GJM
03-07-2012, 03:00 PM
Apex M&P barrel update
I pestered Randy Lee so much, that he finally agreed to lend me his prototype barrel to use at a Rogers Shooting School course next week. Randy had told me that this was a prototype barrel, obviously not fit to my slide, and not incorporating final improvements that are in process in the final pre-production test run -- in other words, he worked hard to temper my expectations.
While I really like M&P pistols, I have had a terrible time getting the 9mm models to shoot. Over time, I have accumulated a number of M&P 9's that shoot acceptably if not great, but each one tends to be unique to itself, in shooting just one or two loads, and having widely varying points of impact, especially windage, with different loads. The problem is bad enough, that I have been unable to get a full size 9 that shoots a practice and carry load accurately, to the same point of impact -- causing me to carry a Glock when I carry a 9mm.
I got the Apex barrel in my hot little hands this morning, and despite 25 knots of wind, got to shoot it at 25 yards in two M&P 9mm Pro models. Between the wind, and my 25 yard sitting position, this was a pretty casual test session, but this is what I learned. I shot the following loads, 147 HST, 124+P HST, 124 +P Ranger T, Aguila 124 ball, and Blazer 147 grain TMJ. In my two M&P Pro models, this Apex barrel definitely solved the windage point of impact problem. As to accuracy, in one Pro, the prototype barrel shot comparably to my factory barrel, and in the other Pro, it shot all the loads three inches or better, something I have NEVER experienced in any M&P 9mm.
Assuming the productions barrels do as well as this prototype, and Randy thinks they will be better, I would say that help is finally on the way for M&P 9 shooters!
I pestered Randy Lee so much, that he finally agreed to lend me his prototype barrel to use at a Rogers Shooting School course next week. Randy had told me that this was a prototype barrel, obviously not fit to my slide, and not incorporating final improvements that are in process in the final pre-production test run -- in other words, he worked hard to temper my expectations.
While I really like M&P pistols, I have had a terrible time getting the 9mm models to shoot. Over time, I have accumulated a number of M&P 9's that shoot acceptably if not great, but each one tends to be unique to itself, in shooting just one or two loads, and having widely varying points of impact, especially windage, with different loads. The problem is bad enough, that I have been unable to get a full size 9 that shoots a practice and carry load accurately, to the same point of impact -- causing me to carry a Glock when I carry a 9mm.
I got the Apex barrel in my hot little hands this morning, and despite 25 knots of wind, got to shoot it at 25 yards in two M&P 9mm Pro models. Between the wind, and my 25 yard sitting position, this was a pretty casual test session, but this is what I learned. I shot the following loads, 147 HST, 124+P HST, 124 +P Ranger T, Aguila 124 ball, and Blazer 147 grain TMJ. In my two M&P Pro models, this Apex barrel definitely solved the windage point of impact problem. As to accuracy, in one Pro, the prototype barrel shot comparably to my factory barrel, and in the other Pro, it shot all the loads three inches or better, something I have NEVER experienced in any M&P 9mm.
Assuming the productions barrels do as well as this prototype, and Randy thinks they will be better, I would say that help is finally on the way for M&P 9 shooters!