DCAEK M&P 45 install

[JDT]

I bought the kit from Apex Tactical and was going to install it myself, but decided to have my gunsmith do the job because I have arthritis of both hands and it's hard to handle small parts.
I watched the videos which were great, but thought it would be best to have it done by my gunsmith.
My smith told me that if I wanted a great trigger job, he would polish the sear and everything that would help the trigger pull.
Only problem is, the cost would be around $100.00. I told him I just wanted him to watch the video to see how easy it was for most people and that he should be able to do it easily in less than half an hour.
Well, he told me it would be around $60.00 plus tax if he doesn't have to do any fitting or polishing, which I told him he wouldn't have to do anything but replace the parts and drop in the new parts.
Anyways, what is the going rate for a Gunsmith to install this kit? This guy is great on 1911's, but never worked on an M&P
so he's going to watch Randy's Youtube video and go from there.
I should have it back this weekend or Monday at the latest. He checked the trigger pull 3 times and it averaged right at 7 lbs. plus. Very gritty and hard.
I had him try my Keltec PF9 that hasn't been worked on and he said it's trigger was impressive compared to my M&P 45C.
I would just like to know what other gunsmiths have been charging for the installation only?
I wish I had sent it in to APEX and had them do it...
Thanks,
JDT
NW OH

 

[blastfact]

He shouldn't charge you a dime if this is the first one he has ever done IMHO. And if the Smith thinks it needs any dressing out or fitting. Don't let him touch it.

 

[JDT]

I called Apex and talked to Randy about the need for polishing the sear and he said that they didn't see any benefit to polishing the sear.
I called my smith and told him to just replace the parts, watch the video, and it should be a very simple job for a Gunsmith.
This guy does excellent work on 1911's. I've had him do work on 3 of my 1911's and I will never get rid of my Colt Series 70 that is as good as any 1911 out there.
I think once he sees how easy it is to install, he'll realize his price is way out of line. Randy told me if he has any problems, for him to call him. My gunsmith isn't on the internet, but he has a cousin who said they'll get him on Youtube to watch the video install.
He said he was concerned about the very tiny spring and where it goes. I said it's all in the excellent videos.
I can't wait to get it back. It's a great pistol, but the trigger pull was gritty awful at over 7 lbs.
Thanks for your input...
JDT

 

[chuck s]

Labor charge of $100/hour is not uncommon nor unreasonable. That covers his overhead and profit as well.

-- Chuck

 

[Collin642]

i'm a gunsmith at a national chain. I do the install for $45.00. I've done alot of M&P work & occasionally they do need slight fitting. We usually charge $60 but we can install them quickly so we went down in price.

 

[JDT]

DCAEK M&P 45 Install

Well, I got my pistol back from my Gunsmith and the kit made a huge improvement over the way it came new out of the box.
The trigger pull is approx., 5.5lbs., and very crisp and smooth.
He was going to charge me $100.00, but he lowered the price to $75.00. I could've sent it in to Apex and they would've sold me the DCAEK Kit plus install it for $150.00. I also would've had shipping charges plus insurance, but Apex charges for the install was around $60.00 and the kit $89.95. I think those are the right numbers.
Anyway, I'm very pleased with the trigger and would highly recommend the Apex DCAEK for their M&P's. I also have nothing but high praise for the support talking to Randy and the other people at Apex. They're great people to deal with and are eager to satisfy the customer or potential customers.
I love my S&W M&P 45c now!
Thanks Apex and especially Randy...
JDT
[email protected]

 

[jtboss]

Very glad to hear that it made a huge difference. I will be installing the same on my 40C next week.Great forum,have learned a bunch since being here.

 

[SMMAssociates]

I put one in each of my M&P 40's - a FS and a Compact....

The little bitty plunger & spring is a bear, but the rest of it isn't too bad. You probably need a little gunsmithing experience, and access to a roll pin punch, but it's otherwise not difficult. The videos are pretty good....

If you're doing the whole kit, you'll want to do both the sear and sear spring replacements at the same time. Different videos.... The trigger spring's a bit goofy, but nothing exciting. Swapping the drop safety plunger requires removing the rear sight, but follow the instructions and it's no problem.

(I'm not a gunsmith - I barely get the grips back on the right sides, but I'm a 1911 guy, so you have to be a little capable .)

Regards,

 

[Doktor]

I just did the DCAEK on my M&P 45 and it wasn't too bad. i took me about an hour and a half. I've never done one before, the next would be faster.

It was a little fiddly but I'd do another one in a heartbeat.