Hi guys, New here. Just got an M&P9 compact. What would happen if I just put in Apex flatface trigger without the rest of the kit.
Thanks for any answers, Doug
Edit. 2.0, 4 inch barrel

Should be no issues at all, but may depend on whether you have a 1.0 or 2.0. If anything you'll notice a reduction in overall travel. If your compact still retains the trigger loop, you'll be able to adjust where the sear breaks in the trigger pull. The over-travel stop is more positive as well.

Myself, I actually prefer the polymer apex trigger vs. aluminum and have them installed on all my M&Ps except for Shields.

I also believe the kit for the 2.0 flat faced Apex trigger includes a different disconnect which has the sear breaking towards the front of the pull. You may want to call Apex to make sure there's no issues installing the trigger w/o the disconnect.

Wish you would get more responses...I'm interested in more info for the question you presented. I just need to get busy & call Apex.

I have all LE trade in 1.0 FS M&P 40's. I installed the poly trigger in them along with the APEX supplied sear spring. It makes the APEX trigger pull crisper. To use their sear spring you must use a feeler gauge to open the loop to about .016" (that's what worked for me). The factory opening was .004"-.006".

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I FINALLY got around to calling Apex. A polymer or aluminum stand-alone trigger kit (~$40) is ONLY available for the M&P 1.0 model. To replace the trigger on a 2.0 model I would have to buy & install the full $160+ kit. So...decision time.

Just curious as to why you would want to replace the 2.0 trigger. S&W improved it so much over the 1.0. Unless you don't like the hinged trigger itself, I can't see replacing it. I like the 2.0 trigger on my 2.0 40.
These are just my honest opinions.

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You are fortunate, but I'm "blessed" with xtra-large fingers to go with my 6'3" / 2XX# image. The VERY tight radius hinged 2.0 trigger is downright painful as I use the first pad of my index trigger finger. The trigger operation itself is greatly improved. Anyway, I've got a couple of nice triggers on my 9mm and .45 cal 1911s which are a pleasure to shoot.

Talking trigger only, some people don't prefer the hinged trigger on the stock M&Ps. The Apex trigger noticeably lessens overall trigger travel.

The Apex trigger also firmly stops against the firearm frame. The M&P 1.0s had that little tab stop at the bottom of the trigger guard. The 2.0 moved the tab stop to the back of the trigger guard in a more traditional position.

I was on the fence with the Apex trigger, mostly because the function resembled the Glock trigger too much and I hate those. After watching the Apex video on the topic, I tried the polymer models on one of my M&P 45s. Nothing like the Glock trigger and improved overall travel and feel. That was all it took. The Apex trigger is now on all my M&Ps.

Go for the full kit, you will love it. I had previously put an Overwatch flat faced trigger in my Gen4 Glock 19 that reduced the pre travel and over travel. The flat faced trigger was just so much better. I hate the feel of stock Glock triggers. I read and watched all I could find on the M&P Apex flatty trigger full kit. I put one in my new 2.0 compact and love it. I also put the duty carry kit in my 1.0 Shield with the same result. Both guns much improved but the trigger in the M&P 2.0 now has the best trigger I have ever experienced in a striker fired gun.

Tom, thanks very much for sharing your helpful comments! I acquired a like new 9mm Shield 1.0 today and note your good experience putting the duty carry kit in your 1.0 Shield. I'll be looking for a good local gunsmith to handle this upgrade. Guess I need to budget $160+ for the kit and $75 or so for installation. This should give a flat well-functioning trigger? Right? Regards, Ed

That's a very wise choice, letting an armorer do the install.
You do know that if you send it back to S&W for any kind of warranty work, you will have to remove the installed kit. Or, S&W will do it for you and send it back the way that the factory made it. Just something to think about.

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Thanks for noting this consequence of "improving" this Shield. Yes, more decision time. I like both the Shield and my 9mm 2.0 Compact, but the super tight trigger radius on both models is a pain...literally. Regards...

>>Go for the full kit, you will love it<<

I'll second that! I've got the full "flatty" kit on both my M&P 40 and my Walther PPQ, and I can't say enough good about them.

Having a very hard time justifying spending $200 or more on a trigger for a $250 Shield. Maybe if it was a higher $ competition model. That said, Thanks for replies!

Pretty creative and incredibly profitable marketing scheme by Apex. Convincing gun owners to spend a lot of money on something they don't actually need.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

I keep hearing about how great the 2.0 triggers are and that you won't need to do anything with them.
My last 2.0 .40 and the MP9 I have now had gritty 8 pound triggers with a mile of pre travel.
Thank God for Apex. I did have a problem after installing the Apex kit on my .40, it wasn't re-setting.

Doug at Apex knew the problem right away and suggested I get a new trigger bar. I ordered one from Midwest and the new trigger bar was significantly longer, and took care of the re-set.

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Stock triggers on most guns are fine out of the box...until you get spoiled by really good triggers! Like most things once you experience better quality then the standard no longer satisfies.

I love Timney triggers in my AR's and hunting rifles and Apex in my M&P handguns. I've become a trigger snob! A good trigger improves my performance with the firearm hence greater overall enjoyment and satisfaction. Seemingly small trigger improvements make quite a difference making it easier to shoot well. It doesn't make the gun better so much as it makes the shooter better. Speaking for myself the extra money is soon forgotten and replaced by smiles every time I squeeze the trigger and eye the results. I haven't put Apex in all my M&P's but like the few I have done.

I have the Apex flat trigger kit in my 2.0 Compact and am very satisfied. Pic is from about 25 ft. I'm only an average shot but when I do my part....

edit: The pic rotated for some reason. The group is actually at 12 o'clock shooting suppressed.

Attached Images

apex 2.0.jpg (62.0 KB, 28 views)

I have had my full size MP9 M2.0 4.25in swapped over to both the APEX barrel and Trigger Kit, for about a year now. I like it so much that I just finished doing the same upgrade for my new 5in MP9, just this week!

When installing the APEX Trigger Kit, I used the APEX purple HD Sear Spring and the OEM SW Trigger Return Spring on both pistols. According to the "included" APEX fitting chart, I should be getting a 5.0lb Pull Weight. However, my new trigger pull averages are:

• 4.25in = 2lb 5oz
• 5.00in = 2lb 6oz

My 4.25in semi-drop-in APEX barrel required quite a bit of fitting. I went slow and IMO got it fit perfectly.

My newer 5.00in semi-drop-in APEX barrel came and actually dropped in upon arrival... However, when comparing the fit between the two, the newer/longer barrel appears to fit to the same tight tolerances as my older one. Got my fingers crossed that that is a good thing. I have not had the chance to live fire the longer one yet, so we will see once live fire accuracy can be measured.

Thanks guys for all the replies. It is hard to justify putting another $160 into my new $499 Gun.
I do like great triggers though.

I was considering the polymer trigger, is there anything other than price that you prefer about it over the aluminum versions?

Dougeee,

Think you answered your own question. 160 to improve
your trigger? You might be better off trading it away for
something that more suits your needs, maybe even a
different brand.

While many love the aftermarket mods, JMHO if the S&W
trigger was so bad, don't you think they would have improved
it themselves? My 2.0 has a great trigger that gets better with use.

Look at the Hyve Triggers

Is the Apex polymer trigger wider than the factor ones found on the M2.0 Shield AND regular M&P M2.0 pistols? And does anyone know approximately how much wider the aluminum ones are compared to the factory hinged triggers?

The small spring for the safety in the trigger itself crunched up and fell out. I am not sure about the exact size. I contacted Apex and waiting to hear back. Does anyone have any info on fixing or replacing it?

I actually have one for the 2.0 Shield for sale in the classifieds.

Apex says it will shorten pretravel and over travel. You also get a straight trigger which is supposed to help eliminate pulling or pushing the trigger/pistol while shooting. It gets rid of thd two piece trigger.
You don't get the lighter trigger like you would with the whole kit, but it won't cause any issues as the trigger is designed to be used stand alone using factory parts.

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If they had improved it, do you really think there would be such a wide variety of offerings from the aftermarket industry to improve something that didn't need improving?
A lot of people are satisfied with their triggers. A lot arent. $160 isn't expensive when you consider what you're getting and you don't have to send off your pistol, pay for parts or gunsmithing fees to improve it. Luckily most guns these days are designed to have plug and play parts, which allows aftermarket to make plug and play and minimize tolerances which can have big gains and improve accuracy and shootability.

Its not worth it to everyone. But if you aren't happy with it stock, as is, theres something you can do about it.

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Boxer9

Maybe I'm a blind S&W fan, maybe I'm old and cheap, but JMHO
the 2.0 needs no improvement. Compared to the 1.0 or SD series, its a match pistol to me.

My main objection to the aftermarket is that it voids the warranty,
and due to manufacturing tolerances, doesn't work in all cases.
There are just too many horror stories posted here from folks
who had problems with aftermarket parts. However its your
pistol and your money. The M&P striker fired pistols aren't
1911 Match pistols. but are safe and reliable. Due to manufacturing tolerances again, sometimes the reliability is affected. Kinda like putting the lipstick on a pig?

A lot of folks jump into the aftermarket before firing a shot from
their M&P or M&P 15 sport rifle. Why not use it a little and see
if it really needs improvement? The aftermarket offers a lot
of options and makes a lot of money, BUT while the OP wanted
a nice trigger on his new compact, he found a bill of 160 for parts
and 75 install fee to accomplish it. To me, its hard to justify
almost half of the cost of the pistol (499) to improve it.

Different strokes and all that. I've never changed a Glock trigger or many others, generally shoot a 1911 straight outa the box. Of course those don't have two piece hinged triggers either and feel smoother on takeup.

I did upgrade my CZ 75 PCR internals and trigger, it was heavy and gritty as well before the Cajun parts.

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