40 S&W to .357 Sig

[starling]

I wouldn't call 1250 fps 185 grain loads as target loads. If I want to download 10mm, I'd rather shoot .40S&W, and I have two of those to choose from. I shot the same load in the 2nd gen G20 I owned for 25 years and got swelled cases for my trouble because of the unsupported chamber. The recoil shock was much worse in the G20, too, the heavier 1911 frame and grip shape are better for me, and it has a fully supported chamber.

No thats decent. At least the Ruger is one of the better 1911s. I think Rowland recomends them on his list for the 460. Curious what Ruger says about shooting the Hot stuff through their 1911s.

Dont get me wrong. I am not trying to dis on your pistol or the 1911 as I like them too. I am just leary of throwing certain calibers in different types of platforms. 1911 is a design of its time for cartridges of its time IMO. I honestly think JMB would have used a lock delay style more like the Sig (or Automag IV) had he been around when the 10mm was developed. I think I was talking about this with someone here a few years back and throwing around ideas and remembered back to the days of the Springfield Omega pistols which used a similar setup.

I am not a huge fan of Glocks to be honest but the 20 (better yet the 40) is a nice platform for 10mm (or 40/357sig for that matter). I like the Sig 10mm a bit more. Hopefully the XD brings back the larger 10mms back. Those interest me as I like the XD but I dont like buying pistols new on the market until they are vetted a little more. If those come back and hold up to full 10mm I can see me grabbing one with a bunch of different barrel chamberings.

 

[Mike J]

No thats decent. At least the Ruger is one of the better 1911s. I think Rowland recomends them on his list for the 460. Curious what Ruger says about shooting the Hot stuff through their 1911s.

Dont get me wrong. I am not trying to dis on your pistol or the 1911 as I like them too. I am just leary of throwing certain calibers in different types of platforms. 1911 is a design of its time for cartridges of its time IMO. I honestly think JMB would have used a lock delay style more like the Sig (or Automag IV) had he been around when the 10mm was developed. I think I was talking about this with someone here a few years back and throwing around ideas and remembered back to the days of the Springfield Omega pistols which used a similar setup.

I am not a huge fan of Glocks to be honest but the 20 (better yet the 40) is a nice platform for 10mm (or 40/357sig for that matter). I like the Sig 10mm a bit more. Hopefully the XD brings back the larger 10mms back. Those interest me as I like the XD but I dont like buying pistols new on the market until they are vetted a little more. If those come back and hold up to full 10mm I can see me grabbing one with a bunch of different barrel chamberings.

I don't remember all the finer details but there was a forum member at rugerforum.com that bought a SR1911 in 10mm when they hadn't been out very long (back around 2019). He & another forum member were having fun shooting primarily Buffalo Bore type loads at the range. The pistol beat itself to pieces. Since then though Ruger redesigned a certain part of the pistol to make it more durable. It is not just a standard 1911. It has been designed to accomadate the 10mm cartridge. How durable one is I don't know as I don't own a 10mm of any kind.

 

[sequins]

I have a glock 31 and a glock 22. I don't like conversions and would rather just have both independently. I don't swap AR uppers either I have just as many lowers as I do uppers.

 

[starling]

I have a glock 31 and a glock 22. I don't like conversions and would rather just have both independently. I don't swap AR uppers either I have just as many lowers as I do uppers.

I am on the opposite side. I look at the frame as just a device to hold the magazine and fire control components. I tend to put together entire uppers for pistols so the POA is consistent and locking surfaces wear in the same areas. Also makes converting calibers quicker. I dont think I have any conversions where I just change barrels. Almost all the tweeks are in the upper... and magazines. Older designs like the 1911 can be trickier due to barrel fitting. Newer type designs are a lot more forgiving. Glocks are ridiculously easy. I get the appeal they have for most they just never turned me on.

I also tend to shoot all the calibers when at the range which is out of the norm for most folks though. One of these days I am going to learn how to sleeve a barrel and really drive myself nuts. Lots of 380s out there I would like to chamber in 32acp.

Is it practical... not really. I just like problem solving and trouble shooting. I dont push things to the limit point where major components start cracking and breaking. I tend to either move down in power levels or stay in the same area. If I was going to start monkeying around with Hi-powers I would probably go with 9mm/7.65 luger/380acp ... maybe 40 on the beefier versions.....possibly a 30 super if it sticks around. 357sig I am kind of hesitant. Those new FN hi-powers have potential if they stick around long enough to gain a following.

Lately I have been pretty hyped up on the 7.5 BRNO platform which can run with 7.5, 40s&w, 10mm, and 9mm para...pretty neat. Seems like a platform that has a whole world of multi caliber potential.

 

[bangswitch]

No thats decent. At least the Ruger is one of the better 1911s. Curious what Ruger says about shooting the Hot stuff through their 1911s.

Dont get me wrong. I am not trying to dis on your pistol or the 1911 as I like them too. I am just leary of throwing certain calibers in different types of platforms. 1911 is a design of its time for cartridges of its time IMO. I honestly think JMB would have used a lock delay style more like the Sig (or Automag IV) had he been around when the 10mm was developed. I think I was talking about this with someone here a few years back and throwing around ideas and remembered back to the days of the Springfield Omega pistols which used a similar setup.

I am not a huge fan of Glocks to be honest but the 20 (better yet the 40) is a nice platform for 10mm (or 40/357sig for that matter).

Hard to say what JMB would have done differently to chamber his 1911 for 10mm Auto if it had existed then. The frame is plenty strong for it, and I think Ruger would not have offered it, or ARMSCOR, or Colt, if they didn't think it would handle the round. You'd hope a firearms manufacturer is going to assume that their offering would be used in the most abusive manner, and plan for it in their original design or in an adapted one.

I'm not a Glock fan, either. I bought the G20 when it was first offered in 1992, because it was 10mm, not because it was a Glock. Then, there was only it and the Delta Elite; I never warmed to the gun itself, but I really like 10mm Auto. When more manufacturers started making 10mm pistols, I started shopping for a replacement for the Glock. I chose Ruger because their guns have a good reputation for durability, and I had three other Rugers in different calibers. Overall, I'm not a big fan of the newer guns and designs, I don't feel they offer any advantages over the 1911. Except for a couple of polymer compacts, all my handguns are revolvers or 1911's.

 

[GatorHunter]

My m&p 40 also has a 357 sig barrel with it. I swap between the two and never have any issues. I have put a lot of rounds through each barrel

 

[Howland937]

I just wish someone woulda told me that the 110-ish year old 1911 design wasn't capable of handling upwards of 40k psi (maybe more, since 40k is "average") before I shot a few thousand rounds through it. Probably sell it to the scrap guy next time he stops by.

 

[starling]

I just wish someone woulda told me that the 110-ish year old 1911 design wasn't capable of handling upwards of 40k psi (maybe more, since 40k is "average") before I shot a few thousand rounds through it. Probably sell it to the scrap guy next time he stops by.

Nah....Some 1911s are better than others both in Materials and Construction (fitting). Just keep an eye on the lockup surfaces for excessive wear and you will be fine. There "should" be signs before anything bad happens. I things start looking a little strange then you can dial down the power a little with lighter loads. Good modern and consistent metallurgy and fitting make a difference and help along with spring changes and aftermarket part tricks but it can only take you so far. I play it pretty safe with 1911s.... Flat firing pin stops... stronger hammer spings, buffers etc. etc.

Think about this maybe... When Browning put out the Hi-Power in 40s&w they had to beef up the slide and add another locking lug. A 1911 leaving as is and going from 45acp to hot 10mm is a major, major jump. A lot of Gun manufacturers learned this back in the 90s when they were converting 9mm and 45acp platforms to 41AE, 40s&W and 10mm. Then after not learing their lesson many of the same manufacturers had it happen again when converting 40s to 357sig. Its not a view that is radical or without merit.

Converting down in power is a whole different story. You end up giving the design more wiggle room power load wise assuming you dont have to alter and can keep the locking system.

 

[docbrown]

With the FBI's adoption of the 9mm again, it seems that a lot of shooters are doing the same and dropping the .40, thinking it's now obsolete. Besides .40 S&W still being an effective round, having the option of shooting a .357 Sig is a great alternative upgrade since it would be like shooting a 125gr. .357mag load as a SD load. Has anyone bought a barrel to drop in, have that had any issues, and did they have to buy additional springs..for the conversion?

I have a MP 40C with a 357 Sig and 9mm barrel. Uses the same recoil spring - same mags for 40/357 Sig and separate magazines for 9mm. I hand load a 357 Sig 124 Grain GDHP and it is dead nuts accurate. It is now my carry load over a 180 grain LE load. No issues whatsoever and I love the flexibility of changing the caliber in about a minute.

 

[BJung]

When I read on the internet that a .357Sig - 125gr hp was almost the equal to a .357-125gr hp, I thought to myself that this would be a good SD round given the history of the .357-125gr bullet in actual gunshot incidents.

 

[starling]

Hard to say what JMB would have done differently to chamber his 1911 for 10mm Auto if it had existed then. The frame is plenty strong for it, and I think Ruger would not have offered it, or ARMSCOR, or Colt, if they didn't think it would handle the round. You'd hope a firearms manufacturer is going to assume that their offering would be used in the most abusive manner, and plan for it in their original design or in an adapted one.

I'm not a Glock fan, either. I bought the G20 when it was first offered in 1992, because it was 10mm, not because it was a Glock. Then, there was only it and the Delta Elite; I never warmed to the gun itself, but I really like 10mm Auto. When more manufacturers started making 10mm pistols, I started shopping for a replacement for the Glock. I chose Ruger because their guns have a good reputation for durability, and I had three other Rugers in different calibers. Overall, I'm not a big fan of the newer guns and designs, I don't feel they offer any advantages over the 1911. Except for a couple of polymer compacts, all my handguns are revolvers or 1911's.

Sorry Bangswitch I missed your post ealier. Yes... We would hope but they dont. Designs are rushed to get them to market faster and all hell breaks loose. Even now a lot of the newer designs have problems with full power 10mm. Seems like all the XD users had to beef up the recoil springs early on. I have not yet seen a good report on the Grand Power reliably handling full bore 10mm. M&Ps are too new to know for sure.

There were a few good 10mms in 92. Star Megastar, 1006, Ruger P series was in the works (never materialized) AMT had the 7" long slide Javelina and the Automag IV (10mm magnum).. then everything went 40S&W and the 10mm was shelved. If not for the Glock 20 10mm might have completely died. Those Delta elites had a lot of problems durability wise.... supposedly they are better now but most owners I know run light 40s&w style loads through them (smart IMO).

The lower end (but still very nice) 1911 are great for original chamberings but I would have trouble trusting them with more modern cartridges. At one point I was going to do all the tricks and set up a Norinco (great steel) for 45 super but I came to my senses and just came to the conclusion that a more modern design would be a much better choice.

I like the classics the most as well. When it comes to high pressure stuff like 40s&w, 357sig,10mm or greater I prefer newer stuff designed a little better for the the power levels involved..... even though the entire notion of craftsmenship has kind of been thrown out the window in exchange for low cost manufacturing.

One of these days somebody is going to do the 10mm 1911 thing right for my tastes. I am thinking a 6" longslide with a sig style lockup.... thicker slide...and slightly beefed up frame with a more modern recoil spring setup and possibly ported. Very simliar concept to the Springfield Omega Peter Stahl design which had a short life on the market and never got going once 10mm went dark. They were multi caliber as well.

 

[starling]

When I read on the internet that a .357Sig - 125gr hp was almost the equal to a .357-125gr hp, I thought to myself that this would be a good SD round given the history of the .357-125gr bullet in actual gunshot incidents.

Its really a great penetrating cartridge and essentially turns a standard type platform into a double stack Automag or Coonan. It does away with the whole notion of trying to develop magazines to reliably feed Magnum revolver rounds. 38 Super (underated IMO and basically limited to 1911) can get up there as well with the right loads. Be nice if we could get someone to do a 11mm one of these days but 45 super is kind of close I guess. Purpose built 460 pistols would be better.

I have a MP 40C with a 357 Sig and 9mm barrel. Uses the same recoil spring - same mags for 40/357 Sig and separate magazines for 9mm. I hand load a 357 Sig 124 Grain GDHP and it is dead nuts accurate. It is now my carry load over a 180 grain LE load. No issues whatsoever and I love the flexibility of changing the caliber in about a minute.

M&P is not a bad potential candidate for 357 sig because I believe it was designed around 40s&w (instead of 9mm). I might throw in a heavier recoil spring depending on your ejection pattern and load to play it safer. I dont remember them having durability problems. S&W stopped makeing them more due to lack of sales from what I understood. Sigma 357sig conversions is one of my favorite CCWs.

 

[tarosean]

the .40, thinking it's now obsolete.

Lol

 

[SDGlock23]

Really it's the simplest "conversion", just buy the factory 357 SIG barrel for whatever 40 you have. I've dropped in a G32 barrel in my G23 and it worked perfect. Aftermarket barrels would work the same. It's a cool caliber the 357 SIG, I like the .40 too a lot and they both make for great options in self defense.

 

[BJung]

Lol

Sorry, I'm notorious for not double checking my writing.

 

[FoundFather]

I have a couple of Sig p239's in .40 and bought a .357 Sig parts kit (long story on that). Since I have the slide from the .357 Sig, I keep the .357 barrel in there with a heavier recoil spring and just swap hte slides when I want to shoot .357 Sig. I love this platform. These guns were built for .357 Sig and .40 (unlike many guns which designed for 9mm origianlly) and can take it all day long. They are also just heavy enough and just big enough to make shooting it a pleasure. Love this platform.

 

[kcofohio]

Really it's the simplest "conversion", just buy the factory 357 SIG barrel for whatever 40 you have. I've dropped in a G32 barrel in my G23 and it worked perfect. Aftermarket barrels would work the same. It's a cool caliber the 357 SIG, I like the .40 too a lot and they both make for great options in self defense.

For someone who is into reloading, there are more options for projectiles with the 357 SIG. As for someone who buys factory ammo, unless they buy online, it can be hard to find the ammo locally.
And I agree, it is a cool round. And I enjoy reloading for it.

 

[JimKirk]

Got a Glock 31 in 357 SIG, picked up a conversion 9mm barrel ....can pickup a good used 40 S&W barrel ...

So I could shoot 40, 357 SIG and 9mm just by changing barrels...

OH yeah ... It it possible to shoot 9mm out the 357 magazines ...

 

[BJung]

Got a Glock 31 in 357 SIG, picked up a conversion 9mm barrel ....can pickup a good used 40 S&W barrel ...

So I could shoot 40, 357 SIG and 9mm just by changing barrels...

OH yeah ... It it possible to shoot 9mm out the 357 magazines ...

How can you load a 9mm in a 40 or .357Sig? The case head is a different size and won't it not eject?

 

[JimKirk]

How can you load a 9mm in a 40 or .357Sig? The case head is a different size and won't it not eject?

By swapping barrels .... simple as that ... and yes it will eject ...

https://www.brownells.com/handgun-p...black-nitride-sku078000554-129102-233926.aspx

 

[starling]

How can you load a 9mm in a 40 or .357Sig? The case head is a different size and won't it not eject?

They make those barrels so the 40s&w extractors and ejectors work for the 9mm. Sometimes the mags work as well.... sometimes not so well. Depends on the width of the feedlips and also sometimes the width of the mag tube. I have done a few designs that would pull it off but most of the time the rounds pop out the top as the tension goes up and you load more rounds into the magazine. Sometimes the mag tube is too wide and the thinner 9mm rounds can bind inside the mag body. Thats one of the reasons some 9mm magazines have a rib running down the side (Beretta PX4 comes to mind). Its actually easier to make a 9mm magazine feed 40/357 as you pretty much just reduce the feedlips and angle them. Kind of like a triangle. You can even adjust the optimum angle of feed if you are good with a protractor. Most quality heat treated magazines will crack if you start trying to close them up a little to hold 9mm so it can be a little tricky. Bend in just the front of the lips and the rounds will nose dive. It is pretty critical that the lips are at least uniform for 9mm.

 

[BJung]

I assume you shopped around for barrels. How do you rank them?

 

[starling]

I assume you shopped around for barrels. How do you rank them?

If you are talking to me I dont normally play around with those barrels (or glocks really). I just set up entire uppers for caliber conversions. I only do magazine modifications if I have to because its extremely tedious work and you have to get in a groove to do a bunch. Probably my least favorite stuff to work on other than tuning extractors. Glocks are simple... you just use the 9mm magazine. Something like a Sigma conversion is harder.

I think all my barrels are EFK or Jarvis (pretty nice). Couple of Laseraims as well. For Glock ... seems like there are tons of them out there. If you are going to run one with the 40 slide just make sure your getting 40 to 9mm conversion barrels. I have shot a couple glocks and an XD with these swap out conversion barrels and they worked fine. Your sights will probably be a little off though. The amount you save on ammo costs the barrel will eventually pay for itself. Shouldnt cause any harm to the pistol.

 

[trackskippy]

How can you load a 9mm in a 40 or .357Sig? The case head is a different size and won't it not eject?

If you look, the case heads are basically the same size. 0.394 for 9mm, 0.420 for the .40/357SIG.

The 9mm conversion barrels have an outside diameter that is the same size as the 40's so they function in the slides. Although I've seen a couple of people say they have used a standard Glock 9mm barrel in a 40 and it will work. Not sure how good that is for the gun though.

 

[kcofohio]

Got a Glock 31 in 357 SIG, picked up a conversion 9mm barrel ....can pickup a good used 40 S&W barrel ...

So I could shoot 40, 357 SIG and 9mm just by changing barrels...

OH yeah ... It it possible to shoot 9mm out the 357 magazines ...

When I purchased a Storm Lake 9mm conversion barrel for the M&P40 at Grabagun, the had a super offer for 9mm factory magazines. I purchased 2 of them. So I haven't tried using a 40/357 magazine with that barrel.
But now I'm curious to see if those magazines will work with the 9 next time at the range.