View Full Version : Shield triggers
BuzzinSATX
04-30-15, 12:54
I was holding off buying a Shield until after shooting the G43, and now I've decided the Shield is my preference. But I went to my local BX and checked out two brand new Shields and they had terrible triggers. I mean, they were "crunchy"...bad. Even after dry fire and prior to recycling the striker, both had a serious crunchy break half way back.
I'd shot a friends Shield in the past and while the trigger wasn't great, it was acceptable to me. Basically on par with most stock Glocks. But both of these new 9MM no thumb safety guns had triggers on par to a toy gun. What gives?
I expect to hear "put an Apex in it and call it good", which was my thought as well, but dang...I figured I'd be able to at least shoot the gun a while prior to having to upgrade it...
Am I expecting too much here? Are all new Shield triggers this bad, or did my store just get a bad batch?
Take Care,
Buzz
I was holding off buying a Shield until after shooting the G43, and now I've decided the Shield is my preference. But I went to my local BX and checked out two brand new Shields and they had terrible triggers. I mean, they were "crunchy"...bad. Even after dry fire and prior to recycling the striker, both had a serious crunchy break half way back.
I'd shot a friends Shield in the past and while the trigger wasn't great, it was acceptable to me. Basically on par with most stock Glocks. But both of these new 9MM no thumb safety guns had triggers on par to a toy gun. What gives?
I expect to hear "put an Apex in it and call it good", which was my thought as well, but dang...I figured I'd be able to at least shoot the gun a while prior to having to upgrade it...
Am I expecting too much here? Are all new Shield triggers this bad, or did my store just get a bad batch?
Take Care,
Buzz
I don't know if there's ongoing changes to the design of the Shield, specifically the trigger, but I have fired two so far. My buddies, which was decent enough, and mine. Mine is quite heavy, but consistent with excellent reset, which surprised me as the M&P FS line always known for it's poor trigger reset. I don't know if that difference between his and mine is a gen issue (both purchased within months of each other) or a QC related thing, but quite different/ Maybe most recent gen FS M&Ps have improved trigger reset to the past, but that was a major complaint and one of several reasons Apex gets installed in so many M&P.
I have 2 9mm Shields, my first one had a trigger that was so heavy it was unusable, I replaced it with an Apex and all is well. I bought another one for carry purposes (because California, no mod rules), the trigger is ok, it breaks clean enough but the reset is 'mushy' or 'vague' however you want to think about it.
BuzzinSATX
04-30-15, 14:04
Thanks for the replies. The triggers on both guns were kinda heavy, and they both had decent resets, but the specific issue was a point in both triggers where they had a spot that the trigger "hung up" and had to be pressed through. Definitely felt like a plastic on plastic/metal situation.
I didn't buy either gun, and I plan on going back to see if they have any more from a different batch.
I just wanted to make sure any gun I buy is functional from the factory before I upgrade it with NS's and possibly an Apex. Realize I can't do this until I shoot it enough but as AAFES has no returns or trade ins, I'm kinda SOL if it's a lemon and stuck dealing with it.
Take Care,
Buzz
BufordTJustice
04-30-15, 14:37
Thanks for the replies. The triggers on both guns were kinda heavy, and they both had decent resets, but the specific issue was a point in both triggers where they had a spot that the trigger "hung up" and had to be pressed through. Definitely felt like a plastic on plastic/metal situation.
I didn't buy either gun, and I plan on going back to see if they have any more from a different batch.
I just wanted to make sure any gun I buy is functional from the factory before I upgrade it with NS's and possibly an Apex. Realize I can't do this until I shoot it enough but as AAFES has no returns or trade ins, I'm kinda SOL if it's a lemon and stuck dealing with it.
Take Care,
Buzz
I just got one for my wife. It, too, was pretty awful. Heavy, and really gritty at the break point. Basically impossible to shoot well.
In went an Apex sear and a stock glock trigger spring in place of the Smith spring. Right around 4.5 pounds and MUCH smoother. The reset got a little mushy, but it's not bad.
BuzzinSATX
04-30-15, 15:19
Sounds like I'm just gonna order the Apex parts and press on. Thanks for the replies.
Take Care,
Buzz
If your in SA, I have a full apex trigger kit shield you can shoot before you buy.
BuzzinSATX
04-30-15, 15:42
If your in SA, I have a full apex trigger kit shield you can shoot before you buy.
Thanks for the offer. You like it? Do you have a link to the specific kit you put in?
Take Care,
Buzz
Thanks for the offer. You like it? Do you have a link to the specific kit you put in?
Take Care,
Buzz
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00KHFGA9I/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1430426950&sr=8-1&pi=SL75&keywords=apex+tactical+shield
Yes I do like it alot. Very crisp and positive reset while maintaining a smooth pull with no mush.
I think I got lucky - mine smoothed out pretty well. It's a heavy, chunky sort of 5-6lb trigger, but for a stock one it's pretty decent... but it's a matter of time before it gets an Apex kit. Still better than every other compact carry weapon I've tried, a CAEK will only make that better.
At this point I basically price every M&P out with the appropriate Apex kit and aftermarket sights as the base cost of the pistol - those trigger setups are so good that I won't go back, and some slightly better sights after that are all that's needed to have a fantastic pistol.
I'll be at lonestar handgun Saturday morning breaking in a 308 if you want to stop by and run a box or two through it, just bring the ammo.
100-010-772WB
Shield Carry Kit
Mfr Part: 100076
http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/trigger-group-parts/trigger-parts/triggers/m-p-shield-action-enhancements-prod61094.aspx
The Ultimate Striker Block will clear up most of the crunch. The crunch comes from the trigger bar contacting the factory striker block, pushing it up out of the way allowing the striker to go forward after the sear trips and releases the striker. My Shield 9mm is a Sept 2013 production. It was like the old S&W autos, crunch click, crunch click. It still has some, but smooth, with a reset and 4lb 8oz trigger. I kept the factory trigger not opting for the APEX Shield AEK aluminum trigger.
BuzzinSATX
05-01-15, 07:22
I'll be at lonestar handgun Saturday morning breaking in a 308 if you want to stop by and run a box or two through it, just bring the ammo.
Thanks much for the offer. I'm in the process of moving and won't be able to make it this time, but maybe sometime down the road.
It's been a few weeks since I was out there, but I saw in the newsletter Josh was building private bays and some other upgrades. Id be interested in how that's coming if you see them.
Take care
Take Care,
Buzz
I took a worksharp to mine, polished the trigger bar lobe that engages the striker block, and the face of the striker. With this I didn't have to disassemble anything but pull the striker out. It made a big difference in the feel of my shield, I no longer feel the apex is necessary, but still want one at some point. Nor do I feel the need to polish the "plunger", "loop" or sear. Just having the one smooth surface engage the striker block seems to work pretty good.
3500+ rounds so far it's been a great little handgun.
I took a worksharp to mine, polished the trigger bar lobe that engages the striker block, and the face of the striker. With this I didn't have to disassemble anything but pull the striker out. It made a big difference in the feel of my shield, I no longer feel the apex is necessary, but still want one at some point. Nor do I feel the need to polish the "plunger", "loop" or sear. Just having the one smooth surface engage the striker block seems to work pretty good.
3500+ rounds so far it's been a great little handgun.
3.5k rnds! That bodes very well for the design and overall quality of that little gun. Any spring changes?
My Shield's trigger was quite smooth from the factory, and measured at 6.5-7 pounds. Despite my practicing it was a bit less accurate for me... my local shop just upgraded it with the Apex carry kit, and it was amazingly accurate afterwards and measures 5.5 pounds.
The smoothness is about the same, so probably depends on which one you got from the factory. The reset is mildly improved.
:) Barb
My Shield's trigger was quite smooth from the factory, and measured at 6.5-7 pounds. Despite my practicing it was a bit less accurate for me... my local shop just upgraded it with the Apex carry kit, and it was amazingly accurate afterwards and measures 5.5 pounds.
The smoothness is about the same, so probably depends on which one you got from the factory. The reset is mildly improved.
:) Barb
The trigger wouldn't have altered the accuracy of the gun, but that of the shooter. You simply shoot better with the smoother lighter APEX trigger as most do with the M&P and M&P based gun like the Shield.
Mine 6 months old seems ok for what it is.
3.5k rnds! That bodes very well for the design and overall quality of that little gun. Any spring changes?
No not so far...probably should buy a striker assy, and recoil assy. The first 500 or so were factory fmjs and a few types of HP's, The rest have been powder coated reloads in the 124-128gr weight. I've come up with a load that works for all my 9's and the shield is by far the "tightest" chamber. If I let one slip by without a crimp or a little too much OAL she'll choke on it. (maybe 4 or 5 times total)
While it's a little big compared to some single stack 9s, it's near perfect for my smallish hands.
vicious_cb
05-02-15, 22:37
Honestly the stock trigger isn't bad at all. If you think the stock trigger is unacceptable I wonder what kind of trigger you are used to shooting. A custom 1911?
Honestly the stock trigger isn't bad at all. If you think the stock trigger is unacceptable I wonder what kind of trigger you are used to shooting. A custom 1911?
I have a 2012 m&p40 fs and a shield. Both triggers could be a bit better, but would never call them unacceptable. Maybe I got good ones, they are heavy and have a hard wall before break, but are predictable. I can group decent at speed and all dropped shots are my fault.
I also never understood the reset issue, as I never feel it anyways unless shooting for groups at 25yds.
The trigger wouldn't have altered the accuracy of the gun, but that of the shooter. You simply shoot better with the smoother lighter APEX trigger as most do with the M&P and M&P based gun like the Shield.
Yup! I tried hard not to pull the trigger during the break, but amazing what a difference of one pound would do!
BuzzinSATX
05-03-15, 10:46
Honestly the stock trigger isn't bad at all. If you think the stock trigger is unacceptable I wonder what kind of trigger you are used to shooting. A custom 1911?
LOL! No...I'm a stock Glock trigger shooter. Best trigger on any pistol I shoot regularly is probably between a Ruger 22-45 and an XDm 3.8 compact. I rarely shoot any 1911's these days.
The truth is, the stock trigger in my $200 airsoft G19 I shoot my garage http://www.airsplat.com/ksc-g19-gas-airsoft-blowback-gun-pistol.html. has a better trigger than the two Shields I tried, so it must simply be a bad batch, from everything I'm seeing.
Take Care,
Buzz
BuzzinSATX
05-03-15, 10:48
I appreciate all the great comments and replies on the thread. I am planning on buying the Shield and, like another poster said, just factor in the cost of an Apex kit. Thanks again!
Take Care,
Buzz
BufordTJustice
05-03-15, 11:15
Honestly the stock trigger isn't bad at all. If you think the stock trigger is unacceptable I wonder what kind of trigger you are used to shooting. A custom 1911?
Some of the recent triggers have been horrible. My wife's shield had one in excess of 10 pounds and it felt like somebody dumped a handful of sand in the gun. It was truly difficult to shoot well even for me. The grit was what made it so bad.
That's unacceptable considering that the shield my buddy bought a year ago has a decently smooth 6 pound pull with virtually no grit.
The apex sear made it vastly better.
notorious_ar15
05-03-15, 11:42
Honestly the stock trigger isn't bad at all. If you think the stock trigger is unacceptable I wonder what kind of trigger you are used to shooting. A custom 1911?
Some of the recent triggers have been horrible. My wife's shield had one in excess of 10 pounds and it felt like somebody dumped a handful of sand in the gun. It was truly difficult to shoot well even for me. The grit was what made it so bad.
That's unacceptable considering that the shield my buddy bought a year ago has a decently smooth 6 pound pull with virtually no grit.
The apex sear made it vastly better.
I am a long time pistol shooter, and am not tied to any one platform - frankly, I enjoy them all.
There seems to be a lot of variance in how the finished guns turn out. The Shield I tried at the store had a pretty decent trigger; however, the one I ordered had an terrible trigger. Fired around 350-400 rounds of various ammo through the Shield before changing anything, but the trigger still felt the same to me, as well as a few others I go shooting with a lot (although ejection patterns seem to have normalized).
Installed the Apex USB / sear kit along with the new springs, which made an obvious difference - the gun is now a joy to shoot & I have been very happy with it so far.
BuzzinSATX
05-04-15, 07:20
Some of the recent triggers have been horrible. My wife's shield had one in excess of 10 pounds and it felt like somebody dumped a handful of sand in the gun. It was truly difficult to shoot well even for me. The grit was what made it so bad.
That's unacceptable considering that the shield my buddy bought a year ago has a decently smooth 6 pound pull with virtually no grit.
The apex sear made it vastly better.
This is exactly how the guns I tried felt...like there was rough sand in the action.
Take Care,
Buzz
With the price of a Shield 9mm and the Apex kit, what would the total price be for a pistol with a decent trigger?
BuzzinSATX
05-04-15, 11:55
With the price of a Shield 9mm and the Apex kit, what would the total price be for a pistol with a decent trigger?
For me, I can get a Shield for $350 at my local BX and they go on sale regularly for 10% off so $315 and no sales tax. Apex kits seem to be around $100 including shipping and tax, so total package would be around $415. Night sights probably bring it around $500.
whatthepuck
05-04-15, 14:03
The few Shields I've shot have had more than decent triggers, IMHO...go fig...
For me, I can get a Shield for $350 at my local BX and they go on sale regularly for 10% off so $315 and no sales tax. Apex kits seem to be around $100 including shipping and tax, so total package would be around $415. Night sights probably bring it around $500.
I just picked up a carry pistol for the wife. With tax it was $405, which is in line with what you spent.
The money is right, but I will not carry a self defense firearm with trigger modifications. That is personal preference.
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