Apex AEK Trigger and Hard Sear
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steve462x0
Member
I put the Poly trigger in alone, and it cut the pre travel down, and there is barely any overtravel. Made the gun feel great. I am probably going to do the DCAEK next, APEX told me if I just do the sear with it I will have about a 4.5lb trigger, I want to keep it around 5 to 5.5 for carry eventually.
what gun did you put the trigger in...?
78Staff
Member
I added the DCEAK Kit to my Sheild - this is the $80-90 kit with new Sear, USB, and springs (although I left the stock trigger spring in), which brought me down from around 7.5-8lbs to 5.5lbs. Very solid kit, less overtravel, less reset, take up about the same, and reduced pull of course. 5.5 seems like a good weight for a EDC for me.
After a few weeks I decided to add the Alum Enhanced Trigger to get rid of the hinging S&W trigger. Actually took it to the range for the first time today. Dry firing everything seemed fine, but in actual use it seems to pull..."faster"... or slicker...not sure if I am really describing it correctly. There is less felt take-up, so shots were fired off quicker than expected. Almost surprisingly so. Would be fine on any other handgun, but not sure I really like it on my EDC. Pull weight has not changed, maybe a hair lighter in feel b/c of the speed, but in reality about the same on the Lyman Digital Scale, though. Going to give it another range session or two before I decide, but I am leaning towards pulling it out and putting the stock trigger back in. YMMV
After a few weeks I decided to add the Alum Enhanced Trigger to get rid of the hinging S&W trigger. Actually took it to the range for the first time today. Dry firing everything seemed fine, but in actual use it seems to pull..."faster"... or slicker...not sure if I am really describing it correctly. There is less felt take-up, so shots were fired off quicker than expected. Almost surprisingly so. Would be fine on any other handgun, but not sure I really like it on my EDC. Pull weight has not changed, maybe a hair lighter in feel b/c of the speed, but in reality about the same on the Lyman Digital Scale, though. Going to give it another range session or two before I decide, but I am leaning towards pulling it out and putting the stock trigger back in. YMMV
Got the trigger and sear installed last night....only took me 2 hours. The pin that's on the new trigger that needs to be drifted over was a bear to get moving. Took a 1lb sledge to get it going. Then, trying to get the pin that goes through the trigger spring would not catch the spring, even with using the yellow plunger.
Regardless, it's a new gun now. Can't wait to get it out to the range.
Regardless, it's a new gun now. Can't wait to get it out to the range.
78Staff
Member
Mine was the same way. I finally used a small press to get it moving. Funny in the video it's just tap tap tap, boy is that false advertising lol. Same as the Sheild USB install (requires rear sight removal, also a MF'r to get moving).
steve462x0
Member
I put the trigger in a 40c
Nice, I put one in my 40fs when they first came out.... had to retire it from CCW... but boy is it a sweet trigger..
I installed the APEX hard sear only and it improved trigger pull immensely in my 9mm Shield. Very much improved accuracy compared to what was honestly the worst trigger on any pistol I own. That said, one must be cognizant of it's lighter pull when EDC. Good luck!
78Staff
Member
Just an update, I did a series of pulls with the Lyman Digital today and am getting between 4.5 and 4.8 lbs mostly, so the pull weight did drop down from 5.5 after all. (Initial measurement mentioned earlier was done right after install, after some range time it appears to have broken in and dropped a bit, is all I can think).
Too light for EDC, in my book. IF I decide to stick with the trigger I will put the Apex Trigger spring in instead of the stock one, which should bring the weight up a good lb or so. Assuming Apex will sell me the trigger spring only.
Bkreutz
US Veteran
Don't you have the springs that Apex sent you initially? That one pops the pull back up a # or a little more. The reason your trigger pull changed with the trigger installation is that it changes the geometry in the mechanism giving a different mechanical advantage (oooh, that sounded scientific, didn't it?
). I had to play with different springs a few times to get the right (to me) feel with my competition gun. Good luck.erle
Member
Works for me
I installed the Apex APXFSS Tact Forward Set Sear Kit in my M&P 357 sig. It's the kit that includes a new trigger. I am fairly mechanical minded so it was no trouble at all. Just took my time & watched all the videos.
I used the lighter trigger spring & ended up with a 4 1/2 pound trigger pull with hardly any overtravel.
It is so sweet! That new trigger operates & feels about like a Glock trigger. Hated to go to that extra expense, but it was well worth it. Love shooting it now.
I was so disappointed in the factory trigger. Will never understand why a good company like S&W would let anything go out the door with such a sorry trigger!
I installed the Apex APXFSS Tact Forward Set Sear Kit in my M&P 357 sig. It's the kit that includes a new trigger. I am fairly mechanical minded so it was no trouble at all. Just took my time & watched all the videos.
I used the lighter trigger spring & ended up with a 4 1/2 pound trigger pull with hardly any overtravel.
It is so sweet! That new trigger operates & feels about like a Glock trigger. Hated to go to that extra expense, but it was well worth it. Love shooting it now.
I was so disappointed in the factory trigger. Will never understand why a good company like S&W would let anything go out the door with such a sorry trigger!
steve462x0
Member
Just ordered a poly trigger for my CORE 9, and the armorers block. As someone else said in another post my roll of tape has taken a beating.
78Staff
Member
Don't you have the springs that Apex sent you initially? That one pops the pull back up a # or a little more. The reason your trigger pull changed with the trigger installation is that it changes the geometry in the mechanism giving a different mechanical advantage (oooh, that sounded scientific, didn't it?
Yeah, unfortunately I no longer have it (DCAEK kit trigger spring) so will just get another one from Apex. I agree, I should gain back a good .5-1 lb easy with it.
EDIT - I just ordered it, $15 after shipping, should be here next week.
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scattershot
Member
Man, that's an expensive spring!
78Staff
Member
Yeah, I believe a good chunk of it was shipping...
I probably could have gotten one from a member, seems like plenty of guys are keeping the stock trigger spring in, so there are probably a few out there
. Oh well, my fault I'm the one who dorked up the one I got with the kit so no-one to blame but myself.
Installed the RAM-USB-Hard Sear in my FS 9mm the other day. Triggger pull went from 6ish to 4.5 and now I can hear/feel the reset. A trip to the range reveals some nice shots @ 15 yards. I no longer anticipate the shot with a nice even trigger pull.
scattershot
Member
Yeah, I believe a good chunk of it was shipping...
I probably could have gotten one from a member, seems like plenty of guys are keeping the stock trigger spring in, so there are probably a few out there
Yeah, shipping is kinda a pet peeve of mine. Look at the size of that thing, and tell me the supplier couldn't put it in a padded envelope for 50 cents.
78Staff
Member
Don't you have the springs that Apex sent you initially? That one pops the pull back up a # or a little more. The reason your trigger pull changed with the trigger installation is that it changes the geometry in the mechanism giving a different mechanical advantage (oooh, that sounded scientific, didn't it?
Arrived today, installed and pulls right at 5 lbs... a few an oz. or two under, a few an oz or two over. So I got back about .5. I expected a bit more, about a lb actually - but it is what it is I suppose. Will put in some range time and decide whether to keep it in my EDC or not.
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