Compact 40 S&W Conversions

[Fuzzy Sights]

Just got back two pistols from CZ Custom, both were originally 40 S&W.  I sent them to have 357 Sig barrels and 9 mm barrels fitted.  The first is a P-06 and the other is a CZ 75B Compact.  The 357 Sig barrels on each are CZ Custom threaded barrels which are about 4.25 inches (Legal for hunting in WA). Also fitted the standard length 9mm barrel to each, for having a less expensive practice option.

Hope to make it to the range tomorrow for testing with some CCI Gold dot 125s in 357 Sig and some blazer brass 124s in 9mm.  Will post on results.  Action with both guns is very smooth so I am not anticipating any reliability issues.

My thanks to Stuart for facilitating this work.

JW

[Tanners Owner]

Sounds interesting, looking fwd to your range report

Are you anticipating hunting with them?

[AZ_CZ]

357 Sig.. Now there’s a cartridge I haven’t heard in a long time. A long time.

Congratulations on the new toys. Sound exciting.

[Fuzzy Sights]

Sorry I have had a bit of a cold and have not made it to the range.  Looking for one of these to become my carry pistol.  Want a round that will reach 12 to 15 inches of ballistics jell in an FBI protocol.  In my situation over penetration is a huge concern.  Also hoping for a round 500 ft/lbs of energy.  Have 7,000 pieces of once fired CCI brass and 90, 115, 124 and 147 gr bullets to try. Will start with some factory Gold Dots.

JW

[M1A4ME]

I think the .357 SIG gets a bad reputation from people.

I bought a used .40 S&W slide for an M&P Shield.  A .357 SIG conversion barrel in an extended version and a 9MM thread on compensator.  I put all that together and put it on a 9MM Shield frame and using some .40 S&W Shield magazines with factory 125 grain FMJ ammo we went to the range.  I asked my wife if she wanted to shoot it and she did.  I asked her about the recoil/muzzle blast and she said she could tell it was more than her 9MM but not bad at all.  And she shot a nice group with it (either 5 or 7 yds, don't remember for sure).  If my 120 lb. wife can handle .357 SIG it can't be too bad.

I need to get some more brass to reload for the Shield magazines.  The OAL of my reloads, fine for the FNS and M&P (full sized) pistols is just too long for the Shield magazines.  This it one that plunks fine in the barrel/chamber but won't work due to the magazine dimensions.  Not a problem I've had before.

Please be sure to post about your range trip OP.  I like to read/see pictures about good shooting pistols.

[Fuzzy Sights]

Brief Range Report
Will not go into too much detail as there is another place for that kind of post.  However for this venue I only got to shoot the P-06 in both 357 Sig and 9mm.  Range was only 7 yds, but both were 100% reliable and 10 ring accurate for 9mm and X ring accurate for 357 Sig.  Ammo was Remington 124gr HP in 9mm and 125gr CCI Gold Dot in 357 Sig.  Trigger was smooth as glass and honestly the 9 felt like shoot a .32 ACP Beretta and 357 Sig was like a 9mm.

Will shoot the 75B Compact tomorrow and post a further brief report.  If I can figure out how to post pictures I will do a more detailed range report in the appropriate section.

To conclude this one I could not be happier with the results of the conversion work.  For less than the price of a new pistol I can now shoot three different calibers off one frame and can use it both in a concealed carry mode as well as carry for hunting trips.

Thank you Stuart and CZ Custom.

JW

P.S.  I almost beat the group that Eric Zinn shot.  If I had not flubbed the trigger finger placement on the 4th shot.  Had a smaller one hole group and screwed it up.  Will keep trying.

[Tanners Owner]

Congrats, happy it worked out well for you.  Looking fwd to your next range report

[M1A4ME]

JW

P.S.  I almost beat the group that Eric Zinn shot.  If I had not flubbed the trigger finger placement on the 4th shot.  Had a smaller one hole group and screwed it up.  Will keep trying.

I used to do that quite often with the P09 and P01, or even the P07 .40.  I always thought it was me feeling the pressure and trying too hard to make a "perfect" shot.  I haven't done that for a few years now.  The CZ's stay home and the FNS, XD, and M&P pistols go to the range and the groups don't compare with the CZ pistols.  I'm wondering if it's the pistol or me.  I've gotten more shaky/wobbly than I used to be (or it seems I am).  I believe I need to take the P07 .40 to the range one day and find out if it's me or the M&P.  I'm not getting to old to shoot.  I may be too old to shoot as well as I used to.  The P07 will tell me which one.

[Fuzzy Sights]

Range Report from CZ 75B Compact.

If I thought the P-06 was good at handling 357 Sig was good this one is great.  The small amount of extra weight really tames these full power Gold Dots.  Once again 100% reliable.  Could not shoot on the same range as the P-06 which was 10 yds, so I used the 25 yd range.  Used a 2/3 reduced silhouette and did Dicken Drills. This is based on the Mall of America engagement where an armed citizen engaged a mass shooter at 40 yds firing 10 shots in 15 seconds and scored 8 hits.  My 2/3rds target at 25 yds would equate to arpund 37 yds.  I handicap myself by shooting all rounds off hand and I am not closing on the target. Did not zero the pistol before this just let it rip from cold.  All 10 shots hit the silhouette with 5 in the A zone.  Was so surprised with the result I ran it a second time and 7 of 10 in the A zone. It does seem to bias right, but that could be me or I may need to  adjust the sights.

9mm barrel gave similar results, with even less recoil.  Though the point of impact was on the left side of the A zone and just a smidgen low.  However in 50 rounds I had three failures to eject.  Will have to figure that one out.  Think it is either the ejector is not contacting the smaller rim of the 9mm or the extractor is hanging on to the rim too tight and not letting go.  Any advice here would be appreciated.

Will leave it here for the moment.  Very happy with the service and custom work, worth every penny. Thank you Stuart for facilitating this project.  Now what do I do with my P-07 40???

Peace and Grace to all.

JW

[M1A4ME]

Good report on the .357 SIG.

You're using a 9MM conversion barrel in the .357 SIG/.40 S&W slide?

Might be the extractor just won't move that far to the left up there at the front.  When was the last time the ejector was removed, cleaned behind, lubed and reinstalled?  If it hasn't been done could it be some build up of crud behind it that wasn't an issue with the .40/.357 cartridge but now is limiting the movement of the extractor for the smaller 9MM case?

I never liked the idea of just swapping barrels.  I have a P07 9MM set up for my P07 .40 frame.  It's a complete 9MM slide, barrel, recoil spring assembly and slide stop.  I've only used it a couple times in 12 years or so and it worked fine.

[ace73]

Fuzzy Sights, really liked your range report!
I’m really curious about the 40 to 9 conversion barrel! I didn’t think one was available for CZ!
I’ve done the complete slide swap!

[Fuzzy Sights]

M1A4ME,
Did a complete strip and clean of the slide two years ago.  May do that again and see if it resolves the issue. May just go ahead and replace the extractor spring and extractor as they are original parts. I like the idea of having everything as light and versatile as possible.  I did think of getting a separate slide for the P-06, but as both have adjustable sights I decided against it.  The cost of conversion was about the cost of a new pistol and honestly I feel that what I got was a much better deal.

ace73,
The P-06 and P-01 are identical so the swap is really easy.  The CZ 75B Compact the barrels between 40 and 9 are very close and CZ Custom can make one for you.  I did not have them fit or test the 9mm barrels like I did for the 357 Sig barrels. These are just for lower cost practice and not serious work. On both these pistols the breach face is cut and the extractor is designed for 40 S&W which is the same for 357 Sig.  9mm is a slightly smaller diameter and is likely the cause of my issue though honestly I have several pistols I have done this with and this is the first time reliability has been an issue.  Usually it is a larger point of impact change between calibers.  On both these pistols there is some change, but it all in the 10 ring if I am doing my part.

Peace and Grace to all.

JW

[huskerlrrp]

I bought a single action 75 slide assembly in 40S&W years ago. I then put it on an SP01 frame and CZ Custom did the rechamber on a 9mm barrel for me. Finally had it hard coated. I load a little bit hot 357 SIG with 11.4 AA#7 and 125 Gold Dots or RMR Nukes and had to run a little heavier recoil spring (18lb if I recall). It's pretty reasonable to shoot, but isn't as fast for follow up shots as a 9mm ("flip"). However, that 125 grain bullet at 1400-1500 fps is pretty devastating.