Accuracy is coming: Apex M&P Barrels

[Randy Lee]

Is that movement during lockup or with the slide pulled back slightly?

Also, Randy, with the SDI apex barrel, what is the estimated wear before the hood/lugs don't have that tight fit any longer?

Not sure if I worded that question correctly.

The fit between the slide and barrel hood is not as important as the fit between the barrel bottom lug and the locking block. The SDI should maintain lock up stability for at least 25,000 rounds. The nice thing about the M&P is that you can replace the locking blocks to tighten up the lock up again.

 

[Randy Lee]

Randy, how is this barrel for cast bullets? I mean for someone who is an experienced caster and understands bullet fit and alloys.

The rifling profile is pretty deep compared to some of the other barrels we sampled. So depending on hardness, coating and how fast you push the bullet, you should see pretty phenomenal accuracy with developed hand loads.

 

[Crabo]

Anyone know a good pistolsmith to install one of these barrels in the D/FW area?

 

[agksimon]

Today I tried some 25 yard shots off a rest, with my 5" Pro, with factory barrel, using Fiocchi 115 grain FMJ, as Randy Lee got some exceptionally small groups with it.
It has the potential to be a very good ammo with the right barrel, as most of my groups gave me 3 out of 5 shots within an inch of each other and two flyers. This photo is representative of the rest of them. The new Apex barrel I get will eliminate these flyers.

PS: Went out again today and tried the Fiocchi 115 grain FMJ, in a Walther PPQ and a Browning Hi-Power and both had short-cycles, which caused constant stove pipes. It seems a little weaker than other ammo, but it works fine in both my M&P's. Randy said the HP is more potent, but it cost $5.00 a box more.

 

[Crabo]

I just watched the great video on installing the semi-drop in barrel. Should be really easy to do if you take your time.

 

[Heyman]

I just watched the great video on installing the semi-drop in barrel. Should be really easy to do if you take your time.

You're not gonna share the video?

 

[Randy Lee]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL9y1F-uCYE[/ame]

Here is the video for fitting the Semi Drop-in barrel.

 

[mtnwinds]

Randy, is there enough material on the hood of the gunsmith fit barrel to fit it to a 40 full size pistol?

 

[Randy Lee]

Randy, is there enough material on the hood of the gunsmith fit barrel to fit it to a 40 full size pistol?

Unfortunately, no. We cut the hood width specifically for the 9mm slides.

We will release a .40 to 9mm conversion barrel sometime next year.

 

[F4injected]

Anyone order? I am seriously considering but hate to pay to be a guinea pig on such a new product.

 

[jas4u]

Unfortunately, no. We cut the hood width specifically for the 9mm slides.

We will release a .40 to 9mm conversion barrel sometime next year.

How about for regular .40 Randy?

 

[Randy Lee]

How about for regular .40 Randy?

Probably not until next year. The 9mm seems to suffer more from accuracy problems.

 

[agksimon]

Anyone order? I am seriously considering but hate to pay to be a guinea pig on such a new product.

I ordered the gunsmith fit one, right after they opened for the day.
There is not doubt in my mind, that this is going to greatly shrink my group sizes, as long as the barrel is fitted properly.

 

[bikendan]

Unfortunately, no. We cut the hood width specifically for the 9mm slides.

We will release a .40 to 9mm conversion barrel sometime next year.

SWEET!
Hopefully you'll offer a FS and compact conversion barrel.
i already have a Storm Lake 40 to 9 conversion barrel for my 40FS but i'd love one for my 40C.

 

[cardguy]

Anyone know a good pistolsmith to install one of these barrels in the D/FW area?

On the video, they stated they will fit the barrel.

 

[WR Moore]

There is a very simple test to confirm whether this is the case. Remove your takedown lever and reinstall the barrel and slide on the frame (Don't install the recoil spring assembly, as it will bind up the gun.).

Push the rear of the slide forward until it is approximately where it would rest in battery.

If your hypothesis is right, there should be no play in the barrel either at the muzzle or the chamber area.

Sorry for the delay, got busy. I did the test and there is no play in the barrel at either end under those conditions. I also wanted to note that drag marks on the inside top of the slide seem to indicate that the slanted plane forward of the chamber block appears to ride the slide to provide vertical location of the barrel during the cycling.

 

[Randy Lee]

Sorry for the delay, got busy. I did the test and there is no play in the barrel at either end under those conditions. I also wanted to note that drag marks on the inside top of the slide seem to indicate that the slanted plane forward of the chamber block appears to ride the slide to provide vertical location of the barrel during the cycling.

Excellent! I would say that your gun is in the minority based upon the thousands that we see going through our shop though.

 

[Magload]

I've only had it shot by two other shooters. Now it just shoots low. But at least it's low-center.

Are you expecting the POI to be the top of the front blade sight as the M&Ps the POI is the front dot. This got me at first as I shot my M&ps low and I own 5 of them. I don't like shooting the dot as I didn't learn to shoot this way. Don

 

[agksimon]

Got my 5" Apex barrel a short while ago. Started a new thread on fitting it.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...fitting-apex-barrel-myself.html#post138839134

 

[Crabo]

Could a 5" barrel be threaded for a supressor to fit a 4.25 gun?