Can someone tell me more about barrel interchangeability????

[krod47nw]

I understand that certain glock models can be reconfigured to fire a different round by changing the barrel, and in some cases the magazine.  Which models can be changed to which rounds?  After changing the chambering, are they just as good as the glock model of that chambering?  Are there disadvantages to doing this?

Kevin

[HAMMERHEAD]

I had a Glock 20 10mm. I bought a KKM brand conversion barrel for .40. it worked great. The 10mm and .40 are very similar, except for the length of the case.
The Glock 22 .40 can be converted to .357 sig with a Glock 31 barrel or an aftermarket barrel, again using the 22's magazines.
The Glock 22 can be converted to 9mm with an aftermarket conversion barrel and using G-17 mags. The extractor is not perfect for 9mm, but can be swapped with a 9mm extractor if you have problems. You cannot use a G-17 barrel in a G-22, it has to be a conversion barrel. (not available from Glock)
The G-22/9mm conversion is not as good as a G-17, the slide weight, breach face width, the ejector are all a little off for the 9mm, but it useable at the range for reduced recoil/cheaper ammo.
Other .40 and .357 sig Glocks can be converted to 9mm with similar products.
KKM Precision (google it) makes a wide variety of conversion barrels, Lone Wolf Distributing carries many as well.

[krod47nw]

I had a Glock 20 10mm. I bought a KKM brand conversion barrel for .40. it worked great. The 10mm and .40 are very similar, except for the length of the case.
The Glock 22 .40 can be converted to .357 sig with a Glock 31 barrel or an aftermarket barrel, again using the 22's magazines.
The Glock 22 can be converted to 9mm with an aftermarket conversion barrel and using G-17 mags. The extractor is not perfect for 9mm, but can be swapped with a 9mm extractor if you have problems. You cannot use a G-17 barrel in a G-22, it has to be a conversion barrel. (not available from Glock)
The G-22/9mm conversion is not as good as a G-17, the slide weight, breach face width, the ejector are all a little off for the 9mm, but it useable at the range for reduced recoil/cheaper ammo.
Other .40 and .357 sig Glocks can be converted to 9mm with similar products.
KKM Precision (google it) makes a wide variety of conversion barrels, Lone Wolf Distributing carries many as well.

So can a 20 also be converted to 357sig?  Are the 45s at all convertable?  How about the 23?

Thanks,
Kevin

[Savage]

So can a 20 also be converted to 357sig?      Yes
Are the 45s at all convertable?     Sure, 400 Corbon and .45 Super come to mind/
How about the 23?     Same conversions as the mdl 22. 9mm/.357 Sig.

Lone Wolf Distributors make good quality barrels at a great price.
Savage

[krod47nw]

So can a 20 also be converted to 357sig?      Yes
Are the 45s at all convertable?     Sure, 400 Corbon and .45 Super come to mind/
How about the 23?     Same conversions as the mdl 22. 9mm/.357 Sig.

Lone Wolf Distributors make good quality barrels at a great price.
Savage

Savage,

I was hoping to get a response from you, as I had seen you mention these conversions in the past.
I'm just trying to get a handle on this.

So could a 21 be converted to 40 S&W,and/or 357 sig, or is the bolt face too large?

Other than the 22 to 9mm conversion, are the converted guns essentially the same as the factory chambered guns?

For example if I did a 357 conversion on a model 22, is it now essentially a model 31, or are there advantages to just getting a model 31?

Thanks,
Kevin

[Tonk]

Savage the Glock 21 is a 45acp caliber and I just don't see that be interchangable with a .40cal OK. The .40 and the 10mm are similar to the .38spl and the .357 mag in a revolver.

I am one who really doesn't believe in all this interbarrel changing business! I have several Glocks, in several calibers and to me this is the way to go, I don't like the idea of extra barrels laying around etc.

[HAMMERHEAD]

They do make a conversion for the 21 to be converted to 10mm. You swap the barrel (conversion barrel, not a G-20 barrel), magazine and extractor.  The .400 Corbon is based on the .45acp case, so extractor and magazine are fine. I have not seen a G-21 to .40 or .357 sig.

Other than the 22 to 9mm conversion, are the converted guns essentially the same as the factory chambered guns?

No, only the .40 to .357 sig conversions are close. You can swap factory barrels there, but magazines are slightly different between .40 and .357 sig. (most people report either works)
The G-21 has a lighter slide and wider breach face than the G-20, plus the extractors and ejectors are different, but can be swapped.
The G-20 is a much bigger gun then the .40/.357 Sig guns, but the conversions work well because of the common case head dimensions. My G-20 .40 conversion was really nice. Very soft shooting and more accurate than a G-35 I had at the same time.
The conversions are basically for range use, not to be relied on for self defense because of the subtle differences between the models.

[Savage]

Hammerhead pretty well summed it up. The .400 Corbon is an easy conversion for the Glock 21, as it is based on the .45 acp case. Don't know of anyone converting the 21 to cartridges based on the smaller case head of the .40 S&W.  I'm not totally ruling it out, it might be possible to make it work with an extractor change.
To answer krod47nw's other question: The mdl 22 and the 31 are virtually identical other than the barrel and roll marks on the slide. IMO there is no advantage to having one over the other. Buy one and a conversion barrel, then you have both. Look at the conversion barrels listed on the LW site to see all the possibilities available.
Savage

[mcwoodduck]

40 can be changed into 357 Sig.
357 Sig can be changed into 40S&W
45 ACP can be changed into 400 Corbon.
but with upper assemblies (slide, barrel, and spring) any 9mm frame can be made into 357 Sig, 40 S&W, 45 Glock.
The 45 or 10mm frame can be changed to the other with an upper assembly.