M & P Pro series 9mm trigger job

[ldice]

I have just recently bought an M&P Pro series, and my question is do you think that it needs a trigger job? I have seen conflicting reports of what the trigger pull lb is, some say 5 - 6lb, and some say around 3.5-4lb. Any ideas?

 

[jdubpro]

I have a 5" Pro Series and it definitely needed a trigger job. Although S&W claims the Pro Series guns have better triggers, they are still not very good IMO. I went with the Apex Competition Kit and it is a dream.

 

[OKFC05]

Any ideas?

Yes, let's back up and start with basics.
First, the way to find out what your trigger pull actually is: use a quality trigger gage.
Second, most M&Ps I have examined new had some grit in the trigger feel, much of which is the striker block contact, which can be polished a little or replaced with a USB. Just using it will also smooth it.
You can't evaluate a brand-new factory production trigger until it has been shot in, or polished.

Third, any M&P that NEEDS a trigger job ( won't fire, etc) is defective and should be returned for repair. Now, if you want a different trigger for some purpose, then fine, that is your choice.

Some examples: I shoot the 5" Pro in IDPA/SSP and USPSA/Production, and it meets the definition of a STOCK trigger: internal polishing is allowed. It has about 4 1/4# pull as measured on a RCBS gage. I could have replaced some parts instead of doing the polishing, but the result would be about the same. The externally visible APEX triggers are illegal in SSP and Production, so I cannot use them.

Now consider some one who chooses the USPSA Open Division with an M&P. Open means Open, modify all you want, so there is little point in buying the Pro anyway, you're going to discard those parts and go full house APEX competition anyway.

So I advise people who ask me before they buy, what is your chosen purpose? The Pro package is well worth it for stock shooting, and no mods are needed.
If you want to really get into modifications and shoot in different divisions, or just like adding lots of mods to your pistol, then why buy the Pro package and then just throw it away? Start with the basic pistol and mod away to your desired result.

 

[Keystone70]

Good response. I too just bought the 5" proseries specifically for IDPA (Jan 2016). I have been using the regular model 4.25" version with the APEX duty carry kit. The ProSeries is definetly a lighter trigger, probably around 4lb as advertised. My older apex version has a smoother pull, but I can't say that the new Pro is that bad. I only have a couple hundred rounds through it so far. I'm torn as to mess with it (Apex) or give it some more time to smooth out on it's own. I notice that the taper on the new Pro Series sear is very similar to the apex sear. I agree that most of the issue is with the USB as it is the same flat version as in all M&P.
The reset is great. Better than after installing the RAM in my older M&P.

Yes, let's back up and start with basics.
First, the way to find out what your trigger pull actually is: use a quality trigger gage.
Second, most M&Ps I have examined new had some grit in the trigger feel, much of which is the striker block contact, which can be polished a little or replaced with a USB. Just using it will also smooth it.
You can't evaluate a brand-new factory production trigger until it has been shot in, or polished.

Third, any M&P that NEEDS a trigger job ( won't fire, etc) is defective and should be returned for repair. Now, if you want a different trigger for some purpose, then fine, that is your choice.

Some examples: I shoot the 5" Pro in IDPA/SSP and USPSA/Production, and it meets the definition of a STOCK trigger: internal polishing is allowed. It has about 4 1/4# pull as measured on a RCBS gage. I could have replaced some parts instead of doing the polishing, but the result would be about the same. The externally visible APEX triggers are illegal in SSP and Production, so I cannot use them.

Now consider some one who chooses the USPSA Open Division with an M&P. Open means Open, modify all you want, so there is little point in buying the Pro anyway, you're going to discard those parts and go full house APEX competition anyway.

So I advise people who ask me before they buy, what is your chosen purpose? The Pro package is well worth it for stock shooting, and no mods are needed.
If you want to really get into modifications and shoot in different divisions, or just like adding lots of mods to your pistol, then why buy the Pro package and then just throw it away? Start with the basic pistol and mod away to your desired result.

 

[Bkreutz]

Yes, let's back up and start with basics.
First, the way to find out what your trigger pull actually is: use a quality trigger gage.
Second, most M&Ps I have examined new had some grit in the trigger feel, much of which is the striker block contact, which can be polished a little or replaced with a USB. Just using it will also smooth it.
You can't evaluate a brand-new factory production trigger until it has been shot in, or polished.

Third, any M&P that NEEDS a trigger job ( won't fire, etc) is defective and should be returned for repair. Now, if you want a different trigger for some purpose, then fine, that is your choice.

Some examples: I shoot the 5" Pro in IDPA/SSP and USPSA/Production, and it meets the definition of a STOCK trigger: internal polishing is allowed. It has about 4 1/4# pull as measured on a RCBS gage. I could have replaced some parts instead of doing the polishing, but the result would be about the same. The externally visible APEX triggers are illegal in SSP and Production, so I cannot use them.

Now consider some one who chooses the USPSA Open Division with an M&P. Open means Open, modify all you want, so there is little point in buying the Pro anyway, you're going to discard those parts and go full house APEX competition anyway.

So I advise people who ask me before they buy, what is your chosen purpose? The Pro package is well worth it for stock shooting, and no mods are needed.
If you want to really get into modifications and shoot in different divisions, or just like adding lots of mods to your pistol, then why buy the Pro package and then just throw it away? Start with the basic pistol and mod away to your desired result.

This is what I did (in a backward kind of way) I bought a Core in 2013 and used it in iron sights in IDPA for the 2013 season. I got tired of various aspects of IDPA (won't go into specifics, that's a whole different discussion) so I tried USPSA and immediately knew this was where I wanted to be. I started adding parts since I had to shoot open (Carry optics division wasn't even on the horizon). So after a bunch of modifications, I had changed the barrel(KKM), trigger group (FSS) and added a Deltapoint. I had a blast shooting Open minor. Between practice and matches I put over 60K rounds through the Core that year (2014) Then I decided to change for 2015. I bought a long slide 9mm M&P from Buds Qualified Professional program, put everything except the bare slide and lower in a spare parts box and built it up from there. Rather than go through the details, here's a thread I did about the build http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-pistols/420829-9mm-major-pf-build-thread.html

There are dangers to this route though. I have over 100K rounds on my Core shooting 9 Minor, I've replaced a few springs, slide stop, and a striker. That pistol is now my backup gun (which is a must for an Open Major gun) and my wife shoots it. Now the Open Major is a whole different animal. You have to accept that every part is a consumable. I've replaced a couple of Apex Flat triggers (until I figured out the barrel was hitting the trigger and did a modification to fix that), I've replaced a couple of trigger bars, I need to replace the barrel (KKM) because of the hammering of the hood but I'm waiting for Apex to move out of CA so they can make a threaded barrel for me. I have to replace the spring pins every time I disassemble the pistol. (I buy them in lots of 50 from McMaster Carr), and I've had 2 compensator failures. Seems like something is always breaking. The latest is a crack in the slide. It's the nature of shooting 9 major. I have a friend who shoots a 2011 and one of his guns is on it's 6th slide. So the upshot on this whole "modifying guns" thing is that it's a fun trip down the rabbit hole.

 

[Lior]

The stock trigger of the M&P Pro has a bit of a learning curve compared to some single action triggers, but accurate .21 splits are doable after some practice. Dry fire is your friend.
However, Apex Tactical makes trigger jobs easy with excellent results.