Apex Evolution IV DAO Hammer

[AJR337]

I'm thinking about trying one in my 686 and wanted to get some feedback from those that have.

According to their website, it's a drop in replacement 90% of the time with the other 10% requiring some minor fitting/filing on the sear. Based on your experience, was it a drop in replacement and if not, what degree of fitting was needed?

Did it lighten/smooth up the DA pull?

Are you running a stock mainspring and rebound spring or did you go lighter?

 

[armorer951]

I had to help another 686 (R8 series) owner install the hammer and tune the gun's springs for one of the Apex hammers last year. The supplied hammer installed fine. After having various problems with ignition at the mainspring setting he requested, I ended up having to install a Cylinder and Slide extended firing pin. He hasn't had any reliability issues since then.

(Recommend using snap caps for practice if you have to use a C&S "extra length firing pin")

 

[AJR337]

I appreciate your response.

What weight mainspring was causing the light strikes?

I have an Apex firing pin with the lighter return spring that I previously ordered. I was planning to install that as well.

 

[HamHands]

I'm thinking about trying one in my 686 and wanted to get some feedback from those that have.

According to their website, it's a drop in replacement 90% of the time with the other 10% requiring some minor fitting/filing on the sear. Based on your experience, was it a drop in replacement and if not, what degree of fitting was needed?

Did it lighten/smooth up the DA pull?

Are you running a stock mainspring and rebound spring or did you go lighter?

I've fitted my share of hammers and it isn't hard to do. You don't want to file anything especially sears. You want to "Polish" them. And I almost never swap in a lighter mainspring for a "Carry Piece"... Because Murphy is a mean *******. and will show up when you need that primer to detonate. YMMV...

 

[armorer951]

I appreciate your response.

What weight mainspring was causing the light strikes?

I have an Apex firing pin with the lighter return spring that I previously ordered. I was planning to install that as well.

He is using the gun for competition only. I used a standard OEM mainspring, and altered the strain screw to lighten the pull weight some. We used the rebound spring that Apex supplied with the hammer....not sure of it's rating.....I would guess in the 13 pound range. The Apex firing pin supplied with the hammer was not consistently reliable so I changed over to a C&S extended firing pin. Seemed to function fine after the f. pin change, even with his handloaded ammunition.

 

[AJR337]

I ordered the Apex Evolution IV Hammer together with the Wilson Combat mainspring and three rebound springs. I'm not going to mess with the mainspring/strain screw but I'll try a little lighter rebound spring.