The best M&P Shield Barrel is out there for you. The question is, will you find it? The answer is yes. And to start you off, we’ve taken the liberty of tracking down six of the best barrels that are currently on the market.
A great barrel is designed to give your pistol the best in accuracy. Nothing is more satisfying than consistently nailing pinpoint accurate shots. It doesn’t matter if you’re firing at targets at the range or bearing down on a target in a self-defense situation; accuracy matters. The better your barrel, the best chance you’ll land a shot right where you want it every time.
Before we unveil our list of the best M&P Shield barrels, let’s talk about why you might need a new barrel and a brief guide on how you can choose one for your own.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for M&P Shield Barrels
- OUR TOP PICK: Silencerco - Threaded Barrel
- RUNNER-UP: True Precision Threaded Barrel
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: L2D Combat Precision Match Fluted Barrel
Comparison Chart of the Best M&P Shield Barrels
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Why Would You Want a New Barrel?
You might need a new barrel for a few good reasons. You might need a barrel as an upgrade from the stock or factory barrel that initially came with your M&P Shield. These barrels usually won’t hold up their end of the bargain. If and when that happens, you’ll know its time for an upgrade. Here are a few reasons why a new barrel may be the best route to go with:
Better Accuracy
It doesn’t matter if you own a pistol or a rifle, accuracy will always matter to a shooter. You want to hit your targets exactly where you want to hit it each time you pull the trigger. In shooting competitions, accuracy should be your top priority. Especially when the competition is on the line and is as intense as it gets. The better you hit closer to a bullseye, the more edge you’ll have.
Better Reliability
Of course, a barrel will play a major role in your pistol’s overall reliability, which means you’ll need a barrel that will be easily fed by your pistol’s magazine. This way, the rounds you fire won’t be jammed easily.
Customization
What if you want to use a silencer? If it’s legal in your state, you’ll be able to use one provided that you get a barrel that will allow you one. Most of the time, you won’t need to alter your barrel. A silencer will come in handy if you’re using it for quiet target practice or if you’re using it for home defense situations.
How to Choose a Barrel For Your M&P Shield
It’s always a great idea to know what to look for before making your final purchase on a barrel. You can’t just grab the first barrel you see online or off the shelf. That’s because you may end up with a low-quality barrel that won’t be as good as you want it. It’s better to do a little homework on the barrel of your choice before dropping down the money for it. Here’s what you need to look for as your search progresses:
Installation
The key words to look for in finding a barrel are “drop-in”. This is translated as “easy to install”. If you’re not highly skilled in gunsmithing, then a drop-in barrel is exactly what you’ll need. Once you have a few tools, you can install this barrel in a matter of minutes and have it ready to go for a day at the range.
Silencerco - Threaded Barrel is machined from stainless steel, these barrels are cut to factory dimensions for a neat, drop-in fit to your M&P.
Material
The overall quality of a barrel will depend on the type of materials and finishes that are being used. Most of these barrels will be crafted from stainless steel. To ensure that they are durable and built to last, they will undergo all kinds of tests like shot peening and heat treatments. This will help it handle all kinds of damage, heat, and stress that would otherwise make other barrels useless.
Price
As a budget shopper, you’re more than likely to choose a barrel based on price. But don’t let that be the only reason why you chose it. If it comes with an affordable price tag, it is imperative that you check the overall quality of the barrel. Yes, high-quality barrels do come with affordable price tags. But sometimes, that’s not always the case.
Review of the Best M&P Shield Barrels
Below are six of the best barrels for an M&P Shield that are currently on the market. This list might be subject to change at some point between now and the next year. But as far as we know, we expect these to sell like hotcakes.
As you examine each barrel carefully, please take note of what’s included in terms of features. As always, if you find a barrel that best fits your personal preferences, then be sure to do a little in-depth research on it before you make your final purchase.
Best Overall:
Silencerco - Threaded Barrel
Pros
Cons
First up, we’ll be taking a look at the Silencerco Threaded Barrel. One of the most impressive things we’ve learned about this barrel is that it can handle a silencer. This means you don’t have to make any alterations or adjustments to make sure that it will fit a silencer without any issues.
So if you have a silencer that you want to add on after installing this barrel, then you’re miles ahead of everyone else.
If you don’t have a silencer yet, find one that will best fit this type of barrel. If you’re looking to use your M&P Shield pistol for the use of quiet target practice or stealth-like home defense, the Silencerco barrel might just be the best option on this entire list.
This is chambered to handle 9mm rounds and is machined from stainless steel that is resistant to corrosion and is also hard to wear down. In essence, this barrel is built to last a long time.
If you want your pistol to be as reliable as ever for years to come, it starts with a great barrel like this.
Bottom Line
This barrel truly lives up to its honor. Imagine having a barrel that can fit most silencers without ever needing any alterations or adjustments done. You’ll get exactly that in the Silencerco barrel for your M&P Shield.
You want a pistol that can be usable in a home defense setting. Plus, isn’t it better when you’re defending your home against attackers when you’re not making too much noise? We like to think so.
If you’re looking for something that will be your best friend in situations where life is on the line, the Silencerco barrel might be the solution.
Runner-up:
True Precision Threaded Barrel
Pros
Cons
Next, we’ll be taking a look at the True Precision Threaded Barrel. This barrel comes in a total of eight different colors. The one you choose will obviously be based on your personal preferences.
Other than that, you’ll be dealing with a barrel that is made in the USA and follows the strictest requirements in terms of quality and performance. There is no doubt that if you choose a barrel like this, you’re getting one of the best of the best.
This barrel is made from stainless steel and is designed to last a long time. So it won’t rust, corrode, or easily damage even after you’ve fired off over a 100 shots or more. This barrel itself sets the standard in terms of quality control.
So don’t be surprised if this puppy lasts you years or even decades. If you’re looking for a barrel that won’t steer you wrong for as long as you live, the True Precision threaded barrel might be the best choice for your M&P Shield pistol.
Bottom Line
The True Precision in our point of view is an excellent alternative to the Silencerco barrel. If you want a great 9mm barrel that may work with your hollow point rounds, then the True Precision barrel could be the best possible choice for you.
Other than the wide range of colors it’s available in, this has the ability to work hard and stay reliable for as long as possible. To make sure that it does, each barrel is factory tested for reliability and durability. Once they pass the test, then they can be yours to own for as long as you use your pistol.
Best For The Money:
L2D Combat Precision Match Fluted Barrel
Pros
Cons
If you have an M&P shield pistol and want a replacement barrel without breaking the bank, then you’re in luck. We have the L2D Combat Precision Match Fluted Barrel that is perfect for your pistol. If you want to choose a color for your own personal taste, this comes in 5 different finishes.
Aside from that, this barrel is designed to give you top quality in performance and reliability. The material used to manufacture this barrel is chromium stainless steel. This also has a spear-tipped design that will allow for heat reduction and ensures that the barrel itself stays light in weight.
You don’t want a pistol that will be heavier in your hands upon installing a new barrel, do you? Of course not. The chamber is fluted so you can easily remove debris, even if you’re spending some time cleaning your pistol from top to bottom.
If you’re looking for a barrel that is excellent in reliability and has a pretty dang good price tag, then the L2D Combat Precision Barrel might be worth the investment for you.
Bottom Line
Does it shock you that this budget barrel is excellent in quality? Well, it shouldn’t. We always look for the best in quality. We don’t stop right at the price tag.
If you’re looking for the best barrel that you can afford for your M&P Shield pistol, then chances are the L2D Combat Precision Barrel might be the best possible option for you. An excellent barrel that fits most budgets? What more can you ask for?
Best 45 Threaded Barrel:
AlphaWolf Barrel For M&P Shield .45 ACP Threaded
Pros
Cons
Now, we’ll turn our attention to the .45 caliber of these M&P Shield pistols. If you’re looking for the best-threaded barrel for your .45, then the AlphaWolf Barrel is worth a closer look.
This is a battle-tested barrel that is made from stainless steel complete with a salt bath nitride coating for added durability, which means this puppy is built to last for as long as possible.
It can handle all kinds of ammunition including plated, lead, and even jacketed. If you have either rounds, then you’ll need a barrel that might work with them without any additional issues.
These barrels are made in the USA, so they follow strict procedures and standards when it comes to quality and performance.
The tolerances are exacted to ensure for drop-in installation; it’s easy to install and you won’t need to rely on a professional gunsmith to do the job for you.
If you have the right tools and a few minutes of your time, this can be installed pretty quick. This is a fluted barrel that will be quick to dissipate heat and easy for debris to be cleaned out.
If you’re looking for a .45 barrel that is reliable and is easy to clean after some long outings at the range, then the AlphaWolf barrel definitely will fit the bill for you.
Bottom Line
If you fancy yourself to be a fan of the .45 caliber, then the Alphawolf is definitely a must-have barrel for your pistol. At this point, we’re looking at probably the toughest barrel on the market regardless of the caliber.
This can handle most types of ammo that is compatible with your M&P pistol, so if you have any .45 rounds laying around you should put them to the test.
The installation is a breeze and can be ready to go at the range in a matter of minutes. Once set, you can use it for just about any other application.
Best 40 Barrel Overall:
AlphaWolf Barrel for M&P Shield 40-9 Threaded Conversion Barrel
Pros
Cons
Next, we’ll be taking a look at the best overall barrel for the .40 caliber. Once again, we’re going with the Alphawolf brand. This barrel is the 40-9 Threaded Conversion Barrel. This is another one of the many top quality barrels that are made right here in the USA.
Alphawolf has strict guidelines and standards to ensure that every barrel they make is battle tested and is ready for action even before it’s sold on the market.
This is made from super durable stainless steel and is designed to handle pistol ammo that is compatible with .40 caliber pistols. The barrel is fluted to ensure that heat dissipation is fast and you’re able to clean out any debris with the greatest of ease.
This is a drop-in barrel, so you’ll be able to install this in minutes with the right kind of tools. Once it’s nice and secure, then you’re going to want to give it a spin at the range.
If you have some .40 caliber rounds that are dying to be fired off, but you need a better barrel for your M&P Shield pistol, then you’re probably going to want to give the Alphawolf 40-9 conversion barrel a try.
Bottom Line
Like its .45 caliber counterpart, this Alphawolf .40 caliber barrel is just as strong and just as reliable. Unfortunately, it doesn’t meet the compliance requirements with the State of California. So if you’re a resident of that state, it might be wise to find other options.
But if you’re fortunate to live in a state where gun laws are not as tight, then you might want to give this barrel a chance.
Best 40 Threaded Barrel:
AlphaWolf Smith & Wesson M&P Shield .40 S&W Threaded Barrel
Pros
Cons
For our final barrel, we’ll be once again visiting the AlphaWolf brand. Only this time we’re looking at the best-threaded barrel for a .40 caliber M&P Shield pistol. These are threaded for different types of pistols. But it’s important to find which thread will fit you the best before buying a barrel for your own M&P Shield.
AlphaWolf’s barrels will not only provide you the best in accuracy but also in reliability. Not to mention, they’re as tough as nails. This AlphaWolf barrel is made from stainless steel and is fluted to ensure that its cool to the touch after a long day at the range.
Of course, it can’t be fluted if it’s not easy to clean any debris from it. But with this barrel, you can easily get the debris out no problem. It saves you all kinds of money, time, and stress. Even better, it saves you all kinds of headaches that may stem from potential malfunctions.
If you’re looking for an excellent threaded barrel for your .40 M&P Shield barrel, then this AlphaWolf barrel might be your best friend for the range or in the applications where you need your pistol the most.
Bottom Line
At this point, you’re probably wondering if Alphawolf is a reliable brand to go with. If you’re a first-time M&P user and want to try out a .45 caliber or .40 caliber, then this might be the go-to brand to try out.
If you’re more of a 9mm kind of shooter, then we recommend a couple of the barrels that are near the top of the list. But we’re veering off topic here.
If you’re looking for a threaded barrel that will best compliment your pistol and you prefer a .40 caliber over anything else, this AlphaWolf might be exactly the kind of barrel you’ll need.
Conclusion
Finding the best M&P Shield Barrel is easy if you know what to look for. If you know what type of caliber you’re using and have a list of personal preferences, you can see if any of these barrels listed above will fit you perfectly.
Whether you’re on a budget or have money to play around with, you deserve an upgrade that will be reliable, accurate, and great in quality. Remember, this is the barrel that you’ll want to stick with for many years, so be sure to choose wisely.
