Poll: Shield owners...who has the Apex kit and who likes it stock?
- Thread starter DamnYankee
- Start date
Changed the whole firearm completely in the best way possible
Installed myself in less than 45 minutes... had all the required tools though... cheap to get them on ebay.
I was literally a day or two from bringing my shield back and saying it shoots left no matter what I do or who shoots it... then a friend let me shoot his shield with Apex trigger and it was an amazing difference. Indescribable.... it you think you like stock, just try a few shots with an apex shield... you'll come over to the dark side with us and never go without an apex trigger EVER again. I know I won't!
Also check out the brand new ArmaLaser TR4 in this pick that shows my trigger and the laser together... the best combination I think thats out there currently for CCW.
Installed myself in less than 45 minutes... had all the required tools though... cheap to get them on ebay.
I was literally a day or two from bringing my shield back and saying it shoots left no matter what I do or who shoots it... then a friend let me shoot his shield with Apex trigger and it was an amazing difference. Indescribable.... it you think you like stock, just try a few shots with an apex shield... you'll come over to the dark side with us and never go without an apex trigger EVER again. I know I won't!
Also check out the brand new ArmaLaser TR4 in this pick that shows my trigger and the laser together... the best combination I think thats out there currently for CCW.
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They all shoot left because of the crappy trigger. Dry fire it a couple of times while aiming at something. You'll see the gun move when you finally overcome the last boulder in that gravel pit your dragging the trigger through. And before you say it...I've been shooting handguns for over 40 years, I have my own range on my own property within 50 yards of my house. I've owned,shot and carried 1911's, Glocks, revolvers(Smith and Colt) Kahr, Keltec(the only semi with a worse trigger than the Shield),Beretta, Star BM(a truly under rated pistol),HK, and XD. I dry fire way more than I shoot and I shoot a lot. To say that the Shield has an acceptable trigger is something I just don't understand unless you have no experience with a good trigger. If you want to keep the stock trigger that's fine but to get the best from the Shield it needs an APEX...
motorcyclejoe
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Sorry - could not resist.....
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.
Couldn't agree more. HDs are not what I would consider performance machines (V-rod excepted) Lots of bling, lots of noise - but kind of boring to ride. All show - no go, as they say. In fact, every time I think it's time to get one, and I do a test ride, I just walk away shaking my head. I know I must have and HD at some point, but right now I think I'll wait until I need a walker - if I live that long. LOL Thought it would be nice to get something else going here.....
dullh
Member
I wouldn't have an M&P pistol if my only option was stock.
To me, Apex trigger kits are mandatory...
To me, Apex trigger kits are mandatory...
I would like to case law on your comment. IF your intention was to pull the trigger then you have an obligation to make a good shot and not harm bystanders, etc. We are not talking about an AD here...
Easy Gritty Trigger fix for Shield
Had my Shield about 3 weeks now and the trigger pull felt very gritty and bothered me before I modified it just a bit after searching for a fix for it before investing in another trigger for it. Youtube had this and it worked great taking less that 10 mins to do.
Smith & Wesson M&P stiff slide release / Slide lock fix - M&P 40 trigger fix.
WantedToPost
30,556
Published on Aug 20, 2012
All it took was some very fine sand paper-I used 320 but the Author used 600 to sand the backside of the shiny disc attached to the trigger in the receiver. I could feel a rough surface before I sanded it and smooth after I worked it until the trigger pull smoothed out. Very easy fix.
Had my Shield about 3 weeks now and the trigger pull felt very gritty and bothered me before I modified it just a bit after searching for a fix for it before investing in another trigger for it. Youtube had this and it worked great taking less that 10 mins to do.
Smith & Wesson M&P stiff slide release / Slide lock fix - M&P 40 trigger fix.
WantedToPost
30,556
Published on Aug 20, 2012
All it took was some very fine sand paper-I used 320 but the Author used 600 to sand the backside of the shiny disc attached to the trigger in the receiver. I could feel a rough surface before I sanded it and smooth after I worked it until the trigger pull smoothed out. Very easy fix.
Sheepdogged
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I can't answer because I neither have an Apex trigger installed nor do I prefer the stock. Moreover, I have a Performance Center action, but aside from the short reset, it's not all that great. That said, I probably won't shell out the money to change it.
My M&P9 M2.0 Subcompact, however, is a different story. It has just enough overtravel that my finger gets pinched ever so slightly (but it can be annoying). I am leaning more towards an Apex trigger for this because it will solve that problem and shorten my reset similar to my PC Shield.
M&P9 M2.0 Subcompact (Top)
M&P9 M2.0 Shield
M&P9 M2.0 Shield (Left) M&P9 M2.0 Subcompact (Right)
Look at how small the overtravel stop is on the Subcompact. I am using my pad in the picture, but I actually hook my finger, and some of the skin gets caught between the frame and the trigger. This does not happen on the Shield. If the Subcompact had a similarly large overtravel stop, or better yet, if the trigger was as thick as that of the Shield, I wouldn't need an Apex trigger IMO (though shortening the reset would be nice).
My M&P9 M2.0 Subcompact, however, is a different story. It has just enough overtravel that my finger gets pinched ever so slightly (but it can be annoying). I am leaning more towards an Apex trigger for this because it will solve that problem and shorten my reset similar to my PC Shield.
M&P9 M2.0 Subcompact (Top)
M&P9 M2.0 Shield
M&P9 M2.0 Shield (Left) M&P9 M2.0 Subcompact (Right)
Look at how small the overtravel stop is on the Subcompact. I am using my pad in the picture, but I actually hook my finger, and some of the skin gets caught between the frame and the trigger. This does not happen on the Shield. If the Subcompact had a similarly large overtravel stop, or better yet, if the trigger was as thick as that of the Shield, I wouldn't need an Apex trigger IMO (though shortening the reset would be nice).
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mckenney99
Member
I can't respond to the poll, because there is no "Both" selection.
My 45 Shield had a wonderful trigger action right out of the box, so there was no need to alter it at all.
My M1.0 9mm Shield could not have been more different, it had the worst gritty, variable weight trigger pull that I have ever encountered on any M&P. I elected to just drop an Apex Carry/Duty trigger kit in it and it made a world of difference. I also found when I went to remove the trigger from the frame that the trigger window in the frame had been molded/cut undersized and the trigger was actually binding within the frame, hence the variable heavy trigger pull.
My 45 Shield had a wonderful trigger action right out of the box, so there was no need to alter it at all.
My M1.0 9mm Shield could not have been more different, it had the worst gritty, variable weight trigger pull that I have ever encountered on any M&P. I elected to just drop an Apex Carry/Duty trigger kit in it and it made a world of difference. I also found when I went to remove the trigger from the frame that the trigger window in the frame had been molded/cut undersized and the trigger was actually binding within the frame, hence the variable heavy trigger pull.
Had the same experience with my old 1.0 .45 Full Size.
The Apex kit made it a NEW gun! I love this old thing now. Home defense, range gun.
Shield 9 is fine.....
I heard Shields had good triggers and I wasn't disappointed. Never even considered and apex trigger for it.
I heard Shields had good triggers and I wasn't disappointed. Never even considered and apex trigger for it.
noro
Member
JMHO if the stock trigger was sooo bad, wouldn't you think
the factory would have improved it instead of creating an after-
market? They certainly did improve it in the 2.0 series.
Once again, JMHO why is there such a need to monkey with the
stock setup? We see it all the time with AR15/MP15 and here
with the M&P's. How many SD9VE's were destroyed with aftermarket
parts? How many M&P's had problems with aftermarket triggers,
sights etc.?
It seems guys like to modify the stock setup and bemoan the problems
(and expense) of the installations. The aftermarket firms are making a ton of money providing a solution which doesn't exist.
the factory would have improved it instead of creating an after-
market? They certainly did improve it in the 2.0 series.
Once again, JMHO why is there such a need to monkey with the
stock setup? We see it all the time with AR15/MP15 and here
with the M&P's. How many SD9VE's were destroyed with aftermarket
parts? How many M&P's had problems with aftermarket triggers,
sights etc.?
It seems guys like to modify the stock setup and bemoan the problems
(and expense) of the installations. The aftermarket firms are making a ton of money providing a solution which doesn't exist.
The problem exists. The solutions exist.
The first three Shields I bought for myself and family had horrendous heavy, gritty, unpredictable triggers with a lot of overtravel. It's hard to shoot small guns well. It's harder when the firing mechanism sucks.
You ask why S&W didn't improve the problem, then you point out they did. Must have been something wrong for them to improve it?
The biggest problem was finishing of the parts. Once the parts were polished, one could have a decent factory trigger, although it was often much heavier than a striker fired pistol should be.
However, Apex kits included parts with different dimensions that actually perform better than factory mass produced stuff. They were finished perfectly, had better springs and better engineering.
Your premise is common: if the factory sells it, it's good to go.
That's not true any more with mass produced items.
Dude Jones
Member
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- Oct 15, 2008
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Have had almost the same experience. Both of my 1.0 9mms had awful triggers. But my 45 shield has a very nice trigger. Its not a 1911 but its every bit as good as the 9mms with Apex kits.
noro
Member
CB3
Perhaps I worded that wrong in that the aftermarket is providing
solutions to problems which don't exist. Yes, you're right in that
S&W improved the product in response to problems in the field.
So there was a problem and it was resolved.
Maybe its the 'old school" mentality, or maybe I'm cheap, but
I just can't justify a 160 trigger package, and 75 installation fee
to improve a 600 pistol.
If the owner is that displeased with the stock package, then why not trade it on and find another pistol that suits his needs?
JMHO S&W makes a great product, and stands behind it. 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.
Perhaps I worded that wrong in that the aftermarket is providing
solutions to problems which don't exist. Yes, you're right in that
S&W improved the product in response to problems in the field.
So there was a problem and it was resolved.
Maybe its the 'old school" mentality, or maybe I'm cheap, but
I just can't justify a 160 trigger package, and 75 installation fee
to improve a 600 pistol.
If the owner is that displeased with the stock package, then why not trade it on and find another pistol that suits his needs?
JMHO S&W makes a great product, and stands behind it. 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.
