Just bought my first M&P pistol

[BourbonCowboy]

I’ve been seeing all the great deals on 40S&W police trade-ins lately, so I bought one. It’s a M&P40 (1.0) in extremely good shape. I immediately disliked the grip (as I’m used to HK VP and P30 grips), so I bought a Hogue Handall for it. Now it’s got a fat grip with finger grooves that I really like. I’ll soon add some Speed Sights to it, as the original sights are a bit dim. A 9mm conversion barrel has been ordered for times I want to shoot the smaller caliber.

I miss the paddle mag release levers and the slide release levers my HKs offer, but the thing that bothers me the most is the trigger. I’m used to really good triggers, like my VP9/VP40, and the hinged trigger is terrible. I’m thinking about upgrading it with the Apex trigger, but I wanted to ask those who have actually used this trigger: Is it worth the investment? The M&P40 seems to be an extremely solid pistol and worthy of a few upgrades, but I want to make sure the upgrades I make are the right ones. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[WR Moore]

OK, the 1.0 was designed to mimic the double action trigger of a revolver pretty much as requested by extensive LE focus groups. I've never found a revolver with such a light trigger action. It is, however, different from most other auto pistols and a lot of folks dislike it for that reason. As production continued, S&W modified the sear somewhat (believe in concert with Apex, not sure).

Now, are you objecting to the simple physical aspect of the hinged trigger or the feel of the trigger stroke?

 

[Ameshawki]

The hinged trigger takes some getting used to. I've got three M&Ps; a gen 1.0 9, a gen 2.0 Pro, and a gen 1 Shield. The Shield has the Apex trigger. The Pro also has an aftermarket tho off the top of my head I don't remember which one (I bought it used). The gen 1 is stock. The Apex is an improvement. I never thought the stock trigger was that bad, I have no plans of upgrading the gen 1.

I also have H&K, a VP9 and a P30. They are a different platform. Switching from one brand to another has frustrated more than a few shooters. Glock shooters switching to anything else is the classic example. If you're a dyed in the wool H&K guy, the M&P may not be for you. I can flip among platforms without much effort (and I own most of them); I'm equally bad with any of them. If I had to pare down to one striker gun, it would likely be the M&P Pro or the Walther PPQ.

 

[hardluk1]

Improving a first gen m&p trigger pull - Yes apex is a great way to go . I have added the early FSS trigger kit to 2 of our early m&ps pistols and with the stock trigger bar smoothed and polished at the contact points on the striker block and sear trigger pull can end up in the higher 2lb range but a stock trigger bar and trigger return spring changes can adjust the pull weight up to mid 4.5lbs with the short reset . You have trigger options of a straight trigger and a curved trigger . I like the apex curved and my wife likes the straight trigger ?? Both are adjusted for 3lb 4 to 6oz pull weight with a reset and break feel very close to the tuned 1911 we also shoot and carry . But with the trigger return spring in kit you can adjust for a heavier pull weight up to 4.5lbs . I have on or added thumb safetys two these pistols .
Attention Required! | Cloudflare Apex link here !!
The striker block kit alone can greatly improve the m&p trigger pull weight and with some minor trigger bar tuneing end up with a lower 4lb pull weight like we have on a M&P9c but it has the same trigger pull distance and stock trigger . Trigger it self is your choice .


Trigger bar replacement trigger bar is a upgrade if you have a 10lb LE only trigger pull weight found in some M&P LE models . - Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Trigger Bar: MGW


I'm not a fan of conversion barrels for practice . Recoil impulse is very different for even a 155gr 40sw ammo and thats enough to change how well shoot your drills . We have both 9mm and 40sw m&ps , Wifes a 9mm lady and I'm a 40sw guy .

I reloaded our ammo since '76 and still have my old rock chucker press kit but also have a old updated dillon 550 I use a rcbs powder dispenser on .

You will get over that mag drop lever issue . Did you receive the grip inserts with your pistol, as you should have 3 on the easrly m&P's today inserts have a grittier texture and 4 inserts . Finger grooves ,,, You would get over that too . My daughter had me fill them off her Gluck . I hate them too . Sights , good luck . You should be able to pass a fbi course of fire with no sights so distracting sights are not on my want list . Most be more of an age thing as a gold bead on my 1911 is a upgrade for me ! ha

If dark a light is needed any how and black sight show up well then . Good luck with your choices . The 40sw tend to shoot well , many better than old 9mm's but change the old recoil spring to a 18lber as the stock spring is the same as in the 9mm . Glock springs are the same too .

 

[STORMINORMAN]

To the OP: Please consider getting some S&W 9mm magazine for use with the 9mm conversion barrel.

Although the 40 S&W mags will "work", the 9mm ones are superior for reliability...

Cheers!

P.S. Now, if you were to obtain a 357 SIG barrels you wouldn't have to worry about the mags: just read what is on your current magazines!

 

[Bill In Texas]

I have a first generation M&P .40 Pro Series that has the Apex FSS trigger kit in it. I've never had the opportunity to shoot an HK so I don't know what the trigger on them is like. But. I will say that the Apex FSS kit is very sweet in my opinion. While it's not a 1911 trigger, it's close. I highly recommend them.

I put the kit in several years ago when I was carrying the. 40 as my edc. This was before I discovered the world of revolvers and the long
double action trigger pull. Because of this I didn't ever put the kit in my Pro Series 9mm.

 

[BourbonCowboy]

Thanks to all for the information.

While I'm probably a dyed in the wool HK guy, learning a new platform is (to me) part of the fun of the handgunning hobby - despite the frustration.

I guess the trigger is just a bit foreign to me, in both the physical aspect and trigger stroke. I will probably put quite a few rounds through it before I make a decision on a replacement trigger.

However, I do love the feel of the pistol in my hand. It just feels solid. The Hogue Handall with the finger grooves gives me an excellent purchase that also feels comfortable.

From my research, I've found that the M&P40, the HK VP40, and the Beretta PX4 are the best platforms for those looking to shoot a .40 caliber. I'm sure it will take a while to adjust, but I think this pistol will be a lot of fun to shoot...and I really like the beavertail.

Any other tips or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Ethang]

the trigger on the first Gen 40's was horrible, really the only thing I hated about that pistol. There are things you can do to the stock parts to make it pretty good, but IMHO not as good as the 2.0 or the Apex. You won't regret getting an Apex.

 

[minconrevo]

I fitted an Apex hard sear to my M&P 1.0 and found significant improvement in the trigger pull.

 

[WR Moore]

Thanks to all for the information.

Any other tips or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Since the trigger stroke is different from most other semis, there's a tendency to lose patience and finish up with a spastic yank. Swapping back and forth with other trigger systems doesn't help you adjust to that of the M&P. Been there, done that. Stick with it, it'll grow on you.

Some people obsess over the lack of tactile/audible reset (how the heck you're gonna hear it through ear protection/after affects of muzzle blast escapes me). You and your trigger finger will learn where the reset point is through practice. I don't ever recall feeling the reset in action shooting. Even when I wasn't using a BHP. I'm not sure who designed that trigger but "feeling the reset" wasn't part of the design.

 

[Gman556]

I fitted an Apex hard sear to my M&P 1.0 and found significant improvement in the trigger pull.

I thought those were just supposed to be drop in?

Mine all did anyway in both my 1.0, and 2.0's.

What did you have to do to "fit it"?

 

[mrshyvley]

I’ve been seeing all the great deals on 40S&W police trade-ins lately, so I bought one. It’s a M&P40 (1.0) in extremely good shape.
-snip-

Some years back when the police trade in 1.0 M&P 40S&W pistols were common, I got two of them cheap.

I replaced the Sear Housing Blocks with the upgraded OEM ones that have the larger Sear return spring, and I replaced the Striker Assemblies with the OEM upgraded ones.

Being a big fan of the .357 Sig round, I also bought OEM .357 Sig barrels to swap in.
This along with Underwood .357 Sig 125grain JHP at 1475fps makes a potent self defense pistol.

I NOW have two sweet shooting .357 Sig/.40 M&P's that I don't have much money in.
Which is good, because when I carry these if God forbid I have to lawfully use one for self defense, it won't bite as bad when the police steal it from me and never return it, even though I did nothing wrong.