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BAR-STO P220 Barrel

569 views 30 replies 10 participants last post by  Burgs  
#1 ·
Questions for you P220 .45 owners with OEM-length BAR-STO semi-fit barrels:

Will they fit a West German folded-slide P220?
Will they make a difference in 25+ yard accuracy?

I have a Sig gunsmith who can handle the semi-fit part.

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Thank you in advance for your responses.
 
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#2 ·
Are you sure that is a Sig Sauer frame?
 
#3 · (Edited)
It was my plain clothes duty pistol from 1987 to circa 1997. So, yeah.

There are differences in the original P220s and later production, which is why I'm wondering if a current BAR-STO barrel will fit mine. The hard chrome was done by APW Cogan back when he was still in Florida. The original finish was a matte black.
 
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#6 · (Edited)
Thank you. Yeah, I definitely will. I was just wondering if anyone here had and experience with BAR-STO P220 barrels and if they were worth the expense and effort, should I take that route.
 
#5 ·
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#7 ·
^^^ I have bought a few barrels from Bar Sto and have called them prior to purchase and they are very helpful.

You may also want to email Robert Burke the Sig Armorer. His work is outstanding and he may have some suggestions.


robert@thesigarmorer.com
972-342-2717
How did you like their barrels? Did you notice an improvement in your 25 yd + groups?

I have a Sig specialist right up the road who can do the work, if needed. Believe it or not, my wife saw his sign waiting at a red light. He's isn't well known yet, but he's very good, and he saves me the trouble and angst of shipping my pistols.
 
#10 · (Edited)
I purchased .357 SIG semi-fit Bar Sto barrels for both my P239 and my P229 which I both originally purchased in .40 S&W. I cannot say that they are more accurate than the .40 S&W barrels which they replaced.

No gunsmithing whatsoever was required with either of the .357 SIG Bar Sto barrels. I just dropped the barrels in.

They are very accurate.

I also purchased a 9mm semi-fit Bar Sto barrel for my P239 which I have never shot, but just to have because people are always saying that 9mm will forever be abundant.

I have a pistol rest, can't remember the name, but I can get it for you if you like, which I use to zero in my sights including my red dots.
 
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#12 ·
You say above that you've never fired the 9mm BarSto in your P239 .40SW slide. Have you confirmed in fits well? I'm thinking of going that way, getting a P239 in .40, then finding a 9mm barrel if I can and some mags to have future flexibility. From what I've read, you can't go the other way starting with a 9mm slide. Thanks.
 
#13 · (Edited)
^^^ It is also my understanding that you can't go to .40/357 SIG from a P239 9mm.

Boy, I hope I am not confusing my P239 with my P229 below. So, the following is from memory.

Correction: I just checked. The 9mm magazines I bought to go with the 9mm aftermarket Bar Sto barrel are double stack P229 magazines. So, I did confuse my P239 with my P229 as far as aftermarket Bar Sto barrels go. I am going to keep this post but correct it below, in case it helps a P229 owner or it provides info for P239 owners to discuss with Bar Sto if they call Bar Sto regarding aftermarket barrels for the P239.

The Sig oem 9mm barrel will not fit in the P229 .40/357 SIG slide because the oem barrel is too small of a diameter to fill in the .40/357 SIG, but the aftermarket barrel which I bought from Bar Sto is a larger diameter which is specifically made to fit in the .40/357 SIG slide. And it fitted and shot fine with fine accuracy without any gunsmithing. But call Bar Sto. I even bought a lighter recoil spring to cycle the heavier .40/357 SIG slide reliably with the 9mm barrel and ammunition but there is some discussion and some disagreement on this forum whether or not that is necessary. And I also bought two P229 oem 9mm double stack magazines. But again, I have not tried the 9mm barrel in my P229.

Instead I am working with a trainer to manage the extreme muzzle flip/recoil of the P239 in 357 SIG for faster repeat shots. I have big hands, so I would also like some kind of extension for my pinky to grip. The P229 357 SIG is easier for my faster repeat shots because of its longer grip.

No doubt, with the heavier weight of the .40/357 SIG slide, the P229 (and the P239) would have less muzzle flip/recoil with 9mm ammunition. But you will likely have to experiment to assure that it cycles absolutely reliably.

Please post up on the forum what your results are.
 
#14 · (Edited)
Questions for you P220 .45 owners with OEM-length BAR-STO semi-fit barrels
A few years ago I stumbled onto a Bar-Sto 400 CorBon semi-fit, but upon its’ arrival, discovered that the locking block on my Exeter 220R was too narrow to accommodate the barrel.

Spoke with Irv Stone 3, sent the works up to Sturgis and they reworked the barrel to fit the 220R.

Measure the width of your W German’s locking block w/a caliper before calling Bar-Sto.

And yes, your 220’s accuracy will be improved by-with a Bar-Sto barrel.
 
#15 ·
Called, but BAR-STO is closed today.

This P220 has a lot of rounds through it, and I've noticed that it has become less accurate than previously, and less accurate than all my other .45s. It's an old friend, so I've installed new tritium sights and I want to get it up to snuff again. I like to do test groups at 25 yards, which is the qual distance too. At 25yds this pistol is sub par. I'd do 50 yards if I could find a range that still offered such, but there's none anywhere around here.
 
#16 ·
@Burgs where approximately are you located?
 
#18 · (Edited)
#19 ·
I have several P220's (.45 and 10mm), P320 and P226 9mm's with Barsto barrels and noticed a 15%+ decrease in group size. Barsto barrels have a slightly tighter bore and when fitted properly can provide greater accuracy over stock barrels. Barstos are match grade barrels and thats pretty much their trade and have been in business for many years.

Bill
www.triggerwork.net
 
#24 · (Edited)
I have several P220's (.45 and 10mm), P320 and P226 9mm's with Barsto barrels and noticed a 15%+ decrease in group size. Barsto barrels have a slightly tighter bore and when fitted properly can provide greater accuracy over stock barrels. Barstos are match grade barrels and thats pretty much their trade and have been in business for many years.

Bill
www.triggerwork.net
Thank you. I have never done an aftermarket barrel on any of my pistols, nor do I know anybody who has. I'm also waiting for BH Springs Solutions to come out with their next batch of .40 S&W match Hi Power barrels. One of my Hi Powers is similarly uncooperative in the accuracy department.

The top one:
Image
 
#27 ·
Thank you. I thought about adopting a homeless barrel, but that could be another question mark what with my P220s early vintage, and who knows where the barrel came from, so I thought that a match barrel would do her justice. As far as mags go, being that she was my duty gun for almost 10 years, I have them coming out my ears. In fact, I was just recently seized with a bout of insanity and bought her 4 new ACT mags. I even have a bunch of the 7 and 8 round metal-follower mags that I use for range work. Despite their vintage, they're still very reliable.
 
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#23 ·
^^^ There is a familiarity and sentimentality with that particular firearm which I believe the OP is trying to preserve.
 
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#28 ·
For giggles, check these magazines out:

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BTW yesterday in my P220 I had multiple failures to feed, maybe it was my technique (but I don't think I was limp wristed) or maybe my support hand thumb was too high on the slide (thumbs forward grip), etc. but today I switched to Remington UMC 45 Auto (ACP) 230gr and did not have a single failure to feed.
 
#29 ·
If I were still working I'd likely carry a couple of those as my spares. I'm old school though and don't like to clutter up my concealed pistols with search lights, TV sets and stuff that sticks out the bottom of the grip like a prolapse on Dr. Pol...

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#30 ·
Yes spares only!
 
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#31 ·
I called BAR-STO. What nice people there. Their P220 semi-fit barrels WILL fit a folded metal slide, so I ordered one. Unfortunately, they don't have any in stock, so there'll be a 4-6 week wait. I expect the wait will be worth it.
 
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