Why Do Some People Hate The Stock Trigger of The M&Ps?

[Ralffers]

I see a lot of people replacing their stock triggers with an Apex. I'm not a big fan of altering guns and putting stuff that's not from the manufacturer on them as I'm afraid they will fail, nevertheless, I am wondering what exactly is wrong with the stock trigger on these guns? Is it too heavy? Too light? What?

I personally do not like a "light, sensitive" trigger because that can be a problem. I like my trigger to be not too heavy, not too light and I think the trigger on the M&P 45 is just fine. I haven't tried an Apex so I don't know what the difference is but if you guys can please explain the differences and why you prefer the Apex over the stock that would be awesome so I can understand a bit more. Thanks.

I for one really like the trigger on my M&P .40 Granted, I bought it a month ago and only put 150 rounds through it, but I really like the trigger. Note: on my second trip to the range, my friend rented a Glock 9mm (I forget the exact model, but I think it was a Glock 17), and as good as I hear that Glock triggers are (which it was), I actually prefer my M&P's trigger.

Will be buying an H&K VP9 in a few weeks, so I'll have something to compare to. Even still, I think I'll always like and be fond of my M&P, especially since it's my first gun.

 

[bmcgilvray]

Being an old geezer, I'm too wedded to the excellent triggers on my 1911 guns to appreciate any DAO type of trigger of any sort. I loathe all of 'em.

 

[attrapereves]

The stock M&P trigger doesn't bother me. However, I dislike how each pistol is different. My 9FS has a definite click in the reset, however, the 45c does not have any click, yet they were produced around the same time. Basically, each one of my M&Ps has a different feel.

I enjoy my M&Ps, but I can't seem to shoot them as well as my Glocks. I attribute this to the trigger. It's not worth it to me to install APEX triggers. All of my Glock triggers are the same (even among different years of manufacture), which is a good thing.

 

[roadcykler]

OP - I think a good portion of the "Hate the stock trigger" crowd hates them because they've read on the interwebs that M&P's have a crappy trigger. So, if the interwebs say that it must be fact!

My M&P40, 40c & Shield 40 all have stock triggers.

I think this is the case for quite a few people. Personally I don't notice any problems with the trigger on my .40 Shield but if I replaced the trigger then I might like that better. But I have no plans to do that.

 

[Well Armed]

OP - I think a good portion of the "Hate the stock trigger" crowd hates them because they've read on the interwebs that M&P's have a crappy trigger. So, if the interwebs say that it must be fact!

My M&P40, 40c & Shield 40 all have stock triggers.

This... Hit the nail on the head. If you do not have a Massachusetts compliant pistol, I don't really see a reason in messing with the trigger other than maybe for competition purposes...

Another reason people want to switch out the trigger is just because they feel the need to customize/change something. Even if S&W secretly started installing the Apex trigger in the factory, so people would still feel the need to buy an aftermarket trigger.

To those that don't like safeties on M&P's because it's not like a Glock and/or the trigger pull on M&P's because you're use to the Glock trigger and/or the reset because it's not like Glocks, so on and so forth, why in the hell didn't you just buy a Glock in the first place?

 

[Llando88]

I bought mine (9FS sku 209301) new in Nov '13.

Out of the box, the trigger felt like it was drawing over a sheet of sandpaper. The pull was 7 to 8 lbs. There was a lot of movement of the barrel at the break.

After shooting it that way for a few hundred rounds, I had the DCAEK by Apex installed.

The reprofiled Apex striker block and sear smoothed out the pull and removed the grittiness, resulting in a 5.6 lb pull. I have 2,300+ rounds through the gun so far.

It is a pretty dramatic change. The OEM trigger is not bad. The Apex parts just make the gun much more comfortable to shoot, so I enjoy it more.

For me, thats a no brainer.

 

[Gunhacker]

To those that don't like safeties on M&P's because it's not like a Glock and/or the trigger pull on M&P's because you're use to the Glock trigger and/or the reset because it's not like Glocks, so on and so forth, why in the hell didn't you just buy a Glock in the first place?

Because other than the trigger, everything else on an M&P is better than a Glock... nothing wrong with some "tuning" is there?

 

[hardluk1]

WE only have 2 m&p's One is a compact 9mm , the other a 4.25 core . The trigger on the core was light enough but gritty like no trigger should be , the compact was both heavier and grittier than any defense pistol we own and . Both got a apex striker block change and the compact hand some springs changed to get it at or below 5lbs. Beyond that the trigger does "grit " if pulled any way but straight back. Any side pressure and they again have the grind away feel but at least it teaches you to make a squared up straight back pull for a nice functional trigger pull .

All I can say is if your comfortable with the triggers as most m&p trigger come , or should I say after 1000 rounds to break it in as some say they do to wear it in then your happy as a pig in poo and need nothing more. Personally ,I don't need a lite trigger pull on a defensive pistol but I do like a smooth trigger as it comes from the box but at least thanks to apex you don't have to shoot one enough to smooth the trigger. I have double action revolvers with better , smoother and lighter pull than the m&p compact when my wife brought it home brand new.

I still use the stock triggers but s&w could have made the over all package better for sure. Most companies make lawyer proof trigger now.

 

[MyDads38]

I've shot Smith and Wesson revolvers mostly double action since the early 1970's. There is nothing wrong with the M&P trigger.

When I want a well defined break and short reset I shoot a 1911.

I agree with this, I too, grew up shooting double action S&W revolvers and I've also owned several 1911's over the years.

Until August 2014, I had never owned a poly framed gun of any kind. My first was an SD9VE, then my M&P 45 and I have an M&P 9mm in layaway. I have put twice as many rounds through the SD as I have the M&P; and I still shoot it a touch better. Neither of these guns shoot the same as my Ruger SR1911 and never will, IMO. 2 different types of guns, 2 different types of actions, 2 different types of trigger assemblies.

I haven't modded either of the S&W's and don't plan to. I don't shoot "to re-set" and I don't plan to. I don't shoot competition, but IDPA looks very interesting to me, so I may give it a try; and if I do, it will be with one of my stock handguns.

If my guns had a horrible trigger, I would opt to find a way to improve it, I'm sure. If it had a 10.5 lb. pull, I'm sure I would!

 

[scorbing]

WE only have 2 m&p's One is a compact 9mm , the other a 4.25 core . The trigger on the core was light enough but gritty like no trigger should be , the compact was both heavier and grittier than any defense pistol we own and . Both got a apex striker block change and the compact hand some springs changed to get it at or below 5lbs. Beyond that the trigger does "grit " if pulled any way but straight back. Any side pressure and they again have the grind away feel but at least it teaches you to make a squared up straight back pull for a nice functional trigger pull .

All I can say is if your comfortable with the triggers as most m&p trigger come , or should I say after 1000 rounds to break it in as some say they do to wear it in then your happy as a pig in poo and need nothing more. Personally ,I don't need a lite trigger pull on a defensive pistol but I do like a smooth trigger as it comes from the box but at least thanks to apex you don't have to shoot one enough to smooth the trigger. I have double action revolvers with better , smoother and lighter pull than the m&p compact when my wife brought it home brand new.

I still use the stock triggers but s&w could have made the over all package better for sure. Most companies make lawyer proof trigger now.

True but think about it. There must be a reason why they made the trigger like they did. The military and the police use these guns and they don't have the resources to replace the S&W triggers with Apex triggers. That would be too expensive to do and they simply don't have the time for that and if the military can use these weapons effectively and shoot them without problems, why can't us regular people do the same? All it takes is practice, practice, practice. If the trigger was so bad, the armed forces and the police would not be using them.

 

[shakyshoot]

The stock trigger on my Shield is great. After almost 2k rounds, it's very smooth and a 5 lb 12 oz pull. I have very limited experience with the other M&P's but I have shot a FS 9mm, a compact .40, and a FS .22. Can't say i liked the trigger at all on any of those. But they were rental guns, so who knows how they've been treated.

 

[AGoyette]

I put Apex parts in my guns for a couple of reasons.. On my 9c's (carry guns) I put the DCAEK kits in them. I first shot about 700 rounds through them. I wanted a lighter, smoother trigger, but not too light. I wanted a trigger around 4 lbs. I later added the polymer trigger since I did not like the actual feel of the stock trigger. On my competition guns, I put the FSS kits in them. They have about a 2.5-3 lbs. trigger pull. Next to zero pre travel and very little over travel.

 

[caferacer]

To those that don't like safeties on M&P's because it's not like a Glock and/or the trigger pull on M&P's because you're use to the Glock trigger and/or the reset because it's not like Glocks, so on and so forth, why in the hell didn't you just buy a Glock in the first place?

Because Glock doesn't make a single stack 9mm.

 

[shlike]

OP - I think a good portion of the "Hate the stock trigger" crowd hates them because they've read on the interwebs that M&P's have a crappy trigger. So, if the interwebs say that it must be fact!

My M&P40, 40c & Shield 40 all have stock triggers.

+1. What he said.

 

[RobzGuns]

Another reason people want to switch out the trigger is just because they feel the need to customize/change something.

This is very evident from the number of people who post something along the line of 'I just ordered my M&P [fill-in-the-model], along with an Apex Kit.'. If they haven't even tried their new (on order) pistol, they don't even know (yet) how good, or bad, their new pistol will feel. Many in this group are obviously needing to tinker (or brag that they 'can'). This is not confined to just M&Ps though. I read the same thing on the XD Forums too.

Of course... Some simply judge every pistol against a 1911. Why do they think a factory striker fire trigger system (or DAO system for that matter) should feel like a SA system?

To those that don't like safeties on M&P's because it's not like a Glock and/or the trigger pull on M&P's because you're use to the Glock trigger and/or the reset because it's not like Glocks, so on and so forth, why in the hell didn't you just buy a Glock in the first place?

I never bought an M&P FS or C because of their terrible factory triggers. I bought other brands. The Shield's factory trigger is the only M&P trigger that felt good.
Like Caferacer wrote... If Glock had a Single-Stack Subcompact 9mm/.40 in the race, I probably never would have given the Shield a try back in '12. If/When Glock does introduce a Single-Stack 9/40, I'll probably get one (once the 'feeding frenzy' lets up )

 

[fdw]

I have 3 M&Ps, 9FS, 9C and a 40. I installed the kit on the 9 which made it much better.

The 40 was a police trade in and well broken in and the 9C is just fine too. I think it just depends.... I didn't really hate the FS trigger, but the APEX is a rather large improvement.

 

[DocSunShine]

Heavy pull, crunchy take up, mushy break, false or non existent reset, long reset, long take up.... Apex makes MAGIC triggers, S&W should seriously consider using Apex triggers as the stock M&P trigger.

 

[gunfighter48]

I bought a 9mm Shield in Sept. and it had the safety. All my SD guns for the last 15 years have been 45ACP 1911 Commander size guns with 4lb trigger pulls. The Shield had a 81/2lb trigger pull. With a safety there was no reason for the 81/2 lb trigger pull. So I did the full Apex install including their trigger. I now have a 41/2 lb trigger pull. There's less take up, less over travel, shorter reset, and no grittiness. What's not to like. The manual of arms is basically the same as my 1911s. It's very accurate to boot!! It's my first plastic fantastic and I really like it. Less weight helps my back when it's sore and I can't pack my 1911s!

 

[hardluk1]

scorbing YOU did not pay attention that I said I still have the STOCK triggers. Just some other trigger group parts as in springs and one has a striker block changed because I can and don't all aspects of the trigger group. If I could not I would not have bought a M&P .

The police buy m&p because s&w makes attractive deals some departments can't refuse , Like glock does. And some department are getting out of m&p and changing to others for some given reasons too. Ask them if YOU want to know. If YOU like your s as it came and thinks its all that ! Good for you . I think many brands of firearms in gerenal could have better triggers group function . For me a trigger pull doesn't need to be lite but they should be smooth. M&P's are not smooth.

Besides , With most law enforcement departments since you brought them up tend to use heavier that stock trigger to help with controlling the trigger during high stress moments as a 10lb trigger is standard in some larger departments and some states. SO are you now going to jack up the pull weight of yours to match what NYCP or even the state of mass-e-chose-iss makes there citizens use ?

 

[keithherrington]

As with several other posters I'm on the oldish side and grew up with S&W revolvers and good 1911s. Carried them and shot them in competition. After 40 years of this you sort of develop a bias for what a gun should feel like. Every M&P I've bought new (now 4 of them) has had a gritty trigger, something no trigger should have. Period. My solution is to send them all to the Performance Center for their M&P action job ($110 + shipping)where they install their Pro parts and clean up the rough edges. In each case what I've gotten back is a very smooth predictable trigger, only a bit lighter than stock, that stacks nicely just prior to striker release. Each is very easy to shoot accurately and is still 100% Smith and Wesson. Like some others here I could care less about "tactile reset". Never had that on a DA revolver so why worry about it on my M&P, and frankly never paid attention to it on any of my 1911s either. Bottom line: better triggers = better shooting, and that after all is the entire point. If the trigger some of you get meets all your requirements then good for you, but I'd love to take some of you for a blind test and see which you shoot better, a good trigger or a crappy one.

Keith