This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and buy, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I trust and use myself.
The Alphawolf Glock 22 9mm conversion for those that hate 40
That’s why I tried a Glock 22 9mm conversion using the Alpha Wolf slide and barrel kit. With a ported 9mm barrel and a slide cut for both ports and an RMR optic, the kit gave that old surplus Glock 22 a brand-new life. Suddenly, the gun I never wanted to shoot became one I couldn’t wait to take back to the range.
I grabbed a surplus Glock 22 on a screaming deal. The price was too good to pass up, but it ended up sitting in the safe. Why? Because shooting .40 isn’t much fun — the recoil feels snappy, the ammo costs too much, and every range trip made me wish I had brought something else.
If your Glock 22 has been sitting because you hate .40, this Glock 22 9mm conversion is the fix.
Why even bother converting a Glock 22?
Let’s be honest: .40 S&W had its time. It rode the wave of the FBI, law enforcement contracts, and the “bigger must be better” era. Fast forward to today, and most shooters avoid it unless they already own one.
Ammo is expensive. You can stretch your training dollars a lot further with 9mm.
Recoil is snappy. It’s not unmanageable, but it’s not pleasant either.
Shelf space is shrinking. Gun stores stock more 9mm than anything else.
That’s why surplus Glock 22s are everywhere right now — agencies are dumping them, shooters are ignoring them, and prices are rock-bottom. Converting one to 9mm turns a forgotten .40 into a cheap, reliable trainer.
What makes the Alpha Wolf kit different?
This isn’t a simple drop-in barrel. The Alpha Wolf conversion is a complete top end:
A ported 9mm barrel matched with a slide cut for those ports.
An RMR cut already in place — no trip to a machine shop.
Lone Wolf machining that fits tight and runs smooth.
In plain English: it takes your Glock 22 frame and builds a new pistol on top of it. Instead of an old police trade-in that smells like holster funk, you get a flat-shooting, optic-ready 9mm that feels current.
This is where the kit proved itself. I brought Glock 17 mags (because trying to run 9mm through .40 mags is like putting diesel in a Honda — don’t do it). Loaded up, racked the slide, and went to work.
Reliability: Several hundred rounds downrange, no failures. Not one.
Recoil: Noticeably flatter. The ports do their job, keeping the muzzle from flipping as much.
Accuracy: At 15 yards, it grouped like my Glock 17. Add the RMR, and it sped up target transitions and distance shots.
The real test wasn’t whether it worked — it was whether it made me want to shoot the Glock 22 again. And it did.
Cleaning after a ported session
There’s one trade-off with porting: carbon goes places it usually doesn’t. After my range day, the front sight looked like it had been through a barbecue. Nothing crazy, but dirtier than a stock setup.
A quick strip, brush, and a pass of Aegis Gun Care Boom Lube cleaned it up fast. The lube kept the action slick and rails smooth — the kind of detail that keeps Glocks running forever.
That surplus Glock 22 I grabbed for cheap? It went from safe decoration to range regular. The Alpha Wolf kit didn’t just convert it to 9mm — it made it fun to shoot. Cheaper ammo, softer recoil, an optic cut, and reliability that stayed Glock-level.
If you’re sitting on a Glock 22 you don’t enjoy shooting, this is the fix. Instead of selling it or letting it rust in the back of the safe, drop on the Alpha Wolf kit and actually look forward to bringing it out.
Jason’s Insight
I bought the Glock 22 because it was cheap, not because I liked it. Worst case scenario, it was cheap Glock parts. Best case scenario, it’s a project gun (the original thought when I bought it). Sure the gun had a few missing parts, but nothing that was too expensive to fix.
After converting it, I caught myself grinning halfway through the first mag. That’s the difference: it went from a gun I tolerated to one I enjoyed.
Not bad for a pistol that almost became a permanent paperweight.
Does the Alpha Wolf kit make a Glock 22 reliable in 9mm?
Yes. With Glock 17 mags, it ran flawlessly across hundreds of rounds.
Do you need Glock 17 magazines?
Yes. Don’t waste time with .40 mags. They’re not made for 9mm.
Why not just a barrel?
Because the Alpha Wolf barrel is ported. You need the matched slide — and you get an RMR cut thrown in.
Does porting really help?
Yep. Less muzzle rise, quicker follow-ups. It’s noticeable.
Is this safe to use on a Glock 22 frame?
Yes. It’s built as a drop-in conversion for the Glock 22.
Call to Action
If your Glock 22 is gathering dust because you hate .40, don’t sell it — convert it. The Alpha Wolf slide and barrel kit makes it a reliable 9mm trainer with less recoil and an optic-ready slide. Try it, and you might just fall in love with that surplus Glock again.
Join The Rogue Nation!
Stay in the Loop with Real-World Gun Maintenance
No spam. Just proven firearm maintenance tips, gear reviews, and DIY builds—straight from a former gunsmith and 2A educator.
Follow for tools, tips, and teardown walk-throughs:
• Instagram – Behind-the-scenes shop content • Facebook – Community posts & guide drops • Twitter – Quick rants, 2A news, and hot takes • Website – Full archive of all TRB content
Credits:
Original Content by The Rogue Banshee / My Rogue Solutions LLC. Credit: Jason Schaller Email: jschaller@trb.fyi
About the Author: Jason Schaller is a former FFL holder and founder of Eagle Eye Shooters Supply in Helena, MT, where he provided professional gunsmithing services and guided customers on all aspects of firearms ownership. Today, he teaches DIY gunsmithing at The Rogue Banshee and serves as a Chief Instructor at Freedom Crew University. With over a decade of hands-on professional experience with firearms and nearly 30 years in IT, Jason also holds top cybersecurity certifications including CISSP, CISA, and CRISC. When he’s not geeking out, he’s helping others build self-reliance, critical thinking, and firearms proficiency through real-world content.
Disclaimers:
Content Use & Compliance
The videos, articles, and images shared by The Rogue Banshee feature gear, tools, and products for informational and entertainment purposes only. All activities follow local, state, and federal laws where they were conducted in. All activities are conducted safely under professional supervision in approved locations.
Affiliate Disclaimer
Some links are affiliate-based. No extra cost to you—but they help support the work.
Firearm Safety Notice
I promote safe and responsible firearm ownership. All activities are conducted in a controlled, professional environment.
