9mm that can shoot .357

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mike1

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I recently purchased an SW9VE and was pleased with it. I'm so pleased with Smith & Wesson's warranty service I'm in the market for a new gun. I'd like to pick up another semi-auto that is capable of shooting 9mm rounds and 357 rounds.

Can anyone offer models which I could change out the barrels and shoot these rounds reliably?

Thanks
 
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I may be way off base with this (and I am sure others will corect me if I am wrong), but the .357 magnum is a revolver only load. That being said, there are revolvers on the market like the Ruger Blackhawk convertible that comes with two cylinders, one for .357 and one for 9mm. The only "problem" (not for me, however) is that the Blackhawk is a single action revolver. There is a 357 Sig cartridge, but it has a lightly larger diameter and is almost 3mm longer than a 9mm Luger round so that won't work in a standard 9mm like the SW9VE (which I also own).

Take a look at the Blackhawk. You might just become a wheelgun convert like me!

Scott

Here is a good place to start your education on handgun cartridges: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L...f_handgun_cartridges
 
I'm not looking to put a barrel in my SW9VE.

What I was looking at is the M&P semi. It's offered in 9mm and 357 which make me wonder if the 9mm version could swap the barrel in my 9mm for a 357 barrel.
 
I have to admit that I am not all that familiar with the M&P line, but I know that they do make a 357 Sig version. Its not just a matter of barrel diameter, but cartridge length as well which means that the 357 Sig and 9mm also need different magazines. From what I know, the 357 Sig and 40 SW models of the M&P use the same magazine while the 9mm uses a different magazine.

Clear as mud?

Scott
 
While not a S&W, I have a Glock 23 (40 S&W) with 9mm, 40 S&W, and 357 sig barrels. The 357 sig barrel is one from a Glock 32. The 9mm barrel is an aftermarket one designed to fit the Glock 23. It states it is for recreational use only which I take to mean do not use for self defense due to a possibility of a jam. I have never had a jam with it. The problem is the breechface of the 9mm is smaller than the other two and that can cause extraction problems.

You would need to have a 40 or 357 caliber gun (not a 9mm gun) for this. Check with aftermarket barrel makers for the 9mm barrel.

Chuck
 
I'd like to pick up another semi-auto that is capable of shooting 9mm rounds and 357 rounds.

Can anyone offer models which I could change out the barrels and shoot these rounds reliably?
Click to expand...

The termionology is confusing at best.
The .357 SIG cartridge is a .40S&W case necked down to a true 9mm; it is a .357 in name only (sounds cool).

Usually with nothing more than a barrel change, a .40S&W pistol can shoot the .357 SIG cartridge. With SIG SAUER and Glock, you can buy the .40 and .357 SIG barrels from the factory.

The 9mm barrels do not fit the .40S&W pistols, but special conversion aftermarket barrels are made that fit the breech, and almost fit the slide. Since a 9mm cartridge head is slightly different than a .40S&W case head, the fit is not exact and should not be used for defense. Also, you need 9mm magazines.

To use your Sigma for an example, this conversion is not possible since the 9mm Sigma magazines are too small for the .40 Sigma frame.

Conversion barrels were all the rage for awhile, and aftermarket barrels for all sorts of things were made. Due to excessive returns, manufacturers have cut back to what actually works.

And no, you can't just put a 9mm barrel in a .357 M&P. The easy swap is .40 and .357 SIG. Got the idea?
 
Although the .357SIG case looks like a necked down .40 S&W case, IT IS NOT.
If you were to reload, and I do, the difference is quite apparent.
I have taken .40 S&W brass to see what the difference is when you neck it down to .357SIG.
It comes up about .030" short on the Over All Length (OAL) of the case compared to .357SIG brass.
I'm not saying it can't be done, I and many others have done it.
But, due to the marginal crimping surface contact of the .357SIG round to start with, it's not a good practice.
But, in a pinch, yes, it will work.
HERE is a link, read the handloading section, it explains the headspace issue also.
Regards,
BM1
 
BM1,

You make a very good point for some new reloaders just dropping in on this thread -- and it goes beyond size.

I've actually cut some 357Sig brass apart and compared it with others. Except for primer size (small vs large) the 357Sig brass is more like a necked-down 10MM case -- especially in the web area. That's probably because the 357S has a significantly higher design pressure than the 40 -- again closer to that of the 10MM.
 
A 9mm pistol can not be converted to .40/357. Most .40's and .357's require only a barrel swap to go between the cartridges. The .357 Sig cartridge was designed to have this ability.
There are aftermarket barrels for some pistols available to convert a .40/.357 to a 9mm. I have seen these for Glocks and Sigs, but not for S&W. At best these are range only guns. The breechface on .40/357 guns is larger than on 9mm's. This makes an unreliable (and unacceptable to me) pistol. Never bet your life on a 9mm in a .40/.357.
 
I'm starting to think about buying a M&P .40 I have heard a lot of good things about the .40 from reading online. The barrel swap was a desire note a requirement and I knew they weren't real 357s.

I really like my 9mm and since I already own one my next gun should probably be something else
icon_smile.gif


Ammo price is a concern. I've been able to purchase umc fmj 9mm ammo for .23/shot If I can find a local supply of .40 ammo at a decent price that may seal the deal. Anyone know where to get decent deals on .40 ammo. I know all ammo is impossible to find right now but some places to bookmark for the future would be nice. I've checked most of the usual places and .40 seems to run .40/shot which IMO is to much.
 
Years ago there was a 357 semiauto called the Coonan which was manufactured in MN. I believe that it is out of production but learned recently that they may be starting up by mid 2009. Here is their website : www.coonaninc.com .
 
Originally posted by 7shooter:
Years ago there was a 357 semiauto called the Coonan which was manufactured in MN. I believe that it is out of production but learned recently that they may be starting up by mid 2009. Here is their website : www.coonaninc.com .
Click to expand...

If I'm not mistaken Desert Eagle makes semi's for 357mag 44mag. (revolver ammo.)

So you you can have a wheelgun or auto and eat the same ammo.
 
Originally posted by mike1:
I recently purchased an SW9VE and was pleased with it. I'm so pleased with Smith & Wesson's warranty service I'm in the market for a new gun. I'd like to pick up another semi-auto that is capable of shooting 9mm rounds and 357 rounds.

Can anyone offer models which I could change out the barrels and shoot these rounds reliably?

Thanks
Click to expand...

There are NO such models. The 9mm and the .357 Auto have different breech face dimensions, and are not interchangeable.

The .40 and .357 will do what you want in certain pistols, some will use the same mag (SIG), and some will require a different mag (Glock).

I am not confident that the M&P can be changed from .40 to .357 with just a barrel change. The pictures in the catalog seem to show that the .357 M&P has a different (heavier) slide, as it is not sculpted, therefore leaving more steel, therefore heavier. This creates a problem. If the slides are different, you should not try to go from the .40 to the .357 as you may get frame battering. Going .357 to .40 might create reliability issues as the heavier .357 slide might not function as reliably.

The above opinion is based only on pictures of the two slides in the S&W catalog, as I have not owned the .357 M&P. Best to check with S&W.
 
So I picked up a m&p .40 today problem solved. Just wish I would have purchased it a couple days ago and got the 2 free extra slides.

The clips say .40/.357 so I am gonna say the clip will probably have no problem holding .357 ammo.

Someday I may pick up a .357 barrel for it but right now I wanna get a crimson laser sight then maybe a silencer.

Thanks for all the comments.
 
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