XR750

I am wanting to Buy a P226, but I can' decide between 9MM or .40 S&W I want both but I can't afford two (2) Pistols now. So I was wondering if I could change a 9MM to a .40S&W by changing Barrels recoil springs & magazine?

I am betting someone here knows the answer.

XR750

lvgolfer962

Id call sig to verify that the frame is the same on both models



http://www.sigsauer.com/SigStore/cen...e-kit-387.aspx

Caliber.666

Yes.

SIG actually makes kits for this.



-Wes

XR750

Thank you very much.

XR750

XR750

Thank you much for the info.

XR750

XR750

Those kits look cool, thank you much for the info.

XR750

Those kits look cool,

Reliable

I would recommend calling Sig with this question before you buy.







From what I read, the xchange kits only apply if you are starting with the 22 Classic pistols as a base frame



Historically with the classic series if you start with a 9mm it will forever be a 9mm, no changes in caliber.

If one starts with a 40S&W you can get a drop in barrel to switch to 357Sig or can purchase a conversion barrel to be able to shoot 9mm. Conversion barrels are not available from Sig but can be had from companies such as BarSto. I do not believe that the xchange kits would apply to a 226 originally set up as a 9mm.







To be safe, I would start with the 40S&W and get a BarSto conversion barrel if you want 9mm. I have read of some frame rail wear and damage as a result of switching between .22 and centerfire slides. I have no personal experience to back this up just wanted to mention that I have read mixed reviews with switching between rim and centerfire.





I have been using a BarSto 9mm conversion barrel in my 226 Equinox for a number of years with no issues at all. Although it is said that you can use the 40 mags for 9mm, my experience has not agreed. I purchased 9mm 226 mags for use with the BarSto bbl.

lateck

Buy the 40. You can get a SIG barrel to go to 357SIG and Barsto makes a 9mm barrel.



I have read about four different stories and the X-Change kits... A couple yes and a couple no!...

But in the 40 it's just the barrel and magazines for the 9mm and just the barrel for the 357/40 (Same mags).





Lateck,

dondavis3

I'd do what Lateck said.



I bought a Sig P229 in .40 cal



Bought a Bar-Sto 9mm barrel and it works great.



Bought a .22 kit & it works great.



So it's 3 guns in one

lateck

Here's an up-date for any one how might care:

Over the weekend I got a New Simi-custom Bar-Sto 9mm barrel and had my local gunsmith fit it to my P226 (.40S&W) and today I ran 50 flawless rounds through it







So, now I do have a 3 caliber SIG P226 (I'll make it 4 later this year with the .22 kit) .40S&W, 357SIG & 9mm.... So this way you CAN have a Multi-Caliber 226







Lateck,



08/21/11 added photo.

dondavis3

If you buy a Sig P226 in .40 cal - it can be converted to a 9mm using a Bar-Sto 9mm barrel.



I've done it to my Sig P226 X5











And on my Sig P229











Great guns both of them.



Very slight "fitting" needed on the P229 barrel.



I never shoot .40 cal through them any more.

GreyCoupe

The answer to the original question is nope.



You can go down in caliber from the original frame/slide, not up. So .40 to .357, for example. All you need do is drop in the .357 barrel. The same .40 magazine even handles both cartridges. I know about these, dunno about .40 to 9mm.



I would think that if a 9mm set up could be made to work on a .40 frame, that both a new slide/barrel combination and magazine would be required.

GoingQuiet

No, because the 9mm breech face is cut for a 9mm cartridge.

spartan17223137

To best answer/ clarify/ verify all THREE comments, I would ask "littlebob" from this Thread:



http://www.sigtalk.net/index.php?/to...-p226-tac-ops/





He seems to have everything figured out lol

spartan17223137

HeyDondavis,







I amalso Very interested in an X5 Allround. I was deciding between 9mm or .40, butit would appear that you have found the answers I was looking for. The onlyquestion i have is the fact that the X5s obviously comes with a slightly longerbarrel than the regular 226--- Am i safe to assume that not ONLY was theconverted barrel 5', but the Slide is completely separate (tailored for 9mm) aswell? Hence giving you 2 different slide setup with 2 differentCalibers....sorry if im not making any sense lol

Caliber.666

I'd like a .40cal. kit for my 9mm. P226 TacOps as well.... I'm gonna call SIG and see what they say...

spartan17223137

Excellent! I was going to call them during my Lunch hour. Let me know what they say ...thanks!

Sig Marine

When 226 lowers are made, there is no caliber recognition or designation to the frame. The frames are identical - whether it ends up as a .40/.357 or 9mm. Much of what has been posted above is accurate. You can buy a .40 and drop a .357 barrel into the slide, and visa-versa, and you're good to go. The outside diameters of the two barrels are the same and therefore will work in your particular .40/.357 slide.



The outside diameter of the 9mm barrel, however, is smaller than that of a .40/.357 barrel and therefore the barrel opening on the slide is smaller. That is why you cannot drop a larger .40/.357 barrel into a slide designated for a smaller outside diameter 9mm. Bar-Sto makes 9mm barrels that are over-sized and made with the same outside diameter of the .40/.357, that is why they can be dropped in into a .40/.357 slide. So, if wanting to change only the barrel to have various calibers, buy a .40 or .357 and get a drop-in 9mm barrel.



While this sounds to be the optimum solution, it can have drawbacks. You have to first have a .40/.357 and then purchase a 9mm barrel from Bar-Sto. Then, it's possible that when using a drop-in barrel, the POA/POI will not be in agreement with that the original barrel. There is not a solution to this. Sight will be left/adjusted for one or the other and Kentucky windage will have to suffice for the remaining barrel in your slide. And while using a drop-in barrel MIGHT not cause sighting problems - it could. This was confirmed when speaking to Bar-Sto about using their conversion/drop-in barrels.



The other is to purchase a conversion kit from Sig. This kit contains a slide, barrel, recoil guide rod and spring, for the caliber you want and allows you to purchase whatever caliber you want initially and then convert it with the slide/barrel combination. It also allows you to adjust your sights on each /slide barrel combination for correct POA/POI so that changing calibers will not have an effect in your sight set-up.



Hope this helps.



Semper Fi...Sig Marine (Certified Sig Armorer)

spartan17223137

Thanks for the info Friend! Always nice to have someone of your skills/ wisdom join in. Keeps us enthusiasts in line lol

arkas13

Thank you Sig Marine!

Hello all! I am new to this forum. A 1911 and, obviously, a 45ACP person (since my mil service). Recently got a Sig 1911 XO (excellent experience so far). Currently looking to the p226 platform, in particularly intrigued by the option to switch between 9 mm and 40SW. I have been looking around the internet for a while on this issue and Sig-Marine's answer has been the most comprehensive one. My feeling (i.e. no armorer's experience but as an enginner) is that the "correct" way to convert 9 mm to 40 and visa versa is to go for the Sig conversion kits; i.e. slide+barrel+spring.
Again, hello to all, and special thanks to Sig Armorer!