TWtommers
Instructor
Just installed the new Reset Assist Mechanism from Apex Tactical and thought I would post a little review. Hope it helps.
As an owner of a Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm compact I have to say that I feel a bit conflicted. I love the way the gun feels in my hand, the reliability (easily a thousand rounds through it without a single issue), and its small carry size. But... there's that trigger. Particularly the 78 lb MA trigger. Luckily, the folks at Apex Tactical recognized the conflict and have created a suite of drop ins and add ons to fix the trigger issues.
I had already installed the new hard sear and striker block when I caught wind of the Reset Assist Mechanism or RAM. Where the sear and the striker block are designed to take away something that shouldn't be there (excessive pull weight and grit), the RAM is actually designed to add something that should be there, a reset on the trigger! The factory trigger has no real discernible reset. It just travels back to home with no indication to the finger where in that travel the trigger has reset. This simple issue drove me nuts so I ordered the RAM on the first day it was made available.
First, a little background on me. I'm a new shooter. I'm mechanically inclined so I'm not at all afraid to work on my gun despite a lack of gunsmithing experience. However, my mechanical inclinations are tempered by what can best be described as impatient oafishness. So, if you can use a screwdriver without drawing blood and have the patience to not use a hammer on a jigsaw puzzle, you can probably do this job. For legal purposes, however, there's no way I'm going to recommend you do this unless you are a gunsmith![[smile]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/001.gif "Smile [smile]")
The Package. Like the other two packages I've received from Apex, the RAM comes in a tiny plastic baggy inside a small padded envelope. Not losing it between the sofa cushions was my first victory. The contents are simple. Just a small metal post with a notch and a small compression spring that slides over the post. There are no instructions but you can look to Apex Tactical's Youtube page for a quick video that details the very simple install.
The Install. Because the video explains the whole install, I don't want to cover every detail. I will say though that this took me about 10 minutes. No lie or macho exaggeration. Its just not that difficult. You do have to be careful about the alignment of the pin (which is tough to see in the video but easy in real life) and careful not to launch the spring loaded pin when installing but other than that, its pretty easy.
The Results. Even from dry fire I could immediately notice both tactically and audibly a real trigger reset! Most surprising to me was how quickly after release the trigger resets. At the range, the reset is even more noticeable allowing me to not waste motion on the trigger and giving me a better feel overall on the trigger. It seems like a really simple item to overlook but that reset makes a difference.
The Verdict. While I'm sure a gunsmith would do a much more skilled job of tuning that trigger, the Apex stuff is a great option for those unafraid of tools. The RAM is no different and I highly recommend it to those of you who really miss that trigger reset!
Tom
As an owner of a Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm compact I have to say that I feel a bit conflicted. I love the way the gun feels in my hand, the reliability (easily a thousand rounds through it without a single issue), and its small carry size. But... there's that trigger. Particularly the 78 lb MA trigger. Luckily, the folks at Apex Tactical recognized the conflict and have created a suite of drop ins and add ons to fix the trigger issues.
I had already installed the new hard sear and striker block when I caught wind of the Reset Assist Mechanism or RAM. Where the sear and the striker block are designed to take away something that shouldn't be there (excessive pull weight and grit), the RAM is actually designed to add something that should be there, a reset on the trigger! The factory trigger has no real discernible reset. It just travels back to home with no indication to the finger where in that travel the trigger has reset. This simple issue drove me nuts so I ordered the RAM on the first day it was made available.
First, a little background on me. I'm a new shooter. I'm mechanically inclined so I'm not at all afraid to work on my gun despite a lack of gunsmithing experience. However, my mechanical inclinations are tempered by what can best be described as impatient oafishness. So, if you can use a screwdriver without drawing blood and have the patience to not use a hammer on a jigsaw puzzle, you can probably do this job. For legal purposes, however, there's no way I'm going to recommend you do this unless you are a gunsmith
The Package. Like the other two packages I've received from Apex, the RAM comes in a tiny plastic baggy inside a small padded envelope. Not losing it between the sofa cushions was my first victory. The contents are simple. Just a small metal post with a notch and a small compression spring that slides over the post. There are no instructions but you can look to Apex Tactical's Youtube page for a quick video that details the very simple install.
The Install. Because the video explains the whole install, I don't want to cover every detail. I will say though that this took me about 10 minutes. No lie or macho exaggeration. Its just not that difficult. You do have to be careful about the alignment of the pin (which is tough to see in the video but easy in real life) and careful not to launch the spring loaded pin when installing but other than that, its pretty easy.
The Results. Even from dry fire I could immediately notice both tactically and audibly a real trigger reset! Most surprising to me was how quickly after release the trigger resets. At the range, the reset is even more noticeable allowing me to not waste motion on the trigger and giving me a better feel overall on the trigger. It seems like a really simple item to overlook but that reset makes a difference.
The Verdict. While I'm sure a gunsmith would do a much more skilled job of tuning that trigger, the Apex stuff is a great option for those unafraid of tools. The RAM is no different and I highly recommend it to those of you who really miss that trigger reset!
Tom
![[wink]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/002.gif "Wink [wink]")
haha Great review btw
![[cheers]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/018.gif "Cheers [cheers]")
