M&P Performance Center Ported 9mm Shield

[CB3]

Self Defense

If u guys plan to use a ported barrel for SD. Do urselves a favor and use smaller GR ammo. This will make up for the velocity loss of the ported barrel. Thus making the weapon more capable of pushing the bullets to the point of expansion. Your chances of getting full expansion is much better going this route.

Its just a way to make up for what u lose. And in the case of short ported barrels. This is an important factor.

I believe this is true for ANY short barreled handgun. Handguns are not powerful. Short barreled handguns launch bullets at slower velocities than the 5" (sometimes 4") barrels ammunition companies design their loads for.

A few companies have Bullets specifically designed for slow speed expansion, like the .38 Spl Barnes XTP which will open adequately from a .38 snub.

However, most bullets are designed with a lower opening fps threshold that is right at the upper limit of velocity that a short barrel produces. The velocity difference between a 9mm 5" barrel and a 9mm 3.1" barrel can be 125 fps. Heavier bullets cannot get up to speed in short barrels, and they are slower to begin with. They also have more recoil impulse. And usually cost more. In 9mm, many of the heavy 147 grn loads are subsonic from a short barrel--an advantage only when using a suppressor or perhaps for target/range shooting.

You need every edge you can get for effective self defense, and good terminal performance from your bullet is certainly desirable. A partially opened hollow point is not as effective as a fully opened hollow point. 50' fps can make the difference here.

Punching paper at the range this doesn't make much of a difference, although some will perceive heavy loads as being a little harder to shoot from small guns.

 

[V0OBWxZS16]

Thank you
Smitty for your suggestion. I will heed your advise and use smaller grain ammo. I recently bought box of 124 gr hollow points for my self defense ammo.

Please check out the 9mm AmmoQuest. Bullets vary considerably in their ability to expand so it is not sufficient to choose bullets only by weight.

Heres a small write up from one of the guys on another forum. Hes been around this game longer than me. And u know the old saying. There is no substitute for experience.

Is this comment on a TTAG article the source of that quote?

In 9mm, many of the heavy 147 grn loads are subsonic from a short barrel--an advantage only when using a suppressor or perhaps for target/range shooting.

Are you claiming that being supersonic is inherently an advantage? If so I would like to see the references to support this claim.

I have not encountered any supersonic 147 grain loads. Where do you find them?

Punching paper at the range this doesn't make much of a difference, although some will perceive heavy loads as being a little harder to shoot from small guns.

Supposedly, for a given power factor, the heavier bullet weight generates less recoil because less powder is needed.


While looking up revolvers I happened across the following chart with chronograph data for 2.7" and 3" autopistols. The largest difference was only 15 fps and the shorter barrel in that case was faster.

 

[Smitty357]

We are talking about ported semi auto. Not revolvers.

Please lets not try an attempt to compare them.

We have explained to u guys the best we can. Its just like saying 2-1=1. Its common sense when it comes to porting barrels. Less pressure = Less velocity. A lighter bullet is the answer to your problems. Lord forbid u dont get expansion on ur self defense bullets when u need it. I want the most I can possibly get out of my bullets when it comes to SD. In that case, porting the barrel is the last option.

If u want a ported barrel in a SD pistol. Just get a PC 9c or a PC 40c. You will still get enough out of ur pistol that it will work perfectly fine with the ported barrel. And u dont risk ur SD ammo not expanding as it should.

 

[notaliberal]

Please check out the 9mm AmmoQuest. Bullets vary considerably in their ability to expand so it is not sufficient to choose bullets only by weight.

Is this comment on a TTAG article the source of that quote?

Are you claiming that being supersonic is inherently an advantage? If so I would like to see the references to support this claim.

I have not encountered any supersonic 147 grain loads. Where do you find them?

Supposedly, for a given power factor, the heavier bullet weight generates less recoil because less powder is needed.


While looking up revolvers I happened across the following chart with chronograph data for 2.7" and 3" autopistols. The largest difference was only 15 fps and the shorter barrel in that case was faster.

V0OBWxZS16 your link to AmmoQuest was perfect. I learned a lot about velocity and expansion and decided to switch out my existing 9mm SD ammo to Federal Premium HST 124gr. based on the extensive tests he conducted. Thanks again.

 

[Artful Dodger]

Don't waste your money!

I was thrilled to get mine. Just shot it 100 rounds today!

WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT!!!!!!!

Don't waste your money. Every reveiw I read said they were really accurate "right out of the box"

Well, "right out of the box" mine was 8" high at 20 to 30'

I couldn't hit an 8x11 paper (aiming dead center) from 20 and 30'. And no it's not me. I have been shooting for 50 years.

And I might say in 50 years I have not been more disappointed in a new gun that this one.

It's seems to be a well made firearm. That being said, if you have to aim at someones privates to maybe hit him or her in the chest, I'd rather use a different firearm.

But, a silver lining might be if the target saw you aiming that low, you might just scare him to death.

 

[notaliberal]

Funny, I feel the PC is as accurate as my Glock 19. Maybe you had a bad day. Should you decide to sell it, you should not have any problems.

 

[V0OBWxZS16]

We are talking about ported semi auto. Not revolvers.
...

Are you talking at someone else? Are you simply trolling? Otherwise the weirdness in this post is off the charts.

I said nothing about revolvers. I posted a chart including chronograph data for two semi-autos and explicitly pointed them out. Did you willfully ignore those two columns and my comment?

Do you believe that porting a barrel is more detrimental than simply chopping it shorter? If not then a comparison of a 2.7" to a 3" barrel should be useful in illustrating the (in)significance of the velocity loss.

Porting reduces velocity. We know. We have NO EVIDENCE THAT THE REDUCTION MATTERS. If you have evidence, either chrono or gelatin testing, then please post it.

If cutting the 9mm's sectional density was a good idea then the .380 would be a wonder cartridge.

S&W does not make a PC 9c or 40c. I wish they did. They don't even make a CORE 9c or 40c.

 

[Artful Dodger]

Funny, I feel the PC is as accurate as my Glock 19. Maybe you had a bad day. Should you decide to sell it, you should not have any problems.

Sorry, but I wasn't having a bad day. I was also shooting other firearms and had no problems with them.

This Shield just shoots 8" high at 30'.

Check the thread here on "shield accuracy. There are several people who have Shields that are shooting 8" low at 30'. They talking about having to send their guns back to S&W.

So it's not me. As I said, the gun is well made. Just very inaccurate. Based on the accuracy thread, I do not believe it is just my gun. It may not be many, but the inaccurate ones are out there. I would hate to see anyone get one like I got.

 

[Splitshot]

I just bought a ported 40. Shield I had to send mine back to S&W mine shot 5"low 4" left. Three different shooters and shooting from a bench. It was grouping very tight just low left. Other than that the gun is fun to shot I like the porting. I am sure the performance center will get it fixed.

 

[yellowlab]

Dirty PC Shield

Considering the PC Shield 9mm. I have never owned a ported gun and I'm worried about how dirty the gun could get. I keep my guns super clean, but does the heat / gas discharge from porting mar the finish of the barrel, etc. Or does it clean up like new again?

 

[My9]

sounds like they are rushing these out

 

[notaliberal]

Considering the PC Shield 9mm. I have never owned a ported gun and I'm worried about how dirty the gun could get. I keep my guns super clean, but does the heat / gas discharge from porting mar the finish of the barrel, etc. Or does it clean up like new again?

I have about 260 rounds through the PC and the wear on the barrel looks much worse when compared to my Glock 19 with 1500 rounds. I am not sure if this is PC specific. Also this gun gets very dirty with a 100 rounds or more. I would say it gets about twice as dirty as my Glock with the same amount of rounds shot. You will be doing a lot of cleaning.

 

[Hotshot9]

I have a M&P 9L (5") ported with a Trijicon RMR (RM07) and Streamlight TLR4 mounted. I do not shoot competition. I've fired approximately 400 rounds and absolutely love this package. Minimal recoil and quick follow up shots. I have not fired it at night but have fired compensated 9mm's in a low-light environment. This is my favorite semi-auto at the range and my go-to home defense. I am not overly concerned about muzzle flash, the threat at the other end of the weapon will will fare much worse than I.

I also have 5" 9mm ported and love this gun. No flash problems other than after you go through a couple mags the front sight get a little dirty. but other than that it's a great weapon. I have tried many different brands of ammo and only had one jam up after a couple thousand rounds....thats not to bad!! Buy it you'll love it!!

 

[yellowlab]

I have about 260 rounds through the PC and the wear on the barrel looks much worse when compared to my Glock 19 with 1500 rounds. I am not sure if this is PC specific. Also this gun gets very dirty with a 100 rounds or more. I would say it gets about twice as dirty as my Glock with the same amount of rounds shot. You will be doing a lot of cleaning.

Thanks for the helpful info! Went ahead and bought the PC! Maybe I can talk my wife into cleaning it...

 

[Silentclerk]

New PC ported shield 9mm holster issue

Does anyone know of a good holster for this new upgrades shield? I heard the dimensions are very close and any shield 9 mm holster will work but with these big fiber optic sights a lot of the Holdters seem that they would not accommodate that front site very well, and I cannot find anything anywhere for a PC model. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Badger528]

It seems as though those that have the PC version of the Shield love it and those that have the standard version love it. I'm sensing a pattern.

I own a PC 9 with about 2,000 rounds through it so far. It has been extremely accurate out of the box. More importantly, not a single failure while working many different types of ammo.

Flash - not an issue, even in low light conditions
Muzzle flip - 9s really don't have much to begin with but shooting it side by side with standard shield, there is a slight difference.
Dirty - not an issue, doesn't get any dirtier than my non-ported guns
Fiber optic sites - at one time would have said "meh" but they have really grown on me and are great at the range
Trigger upgrade - very nice out of the box, smoooooooth, no grit

Summary - It works exactly as I had expected it to. PC vs standard? can't go wrong with either. In a lot of cases it will come down to what the LGS has in stock.

 

[Badger528]

Oh yeah... as for holster - Crossbreed MiniTuck

 

[HP11]

Just took delivery yesterday of my G code holster for my PC shield. Plenty of room for the fiber-optic sites. Here's a link for the holster.
Edge Works INCOG ECLIPSE

 

[jb7]

I have about 260 rounds through the PC and the wear on the barrel looks much worse when compared to my Glock 19 with 1500 rounds. I am not sure if this is PC specific. Also this gun gets very dirty with a 100 rounds or more. I would say it gets about twice as dirty as my Glock with the same amount of rounds shot. You will be doing a lot of cleaning.

I only put 75 rounds through my ported shield 9mm, and I'm also seeing wear marks on the barrel between the two ports. The gun was cleaned and lubed before firing. None of my standard barrel M&P pistols has this kind of wear.

 

[dodgegirl.mg]

I just got a Shield can anyone tell me how I can loosen up my magazine? Have never had a mag this tight!!!! Don't really want to buy a speed loader but I can't even get the mag half full and my thumbs are sore as hell....lol