4 Best M&P Shield Barrels in 2022 – Our Favorites

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The best Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Barrel is definitely out there for you. The question is will you be able to find it though? The answer is certainly yes. And to get you started, we’ve taken the freedom of tracking down some of the best barrels that are currently on the market (as of this writing). 

A great Smith & Wesson M&P barrel is manufactured to provide your pistol with the best in accuracy. Nothing is more nourishing than consistently pinning pinpoint accurate shots. It doesn’t matter if you’re shooting at targets at the range or bearing down on a target in a self-defence situation. Accuracy in a Smith & Wesson M&P always matters. The better your barrel, the better chance you’ll land a shot right where you want it every time. 

Before we get started on our list of the best Smith & Wesson M&P Shield barrels, let’s talk about why you may need a new barrel and a brief guide on how you can choose one to call your own.

Why Would You Want a New M&P Shield Aftermarket Barrel? 

You may need a new barrel for a few solid reasons. You may need a barrel as an upgrade from the stock or factory barrel that originally came with your M&P Shield. These barrels usually will not hold up their end of the bargain. If and when that occurs, you’ll know that it is time for an upgrade. Here are a few reasons why a new barrel may be your best route to go with: 

Better Accuracy 

It doesn’t matter if you have your own pistol or a rifle, accuracy will always matter to any shooter. You will definitely want to hit your targets precisely where you want to hit it each time you pull its trigger. In shooting competitions, accuracy should be anyone’s top priority. Especially when the shooting competition is on the line and is as intense as it gets. The better you hit closer to the bullseye, the more edge you’ll get. 

Better Reliability 

For obvious reasons, a barrel will play a major role in your pistol’s general reliability, which means you’ll need a barrel that will be effortlessly fed by your pistol’s magazine. This way, the rounds you fire will not be jammed so easily. 

Customization 

What if you wish to use a silencer? If it’s legal in your state (within the USA), you’ll be able to use one provided that you get a barrel that will offer you one. Most of the time, you will not need to change your barrel. A silencer will come in useful if you’re using it for quiet target practice or if you’re using it for home defence circumstances. 

How to Choose The Best Aftermarket M&P Barrel?

It’s always a brilliant idea to know what to search for before making your final buying decision on a barrel. You can’t just grab the first barrel you see on the internet or off the shelf. That’s because you may end up with a bad quality barrel that will not be as good as you want it. It’s superior for you to do a little homework on the barrel of your choice before throwing down the money for it. Here’s what you need to look out for as your search progresses: 

Installation 

The key words to look for when finding a barrel are “drop-in”. This is translated simply into “easy to install”. If you’re not highly accomplished in gunsmithing, then a drop-in barrel is precisely what you’ll need. As soon as you have a few tools, you can easily install this barrel in a matter of a few minutes and have it ready to go for a day at the shooting range. 

Material 

The general quality of a barrel will depend on the type of materials and finishes that are being used in the barrels. Most of these barrels will be made from stainless steel. To make sure that they are durable and built to last, they will experience all kinds of tests like shot peening and heat treatments. This will help it to handle all kinds of damage, heat, and stress that will otherwise make other barrels useless. 

Price 

As a thrift shopper, you are more than likely to choose a barrel based on its pricing and price range. However, don’t let that be the only reason why you settle for it. If it comes with an affordable or under budget price tag, it is vital that you check the general quality of the barrel. Yes, high-quality barrels do sometimes come with affordable price tags. However sometimes, that’s not often the case. 

Review of the Best M&P Shield Barrel Upgrades

Below are some of the best barrels for an M&P Shield that are currently on the market as of this writing. This list may be subject to change at some point between full size now and the coming years (subject to our discretion). However, as far as we know, we expect these popular barrels to sell like hotcakes. 

As you check out each barrel carefully, please take note of what’s comprised in terms of features. As always, if you have found a barrel that best fits your personal preferences, then be sure to do a little thorough research on it before you make your final buying decision shots. 

1. Silencerco – Threaded Barrel 

Silencerco - Threaded BarrelFirst on our list, we’ll be taking a look at the Silencerco Threaded Barrel. One of the most imposing things we’ve learned about this barrel is that it can handle and take on a silencer very well. This means you will not have to make any alterations or changes to make sure that it will gunsmith fit a silencer without too much issues in new apex. Therefore, if you have a silencer that you want to add on after fitting this factory barrel, then you’re ways ahead of everyone else. 

If you don’t own a silencer yet, find one that will best gunsmith fit this type of barrel. If you’re looking to use your M&P Shield pistol for the use of quiet target shooting practice or stealth-like home defence purposes shots, the Silencerco barrel may just be the best option on this whole list. 

This is chambered to take on 9mm rounds and is engineered from stainless steel that is resistant to corrosion and is also difficult to wear down. In all its essence, this barrel is made to last you a long time. If you wish for your pistol to be as reliable as ever for many years to come, it starts with a shots barrel like this one. 

This barrel really lives up to its name. Imagine having a barrel that can gunsmith fit most silencers without ever really needing any alterations or changes done. You’ll get precisely that in the Silencerco barrel for your M&P Shield. 

You want a pistol that can be serviceable in a home defence setting and purpose. Furthermore, isn’t it better when you are protecting your home against attackers when you’re not making too much sound? We would like to think so. 

If you are looking for something that will be your best friend in those kinds of situations where your life is on the line, then this Silencerco barrel may be your solution. 

2. True Precision Threaded Barrel 

True Precision Threaded BarrelNext on this list, we’ll be having a look at the True Precision Threaded Barrel. This barrel arrives in a total of 8 different colour choices. The one you opt for will obviously be based on your personal preferences and choices. 

Other than that, you’ll be handling with a barrel that is made in the USA and follows the firmest requirements in terms of its quality and performance. There is without a doubt that if you choose a barrel like this one, then you’re getting one of the best of the best options. 

This barrel is manufactured from stainless steel and is engineered to last a long time. So it will not rust, corrode, or easily break even after you’ve fired off over a 100 rounds or more. This barrel itself sets the international standard and class in terms of quality control. 

So don’t be taken aback if this puppy lasts you many years or even decades. If you’re searching for a barrel that won’t steer you in the wrong direction for as long as you live, the True Precision threaded barrel may be the best choice for your M&P Shield pistol. 

The True Precision in our point of view and opinion is an outstanding alternative to the Silencerco barrel. If you are looking for a great 9mm barrel that may function with your hollow point rounds, then the True Precision barrel can be the best possible option for you. 

Other than the wide range of shades and colours it’s available in, this has the ability to work hard and stay reliable for as long as you can expect. To make sure that it lasts many years, each barrel is factory verified for reliability and durability. As soon as they pass the test, then they can be yours to own for as long as you are using your pistol. 

3. L2D Combat Precision Match Fluted Barrel 

L2D Combat Precision Match Fluted BarrelIf you own an M&P shield pistol and are looking for a replacement barrel without breaking your bank, then you’re in luck. We have the L2D Combat Precision Match Fluted Barrel that is the best match for your pistol. If you want to opt for a colour for your own personal taste, this comes in 5 varying finishes. 

Aside from all of that, this barrel is engineered to give you the best quality in its performance and reliability. The material used to make this barrel is chromium stainless steel. This also has a spear-tipped design that will tolerate heat reduction and ensures that the barrel itself remains light in weight. 

You don’t want to have a pistol that will weigh heavier in your hands when installing a new barrel, do you? Of course you wouldn’t. Its chamber is fluted so you can be able to conveniently remove debris, even when you’re spending some time cleaning out your pistol from top to bottom. 

If you’re searching for a barrel that is great in reliability and has a pretty damn good price tag, then the L2D Combat Precision Barrel may be worth the financial investment for you. Does it surprise you that this budget factory new Wilson group apex barrel is great and top notch in quality pistols? Well, it shouldn’t surprise you. We always look for the best in barrel new apex quality. We don’t just stop right at the price tag trigger either. 

If you’re looking for the best barrel that you can possibly afford for your Wilson group M&P Shield factory grade, then the chances are that this L2D Combat Precision factory Barrel may be the best possible choice for you. An outstanding barrel trigger pistols that fits most budgets? What more can you really ask for a conversion problem? 

4. AlphaWolf Barrel For M&P Shield .45 ACP Threaded 

AlphaWolf Barrel For M&P Shield .45 ACP ThreadedNow, we’ll focus more of our attention to the .45 caliber of these M&P Shield pistols. If you’re searching for the best-threaded drop in grade barrel for your .45, then the AlphaWolf grade Barrel is certainly worth a closer look. This is a battle-tested grade barrel that is engineered from stainless steel complete with a salt bath nitride coating for additional durability, which means this particular drop in barrel is built to last for as long as possible. 

It can take on all kinds of ammunition including plated, lead, and even jacketed. If you have either of the rounds, then you’ll need an apex barrel that may work with them without any too much issues. These barrels are manufactured in the USA, so they follow strict and stringent procedures and standards when it comes to its quality and performance. 

The forbearances are exacted to guarantee for drop-in installation. It’s convenient for users to install and you won’t need to rely entirely or too much on a professional gunsmith to do the job for you. If you have the right and fitting tools and a few minutes of your time, this can be installed in a pretty short timeframe. This is a fluted apex barrel that will be speedy to dissipate heat and easy for debris to be cleared out. 

If you’re searching for a .45 apex barrel that is dependable and is easy to clean after some long outings at the shooting range, then the AlphaWolf barrel certainly will gunsmith fit the bill for you. If you fancy yourself to be a huge fanatic of the .45 caliber, then the Alphawolf is certainly a must-have apex barrel for your pistol. At this point, we are available at probably one of the toughest apex barrel on the market currently regardless of caliber tolerances. 

This can take on and handle most types of ammo that is compatible and well-matched with your M&P pistol. Therefore, if you have any .45 rounds laying around you should put them to the test at the shooting range. The installation is a quick and fast job and can be ready to go at the shooting range in a matter of a few minutes. As soon as it is set, you can use it for just about any other application and aftermarket usage back. 

Conclusion 

The bottom line is that work aftermarket for the best M&P Barrel is easy and convenient conversion tolerances if you know what to look for. If you know what kind of caliber you are using and have a list of personal preferences, you can see if any of these barrels we have listed above will fit you perfectly. 

Whether you’re on a tight budget or have some extra money to play around with, you will be worthy of an upgrade that will be reliable, accurate, and great back in quality. Remember that this is the apex barrel that you’ll want to stick around with for many years, so be sure to choose wisely. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Is Rival Arms barrels any good? 

If you’re an M&P owner and haven’t paid much attention to Rival Arms’ offerings or compact conversion, you’ll be interested to learn that their S&W replacement barrels comes with the same material structure and general design as those they make for the GLOCK pistols. These are match-grade mechanisms that start life as 416R stainless-steel billet before being CNC-machined to precise tolerances and with a distinctive spiral fluting and a target crown. Internally, the barrels receive a 6-groove rifling with a 1:10 twist rate. The bore is also treated with the chemical BORESLICK Boron Nitride DCD, which is intended to increase the barrel’s heat resistance while reducing carbon build-up. 

While the fluted barrel’s looks may be lost inside the slide, the recognized benefits include a limited weight reduction and increased surface area for cooling efficiency. Good looks do come through on match grade barrels threaded for a suppressor (Rival Arms offer their match grade barrels in standard or threaded form) or other muzzle devices, as the included thread protector is both characteristic and color-matched to the apex barrel finish.

What Is The Best M&P Shield 45 Barrel Upgrade?

The best aftermarket barrels for .45 goes to AlphaWolf Barrel For M&P Shield .45 ACP Threaded for its reliability and durability because made from stainless steel and accompanied with salt bath nitride coating ad discussed above. Besides that, these threaded barrels  is easy to clean and easy to install. This threaded barrel is compatible with most types of ammo that would work well with your M&P. The bottom line is that you should really invest some money to purchase this threaded barrel.

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