Is an aftermarket trigger really worth it for S&W M&P 9?

[George Dickel]

I have a full size M&P 9, 2.0 that supposedly has an improved trigger. When I pull the trigger it feels like its dragging through sand and gravel in the first stage and in the second stage it feels like I'm pulling against boulders. I'm quite disgusted with this pistol as I had to send it back to Smith right out of the box as it wouldn't chamber a round. I had a first gen Shield that had a decent trigger and functioned flawlessly which pushed me towards the M&P 9.
I've read a bit about the Apex trigger, is is any good and is it worth the money? I don't want to buy another trigger if it only feels like I'm dragging through gritty sand in both stages. If that is what I can expect I will sell the pistol.

I just replaced the factory sights with an adjustable rear sight as it shot 10 inches high and about 6 inches left. Even with the adjustable sight at it's lowest setting I'm still shooting about 3 inches high and this is from a rest. Is this thing a lemon or is this typical for this model?

 

[sevt_chevelle]

Put an apex in my 1st gen shield...worth it.

Just put an apex in my 1st gen M&P not worth it, even added the upgraded trigger bar and slide stop for an additional 50 bucks.

Reset was nonexistent, you had no idea where it was, trigger needed to be let all the way out.

following the apex chart and installed parts I should have gotten a 4.5 lb trigger...awesome. I got a 1.5ish trigger.
With the heaviest springs am sitting at around 3.75.

After playing around with parts, if you have the 1st gen mp, just get the "H" trigger bar and upgraded slide stop with the bump behind the release, that bump puts pressure on the trigger bar providing a more defined reset.

 

[mgmorden]

Yes, trigger is worth it.

As to sights - you mentioned that you replaced only the rear. Typically when you add an adjustable sight to a gun you usually need to switch to a taller front sight because the adjustment mechanisms typically take up room and need a taller front sight to have optimal adjustment range.

Dawson Precision makes a variety of different sight heights for the M&P, and there's online calculators you can use to figure out exactly what height you need.

Other factors: what bullet weight are you shooting, and at what range? Heavier bullets tend to hit higher (counter-intuitive, but they do), so if you're shooting something heavier that could have some bearing (though I doubt 3" worth).

 

[jmr40]

On the original M&P the difference is dramatic. On the 2.0 I find the factory trigger acceptable, but it could be better. Something is wrong with your gun if it is that bad.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've read a bit about the Apex trigger, is is any good and is it worth the money?

I started with an original M&P9 and the trigger felt a lot like you've described...my understanding was that the 2.0 versions were supposed to be better.

I added the Apex Tactical Competition set, with FSS, to my M&P9 and it made the trigger a thing of beauty...very close to a nice 1911...with just enough feel before the break to allow prepping the trigger correctly.

Don't try to just add "parts" of the kit and expect improvement. Decide which kit meets your needs and get the whole kit...well worth the money spent

I just replaced the factory sights with an adjustable rear sight as it shot 10 inches high and about 6 inches left. Even with the adjustable sight at it's lowest setting I'm still shooting about 3 inches high and this is from a rest

If the pistol is grouping tightly and just high, I would suspect that you need a higher front sight. Did you replace the sights as a set or just the rear sight?

 

[Skylerbone]

Much of the crunch I felt in my original M&Ps was from the Striker Block. I was a fairly early adopter of APEX parts; bought the Ultimate Striker Block and original Hard Sear. The block was easy enough to mimic with a nail inserted into the base and a Dremel to remove the squared edges. Might be all you need but I’d like to revisit APEX upgrades and further enhance what I have.

I did also polish the trigger bar surfaces while I was at it.


Original and polished Striker Blocks.

 

[George Dickel]

I did replace the front sight, it was a set with both front and rear. I shot 115 gr and 124 gr bullets and both shoot high. I may have gotten a lemon. I bought the gun new and it wouldn't chamber a round, the extractor wouldn't slip over the rim of the bullet. Took it apart and the extractor was locked up tight, no movement at all. As I said Smith fixed and returned it quickly so I can't fault the service department. I liked my first gen Shield a lot and it worked flawlessly so I expected the much more expensive 2.0 version of the M&P 9 to be as good or better. Gifted the Shield to my Grandson and he loves it. I'll give the Apex a try and report back on it.

 

[kcofohio]

Much of the crunch I felt in my original M&Ps was from the Striker Block. I was a fairly early adopter of APEX parts; bought the Ultimate Striker Block and original Hard Sear. The block was easy enough to mimic with a nail inserted into the base and a Dremel to remove the squared edges. Might be all you need but I’d like to revisit APEX upgrades and further enhance what I have.

I did also polish the trigger bar surfaces while I was at it.


Original and polished Striker Blocks.
View attachment 1021057

The striker blocker is a big part of the M&Ps problem with the 1st generation. The blocker is too blunt in my opinion. I'm not familiar with the 2.0.

@George Dickel, have you dry-fired paying close attention to the muzzle end. When the striker releases, do you see the front jump a slight bit?

 

[peeplwtchr]

I have a full size M&P 9, 2.0 that supposedly has an improved trigger. When I pull the trigger it feels like its dragging through sand and gravel in the first stage and in the second stage it feels like I'm pulling against boulders. I'm quite disgusted with this pistol as I had to send it back to Smith right out of the box as it wouldn't chamber a round. I had a first gen Shield that had a decent trigger and functioned flawlessly which pushed me towards the M&P 9.
I've read a bit about the Apex trigger, is is any good and is it worth the money? I don't want to buy another trigger if it only feels like I'm dragging through gritty sand in both stages. If that is what I can expect I will sell the pistol.

I just replaced the factory sights with an adjustable rear sight as it shot 10 inches high and about 6 inches left. Even with the adjustable sight at it's lowest setting I'm still shooting about 3 inches high and this is from a rest. Is this thing a lemon or is this typical for this model?

I'd just sell it and buy a better gun with what you get for it, and the trigger money. You could get. TP9 SFX for that money, which hs one of 3 best stryker triggers already. It's a nicer, more dependable gun.

 

[Old Dog]

Is an aftermarket trigger really worth it for S&W M&P 9?

Yes. I have been issued the pistol in its first and second iterations. Even though the M&P 2.0 has a much-improved trigger (with a reset that's actually detectable), it still can be improved further. The Apex mods are excellent. And yes, well worth the money for the upgrade.

Is this thing a lemon or is this typical for this model?

The 2.0 versions came with a tweaked barrel that actually improved the accuracy over the first versions. Your results are NOT typical -- I'm an agency instructor, and I've seen a lot of these pistols in use on the range for qualification courses, so I'd submit your pistol may have some problems.

I'd just sell it and buy a better gun with what you get for it, and the trigger money. You could get. TP9 SFX for that money, which hs one of 3 best stryker triggers already. It's a nicer, more dependable gun.

Whoa, there. In the immortal words of the legendary Patrick Swayze in the classic motion picture Road House: Opinions vary.

In any event, the OP was asking about a modification to a pistol he owns, not whether he should trade it out for another brand.

P.S.: striker

 

[1KPerDay]

I'd just sell it and buy a better gun with what you get for it, and the trigger money. You could get. TP9 SFX for that money, which hs one of 3 best stryker triggers already. It's a nicer, more dependable gun.

Not in my experience. Stock Canik trigger may be nicer but I’ve seen several Caniks malfunction a lot in competition environments. My M&P CORE 9L with Apex FSS sear and trigger has had 3 malfunctions in 15,000 documented rounds in competition, and two were in the first 100 rounds when fired by a young girl with poor hand strength. I’ve never personally seen an M&P owned by someone else malfunction (but there aren’t as many of them around as Glocks and Caniks at least IME).

OP, yes Apex upgrades are worth it and in some pistols (Gen 1 Shields) are not only desirable but necessary to make a shootable gun IMO.

 

[Walkalong]

my understanding was that the 2.0 versions were supposed to be better.

My son has the original, and loves the 2.0 compared to it, and mentioned the trigger was much nicer.

 

[9mmepiphany]

My son has the original, and loves the 2.0 compared to it, and mentioned the trigger was much nicer.

Good to hear.

One of the things they did was re-contour the Striker Block. Interestingly a improved Striker Block was the aftermarket part that Apex Tactical started their parts business with. Randy wasn't sure how big the market was going to be and only ordered 1200 to start...they were gone in a couple of hours. They now have six CNC machines turning out parts for a growing number of different pistols

 

[derek45]

very much so.

LOVE my APEX

 

[wnycollector]

I own two M&P full sized pistols (1.0 45 acp and 2.0 9mm). The 1.0 has the Apex Duty/Carry Action Enhancement Kit installed, whereas the 2.0 is 100% stock. The 2.0's trigger is much better than the 1.0's stock trigger but it still falls well short of the Apex duty kit. The 45's trigger is very good now. I'm probably going to install another Apex kit on the 2.0 when time and finances allow.

 

[Tallball]

I think mine is a 2.0. I must have gotten lucky. The trigger is plenty good enough and it never occurred to me to try to improve it.

 

[Jim Watson]

Apex Tactical started their parts business with. Randy wasn't sure how big the market was going to be and only ordered 1200 to start...they were gone in a couple of hours. They now have six CNC machines turning out parts for a growing number of different pistols

The parts business is obviously more lucrative than working on customers' guns one at a time.
A shame, Randy Lee/Apex made his reputation with first class work, first on S&W revolvers, then on Plastic M&P.

MY Plastic M&P was tuned by Dan Burwell, the man himself, not the www DIY.
The only thing I would want different is for it to be a Pro or 9L five inch.

 

[Col. Cornelius]

The stock 2.0 trigger is better then the 1.0, however, IMHO the Apex Duty kit is a worthwhile upgrade.

Not that the Apex kit is "needed", but it results in a very crisp, good trigger break that is one of the best striker triggers out there.

 

[Homerboy]

I think the aftermarket industry makes millions convincing people they need to buy their products. It’s a free country but I always scored expert while shooting a Gen 2 Glock with a 12 pound NY trigger. I tore the center out of the target with my Shield 1.0. Do I shoot my 2.0 better? Maybe. Don’t have the 1.0 to compare it to anymore but the target didn’t know any different.

On a target gun I get the appeal. On a defensive carry piece, I’m not interested. Other than night sights and a D spring in my Beretta 92’s, all my guns are factory stock.