M&P Storm Lake barrel

General Firearms Handguns - Semi Auto
21

I am quite interested in how this turns OUT. Thanks.

For what its worth, the crown on my '10 .45 looks perfectly recessed and ground. My two 9s (both '12s) do not. Although, I would think that hood/slide fit is also critical.

22

Awesome and it is much appreciated. I will get it sent off tomorrow. Looking forward to the results.

-Jax

23

Mike,
Are .45 barrels included in your experiment? If so, I’d like to send mine.

willie

24

Mike, thank you for offering this experiment. I sent you a PM with a picture of my best group using my 5" pro. Let me know if you think it is a worthy candidate.

25

It would also be instructive to show a BEFORE and AFTER recrown set of pics.

26

Are the accuracy issues with all full size 9s or are the threaded barrel models exempt from the issues?

27

Supposedly partially due to unlocking too soon. If you have 2 barrels that unlock at the same time but both prematurely then it stands to reason that the longer/threaded barrel, which will leave the bullet in the barrel longer will be less accurate.

My bench shooting with both barrels confirms the standard barrel is slightly more accurate.

-Jax

ETA: The threaded barrel is a Smith LH threaded version. Cant remember the thread pitch.

28

I didn’t see this addressed in any posts, but are you doing a pre and post shot group? If you don’t know how off it is on the pre side you won’t have an accurate data sampling to make your assumption on. Just a thought and if you need any more 9mm barrels I can send you mine. Shooting 9-12 inch groups @ 25m although I don’t have much experience with “distance” pistol shooting so it could be me.

29

Thanks Jax.

Has S&W modified/updated the threaded barrels on new guns as well?

Will the “fitted” storm lake barrels outshoot the new barrels?

30

I’m shooting 10 round groups I’ll photo with the ammo I have on hand before I send my two barrels in this weekend.

I’ll use WWB 115 gr, Winchester RA9T +p+ 127 gr, Federal HST 147 gr and a mediocre handloaded 147 GR Precision Bullet. That should cover the gamut of weights and types to illustrate the POA and accuracy issues.

31

Mike,

Any room/time for another 9mm barrel? I have my slide with Grant for a fitted Storm Lake and it would be informative to have one of your crowned barrels to do some comparison work with when my fitted barrel and slide returns. It’s an earlier model prior to recent changes. Thanks.

Best,

Bill

32

I don’t have a PM or Pic

33

I have quite a few barrels for the test now.
maybe I will do another batch later if the test results are positive.
I will shoot a before and after group and post some pictures
You can post your before and or after groups pictures here also if you want.

I have not seen or heard of any M&P .45 that shoot poorly but I’m sure there must be some.

34

I sent my PM and pic to your account in the original post.

35

S&W recently switched to 1/10 twist rate. While this does help, it is not a full solution (as the barrel hood to slide fit can still be kind of loose).

A fitted barrel (no matter the gun) will always improve accuracy.

C4

36

Grant
What is the barrel twist on the fitted Storm Lake barrels?

37

I have a Storm Lake barrel on order. So b/t that barrel, my factory one, and the one Mike is going to recrown for me it should be quite interesting to see how each of them group once I get everything back to the house.

-Jax

ETA:

MH64,

The Storm Lake 9mm barrel is 1/16.

38

1/10.

C4

39

Grant,

So Storm Lake has 2 twist rates? Midway says their’s are 1/16.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/550366/storm-lake-semi-drop-in-barrel-smith-and-wesson-m-and-p-9mm-luger-1-in-16-twist-425-stainless-steel?cm_cat=CheckoutConfirm&cm_pla=ProductDescrip

-Jax

40

Correct. Most everything they do is a 1/16 twist. They will do special runs of 1/10 though.

C4