Apex Tactical Spring Kit for the SD

[S&W Rover]

Anyone try the Apex Tactical spring kit for the SD?

https://apextactical.com/store/product-info.php?pid57.html

Apex kits for M&P's generally get high acclaim for improving M&P triggers; I have them in three M&Ps and think they are pretty good.

The SD kit looks pretty basic -- it seems to rely on replacement springs with less tension or "weight" to them to reduce the trigger pull (the M&P kits change the geometry of the sear). Cost is $19.95. I ordered two of them without reading a review, just on the basis of trusting other Apex Tactical products.

It will be a while before I can install these kits in my SDs. Any experiences with them? Opinions?

 

[Randy Lee]

Hi,

I think you will find that the spring set that Scott put together lightens the trigger nicely. A little polishing on the striker and sear face really smoothes things up.
In a few weeks we will release our aluminum trigger for the SD. The combination really makes the gun very shootable without sight upset when the striker releases.

-Randy

 

[S&W Rover]

Hi,

I think you will find that the spring set that Scott put together lightens the trigger nicely. A little polishing on the striker and sear face really smoothes things up.
In a few weeks we will release our aluminum trigger for the SD. The combination really makes the gun very shootable without sight upset when the striker releases.

-Randy

Randy,

Thanks, honored that you responded. I think your products are excellent and I appreciate the customer service, too. Glad you are doing something for the SD, arguably the best value for money out there, and lacking only in one department -- the trigger -- which you are addressing. Unbelievably, of all my handguns, the SDs are my favorite.

I have 30 days left in the sandbox, so the aluminum trigger should be out by time I get home and can install the springs. I intend to write a review on the spring kit after I install them.

 

[Chuck1217]

OK, maybe a dumb question but- my SD9 shoots very well, dependable (+500 rounds) and the trigger is as smooth as anything I have ever fired. Granted, never owned expensive pistols like Wilson or Ed Brown. What would the new trigger do for me? Obviously the SD pull is pretty long, but it's a lighter pull than my SR9c which I also like- and shoot well. Guess what I'd really want is dependability and a shorter stroke?

 

[S&W Rover]

It is a matter of personal opinion, I guess. I like the SD and am okay with the way it is, but want to make some personal improvements.

Folks who grew up shooting M1911's or Sigs or some other pistols with crisp, light triggers in SA mode notice that the SD's (and the Sigma, moreso) have long, relatively heavy triggers. Most of the DA/SA pistols have a relatively long DA trigger too, but the SA trigger on better guns is very light and easy to operate, which improves target shooting. People who grew up shooting revolvers tend to be more forgiving of long trigger pulls, which are also typical of most revolvers.

There are benefits to a long and heavy trigger pull -- or a DA-only (DAO) trigger. Tripping the trigger is less likely in an adrenaline-charged self-defense situation. A lot of police departments prefer long, heavy pulls (some specify DA only pistols) and they are happy with the Glock and the M&P striker fired systems for that reason. H&k's LEM and Sig's DAK are efforts to keep the benefits of DAO triggers while forestalling some of the downside with trigger length and feel.

I think the goal of these mods (e.g., the Apex kits) is to make the striker triggers smoother as well as lighter, with quicker and more emphatic reset, for people who shoot a lot or prefer those characteristics. The danger is making them too light or too short, which would make them riskier, so the idea is to not go that far.

Each person has to decide what they want. Some people clip or remove one of the sear springs in the Sigma pistols to make their trigger pull lighter (although it is still long) and you can find instructions on the web to do that. I personally don't recommend it; in fact, i think it is a bad idea -- especially if you are going to sell the gun later..

I like what the Apex kits do for my M&Ps and, to me, subjectively, the SD would benefit from a somewhat lighter and shorter trigger. Don't get me wrong -- it is pretty good as it is, and as the name states, well suited for self-defense. And it can be mastered, even if it seems a bit long in that a steady through pull on the trigger creates good results, while a creeping, gradual pull looking for that SA-style break point can leave you groping.

So each person has to decide for themselves!

 

[marlin.357]

Hi,
In a few weeks we will release our aluminum trigger for the SD. The combination really makes the gun very shootable without sight upset when the striker releases.

-Randy

Randy, what exactly will be the advantage of the aluminum trigger? Will it still have the safety function?

 

[Randy Lee]

Randy, what exactly will be the advantage of the aluminum trigger? Will it still have the safety function?

Hi marlin,

I was trying to answer this on my not-so-smartphone and lost the entire text that I was writing. So now that I am back at a real computer...

The new aluminum trigger is nearly identical to our M&P aluminum trigger.
Instead of the hinged trigger, it has a smaller, center located safety lever.
The trigger turns the gun into a short DAO style gun with less sight upset once the striker is released. Because neither the striker nor the sear engagement have been altered, reliability is maintained even with our striker spring. I think this is the gun that Smith could have and should have submitted to the Federal Air Marshals...

-Randy

 

[Randy Lee]

Randy,

Thanks, honored that you responded. I think your products are excellent and I appreciate the customer service, too. Glad you are doing something for the SD, arguably the best value for money out there, and lacking only in one department -- the trigger -- which you are addressing. Unbelievably, of all my handguns, the SDs are my favorite.

I have 30 days left in the sandbox, so the aluminum trigger should be out by time I get home and can install the springs. I intend to write a review on the spring kit after I install them.

Thanks Rover, but I'm the one that is honored.

I have to agree with you. The gun just feels good in the hand, points naturally and runs. With the cleaned up trigger, it is an outstanding pistol.

-Randy

 

[Chuck1217]

Rover, thanks for the explanation, the effort. And Randy, too. My first thought was the quicker reset would be neat, but I finally got my SD out into the open instead of an indoor range. I loaded both mags, and fired all 16 as fast as I possibly could, and I think it was faster than I. So not sure that's a need- and like I said my stock trigger is really really smooth, and of course the S&W is dependable already. Now I have to decide if the shorter pull is what I want, and right now I don't think so. When firing from the hip I tended to fire a little quicker than I intend anyway, so that safety-function may be needed. Thanks again both of you for all the effort to explain this to me et al.

 

[semper299]

Randy...

Thank you for monitoring and responding to posts. The folks at Apex are second to none, and I appreciate ya'll.

I was just about to order the SD spring kit when I noticed you mentioned the new trigger. Is the new SD trigger going to be something like the forward set sear trigger that you have for the M&P? Just curious if I need to hold off a bit before placing my order. The M&P trigger yall offer is the cat's meow, and wondered if the SD replacement trigger is somewhat similar, or if you could explain what the SD trigger is going to be and how it differs from the M&P replacement trigger that I am already familiar with.


Thank you.

 

[Backon4]

BTW you guys need to get an install video up for the spring kit. Still haven't messed with the plunger spring. Waiting to see a video before attempting.

 

[Fat B]

I just ordered the spring kit and I'm very interested to see how it turns out. I've always put up with any of the flaws my guns have had so this will be my first attempt to modify any of them.

I love my SD but I found the trigger is too heavy to get accurate shots consistantly unless I really concentrate. My trigger measures 8 1/4 pounds on a cheesy trigger tester. I don't know how accurate it is but I know it's in the ballpark. Also, the trigger travel is also too long for my liking. It reminds me of some of my double action revolvers which isn't really that big of a problem but still could use some correction. I don't think this spring kit will do anything to shorten the trigger travel but at least with a lighter trigger I may not notice it so much.

Since I've never attempted to do anything like this, anyone have any suggestions or is there a how to that I could reference someplace?

 

[deerhtr]

why is it that alot of posters buy one gun thinking it is another. why would people expect a entry level self defense gun to act like a race ready range gun. my point in facts:
1) the long travel is meant to mimic a double action
2) the grittiness is a direct result of mass produced not hand massaged high dollar pistols
3) these guns are meant for the average entry level shooter not jerry miculek (hope i spelled that right)
so here is a scenerio for everyone to consider.
its late at night you are average joe and get awakened by a noise which is the safer gun to have a d/a pull type or a 3.5 lb with the hammer cocked as the cat jumps at you from a doorway in the dark. bang bye bye kitty

 

[Ruger Nut]

why is it that alot of posters buy one gun thinking it is another. why would people expect a entry level self defense gun to act like a race ready range gun. my point in facts:
1) the long travel is meant to mimic a double action
2) the grittiness is a direct result of mass produced not hand massaged high dollar pistols
3) these guns are meant for the average entry level shooter not jerry miculek (hope i spelled that right)
so here is a scenerio for everyone to consider.
its late at night you are average joe and get awakened by a noise which is the safer gun to have a d/a pull type or a 3.5 lb with the hammer cocked as the cat jumps at you from a doorway in the dark. bang bye bye kitty

Very well said!

 

[Flork]

Sorry about the delay on the video guys. We've been swamped for weeks now.

We're filming the video tomorrow morning and should have it up on the web by lunch time (PST).

 

[Fat B]

why is it that alot of posters buy one gun thinking it is another. why would people expect a entry level self defense gun to act like a race ready range gun. my point in facts:
1) the long travel is meant to mimic a double action
2) the grittiness is a direct result of mass produced not hand massaged high dollar pistols
3) these guns are meant for the average entry level shooter not jerry miculek (hope i spelled that right)
so here is a scenerio for everyone to consider.
its late at night you are average joe and get awakened by a noise which is the safer gun to have a d/a pull type or a 3.5 lb with the hammer cocked as the cat jumps at you from a doorway in the dark. bang bye bye kitty

I think you make some good points here. Your home protection gun should NOT have a hair trigger. And you should NOT have your finger on the trigger unless you're about to take a shot and you can see your target. Which is all common sense stuff.

But in my case, which I think others may relate to, I don't use my SD for home defense. A shotgun works much better for that scenario. A lighter trigger and shorter travel would benefit my SD since it's mostly used for target practice anyway. It's o.k. the way it is but for the glowing review that APEX gets, for $20 I can test out a trigger modification and see how it goes.

 

[Willie300s]

I just received and installed the SD spring kit in my SD40. It brought the trigger pull down from just under 8 to under 5 pounds. A great improvement. I have not had a chance to test fire with live ammo but did run 2 primed cases through it. They fired without a problem but look to be a lighter primer strike than before when compared with other cases. I'll have to compare again with live ammo. The kit makes a big improvement in the SD40 and I also like the SD better than my M&P, looks and feel wise.

 

[Steve89052]

Willie what was the degree of difficulty to put the SD40 spring kit in?

 

[Willie300s]

Steve

Putting in the striker spring and the firing pen blocker spring is a piece of cake.
The trigger spring is another matter. They really need to provide a dowell the width of the trigger block frame that will allow you to assemble the trigger block complete less the slide release leaver and then insert the complete assembly into the frame. I made one out of a cue tip stick. You then displace the cue tip stick with the pin inserting the slide release leaver last as you insert the pin. The assembly pin they provided was of no use.
Knowing what I know now, I could probably do one in 5 minutes.

 

[Willie300s]

"Sorry about the delay on the video guys. We've been swamped for weeks now.

We're filming the video tomorrow morning and should have it up on the web by lunch time (PST)."

Flork
Is the video up? I haven't been able to locate it.
Thanks