This guide is your go-to for finding the best ported barrel for M&P9 Core to reduce muzzle flip, and snappy follow-up shots.

These barrels aren't readily available, but you can submit request to get them made for you.

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Top M&P9 Core Ported Barrels

ported barrel m&p

Here are some primo picks for your M&P9 CORE:

Smith & Wesson Performance Center Barrel 

Factory-engineered, made of stainless steel.

  • Pros: Perfect fit, optimized for CORE, drastically reduced muzzle flip.
  • Cons: You might need to dig a little deeper into your wallet. 

Agency Arms Ported Barrel

Customizable and high-quality materials.

  • Pros: Excellent muzzle control, sleek design.
  • Cons: Pricey and may require professional fitting.

Apex Tactical Ported Barrel

Competition-ready with superior craftsmanship.

  • Pros: Fantastic build, good for competitive use.
  • Cons: Expect regular cleaning due to residue. 

Things To Beware With Ported Barrels

So the cuts or holes near the muzzle that let propellant gases escape upward. They will push the muzzle down as much as they can for rapid fire, but you definitely need to wear safety glasses to prevent blast into your face. 

muzzle flash ported barrel
  • Recoil Reduction: A ported barrel makes shooting flatter, especially during rapid-fire, and keep the dot on the target area as much as possible. 
  • Improved Accuracy: Less muzzle flip means your follow-up shots are quick and precise.
  • Versatility: Great for shooting competitions and have your red dot sight stay on the target more.

But keep in mind, there are a few gotchas:

  • Noise and Flash: Expect your shots to be louder with a brighter flash—this can be a buzz-kill in low-light conditions.
  • Maintenance: Gas residue will build around the ports, which means more cleaning is in your future.

Criteria for Choosing the Best Ported Barrel

ported barrel

To snag the best ported barrel for your M&P9 CORE, keep an eye on these key features:

  1. Material Quality: Your barrel should be stainless steel for its wear and corrosion resistance.
  2. Compatibility: Make sure the barrel fits your CORE model. Make sure you get the correct barrel length
  3. Performance Benefits: Besides reducing recoil and increasing accuracy, be aware of potential velocity loss (around 50 FPS due to porting).
  4. User Feedback: Just talk to people about it. Some may hate it, and some may love it for different reasons

Maintenance Tips

  • Post-firing cleanup is crucial, focus on cleaning off the carbon residue near the ports.
  • Keep water and moisture away from the barrel. 
  • A soft brush and some solvent will tackle leftover debris. Source
  • Regular checks for wear, especially with lead bullets

FAQs and Common Concerns

Is it good for self-defense?
Absolutely, just be mindful of increased noise and flash in darker settings.

Also if you shoot at a low position, you the blast might hit your face.

Does it reduce bullet velocity?
Yes, a slight drop, about 50 FPS, due to vented gases. YouTube Source

Is it louder?
Yep, expect more boom, particularly indoors.