Guys, I have another question. Was considering getting a storm lake barrel for my 9c. Will that really make a difference at 21 to 50ft max range?

You might be able to detect a difference at 50' from a machine rest.

I can't imagine swapping barrels would produce any practical or even noticeable difference shooting at 21 - 50' in any other circumstance than from a machine rest.

RPG, thanks! Well how about this. I have been told not to use a match grade barrel for conceal carry you agree? Also, my Glock 19, I don't like the fact the stock barrel does not allow me to use reloads. So I am thinking I can buy a Storm Lake barrel just so I can shoot reloads and then switch back to stock for conceal carry does that sound good?

Glock does not warranty it's pistols if you shoot reloads, neither do most all other manufacturers. The barrel has nothing to do with it. I shoot a couple of hundered reloads every week through my Glock 19 with it's stock barrel. I just don't tell Glock about it. Shooting reloads is a warranty issue. Some reloads might make your pistol go kaboom.

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Can my S&W Mdl 10 shoot +P

I don't know why you shouldn't use a match barrel for sd if you want.

If you want to use a lot of reloaded ammo that won't function in the factory barrel, you may save enough on the ammo to justify the cost of a new barrel.

If you did buy the new barrel, I'd use it all the time (assuming it actually makes your pistol more reliable).

No reason to fiddle around switching back and forth except the pleasure of fiddling with your pistol.

This is a sd pistol, not a bullseye pistol: reliability is everything.

Ditto what RPG said. Pick a barrel, use it for SD and target alike.
No way I'd trust my life swapping back and forth.
And to add...shoot your SD ammo, lots of it, regardless of which barrel you decide to use.

All I shoot are reloads for practice from my 40c and girl's 9c.
Get a quality reloader, very little to worry about. Yes, found that out the hard way when I first purchased my 40c.

I also recommend emptying a magazine of SD rounds once a month or so.
I always unholster my concealed pistol at the range (once checked in, etc.) and fire a full magazine as is, as it would be if I had to use it for SD.
Yes, I hate paying SD round price to practice. But the lives and safety of my loved ones and myself...that, I can't put a price on.

Here's why: If the "match barrel" is truly a match barrel (many aftermarket are not) the chamber will be minimum size and the ammunition must match perfectly to avoid reliability problems.

Had one fellow in the club that bought an expensive top brand match barrel and found it would not feed his reloads. He paid a gunsmith to "jug out the chamber" and, after spending $300, wound up right back where he was.

My advice: shoot the stock barrel unless it is defective.

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Science plus Art

Buying a match grade barrel to improve your accuracy is like buying a $5000 racing bike to make you go faster.

Technically yes... if you are Jerry Miculek or Lance Armstrong, it might make a difference.

Newer M&P 9's have a different barrel twist rate for better accuracy. Try one of those, you may find a tighter group w/ the newer pistols. I did.

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LEO, Instr, Armorer, Gov's 20

I reload ammunition to get better quality than factory loads. Perhaps you guys are talking about factory reloads when you note there may be problems.

It's been my experience that anytime I tighten clearances to improve accuracy, the gun becomes more finicky about the ammo it works reliably with, and it also gets fussy about temperature, dirt, and wear.

All acceptable for target guns if that's your goal though.

.

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Kirk / Spock 2020

The technical answer is yes, a different barrel will make a difference.

The practical answer is no, you won't notice a difference.

A true bullseye shooter would notice a difference. The thing is, no bullseye shooter would be using an M&P 9c. The moral of this story is, if you're shooting 4" groups at 50' (16 yards) and you put an after market barrel in the gun, you'll still be shooting 4" groups at 50'. However, if you're shooting 2" groups at 75' (normal target pistol distance) then an after market barrel might get it down to 1.8" groups.

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Freedom isn't free.

The only time I buy a second barrel is for changing my M&P CORE from 40s&w to 9mm. I have done this with my Sig 239 40 t0 .357 Sig.....

Can you hit a man sized target 9 out of 10 at 60 yds? If so than yes, it might make a difference. I saw a young lady do it one day with her M&P 9c. It was great to see a person so competent with their carry gun even better that it was a woman. I do not believe that you will see a difference at the distance you are proposing.

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This≠DodgeCity&You≠BillHickok

You've already got some really good answers.

I will offer my experience with "one" Storm-Lake .40-9mm conversion barrel. The stock .40 is noticeably more accurate with most ammo combinations.

You're in that spot where it truly might make a difference, maybe not, probably isn't worth the money; but if it is better you'd be really happy! So I say try it if you've got the money, but its just playing games at this point. I have a few guns with ridiculous amounts of money into experimenting, and they are among my favorite, and those that I know best. Worth it? They're my favorites, and I know them best.

Hard to tell if the barrel will make much of a difference. You will have to try it to find out. For a carry gun, it has to work 100%. If the new barrel does that, then it would be OK for self defense. In general, a match barrel is made oversized in some areas and may have to be fitted to the pistol. A tighter fit may be prone to jamming if dirty.

With the Glock, lead bullets can cause a problem. The rifling is not made for them. Probably wont be accurate and barrel leading could build up. So, if you wish to use lead bullets for practice, an after market barrel would be a good idea. Then switch back for a carry load. I like a completely stock gun for carry and factory ammo.

Let's ask the question as to why you feel you need another barrel?

Proven poor accuracy?

My 9c shot horrible groups. Until I polished the trigger parts and dropped it from 8.5 lbs to 4.5 lbs.... hahaha

my Glock 35 gets like an accuracy job when I shoot it with a KKM barrel, when I used to carry it was with the factory barrel though.