New M&P Shield trigger pull question

[Bret]

I've been on a waiting list for a new 40S&W Shield for quite a while. It finally came in at a LGS, so I went by and picked it up for $425+tax. I have not had a chance to shoot it yet, but I've noticed that the trigger pull is significantly heavier than the sample gun the LGS had. I measured it using my Lyman trigger pull gauge and it averages about 9Lbs, 12oz. Yes, I did check the SKU number which is 180020, so it's not the MA compliant model. Do the Shield triggers start out heavy and lighten up or am I looking at having to have the trigger worked on?

 

[Rane135]

I also have a brand new, unfired 40 cal shield. I don't have a pull gauge but would say it's definitely not that heavy of a pull. I would guess right on spec at around 6-6.5 lbs. Thats only based on comparison to my Glock 26 and though I haven't heard anyone else mention this, I would be interested in hearing anyone else's experience.

 

[azbass]

Mine has been right around 6 lbs since the day I took it out of the box

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[VMaxSplat]

I haven't measured the trigger pull on my Shield, but it is noticeably heavier than my 40FS.

 

[S&WForty]

I handled and dry fired one that did not feel too good. It just sucked compared to a new M&P9c I handled a few days earlier. It's like the effort really increased just before the breakover point. I can picture a really steep curve representing the force. It was on-hold at a LGS waiting for its buyer to pick it up.

Despite that, my friend loved the pistol and ordered one (9mm). Two weeks later, his arrived. As soon as I pulled the trigger for a dry fire, he was waiting for my reaction. His face lit up as he said, "IT'S A LOT BETTER THAN THAT OTHER ONE!" Definitely. It was as sweet as the M&P9c.

At this point I'm convinced they are like a box of chocolates...

I'm now in my 7th week waiting for my 40. I hope mine is comparable to my friend's.

 

[Bkreutz]

I'd run a couple of boxes of ammo thru it before deciding what to change. New pistols are typically stiff, the sample one at the LGS probably had a few hundred dry fires by the time you tried it.

 

[SMMAssociates]

Just me, but I'd put a few hundred rounds through it before doing anything.

If you still find it unpleasant, run to the Apex web site and order up whatever variation on the DCAEK kit they're offering for the Shield.

(OK, I've got 'em on three larger M&P's with great success.)

As a rule, it seems like they shoot in a bit no matter what. You can get the Apex kit to improve things, or rummage around for Burwell's mods (I hope I'm spelling his name right), which is a DIY version of the Apex kits. Personally, I wouldn't touch the sear, but the mod to the drop safety plunger (both are somewhat critical) is safe enough.

(OK, my skill level is roughly "getting the grips back on the proper side", but that's because I'm a 1911 guy, and you either have to have something of the gunsmithing gene, or have a buddy who does. We have a "fixit" gene in the family - my grandfather had it, as did all three of his sons. I think it missed my mom, though. Dad was a dentist and pretty good at things like bridges and dentures, but guess who had to go to his office to change light bulbs. My wife has issues with light switches, but our daughter's pretty good at such things when she can't foist the job off on me.)

Enjoy the Shield!

Regards,

 

[Bret]

Thanks for the feedback.

It's like the effort really increased just before the breakover point.

This is exactly what my pistol feels like. The takeup is kind of rough and then it reaches a point where the pull stops. Then you have to pull harder than you should have to in order to make it go bang. I'll shoot about 200rds through it and then remeasure the trigger pull weight. The thing is that one of the primary reasons I bought this pistol was because the trigger pull of the one I fondled at the LGS was so good, especially in comparison to my Kahr CM40. Assuming that the pull weight doesn't improve, I'll send it back to S&W as it's nowhere close to the correct 6.5Lb pull. Heck, it's actually closer to the MA approved 10.5Lb pull.

 

[S&WForty]

Thanks for the feedback.


This is exactly what my pistol feels like. The takeup is kind of rough and then it reaches a point where the pull stops. Then you have to pull harder than you should have to in order to make it go bang. I'll shoot about 200rds through it and then remeasure the trigger pull weight. The thing is that one of the primary reasons I bought this pistol was because the trigger pull of the one I fondled at the LGS was so good, especially in comparison to my Kahr CM40. Assuming that the pull weight doesn't improve, I'll send it back to S&W as it's nowhere close to the correct 6.5Lb pull. Heck, it's actually closer to the MA approved 10.5Lb pull.

It would have been nice to know what the pull force was on the one that I thought felt horrible. Your description seems to fit to a T. Brand new in box waiting on its buyer to pick it up vs. my friend's Shield brand new in box that felt like heaven condensed into a little ole trigger. Go figure.

 

[str8liner]

Mine was gritty and hard to pull also.

I polished the striker block, deburred the block bore and polished the sear and trigger bar on mine and it made a huge difference.

Mine is around 6 lbs now.

 

[robkarrob]

My Shield 40 was 6.5 pounds out of the box. Who is to say S&W did not screw up and you got the MA springs installed in a non MA gun. It is more than a possibility as they have made numerous other screw ups with other guns. Call them and tell them you results. They might send you a return label and fix it the correct pull weight.

Bob

 

[Bret]

Call them and tell them you results. They might send you a return label and fix it the correct pull weight.

My experience with their willingness to repair guns and pay for shipping has been good. I'll shoot it today. Assuming that the trigger doesn't lighten, it will go back for them to repair.

 

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

I handled and dry fired one that did not feel too good. It just sucked compared to a new M&P9c.

I didn't know you could get worse than a new 9c trigger? I guess I learned something today.

Seriously, triggers of most models have a certain amount of variability. Glad your friend is happy.

 

[Bret]

I took my new 40S&W Shield to the range today along with 25rds Federal American Eagle 165gr FMJ, 25rds Fiocchi 170gr FMJ, 25rds Fiocchi 165gr TCEB Leadless, and 25rds Federal 180gr HST JHP. Reliability is the most important factor as far as I'm concerned. This pistol ran 100%. Accuracy was decent, but I did pull a few to the left due to the trigger. This pistol has sharper and flippier recoil than most of my other 40's, but that's to be expected for such a small pistol. The finger extension on the larger magazine helped significantly with the follow-up shots. The sights were relatively easy to see. When I got home I remeasured the trigger pull. It averaged 8Lbs, 8oz, +- about 1Lb, so it does appear to have lessened some. I'll put another 100rds through it before deciding to send it back to S&W for sure.

 

[Dino1]

You need to put more than 10 more rounds through it, maybe about 200 to 300 rounds. I love my Shield .40. and it is not the only .40 I own. It is not the most accurate one, but accurate enough. You do not want to get hit with a .40 round. It will put you down real quick.

 

[Bret]

You need to put more than 10 more rounds through it

Oops, I meant to say 100rds. I fixed it. Thanks!

 

[Stratajema]

Hi, I'm a long-time lurker but a new member here.

I recently purchased a new Shield 9MM #180021 which is suppose to have the 6.5 pound trigger. But the trigger pull is closer to 11 pounds, so much so that my hand shakes trying to pull the trigger. Also, it is extremely gritty during the trigger take up. So this gun has problems and will soon be returned to S&W.

 

[Stratajema]

Also, I want to add that my Shield's 9mm fired case is dated in March and the magazines do not have the dimple in them. I thought both the 40 S&W and 9MM magazines were getting the "dimple treatment" to prevent the mag drop issue. Perhaps S&W has changed the mag release so that the dimple is not needed?

 

[Bret]

I watched a video on youtube about the Shield and found that I was measuring the trigger pull incorrectly. It turns out that after the trigger broke, my Lyman trigger pull gauge was getting a reading when the trigger stopped at its most rearward point. If I watch the readout on the scale as I pull the trigger, I can see the reading just as the trigger breaks. The trigger pull is actually averaging about 7 3/4 +- 1/2 Lbs. So that makes it 1 1/4 Lb heavier than the specifications call for.

 

[S&WForty]

Thanks for the update. That is interesting. Regarding your older post commenting in the recoil, what other .40 caliber pistols are your comparing it to? One reason I decided to get one was people raving how much better its recoil is compared to many popular .40 cal. pistols, one being the excellent G27.

Seemed too good to be true...

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