Shield Barrel Conversions
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I typically buy 45s when I plan to shoot 9mm; 41s when I plan to shoot 22 and the 50 S&W when I want to shoot .32-20 (it controls recoil better in that large frame).
I agree with you that the biggest problem in going this route is trying to modify the gun to fire the desired cartridge.
If only S&W made guns in exactly the caliber I wanted to fire, life would be easier.
N4KVE
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The problem is people are waiting months to get a 9mm Shield, while around here 40 cal Shields are easy to find. So if the OP has a choice to wait for months to get a 9mm Shield, or pick up a 40 cal Shield today, plus order a 9mm barrel from S&W [which they stock] that sounds reasonable instead of waiting for months to get the 9mm gun. GARY
If only S&W made guns in exactly the caliber I wanted to fire, life would be easier.
I realized that I'm new here and can see how the question could sound goofy. Gary is on it though, the 9 is a bit harder to find (right now) and I like the idea that when it's hard to buy ammo, like right now, I'm not tied to the caliber. Are there any downsides to the .40 to 9 conversion like it's less accurately, failures to feed or eject, etc?
N4KVE
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No problems at all. Many people do this. Welcome to the forum. GARY
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The only downside I am aware of is that it is not made for such a conversion since the breech face required by the two cartridges is different as a result of the fact that the two rounds have different head dimensions.
That said, quite a few people seem to have varying degrees of success.
If you are going to do it, you have to have a .40 caliber pistol because you go from .40 to 9mm. You cannot go from 9mm to .40 as the breech face of the 9mm is too small for the .40 caliber cartridge.
You would NEVER want to trust such a conversion to 9mm as anything but a range gun.
For carry, you should use the gun in its original caliber.
Welcome! Glad to see you have a "sens-a-yuma."
reckless1911
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So the .40 mag can feed 15 9mm rounds with no problem?
Smitty357
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Just buy the .40 and buy a .9mm mag. As long as ur just plinking around, u should be just fine feeding the 9mm through the .40 mag. However, I have had a few FTF on the last round in the past. I would really blame this on ammo, as i've tested this route lately and havent had a problem.
However, the best route is to just also buy a 9mm magazine to go with the 9mm barrel. It's "not" needed, but it is suggested just to make sure u dont have any hick ups.
However, the best route is to just also buy a 9mm magazine to go with the 9mm barrel. It's "not" needed, but it is suggested just to make sure u dont have any hick ups.
What's your reasoning on this? Do you think there is a performance of accuracy loss? I figured that since S&W sold the conversion, that the difference between the .40 and 9 really is just the barrel and magazine.
monkey wrench
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They don't sell a conversion for it. They offer 9mm barrels. I'm guessing if you call and tell them you are buying it to put in a .40 gun you probably won't get one. Storm lake offers a barrel which they call a conversion for it but twice the price of a smith barrel.
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S&W does not sell "conversions." They sell replacement parts. The intent in selling aftermarket magazines and barrels is that they be used on the pistols for which they are made.
The fact that it is possible to do a thing does not mean it is a good idea.
My reasoning, as stated before, is that the smaller diameter rim of the 9mm does not properly fit the larger diameter of the breech face of the .40 caliber slide, resulting is less extractor bite on the rim, resulting in mostly ok ejection, but nothing to trust your life to. Or, at least my life. Yours may not be as important to you as mine is to me.
In addition, the ejector on the .40 caliber will not strike the narrower 9mm case the same way, possibly affecting ejection. We are talking about small measurements here, and it sometimes works, but sometimes it doesn't.
I can't stop you, but if you call S&W and ask them about doing this, they will not tell you it is ok. Instead, they will tell you not to do it, or give you a disclaimer.
Again, the fact that people talk about buying 9mm barrels and magazines and "converting" their pistols should not be taken as any indication whatsoever that S&W thinks it is ok or approves of it.
To really "convert" a .40 caliber Shield to 9mm, you need a complete new upper assembly, new magazines and you have to change out the ejector in the frame, and perhaps other parts.
To "rig" a .40 caliber Shield to work with 9mm, with varying reliability, you can get away with a barrel change, and some would say, a magazine.
N4KVE
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All good info. I would only use the 9mm barrel for range trips too. For carry, no way, not when your life could depend on it. Besides, 40 cal is the better ammo. GARY
This makes a lot of sense, thanks You've pretty much talked me out of that notion. I'll have to get to a range to rent the .40 an 9 to see which I like shooting better.
