Posted: 7/27/2008 9:45:38 PM EDT
| I am thinking about getting 9mm conversion barrels for models G22 and G27. How much does reliability suffer if at all? Who makes the good ones and how much are they? Thanks in advance. |
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I personally haven't done it myself, but I plan on buying a conversion barrel for my future G22 purchase. From what I've read if you get the conversion barrel and put in a 9mm extractor then you should be GTG, but YMMV. People say doing the conversion thing is great for plinking but would never use it for carry or duty use. Check out Lone Wolf Distributing, they make conversion barrels but don't know how much they cost off the top of my head. Good luck and let us know how it works out for you. |
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Got one for my G23. Lone Wolf. Got it at the gunshow--95 bucks OTD. Reliability? Well..........did good, FTE a few times. Even after about 300 rnds. Put in 9mm extractor, still a little problematic, extracting. The chamber on these (and Lone Wolf will tell you this) is real tight. Tighter than a Glock. That was the root of the problem. I "reamed" the chamber, ever so slightly. Opened it up just a bit. Polished it further. Now, along with the 9mm extractor, it's 100%, just like a Glock should be. 500 rnds so far, 100% reliable. Wouldn't hesitate to carry it this way. In fact, I have been the last couple of days (along with a G17  --mag compatibility is nice!).I also stoned and polished all the "contact" points I could see after that first 300 rnds (these barrels do seem to lock up tighter than Glock barrels--I was after TOTAL reliability). It should go without saying that you want to use 9mm mags. Mine's flawless with all the 15 rnders, 17 rnders and 33 rnders I have. Now I'm VERY happy with it! Mind you, this is just my story. I've seen ALOT of reports of folks just droppin' 'em in and gettin' that TOTAL reliability I was originally seeking. Overall, I'd recommend one. |
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I picked up a 40-9 Lone Wolf barrel for my G23. It was hit and miss for the first 10-20 rounds (especially with a suppressor attached ); but once it "broke in" it has been perfectly reliable from the gun's perspective. I do, on occasion, feed it crappy and/or underpowered handloads; but unsuppressed as a normal pistol it has been 100% with everything I throw at it (factory 124gr or 147gr reloads; ball or HP; suppressed or unsuppressed). I have shot mostly suppressed through ~1000 rounds with the new barrel for reference. I am using the stock slide, extractor and 9mm magazines. I think the magazines are likely going to be the most crucial to ensuring reliability, outide of shooting/breaking the gun in and keeping it lubed (I use motor oil). I would definitely buy another conversion barrel, but although I would rate my success as 100% I do hesitate to recomment any tweak or conversion for "duty use" until proven over several hundreds of rounds. 
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Nice! Most folks seem to get good reliability from them, sometimes changing the extractor, sometimes not. I guess I was a "lucky" one! RRA_223, absolutely correct. Several hundred FLAWLESS rnds, as well as a good amount of "duty" ammo need to go through it before "serious" use is considered. I agree 100%. I say this because there are detractors out there that always seem to recommend against carry or "serious" use with a conversion barrel, citing possible reliability issues when it's most needed.....I say with reliability the "proof is in the pudding" so to speak. As with ANY other firearm, reliability is defined by correct function, REPEATEDLY and often. Hell, you see 1,000 rnds go through a gun without fail, it is in fact RELIABLE, no matter if you've changed the caliber, done some kind of work, etc. etc. That's the way I see it. 
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I agree, this is my SHTF pistol for now. I have 3 1911's and a Beretta 92. |
I split my practice between 40 and 9, but I always carry with 40. I do a fair amount of practice with 9 to save cash, but I also practice with 40 about 50% of the time so i can be used to the 40's recoil impulse. |
Right on. You're thinkin'!
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