Glock 19 into a ..23?

[Commander Guineapig]

I'm in the ISP/Tech industry, and yesterday whilst at a customers house I saw his gun collection and of course a good gun conversation struck up. Both of us being Glock lovers/owners, we swapped ideas and thoughts.
He mentioned that if I bought a .40 cal Glock 23 barrel and a .40 cal Glock 23 mag, I could take my 9mm barrel and mag out of my Glock 19, and swap them out, thus making my Glock 19 a Glock 23 (in function only, as a .40 cal).
Is this true?
Is this smart?
Is this safe?
Any downsides?

thanks!

GP

 

[ugaarguy]

You can safely go down to 9mm from .40 S&W or .357 Sig, but not the other way around. You may have some extraction issues with the smaller 9mm rim since the extractor would be set up for the larger 40/357 cases.

It's not safe to go from 9mm up to something else. Search caliber conversions over on Glock Talk and you'll get plenty of info.

 

[contactcole]

I have a Glock 23 with a Lone Wolf 9mm conversion barrel. Change the barrel and mag and it's been 100% at the range with factory new loads. More accurate with tighter groups than the stock .40, too. Plus it's rifled for lead if/as needed. I love 9mm ammo prices.

But, you cannot go 9mm to .40 in Glock. The 9mm barrel opening is too small in the slide (in diameter) to fit the stock .40 barrel. Plus, the breech section of the 9mm slide is too small; the .40 barrel will not fit. This is my experience comparing my Glock 23 and Glock 17 parts.

Lone Wolf: http://www.lonewolfdist.com/Products.aspx?CAT=241