Craig Reinolds of Swanson Media Group gives TGL his review of the Apex Tactical Glock Trigger kit
Apex Tactical Specialties have created some new and innovative products in the firearms industry. The Apex mission is to provide superior parts, exceptional performance and craftsmanship, and above all, unparalleled customer service. From my personal experience with this company, you can take this mission statement from Apex to the bank.
This focus of this review is the recently released Flat Faced Glock Trigger Set and Ultimate Safety Plunger. This kit includes high performance components designed to reduce take up, trigger pull, reset and smooth transitioning during the trigger press.
My journey with Apex has spanned the last couple of years, testing firearms and custom components. Many of my past handgun tests have included an Apex trigger as part of the custom build. Recently, I tested a Walther PPQ M2 with a model specific Apex trigger. Wow, I think it is the best handgun Walther produces. I definitely believe the addition of the Apex trigger took the performance for the review over the top. I decided to customize my personal Glock pistol and when it came to find a trigger, there was no doubt I would look to Apex for my needs. When our team at Swanson Media Group reached out to Apex a few months ago, we were delighted to discover they were working on a complete kit for the Glock platform. The version we tested was one of their pre-production model.
I wanted a handgun that could perform top in its class whether in the competition circuits, self-defense or just running and gunning on the steel. My goal was to have a pistol that helped take my handgun training the next level as well have an everyday carry pistol that was battle ready. As the saying goes, “Beware the man who only has one gun. He probably knows how to use it!” This is the gun I wanted to have with me at all times while gaining experience using it very effectively. After evaluating several possibilities, my final choice was the Glock 34 MOS. Since it was an optics ready pistol, I mounted the Vortex Venom Red Dot on the slide along with a new set of Trijicon Tritium Night Suppressor Sights.
I installed the ATS Trigger Kit. The kit included the Flat-Faced Forward Set Trigger, the Trigger Bar, the Ultimate Safety Plunger and a new Connector. Once the build was complete I Immediately went to John Phillips at Survivor Creek Tactical and had his company build an IWB Kydex custom to my carry preferences and an OWB Kydex RTI System. Now the testing and training could properly begin!
When talking about triggers, there are a few things that we look at to rate and compare them. Trigger take up, the “break point”, the reset and the pounds of pull to the break. The Glock 34 Gen 4 MOS comes with a decent trigger, trigger pull at ~2.0 kg / ~4.5 lbs. and the trigger travel at ~12.5 mm / ~0.49 in. The thing I noticed the most from the factory trigger is when you hit the trigger break. Although measuring only 4.5 LBS, when it did break, the trigger felt like pushing on a closed door and when it opened you fell through without control causing all my shots to vary in a horizontal row 2 inches left, right and on the bullseye. The break was more of a shattering then a clean break. This cancelled out anything else positive about the factory trigger just magnifying the need for a custom trigger. The Apex trigger kit is a drop-in replacement for the factory parts and maintains the factory safety features. The Apex kit is intended for use in the following Glock model pistols (including Gen 4 versions): G17, G17L, G19, G22, G23, G24, G26, G27, G31, G32, G33, G34, G35, G37, G38, and G39. The Ultimate plunger will smooth out the trigger’s take up during shooting.
After working with the factory trigger for a few days, the Apex kit felt almost indescribable. This has to be the best trigger I have ever shot. I enjoy the short take up on the trigger and the perceived wall can only be described as more like a closed unlatched door. You obviously know when you reach the break point but instead of having to pull through with specific poundage, you simply press your way through. Apex has created a trigger that enhances the technique of pressing the trigger. This is truly remarkable; you can just simply press through a predictable firing of the pistol. After a short reset you just press again with no negative reactions to the break, firing the handgun on target every time assuming you have mastered the other components to firing a pistol accurately. I am not an engineer but the combination Apex has put together with the trigger, ultimate safety plunger and connector clearly has made a winning combination for a smooth operation.
In closing I would like to Thank Apex Tactical Specialties, Inc. for the opportunity to evaluate the Glock Trigger Kit. This kit has exceeded all expectations in a custom trigger. I have been well pleased with the flawless, finely tuned performance. Excelling so well on the competition circuits and civilian sales, I have no doubts, based on my personal experience, they will continue to be a number one contender for custom and performance parts for many years to come. For more information about this trigger kit as well as other great Apex products, visit them at https://www.apextactical.com.
