conversion barrels?

[mt-mag]

I have an M&P 40 compact and I want to get a 9mm conversion barrel for it. I can buy an S&W barrel for about $70. Or a Storm Lake barrel for around $140-180. Why would I spend the extra money for the Storm Lake barrel. I'm not a competition shooter, I just want a reasonably accurate gun for range and also for carry.

Am I missing something here? Would the S&W barrel do what I want? Help me before I spend more than I need to spend.

MTMAG

 

[LiveLife]

I use 40-9 conversion barrels in my Glock 22/27 and considering getting one for my M&P40 also. Conversion barrel has the same outside diameter as 40 caliber barrels and will provide better lockup for greater accuracy.

I don't want loose barrel rattling in my slide.

Although my LW conversion barrels have been reliable, the general concensus is that conversion barrels are used for range/match/practice shooting and not for SD/HD purposes as with other "match grade" barrels, conversion barrels will have tighter tolerance than factory barrels, which may decrease the feeding/chambering reliability during SD/HD situations.

 

[PO2Hammer]

Are you sure a M&P 9mm barrel will fit in a M&P .40?

 

[firesky101]

Or if the extractor will work? Does the S&W specifically say conversion barrel, or is it just a M&P 9mm barrel?

 

[mt-mag]

I understand the S&W 9mm barrel is smaller than the 40cal slide I am trying to put it into. So I need the conversion barrel, not the S&W barrel.

That is why i asked the experts, cuz I did not know that.

Thanks for all the help.

mt-mag

 

[Skylerbone]

You need a conversion barrel which S&W does not make. In other words one of these http://www.kkmprecision.com/custom_pistol_barrels/product.php?productid=130&cat=37&page=1 or one of these http://www.storm-lake.com/products/barrel.

Both are excellent makers of barrels and either will offer one to convert your 40 S&W or .357 Sig to 9mm Luger.

It's not so much the tighter chamber that makes reliability a factor but rather what the platform is optimized for with regards to extraction. For the M&P 40 S&W is what it was built around and the reason my first was chambered accordingly. I have had zero issues to date however from it or my 2 9mm M&Ps.

 

[trex1310]

If you want a cheaper conversion barrel than the Storm Lake
take a look at Lone Wolf ($100). The Storm Lake is the top of the line,
thus the higher price. I've seen the Lone Wolf on Ebay for $50.

 

[briantf]

>>>
So I need the conversion barrel,
>>>

You will also likely need the 9mm magazines for your M&P frame. I have been VERY pleased with the LWD 9mm conversion barrel for my Glock 33. I also have a Glock factory G27 barrel so I can shoot 40 S&W.

I have to use Glock 26 (9mm) magazines to get good feeding reliability. I can discern no difference between G33 and G27 factory mags, so I only bought the one.

I also bought a couple of real cheap used Glock 19 magazines from Bud's Gunshop, they work perfectly with the conversion barrel (and were ~$10 vs. ~$23). So, throw in some sketchy parameters, and the barrel conversion still works great!

A friend of mine with an XD40 was able to continue using JUST the factory 40 S&W magazines with his 40 S&W-->9mm Para conversion barrel. I didn't expect it to work, but he made it through POST with that combo (shooting his Dad's 9mm reloads....).

Go for it!

Regards,
Brian in CA

 

[ku4hx]

My Lone Wolf 40-9 conversion barrel worked so well in my Glock 27 I bought a model 26. The 26 is my wife's carry gun now ... I shoulda known.

The converted G27 was flawless through 300 rounds with only the barrel being swapped out; all other parts in it were OEM stock. I did get G26 magazines believing [correctly] they were needed. The converted G27 seemed more accurate than the G26.

Being a caster and hand loader I can attest to the LW barrel's fine performance with hard cast bullets.

No longer needing it, I just last week sold the LW 40-9 barrel. I do get to shoot the G26 on occasion. Have to bribe the wife with shooting my BHP but that works well too ... sometimes