New shield 45, light trigger

[Warhead]

I recently acquired the new shield 45 with thumb safety. Out of the box, trigger was gritty and heavy. Cleaned and ran 75 rounds through and most of the grit is gone, trigger got very comfortable. Cleaned again, 75 more rounds and another cleaning later, trigger is super clean but a little lighter than I would be comfortable with if I didn't have a safety. I ordered the safety model just because it was the only one available at the time I had permission to buy, but now I'm a little nervous with what has turned into the cleanest and lightest striker fired trigger I've had the pleasure of using. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this, and if so, is it going to keep getting lighter? Don't get me wrong, it's awesome for the range, but I don't quite feel that it's a good thing in a carry gun. I do not currently have a trigger pull gauge, but i would guess it went from about 6lbs down to maybe 2lbs. My P226 trigger is nearly the same in single action.

 

[Jdavis]

My .45 Shield has about 200 rounds through it and the trigger reads just under 6lbs on my scale. I will say that it has improved somewhat since new but not to the extent of the OP's gun. My Shield also has the manual safety which I ordered because I wanted it that way. With a 2lb pull, the OP had better keep it engaged when loaded and not in use.

 

[swsig]

Warhead, what guns have you been shooting previously? If we had a frame of reference, maybe Forum members could advise you whether or not your trigger is OK. That's because you might be the first person in the history of the Smith & Wesson Forum to complain that your Shield trigger is too light.

If you bought it from a gun store, you could take it back and ask them to check the pull weight, or maybe your range could do it. Just as Jdavis has stated, most Shield .45 triggers are around 6 lbs. A company called Apex has done very well selling trigger lightening and smoothing kits to owners of Shields and other M&P semi-autos who think their triggers are too heavy.

 

[1rlk]

I have the .45 with the manual safety. New, I found the trigger somewhat 'gritty' and would guess its beginning weight around 6 lbs. I have dry fired it some and have only 50 rounds down the tube. Its trigger currently is averaging 3.7 lbs. on a digital gauge. Too light for CCW. Now looking in to options to bright the pull up a little.

 

[Warhead]

I can probably pick a trigger pull gauge up at cabelas tomorrow. As far as comparison, the P226 in single action is the closest comparison I have in terms of handguns, the shield is just a bit lighter. I have a Ruger SR9, P226 and have shot a friends Glocks and 9mm shield. I may very well be estimating quite a bit off on the lbs of pull, but it is certainly lighter than the sig in single action, which I would never carry hammer back. I don't carry this gun yet, other than the light trigger it's been great though.
My biggest worry is that it will continue to get lighter, as after every range session and cleaning has resulted in a very different trigger. Right now it has some slack to take up then comes to a wall, almost no creep after the slack is taken up, steady pressure up to what I am admittedly guestimating at 2lbs results in a nice clean break releasing to a very positive reset that can be felt and heard clearly. If I stop at the reset there is very little slack to take up before you're back to the wall.

 

[BigDog48]

Not sure what my actual trigger weight is, but it is fairly light and comfortable and is better than my Shield9 which has an Apex sear installed.

When the 45 was new it was the dirtiest, greasiest new pistol I had ever seen. After I cleaned it, which took a while, and its first trip to the range, for a 50 round trial, the trigger was great. After another Range trip and cleaning it is smoother and lighter. Not expecting it will change more from here on out, but I will measure it. If I had to guess, I'd guess 4 1/2 pounds. When I measure it, I'll post it here.

 

[Warhead]

So just a heads up, this is probably going to set off some b.s. meters, but I can't replicate what happened so it is what it is. Picked up a wheeler trigger gage at cabelas today, measured the trigger at 3 1/2ish to 4lbs. Field stripped the gun to see it the sear was wearing and noticed the round cotterpin head looking thing that pulls under the sear was wet with oil. I cleaned it off with a patch and now i have a 5 to 5 1/2lb gritty trigger. I oiled it up again but it didn't change anything. I don't know if maybe i wiped off some crud with the oil that was doing something magical or what, but I'm not complaining about an awesome trigger anymore. It still breaks pretty clean, but it's nothing like it was. It's not so much a problem that it went up to 5lbs, I think that's on the low end for a carry gun, it's that nasty gritty feel, like rough plastic rubbing that I really don't like. Wishing I had just left it alone now

 

[Ray1970]

Whatever witchcraft voodoo magic went on, I'm glad it seems back to normal and thanks for the update.

 

[martybee]

Whatever witchcraft voodoo magic went on, I'm glad it seems back to normal and thanks for the update.

My Signature!

 

[CBStuard]

A year ago i thought my 9c trigger was too light for CC so i installed a Apex carry trigger spring. that made the pre travel just like i wanted it but the final pull to fire was too heavy. So i did the Burwell polishing and now I am quite happy.
S&W M&P Trigger Job

 

[yep380]

I'm wondering if you had something on the back of the trigger bar engaging the sear prematurely and essentially changing the geometry of that mechanism.

 

[Warhead]

I'm wondering if you had something on the back of the trigger bar engaging the sear prematurely and essentially changing the geometry of that mechanism.

That's what I'm thinking, but let's face it, it doesn't sound very logical that something would have stayed there long enough to give such a smooth consistent pull and then just wipe away with a cleaning patch. When I get some time I'm going to really inspect the mechanism, something has to be damaged or some large debris has to be in there

 

[yep380]

That's what I'm thinking, but let's face it, it doesn't sound very logical that something would have stayed there long enough to give such a smooth consistent pull and then just wipe away with a cleaning patch. When I get some time I'm going to really inspect the mechanism, something has to be damaged or some large debris has to be in there

Again, just guessing..

Could have been a piece of stray metal on the sear where the trigger bar pushes it, the sear not installed properly, a spring not seated and now it is, I don't know.

I'd take a close look at the rear block assembly, possibly remove it and make sure it's 100% correct.

Maybe have a gunsmith look it over?

 

[Jdavis]

Warhead, I know what you mean by that cheap crunching sound when you start pulling the trigger. The good thing is that it decreases with use. The noise on my was not coming from the plastic receiver but rather the slide components which will eventually wear in. As for the change in your trigger, you might apply a touch of gun grease to the trigger safety button.

 

[Shield9mm]

Without a trigger gauge you are speculating. The shield 45 has one of the best M&P triggers out of the box. My Shield 9 was gritty and heavy 7lb now it is nice and smooth with the apex d/c and has a 5.5lb pull, my shield 45 had a great trigger out of the box measured at 6lb and went down to 5lb with the d/c definitely not needed but had to try put 100 rnds and still remains at 5lb. Definitely shooting or dry firing will smooth the trigger mechanism but I doubt it will drop the trigger from 6-2lb unless something broke inside.


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[dben002]

Interesting post.......I thought it was my imagination when after about 500 rounds my shield 45 trigger seems well under 5 lbs also...almost to the point I also am hesitant to carry it without the safety on.....I also need to have mine checked when I can find the time.....

But I do agree with the OP.....the shield 45 trigger loosens up A LOT after use......

 

[eli23nyc]

Dors your Shield happen to be a Performance Center model?
I just got my 4" Ported Perfotmace Center .45 Shield and measuring the trigger pull on my Lyman guage, it's consistantly 3.75ish pounds. In my opinion that;s a bit liught for carry so I couldn't even imagine a 2lbs trigger.
Did you measure with a guage?? If it's truly 2 lbs I wouldn't think S&W intended it to be. At least you have the safety. Kind of gives you a stiker fired 1911 as far as the trigger pull ic concerned, but I would still have that looked at.
Apparently the Performance 4" with the optic isn't available with the safety. I actually wanted it on mine but couldn't get it that way. My saving grace is I also own the regular Shield 45 which does have the safety, and the frame is identical to the PC version. So I can switch them out at will.

 

[murphydog]

OP's last appearance here was over 5 years ago, hope he sorted out his trigger issue. Thread closed.