hot you wanted to shoot in .357Sig. But that was for a Walther conversion, not Glock.

I am a handloader, the difference in my ammo costs is trivial.

Was speaking as a general "you" and not a specific "you" if that makes any sense. Sure being a handloader helps offset the cost of ammo. My reloading set has paid for itself and I only load one rifle cartridge at the moment. But in general, modular pistol designs have those benefits. As for myself I am very interested in the Sig P320 design. If they make it very cost effective, I'd like to have it in everything except .380 and no full size frames. Time will tell though as they are still stuck on the P250 parts, namely the slides, on their website.

 

[agent109]

I would agree that the Glock 23 is the best gun for barrel switching.

 

[Charley C]

First, I wish to thank the following members for your help;
ugaarguy
Arizona Mike
SD Glock23
Jim Watson
herrwalther
Wally
Teachu2
psyopspec
Rusty Shackelfortd
Bamashooter
George Burns
& Agent109

Your advice, information and help are greatly appreciated and have already been of great benefit to me, and because of it, I have learned a lot in a short period of time.

I realize that when knowledgeable people hear what may sound like "kooky ideas" from much less knowledgeable people, they are probably always going to be curious. Jim Watson wondered, "I don't understand the yen to "buy big" and "shoot small"; I've been asking myself that very same question……..and here's my "reasoning";

For starters, I'm a pretty old guy; I'm very fortunate to live in what I consider to be a pretty safe environment. However, unlike a lot of older people, I don't sit around with my head in the sand like an ostrich; I spend much my time keeping track of what's going on in the rest of this country and the rest of the world. I've been an N.R.A. member for probably 20 or 30 years, and the last few years I have contributed regular to N.A G.R., (which I think is doing a lot of good for gun owners. ) I also read Bob Owens very good Blog, "Bearing Arms" every day when I open my email.

Let's face it; regardless of where one lives, there are a LOT of violent criminals running around loose in our country; and they don't always stay in "bad neighborhoods" either! IMO, criminals aren't smart, but they are ALL looking for "easy money" or anything valuable that's "easy to steal", and they're smart enough to know where to find it! In "nice neighborhoods" where everyone HAS money. I live in a very large, almost all rural county; I actually live on 5 acres on a gravel road, just outside of a very small village with only a few dozen "year around" houses. We are very fortunate, (again, IMO ), to have a Sheriff that I consider to be a good friend, and probably the best Sheriff in the whole state of Indiana!. Mike's Sheriff Department is all of the law enforcement that we have in this county; I think they do a great job; the problem is though, it's a 30 to 40 minute drive to get from the Sheriff's Department at the County Seat in Rockville, to where I live. If someone was to break into my home right now, all they would find is one old man (in pretty good shape ), and one old lady who is obliged to use a walker part of the time just to go to the grocery store or get into a restaurant. I'm now well along in "evening up the odds". I intend to make our home an extremely dangerous place to "visit" for anyone with criminal intent!

Thanks to this great website, and now to the members above, I now know that whether I buy a 9mm or a .40 S&W, I'm not going to be "stuck" with that particular caliber. My very first response, (ugaarguy), and after a little googling, I know that magazine writer knew what he was talking about, and with a Lone Wolf conversion barrel, I now know that I can count on being able to "convert" a Glock .40 S&W to fire 9mm. (I'm presently waiting for Lone Wolf to respond to my email to see if I can get a 9mm conversion barrel for the G-35. )

I had a long chat over a year ago with our County Sheriff about this; he advised me that all of his people carry Glock.40 S&W, but I'm not sure which model; (I'm guessing the G 22 or the G 23; ) I have thought a lot about caliber since then, and my reasoning is this; If I buy a .40, then decide to convert it to shoot targets, etc. I can; but if I buy a 9mm model to start, I'm "stuck" at 9mm. Frankly, for all around home protection and security, if the need should ever arise to "take down" a home invader, I would much prefer to do it with a .40 S&W or a 12 gauge that I'm also contemplating.
I have already had a serious need for a large, high quality safe for quite some time now. Many are probably wondering, "why a G 34 or G 35? Here's why; I'm not a LEO, and I'm not a "young person" either; until the last couple of years, my eye sight was pretty good, (with a new "replacement lens" on one side ); now I'm thinking I may be about ready to have the other one replaced; all of you young guys shooting 4 inch barrels……I'm sure they're a little easier to carry and "conceal"; but having those sights 5.3 inches apart instead of 4 inches makes a LOT of difference! Also, the way I dress, In could probably "conceal" a S&W X Frame in .500 Mag with a 6 in barrel without too much trouble! (Or maybe even run around Rural King and Menards in the summer in my shorts and tee shirt with the thing on my hip ), inasmuch as we do have a few "open carriers" around Terre Haute. Seriously, I'm only "into" OC out in the woods or drown by the creek.

Then there's the "need" for the .22 LR conversion kit; I'm sure I would use it myself a lot, but I'm also thinking about this; Advantage Arms says it best:

Why buy an "Advantage Arms" .22LR Conversion Kit?
• It allows you to shoot inexpensive .22 Long Rifle ammunition so that you can shoot longer and more often. (you already knew that)
• Turns your Glock into an ideal pistol for first time shooters (a very good idea, IMO)
• Makes a great tool for teaching women and young adults how to safely shoot a pistol without the intimidation of larger calibers. (Probably the best reason)
• Advantage Arms .22LR kits come with our exclusive "Last Round Lock Open" feature not offered by other manufacturers. ( I didn't know that; I'm glad I do now!)
• Made In The USA (always good to help employ American Citizens, IMO! )

I'll know shortly if A.A. makes a kit for the G 35; but I'm glad to have found out that they ARE already making them for the Gen 4 Glocks

Thanks again, everyone!
Charley C

 

[Catshooter]

CharleyC,

I think your reasoning is sound . . . it agrees with mine.


If Lenny McGill did indeed say you don't need to swap out any parts other than barrels to change calibers in Glocks he should learn that it's foolish to make sweeping statements.

I have a Glock 22 upper that if I install the 9mm conversion barrel without changing out the ejector I get failures to fully eject. Not always, but it happens. When I install a 9mm ejector it works flawlessly.

Never say never.


Cat

 

[RustyShackelford]

Types of rounds....

In Magill's defense;
If you shoot lead, hand-loads, reloads, hot loads(loads with high KE levels or high vel) then yes conversion Glock barrels may have serious problems.
You can't shoot full house loads or powerful bullets out of any semi auto pistol without any wear or damage(over time/use).
Id suggest switching extractors too on a Glock 23/22/35 you constantly want to fire 9x19mm(9mm Luger). The springs would be a issue if you choose to fire hand-loads or hot rounds often.

I think it's important to mention too that gun shop clerks or sporting goods staff want to SELL guns(merchandise). Yes, a well trained "gunner" type employee could explain how Glocks or the new SIG Sauer 320s have modular components(barrels, magazines, fire control systems) that can be quickly converted but some shops would want to sway a new customer to buy separate Glock guns in .40S&W, 9x19mm, .357sig.
Now, in fairness, a gun shop employee could tell a customer who asks that a Glock 23/22/35 couldn't fire anything but a .40S&W and not to attempt to load any other caliber or round. He/she just won't add that this can be done with after market items.

 

[Teachu2]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/17...wist-532-stainless-steel?cm_vc=ProductFinding

Lone Wolf makes the conversion barrel, MidwayUSA has them in stock.