Your results with a S&W warranty trigger job on the 40 Shield were about the same as mine. I also had them repair a couple issues, (dropped mags and rear sight hanging off left side), but was not confident they could get the trigger any better. So while the Shield was away, I ordered the Apex kit. Yes, the Apex kit made a slight difference for the grit feel, but the biggest difference was the free warranty repair S&W did to bring the pull back within advertised specs. The Apex kit was really no longer needed after the Shield's trigger pull was fixed, as the slight gritty feel is something that would have cleared up after normal break-in.

I suggest that before people uselessly waste money on bullets or upgrades, have S&W make it right first, like the way it was supposed to be all along.