DCAEK Sucks?

[Blue9]

OK, so I have always been happy with the stock triggers on the 4 M&Ps that I own. However, since I own two 4.25" 9mm M&Ps (one Pro and one standard), I decided to install the APEX DCAEK on the standard FS pistol. After completing the install, I was quite disappointed with the weight of the take-up.

I'm a converted GLOCK shooter that switched over to the M&P because I love the ergos, and I think they point more naturally. That said, I am accustom to being able to take the slack out with effortless motion. Once the slack is out, I can hit the wall, focus on the front sight, and break the shot. This is how I shoot.

So, I install the DCAEK, and it feels like the slack takes a pound or so of pressure just to reach the wall (aka the resistance to release the firing pin block). I cannot tolerate a one pound pull just to clear the striker block so I removed the trigger assembly and reinstalled the stock trigger return spring. Voila! The slack is back to normal, and the trigger is much "better" than stock. By better I mean it is lighter. IMO that is not necessarily better; however, the APEX kit did keep the crispness (maybe even enhanced the crispness) of the trigger. It takes a little less than 4.5 pounds to break the trigger. VERY nice trigger for a range gun or competition. I think it is fine for home defense, but I worry the evil...I mean civil and/or criminal lawyers would try to crucify you for using an altered firearm in a defensive situation.

Is summary, I would NOT recommend the DCAEK over the stock trigger unless you forego the DCAEK trigger return spring. YMMV

 

[Doug M.]

I think the version you got is designed for Duty and Carry, not shooting games, and the aspects you dislike are designed in on purpose. But then again, my recollection could be poor since it's not an issue to which I pay a lot of attention.

 

[Blue9]

No, your recollection is fine - The heavier trigger return spring was part of the DCAEK design. I just couldn't live with it.

Without that spring (using the stock spring instead) the trigger is great. I guess it's just a personal preference like anything else in life. I would much rather use the stock trigger for a duty or carry pistol (especially if we are comparing the FS Pro trigger).

I know that APEX makes top notch parts, and I am very satisfied with my purchase...it's just not going to be a duty/carry pistol with that setup since I'm running it with the stock M&P trigger return spring.

I'm just a little surprised at the number of people that love the DCAEK especially since so many complain about the gritty take-up on a stock M&P. I'd rather have some grit that will work itself out with shooting versus a heavy trigger return spring that makes it feel almost like a traditional DA pistol as opposed to a modern striker fired pistol.

 

[Gunhacker]

a heavy trigger return spring that makes it feel almost like a traditional DA pistol as opposed to a modern striker fired pistol.

That there is probably why it's a hit with most people, it makes the M&P feel like what they are most familiar with, from previously (or still) shooting TDA pistols.

 

[AGoyette]

I have a 9c and I put the DCAEK kit in. Well I put most of the kit in. I did leave the trigger spring stock. I put it in to lighten the trigger. The stock 1911's that we have, have a trigger pull of 4-4.5 lbs. My 1911 competition gun has a trigger pull of 3 lbs. I figure for CC if a stock 1911's trigger pull is 4-4.5 lbs then I should be ok making my 9c have a similar trigger pull. Without the APEX trigger spring, my trigger pull is 4.5-4.75 lbs. now. I have no concerns carrying a gun with these changes.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

OK. What's a DC whateveritis?

Never mind. I found it.

 

[Llando88]

Well, I dunno what my gunsmith did exactly with the parts in the DCAEK kit, but I love it.

YMMV indeed.

 

[Danno_man]

All triggers suck compared to a nicely tuned 1911 trigger

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[103]

I used the Competition trigger with the stock trigger spring. It's worked out great for me so far for carry.

 

[robkarrob]

Stock pull is supposed to be 6.5 pounds +/-. The DCAEK should pull between 5 to 5.5 pounds. So after you installed the kit, the pull weight went up? Something is wrong as every review I have read said the pull dropped from stock. Did you also install the Apex striker blocker and spring? That is good for 6-8 ounces of pull reduction.

I have discussed the spring situation with Apex, and I was told the DCAEK trigger and sear springs have higher tension than the stock springs, but the Apex sear and blocker installed with the Apex springs should drop the trigger pull to 5 to 5.5 pounds. They also said by using the stock sear and trigger springs, and not using their supplied springs, the pull should drop another 1 full pound. My stock Shield 40 pulled at 6.5 pounds, 5.25 pounds with the Apex kit and springs, and 4.25 pounds using the Apex sear and striker blocker (with the Apex striker blocker spring) and the stock trigger and sear springs. Also found if you use a stock Glock trigger spring, the pull will drop about another 8 ounces. The Glock trigger spring is slightly different and you can't use the vibration pad, but does work, as I do have it installed in my Shield

Bob

 

[Blue9]

Stock pull is supposed to be 6.5 pounds +/-. The DCAEK should pull between 5 to 5.5 pounds. So after you installed the kit, the pull weight went up? Something is wrong as every review I have read said the pull dropped from stock. Did you also install the Apex striker blocker and spring? That is good for 6-8 ounces of pull reduction.

I have discussed the spring situation with Apex, and I was told the DCAEK trigger and sear springs have higher tension than the stock springs, but the Apex sear and blocker installed with the Apex springs should drop the trigger pull to 5 to 5.5 pounds. They also said by using the stock sear and trigger springs, and not using their supplied springs, the pull should drop another 1 full pound. My stock Shield 40 pulled at 6.5 pounds, 5.25 pounds with the Apex kit and springs, and 4.25 pounds using the Apex sear and striker blocker (with the Apex striker blocker spring) and the stock trigger and sear springs. Also found if you use a stock Glock trigger spring, the pull will drop about another 8 ounces. The Glock trigger spring is slightly different and you can't use the vibration pad, but does work, as I do have it installed in my Shield

Bob

Bob, the weight of the pull did not go up. It went down as APEX advertised; however, I really did not like the weight added to the slack portion of the trigger pull. I really prefer effortless slack, then hit the wall, then break the trigger. With the DCAEK I had a 5.5 pound pull, but it was a pound of slack, then 4.5 pounds of actual trigger break. IMO this defeats the purpose/benefits of the modern striker fired pistol. So, I returned the trigger return spring to stock, and now I have a GREAT trigger. Right around 4.5 pounds, very crisp, and I love it.

I was just surprised that I did not like the DCAEK as designed after seeing so many great reviews, but like someone else said, those people probably like it because it makes the M&P closer to a light DA only pistol. Me....I wanted a lighter M&P trigger, i.e., no (or close to zero) weight or resistance in the take-up portion of the trigger, and a nice crisp break.

 

[Bigcloud]

I just had a gunsmith put a DCAEK in my M&P 9c...... Noticed very little change. So I think you are saying put the original Trigger return spring back in and the trigger pull weight will drop some?