M&P 9 owners, advice please!

[bug_eyedmonster]

Hey All,


So I'm working on the parts for the a new M&P. My wife will also be shooting this gun, which is where some of these questions are stemming from. I am ordering the Apex RAM, but was curious about their other parts. I am tempted to order the forward set sear kit and trigger kit as well, but wasn't sure what the whole difference between forward and rear sear set system, and was wondering if someone could give me some guidance. I also wanted to see if any of you would recommend other parts before I close out the order. If there are some parts you recommend, please let me know. I'm also planning to remove the mag disconnect. As for the trigger, we plan to use the competition trigger. She has never had a good experience with striker fire based guns, but I think that with a lighter trigger combined with the ergonomics of the M&P, she might actually like this as well. She was able to keep tight groups and was quick with the transitions, but was unable to fire at a decent cadence because of the trigger pull (spoiled by 1911s I guess).


Thanks in advance!


jerry

[squiddo]

Nice gun and I love mine. I installed a FSS and trigger along with the ram. Also I upgraded the sights to 10-8 Performance U-notch with a fiber front. Trigger is supposed to be better on the newly made M&P's....I might shoot it for a while before dropping $300 on parts first.

Love it- have fun.

[Powder_Keg]

Jerry, I'm in the same boat as you and I'm also planning on getting the FSS trigger kit and the RAM kit. I just picked up a M&P9 and I wanted to put 500 rounds down range first.

From the reviews and YouTube videos I have seen, the FSS shortens up the trigger pull and gets rid of all the extra play/mush at the beginning of the trigger pull. The trigger kit as a whole supposedly gives you a shorter, smoother lighter trigger around 4lbs. If you want a 3lb trigger, you need to get the competition spring kit. In one of the reviews I read, the FSS trigger kit lessens the trigger reset both audibly and physically. The "click" you would normally feel and hear becomes more faint. The RAM kit should fix this.

I also plan to also remove the magazine safety. The link below has some good pics and instructions. People seem to be replacing the spring with a 1911 magazine release spring with great success. The spring only cost $2-$3.

http://www.burwellgunsmithing.com/M&P2.htm

[Powder_Keg]

Nice gun and I love mine. I installed a FSS and trigger along with the ram. Also I upgraded the sights to 10-8 Performance U-notch with a fiber front. Trigger is supposed to be better on the newly made M&P's....I might shoot it for a while before dropping $300 on parts first.

Love it- have fun.

I just ordered that 10-8 rear sight a couple days ago, Bravo Company has it on sale for $31.

[diver160651]

Hey All,


So I'm working on the parts for the a new M&P. My wife will also be shooting this gun, which is where some of these questions are stemming from. I am ordering the Apex RAM, but was curious about their other parts. I am tempted to order the forward set sear kit and trigger kit as well, but wasn't sure what the whole difference between forward and rear sear set system, and was wondering if someone could give me some guidance. I also wanted to see if any of you would recommend other parts before I close out the order. If there are some parts you recommend, please let me know. I'm also planning to remove the mag disconnect. As for the trigger, we plan to use the competition trigger. She has never had a good experience with striker fire based guns, but I think that with a lighter trigger combined with the ergonomics of the M&P, she might actually like this as well. She was able to keep tight groups and was quick with the transitions, but was unable to fire at a decent cadence because of the trigger pull (spoiled by 1911s I guess).


Thanks in advance!


jerry

I am a high $ 1911 snob, yet I have Glocks, Barrettas CZ etz...nothing compares to a tuned 1911 trigger.. Oh, well my MP9 with smallest back strap and the Apex gear is assume. It single handily changed my mind on strikers--

The Apex with all the goodies makes the reset short and trigger light, maybe a bit to light for dirty work. Grate for target shooter


Jt

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Erick Danielsen]

Just a heads up, the RAM is not compatible with the newer models. I've been meaning to contact APEX about it because I learned the hard way. If anyone has any info regarding a new RAM compatible for the newer models please pass it along. Otherwise I will if I hear from them soon.

[Javi]

Just a heads up, the RAM is not compatible with the newer models. I've been meaning to contact APEX about it because I learned the hard way. If anyone has any info regarding a new RAM compatible for the newer models please pass it along. Otherwise I will if I hear from them soon.

I think you can replace the sear housing block with one of these & your parts will fit. I heard this a while back so I'm not positive:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/546264/smith-and-wesson-sear-housing-block-without-integral-lock-and-magazine-safety-s-and-w-m-and-p-m-and-p-compact-9mm-luger-357-sig-40-s-and-w#ReviewHeader

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/883689/smith-and-wesson-sear-housing-block-assembly-standard-s-and-w-m-and-p-m-and-p-compact-9mm-luger-357-sig-40-s-and-w#ReviewHeader

[Powder_Keg]

Just a heads up, the RAM is not compatible with the newer models. I've been meaning to contact APEX about it because I learned the hard way. If anyone has any info regarding a new RAM compatible for the newer models please pass it along. Otherwise I will if I hear from them soon.

Thanks Erick for the heads up with the Apex RAM not fitting the newer M&P's. I did a google search and came up with the link below. Maybe it will help the OP too. They give a quick explanation about the old and new sear housing with pics of the old original plus the new with and without the thumb safety.

http://modernserviceweapons.com/?p=1968

I'll probably just move forward with the FSS trigger kit and see how much trigger feedback I get with the stock reset. Worst case scenario, if I want a more positive reset, I can always buy an original sear housing and swap it with mine and then add the RAM.

[fmunk]

The inaudible and non-tacticle reset of the stock trigger was never really an issue for me as I was never pre-conditioned by the Glock trigger. With that said, my opinion is that the RAM is only an optional item specifically for those who see the reset as a problem.

The Forward Set Sear kit changes the trigger geometry and really shortens up the overall travel of the trigger. The pull is smooth, short and breaks cleanly near the end of the travel with little to no over-travel past the breaking point; very much like a 1911 trigger. The kit comes with two return springs. One at 5.5 lbs and one at 4 lbs.

The Duty/Carry kit doesn't change trigger geometry. But it does address the grittiness of the stock trigger. Trigger weight is 5 to 5.5 lbs.

The most often given advice/recommendation I've seen online is to go with the Duty/Carry (DCAEK) because it is supposedly safer. Personally, I think this advice is an over-generalization. And as with most over-generalizations tend to be, it is wrong.

With the heavier 5.5 lb spring installed in the FFS and with the design of the trigger (integral safety), you really have to have a deliberate trigger pull in order to fire the weapon. While trigger travel is reduced, it is no more dangerous than the DCAEK or the factory stock trigger. What it gives you is potential for better accuracy with less effort from you, the shooter.

Personally I would do the FSS first (the new polymer version), then add the RAM later if you still feel you absolutely cannot live without a positive reset.

Apex is supposedly working on a RAM that would work on all models, including the 45. I got an email from them just yesterday.

[Spawn]

I also have no problems or gripes with the standard trigger. It's just a personal goal of mine to become proficient with how the gun was designed. As far as other parts go, check out the Strike Industries Buffer for the M&P. I'm thinking of picking one up.

[teflondog]

I've used the Apex DCAEK and the most improvement I saw came from just installing the Apex sear. If I ever get another M&P, I'll just replace the sear and call it a day. The other parts of the kit also add some improvement but they are not as noticeable IMO.

[Zerorye351w]

I've installed an Apex DCAEK in almost all my M&P's, incuding a Pro Series CORE. The kit comes with sear, sear spring, trigger return spring, striker block, and striker block spring. I did a half install, where I only installed the sear, sear spring, and trigger return spring. The trigger was smooth, but the trigger return spring made it a bit heavier than standard. I could feel the slightest bit of grittiness in the trigger pull. After doing some research, I installed the striker block and striker block spring. After that, the trigger was smooth and grit free, but the trigger pull was too heavy for may taste, so I did a hybrid trigger (kinda like the HK Light LEM) and replaced the trigger return spring with the factory spring and the trigger is much lighter. I run that set up on all my M&Ps, the triggers are light, smooth, and crisp.
I thought about the Competition kit, but started out using the DCAEK instead and don't regret it. Plus I own a 1911, so I don't have to mimic it's trigger. I have no experience with the RAM, but may eventually buy one to see how that fares.

[sholling]

I think it all depends on what she's going to be using the pistol for. The long 6-7lb trigger pull was intended to be a safety feature for a weapon with no manual safety. If you're building her a range toy or competition pistol then all of those changes make sense - if she wants them. On the other hand if the primary use is self defense then I'd limit changes to the Apex duty/carry kit and night sights and perhaps a Crimson Trace laser.

[gemoose23]

I shoot my M&P Stock... and love it.

Honestly, I would buy a couple ammo cans of 9mm and just shoot that before making decisions on mods.

Using a timer, I cannot "shoot faster" with a factory trigger on my M&P vs my XDM with Drop in Trigger Kit., I am at .2 splits between shots.

[balmo]

New M&P trigger have a decent audiable and tactile reset compared to the older ones. I have an 'older' M&P9 with the improved trigger (built in 9/12) and I have a tactile reset.

Even when I put in an APEX sear, the tactile reset is still present.