[Malicious Compliance]

My thoughts, for what little they are worth. The sighting difference is really negligible. Unless you are a target/competition shooter, I wouldn't be too concerned at all. Each number change, up or down, in the rear sight results in a 2" difference at 25 yards. Each number change, up or down, in the front sight results in a 1" difference at 25 yards.

In my opinion, the caliber exchange kit opens the door to some unusual wear patterns on the alloy frames if not properly fitted to the frame. At a minimum, using an exchange kit will lead to wear that is different than that of the original slide. For this reason, I prefer using the conversion barrels in my SIG's. YMMV

 

[pblanc]

I wouldn't say it will shoot very low. But if you shoot both .40 S&W and 357 SIG using the same slide with the same sights, for any given "hold" (POA) the point of impact for 357 SIG will be a bit lower than for .40 S&W. But the 357 SIG having a faster muzzle velocity has less drop and shoots flatter, so the difference starts to diminish if you shoot at longer ranges.

I don't find this to be a big deal shooting at the usual self-defense handgun range and simply adjust for it with a slightly different sight picture. In my case, I use sights that are more commonly used for the 357 SIG cartridge which allows me to use a #2 sight picture instead of a #3 sight picture for .40 S&W, which I actually prefer.

I am typically shooting a bunch of different pistols chambered for different cartridges and all of them require a slightly different sight picture. I find that my 9 mm Luger pistols require a different hold for shooting 124 grain or 147 grain ammo than they do for 115 grain. So adjusting the sight picture for elevation is just something you get used to with pistols.

 

[ThnkFrst]

I prefer the barrel swap over the slide swap for 357/40 for reasons of cost as you said and wear as MC said.

I have two pistols that I shoot 357 and 40 from (both with barrel swaps) and at the range that I practice at (30' and in), I don't see that much difference in POI. It would be more noticeable at greater ranges I suppose.

 

[animalhd1]

I swapped in a new 357 Barrel to my 40 p229 and it did shoot a bit lower. I then changed to 8/8 sights and all is good. The 40 now shoot poi at a more common poa/poi (right at the tip of the front sight post at 15 yard). Standard Sig 9mm/357 sight numbers are 8/8 most 40s ship with 6/8 as did mine.

 

[jnichols2]

Figure on about 1/2" low at 7 yards. Can you shoot inside that?

 

[Steelhat]

I added .357 barrel to my P229 .40 and will change the front sight from #6 to #8.
Same with my wife's P239. I rather hold a bit lower when shooting .40 than higher while shooting .357 which is our main caliber.

 

[229xtrm]

Before I spend over $400 for a kit I would buy me a police trade-in in .357 and have another gun. I had bought a .357 kit for my 9 and realized I could have a total pistol instead and sold the kit before I used it. The problem is I didn't buy a trade-in and spent lots more on something else.

 

[jtdunc]

If you shoot hotter 40SW and standard 357 sig, the difference at even 15 yards is negligible.

I have a P229 with both barrels and interchange them - no problems.

You could buy a 357 sig used barrel and get an adjustable rear sight from Fusion Firearms and be under $200.

That's what I did on my Sig and few of my Glocks. Barrel swap - no doubt.

 

[Cuda]

The slide, recoil spring are exactly the same for the 40SW and the 357 Sig kits. The only difference between the two kits is the barrel. I just got off of the phone with Sig customer service to verify this info. I just purchased a 357 sig barrel (Sig Sauer BBL226357 P226 Barrel 357 Sig Sauer, 4.4", Blued) on line from Walmart for 111.00.

 

[pblanc]

Did you ask about the sights? As a general rule, for the P229 SIG has used a #6 front and a #8 rear for .40 S&W and a #8 front and a #8 rear for 357 SIG. I assume the same is true for the P226.

 

[Cuda]

Both kits come with Siglite Night Sights.

 

[VA GS]

With the kits at $400 the barrel is the only way to go.

 

[pblanc]

Yes, but SIGLITE sights come in different heights and that is what determines the sight picture. The numbers refer to the heights of the sights.

For the front sight a higher number indicates a shorter sight. For rear sights a higher number indicates a taller sight. Going to a higher number sight either front or rear will move groups up for any given hold (move the POI up for any POA).

Since the POI for 357 SIG tends to be lower than that for .40 S&W at typical handgun ranges, the shorter #8 front sight for 357 SIG moves the groups higher than the #6 would.