Poll: Shield owners...who has the Apex kit and who likes it stock?

[Marshal Tom]

I am in CB3's camp. I purchased an early production 1.0 Shield. I put a Talon Grip on it, had a trigger job done and put night sights on it. I prefer flat faced triggers so recently I installed the Apex full kit in my Shield. It is a world of difference. Completely transforms the pistol in my opinion. I also put the "Flatty" full kit in my 2.0 M&P compact.That now has the best striker fired trigger that I have experienced to date. Each to their own!
I to am a trigger snob. After carrying a full custom 1911 for about 25 of my 36+ years in LE I am not satisfied with most if any stock triggers.

 

[Dave686]

My 40 Shield, 40C, .40 Full size, and .40 M2.0 Compact were all fine. My performance Center 9mm CORE had a terrible trigger and I replaced it with an Apex. It was a great improvement, and I was satisfied, but I wouldn't say it was night & Day difference as I have seen it described as before. But obviously every gun is different.

 

[Wavygravy]

I have no problem with the 2.0 Shield stock trigger -- it shoots fine for a subcompact SD carry pistol. The friend's 1.0 trigger that I shot sucked imo.

 

[CB3]

CB3
Yes, in all my years with S&W, I most firmly believe stock is better.

One way or another S&W will make every effort to satisfy their
customers if its humanely possible. Call them and explain the
problem. Better still, fire at least 500 rounds through the pistol
to see if the're really is a problem.

The way S&W Customer Service responded to my complaint that my first Shield had a 9# trigger pull rather than the 5.5-6.5# pull spec'd on the S&W website? They removed the trigger weight from the specs. When I polished the components myself it came down to about 8#.

I installed an Apex kit. 5.5# pull, smooth, shorter take-up and over travel. I can shoot the gun faster and more accurately, which is what I require from a self defense pistol.

S&W designs and manufactures good guns. Most of them are within their broad mass manufacturing, profit-oriented specs, and they are acceptable to the average consumer. Almost all of them can benefit from some customization.

I understand the "shoot it 500 times" mantra. Yes, metal parts wearing against each other slowly smooth out some but hardly ever as much as a good polish job, the results of which are immediate. I don't care to spend $100 in ammo and a few trips to the range and the time involved to maybe get the results I know I want from a self defense gun.

I also don't have a problem recognizing that the S&W mass manufactured product is the base for the more expensive pistol I really want. That puts me in a minority. That's fine. Neither camp is right or wrong.

But it is absolutely true that not everything S&W produces is GTG out of the box or that their CS is always responsive and helpful. Perusing this board confirms that statement.