MP 9mm Shield Ported Velocity Loss Help!

marathonrunner · Apr 9, 2016

Guys, I was thinking about getting this pistol but the one thing I am concerned about is how much velocity do you lose with the ported barrel? I been told about 35 to 50fps and while that does not seem a lot, I would say out of a pocket pistol that is huge. i have the regular Shield and shoot just fine with it so I don't see any point in this pistol. However, the fiber optic and enhanced trigger I do like a lot.

Bayoutalker · Apr 9, 2016

Why not just add a new trigger and the sights to your current Shield? The ports will also give a bright flash if fired at night.

Cliff

marathonrunner · Apr 9, 2016

Bayoutalker said:
Why not just add a new trigger and the sights to your current Shield? The ports will also give a bright flash if fired at night.

Cliff

I shoot just fine with stock shield. I also have another with Apex Duty and it is indeed awesome. I think you are definitely right in that getting TRU Glo TFO would make it perfect. I don't like the idea of losing any velocity out of a pocket pistol

hexnut · Apr 9, 2016

I don't believe the velocity loss is all that much. People with revolvers never worry about the cylinder gap at the barrel.

jeffhughes · Apr 9, 2016

Just upgrade the trigger and sights on your current gun.

Mine has an Apex trigger and Trijicon HD sights.

Most reputable instructors will discourage you from the ported barrel as it is not practical from a self defense standpoint.

hexnut · Apr 9, 2016

I have the ported M&P 9mm and I see no issues with self defense. I have been carrying a gun for the last 30 years. I have only had to get it out one time for self defense and did not have to fire it then. I have shot countless rounds at the range. get one for what you will use it for the most and have the most fun with it. Just my humble opinion.

Mister X · Apr 9, 2016

Velocity loss is an issue, but of greater concern would be hot gases being vented into your eyes/face if forced to fire from a retention position.

From Michael De Bethencourt regarding ported snub revolvers, but very much applies to the Shield as well... https://snubtraining.wordpress.com/2009/06/28/snub-training-ported-barrels/

hexnut · Apr 10, 2016

To the ones who don't like ported guns, don't buy them. That will leave more for the ones who do like them. And S&W would make them if it wasn't a big market out there. Around here the gun shops can't keep enough of them. They sell every one they get.

btong · Apr 18, 2016

Been using mine for a few weeks now. Compared reloads using 124gr RN with Titegroup in varying charges (3.8, 4.1, and 4.3 grains) on M&P9 PC Ported and CZ75 SP-01 Shadow. Chrono showed no real in ddifference in muzzle velocity.
Also no issues with flash from ports. Front sight gets a bit dirty.

McE · Apr 18, 2016

Surely the ports cause the bullets to lose so much velocity that it becomes non-lethal, right?

notaliberal · Apr 18, 2016

marathonrunner said:
Guys, I was thinking about getting this pistol but the one thing I am concerned about is how much velocity do you lose with the ported barrel? I been told about 35 to 50fps and while that does not seem a lot, I would say out of a pocket pistol that is huge. i have the regular Shield and shoot just fine with it so I don't see any point in this pistol. However, the fiber optic and enhanced trigger I do like a lot.

I am not sure why you are concerned. Is it that you think the bullet will not reach full expansion once penetrated?

Smitty357 · Apr 18, 2016

notaliberal said:
I am not sure why you are concerned. Is it that you think the bullet will not reach full expansion once penetrated?

Thats the issue with ported barrels. always has been and always will be. HP ammo is what makes a 9mm worth owning now days. Taking away the velocity that allows it to expand is a disadvantage. Ported barrels are awesome range weapons. Of course we are shooting ball ammo and our paper targets dont care for expansion.

Id rather have all the expansion i can possibly get from a SD pocket pistol.

Stratajema · Apr 21, 2016

S&W needs to stop with the gimmick of having a ported barrel on a short barrel gun and just offer the Shield with those nice fiber optic sights and smooth (non-gritty) trigger.

Hopefully S&W will introduce this year the M&P with a modular, serialized, removable trigger pack (e.g. Sig P320) and easier to remove sights. Eventually that design change will find its way into the Shield, and the ported barrel option will be just a memory.

BTW, losing 35 to 50 fps of velocity out of a ported, short barrel can possibly put it below the minimum velocity threshold for self defense hollow points to open up. This is especially the case when using bonded bullets like the Speer Gold Dots.

notaliberal · Apr 21, 2016

Stratajema said:
S&W needs to stop with the gimmick of having a ported barrel on a short barrel gun and just offer the Shield with those nice fiber optic sights and smooth (non-gritty) trigger.

Hopefully S&W will introduce this year the M&P with a modular, serialized, removable trigger pack (e.g. Sig P320) and easier to remove sights. Eventually that design change will find its way into the Shield, and the ported barrel option will be just a memory.

BTW, losing 35 to 50 fps of velocity out of a ported, short barrel can possibly put it below the minimum velocity threshold for self defense hollow points to open up. This is especially the case when using bonded bullets like the Speer Gold Dots.

Not a gimmick. Ported barrels on the shield serve a purpose in that it provides quicker target acquisition.

Just buy +P ammo then problem solved with any velocity loss.

hexnut · Apr 21, 2016

Stratajema said:
S&W needs to stop with the gimmick of having a ported barrel on a short barrel gun and just offer the Shield with those nice fiber optic sights and smooth (non-gritty) trigger.

Hopefully S&W will introduce this year the M&P with a modular, serialized, removable trigger pack (e.g. Sig P320) and easier to remove sights. Eventually that design change will find its way into the Shield, and the ported barrel option will be just a memory.

BTW, losing 35 to 50 fps of velocity out of a ported, short barrel can possibly put it below the minimum velocity threshold for self defense hollow points to open up. This is especially the case when using bonded bullets like the Speer Gold Dots.

What about the people who want the ported barrel. I bought the gun for that reason. I think Smith & Wesson knows what its doing. There is a demand out there for this gun. They are selling all they can make of them. Buy a regular Shield and change the sights and get a trigger job if you don't like the ported barrel. Oh and some one on here checked the velocity and the loss was negligible.

McE · Apr 21, 2016

hexnut said:
What about the people who want the ported barrel. I bought the gun for that reason. I think Smith & Wesson knows what its doing. There is a demand out there for this gun. They are selling all they can make of them. Buy a regular Shield and change the sights and get a trigger job if you don't like the ported barrel. Oh and some one on here checked the velocity and the loss was negligible.

Yep. It is not a company's job to only make products that make sense. As long as people want stupid things, and we have a free market, stupid things will be made to sell.

hexnut · Apr 21, 2016

McE said:
Yep. It is not a company's job to only make products that make sense. As long as people want stupid things, and we have a free market, stupid things will be made to sell.

Opinions vary.

notaliberal · Apr 21, 2016

McE said:
Yep. It is not a company's job to only make products that make sense. As long as people want stupid things, and we have a free market, stupid things will be made to sell.

Opinions are plentiful out there. It is the skilled and educated that I value.

Mister X · Apr 21, 2016

notaliberal said:
Opinions are plentiful out there. It is the skilled and educated that I value.

No offense, but who would that be?

Could you provide some specific names of "skilled and educated" individuals that actually recommend porting on a defense handgun?

I've never met or heard of a single reputable instructor that recommended a ported gun for defensive purposes. I'm not saying there aren't any out there, I've just never came across one.

hexnut · Apr 21, 2016

And the foremost authority on this subjects speaks yet again. And has probably never shot one in his life. I believe many on here have come to think that your fanaticism on this subject is kind of a joke. Give us a rest.

MP 9mm Shield Ported Velocity Loss Help!

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Similar threads