Seeking Opinions onApex Trigger kit for Shield

rojasj

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I'm really thinking about ordering the Apex trigger kit for my 9mm Shield but I keep hesitating as I am wondering just how much of an improvement the trigger kit will provide over the stock trigger. Does the Apex trigger kit make a big improvement on the trigger pull and break or is it somewhat marginal ?

I understand that is a subjective subject but before I drop the money on the trigger kit I'd like to get a feel for how much better it will be. For example does the Apex trigger kit make the M&P's trigger as good as the new version Ruger LC9s?
 
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I installed the Apex sear and Apex USB in my Shield 9mm. The pull went from >7 pounds to a little over 5 pounds. The trigger no longer felt gritty and reset improved too.

While the slide was apart I also removed the burr and machine marks inside of the hole where the striker block rides. That made the take up really smooth.

I have only dry fired a LC9S Pro to check the trigger but yes, my Shield feels as good as the LC9S Pro.

*As a side note, my Shield 45 trigger didn't require any mods. It feels great and has a 5 pound pull straight out of the box.
 
Does this mod void the lifetime warranty? I recall when I got my SD40VE, the trigger sucked. Some were able to send back to S&W and get it smoothed out under warranty while others took to gunsmith or even DIY but someone then said that anybody other than S&W would void the warranty. S&W quit allowing this fix under warranty.
 
Does this mod void the lifetime warranty? I recall when I got my SD40VE, the trigger sucked. Some were able to send back to S&W and get it smoothed out under warranty while others took to gunsmith or even DIY but someone then said that anybody other than S&W would void the warranty. S&W quit allowing this fix under warranty.
If you were to have to send the gun back to S&W for any warranty work, you would have to remove any non factory parts. GARY
 
Consider The Pistol's Intent

I'm really thinking about ordering the Apex trigger kit for my 9mm Shield but I keep hesitating as I am wondering just how much of an improvement the trigger kit will provide over the stock trigger. Does the Apex trigger kit make a big improvement on the trigger pull and break or is it somewhat marginal ?

I understand that is a subjective subject but before I drop the money on the trigger kit I'd like to get a feel for how much better it will be. For example does the Apex trigger kit make the M&P's trigger as good as the new version Ruger LC9s?
Before you try to turn your Shield into a range pistol consider what the Shield is designed for. It a defensive (Garlic breath distance if history is considered) handgun so the design engineers
put a defensive trigger pull on these.
Too many new owners immediately think they need to re-design a pistol.
My wife chose the Ruger LC9s Pro. I feel it's trigger pull is far too light for a defensive pistol.
I've been in these situations. When pulling that trigger you won't notice it if its even a TWENTY POUND PULL when your stress level is high.
Poli Viejo
 
I have two Shields in the house. One for my wife which has the original 6.5 lb trigger. This trigger is fine for everyday carry and shoots great. Second Shield is mine and has Apex trigger installed. Slightly lighter at about 5.5 lb trigger pull. Very smooth pull. Most people wouldn't notice the difference...I do. Is Apex needed? No, absolutely not. If you don't shoot a lot and "get to know" your trigger then don't bother. As far as the "light" trigger for defensive carry I disagree with comment above. This is not really a very light trigger that would pose a danger. If you don't train and practice trigger finger discipline a 10 lb trigger can be dangerous. Just my opinion.
 
I don't think you need to change the original trigger. I've left my shield 9mm just as it came from the factory, and have trained with it enough that it feels great and shoots great. I'm sure you can do the same.
 
I agree with those who saying this is a defensive trigger, and on the light end of the spectrum too, anything lighter would be unnecessary unless it's a range gun and no one wants a 7-8 round range gun, just no fun. I think the trigger is perfect for the intended application.
 
Different strokes for different folks. I like my Apex modded Shields. Night and day difference IMO.
 
I have Apex DCEK in my Shield 9 (all of my M&P pistols have various Apex kits/parts).

There is a definate improvement. Is it a night/day difference? Depends on how good your particular trigger pull is.

My Shield trigger was better out of the box than any of my M&P's. It's better now.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
 
I was going to do the entire Apex trigger job but before getting to it, I smoothed the rough edges on the trigger bar loop where it makes contact with the sear's cam, the sear cam and the tip of the trigger bar which makes contact with the safety plunger. I used 600 grit paper at the tip of a jeweler's screw driver and gently rubbed these contact surfaces then dabbed them with Tetra Gun grease. That alone noticeably reduced the gritty feel. Inspired by that simple buffing job, I removed the striker safety (removal of the rear sight is highly over hyped), buffed it and honed the safety's slide shaft as best as I could. After reassembling the Shield 9, I was totally satisfied with the trigger's smoothness.

I'm OK with the stock trigger pull force so I see no reason to go any further with an Apex trigger install. The entire project took me about one hour and cost nothing.

Unrelated to the trigger project, I have the MagGuts spring, follower and 2+1 extensions in both stock magazines. When I carry the Shield 9, she's got one in the pipe and ten in the magazine. I carry it with Hornady 124 gr XTP's and HP-38. I also have the Hogue slip-on grip which gives the gun a really nice feel.
 
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I have a M&P Shield 9mm and I feel that the stock trigger is damn fine. I also run a Glock 19 Gen4 and I love the stock trigger on that guy too. I think a lot of mods people do are completely unnecessary.
 
Your profile doesn't indicate where you live. Do you conceal carry your Shield? Does your State/County have specific requirements around CCW?

Where I live in CA, there are NO allowed trigger mods. This would void your CCW license.

All I'm suggesting is you check with your local authority.
 
I installed just the Apex sear on my Shield 9mm. Reduced the trigger pull from 6¼ lbs to 4½ lbs. That was almost 2½ years ago and I had only put about 300 rounds through it before that, but I noticed an immediate improvement in accuracy. I was shooting way high and left at 15 yards, but after I installed the sear the POI was right on target.

I know that, with a lot more dry fire and rounds down range, I could have improved without the Apex sear, but I was getting frustrated. The Apex sear was immediate satisfaction and at $35, cost less than 3 boxes of range ammo.
 
Before you try to turn your Shield into a range pistol consider what the Shield is designed for. It a defensive (Garlic breath distance if history is considered) handgun so the design engineers put a defensive trigger pull on these.

It's only, 'garlic breath' if you've been reading all THE WRONG published reports. First, it needs to be determined whether or not the combatant is involved in a CQB pistol AMBUSH, or in a CQB pistol GUNFIGHT. The one is NOT equal to the other!

Current street combat statistics clearly indicate that the old NYPD, and FBI gunfight incident reports were all written in error, and consequently produced incorrect conclusions that far too many IGF board members continue to accept as, 'gospel'. Here's a truism about CQB pistol gunfighting that, someday, just might save your life: (Ready?)

THE CLOSER TWO PISTOL GUNFIGHTERS ARE TO EACH OTHER THE MORE LIKELY IT IS THAT EITHER ONE, OR THE BOTH OF THEM WILL END UP BEING SHOT.

Your best solution? Don't allow a protagonist who's armed with a gun to get too close to you. (Which is the principal reason, 'Why' I've trained with a pistol for the past 15 years at distances of: 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, and 22 yards.)

At and inside Tueller's infamous distance of 7 1/2 yards I don't even use my sights. Here, survival depends more upon speed; and, with sufficient practice, most pistoleros should be able to do quite well by simply pointing the muzzle at the target. Remember, when an opponent is this close to you, and at or inside 7 1/2 yards, speed (hand speed AND draw speed) can make a critical difference!

'Jailhouse interviews' have proven that, AT CLOSE RANGE, pointing the pistol, and firing rapidly can often be more effective than hesitating and taking the time to aim; BUT, the ability to produce accurate hits remains important.


Too many new owners immediately think they need to re-design a pistol. My wife chose the Ruger LC9s Pro. I feel it's trigger pull is far too light for a defensive pistol.

Oh, really! Are you aware of what MOST PEOPLE, who are NOT heavily practiced with a pistol, will do in a CQB pistol confrontation? An inexperienced, or only lightly practiced, right-handed shooter will fire his bullets to the low left-hand side of the target, and will also frequently, 'miss by a mile'.

(Which is a common complaint I hear - especially from female shooters - about early model Ruger LCP's, as well as the reason, 'Why' Sturm-Ruger has so significantly improved on their early LCP triggers.)


I've been in these situations. When pulling that trigger you won't notice it if its even a TWENTY POUND PULL when your stress level is high. Poli Viejo

So have I. More than once, and against more than a single shooter, too. You know what you will notice? THE TARGET not going down in front of you as your pistol goes: Bang! Bang! Bang!

Which continues to be my one greatest fear - NOT being ambushed or caught by surprise, but missing the target instead! The possibility of exactly this sort of event is the principal reason, 'Why' I so very much detest all of these little, 'pacifier pistols'; and would, personally, never carry one as a primary sidearm; but, hey, that's just me!

(Yes, I know small handguns are, 'all the rage' within the self-defense community, right now; but, fortunately for the people who own these little things - and before Hillary Clinton takes them all away - only a very few people will ever have to actually defend their lives with one of these cute little, 'pacifier pistols'. Me? Regardless of caliber I ain't going any smaller than a compact size frame. ) ;)
 
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I've never heard of that trigger work ban in California. Do you have a reference for that?

In Orange County:

218.6.1 LICENSE RESTRICTIONS

c) The alteration of any previously approved firearm including, but not limited to, adjusting the trigger pull or making other modifications that create an unsafe weapon (Penal Code §31910) shall void any license and serve as grounds for revocation.
 
In Orange County:

218.6.1 LICENSE RESTRICTIONS

c) The alteration of any previously approved firearm including, but not limited to, adjusting the trigger pull or making other modifications that create an unsafe weapon (Penal Code §31910) shall void any license and serve as grounds for revocation.

Politicians are idiots. What constitutes an unsafe weapon? All weapons from a ball point pen to a Blu-82B daisy cutter are unsafe. If they weren't unsafe they couldn't be used as a weapon. That's so unconstitutionally vague it's hopeless.

Specifically what they're talking about is don't remove the loaded chamber indicator, manual safety, or the magazine disconnect and modifications can't cause malfunctions. Trigger work properly done doesn't fall into that category.

Link CA Codes (pen:31900-31910)

I keep seeing point shooting coming up in various contexts. The thing you don't generally hear is it takes a lot of practice and most people still can't do it. Unless you have very good human kinetics at anything beyond a few feet you're not going to make critical hits. The further away you are the less likely the average person will be able to do it. If you.re blessed with the natural talent by all means go for it. Otherwise use the sights whenever you can and a laser can really help when you can't.
 
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