WB
Glocks are differnet, kind of special.
Wednesday, December 09, 2020, 07:31

Glocks are unique, much better word than "special". You can take a bigger cartridge model in "some instances" and simply swap a barrel and or magazine to have a second caliber. They are drop in parts, generally. It's a small matter to take a G22 or 23 (you might need to be Generation specific on very late guns) and swap in a 9mm or .357 SIG barrel to convert them. The .40 mag usually will work fine. Ditto for some of the other .40 cal. models. However you can't go the other way, 9mm to .40. The cut out in the slide for the barrel hood is only as wide as the original cartridge. One a little too big does not matter much. Also the aftermarket is rife with "conversion" barrels.

Ditto I took my G21 .45 and installed a G20 10mm barrel and mag to convert it. Shoots fantastic. While not condoned by the factory, the practice is well known and documented in print. You don't change springs or extractors, nothing else is truly needed.

Glock factory barrels are polygonal rifled and thus the bores are oversized trying to bump up cast bullets to fit. Often they can lead badly and it builds up. My theory why Glock does not condone lead bullets at all, rightfully so. The aftermarket barrels are generally conventionally cut rifling with square bottom grooves that displace more bullet metal and fill the bore better. That's why it's better to have a aftermarket barrel to shoot lead in Glocks. Having said that, I've shot lots of lead in standard factory barrels mostly without issues. On occasion I have leaded the barrels and scrubbed it out with brass wool. Also most aftermarket barrels have better case web support in the chambers (Glock has improved on this) and chamber tolerances too. I Hope that gives you a little head start on information.

I'm certainly not urging anyone to do warranty voiding things, that is your responsibility. But maybe the general information will enlighten you as to what is commonplace in the plastic tupperware world of Glock.