Shield 9mm trigger pull......please tell me I am not crazy

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mac43rn

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I have a S&W shield 9mm. I have owned it for over two years and just recently decided to give it an opportunity as my EDC. I did not care for the roughness of the original trigger so I opted for the Apex trigger. I had a gunsmith install the trigger for me (along with night sights) and I headed to the range.

My initial impression was poor to say the least. The pre-travel was amazingly long and my accuracy was consistently low and left. I originally thought I just needed more time with the gun and have since put through 900 rounds and the results remain the same.

Ran the shield through a Lyman and it is averaging 9lbs 2oz. The grittiness has been removed, but the pre-travel is still long and the weight is excessive IMO. My gunsmith says I am expecting too much and that may be the case. That being said, I don't feel comfortable carrying a gun with that type of trigger pull. Don't get me wrong, I don't want a 2lb trigger like a model 41, but 9lb trigger seems excessive.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 

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The Shield should have a 6.5lb +/- out of the box. If yours has a 9lb 2oz after the Apex trigger maybe you had a Shield for one of the states that requires a 10lb trigger. One of the first things I noticed about mine was the nice trigger pull
 
My Shield 40 is 7lbs checked with the same model scale you used. I wouldn't call it nice. It was a little gritty but smoothed out the more I shot it. I also shot low left till I learned to shoot it right. It will now put them in a 8" circle at 20yds. At SD range which for me is 10yds and closed I can keep it in 2". Grip the gun tight and squeeze the trigger straight back. You might have to find where on your trigger finger works best with the gun. Don
 
mac43rn said:
I did not care for the roughness of the original trigger so I opted for the Apex trigger. I had a gunsmith install the trigger for me (along with night sights) and I headed to the range.

Ran the shield through a Lyman and it is averaging 9lbs 2oz.
Click to expand...
Did you replace ONLY the trigger, or install one of the Apex KITS? just swapping out the trigger won't reduce the trigger pull.

If it's up around 9Lbs, it indeed sounds like you bought the Mass Compliant model.
 
What about reset? The Glock triggers have it. Wouldn't that change the amount of trigger pull in terms of pounds?

Or is this just another stupid question?
 
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Something is off here.....

Researching reviews on the Shield some years back many pointed out the great trigger. When I finally got around to getting one I was expecting a long hard pull, even if it was better than most DAOs. Surprised isn't the word when I first pulled the trigger and thought, "This is almost like a single action!"

I was ironing out some kinks in my reloads in some compact pistols today and when I finished I just had to stick around for another half hour or so just shooting the Shield I was having so much fun.
 
RobzGuns said:
Did you replace ONLY the trigger, or install one of the Apex KITS? just swapping out the trigger won't reduce the trigger pull.

If it's up around 9Lbs, it indeed sounds like you bought the Mass Compliant model.
Click to expand...


That was my thought as well. I called S&W on Friday, gave them my serial number and they confirmed it was NOT a MA Compliant model. The gunsmith switched out the entire kit.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Apex-Tactical-Shield-Trigger-Replacement/dp/B00KHFGA9I/ref=sr_1_3?s=sports-and-fitness&ie=UTF8&qid=1454817568&sr=1-3&keywords=apex+trigger"]Amazon.com : Apex Tactical S&W Shield Trigger Kit and Replacement Trigger for 9mm and 40 S&W : Sports & Outdoors@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Y4eL-i51L.@@AMEPARAM@@41Y4eL-i51L[/ame]
 
hes must have something wrong. i did mine and its so much better. i dont have a scale to test it with but i would guess 5lb. for sure not 9
 
Your gunsmith screwed you. Either he kept parts for himself and only polished the factory setup, or he found a way to make Apex parts and springs give you s worse trigger, and that would be really, really hard to do.

I have installed 4 Apex kits--2 in Shields and two FS. The trigger pull is always smoother, lighter and shorter than factory, with a shorter reset. My kits shortened pre-travel but lengthened over-travel. I added trigger stops in the trigger guard to cure that. Depending on whether I use Apex trigger return springs for Duty/Carry @ 6-6.5# pull or the original S&W trigger return spring gives me 4.75#.

Talk to Apex. When they tell you in writing their kits properly installed should not yield a 9# pull, have your gunsmith redo the job correctly for free, even if he has to buy s new kit.

You was robbed. A good Apex trigger is a joy to shoot and will improve your accuracy and confidence in shooting the gun.
 
See if there is any clearance between the trigger and the frame. My install required me to file on the sides of the hole for the trigger. It it's a tight fit it won't matter which springs are installed, you'll have a hard pull due to friction of the trigger rubbing on the frame.
 
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Ditto.. I've Apexed all my M&Ps to include a shield. No way the trigger pull should have been more than what it was. On the chance the fit was tight, it most likely would be that way through the entire stroke and not just on the back end.



CB3 said:
Your gunsmith screwed you. Either he kept parts for himself and only polished the factory setup, or he found a way to make Apex parts and springs give you s worse trigger, and that would be really, really hard to do.
Click to expand...
 
my stock shield trigger is almost to light. IMHO. something definitely is not right.
 
delphidoc said:
See if there is any clearance between the trigger and the frame. My install required me to file on the sides of the hole for the trigger. It it's a tight fit it won't matter which springs are installed, you'll have a hard pull due to friction of the trigger rubbing on the frame.
Click to expand...

Good observation.

I kept the stock trigger on my latest Apex install and noticed it was tight in the frame to remove and install. I sanded the trigger sides lightly and took a few light strokes with a fine file on the corresponding surfaces in the frame. I believe this mainly removed drag and roughness in the trigger pull, but certainly it would have some effect on pull weight too.

A new Apex trigger might have even been wider, but that is no excuse for a gunsmith to deliver a 9#+ pull to a customer who wanted a "better" (lighter) trigger pull.
 
My Shield has a 4.5 trigger....i didn't like it stock(about 8#) so went with the Apex sear only.... these guys are right, if your guy installed that kit correctly something is way wrong. Go to YouTube and watch install videos then check out your gun
 
Forget YouTube. Go back to the 'smith and have him make it right.
 
The gun is currently back with the Smith. Here are the parts I received back after the apex install.

I hope he finds the problem. However, after I handed him the shield and he dry fired it he told me it felt normal. I have no clue how a 9+ lb upgrade trigger install could feel normal.

This is frustrating.......
 
Magload said:
My Shield 40 is 7lbs checked with the same model scale you used. I wouldn't call it nice. It was a little gritty but smoothed out the more I shot it. I also shot low left till I learned to shoot it right. It will now put them in a 8" circle at 20yds. At SD range which for me is 10yds and closed I can keep it in 2". Grip the gun tight and squeeze the trigger straight back. You might have to find where on your trigger finger works best with the gun. Don
Click to expand...


Met up with an old friend today. Shot his shield 9mm with an apex trigger. Exactly what I was wanting. Gun pulled at 4.5 lbs, pre travel was greatly reduced (compared to mine). Night and day difference in results as well.

In addition, thank you for your service.
 
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