SW9F to SW40F to SW357V

Race Fan

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I originally posted this in the Sigma versions thread but quickly saw it was going to spiral into an entirely new topic... so I moved it here.

Ok... here's a really stupid question. Say I have an SW9F (which I do) and I find a barrel and a clip for an SW40F (and a slide and barrel for a SW357V)

I bet you can see where this is going...

Could I swap those into the slide and use the clip and wind up with a hybrid SW40F or SW357V?

First revision....

Well, I'm pretty sure this is a 'yes'...SW9 slide/barrel on a SW40 lower..

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C5GE9lySE8[/ame]
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NFRj2pztBQ[/ame]

So...

Second revision....

After digging through these forums I've settled on a definite "maybe"...

It appears the SW40 lower will take both the SW9 and SW357 while using the SW40 mags. Some people say you have to mess with the feed opening on the mag, some don't.

It was mentioned that the mag well on the SW9 frame is narrower than the SW40 which means that version of the swap may not work. (SW9 frame, SW40/SW357 slide)

Now, does anyone have any hands on experience with this or will I have to throw some $$ at it to find out?

Right now, I can find a SW357 slide/barrel/recoil spring and an SW40 barrel and find out for sure, but hate to go through the hassle factor if someone can answer for sure...

Thanks in advance!

More info... after a LOT of digging...

Since the SW9F and SW40F are both a half inch longer in both overall size and barrel length, none of the other slides or barrels will work with them...

As for some combination of the other slides and barrels? I'd say probably...

(Edited to clean up gramer and speling and to ad info)
 
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From what I have been told = Don't Own a SD40/SW40

The frame is larger on the "Magazine" opening on the 40 than the 9mm
The magazines won't interchange so NO a 40's "Magazine" cannot be used in a 9mm frame making a slide swap un feedable unless the magazine lips were modified to 40 & then possibly a conversion can be done
It's not like a Glock that use the same exact frame size for 9mm/40/357

A "CLIP" is not a "Magazine"

Welcome to the Forum @Race Fan

As you did see the slide & barrel from a 9mm can be put on a 40 & a 40s "Magazine" can be used with 9mm ammunition on the SW/SD S&Ws
 
Thanks for the info! Still may get a SW40F slide/barrel and mess with it... see how it goes.. if worse comes to worst, I can flip the parts back out..

As an FYI there's a SW357V slide/guide rod/barrel on Fleabay at the moment... bid is at $100 and the auction goes off 9/16/22 (if you're reading after that date, fuggidaboudit...)
 
I first answered this question over 15 years ago, when I owned both SW9VE and SW40VE pistols. Since then, I have seen postings on this "experiment" several times, often with great enthusiasm with obtaining their version of "works", which did not always mean "works 100%".

First, the .40 and .357 are the same gun, except for the barrel. Same slide, magazine and frame. The SW357VE was soon withdrawn from the market, as were aftermarket .357 Sigma barrels.

Second, the .40 frame takes a wider magazine, and I have never seen a 9mm magazine work RELIABLY in a .40 frame. One fellow claimed it worked to his standard of "some of the time."

From the first, several tried a 9mm barrel in a .40 gun, and they usually work OK, sometimes with magazine adjustments.

The SDVE and SWVE take the same magazines WITHIN CALIBER, ie, 9mm SD mag in a 9mm SW gun.

The big difference between SW and SD is the SEAR MECHANISM. Cutting or removing sear springs in the SW can easily result in failure to reset with MAX LOADS. (The sear does not rise fast enough to catch the striker with hot loads.)

All this is old news, but it is "rediscovered" from time to time.
I used the Sigmas for trainers and loaners in IDPA matches for over 2 decades.

My best (free, worth every penny) advice is get a used M&P if you want to tinker with a S&W pistol. The 9mm and .40 magazines interchange between caliber in all frames, and there are lots of goodies to mod all you want. Enjoy!:)
 
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Thank you for your patience in contributing to (yet another) thread like this and for the great info.. Actually got the SW9F with a free (included in the gun apparently they didn't know it was there) Lasermax red laser guide rod and since I'm a relative noob, decided to explore what this gun was actually capable of.

Speaking of which... this was a LNiB (2 mags) and apparently a bit of an odd duck.. Box said .40 on the FACTORY label and included the Lasermax with the laser warning sticker still on the gun.

The box had a total of 3 factory labels on it... the first 2 said 9mm with the last (top) stating it was a .40 (but all 3 had the SW9F designation)

Was this a 'special' S&W ran to try to push units? Dealer upgrade?

Definitely odd, but I'm not complaining! (Waiting on batteries for the Lasermax as we speak)
 
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Back in the early to mid 2K's S&W was running a promo; 2 extra "MAGAZINES" or a $50 rebate. I chose the extra "MAGAZINES."
HK, no pics of your SD's? :D
 
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Oh, Forgot about that :) HaHa!!
 

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Race Fan,

I own a Sigma 40F (4.5"), Sigma 40V (4"), SD40 and SD9 with just about all vintages of magazines made. What exactly are you wanting to see if it fits? I maybe can find time later today to see what works. I have a buddy that has/had a 9F, but not sure if he still does and he lives 3 hours away.

I do not have a 357 SIG barrel, but my brother bought an aftermarket one years ago and we always had issues with it feeding non-FMJ rounds. We originally installed it in his 40V then put in his 40E and it seemed more reliable with HPs. I loaded up some XTPs thinking they would feed better, but we really haven't experimented with it a lot to see how reliable it is. I wished I had a factory 357 sig barrel to test with.

IIRC, the Speer Gold Dot 357 SIGs were the primary ones we tested and had feed issues with. I did put a mirror finish on the feed ramp, but it didn't make much difference.

Rosewood
 
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Now this is stuff i have done, so do with it as you wish
-for some cheap practice a 9mm barrel will fit in a 40 slide & frame and function with 40 mags (sort of)
-the 40 & 357sig mags and barrel will interchange (however the F series is 5."longer and will not fit the shorter 4" frames)
-i have cut 9mm barrels to 357sig with good results (just because)
 
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Now this is stuff i have done, so do with it as you wish
-for some cheap practice a 9mm barrel will fit in a 40 slide & frame and function (sort of)
-the 40 & 357sig mags and barrel will interchange (however the F series is 5."longer and will not fit the shorter 4" frames)
-i have cut 9mm barrels to 357sig with good results (just because)

Nice... Kinda wish I had found a SW40F instead of the SW9F but hey... sometimes you don't get the best of all worlds.. lol

Not complaining.. it came with a Lasermax guide rod for 'free' so..
 

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