M&P 9mm Trigger

[jrl46]

Sorry if this is a repeat of an existing thread. I'm considering an new M&P 9mm but online reviews of the trigger are terrible. Lots of suggestions about replacing the stock trigger with an Apex. Two questions: Are these complaints about the stock trigger exaggerated? And some of the complaints are from several years ago. Have the triggers improved?
Thanks for any input.

 

[hokiefyd]

Yes, the triggers have improved quite a bit. I just bought a new M&P 9 and, to me, the trigger feels very nice. It's certainly still a "duty" trigger, meaning it's somewhat firm, but it has a very nice crisp break and a pretty positive reset. You can still install many of the Apex parts if you like. I don't think the RAM (Reset Assist Mechanism) fits anymore, due to a different sear block design. Not really needed, though...it has a nice reset.

There is still certainly some polishing and such you can accomplish yourself.

 

[Ranger17]

i read same posts when i first got my 9c (mid 2013 test fire but does have the "H" trigger bar for what that's worth lol), but figured before i'd do anything to it i'd spend time getting used to how it ran overall.
After running well over 1k rounds thru it i'm more than fine the way it is. Others may disagree and mod theirs immediately, my only suggestion would be to try it as-is first then determine if you want to change anything for the type of shooting you are using it for.

 

[Bkreutz]

It really depends on what you use the pistol for and what you want out of the trigger. I shoot at least one match a week, sometimes more. I have two competition guns, both of which have Apex FSS triggers in them. Then I have a 9c which still has the stock trigger but I've shot a few thousand rounds through it. I'm just as comfortable with the compact, but not as fast or accurate (the sighting system has a lot to do with the accuracy part) but for a carry pistol it's just right. Just remember, anything past 7 yards is no longer self defense.. I also have a 4.25" 9mm that I use in IDPA ESP, it also has an Apex but doesn't get used much anymore.

 

[MichiganScott]

The claims are exaggerated and usually come from people that have never learned to shoot a revolver double action. The triggers were never designed to mimic a competition grade 1911.

The positive reset is a competition trick. You will never feel or hear the reset in a self defense situation. These guns were originally designed as service weapons, not target pieces.

Shoot one with an open mind. If you find the trigger to be a problem, either practice with it until it no longer is an issue, or give Apex a call.

 

[hurling]

The triggers of my recent M&P's have been fine in terms of how they feel and break. They were crisp and not gritty. I didn't like the 7 or 8 pound pull out of the box but other than that no issues. You can buy one of the spring kits from Apex and end up with a pull in the 4 to 5 pound range. Installing a spring kit is a great way to really get to know the gun.

 

[Elliot45]

I think one of the reasons people install the Apex FSS trigger kit it to reduce the long travel time before you reach the point where the trigger breaks. However, it's not a hard pull like many small striker fired pistols and when you get there, it is a clean trigger break. I recently purchased a M&P 9mm Pro which was supposed to have a trigger pull between 4 - 51/2 lbs. It came with a trigger pull just under 7 lbs. I chose to install the Apex FSS kit to alleviate both issues, trigger pull and travel time. However, I think if it had come with the correct trigger pull I might have thought more about switching triggers. That being said, I really didn't think the way it came, which is probably the way the regular M&Ps are set up, was that bad. I would suggest to rent one at a gun range and see how it feels to you. That way you can judge for yourself whether this is the gun for you. Regards, Jim

 

[ATF]

So Elliot how's you APEX trigger you should have got it installed by now.

 

[MyDads38]

As has been mentioned, the M&P series is a service grade line of pistols. I have 3 FS in 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 auto. All stock and all fine. None of them compare to my 1911 and I don't expect them to. If you can shoot one first you'll have a better idea of what to expect. Apex makes a lot of money off of folks chasing the "perfect" trigger.

 

[ATF]

As has been mentioned, the M&P series is a service grade line of pistols. I have 3 FS in 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 auto. All stock and all fine. None of them compare to my 1911 and I don't expect them to. If you can shoot one first you'll have a better idea of what to expect. Apex makes a lot of money off of folks chasing the "perfect" trigger.

Well I agree but you could take that discussion a bit further and ask why Nighthawk Custom make such great 1911's. I was looking at one last weekend and the target that came with the gun had all the shots going through the same hole

 

[Ofc.JL]

jrl46; The original trigger set up in the M&P series did have some minor faults. It is true that an assortment of aftermarket parts will improve the triggers in the original M&P guns quite a bit. That being said, when S&W introduced the Shield series of pistols, the Engineers at S&W did their home work and changed a few things in the pistol's fire control group to give the Shield an improved trigger. The lessons learned there were put to use on the full size M&P pistols(Except the .45) in a rolling production change that came about in about the middle of 2013. New M&P's now come with very good trigger systems that, IMHO, rival anything that the aftermarket parts companies offer. This upgrade can be observed on any new M&P by an "H" marking on the inside of the trigger bar. Any new M&P made since mid 2013 should have this new system(of which you can check visually), and will be a very good shooter after an initial break-in.
So, if you buy a new M&P, check to see if it's a "H" version, and save your money for ammunition, not un-needed aftermarket parts.
Have fun and be safe, Ofc.JL

 

[MyDads38]

Well I agree but you could take that discussion a bit further and ask why Nighthawk Custom make such great 1911's. I was looking at one last weekend and the target that came with the gun had all the shots going through the same hole

But at what price point? A Nighthawk Custom is apples to oranges to not only the M&P line of pistols, but also any "production" model 1911.

My M&Ps are nothing like my 1911; and my 1911 is nothing close to a Nighthawk Custom. I don't expect them to be. I think some folks get caught up thinking if they change this or that on a service grade pistol, it will turn it into a target/competition grade pistol. Most times, it won't and then they're disappointed/unhappy.

IMO, some folks just have an unrealistic expectation from a production pistol that is for service/self protection use.

 

[hokiefyd]

...when S&W introduced the Shield series of pistols, the Engineers at S&W did their home work and changed a few things in the pistol's fire control group to give the Shield an improved trigger. The lessons learned there were put to use on the full size M&P pistols(Except the .45) in a rolling production change that came about in about the middle of 2013. New M&P's now come with very good trigger systems that, IMHO, rival anything that the aftermarket parts companies offer.

I own a May 2014 prod. Shield, and bought last fall. I was impressed with how crisp the trigger is. With some polishing of the firing pin block ramp on the trigger bar, I really smoothed both the take-up piece of the trigger and the reset piece. I'd read all about the "lousy" triggers of the full size models, but hadn't tried a "new" full size trigger.

I just recently bought a May 2014 prod. M&P 9 (new). As nice as the Shield's trigger feels, I like the full size's trigger even more (except for the physical trigger blade itself). This gun has the H trigger bar and an R sear. I could find no references to an R sear, but mine's stamped R. The pull is somewhat smooth (a polish of the firing pin block ramp will help), but the break is crisp and there's VERY little over-travel. I can tell a dramatic difference watching the front sight during dry fire practice at home. Try as I might, I shake the Shield just slightly during the snap...it has a lot of over-travel to it. The full size is just sweet. During the snap, that front sight stays solid as a rock. I haven't gotten it out to shoot yet, but I'm very much looking forward to doing just that.

I will not modify a trigger on a carry pistol like the Shield, but if I did, I'd really want it to mimic the full size's trigger in terms of a short over-travel. The pre-travel on the Shield isn't bad, but it's got a lot of over-travel. The full size is sort of opposite -- there's quite a bit of pre-travel, but very little over-travel. As much praise as the Shield's trigger generally gets, I think Smith's done an even better job with the current full size's trigger.

As for the physical blade itself, I will always wish that Smith installed the Shield's wider and slightly less re-curved lower trigger blade on the full size models. If I change anything about my full size's trigger (it's a range/fun gun for me), it'll be to a different physical trigger...I don't care for how raked the curve of the lower trigger blade is.

 

[allthumbs]

If a rather new to shooting guy can make a reply, I started with a 686 4" and thought I was a natural until I bought a new 642, that thing just about drove me nuts but lots of practice and dry firing helped more than I can say, I then bought a shield 9 and after putting the time in on the 642 the shield 9 is like shooting a 22lr with a 8" barrel LOL.

 

[Elliot45]

ATF, thanks for asking and the Apex FSS trigger is definitely an improvement over the trigger that came with my Pro 9mm. I disagree with MyDads38's comment regarding chasing the "perfect" trigger. While the Apex may not be the "perfect" trigger, it's still an improvement over the stock trigger, both in reducing travel and providing a lighter trigger pull, so my money was well spent. Anybody considering a purchase should see if they can rent a M&P 9mm first and see how the trigger feels. It isn't bad, but it is different and takes getting adjusted to as it is. Regards, Jim

 

[Ofc.JL]

Gentlemen; I can tell you that the "H" series sear in the newer M&P's, is almost an exact duplicate of the Custom Shop sear, which, in itself, is a very close duplicate of the APEX sear. Not quite, but close. And yes, it is better than the original sear. Can a person really improve the trigger on an original M&P? Oh yes, w/o a doubt. In my personal opinion, "H" series M&P's need nothing. That's just my opinion, of course, and a person can do as he wants with his property. One of the perks about M&P's is how easy they are to modify, similar to Glocks. My big gripe is that due to past history on the earlier M&P's, everyone now think's that when you buy an M&P, you MUST buy another $100+ worth of trigger parts to make it right. And that was not true even on early M&P's, although aftermarket parts could improve the trigger. On the new "H" series guns, purchase of aftermarket parts to improve the trigger is not a true statement. These new M&P's are coming from S&W w/ absolutely great triggers, as is. Take that pistol out and shoot it! It get better as the trigger parts wear in.
BtW, the backlash on the trigger pull on a Shield can be improved, if you know how. Not difficult really. Has to do with the "Shepherd's crook" sear release. It can be lightly adjusted to change the timing on sear release thereby altering the trigger pull backlash. It can also be screwed up easily, as well.
Thanx Guys. Ofc.JL

 

[Johnmuratore]

The only reason I put the Apex parts in my M&Ps is because of the dumb Mass law requiring that all DA handguns sold in the state have a 10.5lb trigger pull. I did try them all with the stock triggers and found the trigger weight to be impossible for me to be consistent with the gun.

 

[Ofc.JL]

That would be a good reason, w/o a doubt! I am in Texas and we don't see a lot of Mass. compliance stuff here. Hardly ever, actually. So, Thanks for the enlightenment.
Be safe, Ofc.JL

 

[Johnmuratore]

JL
I hope they never get down there. The pull is brutal.
Half the time I was wondering if the darn thing was ever going to fire.

 

[smitty_bs]

Don't jump to conclusions just because of something you read on the internet. I've had a Shield for 18 months now; decent trigger not great. But I just picked up a full size M&P 9 and the trigger is great. It has the audible reset newer style trigger, but what is very impressive is the way it breaks. It just "snaps" after the brief take up. No grittiness or sponginess like I've heard and read about (at least on the older styles). I can honestly say it has the best trigger of any striker fired gun I've ever handled. So before you think about spending money on the Apex set up or another gun, check out a new M&P. If you can try the trigger in your LGS before you purchase, even better.