Apex Shield Duty/Carry Spring Kit

[gunfighter48]

I have over 500 rds thru my Shield 9mm. The trigger sucked, average pull was 7lbs 10oz. My 1911s all have 4lb triggers. So I ordered the Apex Shield Duty/Carry Spring kit.

Installation went fairly well and I watched their video as I did my install. I notice that there was some cotton in the trigger return spring but didn't think much of it. When I got done the trigger pull was 6.5 to 7.25lbs. Not even close to the 5 to 5.5lb they advertise.

I got to thinking about the cotton in the return spring so I took it apart this evening and took the spring out. It was packed tight with cotton. I got out my Xacto knife and dug out the cotton, took about 10 minutes to get it all out. I then reassembled the pistol. Got out my digital trigger gauge and tried it again. This time I was getting 5.75 to 6.2lbs trigger pulls, much better.

I don't know if the cotton in the spring had anything at all to do with the trigger pull or if I was using the trigger pull gauge more correctly. Anyway I'm happy with the ~ 6lbs average trigger pull. Its nearly 2lbs less than the factory trigger pull. There's more take up but shorter pull to break of the sear.

Now to get to the range again and see how my accuracy is with the new sear and springs.

 

[1hatchet]

So, I am not crazy because I also have white substance like cotton in my trigger return spring on my Shield. Have any other Forum members experienced the same thing and what if any thing have you done? In addition has it changed your trigger pull weight?

 

[Saudade]

All my M&Ps have it.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...hats-packed-inside-trigger-return-spring.html

 

[triaxle]

Its in all to act like a dampener for shock. and springs last longer

 

[Ksimons]

As said above, there is a reason it's there. Did you not notice the factory spring has it also? GF you can put the factory spring back in and it has been said that it lowers the trigger pull. I put their kit in my .40 Shield and I went from a 10 lbs (MA compliant) to a 4.5 and love it....

 

[PAFMAN3]

The white fiber insert inside the trigger spring is to help dampen the vibration of the recoil forces.

S&W adopted this idea for their trigger spring in the early days of their Sigma pistols. I remember being told in an armorer class back then that the spring would last longer with it inside the coils to help dampen shock due to recoil harmonics.

It will continue to work when it becomes dirty, but it shouldn't be saturated with solvents, oils, etc.

The recommended replacement interval for the trigger spring is 5,000 rounds, anyway.

Without the spring dampner installed the spring might fail sooner, I would keep a extra on hand in the event it fails.

 

[robkarrob]

The wadding in the spring is for vibration dampening, not specifically for spring longevity. The trigger spring might fail slightly sooner without the wadding, but not by much.

If you want a lower trigger pull weight follow this:

Apex Duty/Carry kits (DCAEK) and Apex Shield kits come with stronger springs than the stock springs, which will make the trigger pull heavier. Apex quotes the pull should be 5 to 5.5 pounds using their springs that come with the kit, but if you use the stock trigger spring and stock sear spring, and use the Apex supplied striker blocker spring (which is softer than the stock blocker spring), the trigger pull will be 4 to 4.5 pounds.

I replaced the stock M&P trigger spring with a stock Glock trigger spring, which further reduces the trigger pull another 8 ounces or slightly more. The Glock trigger spring is not identical to the stock M&P trigger spring and it does not have the wadding, but it works fine. My Shield 40 has a 3 pound 8-10 ounce pull, measured with a Lyman digital trigger pull weight gauge. With a polished sear face and striker face, I have a smooth consistent pull, just where I wanted it.

Bob

 

[Bozz10mm]

I replaced the factory sear only with the Apex hard sear. No springs, just the sear. It reduced the trigger pull weight from 7.5 lbs to 5.5lbs. Very happy with it.

 

[gunfighter48]

As said above, there is a reason it's there. Did you not notice the factory spring has it also? GF you can put the factory spring back in and it has been said that it lowers the trigger pull. I put their kit in my .40 Shield and I went from a 10 lbs (MA compliant) to a 4.5 and love it....

No I didn't notice the wadding in the factory spring, I looked at the S&W spring this morning and you are correct it has the packing. It didn't stick out as much as the Apex spring and I just didn't see it. I may put the factory spring back in and keep the Apex spring for backup.

 

[gunfighter48]

Ok folks 3rd times charmed!!! I replaced the Apex trigger return spring with the S&W return spring (and left the cotton in the return spring this time) and reassembled the pistol. I left all of the other Apex parts in the gun. I got out my digital trigger pull gauge and I now have a 4lb 10oz to 5lb 2oz trigger pull. I'm very happy with it now. There's no grittiness in the trigger pull, it's very smooth. I'm good to go with it!!