Which Apex kit to get

[shooter48]

I need a little help in deciding which Apex kit to install in my Shield. My choices are the shield carry kit or the carry kit with the Enhancement trigger. What do you guy's think? Is the trigger really needed? This will be my carry gun..

 

[Ranger17]

OP, have you spent much time shooting your Shield yet; to discover how you do with the stock set up before making any modifications? If so, how it feels to you now may give you something to compare to, in what you'd want/expect out of a changed trigger assembly.

I'm one who hasnt modded either of my MP's yet (compact and FS 9's); figuring i want to gain general proficiency first before making any changes to them. Not saying a trigger cant make a model better, but for me it just would be down the road.

Seems though on the Shield, owners have stated the stock trigger is different/potentially better than the FS/compact versions so an immediate change may not be something you'd need to do?

 

[shooter48]

OP, have you spent much time shooting your Shield yet; to discover how you do with the stock set up before making any modifications? If so, how it feels to you now may give you something to compare to, in what you'd want/expect out of a changed trigger assembly.

I'm one who hasnt modded either of my MP's yet (compact and FS 9's); figuring i want to gain general proficiency first before making any changes to them. Not saying a trigger cant make a model better, but for me it just would be down the road.

Seems though on the Shield, owners have stated the stock trigger is different/potentially better than the FS/compact versions so an immediate change may not be something you'd need to do?

My shield's trigger is good except for the poundage. It's about 8 lbs. Not used to a trigger of that weight. I seem to pull right because of the force needed to make it go off.

 

[Elliot45]

shooter48, I would shoot the Shield for awhile before shelling out for an Apex kit. My first M&P was the 9mm Pro. Frankly the trigger that came in it wasn't as good as the trigger that came in my second M&P purchase, the Shield, so I replaced it with the Apex FSS kit. However, for a CCW gun I like the trigger in the Shield just fine and the more I shoot it, the better it gets. I don't expect it to become a 4 lb. trigger like the Apex in my Pro but for self defense I think it just right. So unless you really want to spend the money, I would be patient and then make your decision to go or not go with an Apex trigger. Also, if you don't change your trigger, you won't have to worry about legal consequences if you shoot someone and it's discovered that you have a light trigger. Regards, Elliot45

 

[257wby]

I'm going to go against the grain. I really like the Apex trigger. I prefer the feel of it over factory.

 

[shooter48]

I'm going to go against the grain. I really like the Apex trigger. I prefer the feel of it over factory.

Do you have the full Apex kit in your carry gun?

 

[Bill G77]

Apex replacement hard sear (same sear as in carry/duty trigger kit) only installed in my 9mm Shield, no springs or anything else, perfect CCW trigger now. The Apex sear changes the trigger from a hard or stiff 7 lb trigger pull with a break simular to a glass rod breaking to a consistent 5 1/8 to 5 1/4 lb pull with a much smoother crisp break while maintaining a great short trigger reset.

The Apex hard sear is a drop in item takes and it takes about 10 minutes to install.

The .45 & Shield sear are the same and it runs about $41.00. The sear for the regular M&P 9mm & 40 models is different.

I am very happy with the outcome of this install on my 9mm Shield. I did not install this sear to lighten the trigger. I installed it to tame the factory's hard break and stiffness ( like a glass rod breaking) to make the pistol more accurate and manageable when shooting. Also this allowed me to maintain a safe and functional CCW trigger on the Shield very similar to my stock Glock pistols 5 1/4 to 5 1/2 lb triggers in function feel and reset.

The 9mm shield is a very acurate little pistol at self defense ranges.

Shoot Safe All,
Bill G77

 

[257wby]

Do you have the full Apex kit in your carry gun?

Yes I have the full kit in my shield and the competition kit in my full-size.

 

[Roccaas]

Do you have the full Apex kit in your carry gun?

As do I. I'm much safer with this system than the stock as it helps me shoot more effectively (targets).

Like putting better tires on your car when the OEM's go bald. Better stopping, better chance NOT to run into someone.

 

[shooter48]

I talked with Apex about their duty action Enhancement kit with the trigger. They said there are allot of swat teams, FBI people and local police who use this kit all around the country. Hearing this made me more at ease to use this upgrade.

He also said if the trigger poundage is to lite for me they would send a stronger trigger return spring. Something to think about now.....

I installed this kit in my FS .40 and I do like it. But wasn't sure about in my carry piece.

 

[mdpilot]

Has anyone installed or had installed the Apex USB (ultimate striker block) with the trigger components? It says you have to remove the rear sight and I wondered if it was really necessary.

 

[shooter48]

Yes it is necessary to change out the striker block.

 

[Bkreutz]

Yes it is necessary to change out the striker block.

Unless you have a CORE, then you don't.

 

[ultratec00]

I recently picked up a Shield 9mm. Trigger was fair, but not on par with my other Apexed M&Ps. Ended up installing the carry kit w/ trigger. World of difference.

 

[AGoyette]

Shooter48,
I have Apex parts in all my M&P guns (rifles too) with the exception of my 15-22 AR. I love how all my guns feel with the Apex parts in. With that being said, I do agree with the first reply that said that you should get used to your stock trigger before you change it.
My first gun I modified was my M&P 9c. I put about 500 rounds through it, and was quite good with it, before I changed it. I changed it because I wanted a lighter trigger pull. I am used to shooting competition 1911's and I hated how the trigger felt on the 9c. So I installed the Apex duty carry kit in it. After that was installed and I had shot it awhile, I decided that I did not like the physically feel of the stock trigger. I then changed it to the Apex polymer trigger. The darling husband (a die hard 1911 guy) liked how my 9c felt so much, he bought one and had me put the same parts in his. BTW, these guns were purchased to be carry guns.
Then I wanted a 5" Pro. I got it, and put the FSS kit in. Again, being the copy cat that he is, the darling husband did the same thing. He then one upped me and bought a C.O.R.E. which I put the FSS kit in and he put a Burris Fastfire III on and a compensated barrel in, and he is loving it.
My real AR (the VTAC II) I put an Apex compensator, that I picked up at the NRA show in Nashville, on it. It turned a very soft shooting rifle into a softer shooter.

 

[PirateJim]

After 500-600 rounds, my Shield trigger was really pretty good and made me unhappy with the trigger in my Pro Series, so I installed the Duty Cary kit and polymer trigger in it. Now I was really happy with my Pro's trigger (after going back and replacing the Apex trigger spring with the stock spring to lighten the pull a bit) but all of a sudden my Shield's trigger wasn't feeling so good any more. I put the Duty Carry Kit in the Shield, sans the replacement trigger, and am very happy with the results. So... I don't think it is necessary to change out the S&W trigger, but the Duty Carry Kit made a very noticeable improvement for me.

 

[shooter48]

I went ahead and ordered the duty carry kit with the apex trigger. Apex had a labor day special ..
Free shipping..so I couldn't resist LOL....