What is needed to convert from 9x21 to 9mm major?

[Tray]

Hello all,

I have an EAA witness setup as a 9x21that I used many years ago. I stopped shooting when winchester 540 went away and changed to prod class. I am thinking of shooting open again but want to limit the cash outlay in weapon and ammo.

Can I use the existing 9x21 barrel with 9x19? I have already checked for functionality with 9x19 and it feeds and functions fine. If I can, what do I need to do to make the best of what I have?

If I can't will a drop in barrel work or would it need to be fitted.

I currently have plenty of 147 grain molly coated bullets with vihtavuori n340 powder. I'd like to come up with a load with what I have for 9mm major.

Suggestions? Advice?

Edited March 3, 2013 by Tray

[Joe4d]

cast and comps dont play well together. Wile a few here and there 9mm will work, you are headspaceing on the extractor. Sooner or later the extracor wil slip and you will end up with an over inserted case in the chamber. Add that to trying to make major ? Just to much can go wrong. Why not just buy some 9X21 brass ? It is available. 147's are not the way to go either. Most 9mm major guys are running 115 or 124. You need the powder space to run the comp.

[Steve RA]

Seat as long as you can without experiencing bullet setback and it should work just fine.

[Tray]

cast and comps dont play well together. Wile a few here and there 9mm will work, you are headspaceing on the extractor. Sooner or later the extracor wil slip and you will end up with an over inserted case in the chamber. Add that to trying to make major ? Just to much can go wrong. Why not just buy some 9X21 brass ? It is available. 147's are not the way to go either. Most 9mm major guys are running 115 or 124. You need the powder space to run the comp.

I am trying to limit the cost and work required for right now. I have 9x21 brass but would have to work up a new load. To do that I am certain I would need powder and new bullets. Both are very tough to find right now. I have over 4000 rounds of the 147 grain molly bullets and several lbs of 340. I just want to come up with a functioning safe weapon that I can use to see if I really want to get back into open class with minimal investments. If I decide I want to continue then I can revisit what to do if that happens.

[Glk21C]

A friend of mine has a similar vintage, has put well over 100,000 rounds of 9*19 major thru the 9*21 barrel, never an issue.

Keep the comp lubricated with dillon case lube and lead buildup should be kept to a min.

Lastly, I can't comment on the bullet weight (I use 124), but a well known 'smith recommend vv340 to me for 9major as well

Good luck

[Glk21C]

I don't use vv340, just stating he recommended it

[kneelingatlas]

How much barrel is screwed into the comp? If it's .38", you can buy a small frame, longslide 9x19 barrel from EAA, thread it, drop it in and go. If you need a longer barrel you're pretty much screwed. Is the comp custom? Or a Tanfo factory part? The Tanfoglio comps I have are threaded M14x0.75, CZs are M14x1 and I think the barrel I have from the Springfield Custom Shop is threaded M14x0.5.

[Tray]

How much barrel is screwed into the comp? If it's .38", you can buy a small frame, longslide 9x19 barrel from EAA, thread it, drop it in and go. If you need a longer barrel you're pretty much screwed. Is the comp custom? Or a Tanfo factory part? The Tanfoglio comps I have are threaded M14x0.75, CZs are M14x1 and I think the barrel I have from the Springfield Custom Shop is threaded M14x0.5.

I bought the comp with the gun many years ago. I'll see if I can find out what brand it is. I'll pull the comp off tomorrow and see how much threading it has.