Looking for any thoughts on what people think of Storm Lake. I'm thinking of getting one for my M&P9 Pro core, they are not too expensive and if I can gain better accuracy with them, if it's going to be worth spending the money. After finding out my low and left issues were operator error, it's shooting about 6 inch groups at 20 yards. Does anyone one one? and what do you think of them?

They are just as good as the factory barrels and cost twice as much.
KKM are usually better.
If you get a truly tight-chambered target barrel, you may wind up with feeding problems using average ammo. One of our shooters bought a Bar-Sto and found it would not feed his handloads, so he jugged the chamber, which brought him right back to "just as good as factory."

My experience with introducing people to the combat tupperware is that lessons and practice "improve the gun" more than anything unless it is defective.

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Science plus Art

I have a Storm Lake in my M&P 9L. I built the slide assenbly from parts through S&W as I cant get the long slide guns in my state easily. I bought the Storm Lake barrel as S&W would not sell me one of theirs. My first one had a way tight chamber and loads of ejection and feeding issues. The replacement shoots fine and has about 15,000 or so through it. I am waiting for Apex to get their barrel out there before I replace it. I have heard about some issues with factory barrels, but my M&P 40 L shoots as good as I can. If you want a bullseye gun, buy a PPC 9. I would keep the factory barrel...

As far as your 6" groups go, try some 147 grain ammo. My 9L shot 18" groups at 50 yards using White Box 115's, the 147's brought that down to 8".

You might get better accuracy with a Storm Lake. Or not. I never recommend aftermarket parts for a firearm unless they're proven to be superior. If you just have to spend money then ask S&W if you can buy another stock barrel from them to test out after explaining that your accuracy requirements are more severe. For all I know maybe they even make special match barrels. I can get less than a 6" group with my .40 Compact at 7 yards & 15 yards. When I find more practice ammo I'll stretch it out to 20 yards. I don't know how the shorter pistol can be compared to a full size as far as accuracy at a given distance. (To be truthful it's my buddy's M&P40C. Mine is ordered but hasn't arrived yet.)

Have you changed the palm swell grips to a different size? How does the trigger feel? You can get an APEX trigger modification making the reset more pronounced,a lighter pull & no grittiness which usually goes away with usage on the stock triggers. M&Ps manufactured recently are supposed to have a marked improvement on the triggers, at least as good as Glocks.

My recommendation - keep practicing. Many times a new firearm needs breaking in before you can realize better accuracy & a smoother trigger. My buddy almost gave up on his - the one I'm shooting - until somewhere around the 300 round mark. Either he got better with his first semi-auto or it was well broken in. Or both.

Good luck!

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Former USN, Retired US Army

I changed the palm swells to the large and that seems to be the best fit and the trigger was very "gritty" but that was taken care of by my gunsmith, I agree that practice is the best way to improve accuracy and I try to practice atleast 2 times a week, i'm looking for a place nearby that has IDPA shoots to gain more practice in a structured setting but no luck so far.

How about an aftermarket barrel for the 4.25" CORE which is threaded?

Storm lake makes those also, might be kinda cool.

That's my plan get a core find a good threaded Barrel, an optic and finish with a suppressor.

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An expensive, unnecessary barrel upgrade is not going to tighten your groups if you need trigger practice. Take that barrel money and buy ammo for practice instead.

Worthwhile when you get the semi drop in and have it fitted to the slide by someone who knows what they are doing. That is the route I am taking for my core 5 inch.