Video Learning
When you’ve followed the Apex video instructions, you’ll have a working gun. If by some slight chance you don’t, call them for help. As you put the various parts back together, function check them along the way.
Function checking is easy, but I couldn’t wait to get to the range for some real testing. First, I installed the 3-lb. spring and used my Lyman trigger pull gauge to verify the trigger pull. Before going to the range, I swapped it with the 4-lb. spring since I’ll likely be carrying this gun from time to time as my PDW.
Frankly, my fingers, which probably haven’t been calibrated in several years, can’t tell the difference between 3 and 4 lbs. The take-up is 1/4″ or less, and you can hardly feel the break. It’s so easy. As advertised, it feels like a good 1911 trigger. The pivoting trigger safety is so light you hardly notice its operation.
With everything back together and a few dry-fire tests for operation, I was anxious for some live-fire testing. Since I had removed and reinstalled the rear sight, I used a Firefield Universal Boresight with Red Laser to verify the rear-sight alignment before going to the range.
Hornady recently sent me two new 9mm loads for testing — a 124-grain Custom XTP load and a 147-grain Sub-sonic XTP load. I also included two of my favorite 9mm defensive loads — Inceptor 9mm +P 65-grain ARX and Speer 124-grain Gold Dot Personal Protection. With the targets at 10 yards, I fired 5-shot groups using each of these loads. The tightest groups came from the Speer Gold Dot ammo, with the Hornady Subsonic 147-grain load close behind. All four loads provided decent defensive accuracy, and operation of the M&P was delightful. I shoot 1911s a lot, and the Apex Forward Set Trigger mimics the 1911 trigger as advertised.
While writing this article, the VTAC M&P with its new Apex Tactical was on the desk beside me. I kept looking at it and feeling quite a bit of satisfaction knowing the red trigger, which is obviously not stock, and several other performance-enhancing parts were installed by me. This gun not only works but is uniquely mine.
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