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

[RobzGuns]

Some factory triggers are not very good. They may be extra heavy, or gritty (might smooth out eventually through use) or have a hitch in them, or a lot of over travel. The take up might be very long, or the trigger shape may be uncomfortable. There are lots of reasons someone may want to alter a trigger, even if it is an average or "good" trigger from the factory.

This is the very reason why the Shield was the first M&P I ever bothered to buy... All the other M&P triggers were as above and with as many pistols on the market that do have decent Factory triggers, why spend an extra $80-$100 (or more) to add an 'acceptable' trigger?

The key here is experience. Once you have driven a performance car, a stock Ford Focus just doesn't make the grade for you. Once you have discovered the benefits of an improved/enhanced trigger, you are very likely to apply such upgrades to your most important guns.

Interesting analogy... Just doesn't work for some.
During my mid-life crisis, I traded my Jeep for a Mits 3000GT VR4... Great responsive machine, but very impractical for every day use and very few places to really let it run to its max performance.

For me, it's the same for pistols... I try to get the right pistol for the job that doesn't require modification in order to make it acceptable... But that's me.
I had an Electroglide, but it's performance (for how I like to highway ride) was lacking. Rather than installing a Screaming Eagle kit to make it acceptable, I traded it for a Gold Wing that was perfect in its Factory setup.

I guess I am a trigger snob.

Yup... You sound to be... And that's fine.

I do not mean to disparage the gun owners who spend extra money on trigger kits, but as you mentioned Most stock triggers work just fine and are certainly adequate for general purposes... as well as self defense purposes.

Just like many love/need to tinker with Harlies... Many people love to tinker with pistols and aftermarket people love to make people THINK they need to make their toy just a little better. If this marketing ploy didn't work, aftermarket (motorcycle, or firearm) parts dealers wouldn't be in business.

I don't leave my triggers Factory stock for Legal reasons... A justifiable shoot is justifiable, regardless of the trigger... I prefer to learn the platform I'm shooting, rather than modifying and if the pistol's trigger platform is really that bad, I'll simply buy another brand (or model).

When the Shield came out, I was anticipating that I'd pass on it, based on how crummy M&P trigger to that point were. I'm glad to say I was pleasantly surprised at how much nicer it's trigger was than its 'bigger brothers'.

 

[thejammer]

No question. Apex is better. Mine went from 8# to 4#. It is a totally different gun.

 

[Kitgun]

Apex made a major improvement on my M&P9c & full size. Triggers went from bad, gritty & "creepy" to clean and crisp well worth cost and time to install.

 

[mustangman]

Stock trigger works fine for me.

 

[mailman390]

I left my trigger stock and just had TruGlo TFO night sights installed.

 

[tactical404]

No apex installed..at least not yet. I have to admit though i'm definitely not a fan of the stock trigger. Bought mine in February 14 and it's the only thing I dislike about the gun.

 

[shooter5112]

As long as we are just sayin', "****".

I know Ayoob has his documented cases, blah blah, but the facts of each case are different.

And every one of those cases were accidents.

 

[xcrdr]

Ok
I dont get all the fear of modding a trigger and going to court.
Maybe Im naive

But once you put your finger on the trigger you are committed
being right and being wrong shouldnt matter on the pull weight of the trigger.

Just my 2 cents

There is some perception that if you're gun is modified them you are more eager to use it. Of course these are not "gun" people. Not all guns are inspected for modifications after being used in a self defense situation. Many times it's not asked or mentioned. Personally, I've pulled some pretty nice triggers and they make me feel happy but for a stock trigger I really like my Shield. Maybe I got a good one? I've left it stock and I can shoot quite well with it and trust it every day.

 

[John H/PA]

I have a 9 and 40. Both are stock.

 

[Golphin]

My Shield trigger is fine. The trigger on my M&P 45 is **** and will be changed very soon. I have owned the gun for several years and tried to learn to shoot it with the stock trigger and it is not working. Time for a fix.

 

[Horn]

I'm stock but I just got my new laser sight. Have to take it to the range to sight in yet

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

Before you spend money for ammo sighting in with a laser__
I use a Sight Mark laser to adjust the CT lasers on two of my
380s. The Sight Mark in 9mm in your case. They look like ammo
and slip into the chamber. The Sight Mark laser coming out of the
muzzle is right on. ( Decide what range for your laser dot) Then
adjust your the laser where the Sight Mark laser dot is.
I have both of mine (one Sig and one Bersa) set at twelve yards
for "defensive shots".
You may prefer a longer range. You'll know instantly when the two
laser dots are together__super bright.
I prefer lasers for home defense at night over the night sights I
have on my two Shields. (One Big Dot and the other Amerigo)
If my shields had grip panels and CT made a grip laser for them
I'd have a laser on one of my Shields.
G'luck.

 

[Horn]

Yes, Shield Sights Can Be Difficult to Change

I would not count on that sight pusher working. The Shields are known for burrs and lousy machining of the sight slot. I broke a sight pusher on mine, put a gouge in a brass punch and finally had to go to a steel punch to get the sight out. I discovered once I got it out that it was unevenly machined, had burrs and some idiot at the factory had applied an abundance of red locktite to it. Your experience might be different, but my suggestion would be put it in a vice, take the steps/precautions not to mar the gun, put leather of a steel punch and wack it hard till it comes out.

I've put sights in full sized M&P's and Glocks in a few minutes. It's not me or you, Google it, the issue is Shield specific. It's not true of all Shields, but I'm guessing occurs about 30-50% of the time.

JMO

I just had a set of Ameriglo on one Shield and a set of Big Dot on the other by a certified S&W armorer and he said both sights on my two Shields were the hardest to remove he'd ever done. So,
I guess I got two in that "difficult" category.

 

[RyanJM]

Mine is stock and seems fine for my needs. It's a carry gun so as long as I pull the trigger and it works I am good. I wouldn't mind trying one but I spend most of my money on my AR.

 

[CB3]

Mine is stock and seems fine for my needs. It's a carry gun so as long as I pull the trigger and it works I am good. I wouldn't mind trying one but I spend most of my money on my AR.

And what is the likelihood you will be packing your AR when you need to defend yourself?

My first priority for spending is on the gun(s) I am most likely to use for personal defense. My EDC is usually a FS M&P 9; full Apex kit; RMR milled into the slide with cowitnessing suppressor sights; a backup TTI extended mag; Barnes TAC-X 115 gr bullets and Talon grips; adjusted slide release; carried in a custom Kydex AIWB holster. Attachable Surefire X300 light for homework.

I have a backup M&P that is the same but with stock sights. Bladetech yellow plastic barrel for safe dry firing. Having the second gun reduces wear on the primary when at the range.

Then a 9mm Shield for the few times I cannot carry the FS. All have Apex triggers, Talon grips, extended mags, good holsters, etc.

IMO, your EDC is not the gun to cheap out on. I have a total of about $2700 invested in this system. Worth it to me.

AR's are cool to set up specially also, but the priority? Not for me.

 

[STCM(SW)]

I had the local gun smith do a action job on my wife's 9mm shield.
Now has a 5.5 lb trigger pull that is slick.....
She likes it that way.

 

[macski222]

I didn't have much of an option living in MA. Stock trigger felt comparable to dragging a 12lb dumbbell through a pile of gravel with your pointer finger.

Apex fixed the shield right up.

 

[RandyX]

I have a new Shield in 9 MM and I thought about the Apex kit but it's pretty darn good feeling to me as is, I've only put about 100 rounds throgh her and already feels a bit smoother.
I've added the Talon grips, Pearce mag extensions, and Viridian Green Laser, this thing is awesome !!

 

[USMCshooter]

Fixed my Shield 9 trigger by buying a P938. Now when I shoot the Shield, it feels like a very light trigger.

 

[huskybiker]

I have two Shields. One with a thumb safety and a newer one without. The older one has over 1500 rounds through it and the trigger is definitely smoother than the new one with only 250-300 through it. That being said, I think the stock trigger is more than good enough for a self- defense gun.

 

[NCavi8tor]

had it in mine. nice trigger. worth the money? not sure. one thing i am mindful of in my carry guns, is keeping it stock. the more you alter it the higher the liability goes. if it ever has to be used, in a court hearing they will grab hold of that in a heart beat. that said, i carry a S&W 1911 PD with a 2.5lb single action trigger...

Horse ****!!! Never been a case with a legal shoot where trigger modification has been a factor. Why do people continue to perpetrate this lie on here!!!!??? You have NO facts to back up this ridiculous theory!!

NC