New M&P trigger from hell

[Sheepdogged]

Okay, I picked up my first full-size M&P9 today for $399 and free shipping (and $15 FFL charge); not bad. I had a M&P40c many years ago.

The finish is different than my Shield. It's more of a matte black where my shield is more like a glossy black. The shield finish looks like it will hold up through a nuclear holocaust. The M&P9 already has minor wear to the finish and barrel. No biggie. I've heard MrGunsngear say it seems to be hit or miss with the M&P finish (but of course I was hoping for a hit). I find that to be true of my Glocks as well. I'm not worried about cosmetics though. I like the Boba Fett look, and even though I was getting excited to gussy this girl up, I like the look of a well worn pistol too so I'm still happy.

BUTTTTT

My Lyman digital gage pulls at the mid 9 to mid 10 lb range!!!

I thought my gage was off, but I pulled the trigger on my FN FNS9c and that pulled just under 6 lbs. I did it a dozen times or so and the lowest pull was somewhere in the high 8 lb. range. Most were closer to 10 pounds. How could this be? This is NOT a compliant model (it's sku 209301).

The trigger was way gritty too. The grittiest—stagiest—mushiest trigger I've ever pulled. It does have a fairly clean break though.

The good news is that some dry practice seemed to improve it slightly (unless I'm mentally trying to get some sleep tonight). I'm not a trigger snob. I'm not faulting people who are, I'm just not one but this is pretty bad.

I was hoping to not have to buy an Apex trigger, but I can't live with a 9-10 trigger. It honestly doens't feel that heavy when I pull it, but when I hold the M&P9 and the FNS9c in both hands and pull the trigger, the FNS clearly breaks first even when I switch back and forth between hands.

My stock Glock 26 and FNS 9c kind of go back and forth with the former being slightly lighter on average than the latter, but this M&P9 is a good 3-4 pounds heavier than either of those. Is that common??? I know the website says +-6.5 but this is more like +-10 lbs!!!

I guess I'd like to know if there is a wrong component inside I can easily identify. Maybe a certain color spring or something?

 

[BlackTalonJHP]

Did you try any of the recommendations that were posted in the other thread you started on this subject?

 

[Sheepdogged]

No, I probably should have posted there, but I don't think those suggestions are going to lighten up the trigger 3-4 pounds (short of getting an Apex). I'd imagine sanding and polishing would get me a pound or so. I think I'm just going to have bite the bullet and get an Apex duty/carry solution. I was hoping someone was going to say something like "make sure you have a green spring" or something.

 

[BlackTalonJHP]

How is the trigger if you pull it with the slide off? Still gritty?

 

[427mach1]

Have you shot it yet? I would shoot it first before performing any modifications. My full-size M&P 9 had a factory trigger pull of 6 lbs 3 oz. I put the Apex aluminum FSS and trigger kit in mine and love it. It now breaks cleanly at 4 lbs 8 oz.

 

[miniSQ]

Curious as to why you accepted the gun at the FFL? You had the right to refuse it since it was being shipped. Surely you noticed the crappy finish snd the terrible trigger in the store?

OK, a less snarky answer...shoot it for awhile...and after 500 rounds if it is not working any better for you, then either sell it, or buy an apex DCAEK kit for it and you will love the differnce.

I put an apex FSS triggger and kit on mine and it is like a different gun

 

[MyDads38]

You SURE it's not a compliant gun? Does the info on the gun, match the info on the box? Someone could've made a mistake and mixed up 2 different guns. Worth a check.

 

[turbo38gn]

You SURE it's not a compliant gun? Does the info on the gun, match the info on the box? Someone could've made a mistake and mixed up 2 different guns. Worth a check.

If it was a compliant gun.... chances are it would be considerably over 10lbs...

 

[PirateJim]

Shooting the gun some will probably help somewhat with the grittiness you're talking about, but it won't turn a 10 lb. trigger into a 6 lb. trigger.

Nobody wants to spend more on a gun than they have to, but investing in the Apex DCAEK will turn your gun into pretty much everything you can hope for in a full size self defense weapon. I'd suggest springing for the extra cost of one of the Apex triggers (I have the polymer trigger and am very happy with it), but you do not need to do that to get a great trigger pull. It's under a hundred bucks without the replacement trigger. You'll still have a sub-$500 gun that runs great.

 

[chele519]

I don't mean to hijack the thread but I have an M&P9 coming Monday. S&W says the trigger pull is the same as the Shield, both 6.5lbs. If it's not a Mass gun, why would the trigger pull be that much different than what S&W says it should be? I also ordered the same 209301 model.

 

[turbo38gn]

Sitting on my hands, trying to not respond again... cause it won't be nice...

 

[turbo38gn]

I don't mean to hijack the thread but I have an M&P9 coming Monday. S&W says the trigger pull is the same as the Shield, both 6.5lbs. If it's not a Mass gun, why would the trigger pull be that much different than what S&W says it should be? I also ordered the same 209301 model.

I hope you like it, but if the trigger isn't like your Glock, or FN or a 1911... can you just get an APEX kit and call it a day... these trolls, that act surprised about the M&P trigger are killing me.. sorry, couldn't sit on my hands any longer..

 

[chele519]

I hope you like it, but if the trigger isn't like your Glock, or FN or a 1911... can you just get an APEX kit and call it a day... these trolls, that act surprised about the M&P trigger are killing me.. sorry, couldn't sit on my hands any longer..

Sorry I asked. Not a troll and don't own any of those models either. Just curious about the OP's problem.

 

[walkin' trails]

I was also curious if you'd received a Mass pistol. I have 3 M&Ps, and the latter 2 had gritty triggers. After some lube and about 200 rounds each, the grit was gone. Pull weight, however, was probably 6.5 - 7.5 lbs. They're used on my job and can't be modified or replaced with aftermarket. My advice is that after lube and range time, if the trigger us still heavy and/or gritty, call CS and have them make it right.

 

[RalphMP9FS]

Okay, I picked up my first full-size M&P9 today for $399 and free shipping (and $15 FFL charge); not bad. I had a M&P40c many years ago.

The finish is different than my Shield. It's more of a matte black where my shield is more like a glossy black. The shield finish looks like it will hold up through a nuclear holocaust. The M&P9 already has minor wear to the finish and barrel. No biggie. I've heard MrGunsngear say it seems to be hit or miss with the M&P finish (but of course I was hoping for a hit). I find that to be true of my Glocks as well. I'm not worried about cosmetics though. I like the Boba Fett look, and even though I was getting excited to gussy this girl up, I like the look of a well worn pistol too so I'm still happy.

BUTTTTT

My Lyman digital gage pulls at the mid 9 to mid 10 lb range!!!

I thought my gage was off, but I pulled the trigger on my FN FNS9c and that pulled just under 6 lbs. I did it a dozen times or so and the lowest pull was somewhere in the high 8 lb. range. Most were closer to 10 pounds. How could this be? This is NOT a compliant model (it's sku 209301).

The trigger was way gritty too. The grittiest—stagiest—mushiest trigger I've ever pulled. It does have a fairly clean break though.

The good news is that some dry practice seemed to improve it slightly (unless I'm mentally trying to get some sleep tonight). I'm not a trigger snob. I'm not faulting people who are, I'm just not one but this is pretty bad.

I was hoping to not have to buy an Apex trigger, but I can't live with a 9-10 trigger. It honestly doens't feel that heavy when I pull it, but when I hold the M&P9 and the FNS9c in both hands and pull the trigger, the FNS clearly breaks first even when I switch back and forth between hands.

My stock Glock 26 and FNS 9c kind of go back and forth with the former being slightly lighter on average than the latter, but this M&P9 is a good 3-4 pounds heavier than either of those. Is that common??? I know the website says +-6.5 but this is more like +-10 lbs!!!

I guess I'd like to know if there is a wrong component inside I can easily identify. Maybe a certain color spring or something?

Yep, sounds like mine that I recently sold. The trigger won't get any better by itself, and the shooting accuracy will undoubtedly be sub-par. That was my experience with the latest generation M&P FS 9mm.

 

[KSDeputy]

Sorry for your problems. I do not like DAO pistols. I was trained on DA/SA pistols and that is all I have. I suppose this is one reason why the older pistols are so popular. I hope you get your gun fixed so it is acceptable to you.

 

[NCW Ray]

We get so many people coming on here saying my trigger is junk, way too heavy, gritty, etc, etc, and the only thing they're basing it off of is they've read it on the internet so it must be true! But since you've tested it with a trigger pull gauge that aspect can pretty much be ruled out.

If my M&P's trigger pull was 4-5 lbs heavier than what their spec's say it is suppose to be, I'd call customer service and talk to them, they'll probably want to check it out send you a return label. Could be something out of kilter inside it. Then once S&W has brought it within factory spec's you can do whatever you want as to the APEX parts.

 

[CB3]

Spec is about 5-6 lbs on a factory trigger. Nine pounds is 50% heavier than that. It is out of spec from the factory. Send it back and have them correct it under warranty. I did the same.

The returned trigger was within specs for pull weight, but was still gritty and had other problems I don't remember now.

Finally, I installed an Apex FSS and am happy. BTW, I am a trigger snob and proud of it. Nothing wrong with having what you like.

 

[PirateJim]

Sorry for your problems. I do not like DAO pistols. I was trained on DA/SA pistols and that is all I have. I suppose this is one reason why the older pistols are so popular. I hope you get your gun fixed so it is acceptable to you.

A striker fired gun, like the M&Ps, Glocks, etc. etc., is not DAO (Double Action Only). There is normally a fairly long initial take-up in the trigger stroke, but not usually nearly as heavy as a double action, then after the initial shot, like a single action, you must let the trigger out a bit to reset before squeezing again to fire subsequent shots, but it is not even close to the full trigger stroke needed for DAO. (Sorry for slipping off topic a bit.)

 

[TTSH]

You SURE it's not a compliant gun? Does the info on the gun, match the info on the box? Someone could've made a mistake and mixed up 2 different guns. Worth a check.

I was also curious if you'd received a Mass pistol. I have 3 M&Ps, and the latter 2 had gritty triggers.

Sure as heck sounds like a MA-compliant M&P trigger to me. Check the SKU and verify for absolute certain that it is "free state" version before going any further with CS, Apex or otherwise.