Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Semi-Automatic Pistols > Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols
o

Notices

Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols All Variants of the Smith & Wesson M&P Auto Pistols


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-06-2018, 05:21 PM
cohiba66 cohiba66 is offline
Member
New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger  
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Newport News VA
Posts: 60
Likes: 1
Liked 199 Times in 27 Posts
Default New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger

So, went to pick up my new 2.0 4" and when I went to look it over, I of course dry fired it and was like what the heck, trigger was terrible. The resistance, gritty feel at about half-pull was so bad I almost refused it. Ive dry fired many M&P's over the last few years and some are ok, some not but this one was not right at all. But knowing (hopefully) it was probably the usual firing pin block/plunger/plunger channel ( not exact on the terminology ) which has plagued these guns for years I took a chance and accepted the gun and took it home and immediately tore into the slide.

Detail stripping a brand new gun, putting it into a vise and having to use a hammer, punch and sandpaper is not fun but after an hour I was finished. After removing the sight, firing pin etc I began by wrapping a small wooden dowel in 280 grit sandpaper and just started to essentially sand/polish over and over the plunger channel in the slide. Finished with 600 grit. If you look close in the image, there is the smallest, slightest "ridge" or horizontal machine mark that I believe was the culprit and when I was satisfied I had pretty much removed it I cleaned, lubed and reassembled the gun and viola!! a 95% improvement in the trigger. Some very negligible grit but a nice pull to the wall then a crisp break. Whew!

Here is my new addition, going to the range on Monday to try some really hot stuff in the .40 and break in the 2.0 9mm.







If you look close, its barely visible but the small machine mark is visible in the channel, almost looks like a hairline crack. This was about after a half hour of sanding & polishing


Pretty much done and time to clean all the grit out of the slide


I know this is nothing new but just wanted to share what I did. Thanks!!
__________________
Cubicle commando hero.
Reply With Quote
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
  #2  
Old 10-06-2018, 08:04 PM
Christopher67's Avatar
Christopher67 Christopher67 is offline
Member
New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger  
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Maine
Posts: 123
Likes: 181
Liked 20 Times in 16 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by cohiba66 View Post
So, went to pick up my new 2.0 4" and when I went to look it over, I of course dry fired it and was like what the heck, trigger was terrible. The resistance, gritty feel at about half-pull was so bad I almost refused it. Ive dry fired many M&P's over the last few years and some are ok, some not but this one was not right at all. But knowing (hopefully) it was probably the usual firing pin block/plunger/plunger channel ( not exact on the terminology ) which has plagued these guns for years I took a chance and accepted the gun and took it home and immediately tore into the slide.

Detail stripping a brand new gun, putting it into a vise and having to use a hammer, punch and sandpaper is not fun but after an hour I was finished. After removing the sight, firing pin etc I began by wrapping a small wooden dowel in 280 grit sandpaper and just started to essentially sand/polish over and over the plunger channel in the slide. Finished with 600 grit. If you look close in the image, there is the smallest, slightest "ridge" or horizontal machine mark that I believe was the culprit and when I was satisfied I had pretty much removed it I cleaned, lubed and reassembled the gun and viola!! a 95% improvement in the trigger. Some very negligible grit but a nice pull to the wall then a crisp break. Whew!

Here is my new addition, going to the range on Monday to try some really hot stuff in the .40 and break in the 2.0 9mm.







If you look close, its barely visible but the small machine mark is visible in the channel, almost looks like a hairline crack. This was about after a half hour of sanding & polishing


Pretty much done and time to clean all the grit out of the slide


I know this is nothing new but just wanted to share what I did. Thanks!!

Poor machining? 1st I've heard of this, thanks for sharing!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-06-2018, 08:52 PM
deadduck357 deadduck357 is offline
Member
New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger  
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Tx
Posts: 139
Likes: 22
Liked 49 Times in 37 Posts
Default

Great job! Too bad you had to go to that effort on a new pistol but job well done. Would an after market trigger improve it more?

Not familiar with M&P pistols but is it required to remove the rear sight for what?
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #4  
Old 10-07-2018, 12:20 AM
RobzGuns's Avatar
RobzGuns RobzGuns is offline
US Veteran
New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger  
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,878
Likes: 1,668
Liked 2,344 Times in 1,110 Posts
Default

You're more patient than I.
I would not have accepted the pistol. There are too many good pistols out there that don't need to be worked on right out of the box.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-07-2018, 02:58 AM
CB3's Avatar
CB3 CB3 is offline
Member
New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger  
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Utah
Posts: 1,966
Likes: 2,383
Liked 2,954 Times in 1,054 Posts
Default

Good on you for tackling the project yourself.

IMO 230 grit is too coarse and aggressive. It takes a long time with finer grit paper to fully reduce the scratches 230 leaves behind. I never use anything less than 400 grit, and that only rarely when I can be very aggressive, like on a feed ramp. 600 is usually my minimum, with 800 and 1000 used much more often for real polishing rather than metal removal.

Polishing the back of the trigger bar candy cane loop that pushes on the striker block interface is also helpful, but 800 or even 1000 grit should be used exclusively.

The part of the trigger bar that engages the sear could use some 1000 grit polishing also. Any part of the trigger bar that rubs on anything else, even the frame, benefits from polishing.

The outside of the striker block could use a few dozen strokes of 1000.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #6  
Old 10-07-2018, 09:41 AM
cohiba66 cohiba66 is offline
Member
New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger  
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Newport News VA
Posts: 60
Likes: 1
Liked 199 Times in 27 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by deadduck357 View Post
Great job! Too bad you had to go to that effort on a new pistol but job well done. Would an after market trigger improve it more?

Not familiar with M&P pistols but is it required to remove the rear sight for what?
The rear sight sits above the striker safety plunger, holds the plunger spring in place. You have to remove all this to free the striker which obviously has to be removed to get access to the plunger channel. 3rd gens kinda have the same system but there are TWO springs that sit under their rear sights. Great care is required when removing these sights cause if you go to fast you'll have springs and retaining plates flying all around.




polished the plunger while it was out also...
__________________
Cubicle commando hero.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-07-2018, 09:43 AM
Flyingfool Flyingfool is offline
Member
New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger  
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 542
Likes: 4
Liked 339 Times in 181 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by deadduck357 View Post
Great job! Too bad you had to go to that effort on a new pistol but job well done. Would an after market trigger improve it more?

Not familiar with M&P pistols but is it required to remove the rear sight for what?
Yes the rear site must be removed to gain access to remove the striker plunger. Which in this case was the issue.

Unfortunately removal of rear site is fairly notoriously difficult on many (not all) M&P’s due to the very tight fit of the site in the dovetail.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-07-2018, 09:44 AM
cohiba66 cohiba66 is offline
Member
New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger  
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Newport News VA
Posts: 60
Likes: 1
Liked 199 Times in 27 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CB3 View Post
Good on you for tackling the project yourself.

IMO 230 grit is too coarse and aggressive. It takes a long time with finer grit paper to fully reduce the scratches 230 leaves behind. I never use anything less than 400 grit, and that only rarely when I can be very aggressive, like on a feed ramp. 600 is usually my minimum, with 800 and 1000 used much more often for real polishing rather than metal removal.

Polishing the back of the trigger bar candy cane loop that pushes on the striker block interface is also helpful, but 800 or even 1000 grit should be used exclusively.

The part of the trigger bar that engages the sear could use some 1000 grit polishing also. Any part of the trigger bar that rubs on anything else, even the frame, benefits from polishing.

The outside of the striker block could use a few dozen strokes of 1000.
Trust me, I fretted about using 230 before I started, 600 wasn't doing anything, after a few minutes with 230 I essentially spent 30 minutes with 600 until that burr or line was almost gone. Put it back together after a thorough cleaning and it was fine..
__________________
Cubicle commando hero.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-07-2018, 02:51 PM
CB3's Avatar
CB3 CB3 is offline
Member
New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger  
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Utah
Posts: 1,966
Likes: 2,383
Liked 2,954 Times in 1,054 Posts
Default

Good photos too. ✔️
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10-07-2018, 09:36 PM
cohiba66 cohiba66 is offline
Member
New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger  
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Newport News VA
Posts: 60
Likes: 1
Liked 199 Times in 27 Posts
Default

Just want to add that this will be my EDC and I don't want to install any sort of aftermarket triggers. This gun may not even get night sights. I am a little paranoid, there are just too many things that can go wrong in a self defense situation and I don't want to add any sort of lawyer fodder....if it got that far.
__________________
Cubicle commando hero.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 10-08-2018, 04:12 AM
CB3's Avatar
CB3 CB3 is offline
Member
New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger  
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Utah
Posts: 1,966
Likes: 2,383
Liked 2,954 Times in 1,054 Posts
Default

Stating this legal position about not altering your gun, can you articulate why you improved your trigger?
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 10-08-2018, 08:03 AM
ScaryWoody ScaryWoody is offline
Member
New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger  
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 605
Likes: 105
Liked 399 Times in 248 Posts
Default

Gone are the gunsmiths that fitted each part to make the best pistol possible. Now they are assembled by a technician that has to work as fast as possible. I always fluff and buff the innards on new pistols. I added an Apex sear to my Shield 45 big improvement to reset and feel.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #13  
Old 10-08-2018, 10:54 AM
hardluk1 hardluk1 is offline
Member
New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger  
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,814
Likes: 300
Liked 768 Times in 551 Posts
Default

My wife bought a m&p9c and a 4.25 core right after each was available and as nice as my 669 is these pistol show how QC has taken a dump at s&w . I spent far to much time and money make these pistols practicle for carry or matches but thanks to some polishing and apex both have good triggers and the CORE now shoots small groups instead of something that looks more like a 12ga 000 buck shot pattern . I have range swapped guns to shoot a new m&p full size and compact and I will not own a new 2.0 .

scarrywoody comment about - Gone are the gunsmiths that fitted each part to make the best pistol possible is spot on .

I have an old s&w 669 that I carry occasionally and its still a great pistol and as much as I really like how a m&p pistol feels in my hand we will not buy any more m&p's unless I find a nice used super cheap pistol as I know it will need parts and tuning just to make it like it should have been to begin with !!
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #14  
Old 10-08-2018, 05:05 PM
southerncomfort's Avatar
southerncomfort southerncomfort is offline
Member
New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger New 2.0 4" , Ugh. Horrible trigger  
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 113
Likes: 138
Liked 99 Times in 59 Posts
Default

Congrats on finding the culprit so quickly. You must be pretty confident in your "Smith"ing abilities. Removing the rear sight on a new gun would have been a show-stopper to me. Glad it worked out.
__________________
Southern Comfort
Retired USAF
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Horrible, horrible grit in my M&P 9 FS trigger Synyster06Gates Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols 26 01-11-2015 07:04 PM
M&P9 Horrible Trigger ferretray Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols 10 03-17-2014 12:31 AM
S&W 28-2 Horrible trigger fxntime S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 28 12-02-2013 09:14 PM
Horrible trigger M&P9 Jim357 Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols 9 12-07-2012 01:14 AM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:59 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)