What trigger pull weight are you getting on your APEX Flat Faced FSS Trigger install?

[TruckinThumper]

LOL, sorry could not resist.

I will see if the club has a meter and report back with my kit due in Thursday.

 

[Bkreutz]

What various surfaces did you polish?

Any place where there is metal to metal contact. Easy way to figure this out is to disassemble the pistol completely, coat all the metal surfaces with Dy Chem dye, reassemble and shoot a hundred rounds through it. Take it apart and any place where the Dy Chem has rubbed off needs to be polished. Seems like a lot of work, but if you want the same results as me, it's what has to be done. This is standard practice on any performance machine in many different disciplines. My background is auto racing so I brought this technique with me when I retired and started shooting.

 

[clarkz71]

For those without Dy Chem laying around..................

A black sharpie works just as well
Clean off all surfaces with alcohol or similar then use the
sharpie to color any surface you want to smooth out

Re assemble the pistol and dry fire several times
Take it apart and you'll see the wear points.

 

[clarkz71]

Finally changed back to the stock trigger spring. Here's the before and after:

Pro series 9L before 4lbs-5.4oz, after 3lbs-11oz

These are 5 pull averages

I got the same exact pull weight on my Pro C.O.R.E trigger
after replacing the silver Apex spring with stock S&W.

3 lbs 11 oz several times but all pulls are under 4.0 pounds

 

[Bkreutz]

For those without Dy Chem laying around..................

A black sharpie works just as well
Clean off all surfaces with alcohol or similar then use the
sharpie to color any surface you want to smooth out

Re assemble the pistol and dry fire several times
Take it apart and you'll see the wear points.

I find that Sharpies don't work as well as Dykem. Yes, I have bottles of this lying around the shop (multiple colors). But given that you can buy a 4 oz bottle from Amazon for less than $10 and it will probably last 20 years or more. It's pretty cheap. [ame="https://www.amazon.com/Dykem-80300-Steel-Layout-Brush/dp/B0018ACR6G"]Amazon.com: Dykem 80300 Steel Blue Layout Fluid, Brush-in-Cap (4oz): Industrial & Scientific[/ame]

 

[TruckinThumper]

Got my Apex installed last night, and the Ameriglo iDots this AM.

Totally different pistol than it was last week.

Trigger pull is 4 lbs 1 oz. I am VERY happy with it.
My CORE ( OEM trigger) is 6.8x.

Guess what I am buying this week. LOL.

 

[fullmetal1911]

Just put the flat FSS in my 5" 9mm CORE, 4 lbs 1.6oz average over 10 trigger pulls. I'm extremely impressed. This is, however, the only pistol I will be putting this trigger in. My M&P9C has a performance center sear and I set aside my CORE's performance center sear to go into the 4.25" full size I plan on buying soon. I love the PC sear, perfect for a SD/HD type pistol, but the CORE's only purpose for me is putting extremely small ragged holes in paper.

 

[clarkz71]

I have 2 PC sears from the two 5" Pro's I have.

If anyone wants to buy one of them, PM me.

I'm only keeping one, as I would only sell possibly the non CORE Pro..
The CORE I will never sell.

 

[CB3]

I received a green and a silver trigger return spring with my Apex Flat Faced FSS & trigger kit. Installed the silver spring hoping for ~4.5# trigger pull. I'm getting ~3.2# with a slow return/reset.

Will the green spring increase my trigger pull? Can't find an Apex comment on it. If there is a link wherein Apex describes the effects of the trigger springs, I'd appreciate getting it.

Thanks.

 

[clarkz71]

Will the green spring increase my trigger pull? Can't find an Apex comment on it. If there is a link wherein Apex describes the effects of the trigger springs, I'd appreciate getting it.

Thanks.

Yes, the green spring is approx. 1.0 lb heavier then silver spring.

 

[CB3]

Thanks.

I installed it and now have an a 3# 12 oz. pull. Still a little lighter than I would like for my carry gun.

I also need to adjust the trigger bar sear loop as the trigger activation and reset are too far forward.

I'll wait for the opening bell west coast time and give Apex a call. I was hoping to get it resolved on my own last nite so I could go shooting this morning.

I would really appreciate some written documentation on their website for these final, critical adjustments.

 

[clarkz71]

Thanks.

I installed it and now have an a 3# 12 oz. pull. Still a little lighter than I would like for my carry gun.

I also need to adjust the trigger bar sear loop as the trigger activation and reset are too far forward.

I'll wait for the opening bell west coast time and give Apex a call. I was hoping to get it resolved on my own last nite so I could go shooting this morning.

I would really appreciate some written documentation on their website for these final, critical adjustments.

That doesn't sound right, do you have the stock striker spring?

What gauge are you using to check pull?

I'll post the Apex info in a second for you.

 

[clarkz71]

Apex FSS information

What It Does
Dropping this kit into your Smith & Wesson M&P will set the trigger break point farther forward than the factory trigger assembly, as well as significantly reduce the uptake and over travel. It produces a trigger pull very similar to that of a 1911 but in a polymer frame striker-fired pistol. The Forward Set Trigger body is machined from aircraft-grade aluminum and black hard anodized to last a lifetime. The smooth faced trigger comes assembled with a center pivoting safety. The Forward Set Sear & Trigger Kit boasts a smooth trigger pull throughout the break.

The kit comes with two (2) trigger return springs; one designed to produce approximately
a 4.0 lbs trigger pull (silver spring), and one to produce a 5.0 lbs trigger pull (green spring).
These two options give the end user the ability to customize their trigger pull for their specific needs.

 

[CB3]

That doesn't sound right, do you have the stock striker spring?

What gauge are you using to check pull?

Apex striker block & spring; Apex FSS & spring; Apex FF trigger with green spring.

Lyman digital gauge. 5 pull average.

All metal contact parts are polished, especially the trigger bar and striker block channel.

Apex told me the expected pull weight is around 4#, so 3.75# was acceptable to them.

I have been adjusting the trigger bar loop to get the correct take up, break, over travel and reset. Starting to feel right, but light. Apex said to move the loop only 3-5 thou at a time. That is time consuming and patience testing, but I'm getting there.

One comment from Apex was this trigger has better leverage pulling from the bottom so it feels even lighter than it measures, especially with polished parts. Yep.

This is intended to be a carry gun. I'm probably going to try to adjust for as much take up as I can, although I know there is not supposed to be much. That also helps with a more tactile reset. Doing this will quickly run out of enough trigger stroke to drop the sear far enough. Balance. Timing.

 

[clarkz71]

The polishing explains a lot. Nice work based on the pull

My carry M&P9 FS with the FSS is 4½ pounds exactly with silver spring
with the kit dropped in. Zero polishing.

I too have the Lyman digital.

 

[CB3]

Update on FF trigger pull weight

After adjusting my trigger bar loop to get my FF trigger to dry fire every time, with the green spring at just under 4 lbs., I finally took the unfired gun to the range.

My first three shots went off pretty well, however, out of the next five I had three light strikes. I took the gun home and closed the loop about .003" twice, and the trigger seemed to perform better in dry fire. Basically, this adjustment put in a little more pre-travel and allowed the trigger bar to move the striker block more out of the way so the striker would not drag on the block when the sear let loose a little later (timing).

However, now the trigger felt heavier. Measured it was almost 5# with the green spring. Actually shooting it may have forced some tension adjustments, or the parts just settled.

I replaced the green spring with the silver spring and now have a reliable (250 rounds with no failures) very good 4.2# trigger--just what I wanted.

I shot from a rest today with Lawman commercial brass FMJ 9mm 115 grn. at 7 yards. One hole about the size of a quarter for 10 shots. I shot a tighter group with my Barnes carry ammo, but only 6 rounds. The gun works and shoots fine. Thanks S&W and Apex. I know what the gun will do. Good confidence.

Now to train and elevate my skills closer to the capabilities of the gun. I'm looking at mounting a red dot and suppressor height sights.

 

[clarkz71]

5 pounds with green spring is correct if you have the stock striker spring.
The silver is 4.1/2 and stock trigger spring 3.5 to 4.0 lbs

 

[Rett Skutt]

After adjusting my trigger bar loop to get my FF trigger to dry fire every time, with the green spring at just under 4 lbs., I finally took the unfired gun to the range.

My first three shots went off pretty well, however, out of the next five I had three light strikes. I took the gun home and closed the loop about .003" twice, and the trigger seemed to perform better in dry fire. Basically, this adjustment put in a little more pre-travel and allowed the trigger bar to move the striker block more out of the way so the striker would not drag on the block when the sear let loose a little later (timing).

However, now the trigger felt heavier. Measured it was almost 5# with the green spring. Actually shooting it may have forced some tension adjustments, or the parts just settled.

I replaced the green spring with the silver spring and now have a reliable (250 rounds with no failures) very good 4.2# trigger--just what I wanted.

I shot from a rest today with Lawman commercial brass FMJ 9mm 115 grn. at 7 yards. One hole about the size of a quarter for 10 shots. I shot a tighter group with my Barnes carry ammo, but only 6 rounds. The gun works and shoots fine. Thanks S&W and Apex. I know what the gun will do. Good confidence.

Now to train and elevate my skills closer to the capabilities of the gun. I'm looking at mounting a red dot and suppressor height sights.

Just thought I'd add my findings. With my 9mm Pro stock pull was just under 7lbs. 6lb 14oz average with 5 test pulls and around 200 rounds down range.

I did not adjust the trigger arm, or polish any metal to metal parts. I just installed the Apex Polymer Forward Set Sear and Trigger Kit #100-024. Initially installed the Green spring. The pull weight drop to just under 6lbs. 5 test pulls averaged 5lb 13oz. Shot 100 rounds down range, but thought the pull was still too heavy for me.
Installed the Silver spring, and as others have stated pull dropped to 4lb 3oz average. Much better!

Saved my money and picked up a Flat Faced Alum trigger to replace the Curved Polymer trigger. Without any other changes, trigger dropped to 3lb 15oz on average of 5 pulls. I'm going to leave it there for now.

According to Wendy at Apex, the trigger pull weight will reduce maybe another half pound or so, after some break-in. I'll post back here after some more range time. Cold here in Michigan right now though.

So far I'm loving the Apex trigger improvements. I do not use the Pro for EDC, so a 3lb to 4lb trigger is great for having fun with and home defense. My son-in-law and long time shooting buddy really like the trigger and accuracy of the gun.

Take care all, and shoot straight!

 

[CBerger02]

I just installed a flat trigger and fss with the silver spring on my pro core 5" today and I am getting around 5lb 5-10oz pulls. Very disappointed. Any ideas why this may be happening?

 

[Flash_80]

Did you try it with the stock trigger return spring? That has been known to give the lightest pull results. I have the curved polymer trigger FSS in my 40FS. Pull at 3lbs. just about every time. I also polished the hole that the striker block rides in when I installed everything, also polished the trigger bar surfaces as well. Of course I did that before I ever got the FSS kit when I was trying everything to get rid of the stock 7lb pull.