Installed Apex Tactical "Duty/Carry" spring kit in J Frame

mmesa005 · Dec 22, 2017

I decided to give the Apex Tactical spring kit a try after reading good reviews. I just installed the kit this evening and find trigger pull to be very smooth in both DA and SA. I hope to get to the range shortly after Christmas.

Are others seeing similar results? Thinking about their larger frame kits but don't know that I want to have a DA only revolver?

rickflst · Dec 22, 2017

I installed a Wilson combat kit in my 638. I did not measure the pull before and after. It was a huge improvement over the stock springs. I had over 300 rounds through it prior and most of the grit was long gone. Just the pull was was too much fro me in DA on such a small gun. The springs were well worth it and improved my performance with the gun.

I am sure you will find your gun to be like night and day now.

Andy Lowry · Dec 22, 2017

Anything under 10 pounds DA is doing great! I've done that with Wolff springs on a 642. Older K-frames seem to already be in the 9 pound range, so I haven't messed with them other than to polish the rebound spring block and hammer a bit, as well as the areas of the frame they ride against.

mmesa005 · Dec 22, 2017

Thaks guys! will check into the Wilson kit as well.

Happy Holidays!

Flyingfool · Dec 22, 2017

Yes I installed the apex DC kit on my wifes 642. I did not measure the difference with a scale. But the trigger pull was noticeably lighter and smoother.

As a comparison, my daughters LCR had a noticable lighter and smoother trigger than my wifes 642. After the installation of the apex DC kit on the 642, They were essentially identical in pull weight and smoothness. Possibly even a tad lighter pull on the 642.

All guns are individual and this YMMV. Just reporting my experience.

Bill In Texas · Dec 22, 2017

I installed the Apex kit on my Model 60 Pro Series. I got the same results that you did. I think my trigger pull weight might be a little lighter DA, but I also polished underneath the rebound slide.

That kit sure does make shooting a j frame easier!

kaaskop49 · Dec 22, 2017

While I'm not a fan of spring replacement, especially on carry guns, one of my 642s had a trigger pull that was intolerable, even to my generous standards. I had the Apex spring kit installed and now the pull is close to that of my PC J-frames. Ignition is perfect.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

ImDrRich · Dec 22, 2017

My J-Frame 351PD -

Do you recommend a kit such as this to lighten the trigger on my .22 mag? The factory trigger is a bear to shoot DA.

Thanks.

Rich

Redcoat3340 · Dec 22, 2017

I put the lightest recommended spring in on a 640 and it made a big difference in pull...but I had a few too many light strikes and went up to the next lightest on my 640 and it's been perfect since then. Don't be afraid to experiment a bit to find what works best in your particular gun.

dr. mordo · Dec 22, 2017

I've used the Wilson kits on 3 or 4 revolvers now, and I'm a big fan. The only ammo I've had problems with is Buffalo Bore, but i think they use super-hard primers to help conceal how overpressure the ammo is.

As demonstrated above with the BB primers, the important thing is to always test the ammo you'll be carrying in the gun, even if the gun is unmodified. I recently got a new 686 PC that despite it's 14 lb trigger has significant problems with light strikes. I wouldn't have known that if I hadn't tested it.

Guns like that 686 are why I have no qualms about changing springs on my guns. It may not work right in the first place!

kaaskop49 · Dec 22, 2017

ImDrRichard said:
Do you recommend a kit such as this to lighten the trigger on my .22 mag? The factory trigger is a bear to shoot DA.

Thanks.

Rich

Hi Rich, I just read a review online from the Rifleman for the 351C in .22 mag from 2014, worth reading. Says the hard trigger pulls are intentional in these flyweight guns to insure proper ignition. There's a more detailed explanation in the article, but I've noticed these heavy trigger pulls in my flyweight 340s also.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

ImDrRich · Dec 23, 2017

Springs

Hi kasscop49 -

Thanks for the post. I just ordered a spring kit for my 351PD from Wolff. I'll report back on the improvements.

Best,
Rich

sdb321 · Dec 23, 2017

I am not a fan of changing springs. I went another route. I took mine to a Smith armor and had him perform a action job. My 640 PRO has a 10 pound trigger pull and is very smooth. By the way it has the stock S&W springs.

gnystrom · Dec 24, 2017

I have Apex kits or at the very least Wolff kits in every one of my J-frames. I have never has any trouble with any of them regardless of ammo choice.

zipty6 · Dec 24, 2017

I put the apex kit in my 640 Pro Series. The trigger return felt a bit soft, so i put the factory trigger return spring back in place.

SpartyME · Jan 3, 2018

Installed the Apex Duty/Carry Spring Kit in my M&P 340... what a difference!

Also lightly polished the bottom and side of the rebound slide and removed burrs/stamped edge from the mainspring stirrup while I had it apart. The action is buttery smooth. Hardest part was getting the side plate flush with the frame in reassembly.

Overall it's definitely worth the money!

Flyingfool · Jan 3, 2018

mmesa005 said:
I decided to give the Apex Tactical spring kit a try after reading good reviews. I just installed the kit this evening and find trigger pull to be very smooth in both DA and SA. I hope to get to the range shortly after Christmas.

Are others seeing similar results? Thinking about their larger frame kits but don't know that I want to have a DA only revolver?

After further review and actually looking at the OP pictures,

The pics show going from Factory about 10 lb pull. And after the alex kit only about 3 pound pull?

No way is my wifes 642 anywhere close to 3 lbs after the apex duty carry kit, and is far more reduction and would. Kt meet "duty" pull weight and more than apex claims to reduce the pull weight down to.

so Im not sure that your reduction is common. At least it was not the case with my experience. 10 before to 6 after maybe. All the way down to 3 lbs, no way.

kaaskop49 · Jan 3, 2018

attn Flyingfool

Any chance that 3lb reading is for a single action pull? From the photos, the OP's gun has an exposed hammer.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

ContinentalOp · Jan 3, 2018

Read the picture file names. The lower readings are for SA.

mmesa005 · Jan 3, 2018

The posting indicates DA/SA readings as do the photos. The revolver is a 642-3.

ContinentalOp · Jan 4, 2018

642s are DAO. The hammer is enclosed and can't be cocked for SA.

mmesa005 · Jan 4, 2018

ContinentalOp said:
642s are DAO. The hammer is enclosed and can't be cocked for SA.

My error, 637-2

Hopper · Jan 4, 2018

Also an Apex fan here for J-Frame triggers. It completely transformed my 640, which definitely did NOT have the type of trigger one would expect in a S&W revolver. I had problems with the Apex kit in my 3" Model 63 (22LR) due to the extended firing pin puncturing the edge of the rimfire brass instead of striking it. I kept the springs intact, but put the stock firing pin back in, and voila, problem solved with 100% ignition so far.

HorizontalMike · Oct 4, 2018

Finally Joined the APEX Crowd

I finally installed my APEX Duty/Carry Spring & Firing Pin Kit on my 642 this morning. I had previously done my own honing/polishing of the rebound slide, and other areas of friction. Plus had used a high quality Moly Lube (JetLube-50).

NOW with the APEX springs & firing pin installed, my 10 shot average trigger pull is just ~8lb even.

Shot up most of a box of .38 Federal 158 LRN and had ZERO FTF. Happy camper here

so far. FWIW, I will try shooting reload +Ps with CCI 550 primers and see if the same holds true. Read somewhere that the CCI primers might be stiffer/firmer.

All I know know is that the trigger pull is so buttery smooth and light that I was missing to the right about 8-10 inches at ~15yd...

I'm a lefty so my "unpracticed" DA with this new trigger kind of surprised me. Why was I shooting from 15yd?... I am still trying out my new LabRadar and needed some distance for the radar to work well. Next time I promise to shoot no further than ~7yd to target...

kthom · Oct 4, 2018

kaaskop49 said:
While I'm not a fan of spring replacement, especially on carry guns, one of my 642s had a trigger pull that was intolerable, even to my generous standards. I had the Apex spring kit installed and now the pull is close to that of my PC J-frames. Ignition is perfect.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I feel the same about spring changes. The important thing to remember if you choose to change springs is to go to the range and verify that the ignition and function of the revolver is perfect! The job is NOT done until this is completed!

Eagle1* · Oct 4, 2018

I am thinking of doing this to my 642 and 640 pro but am on the fence due to these being carry guns and could be used in a lethal force situation at some point. So reliability and such concern me. Do any of you think that changing these guns from factory specs is a good idea? I ask because I am a firearms instructor and would really like to smoothen out my triggers but this is a question I juggle with in doing anything to a factory gun. Just was wondering what everyone's thoughts are on this..

Of course, then the other side of me thinks that I am issued a glock for duty and it has a 5lb pull so what is the issue then, right? grrrr..

WardenRoss · Oct 4, 2018

Eagle1* said:
I am thinking of doing this to my 642 and 640 pro but am on the fence due to these being carry guns and could be used in a lethal force situation at some point. So reliability and such concern me. Do any of you think that changing these guns from factory specs is a good idea? I ask because I am a firearms instructor and would really like to smoothen out my triggers but this is a question I juggle with in doing anything to a factory gun. Just was wondering what everyone's thoughts are on this..

Of course, then the other side of me thinks that I am issued a glock for duty and it has a 5lb pull so what is the issue then, right? grrrr..

Might wanna check your depts policy on this....

Here is an example.

An officer shall not alter or modify his firearms, ammunition, or firearm related equipment in any way without the express permission of the Chief of Police or after review and testing by department authorized firearm or defensive tactic instructors.

"His" can have a broad meaning.

Eagle1* · Oct 12, 2018

So has anyone just replaced the main spring and rebound spring and not the firing pin and fp spring? Are the kits able to be used separately or do all of the parts have to be used to make a reliable gun?

L-2 · Oct 12, 2018

Eagle1* said:
So has anyone just replaced the main spring and rebound spring and not the firing pin and fp spring? Are the kits able to be used separately or do all of the parts have to be used to make a reliable gun?

I've replaced just the rebound spring and mainspring, without using the Apex firing pin & its spring.

Out of the four parts in the kit, you can choose to use any or all four of the parts. I actually ended up using the Apex firing pin & spring in another gun (my 627 Pro) but used the rebound and main springs in a 442.

My prior department's policy was to make no changes to the issued firearms. With a personally-owned backup gun, we were supposed to write a memo to the Range Master to disclose what, if any, changes were made. The RangeMaster could then disapprove if necessary.

Different grips or grip changes were not necessary to disclose/document.

Installed Apex Tactical "Duty/Carry" spring kit in J Frame

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