Which has the Best Trigger - Ruger SR9 or M&P 9 ?

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Both are full size striker fired 9 mm pistols, so which one do you feel has the best feeling trigger overall ?

Thanks
 
That's something you really need to judge yourself. But of the two, I prefer the feel of the Ruger myself, though the SR series guns are too small for my hands.
 
Tried a full-sized SR9, comparing it to an M&P 9mm compact. The M&P trigger was far better in take-up, break, and reset. In comparison, the SR9's take up was palpably heavier and gritty, the break stiffer. I don't recall how the reset compared, but I was frankly appalled by the Ruger's trigger, having heard that the SR9's, at least in compact trim, had great triggers. Perhaps the full-sized one I tried was of an earlier, uncorrected, vintage.
 
In stock form - the SR9. The M&P is better with a drop-in Apex kit though (I run the CAEK version in mine which keeps the stock trigger - I've not tried the FSS versions because they're not legal for the competitions I shoot in but they're supposed to be even better).

SR9's have a replacement connector available that is supposed to help some but I haven't tried it in mine.

FWIW I also think the SR9 fits better in my hands. The sights are better on the M&P and it is also available in a 5" version (which except for guns I'm going to carry I pretty much always prefer a 5" barrel over a 4").
 
The overall ergonomics of the two pistols is considerably different. The SR9 grip feels much like a 1911 while the M&P has its own very ergonomic feel that IMHO is as good as most polymer handguns available. The trigger pulls are quite different, the SR9 pull is long and feels lighter than it is. The M&P trigger is controversal with many feeling the need to get the Apex conversion. The problem is that most folks are comparing the triggers to Glock triggers with its short and audible reset. If you accept the triggers for what they are and learn them they are fine. Also within the last couple of years Smith and Wesson has modified the M&P trigger to have a more pronounced reset.
 
The Ruger SR pistols have very Glock-like triggers. They use tabbed trigger safeties and are very similar weights in the 5.5-6 pound range. I have never felt the trigger on M&Ps so won't comment on those.
 
I like the trigger and the overall design of the SR9 more than that found on the M&P. Tried them both when I was looking for a compact 9mm. (SR9c and M&P9c), and went with the SR9c. Go with the one that feels the best to you.
 
Having owned both, I think the stock SR9 trigger is far better than the stock M&P trigger. The M&P9 trigger had an audible and tactile "scraaaape" before reaching it's mushy break. The SR9 trigger, while slightly rubbery, had a super smooth takeup and crisp break.

Although, slightly off topic, I think overall quality on the M&P was better, at least comparing my specimens. After 1000 rds or so, my SR9 developed an issue with the striker not resetting. Very unnerving, and I've heard of others having problems with the striker, usually light strikes. Other than the crap trigger, I never had an issue with the M&P.

Overall conclusion: get the M&P, and upgrade the trigger.
 
I have an SR9c and a Glock 19. The trigger on the SR9c is so much better that I have to make sure I shoot the Glock first in a range session or I will go nuts.

The SR9c's trigger isn't necessarily lighter, but it has a much crisper break and almost no take up or creep at all.
 
I've got a Ruger SR9c and a M&P45. If I were to rank the triggers, it would be...

1. M&P w/ Apex sear and AEK trigger.
2. M&P w/ Apex sear only
3. Ruger SR9c with Ghost trigger bar
4. Ruger SR9c stock trigger
5. M&P stock trigger.

So if you never plan on modifying the trigger pull, the Ruger is the winner. Vice versa if you are willing to tinker. Now, a lot of people don't like the articulated M&P trigger as a matter of preference. I've got no problem with it, but I've met far more people who don't like the feel of it compared to any other factory trigger out there. The AEK trigger though, is a nice improvement.
 
To improve the trigger on my SR9 and to get rid of most of the stacking, I clipped 2 coils off the striker spring and it is sweet now at 4.5lb with no light strikes.
 
Frankly I wish both S&W and Ruger would concentrate on revolver production, there are other good manufacturers of striker fired polymer framed autopistols who don't make revolvers.
 
Thanks to everyone for your responses, they've been very helpful. I'm alittle bothered that one has to spend more money to improve the trigger on a brand new M&P 9 and am surprised that S&W hasn't refined their stock triggers. With all the ravings that you hear about how good the trigger is on Rugers LC9s they'd be smart to hear what customers want and make some improvements.

I'd also just like to say "good job" to the moderators of this forum. It's gratifying to see how well you are keeping everyone on topic and prohibiting any personal attacks or fighting. I was on a boating forum where I got viciously attacked each time I simply posted facts about a certain outboard engine that some owners didn't like to hear, and the moderators allowed it to happen everytime.

Of course with this being a "gun" forum perhaps that helps keep everyone in line ! LOL

Keep up the good work, thanks again !
 
I'm alittle bothered that one has to spend more money to improve the trigger on a brand new M&P 9 and am surprised that S&W hasn't refined their stock triggers.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. In their stock form the M&P trigger works each and every time. The simple truth is that 95% of gun owners can't tell a good trigger from a bad one, so safety and reliability are sufficient for most of them.

The Apex kits "improve" the M&P trigger but they're not really "fixing" anything that's broken.

I end up tweaking something about the trigger on at least half my guns. Probably have replaced sights on half of them too (with those two groups overlapping a lot).

In reality people in a hobbyist group like this are going to tend to make a lot of little changes here and there that most of the general populace wouldn't care about.
 
I've got an M&P Pro and a full size SR9.
The triggers are very comparable but the SR9 may have a slight edge.
Each gun is going to have variances in trigger pull due to many factors.
You could take 3 of each brand and get 6 different trigger readings and feels.
I've found both to be impressive for a stock striker fired gun.
You can do tweaks $$$ to both and improve the feel but the out of the box trigger is very serviceable.;)
 
I tried both pistols at a range a few years ago. From my notes, I prefered the SR9 trigger over the M&P 9, scoring the Ruger #1 out of four pistols, and the S&W last. I thought the SR9 trigger was crisp and consistently easy to stage. Like Zendude, the hinged M&P trigger bothered me.

Also, Ron in PA said the SR9 grip felt like a 1911. My notes said like a BHP, but it's still the same idea. The SR9 has the most traditional feel out of polymer pistols I have tried. It's on my short list of guns to buy, if I wasn't on a current SA revolver tear.
 
There is something peculiar about how the M&P trigger stacks that it makes the gun bounce in my hand----even the heavy Sigma trigger didn't do that when I owned one. I've owned a few M&P's but they all got traded off and I doubt I'll ever own another one---but never say never---maybe if I come across a great deal or something. They aren't a bad gun---just not for me.

My SR9 trigger was getting quite nice from dry firing and actual shooting until the barrel peened so bad that it held the slide back---sent to back to Ruger and got it fixed and promptly traded it off when it came back---that was in 2009 and I've been unwilling to spend the money on another one----but have been looking hard at the 9E since I do still have a few extra mags that will fit.

Have been concentrating on Glocks and Ruger single action revolvers lately.
 
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