About the Apex Tactical Forward Set

Apex Tactical 100153 Forward Set Sear & Trigger Kit – Red Flat Trigger for S&W M&P 2.0

Alright, let’s talk triggers. That gritty take-up, the vague wall, and that long, mushy reset? It works for duty, sure, but it’s not doing you any favors when you’re trying to stack rounds on steel or tighten up your groups. That’s where this Apex Tactical kit comes in.

This is the Apex Tactical 100153 Forward Set Sear & Trigger Kit, and it’s built specifically for the S&W M&P M2.0 (including the California-compliant models with the thumb safety, if that’s your setup). Apex Tactical is a manufacturer that’s earned its reputation in the industry—no hype, just solid engineering. They don’t cut corners, and they don’t sell gimmicks. This kit is a direct replacement for the factory hinged trigger, swapping it out for a solid, billet aluminum flat trigger with a center-mounted pivoting safety blade. That safety blade maintains the same factory safety values, so you’re not compromising on drop safety or accidental discharge prevention. It’s a clean, no-nonsense design.

What you’re getting here is a significant reduction in both pre-travel and over-travel compared to the stock trigger. The forward set geometry means the trigger sits further forward in the trigger guard, which naturally shortens your finger’s reach to the trigger face. For shooters with shorter fingers or those who prefer a more consistent index point, this is a game-changer—sorry, I mean it’s a practical improvement. The kit also shortens the trigger reset noticeably. After a round goes off, you’ll feel a crisp, positive reset that’s shorter and more tactile than stock. That means faster follow-up shots with less wasted motion, especially in high-stress or competition scenarios.

The pull weight lands right in the sweet spot for a service-grade pistol—lighter than a duty trigger but still well within what you’d consider safe and reliable for a defensive firearm. You’re not going to get a hair-trigger here, and that’s by design. Apex Tactical engineers these components to work together as a system: the sear, the trigger bar, the striker block, and the trigger itself all interact to give you a smooth, consistent pull from start to break. No stacking, no grit, no surprises.

Installation is marketed as drop-in, and for most M&P owners, it is. You can do it yourself if you’re mechanically inclined and have a punch set and a small hammer. But I’ll be straight with you—if you’ve never worked on a pistol’s fire control group before, or if you’re not comfortable disassembling the frame, take it to an armorer or a gunsmith. A misaligned sear or a pinched spring can cause malfunctions or safety issues. Don’t learn on your carry gun. That said, for the experienced home tinkerer, it’s a straightforward job.

Now, a word on California. It’s an internal part, not a magazine or a threaded barrel, so you’re good to go. Just make sure your receiving FFL is cool with parts kits—most are, but it’s worth a quick call ahead of time.

You’re not paying for a fancy box or marketing fluff. You’re paying for precision-machined aluminum, hardened steel sear surfaces, and a trigger that’s been tested and proven by thousands of shooters—including law enforcement and competitive shooters who run these hard. The red flat trigger adds a nice visual touch, too, if you’re into that sort of thing. It’s not just for looks; the flat face gives you a more consistent finger placement and a more predictable trigger pull, especially if you’re used to shooting 1911s or other flat-faced triggers.

One more thing: if you’re running an M&P Shield or the original M&P 1.0 (the non-2.0), this kit won’t fit. It’s specifically for the M2.0 full-size, compact, and subcompact frames. Double-check your model before ordering.

It’s a proven, reliable upgrade that makes your pistol shoot better, reset faster, and feel more precise.