Available now: M&P factory 357SIG barrels

[STORMINORMAN]

As of this post time Midway has the 4.25 M&P factory 357SIG barrels and they qualify for FREE SHIPPING as well: under $90!

My only real question I have is will they work with a 40 S&W M&P 4" Compact? Can't imagine why not, hopefully someone out here has personal knowledge: why a +.25" would make any real difference is beyond my pay grade...

Cheers!

 

[asilcot]

I was asking the same question. The info that I gathered was that the 4.25" barrel will not work in the 4" pistol because of the way the end of the barrel fits the slide. The end of the barrel is slightly larger to lock up in the slide when closed. In a shorter slide there will be too much play.

This is why I bought the full size 4.25" gen 1 pistol. I was buying primarily to convert to 357 Sig. Yesterday I also bought a 40c 1.0 with the 3.5" barrel and now I am looking for the factory 357 Sig barrel for that one. Looks like I may end up with a Storm Lake.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Well, the 5" 9mm StormLake conversion barrel works in my 4.25" M&P's, and it is .75" longer(!) and locks up just fine: I still can't see why an extra .25" would matter?

The raised area at the end on both of my .40 S&W barrels (ported & standard) run .5"...

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I believe in time the 357 Sig will go the way of the 8mm Nambu. Already interest is waning and sales are lagging.

 

[asilcot]

Well, the 5" 9mm StormLake conversion barrel works in my 4.25" M&P's, and it is .75" longer(!) and locks up just fine: I still can't see why an extra .25" would matter?

The raised area at the end on both of my .40 S&W barrels (ported & standard) run .5"...

At the time I did not own an M&P and had no way to verify the information. I knew the 4.25 barrel at Midway would work in the M&P full size gen 1 and there was one in stock nearby at a good price so I went that direction. I took a second look at the 2.0 compact and liked it but it was too close in size to what I already had so I went with the 10 round 3.5" version.

Let me know if it works out. There are still some great deals out there for the 4" 2.0. I really like these pistols and I am not sure how I went so long without paying any attention to them.

 

[PATRONE]

I got 2 .357 sig barrels from Storm Lake. Great quality.
One was a 4.5" and it shoots nice and accurate.
The other was for a 1st gen M&P compact, and I can't hit jack with full power rounds. Not enough barrel length to take advantage of the sig round. I'm better off with hot .40s in the compact.

Live and learn.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

I believe in time the 357 Sig will go the way of the 8mm Nambu. Already interest is waning and sales are lagging.

Actually, if one reloads, the convenience of having 15 +1 rounds with almost the same ballistics as a 125gr 357 Mag surely fits the bill from a defensive perspective. Much more convenient than carrying a brace of revolvers.

Buy the $90 barrel and you are basically good to go. I can reload practice ammo for less than $0.20 per round and more energetic stuff (?) for a nickel more. My StormLake 357 Sig barrel is quite accurate: will see how the factory one measures up...?

Cheers!

P.S. "They" also say the 40 S&W is "dead" (dying?), but I don't believe that one, either...

 

[PATRONE]

Actually, if one reloads, the convenience of having 15 +1 rounds with almost the same ballistics as a 125gr 357 Mag surely fits the bill from a defensive perspective. Much more convenient than carrying a brace of revolvers.

Buy the $90 barrel and you are basically good to go. I can reload practice ammo for less than $0.20 per round and more energetic stuff (?) for a nickel more. My StormLake 357 Sig barrel is quite accurate: will see how the factory one measures up...?

Cheers!

P.S. "They" also say the 40 S&W is "dead" (dying?), but I don't believe that one, either...

Yup.
At a hair over 1500 fps, and just under 595 fp of force, it's a flat shooting and accurate little powerhouse.
Provided you have at least a 4" or longer barrel.
As far as your original question, I'm no help. The 4.5" I got was for an XDm. If it will work, it will certainly help your ballistics.

 

[asilcot]

Actually, if one reloads, the convenience of having 15 +1 rounds with almost the same ballistics as a 125gr 357 Mag surely fits the bill from a defensive perspective. Much more convenient than carrying a brace of revolvers.

Buy the $90 barrel and you are basically good to go. I can reload practice ammo for less than $0.20 per round and more energetic stuff (?) for a nickel more. My StormLake 357 Sig barrel is quite accurate: will see how the factory one measures up...?

Cheers!

P.S. "They" also say the 40 S&W is "dead" (dying?), but I don't believe that one, either...

The gun manufacturers also went to the extreme to kill off the 10mm so they could just cram everything into a 9mm frame. Glad to see that the 10 is finally making a well deserved comeback.

I cast and reload for the 357 Sig so it is not much more expensive than the 9mm. Just a little more powder. In addition the horsepower it is one of most accurate rounds that I load.

 

[asilcot]

I got 2 .357 sig barrels from Storm Lake. Great quality.
One was a 4.5" and it shoots nice and accurate.
The other was for a 1st gen M&P compact, and I can't hit jack with full power rounds. Not enough barrel length to take advantage of the sig round. I'm better off with hot .40s in the compact.

Live and learn.

I chronographed both of my 357 Sig pistols (P229 with a 3.9" barrel and the 4.25" M&P) and there was less difference than I expected. I can't seem to find my printout right now but Ballistics By The Inch website shows just over 100 fps difference between a 3" and a 4" barrel so I would expect the 3.5" to fall somewhere between. I am kind of surprised that you saw the accuracy fall off with the 3.5" barrel. I guess there is some point that the cartridge is just not efficient when going to a short barrel. Still, if I come across a barrel at the right price I will have to try it. I just love to experiment.

 

[Imshootin]

Thanks for the heads up. I just received my barrel from Midway today.
I'll be dropping it in my .40 PC C.O.R.E. for a little extra fun and excitement. Have several .40/.357 Sig guns and I was hoping to tag one of these barrels for this one.

 

[asilcot]

Glad you got one. That is a good deal on a barrel. I will probably order the Storm Lake 3.5" barrel the next time Optics Planet runs one of their 10% off deals.

 

[Zebra War Wagon]

I have been following this thread as I have a similar interest. Please allow me to explain; I have a 2.0 FS 40 and a 2.0 Compact 40. I purchased a Storm Lake 1.0 357 Sig barrel and it dropped right into my 2.0 FS 40 and delivers great accuracy and reliability. After reading this thread tonight, I took that Storm Lake 357 Sig barrel and installed it in my 2.0 Compact 40. It dropped right in and it does stick out of the barrel about 3/8". I measured the diameter of the end of the barrel which is slightly thicker (than the rest of the barrel) to mate up with the slide bushing. While measuring, I noticed that the length of the extra thickness is about 3/4". If someone had the ability to trim about 1/4" from the end of the barrel, the FS barrel would fit as the original, and I'm sure function perfectly in the Compact model. Or you could just leave it alone and just have a little extra barrel exiting the slide end......

 

[asilcot]

Or if it was just a little bit longer you could thread it. Thanks for that info. It's good information to have.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Great news! Can't imagine how that "extra" .375" can hurt a thing...?

Answered my original inquiry: THANKS!

 

[galena]

I have two full size M&P 40SW pistols. Based on the original post in this thread I bought one of the S&W .357 Sig barrels from Midway. Works fine, also have a 2.0c M&P in 40SW, the 4.25" barrel drops right in and works fine. I have a second 4.25" barrel on the way from Midway, once it arrives the 2.0c and the new barrel are off to my Smithy to be cut back and crowned to fit the shorter frame. I will update once the project is complete. I do like the M&Ps.

 

[PATRONE]

I chronographed both of my 357 Sig pistols (P229 with a 3.9" barrel and the 4.25" M&P) and there was less difference than I expected. I can't seem to find my printout right now but Ballistics By The Inch website shows just over 100 fps difference between a 3" and a 4" barrel so I would expect the 3.5" to fall somewhere between. I am kind of surprised that you saw the accuracy fall off with the 3.5" barrel. I guess there is some point that the cartridge is just not efficient when going to a short barrel. Still, if I come across a barrel at the right price I will have to try it. I just love to experiment.

My reloads are 125 gr Spear over 9.2 grains of Power Pistol, and they really scoot.
I have loaded milder rounds with Accurate #7, and had great accuracy in the 3.5 barrel.
The thing is, I was pretty much in 9mm +p territory. So it was basically a "why am I doing this?" moment for me.
In the future, I can probably dial in some loads for the Compact.
Just need more spare time.

 

[asilcot]

I cast my own bullets and powder coat them. I was loading Accurate #9 and getting great accuracy at 1300 fps from both of my pistols. I have close to 8# of Unique so I started loading that. Still good accuracy but velocity is slightly lower (about 1275). I ordered the 3.58" Storm Lake barrel last night so I wll see how it compares when it comes in.

 

[galena]

My M&P Compact 2.0 .357 SIG

This is a follow up to my earlier post, #16 above. I received my second S&W .357 SIG 4.25" barrel and took it and my 2.0 Compact .40SW to my Smithy. He cut the 4.25" back to an even 4" and polished the muzzle. Picked it up yesterday and down to my pasture range. Fired one 13 round group and am pleased. The temp was in the low 40s with a pretty stiff quartering Xwind. Shot a little low and left, I am a left handed shooter. Practice will help, only shot one mag full because my range is VERY muddy and I hate picking up brass in the mud. 13 shots, 25 yards, standing, two hand hold.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

OK, I'll bite...

This is a follow up to my earlier post, #16 above. I received my second S&W .357 SIG 4.25" barrel and took it and my 2.0 Compact .40SW to my Smithy. He cut the 4.25" back to an even 4" and polished the muzzle. Picked it up yesterday and down to my pasture range. Fired one 13 round group and am pleased. The temp was in the low 40s with a pretty stiff quartering Xwind. Shot a little low and left, I am a left handed shooter. Practice will help, only shot one mag full because my range is VERY muddy and I hate picking up brass in the mud. 13 shots, 25 yards, standing, two hand hold.

I have to ask: have you shot anything out of your new 2.0 Compact 4.0" with one of the 4.25" barrels from your FS 40's or your original 4.25" 357 SIG? I'm interested because I don't see a problem with an extra length of barrel as long as the lockup is within the raised end (@ the "business end") of the barrel.

Seems to work fine with my 5" Storm Lake 9mm conversion on my FS 4.25" frame.

CHEERS!