Pro 9 worth the extra?

[chele519]

I was looking at the M&P FS earlier today, it WAS 400 at Bud's, now up to 450. The Pro is 551. With a $100 difference, I'm assuming the better trigger and night sights would be worth it? Is it worth it for $150 extra if the FS drops back down? I most likely would end up putting night sights on anyway eventually and in my area it is around $50 just for install. plus the cost of the sights.

I would be buying this for home protection/range use to have in addition to the shield so I definitely don't need a competition gun. The features seem to make it a no brainer though.

I read that S&W did some upgrades to the M&P FS that improved the trigger and made the reset more noticeable. I know that a lot of people didn't like the trigger on the shield but it seems fine for me. The guy at the lgs said that trigger on the FS was different and I'd definitely want to install something else. The rental is an old one and does not have any trigger upgrade so I don't know if it would be worth it to rent if it would be a lot different than the ones currently for sale. I also would have to use the small grips (they had a display so I was able to try both) and the rental only has the medium so I don't know how much of a difference that would make in trying to decide if I liked it.

I hate buying a gun without trying first, I got burned with a Ruger a few years ago with bad customer service. If I hated it, would I lose a lot trying to sell it?

[S&W Fan]

Hi, I found a full size used but unfired for $389 last year. I added the Ameriglo "i dot" nights ($105 installed) and the Apex duty/carry kit ($85 installed). A friend that's a much better shooter than I and owns a Pro has tried to buy it from me multiple times as he shoots it more accurately than his Pro.

So I have almost $600 into a full size but it shoots like a laser, 100% reliable, and fits me perfectly (small backstrap with Talon rubber grip wrap).

I shoot his Pro equally well as this but prefer the trigger on my fs. Hmm, does that muddy the waters at all?

[chele519]

Yeah it does. However one of my concerns with used is no warranty and if you have to send it in it takes a long time vs if it is under warranty. My other issue is that I read that if you have to send it in you would have to remove an aftermarket trigger and install the factory one so my thought was it would be preterable to get it done at the factory from the start. So what makes you shoot better? The trigger you installed? Everything else is the same correct?

[miniSQ]

i own a shield and a FS 9. I think the trigger on the shield is fine, but i had to replace the trigger on my FS if that helps any. Plus i paid 549 for my FS, so i think if i were you i would look at that pro again.

[McE]

Pro is not worth the upcharge. Apex is still better than "Pro" as far as triggers go and still cheaper.

[jstanfield103]

All I can add that my Pro I like very well. Good trigger and I enjoy the night sights.

[chele519]

S&W fan-you must be installing the kit yourself? The lowest price I saw was $88 at Midway but then I'd still have to pay someone to install. The guy at the range yesterday told me it would cost $175. I'm assuming he meant install included.

For those saying the trigger was bad, did you have the one that had been upgraded by S&W or was it the original?

[keithherrington]

My CORE, which has Pro parts installed (or so I'm told) was not worth it either. The trigger was not nearly as good as the trigger the Performance Center did on my three M&Ps. There just was no comparison. Plus, all three guns done by the PC have identical (as far as I can feel) trigger pulls. I really like the work the PC did on these guns for me, and for a very reasonable cost. Turn around was between 2 and 3 months for each gun.

Keith

[PirateJim]

I bought a 5" Pro Series because I wanted the 5" barrel and I really like it, but the stock Pro Series trigger still leaves a lot to be desired that an Apex kit can rectify. The night sights that come on the 4.25" Pro may be worth the extra $100 to you IF you like the sights. I'm a fan of Trijicon HD sights, so the stock night sights weren't an inducement for me. I'd suggest factoring in the cost of an Apex kit (sear, striker block, and springs) to the ultimate price of any M&P you want to use as a hobbyist shooter (as opposed to a strictly home defense gun that gets to the range maybe once a year).

Given S&W's lifetime warranty, I'd personally think twice about buying a used gun and make sure the savings are worth giving that safety net up.

[chele519]

how much does it cost to have the apex installed? My night sights are costing $55 which seems high to me, the trigger seems like it would be a lot more. What about the new trigger? S&W said these were standard for ones manufactured after 1/1/14. Anyone find a difference?

[McE]

Installing Apex parts is simple. There is no reason at all to pay someone to do it.

[chele519]

Well was just looking online again and the price was back down to $404 so I bought it!

[chele519]

Originally Posted by McE

Installing Apex parts is simple. There is no reason at all to pay someone to do it.

Don't you need equipment or tools? I thought I read something about a vise and punch.

[S&W Fan]

Originally Posted by chele519

Yeah it does. However one of my concerns with used is no warranty and if you have to send it in it takes a long time vs if it is under warranty. My other issue is that I read that if you have to send it in you would have to remove an aftermarket trigger and install the factory one so my thought was it would be preterable to get it done at the factory from the start. So what makes you shoot better? The trigger you installed? Everything else is the same correct?

I do think it is the Apex trigger that allows me to shoot it so well. I've never been a fan of "plastic" guns (raised on 1911s lol) but when I saw this in the shop I figured I had nothing to loose and it would be fun to have a 9mm again. Also for me the the two dot sights work best and the "i dot" has a really bright ring around the front sight that just jumps out during normal lighting conditions.

The shop where I purchased the sights and Apex installs any parts you buy for free, no raised prices to compensate either, they have a full fledged gunsmith and a factory authorized armorer as well. An added bonus is that it's only 10 minutes from me......hmmm, perhaps that's not such a good thing! LOL.

Also in this gun the slightly shorter barrel/slide balances better for me than the 5" Pro. Kind of funny since in 1911s a 5" balances better. Guns are strange and wonderous things.

[Bkreutz]

Originally Posted by chele519

Don't you need equipment or tools? I thought I read something about a vise and punch.

You need a couple of punches, a hammer, and a 2x4 block. I've never used a vice. Just buy a set of small punches at Home Depot (or box store of your choice) and the smallest hammer you can find. Watch the videos and you're set to go.

[McE]

Hammer and punches. I just use a roll of electrical tape as the "block", gives the pins space to push out into and you can't really mar a gun with a roll of electrical tape.

The hardest component is the Ultimate Striker Block, as that involves removing the rear sight. That part of the install you may want to take to a gunsmith if you don't have a sight pusher or proper vise and brass punches. If there's any possibility that you'll want to change sights on a pistol in the future, a sight pusher is a a no-brainer investment that will pay itself off in two uses.

[chele519]

I'm fairly handy around the house but I don't think I'd be comfortable screwing around with the trigger of a gun when I have no idea what I'm doing. I have hammers and pieces of 2x4all over but I don't even know what a punch is. I would think it would be a huge liability issue. I read an older post from someone who had the new trigger and said the reset was better and it smoothed out with time, just like the Shield. I'm hoping I'll get one of the new ones and then I can wait and see how it is. Either way it won't be something I can afford to do immediately but maybe there will be some black Friday sales.

When I get the sights installed on the Shield Friday, I'll ask him what he'd charge. I may get night sights for the full size too and he could do it all at once if removing the rear sight is required anyway. I can also ask the FFL I'm having it shipped too. He lists the prices for all his work on his website but I didn't see anything about trigger work specifically.

[JMichaelTX]

Originally Posted by chele519

I'm fairly handy around the house but I don't think I'd be comfortable screwing around with the trigger of a gun when I have no idea what I'm doing.

Then I'd suggest that you listen to yourself.

You know your own mechanical abilities and familiarity with the internals of the gun in question. And I learned long ago having the right tools, and knowing just what to do makes all the difference in the world.

FWIW, I've seen several YouTube videos and reviews where the gun owner had problems getting the Apex kit installed.

I bought a new M&P Shield about a month ago, and just recently decided to have the Apex duty/kit/trigger installed by a local gunsmith. He only charged me $134 (parts and labor) and also polished the feed ramp and some other internal parts. Did it all in one day. I chose to use a gunsmith even though I am an engineer and mechanically inclined. I do not have the tools nor the experience/familiarity with the Shield.

I did have to do some searching for a gunsmith to find one that would do it for a reasonable fee. The first one I contacted wanted $170 for the parts, and $75 for the labor.

Good luck with whatever decision you make. Shoot well and be safe my friend.

[miniSQ]

Originally Posted by chele519

Don't you need equipment or tools? I thought I read something about a vise and punch.

you do need a 1/8" punch, and a 1/16" hex wrench and maybe a soldering iron to heat up the rear sight screw.

but you do not need a vice if you have a clamp or know someone you could borrow one from?

I used a Bessey Clamp to hold the gun while i removed the rear sight, and i used the same clamp to squeeze the pin back in that holds the trigger bar to the trigger.

You can decide for yourself if its a project you want to take on...the videos are great, and there are tons of people here who can help with any problems that arise.

[McE]

Originally Posted by chele519

I'm fairly handy around the house but I don't think I'd be comfortable screwing around with the trigger of a gun when I have no idea what I'm doing.

There are many things you started off with no idea bout. Certainly you are capable of learning. The design of these guns is pretty simple. All a gun does is poke a bullet. There isn't much screwing around involved. Stare at the thing for a couple minutes and you'll know how it works.

[chele519]

Originally Posted by JMichaelTX

Then I'd suggest that you listen to yourself.

You know your own mechanical abilities and familiarity with the internals of the gun in question. And I learned long ago having the right tools, and knowing just what to do makes all the difference in the world.

FWIW, I've seen several YouTube videos and reviews where the gun owner had problems getting the Apex kit installed.

I bought a new M&P Shield about a month ago, and just recently decided to have the Apex duty/kit/trigger installed by a local gunsmith. He only charged me $134 (parts and labor) and also polished the feed ramp and some other internal parts. Did it all in one day. I chose to use a gunsmith even though I am an engineer and mechanically inclined. I do not have the tools nor the experience/familiarity with the Shield.

I did have to do some searching for a gunsmith to find one that would do it for a reasonable fee. The first one I contacted wanted $170 for the parts, and $75 for the labor.

Good luck with whatever decision you make. Shoot well and be safe my friend.

$134 is not bad for parts and labor. The cheapest I saw the kit was around $90.

It would be different if I knew someone that if I got messed up I could call and say hey come over and help me fix this. I was just reading a post yesterday where a guy tried to change out the sights for his friend and he messed it up and couldn't do it and had to put the originals back on or send him to someone else. Buy the time I bought the supplies, I could probably have paid to have it done a lot faster. Some things I probably could learn but am not willing to. Like plumbing. Old boyfriend replaced some pipe in the basement, he was supposed to know what he was doing. I got up in the middle of the night to let the dog out and found the seal didn't hold and flooded the basement. Or when my BIL pulled the kitchen sink to replace it cause it was so simple and ended up having to call a plumber to fix his work. I can just see that happening to me.

[Elliot45]

You didn't mention which M&P Pro you are looking at. The 4 1/4" Pro comes with night sights so that's something to consider, especially for home defense. I purchased the 5" Pro and had the Apex FFS trigger installed. I too own the Shield and like the trigger fine on it but I don't think S&W had the right trigger installed on my PRO as the trigger pull was heavier than the specs. I could have sent it back but I don't have any regrets about my purchase of the Pro or the Apex kit as this is now the most accurate pistol that I have shot in a long time. I like the sights ok but would rather have had the night sites that come on the 4 1/4" barrel. Regards, Elliot45

[chele519]

I was looking at the 4.25 but opted for the regular full size instead

[Motorsporting]

I wouldn't change triggers/internals yet. Shoot it some, shoot it a lot, dry fire a lot, etc. My regular FS is almost as smooth as my Pro because I shoot it a lot. Sights are a different story. I think the rear are fine (although I scrape out the white paint), but I prefer a front sight that illuminates. Buy a general sight pusher (there are several to pick from) and a vice, watch videos and learn, and the front sight swap is no big deal. It might cost a little more than paying a gunsmith, but you'll earn the tools and knowledge.

[whooziss]

Unless they have changed since I bought mine a year or so ago, the Pro comes with a fiber optic front sight, NOT night sights.

[MrSpurg]

I have a Pro9 CORE and the trigger is far from what IMHO, a "Pro" series should be.

[FredBart]

The 4.25 inch Pro has tritium sights as an option. They are unbranded with no identiying marks. They may use Trijicon or other inserts, but I am not sure.

To the OP, if you don't really know what a punch is, have a professional install what you need. The Pro has a fine trigger for learning. Put some rounds down range before changing anything. Mine has been flawless.

[M&P9_Rich]

I have two FS9's. The first I picked up several years ago; it had a ****** trigger so I upgraded it with Apex parts and loved the results. The second I picked up back in May during the Three Free Magazines promotion. Compared to my first FS9's stock trigger the new one is much improved. The only complaint I could come up with is the take up is still gritty so I might install the Apex Striker block to fix that. I've never touched a Pro so I don't know how it's trigger compares to my new FS9's trigger.

As far as the Pro's night sights go, you have to ask yourself are they sights you would use? Just because they're night sights doesn't mean they are good night sights or that they work for you. Me? I don't particularly like three dot sights. I'm an X/S Big Dot fan and have them on all my pistols. So if you're like most people and end up changing sights or the trigger it sounds like the Pro may not be worth the extra bucks.

[Silverback]

I have an M&P Pro 9 and an M&P 40 and in my opinion the trigger on the Pro 9 is so much better than the standard M&P 40, so good that I don't even want to do anything to the Pro, the M&P 40 will get Apex trigger parts in it some day.

[M&P9_Rich]

Originally Posted by chele519

I'm fairly handy around the house but I don't think I'd be comfortable screwing around with the trigger of a gun when I have no idea what I'm doing. I have hammers and pieces of 2x4all over but I don't even know what a punch is. I would think it would be a huge liability issue. I read an older post from someone who had the new trigger and said the reset was better and it smoothed out with time, just like the Shield. I'm hoping I'll get one of the new ones and then I can wait and see how it is. Either way it won't be something I can afford to do immediately but maybe there will be some black Friday sales.

When I get the sights installed on the Shield Friday, I'll ask him what he'd charge. I may get night sights for the full size too and he could do it all at once if removing the rear sight is required anyway. I can also ask the FFL I'm having it shipped too. He lists the prices for all his work on his website but I didn't see anything about trigger work specifically.

I've never worked on a gun beyond field stripping and cleaning before but had no trouble installing the Apex kits on both a FS9 and a 9c. As someone else mentioned, you have to remove the rear sights to install the Apex Striker Block. However, I didn't have the proper tools to drift the sights so when I took them in to have new sights installed I had my gunsmith install the Striker Block at the same time.

[M&P9_Rich]

Originally Posted by chele519

Well was just looking online again and the price was back down to $404 so I bought it!

Congrats on the new FS9, I don't think you'll regret it! The best price I could find when I bought my second one back in May was $420, shipped.

[patchdoc]

I purchased the pro series 9mm C.O.R.E. to put a reflex red dot sight on for competition shooting from Bud's.

Some people say they have better triggers. Mine didn't, and I had to have an Apex DCEK put on. At least I could mount the sight by myself.

My advice: go with the FS (non-pro series), especially if you are going to use night sights.

[chele519]

Originally Posted by M&P9_Rich

Congrats on the new FS9, I don't think you'll regret it! The best price I could find when I bought my second one back in May was $420, shipped.

Well, I added in $5 for insurance and with the $20 FFL fee it comes to $429. The cheapest I could find locally was $509. I hope that the one I get will be a newer one with the improved trigger. It's from Bud's and they said they have pretty high turnover so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Glad to hear your
2nd one was improved.

When I looked closer at the sights on the Pro, I couldn't find what brand they were and figured I'd rather just install my own, if I choose to later so that's another reason I skipped the Pro. I think I'd rather get the Trijicon HD like I did for the shield.

[John T Land]

I bought and M and P 9MM Pro series ( 4.25 in. barrel) with night sights 2 yrs ago. I had and Apex trigger installed and had TruGlo green daytime fiber optic ( and with Tritium for night time) sights installed. I have shot about 25,000 rounds with it in the last 2 yrs. It is the best pistol I have ever owned for a carry weapon. It is extremely accurate and has NEVER malfunctioned.I own 1911's, both in 9MM, .45, 38 Super,and .380. I have owned Glocks, Browning Hi Powers, Springfield XD's, Colts,and many others. My Pro Series is the absolute best. ( I actually bought 2 and gave one to my son) I carry it every day in my Tagua Speed holster ) concealed) Like American Express, " I never leave the house without it".

[adams484]

The night sights are well worth $75 to $150 in themselves. If this gun is going to do night stand duty as well as daily carry I would consider them worth the extra investment.

As to the trigger S&W should put the best trigger they can do on any gun they sell so I wouldn't pay extra for that. And I would be tempted to invest in an Apex kit anyway. But I am OCD over triggers. Some tolerate a crunchy rubbery trigger with no problem and after all it is only one component to an accurate shot. Sight picture, trigger control, and hold ... etc.

But if you need to prowl the darker corners of life in search of intruders or other pests the night sights even with a light are a wise investment and finding them for some models of guns and their cost make it extremely desirable to get them as part of the package.

Here is something else to consider. My Mossberg 500 came with a light built into the forearm for an extra $100 over the base model. I liked it so much I wanted to put one on my son's shotgun. The cost was $320 and hard to find so it was the only price I could find. So that extra $100 didn't feel so bad then.

All in all I say spend the money it ain't going with you when you die so use it now you will forget the budget strain soon after the purchase anyway.