hey guys, somewhat new to the m&p platform and brand new to the forums. switched over from a sig/glock combo to M&P. love the gun but id like the trigger to be a little better (smoother, shorter reset/ travel, etc).


i noticed that there are several trigger job options and was wondering what was the best option for a daily carry / home defense / range gun. i am not planning on competition shooting and would not prefer to send the gun off for 4-6 months.


any advice would be very helpful. i have searched around but all the topics are a year or more old.

I've got an M&P9c with the Apex DCAEK and RAM installed and I think the trigger is outstanding. Search around and you'll see tons of reviews and I bet all of them are positive.

I have installed the Apex Duty/Carry Action Enhancement Kit (DCAEK) in two M&Ps, a FS 9mm and a FS 45. Makes a world of difference. Apex has videos on Youtube showing the installation which is easy if you have a drift set and a vice. The vice is necessary to hold the slide to remove the rear sight when replacing the striker block and spring.

https://apextactical.com/store/produ...php?pid35.html

If you used to a real "crisp" break on a Sig the Apex trigger may not be your best bet. I have an apex DCAEK on the FS .40 and im not completely happy with it. It has an extremely short reset (that i like) and the over travel is almost eliminated but it doest have that almost 1911 style single action trigger as many Sigs. (I have a 220) When i bought a Shield i wanted to improve the over travel on it. I found this S&W M&P Pistol Series Trigger Job.mp4 - YouTube and i followed it and i really couldnt be happier. I have since done the same trigger job on my .40 FS that i did on my Shield. I was much happier after removing the Apex kit. Good Luck!!

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Freedom Isnt Free

1 more question, can that trigger job you posted from youtube be done and still add the the apex ram modification?

The video is of the Burwell trigger job, here is a direct link to the original PDF file.

http://www.burwellguns.com/misc/M&Ptriggerjob.pdf

I did parts of this to my M&P and it helped out a lot, I'm not sure how compatible it is with aftermarket parts.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

I assume that the RAM will work w/ this trigger job but i have not tried it. I was satisfied w the trigger w/o adding it

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Freedom Isnt Free

ok. and this DOES help with pre travel and gives it a shorter reset? just wanting to double check. im more concearned with that than the trigger weight at this point.

actually, i think after researching further, what mu main concearn is, is with the up-take. not overtravel. i think if i can decrease the uptake and get a more *** reset, along with polishing the stock trigger, i will be happy. question is, in order to achive less uptake, do i have to get another trigger or can i do this with my stock trigger?

Idk about the uptake. I have herd that some gunsmiths instal a screw into the trigger bar somewhere in order to adjust the up take but im not sure how to do this. I dont think that if your using this gun for self defense and carry that removing some of the up take is that great of an idea. I dont mind the uptake, i had a real problem w jerking the gun to the right due to the excessive over travel in the M&P line. Let me know if you find any info on removing some of the up take

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Freedom Isnt Free

I have seen much discussion of trigger jobs on the M&P, and most refer to Apex Tactical. I am interested in upgrading the stock trigger in a FS 9mm, but have some confusion about what this involves. This is a HD gun, so the competition version is out.
Presumably, this would be the DCAEK (Duty Carry Action Enhancement Kit) sold by Apex for $89.95. This includes a sear, striker block, sear spring and trigger return spring.

Brownells sells Apex Tactical parts for the same purpose, including the DCAEK, but they also sell a

• Reset Assist Mechanism for $21.49 and
• Failure Resistant Extractor for $44.99

Both of these seem to make sense for a HD/carry gun as the reset mechanism is said to improve trigger reset, act as a failsafe if the trigger return spring fails, and keeps the trigger bar properly positioned, all enhancing reliability of the weapon.

The extractor is said to help prevent extraction failures.

This "upgrade" would run over $150. I am wondering whether it is worth it, particularly since I have had no hiccups whatsoever over 500 rounds, although I particularly dislike the trigger's lack of a tactile reset. Some of the crunchiness has smoothed out, and I don't especially mind the take up or break.

So when people refer to an Apex trigger upgrade, what exactly does that involve? Only the DCAEK? All of the above?

I have read many of the Apex trigger job comments, and many seem to refer to different things (aside from the competition upgrade as compared to the duty/carry).

Anybody care to tackle this?

I have done the DCAEK upgrade myself on several pistols, mostly 45s. To my knowledge there is no a RAM for the M&P45s. I have installed a RAM in a M&P40 that has a Burwell trigger job with good results.

I really like the DCAEK upgrade. To me it makes a huge difference. I've never had an extractor problem, so to me there is no need for the updated part. Sometimes I leave the factory trigger spring in place for a sweet 4 pound trigger, but for a duty gun I add the APEX trigger spring included in the DCAEK. It typically adds about a pound to the pull.

Hope that helps.

Yep this seems to be the general concensus, although some would add the AEK trigger, I'd say if you go that route, hold out for the polymer version, cheaper, makes more sense IMO.

just my humble opinion, but I'd stay away from trigger jobs, I'd rather not take metal off parts where that metal was not mean't to be reduced, with all due respect to Burwell whom I'm sure does amazing work. I'd go with the drop in parts. Also, the RAM is supposed to be out soon, I'd look for it before the year ends.

Also in agreement with the extractor, no need for it. The reason the part exists is because early 9mm M&Ps apparently had failure to extract issues that have since been corrected.

after 200 rds today, i think i will at least put in the ram and maybe start by just polishing all the trigger parts. after that, i may try out the apex package. i did notice that my m&p 9mm fs was not as accurate as i had hoped. i am not nearly used to the trigger or gun but i had it resting on a truck bed at about 25 yards and was getting like 8 inch groups. again, it could be totally my fault, i have just read all the horror stories online about the innacuracy of the 9mm fs. could be all in my head and im not looking for competition results. its a hd and range gun.

The full sized 9mm tends to run more accurate with heavier ammo (147 grain ideal, 124 grain better than 115), just keep that in mind.

I too was unsatisfied w/ my trigger and settled on Apex Tactical's Forward Set Sear & Trigger kit. What an improvement! Reduced pre travel (still have about 1/8" movement) and all overtravel, much crisper break and having it break a little forward of the factory setting helps keep my long fingers from creeping too far in (along w/ the large grip). It costs more but I really like the design and feel of the aluminum trigger.