What is a gritty trigger?

[chekmate]

I tried to do a google search but it didn't explain what a gritty trigger was. The articles/videos/threads were mainly about how to fix a gritty trigger.

I only ask because I bought an M&P and the trigger is smooth until it reaches a point. I have to continue to put pressure on the trigger until enough pressure is placed to fully depress the trigger. Is this a gritty trigger?

[halifax]

I wouldn't think so. That sounds normal.

I have a SW1006 that feels like you're dragging a brick across a cobblestone road. Now that's gritty.

[Legasat]

Gritty trigger means it feels like its got sand in the trigger mechansim. You feel the unevenness of the resistance to your pull.

[trigger945]

OP, what you are describing is NOT a gritty trigger.

halifax described it well.

My CZ 75B had a gritty trigger at first. It felt like something was scratching inside whenever I pulled the trigger. Very annoying.

[trigger945]

Oh yeah, Legasat deacribed it well, too

[CK_32]

Gritty trigger is when you feel non smooth parts rubbing like above almost like a sand or a dirty trigger.

What your referring to sounds like your taking out the slack and then feeling the trigger pull. Which is normal. But yes your M&P probably does have a slightly gritty trigger too.

[emtmark]

When your lady friend doesn't rinse off after a day at the beach.

[trigger945]

When your lady friend doesn't rinse off after a day at the beach.

HAHAHA. Or you don't. Either way... Yeah, that will feel gritty.

Just conceptually by the way. Haven't tried it

[saudadeii]

There can be as many a 3 distinct "feels" to a smooth trigger.

1st is any "freeplay". This is the distance the trigger moves before it actually engages any safety device or the sear itself. This is referred to as Takeup.

Many pistols, like the M&P, have a firing pin disconnect. Once the "freeplay" is gone, some amount of trigger travel is need to disengage this disconnect.

Finally, the trigger reaches the sear and is ready to release the striker/hammer. Further trigger travels makes it go BANG.

You can actually feel these different points with a smooth trigger. All 3 are very apparent on my Sig.

My 1911 has no FP disconnect so it only has a short takeup and BANG.

A gritty trigger "hangs up" along it's path so these points may be hard to distinguish.

I have a M&P 9 on lay-away and it's trigger is not only "gritty" but feels "mushy". Mushy is a topic for another thread.

[RobertMW]

HAHAHA. Or you don't. Either way... Yeah, that will feel gritty.

Just conceptually by the way. Haven't tried it

Yeah..... It's not a good feeling for either of you.


A gritty trigger is usually when two machined and not polished surfaces ride on each other. But in rare cases it can be from two polished but similar materials rubbing on one another (except hardened metals like hardened steels), this is galling.

In the first case, two hard metals (like case hardened steel on case hardened steel, like the sear of a hammer, or internals on a glock, or etc.) will wear on each other and polish themselves over time. Which is why people may say "just shoot the gun to make the trigger better".

In the second case, (aluminium on aluminium, most brass) you are getting little micro-welds between the two surfaces which will transfer material back and forth, flake away, round edges, things that are very very very bad.

[Eric B]

My old sig2340 used to have just a hint of grit just before the break. 500-600 rounds later and that grit had worked itself out.

[rsrocket1]

The original M&P's had a pretty gritty trigger. It is as described above, after the low resistance "take up", the "break" feels like something grinding as it goes over the edge. A clean break would feel like snapping a thin glass rod rather than a stale peanut shell.

The newer M&P's no longer have the "gritty trigger". My 2012 M&P40 had a very slight amount of grit, but after 2 years and close to 10k rounds, there is no grit at all, in fact the grit went away in the first couple of months.

[saudadeii]

My 2012 M&P40 had a very slight amount of grit, but after 2 years and close to 10k rounds, there is no grit at all, in fact the grit went away in the first couple of months.

I'm hoping my 9mm grittiness is more from the preservative and lack of lube and will improve once I clean and lube it. Reset was still weak but noticeable.

[chekmate]

There can be as many a 3 distinct "feels" to a smooth trigger.

1st is any "freeplay". This is the distance the trigger moves before it actually engages any safety device or the sear itself. This is referred to as Takeup.

Many pistols, like the M&P, have a firing pin disconnect. Once the "freeplay" is gone, some amount of trigger travel is need to disengage this disconnect.

Finally, the trigger reaches the sear and is ready to release the striker/hammer. Further trigger travels makes it go BANG.

You can actually feel these different points with a smooth trigger. All 3 are very apparent on my Sig.

My 1911 has no FP disconnect so it only has a short takeup and BANG.

A gritty trigger "hangs up" along it's path so these points may be hard to distinguish.

I have a M&P 9 on lay-away and it's trigger is not only "gritty" but feels "mushy". Mushy is a topic for another thread.

Thank you. This helps a lot. Another question.

When people refer to trigger weight, is this after the "take up" and before the trigger reaches the sear?

[snapshot7]

My new sp2022 had a gritty trigger, but after a few hundred rounds and a couple cleaning sessions, the trigger is starting to smooth out. I hope it only gets better because I like that the trigger pull is lighter then the P226.