What is the downside to them? Are they safe for edc? What about accuracy? Any loss of it compared to a stock barrel?

It depends on the brand of barrel, the model of handgun being converted, and the calibers that are being converted. Could you narrow it down a bit?

Accuracy is generally fine. Safety is generally fine.

Reliability can be less than the original caliber, because you're often still utilizing things like the original breechface, extractor, ejector, and recoil spring designed around the different cartridge. Not as big of a concern on calibers that are more closely related (such as .40 and .357 Sig.)


Personally, on something like a Glock 23 for example, I'd likely carry a 40 to 357 conversion (after the usual testing), but a 40 to 9 conversion would probably be a range gun unless the whole slide assembly was swapped.

I have a 9mm BarSto for my .40 cal 239SAS and it's very accurate and runs fine. No issues in the 10 years or so that I've owned it.

Other than adjusting sights and a compatible magazine, haven't heard much go wrong.

Been running Glocks on .38 Super for many years now. The only problem I've had is running out of ammo.

I own more than a "few" conversions barrels, and I like the versatility that they produce. Most are Bar-Sto, but also KKM and a few others.

If they didn't work, I would never have kept doing them.

I have two conversion barrels one for my p239 and p229.

Both Barsto.

They were 9mm semi drop in and had to have minor fittings from a gunsmith to fit.

Other people have had them drop in without fitting.

They run fine no problems at all.

quote:

Originally posted by .38supersig:
Other than adjusting sights and a compatible magazine, haven't heard much go wrong.

Been running Glocks on .38 Super for many years now. The only problem I've had is running out of ammo.

I have to ask, what Glock model have you converted to .38Super> How?

quote:

Originally posted by 357p239:

quote:

Originally posted by .38supersig:
Been running Glocks on .38 Super for many years now. The only problem I've had is running out of ammo.

I have to ask, what Glock model have you converted to .38Super> How?

I started off with a generation 4 model of the Glock 21 and a Burris red dot. I got them when I traded it for about $200 and some Thomas the Tank Engine stuff that my nephew no longer played with. At first, I wanted it to be a 10mm so I bought the 40MOS upper and sold the 21 upper. After that I was able to find a six inch .38 Super barrel that Lone Wolf had made long ago, so I bought it and sold the Glock 10mm barrel. Bought a variety pack of recoil springs to find out which one worked best. The Burris red dot fit the MOS plate #5 (that was hard to find at the time). Total out of pocket was around $350. I could have sold it for twice that about 12 times in the first month I finished it.

My next trick was getting the 38s to feed properly out of a Kriss Vector magazine. It took a bit of head scratching, but they hold about forty rounds. The second one was a lot easier.

My most recent Glock conversion is a Gen2 that now shoots 7.65mm Para.

I've gone 40 to 9 in a G35 and it ran without nary a hiccup suppressed and unsuppressed for over a thousand rounds I'd trust that one. You'd be hard pressed to beat a factory set up for alot of guns though. I think if you are willing to put the time in you can find something that works just fine but after all that ammo in a test, maybe you could have simply bought a new gun.

I have a KKM 10mm conversion barrel for my Glock 41 (45acp). All I did was add G20 mags, and now shoot 10mm out of my pistol. I’ve only shot 300 rounds so far. But 100% reliable. And very accurate.

quote:

I have a 9mm BarSto for my .40 cal 239SAS

I bought a Bar-Sto barrel to convert my P239-40 to a 9mm. The barrel did not fit the gun. Took it to a gunsmith and I'm waiting to get it back. He's having some problems and has consulted someone from Sig. Apparently, the Bar-Sto barrel needs lots of work. Wish Sig would resume it's barrel replacement program!

I have an Alpha Wolf 40 to 9 in my S&W shield..no problems at all. I also have an Alpha Wolf 40 to 9 for my Glock 22 but I haven't shot it yet. I have a good amount of 40 still to shoot. The shield in 40 was just too much, the 9mm really makes it more enjoyable to shoot.

I'm a believer in conversion barrels.