I've heard different things, and my P239 DAO is one of my main carry pistols. If I drop in a Barsto 9mm, I've heard that for the reliability you need in a carry pistol, the ejector needs to be re-alignied by a gunsmith. Is this so? For carry-level reliability, are there other changes needed?

This pistol has had trigger work by Bruce, and it is slick and crisp. I love the gun in every way, except that I would like it to be a 9mm.

I'd appreciate your informed opinions.

I have been shooting one of my 357SIG P239s with a factory threaded barrel (no need for Bar-Srto) and no other changes for several years now



Reliability is 100% with or without the can

Several of our Forum brothers all have had the same experience

I have used a factory 9mm barrel in my P239/40 without issue and so have others here. You have to decide if that is suitable for your requirements, however.

I often will purchase a full 9mm slide to accompany my 40sw original pistol so that I can swap. Or you can just get a conversion barrel.

Just me, but for carry level, I would get a whole 9mm slide and mags. Sure, the breech face is only a little bigger and sure the feed lips and mag springs are close enough and sure the recoil spring probably works and sure people do it all with no problems. If they were completely reliable that way, I think SIG would simplify production and just make a one-size-fits-all. That's just me though. It's like swapping an engine on a car and not matching it with a proper trans. And brakes. And probably suspension.

If you give it a go, just make sure you put a lotta rounds through it to ensure it works for you.

Another option is buying a 9mm one and swapping the trigger parts. Then sell the .40. Or keep it.

quote:

Originally posted by kilyung:
I often will purchase a full 9mm slide to accompany my 40sw original pistol so that I can swap. Or you can just get a conversion barrel.

I called SIG to purchase a new slide (actually, a slide assembly) for my P238, and they said they said that they couldn't sell slide assemblies. Did SIG give you a hard time?

See my post on using the Sig OEM 9mm barrel in a P239 .40. Many of us on the SF have successfully done this:

https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...980041024#5980041024

I have my own viewpoint on "carry-level reliability". My P239 .40 with the Sig OEM 9mm barrel, .40 slide and RS is 100% reliable. Is a true .40-9mm conversion (Bar-Sto) going to be MORE reliable than 100%?

I'm not knocking the opinion that other changes should be made to make the owner feel comfortable for carry use. However, whether it's a conversion or original configuration, the primary issue is whether it's reliable or not. Hell, a lot of unmodified quality guns sometimes don't function 100% reliably. It's the owner's responsibility to shoot any carry gun enough to have confidence in it.

Note that with a Bar-Sto semi-fit 9mm conversion barrel, the chances of a proper fit are 70%. My understanding is that it is fairly easy to fit it yourself, if necessary.

http://www.barsto.com/FAQs.cfm

I purchased at Bar Sto conversion barrel and had it fit by a gunsmith. It's been 100% reliable for around 2000 rounds. The only problem has been all the bullets tend to go through the same hole in the target. Damn fine shooting gun!

I did not try to purchase a new slide.

What I might do, is take the 239 out of the carry line up (which consists of the 226 Legion, 9mm, and my Glock 17) and see how it performs at the range with a 9mm dropped in. If it is fine for a couple of thousand rounds-- as some above have said is true of their conversions-- I will have confidence in it. As Nipper said, above, any gun can at some time not function perfectly.

Sig 9mm barrel is $189 from Sig. Bar-Sto conversion is $225. To me, the price difference is not really significant. Which should I go with, Sig or Bar-Sto?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: justjoe,

quote:

Originally posted by Nipper:
Note that with a Bar-Sto semi-fit 9mm conversion barrel, the chances of a proper fit are 70%. My understanding is that it is fairly easy to fit it yourself, if necessary.

http://www.barsto.com/FAQs.cfm

You misunderstand the situation when a Bar-Sto conversion barrel needs fitting:

"If you cannot get the slide assembly locked up on the frame then we recommend you either send it to us or take it to an experienced gunsmith. You will need to send the whole pistol for fitting if you send it to us. We ask for a fitting fee of $65 and the return shipping of $60.00 to $85.00 approx. for the complete pistol. When shipping anything to Bar-Sto, please include all your contact information and a note stating what you would like done.

REMEMBER WE WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE TO THE BARREL BY SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE OF IMPROPER FITTING OR MACHINING! YOUR BARREL IS EXPENSIVE, BE SURE YOUR GUNSMITH IS FULLY QUALIFIED OR SEND IT TO US. ANY WARRANTY WILL BE VOIDED IF MACHINED ON OR DAMAGE BY SOMEONE ELSE OTHER THAN OUR COMPANY!"

I've owned a Bar-Sto P239 .357 SIG - > 9mm conversion barrel that won't fit for over 10 years not knowing what to do with it, while a factory 9mm barrel works perfectly in my .357 SIG P239 using a lighter spring. It would cost as much as the barrel cost to send it back to have it fitted. How I can I sell it for anything over scrap metal value? "NOS .357 SIG - > 9mm Bar-Sto conversion barrel! After $150 in shipping and fitting fees will likely work as well as a factory SIG P239 9mm barrel! Bids start at postage and handling." (That's a joke, not a solicitation.)