I have an M&P40C not a Shield. When took it out of the box I noticed a good 6.5 lb trigger pull along with some grittiness. I little polishing of the trigger bar took care of the grittiness. Don't take off too much material & use a very fine emery. Since I didn't have anything fine enough at first I experimented with a pencil eraser & that in itself made an improvement. I couple of swipes with the emery finished it off. Now it's nice & smooth & I didn't have to go through 500-1000 rounds to "break in the trigger bar".

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Former USN, Retired US Army

Whats the trigger pull like now?

Tom

I'm a long time 1911 shooter, and spoiled by their clean triggers, but needed a smaller thinner carry gun. I bought a 9mm Shield and it definitely fits the bill as a compact carry gun... except for the heavy trigger. I had the Apex sear, and USB installed along with a set of Ameriglo SW-451 night sights, and it is like a new gun. I kept the stock springs in the sear install, and trigger pull is a very acceptable 4#-10 oz. now. It's not too light for a carry gun but is much cleaner break now, with a smoother take up. I'd gladly do it again, and highly recommend the sear/USB change out.

Hay that would make mine the PERFECT carry gun!! I to find the stock trigger to heavy, but I LOVE everything else about the gun the looks I mean I haven't bought a Smith in a while because of the cost and sometimes the long wait. I was on a list for a year before I got my shield so I bought a Keltec PF9 just no comparison NONE in terms of quality the Smith looks like a custom made gun like Wilson Combact or something just perfect no flaws even feed theses rounds I had laying around that would jam everything else I had but they have feed flawlessly through the Shield.

Jetman how much did that upgrade cost you I was hoping I could avoid the 90 dollar price tag for the kit.

Tom j.

Curt31... to have Apex install the night sights, sear, and USB, and Next Day air shipping both ways from OH to CA was almost as much as the gun itself... but well worth it for a gun I carry, and my life could literally depend upon. It really transformed the Shield to the next level. I do have a Wilson Combat, so I understand your comparison, and the Shield is not quite that nice.... but easier to conceal..... and MUCH cheaper. If you're good with tools, and can do your own work, the $90 is a bargain, once you are done with your changes. For another $115 you can get a quality set of night sights too.

Say THANKS!! well maybe I'll have to spend the money you really have just about convinced me so you can't just buy the sear by itself I guess is that correct. You really make a compelling argument!!

Tom

so i am new to guns...why would MA require 10 lbs to pull when others don't? Is this why my buddy told me to get the apex kit? Is that basically a new trigger?

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M&P9 FS APEX Kit

Hay jetman2 Your trigger pull is now in the high 4 pound reange?? Let me make sure I got it right you bascially just replaced the sear and stricker block and retained the stock springs. Thanks again really appreciate you helping!

Tom

Because the law makers in MA are a bunch of liberal protectionist who believe that a heavy trigger keeps you from shooting people. All it does it make you miss your target. Keeping your finger off the trigger keeps the gun from firing...

patsfan:

You've already heard why the heavy trigger pull weights exist....

It also help sell more ammunition. Cf: "Spray and Pray" techniques.

Apex has a couple of "new triggers" that really are triggers. What we're basically considering here is changes to other hardware that changes the pull weight and feel of the existing trigger action. You can add Apex's new triggers, too, if desired. One of them really changes how things work. I think the other is just a metal replacement. Some people don't like the trigger-based safety setup that S&W used. Personally, that's one of those "don't remove a manufacturer-supplied safety devices" issues, but for about any use but Self Defense, it may make sense.

Regards,

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Stu.

MA lawmakers are complete and utter morons.


Thanks for the info. I wondered why it took so much to pull the trigger when i first shot the gun...now i know why...maybe apex kit down the road...but will the trigger loosen up at all after say 1,000 rounds?

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M&P9 FS APEX Kit

Just put an Apex kit in the Shield and don't look back....it is fantastic.

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Terry
SWCA, SWHS, IWLA, NRA

Can any gunsmith or gun guy do this for relatively cheap? This wouldn't make the gun illegal in MA would it?

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M&P9 FS APEX Kit

patsfan:

If the smith has experience doing it, it's about a half-hour of bench time. Something like $50, I suppose. Probably a bit more if he's not tried it.

You can DIY the whole project, but swapping the sear spring has to be done in a plastic bag 'cause parts will go flying.

Taking the rear sight off the Shield is supposed to be a real bear, too. I think they're using the elephant that Kimber uses to place their rear sights.... A good smith should have the skills, and/or a pusher, although a lot of cursing and some luck (and a nylon or brass punch) helps a lot.

I'm not a lawyer, but my guess would be that selling (at an FFL) the gun might be a problem. Owning it shouldn't be. It's just a spring swap, and a "what the heck - it's always felt like 5#" defense probably would fly. S&W is stamping those out fast enough to assume somebody'd put the "wrong" spring in there....

It's NOT a "shoot it until it smooths out" issue - I don't think you'd lose more than a pound, if that much, if you bought Winchester and devoted your life to WWB's .... Unless the spring breaks.... Shooting it WILL clean up the drop safety, trigger bar, and sear interfaces a bit v.s. just some polishing, but the full Apex (or Burwell) treatment of the drop safety may be better. Heck of a lot quicker, too ....

Regards,

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Stu.

This is true. I've taken mine off and it's not a walk in the park. Once I had it off I polished off about .002 of an inch and it makes adjusting the sight possible.

Sorry for the delay in answering, Tom. The pull might not be any lighter but it's nice & smooth with no or very little grittiness. It does seem to be a bit lighter but that's probably because it's smoother. Another problem some have had is a burr in their sear block. That's the little silver button that the trigger bar pushes down. To test fore that take the gun down & push the button down manually. I used an unsharpened pencil. Fortunately mine was smooth. If it weren't that would have entailed taking it out & polishing that, too, something I'd rather not have to do. I imagine with polishing of both if it needed it the trigger pull would have to be a bit lighter.

Just a visual check of the trigger bar showed it to be rough & with scraping my fingernail down the face that pushes the sear block confirmed that. This is not a complete cure for the trigger problems some have but it sure saved me from having to buy an Apex kit. I am not a trigger snob nor do I intend to compete. I'd like to think that my marksmanship improved but nothing will do that, lol.

Glenn

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Former USN, Retired US Army

get the APEX KIT its worth it, 10.5 lb triggers in Mass

I did get the kit...getting put in next week sometime.

3-4 lbs lighter and smother? Will be awesome

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M&P9 FS APEX Kit

My shield trigger pull really sucks bad.
Im thinking 9+ lbs.
My Kahr is a dream compaired to it

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S&W Shield 40 owner

Is it possible you got an MA gun?

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M&P-9FS,Shield40,642,32ColtPPS

Hi guess you're have to do what I did and bit the bullet so to speak and buy a Apex trigger kit like I did. I really didn't want to after spending 400.00 on the gun but I wasent completly happy with the trigger either, also decided to get a set of big dot sights to and do it all at one time.

Tom

How can I tell if its a Ma gun. I live in Fl so I wouldnt think so

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S&W Shield 40 owner

will this void warrenty ?
I'm just kinda afraid to pull it apart

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S&W Shield 40 owner

I think it can be traced via the serial number.

Also - not too long ago, we had a guy here who had just bought a Shield in some non-MA state and he determined the gun was in fact a MA gun. Not sure of the outcome, but I believe either the LGS or S&W made it right.

9 lbs is WAY too high (it is supposed to be 6), unless it does turn out to be a MA gun.

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M&P-9FS,Shield40,642,32ColtPPS

That 10 lb trigger thing really has to be the dumbest gun law that's actually been passed. Kind of like saying a dull knife is safer than a sharp one.

Haven't measured the trigger pull on my new Shield, but it's got to be in the ballpark of 6.5 lb out of the box.

Ok the model numnber ends in 20 which acording to s&w web site its not a MA gun. Unless a MA gun got in the wrong box.
I need to have my trigger pull checked Im just guessing compairing it to my ither guns

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S&W Shield 40 owner

I ordered the Apex Shield Carry Kit to modify my 7 lb. trigger pull. As luck would have it, the striker firing pin broke during practice dry fire that evening. Sent it to S&W for repair and received it back 10 days later (great customer service) with a new striker installed. I received a blank trouble sheet so, other than the new striker, I can't tell if any additional work was done. I took it to the range that same day and ran 100 rounds through the gun. I was shocked to notice how light the trigger now seemed to be, which was further evidenced by how well I was grouping that day relative to previous range trips with the pistol. After cleaning the gun, I measured the trigger pull and got 10 consistent reading of 5 1/4 to 5 1/2 lbs trigger pull. Smooth, and the overtravel even seemed to be gone. I'm not sure what would cause these differences, but I am happy!

Now I have a Shield Carry Kit I no longer need!

Despite the statements here, a trigger does NOT drop from 9 3/4 pounds to 6 1/2 pounds by shooting 200 rounds or by some polishing. LOL

I am glad to hear you figured out how to use your trigger pull gauge. The reading you are getting is likely within spec.

Enjoy your pistol.

Any idea how many times you dry fired before it gave out? S&W states that you can safely dry fire this gun but no more for me, that's it not even with a snap cap. Thanks!

Tom

Ya Thats it for meet too. I dont want my SD gun to fail due to dry firing

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S&W Shield 40 owner

I rather it fail during dry firing than self defense firing. Someone posted here months ago that for every live round fired, he had dry fired his pistol something like 50 times. I don't recall if it was a Shield or other M&P. I'll keep dry firing whenever I feel like it!

I grew up with the understanding dry fireing can damage your firing pin.now i see this and think is dry firing harder on the firing pin even on the newer guns than shooting them

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S&W Shield 40 owner

About a thousand in the year I've owned it. I now have Tipton snap caps.

Hay thanks well this is me but I don't think I'll dry fire it any more seeing that it's my new carry piece I had another Smith that I dry fired and the firing pin broke just glad I didn't have to find out in a time of need.

Tom

I know this post is old --- However, wanted to add my .02

Just got home and took my NON Complaint CA shield out of the box NO yet even fired... did three trigger pull test

S&W states stock trigger is 6 pound 8 ounces +-.

Mine (not fired yet - brand new)
6 pounds 14 ounces
6 pounds 11 ounces
6 pounds 9 ounces

placing the guage on this trigger was not easy - I am guessing that is way the 5 ounce range PLUS Iam not an expert on this, Just wanted to see what it was even before the break in.

To me it feels fine and should only get better with use - Plus, several Youtube video's on how to smooth it out OR I can $$$$ and up grade the trigger...

For now, I am happy with the trigger and the Urban legand that the Non safety was a HEAVY Trigger is not true on this gun


BTW - my Glocks 26/27 came in at 6 pounds 1 ounce AND 5 pounds 13 ounces
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My 9mm Shield had a trigger pull of about 8lbs measured with my Lyman electronic trigger gauge. That was too heavy for my taste. So I installed the Apex Duty/Carry sear and spring kit. I did leave the S&W trigger spring in the gun. That got me down to about 5lb 4oz trigger pull. I decided to install the Apex trigger and now have a lot less take up and over travel. The trigger is now a consistent 4lb 4oz pull. It now has a nice clean break. My other carry guns are 1911 45ACPs and they all have 4lb triggers. That's the way I like my triggers.

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gunfighter48
NRA Life Member

I know this is an older thread but here's my 2 cents worth:

Shield factory specs were 6.5 pounds +/- 2 pounds. I don't know if S&W has changed those specs, but they were +/- 2 full pounds. Most Shields came with a 6.5 pound pull +/- 1/2 pound. My Shield was 6.5 pounds, measured with an accurate Lyman Digital trigger gauge.

I will shed some light on the Apex DCAEK (Duty/Carry Action Enhancement Kit). That kit is available for all M&Ps and when all parts are installed, Apex states the pull should be between 5 to 5.5 pounds. Per Jon Shadwick from Apex Tactical, if you keep the stock trigger spring and the stock sear spring, the trigger pull weight should drop one pound and be between 4 to 4.5 pounds. Apex offers their FSS kit (Forward Set Sear) that moves the trigger at rest position forward, reduces trigger take-up and over-travel. It comes with two springs for a 4 or 5.5 pound trigger pull. Apex description for the FSS is "It produces a trigger pull as close to a 1911 trigger as possible in a polymer frame pistol."

My Shield 40 has only the Apex sear and Apex striker blocker and spring. I used the stock Shield sear spring and a Glock trigger spring, along with some other mods. The short video below shows a 3/8 inch take-up, a little over 1/16 of sear pull to break, minimal over-travel due to my OT stop, and a 3/32 inch reset, with a 3 1/2 pound trigger pull weight. Just the way I wanted it, but you may not like it. I prefer the 3/8 inch of take-up as an extra safety factor, in a carry gun. The take-up is only 1.0 pound of pull pressure and acts like a 2 stage trigger pull.

Bob


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T60sTwJ_FNE