Apex Upgrades

[myanof]

As a soon to be owner of a 45C, and for many years a 1911 guy, I'm wondering how many M&P shooters have found the need to add Apex internal upgrades.

For those of you who have found the need to do upgrades, please let me know what kit of parts you have found to be necessary or useful. I'm not looking to tinker or spend more money, just a high quality carry shooter.

Thanks

 

[icemn]

I installed the carry dcaek in my Ma compliant 9c. Took the trigger down from about 10 lbs to about 5.5 lbs. Very happy with the results. Also installed the RAM which is supposed to provide more noticable trigger reset and allow the trigger to still function in the event the trigger return spring broke. If I had it to do again, I'd pass on the RAM. Highly recommend the carry dcaek.

Good luck!

 

[Froggy044]

Apex on an M&P45

I had the Apex Hard Sear ($39.95) and the Ultimate Striker Block ($34.95) installed in my M&P45 by a gunsmith who also polished, polished and polished. Trigger pull is between 4 & 4.5 lbs and as smooth as butter.

Highly recommended!

 

[twomoons]

myan
the usb or universal striker block is a must.it is shaped different and really smooths the trigger pull
and the harder apex sear
those 2 items change the whole gun.
the ram is ok,but doe not change the tactile feel or sound a lot.

 

[twomoons]

myan
the usb or universal striker block is a must.it is shaped different and really smooths the trigger pull
and the harder apex sear
those 2 items change the whole gun.
the ram is ok,but doe not change the tactile feel or sound a lot..
myon, go to the mpforum website,and you can spend all day getting questions answered on everything about the
mp serie's

 

[myanof]

myan
the usb or universal striker block is a must.it is shaped different and really smooths the trigger pull
and the harder apex sear
those 2 items change the whole gun.
the ram is ok,but doe not change the tactile feel or sound a lot.

If you install the USB, and the Striker Block is it not wise to go all the way and order the DCEAK? That's the confusing thing about what I am finding in my research. I'm happy with the sear and striker block as they look fairly easy to install while the DCEAK looks a little more confusing. I'm happy as long as those two items give me a good trigger..

 

[mlk18]

I put the DCAEK in my full size M&P9 and absolutely love it. I have sold many kits for Apex by simply letting other people shoot it at the range.

My compact M&P9 came from the factory with an excellent trigger, smooth and crisp. So even though I have a DCAEK kit sitting here for it, I have yet to put it in.

 

[myanof]

Thanks for all the great comments. I get the feeling I bought a good reliable gun.

 

[DanWales]

.45C Trigger

I put the DCAEK kit in last year. To me anyway it made a huge did I say HUGE difference in the way the trigger felt.

The pistol new felt like the trigger was dragging on the ground.....honestly no exaggeration here at all. It also dropped the trigger pull about 5 lbs.

I carry this pistol often and shoot it a lot. It's a fun pistol to shoot and I'm surprised at 20 and 25 yds it's pretty darn accurate not 1911 accurate but much, much better than I thought it was going to be.

Best money I have spent on a pistol lately.

Dan

 

[icemn]

Myan, I have a Ma compliant gun so I didn't have to do the plunger and spring under the sear. Randy's video does a good job showing how its done. For me, probably the trickiest part was replacing the trigger return spring. If after watching the video, you still have questions or concerns, I'd suggest you simply pick up the phone and call Randy Lee at Apex and go over your issues with him. He's great to deal with.

 

[bronco45]

I have a 45c and put in the Apex USB and hard sear. Bout a 1,000 rds through this weapon and trigger pull is 4.0-4.5 on a Lyman scale.

Trigger crisp for a plastic gun. The gun is very, very accurate. Likes 200grain LSWCs and Universal powder. It also shoots the 230gr LRN under 231 very accurately. Both loads 2"-2.25" loads at 25yds through these tired old eyes. I have a lot of confidence in this weapon.

 

[myanof]

I have a 45c and put in the Apex USB and hard sear. Bout a 1,000 rds through this weapon and trigger pull is 4.0-4.5 on a Lyman scale.

Trigger crisp for a plastic gun. The gun is very, very accurate. Likes 200grain LSWCs and Universal powder. It also shoots the 230gr LRN under 231 very accurately. Both loads 2"-2.25" loads at 25yds through these tired old eyes. I have a lot of confidence in this weapon.

bronco that is really good to hear. I'm curious why people are installing the DCEAK when you have gotten the results you mention by adding the USB and hard sear. I guess my question is what more does the DCEAK give you? Also did you install these parts yourself, and if so how hard was the job?

 

[TxM&P9]

bronco that is really good to hear. I'm curious why people are installing the DCEAK when you have gotten the results you mention by adding the USB and hard sear. I guess my question is what more does the DCEAK give you? Also did you install these parts yourself, and if so how hard was the job?

The DCAEK is the hard sear and USB with the springs. It basically keeps the trigger pull# up for carry purposes.

If you get just the sear and USB you'll have a lighter trigger pull.

 

[bronco45]

myanof: I put the USB in myself but had a S&W armorer put in the hard sear. It looked easy but so does Hoover Dam.

My 45C is a range pistol and it sees limited carry time. I know the trigger and trust it. If it was a EDC I would put the USB in and shoot the sear into smooth. USB was put in first and it took a lot of the grittiness out of the piece. I'm not a plastic/fantastic guy but I do like this M&P alot.

 

[Titegroups]

I've put the hard sear in and the striker block, make a considerable difference. After purchasing the parts I realized I could've modified the factory parts and gotten similar results but what's $75 anymore, and if I go to sell it I still have the factory parts to put back in. Worth the effort, removing the rear sight to get the striker block out without damaging the finish was the most difficult step. After about 1,000rds or so after the install the trigger has smoothed out even more. After the mod I won't be carrying mine. I leave my carry guns stock.

 

[JaseC]

I installed the DAEK competion kit and the RAM in my M&P Pro Series 9mm. The kits are well worth the money and I would recommend it to anyone. (no I don't work or get paid by Apex) I shoot in IDPA and have 5500 rounds through my gun without a hiccup. It is very accurate and reliable. With the excellent trigger pull from the Apex kit, we were taking 50 yds shots at steel silhouettes and getting consistants hits if the shooter did there job.

 

[ericf]

The original post asked about the "need" to make changes.
I never saw a "need" , Only a "desire".
I put the DCAEK in my Pro and liked the changes. But I've since taken This trigger kit out, and replaced it with the Apex, FSS kit. Now this FSS kit is a Huge difference. I have a need to re learn the trigger. It truly is a 1911 feel (series 80). Minimal take up, clean break, no over travel. Springs swaps allow for a 3.5 lb. pull.
Very nice. The kit springs will yield a 4 - 4.5 lb. trig.
Just my .02

 

[vstromrider]

Crisp
(of a substance) Firm, dry, and brittle, esp. in a way considered pleasing or attractive
- crisp bacon
- the snow is lovely and crisp

(of a fruit or vegetable) Firm, indicating freshness
- crisp lettuce

(of the weather) Cool, fresh, and invigorating
- a crisp autumn day

(of paper or cloth) Smoothly and attractively stiff and uncreased
- a crisp $5 bill

(of hair) Having tight curls, giving an impression of rigidity

(of a way of speaking or writing) Briskly decisive and matter-of-fact, without hesitation or unnecessary detail

I need therapy but Im tired of triggers being called crisp...

 

[growr]

I have yet to use an Apex kit on any of my M&P's....I do it one round at a time..just shoot it and it will improve substantially.
MY M&P .40 FS has over 15,000 rounds downrange and is still getting better.
I'd take the money that a kit would cost and buy more ammo!
Just my thoughts.
Randy

 

[TxM&P9]

I have yet to use an Apex kit on any of my M&P's....I do it one round at a time..just shoot it and it will improve substantially.
MY M&P .40 FS has over 15,000 rounds downrange and is still getting better.
I'd take the money that a kit would cost and buy more ammo!
Just my thoughts.
Randy

I don't think I'm understanding this correctly. Are you saying it took 15,000 rounds of shooting to get it to your liking?

Did you like the trigger when the gun was still "new?"

 

[Coastie762]

At a minimum, install the USB. The rounded shape of the block plus the reduced power of the spring virtually eliminates the roughness typically felt with the stock trigger. Installation is very easy.

I have two M&Ps; a FS9 and FS40, both equipped with USBs and hard sears. No problems with either one since the parts were installed and the improvement in the trigger pull is well worth the price.

 

[growr]

TXM&P9...not at all what I am saying, my M&P .40 FS was very good from the box and after 15,000 rounds is still getting better. Didn't take 15k to get it where I wanted, it was already there.
Hope I said that properly!
Randy

 

[TxM&P9]

TXM&P9...not at all what I am saying, my M&P .40 FS was very good from the box and after 15,000 rounds is still getting better. Didn't take 15k to get it where I wanted, it was already there.
Hope I said that properly!
Randy

Crystal. Many M&P owners experience bad triggers from time to time as you now. Me included. My M&P 45 had a decent stock trigger, friend's M&P 9 had an amazing stock trigger, but my M&P 40 had a terrible stock trigger. When it comes down to it I would much rather pay a one time fee of buying an aftermarket part to increase the quality of the trigger.

 

[BlackRain17]

Crisp
(of a substance) Firm, dry, and brittle, esp. in a way considered pleasing or attractive
- crisp bacon
- the snow is lovely and crisp

(of a fruit or vegetable) Firm, indicating freshness
- crisp lettuce

(of the weather) Cool, fresh, and invigorating
- a crisp autumn day

(of paper or cloth) Smoothly and attractively stiff and uncreased
- a crisp $5 bill

(of hair) Having tight curls, giving an impression of rigidity

(of a way of speaking or writing) Briskly decisive and matter-of-fact, without hesitation or unnecessary detail

I need therapy but Im tired of triggers being called crisp...

How would you describe potato chips?

 

[BlackRain17]

Once question, can a stock trigger after many rounds go down to 4# trigger pull?

 

[twomoons]

crisp
being in north dakota on a feb 26th morning,with a wind out of the nw at 27 mph,and the temperature at -23 farenhiet,who the hell cares what centigrade temp it is.
now thats crisp.

 

[MLeake]

I installed most of the DCAEK kits into my 45 and 45c. Ok, more accurately, I assisted a much more technically skilled friend while he installed them in my pistols.

We ended up not using the trigger springs from the kits, but changed out the sear and plunger components. The trigger block is much harder to reinsert than is the sear block (my friend says it has 5 alignment points, and is a PITA); besides, just changing out sear, plunger, and related springs provided triggers right at and around 5lbs, very smooth, with tactile enough reset for my tastes.

Note: my friend has several M&P pistols; after changing the trigger components on one of them, he decided it really wasn't worth doing, but he has changed sear and plunger on all his M&Ps.

 

[firebirdude]

I had the Apex Hard Sear ($39.95) and the Ultimate Striker Block ($34.95) installed in my M&P45 by a gunsmith who also polished, polished and polished. Trigger pull is between 4 & 4.5 lbs and as smooth as butter.

Highly recommended!

I too have the hard sear and USB installed. Trigger is MUCH smoother now and provides a nice break, but I still can't feel the sear reset nearly as much as I'd like. Really didn't improve that at all despite everyone saying it would.

 

[millertyme]

Good info. I was spoiled by shooting a tuned CZ 75 with a SA trigger pull around 2-1/2# and DA pull at around 6#. When I got my 40c one of the first things I thought of was how much it would cost to improve the trigger.

 

[mcracco]

I shot my 40L with Apex Competition AEK along side my stock 45C and obviously there was a world of difference. The problem with the 45C stock trigger being almost 10# is I was straining to keep sights aligned. Not a problem in a self defense scenario, but it's a hindrance for practice/target shooting. I'll be doing the DC kit as soon as funds allow.