Chasing M&P 9mm accuracy / Praise of Apex barrels

[tmmsec]

About a year ago I purchased a 9 mm pro core thinking I would use it for three gun competition. I was never happy with its accuracy, so I got a pistol coach, did hours and hours of dry fire training, spent hundreds of dollars on reloading supplies so I could try different bullets and powder combinations with this pistol. The best I could do from a bench at 50 feet was a 4-6 inch group that looked like a shotgun blast.

I looked at the apex barrels but I always thought they were too expensive and since the Smith & Wesson M and P pro should be inherently accurate (I was so wrong)

I purchased the apex M and P semi fit barrel. I had it fit perfectly into my gun in 30 minutes (Apex has a great install video). It is such a great feeling to actually be able to hit my targets accurately with very tight groups when I've been trying so hard for so long and not getting there. My 50' bench rest groups are 1-2" actual groups. The positive is that because I spent so much time dry firing and working with a pistol coach my shooting skills have really advanced. It is great to actually have a pistol that can do what I expected it to do.

The attached pictures are both from 50 foot, bench rested, 125gr. Blue bullets, 4.7 gr. W231. The large spread is from the stock M and P barrel, the nice tight group is from my apex barrel.

Thanks Apex, your trigger parts are going to be my next project.


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[Woff]

Man that is just amazing. Smith & Wesson needs to cut them a check.

 

[Flork]

Thank you for being a customer and the kind post.

 

[kstud]

Not trying to rain on your parade with your new purchased but...

IMO, there's nothing wrong with the accuracy of the M&P pistols (or at least mine) and it doesn't need an aftermarket barrel (perhaps an Apex trigger kit for those M&P with terrible factory triggers).

I understand you did a bench test but don't understand why your shot placements are so spread out. Did you clamp down the pistol with sufficient force or did you free hand it on a bench? If you free handed it, perhaps your previous training helped with shot placement or you just had a “good range session”.

I shoot my Compact and Full Size (both completely stock with Crimson Trace laserguard) up to 25 yards (max at the range). At 15 yards (45 feet), I can put rounds through a 3" plaster target fairly easily, no accuracy issues whatsoever…this is with traditional 2 hand grip and 1 hand shooting. My M&Ps doesn’t seem to have any accuracy issue…by accuracy I mean every shot is placed within a 3” target firing fairly rapidly. Disclaimer, I spent a good amount of time calibrating my crimson trace lasers at 12-14 yards.

Noticed that the Apex barrel (bench test) grouping is more to the left instead of smack dab centered, is that where you were aiming?
From my experience, it takes considerable effort to line up front and rear sight perfectly for a bullseye…a fraction of a millimeter unaligned can translate to wide spread of shot placement.

With that said, I’m glad you are happy with the aftermarket Apex barrel and it worked for you…all that matters is your confidence in your pistol.

 

[tmmsec]

Damm, I guess you are just **** hot...


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[clarkz71]

Not trying to rain on your parade with your new purchased but...

IMO, there's nothing wrong with the accuracy of the M&P pistols (or at least mine)
and it doesn't need an aftermarket barrel
(perhaps an Apex trigger kit for those M&P with terrible factory triggers).
.

The accuracy issues of the M&P barrels is well documented over the years.

S&W changed the twist rate of the barrels because of this in
an attempt to help.

The problem is the locking lug geometry, the barrel unlocks too early.

The Apex barrel cures this issue.

"and it doesn't need an aftermarket barrel" = OPINION

Google

 

[Srruger762]

I installed the gunsmith barrel in my sw 9 performance center, made a huge difference. I shoot pretty dang good, with the stock sw barrel I was getting really upset every time I shot it. Installed the apex gunsmith barrel now I can hold really nice groups. Even at 50 yrds.

It's the best investment I made, not disappointed at all.

Txs apex!!!

 

[pgsealevel]

I had a similar experience with a new 9L, it shot shotgun patterns: 6" groups supported at 7 yards when my 9c was at 3" groups with same loads on same range on same day. I was patient with it, gave it a good break-in time, and tried different bullet weights while shooting USPSA events over 6 months. Bottom line, the APEX 5" semi-drop-in barrel improved the mechanical capability of the pistol to group to point of aim from the minute it was in the gun. Easy to fit and delivers as claimed. Thanks Apex!


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[Randy Lee]

tmmsec and all,

I'm glad you are seeing the results similar to what we have experienced during our development of the barrel. I'm also happy to see that your marksmanship skills are at such a high level that you can exploit the mechanical accuracy that we painstakingly designed into our barrel.

I feel the need to clarify that not everyone will want or even need an aftermarket barrel- and I did not design the barrel for them. I designed it for those of you (and myself too) who want to push the edge of performance and want the peace of mind knowing that the mechanical accuracy of their pistol will never be the limitation.

 

[HP1]

before and after

Love the Barrel. Im still fine tuning mine but I am waiting on a harder file. I sent mine off to get a melonite treatment and it sticks a bit now after 30 rounds as it warms up so I need to remove a slight bit more... I ordered a diamond file on amazon since the file I own rubs smoothly across it now instead of removing any metal.