Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns good triggers on striker fired polymer pistols?

I've shot 1911 and really like their trigger. I'm looking at polymer striker fired pistols in 9mm but I guess my "hang up" is their triggers kinda suck (or perhaps I'm spoiled by the 1911 trigger?)

A long time ago I did have an H&K P2000 in 9mm and did not like having two different trigger pulls with their DA/SA. Also the trigger reach was really long for me. Plus for some reason, the pistol seemed very snappy for a 9mm. I was surprised that a 1911 45acp was much more pleasant to shoot. The recoil felt milder, less snappy.

I also shot my friends XD 9mm compact. The recoil only felt slightly less than my 1911. The trigger felt "mushy"

To add insult to inquiry, the handgun has to southpaw friendly as I'm a lefty.

I'm looking at M&P 9mm as it seems the most southpaw friendly with many ambi controls. I was thinking of perhaps getting it with a thumb safety since I'm coming from a 1911. Is this silly?

I heard the trigger sucks on them. Smith & Wesson customer service said that I'd void the warranty if I put an apex trigger in it. But if it significantly improves the trigger, I'm for it.

I'm open to other considerations as well. Thank you for your help!

Folks get way too hung up on "nice" triggers on a fighting gun. They either work, or they dont...."nice" has nothing to do with it. Its not a bullseye gun, or a PPC revolver...

Folks get way too hung up on "nice" triggers on a fighting gun. They either work, or they dont...."nice" has nothing to do with it. Its not a bullseye gun, or a PPC revolver...

Folks get way too hung up on "nice" triggers on a fighting gun. They either work, or they dont...."nice" has nothing to do with it. Its not a bullseye gun, or a PPC revolver...

Perfectly stated..

Yep.

1911 triggers are great at the range on practice targets, but the difference between it and a good SF trigger for SD is mostly theoretical IMHO.

While agree in a gunfight the trigger won't matter it just needs to go bang. But really most of us will hopefully never be put in that situation of being in a gun fight.

Gunfights are about getting hits. Good triggers make getting hits easier.

The best plastic gun trigger I've shot has been an aluminum FSS in an M&P. They're expensive, but if you want a good trigger in a plastic gun they're the best I've found.

Bluedreaux, is this the trigger you referred to? The Apex Forward Set Sear?

http://www.brownells.com/handgun-pa...ward-set-sear-trigger-kit-prod45404.aspx

I'll disagree with this, even though for MOST self-defense shootings this may hold true.

But defensive shootings can very easily become offensive shootings. The recent active shooters that have been shot by good guys carrying concealed. Or the crazy dude that snatched a kid out of a shopping cart at War-Mart and held him hostage with a knife.

Shootings like that may very well require a much different shot than getting mugged in a dark parking lot.

Now a lot of difficult shots can be made with mediocre triggers. But my position is just that "it working" or "just going bang" should certainly not be our threshold of what's acceptable.

Hi Dave,

I only have a Colt XSE 1911 Govt and Ruger GP100 and was looking to explore my options. Both of my firearms have limited capacity, 6-shot revolver, and 8+1 1911.

The 1911 is a 45acp which can get expensive even though I handload. I can find used 45acp brass pretty cheap if I'm willing to put in some elbow grease. The powder and primers are a wash, 45 acp doesn't use much powder. The bullets however, are a bit more expensive across the board.

Given that the 1911 also has reputation of being finicky eater in regards to hollow points, I figured I'd explore the polymer striker fired pistols since they have a reputation of eating any and every thing plus are "cheap" as least compared to 1911.

I don't go hog crazy spending big &&& on 1911. I try to stay in the $1,000 range +/- $100.

The polymers look to run in the $550-$650 range. But as I look more into them, they seem to have hidden costs. If I want to use the cheap lead bullets in glock, I have to buy an aftermarket barrel. So there's $100+. Plus heard glock sights are junk and need to be upgraded? More $$. For M&P, there's the Apex which is what? Around $160 and voids S&W warranty. For Xd, I think what I read is that I'd have to step up to the XdM which is about $100 premium.


So, I guess I'm getting more sticker shock regarding these cheaper polymer striker fired pistols. There's seem to be some hidden costs in regards to getting them up to where most people want them to be that makes them not a whole lot cheaper than a 1911. Especially after continuous hearing on internet that they can get two glocks or two of this handgun for price of one 1911.

I'm not a 1911 fanboy, at least I don't consider myself one. I realize that they're not a perfect platform and have their quirks that one should be aware of if they want to run a 1911.

I like revolvers a lot. They meet a lot of my needs but not good choices for CCW.

I just haven't found a platform that I like yet so getting frustrated in my search, without trying to broke in my search, lol!

Leo

I expect my XDS and my Glock to reliably go bang when I pull the trigger. It won't be a long range, it won't be to punch paper for points. Self defense in a time of crisis does not need a target type good trigger. It needs a trigger that works. Every time. That is the first consideration.

liliysdad, if I decided polymer striker fired I think I would definitely look at used or police trade-ins.


The_Real_Hawkeye, I think my GP-100 is too big & bulky for CCW. While the smaller SP-101 may help with concealment, I loose another round. So the bulk & size of my revolver combined with only 6 shoots makes my 1911 with 8+1 look like high capacity with 50% more rounds.

Also I've shoot revolvers enough to know that revolvers are not necessarily more reliable. Revolvers are more tolerant of neglect than semi auto but are revolver are NOT tolerate of abuse as much. So when a revolver goes down, it goes down big time! A semi auto is a quick tap, rack, pull the trigger to get them back in order.

What I like about revolvers are that they are relatively intuitive to new/inexperience shooters. Don't have to worry about whether this type or that bullet shape will function in a revolver. I don't have to worry whether this powder puff loads I've load for newbie will cycle/function in my semi. Likewise I don't have to worry about full power loads battery my pistol and need to change out springs. Don't have to worry about whether they have hand strength to rack the slide or about decocking DA/SA, etc. Added bonus is that I get 100% of my brass back to reload

Bighorn, I will look into the M&P pro series. Thank for the tip. It's hard to beat a 1911 trigger. It is both a blessing and curse at same time.


Leo


PS. In edition to cheap cost of 9mm to shoot, it also help my logistic to stock only small pistol primers instead of large & small pistol primers.

The reality is-

I do not know what my next fight will be- I must assume it will be today.

I do not how good my adversary will be or how many- I must assume that they are excellently trained and that their will be many.

I do not know what my condition will be- I must assume it will be the worst day of my life and that I will be wounded.

I do not know what shooting task I will face- I must assume it will be a small target, surrounded by innocent people, at long range.

The Walther PPS-M2 has a darn nice trigger.

The best triggers I've ever felt on striker fired pistols, to me, are in a Walther PPQ. A very close second would be Kahr.

Use your index finger to trip magazine release. Grip doesn't change.

vp-9 LE trigger , canick TP9SF trigger very good .