Getting blamed for everything....
(It's "Stu". "SMM Associates" is my business. Back in the day, there was an underscore in there, but explaining that got to be interesting while people had little idea. So I squished it....)
Anyway, it
looks like the high-round-count guns are at risk, as well as Compacts (in particular) with the Apex kits. Apparently the stronger spring (or wear on the sear block) can help the sear bounce occur. Add an even stronger spring and a bigger plunger, and that seems to solve it.
Figure ten days round-trip to Apex. At this time it appears that you can't get sear block assemblies with the new parts from anybody, but Apex will do it for about $20 for customers, or about $50 for others, including shipping. Note that the sear block is NOT a firearm, and can be shipped any old way. Eventually we can get new sear blocks from Brownells for $30-ish plus shipping with the upgrade, but they don't seem to have 'em yet. (They do have the old ones. Odd 'cause it seems like a new batch just showed up - I asked them about this about three weeks ago.)
JAS: There's pretty much no difference between the Full Size .40 and the Compact. (The M&P9C also appears to be the same, but I just got one with a thumb safety, and should have done more spelunking in the sear block - it seems a little different.... IAC, the "reports" are the same.)
I think it's safe to buy now.... If you don't get a new one, Apex will fix you up real fast.
Strictly "I read it on the internet", but you can date your gun by looking on the box. On the sticker, below the serial number, is a four-digit number. I'm too lazy to figure out the exact number, but something like "0300" ought to be a new one.... (It's the last digit of the year plus the "day number".) Both of my Compacts date from about the first of April on that basis, and both lack the updated sear block, but oddly the older one - by a few weeks - and the most recent purchase for me - has the newer "stepped" rear sight.
There appears to be no other way to tell without taking the sear block out of the gun and popping the sear out of the block. This may result in flying parts if you have the upgrade
... IAC, the old sear plunger is about the size of a mechanical pencil lead. The new one's about as big as the lead in a #2 wooden pencil. The Apex small spring looks exactly like the original spring, but you can feel the difference if you press down on the sear and compare that with an un-modified gun. The new S&W spring & plunger may be sufficient for many people without changing the spring. (The DCAEK kit now contains an upgraded spring for the updated sear block, too.)
The idea is that you install the sear and firing pin drop safety plunger, and then mix & match the springs for the best feel. Or just install everything....
JAS - your dealer may not be aware of this. They really don't want to be stuck with a gun they can't sell or have to discount, too. Look for the code date (I think that information is accurate) when you buy....
Just between us, IMHO, if you don't put the Apex kit into a gun, you probably won't see this problem without a fairly high round count.
You DO shoot regularly?
You DO have at least one other gun?
(Putting on Pontifical hat, as a Moderator on another firearms-related forum.)
You are hereby
commanded to shoot more, and buy more....
Tell that to your spouse or significant other. Sammy will defend me....
(help)
Regards,
but you wanted to see the new stuff. Thanks for the link...now I just gottas decide between full size or compact. I think full size...
