Storm Lake for M&P .40

[Pants]

So, I have been eye balling getting one of these barrels for some added accuracy to my M&P .40. I did a search and all I could find were people wanting to convert to different calibers. Can anyone tell me if this barrel will add accuracy or is it all hype and a waste of money?

Thanks in advance!

 

[robkarrob]

What I have found using my laser, is my guns are far more accurate than I will ever be. I have used my gun in a sandbag rest, using the laser. At 15 yards it is very hard to hold that laser point still. It moves left and right and up and down a couple of inches. Taking very careful aim I can get just under two inch groups.

This is with my Shield 40, 3.3 inch barrel. Someone with even steadier hands could likely get the groups into one inch. The gun is accurate, the shooter is not. Using the stock sights, the best grouping I can get is four inches. Even though it appears the open sights are still, the gun is still moving around. The laser sights show even the very slightest movement.

Will that barrel make you more accurate? Wouldn't help me.

Bob

 

[rraisley]

The gun is accurate, the shooter is not.

Wise is the man who realizes this, and the sooner, the better and wiser. A longer barrel will have a longer sight radius, so for open sights, that can help. But barrel for barrel, etc., improvements in accuracy are to be made be the shooter, and oftentimes by the sights. The gun is the least of your worries.

 

[wantmoresmiths]

No disrespect to the previous replies,but I'm going to disagree. Let me start by noting that I own a Les Baer Premier II, which by way of its hand fitting and match grade barrel is far more accurate than any of my other 1911's. The accuracy difference is noticeable. When I shoot the Baer along side any of my other 1911's, I can see the difference. So while replacing the barrel won't make you a better shooter, a more accurate gun will help to make you a little more accurate. If you are looking to make your gun a little more accurate, a replacement barrel could be exactly what you need.

While I don't have any first hand experience, I have read quite a number of posts where M&P owners talked about the poor accuracy of their factory barrels. The fix was usually the addition of a Storm Lake or KKM barrel. See post numbers 63, 64, and 65 in the attached link. Bar-Sto Barrel from Apex Tactical preview pic - Page 3 - S&W (M&P, etc) - Brian Enos's Forums... Maku mozo! or check out this thread. Wait for Bar-Sto or go with KKM or Storm Lake? - S&W (M&P, etc) - Brian Enos's Forums... Maku mozo!

 

[rraisley]

I probably went overboard in saying that the gun accuracy isn't that important. Your Les Baer is a good example. But a 1911 style gun has a LOT more variables, like the busying tolerance and fit, etc., and yeah, the way government 1911's rattle when you hold them, compared to a quality assembled version (even my Colt Gold Cup National Match, for example), it makes a big difference.

But I stand by my statement that simply replacing the barrel of a SD-style handgun will not make a difference that the vast majority of shooters will see. I'd go to a Storm to get extra features, like a longer, ported barrel, but I would not expect a visible difference in accuracy from the OP's handgun.

 

[LAS&W4me]

I run a Storm Lake barrel with my Glock 17 in USPSA. I could tell a noticable difference in accuracy.

 

[1sailor]

i have also read posts where M&P owners have complained about the accuracy of their factory barrels (or just the M&P in general). And while I have no doubt that there are likely some valid complaints I honestly beleive that some of it may just be whining. I think that most shooters are not nearly as good as they think they are. If someone says "My gun is not accurate" then you get a lot of guys jumping on the bandwagon. After all, they just know they must be as good a shot as their favorite action hero. It took me a while to improve with my M&P. Mostly because of poor control on my end. However, I now have no trouble keeping groups around 3" shooting offhand at 50ft and under 2" at the same range in a sitting position. I think that practice will make a much more noticable improvement than changing parts (assuming of course the original part is not defective). For the price of a Storm Lake barrel you can get a simple Lee turret press setup and that will allow you to shoot a lot more because of the reduced cost. As an added bonus, reloading will allow you to experiment and find the most accure powder and bullet combination for your pistol. A fancy barrel "might" help a little as "might" different sights, trigger job etc. Practice "will" make a very big difference in ability. Unless you have concrete evidence that your factory barrel is holding you back, practice. A 2" pistol fired by a 5" shooter will produce a 5" group.

 

[Lost Lake]

What kind of accuracy are you looking for?

A factory barrel will cost you $65 and like these guys say, it will probably be a lot more accurate than most people are.

I learned long ago that most handguns were more accurate than I was. For me, rifles and distance are where I can see a difference in guns. I have one .243 that I can hand load rounds for and consistently post sub-MOA groups, in fact under 1/2" at 100 yards. I have very few factory guns that will do that.

For pistols, I am happy if I buckle down and get 2" off hand at 25 feet. Heck, I'll settle for 3". Almost any gun will do that if the shooter does their part.

 

[Number1gun]

To all that think they can out shoot the gun...
Put it in a Ransom Rest, shoot it. Take it out, put n hand...shoot. Compare target. Now, making minor changes that help you not push, pull, jerk, see the sights, etc. that's a different issue. Not a mechanical one. Unfortunately for 98% of us the reality is we just are not that good. Some of the cheapest *** guns made are still more accurate than you are. A locked down firearm in a rest is humbling at the least...sometimes downright depressing when reality hits home. Try it.

 

[1sailor]

It can also be quite humbling to watch another shooter pick up your "innacurate" pistol and immediately shoot a group half the size of yours. That really brings to light the fact that often it's the shooter rather than the gun that needs improvement. Just shooting a lot does not necessarily make you any better either. We can often become very good at making the same mistakes over and over. It wasn't until I found out what I was doing wrong that I started to improve.

 

[Lost Lake]

And here's another point: There's the whole factor of suggestion to consider.

If you think that $200 makes your gun more accurate, often it will, even if it really isn't.

Mentally, a lot of things will improve or worsen your pattern. You can improve or ruin your grouping by just painting your front sight a different color.

Ever try hitting a golf ball with a pink club? It can be exactly the same club, but paint it pink and see what happens.