I could use some advice.... home protection/EDC

[mdoffroad]

A little background...
I bought an M&P40 several years back, that my brother has helped upgrade over the years. IT started with Meprolight sights (LOVE THEM) and then for Christmas a few years back, he bought the APEX catalog for upgraded parts, back before the new triggers etc.
Fast forward to last month... he bought the flat faced front trigger to go WITH those parts. It ends up we had parts that were incompatible according to APEX.
We got Brownells to take the flat face trigger back, and am awaiting a credit there. My question is, do I just go back to the factory internals and just leave it rock solid reliable? This is a home defense /EDC as is allowed (permits are impossible in Maryland). I am usually never without it when I am home, but now my confidence isn't where it was as APEX says "you have several parts kits that aren't designed to work together".
So what do I do? I'd like to get rid of the "bent trigger" and maybe do their composite replacement, but, again, I want reliable and my newest concern, a firearm that won't "jam me up" in court if I ever have to use it....
suggestions??
thank you all..
MàτT

 

[Ranger514]

Buy a new gun right now, and don't mess with it other than to shoot the snot out of it at the range. Make that new gun your EDC/SD handgun. You can tinker all you like with the older M&P40, but until you rectify the cause for your concerns, you will never have confidence in that handgun. Make it your project gun, and keep it tucked away in your safe until your faith in its proven reliability has returned.

 

[mdoffroad]

thats not really an option sadly.... since I bought this, Maryland has enacted a law that requires you to get a Handgun Qualification License to be allowed to buy any type of handgun. We are hoping the HQL will be rescinded by the new Republican Gov, but right now, buying a new one isn't an option.
I am most likely going to return the gun to stock internally in which case I have full faith in it.

 

[KSDeputy]

We have constitutional carry, and liberal knife laws in KS. It makes me sad to read of the laws in liberal states that require all of this **** which is unconstitutional in my opinion. I would hope all gun owners in your state fight against these types of laws. Try and get the NRA or GOA to help you. I am life members of both, the NRA is much larger, but I have seen more action from the GOA in many situations. Their prime directive, as it were, is defense of the second amendment and nothing else !! Best of luck.

 

[snuffy51]

Hang in there.

I think all states will eventually realize that concentrating on lawbreakers instead of creating them works out better in the end. Some already have and the results are beginning to surface.

 

[tbgunner88]

I think you have already answered your own question, return it to the factory configuration.

 

[mdoffroad]

Thats my inclination so far too... might just end up rebagging the individual parts kits and reselling them separate with a disclosure they aren't for use together.

 

[PirateJim]

I'm not sure what Apex is telling you is "incompatible" but apparently the gun has been working. A few years ago S&W changed the sear housing block and sear plunger and newer kits require this newer configuration.

*This kit REQUIRES the use of the larger 1/8 inch sear spring and plunger set up. If your M&P has a 1/16th inch diameter sear plunger and spring, we strongly advise you upgrade to a new style sear housing block before installing this product. All function and reliability testing was done with a 1/8 inch sear plunger and spring, therefore we cannot guarantee proper function without the appropriate size sear plunger and spring. Modern sear housing blocks can be found on Brownells.com and other online firearms product retailers.

I've not researched it, but you can apparently get the newer sear housing block and do this upgrade after the fact. This, along with the current Apex kit and trigger would be cheaper than a new gun and should solve your reliability concerns as well as provide some enhanced performance.

Perhaps you could give Apex another call. I presume they could point you in the direction of the new sear housing block as well as telling you what parts (if any) are incompatible once that upgrade has been made.

 

[V0OBWxZS16]

I presume that Apex meant that the flat trigger was incompatible with your existing parts and not that your existing parts were incompatible with each other. You may wish to contact them again to clarify for your peace of mind.

If the gun is reliable as is I don't see why you would go back to stock.

 

[bigwheelzip]

My CWP instructor suggested that a user modified weapon or ammunition could constitute negligence, and open an additional avenue of legal liability, if you hit someone other than your intended target.

 

[aarontart]

My CWP instructor suggested that a user modified weapon or ammunition could constitute negligence, and open an additional avenue of legal liability, if you hit someone other than your intended target.

If you read different cases laws you will see some crazy cases out there dealing with this. One judge found that a DA/SA gun that was cocked into single action made it have a hair trigger even though it was a function of the gun. This was over turned in appeal. Modifying a gun COULD cause you problems in a court case but it is more dependent on the judge hearing the case than any thing that an LEO, Gun Store/Arm Chair commando or even lawyer can tell you. I did a lot of research and you can find that 9 times out of 10 you will be fine as long as the modification you made to the gun didn't lead to it being completely unsafe and causing something like an ND. Even with an unmodified Glock I read a case were the Defense attorney was trying to say that it was a Single action only hair trigger and the LEO Carrying was out for blood using a known dangerous weapon. The claim was thrown out but it could have had a deep impact on all striker fired guns if it had gone anywhere.

As for the O/P, if it is working now why change it? That FSS trigger is a competition mod not a Self Defense Trigger. I put it in, played with it and found it to be cool but way to light for any thing outside of the range. I use their polymer trigger that looks like a Glock trigger and it works fine for me.

 

[mdoffroad]

I am going back to stock internals. If I had a safe fun of guns I can see tinkering and trying different combos, however, this is my one sidearm, so this needs to be beyond reproach. Thanks all.

 

[Arik]

I would keep it stock. I'm not big on accessorizing guns with parts that make it work (not talking about sights). When I buy one it's because I already like what it has to offer. So for me it would remain stock

 

[Buford57]

I am going back to stock internals. If I had a safe fun of guns I can see tinkering and trying different combos, however, this is my one sidearm, so this needs to be beyond reproach. Thanks all.

Now that's common sense gun control: reliability first, confidence follows and everything else is gravy.