S&W M&P 45C Test - Question: Apex Trigger?

[BlindJustice]

I went to the range today with my CZ 75B 9x19 and S&W 1911
5" Bbl. .45 ACP - when we got there the owner wasn't there. The guy
behind the counter, Joe, was standing in. I hadn't seen him since
the start of summer - he had shown me a S&W M&P 45 Compact aka 45C
He had on loan from a fellow range member He allowed me to handle it
at the time - 28 oz. empty 4" Bbl. and 28 oz empty weight I'ved fired
a friends regular size M&P in .40 S&W. I asked Joe today how he lliked the
M&P 45C. He said he liked it so much he bought one. He got it out of
his 'kit' bag, cleared the weapon and showed it off. I guess the mood was
right because I asked if I could try it. He said it was dirty anyway and go ahead. he did say it had an Apex trigger.

I shot my 1911 first, a couple of mags to have a back to back reaction to
the 45C. Well, nice light/crisp trigger, short reset and the recoil isn't that much more than the full size 1911 in stainless steel altho I think the spec sez about 10 oz. differnece in weight. Sure is a narrow grip for the 8 rd mag capacity.

my question is to S&W M&P owner/shooters - what's the Apex triger mod/replacement?

the M&P 45C sure has a lot to offer for a CC option for the price imho

randall ,

 

[Walkalong]

https://apextactical.com/store/product-info.php?pid35.html

No experience with them.

bds here is a M&P fan.

 

[jon_in_wv]

Check the M&P Pistol forum. There is a ton of info there. The Apex kit supposedly improves trigger crispness and reset. Personally I have two M&Ps and I think the triggers are just fine for carry. My M&P 9C has around 6000 rounds through it and I think it still looks and shoots like its new.

 

[LiveLife]

my question is to S&W M&P owner/shooters - what's the Apex trigger mod/replacement?

The factory trigger pull on M&P45 is about 7 lbs. Compared to a factory Glock trigger pull of 5.5 lbs, it is noticeably heavier with longer trigger reset.

Apex Tactical sells a trigger sear that lightens the trigger pull to about 4 pounds and also shortens the trigger reset. It gives you a smoother trigger pull with more "crisp" striker release feel. It is certainly not like a clean 1911 single action trigger, but will come fairly close - I would comfortably say the best striker trigger I have experienced so far. You do not need to replace the entire trigger assembly (trigger kit is $89) as sear replacement ($39) is the heart of the trigger job/kit.

If you are comfortable with double-action revolver trigger pull, you will be fine with the factory M&P45 trigger. If you are used to Glock trigger, then you will be disappointed with the factory M&P45 trigger. Apex sear replacement will give you lighter than Glock factory trigger and comparable trigger reset.

Is it necessary? No.

But if you want to shoot matches, it is probably the best modification you can make to decrease your shot group size and for faster double taps.

 

[BlindJustice]

Thanks bds

R-

 

[BlindJustice]

Now that I've read the entire thread.

I've shot a full size M&_ 40 as well as a Glock 19 but
it's been awhile. I don't think either of these or almost
anything else compares to the SAO 1911. THe APex equipped M&P 45C
does compare/or is similar to my CZ 75B in SA mode just my opinion.

FWIW - I usually carry a full size 1911 .45 in a Milt Sparks #Axiom w/MS Belt - but I'm not agin Polymer platforms, I don't care for the controls on a Glock, but find the M&P more confortable.

I've passed along the info and link about the APex Kit to
a couple of friends who have M&Ps.

Again, thanks all

Randall

 

[9mmepiphany]

Maybe a better link to what Apex Tactical offers would be this one

https://apextactical.com/store/product-list.php?pg1-cid13.html

They have since added their Reset Assist Module (RAM) which provides a very distinct reset, plus the ability to reset the trigger should the trigger spring fail. They are also having Bar-Sto make them up some barrels optimized for the 9mm cartridge...they also have a 9mm specific extractor.

I just got a chance to put some rounds through the Beta test M&P this past weekend

 

[Just One Shot]

I did the Apex sear and striker block on my M&P .40 Compact and it made a tremendous difference.

I had did the sear first then reassembled and tried the trigger before installing the striker block. The trigger was noticably lighter but still had a gritty feel to it.

After taking it back down and installing the Apex striker block the trigger is smooth as butter and feels even lighter.

The Apex kit fixes what I feel is the only problem with the M&P. If you own one I highly recommend the Apex hardware. You will be amazed at how much better the trigger is over the factory setup.

 

[RSY]

Is S&W likely to implement the Apex fix into their stock pistol design??? Any word on the street along those lines?

Scott

 

[Jim Watson]

Nothing from the street but from my desk...

Not

a

chance.


They already claim a superior sear in the Plastic M&P Pro and that is as good as it is likely to get.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Is S&W likely to implement the Apex fix into their stock pistol design??? Any word on the street along those lines?

Very unlikely. Even the small cost of per part in production would add up when multiplied by the number of guns they make...they they are already priced into the market. I'm sure they don't want to have to retrofit parts to contract guns either.

Apex Tactical has had a superior design for a revolver hammer for years and S&W never expressed much interest other than to cringe at matches if Apex Tactical was set up at a nearby table.

As Apex Tactical offers more parts for the M&P, the gap will only get wider

 

[RSY]

Thanks for the info, gents.

Scott

 

[fastbolt]

Some of the other instructors have bought Apex parts for their M&P 45's & 9's.

I checked the trigger pull of a M&P 45 equipped with some Apex parts (sear, safety block w/factory spring, trigger spring) on my digital scale and got an averaged weight of 5lbs 6oz.

That's fairly close to my M&P 45 in stock condition, but with a lot of rounds having been fired through it. I got averaged weights of 5 1/2 - 6lbs on mine when I last checked it at approx 2,500 rounds. FWIW, when it was NIB I got averaged weights of 8 1/2 - 9+lbs. The initial roughness smoothed out as mine was fired, too. The break was predictable and clean even when the trigger stroke was otherwise a bit rough and heavy.

I have no immediate plans to install an Apex sear at present, but I haven't ruled it out someday. Maybe.

I think there's some variation among the M&P's as they're assembled. After all, the stated trigger pull weight in their specs for the 9/.40/.357 models is 6.5lbs with a +/- 2lb variance allowed, and the .45's have a 7lb standard spec with the same +/- 2lb variance.

S&W has their own revised sear available should they choose to make it a standard part, but I'd be somewhat surprised if they did.

I happen to like the M&P chambered in .45 ACP, myself, better than any of the other plastic-framed .45's I've tried over the years.

I think if they were to introduce a Pro Series .45 with a 5" barrel it might become a common sight in the gaming venues where plastic pistols are present.

Personally, I'm planning to pick up a M&P 45c sometime, since I really liked the '10 production M&P 45c I tried a couple of times. The trigger wasn't as light and smooth as my full-size model has become since it's been fired quite a bit, but it was noticeably better than mine was when it was new.