Jayce

I bought the APEX competition spring kit from Midway and installed as per the instructions in the APEX videos. I'm having issues with my trigger staying rearward. I went to test/dryfire the gun and I pull the trigger to the rear and rack the slide to see the reset, and the trigger remains locked in the rear position. I had to flick the trigger forward to get it back to normal. I did a combination of springs and found the trigger return spring wasn't strong enough to pull the trigger bar past the striker. I'm afraid to use the competition trigger return spring in a USPSA/IDPA match due to the lock back issue. I'm not sure what to do and maybe you can help. Is there a trick I'm missing? The gun is clean, if that takes away one factor.

I got a stippled back strap from Damato Custom Stippling and grip tape from the Ben Stoeger pro shop.

When I bought my sights, no info was available at the time (2 months ago) so I'll throw in my experience. Buy the prescribed sights as stated by Dawson. I have the blacked-out .245 rear with the .145 notch and the .180 tall F/O front with the .105w. This sight combo was made to not co-witness with a red-dot. I don't have a RDS so I wouldn't know is it holds true. Sometime down the line when I get to buy one I'll edit this post. I have the M&P40 CORE in with the 5" barrel. And after hearing mixed reports and such in my research (ENOS, MP-Pistol, S&W Forum, ARFcom, etc...) with the other long slide M&Ps I just called Dawson directly and asked what they recommended. They said to buy the sights as prescribed. DP has been doing this for a while so I trusted them. The sights were developed to shoot POA/POI. So in this case right behind the F/O. Which is consistent with my previous M&P9/40 FS. I got the sights and had them installed by my local gunsmith who also made sure it hit POA/POI. Which it does at 20 yards. I can get shots standing free handed about a 2inch group in the head box of a IDPA/USPSA target. I know it's conjecture for you, but I guess what I'm saying is that DP was right. I wanted to shoot my CORE in IDPA SSP/ESP and USPSA Production/Limited/L10. Mileage may vary but that's what I did. Really had nothing to lose. If it wasn't hitting where I was aiming then I follow the formula and take adcantage of the Dawson Guarantee and get a new front-sight. I hope this helps.

The Stoeger grips are great. They use jessup skate board tape and the cut is very precise. I have a textured backstrap from Damato stippling and the combo of that and the stoeger tape is awesome. It's gritty enough that the gun won't slip, but not so gritty that shifting the gun to dropa mag isn't delayed.

The M&P CORE is now legal. I'm not sure when they did the update, but it's on the approved list now.

I've actually used the product in my M&P40. It does take away some shock, but it's marginal at best. I have a good grip and huge hands so your mileage varies. You really feel it work on 165gr factory ammo or snappy ammo like Fiocchi. It hasn't induced any malfunctions, but it does get worn down, especially putting 300+ rounds of the formentioned ammo. I shoot all types of ammo and it does reduce a bit of the snap and shock. But playing with ammo loads/springs would be a better solution.

http://www.speedshooterspecialties.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=0&products_id=1058 Don't remove the sear disconnect. It's like what partyboy424 said. And the Burwell diagram helped me out a lot.

Well The two rifles are at about $1000. I don't really mind the weight.

Thanks mcattack, I'll def keep that in mind. This is still my first AR. I wanted to start with something basic and there aren't a lot of 3gun matches in NJ. I figure I'd start with something and it's what lead me to a piston AR in the first place. I was def not going to buy another rifle (not right away anyway). I wasn't going to convert it. And the price looked as if it were comparable to other DI ARs when comparing prices here in NJ. Just don't want this to turn into the dead horse beating DI vs Piston debate.

Well, I've heard reliability and part mangement in the long run, and less stuff to clean after a day at the range.

Looking to get my first AR. I've been looking around for a good while and pretty much have narrowed it down to two. S&W M&P15 PS or Stag Arms Model 8? Does anyone have or know anyone with experience with these rifles? They're both in the same price point with the exception of the Stag Arms comes with MI folding BUIS where as the M&P does not come with sights at all. I can't tell a difference between the piston systems themselves but it seems Stag Arms' system seems more robust. I'll refer to more experience on that front. Thanks guys