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PPQ Trigger Pull

28K views 88 replies 38 participants last post by  kampers 
#1 ·
After purchasing my PPQ, I had the "gritty" trigger and followed instruction on polishing the Trigger Bar where it contacts the Firing Pin Block. Then had to bend the Trigger Bar contact very carefully and improved the "grittiness" feel from the Safety Block.

Still had the bit of "stickiness" with the trigger pull. I removed the Safety Block and the pull is SO much better. The pull weight is the same and has always been good, but now it is so smooth.

I do not plan on using the PPQ as my carry weapon, just a range pistol and target shooting. Shooting was excellent with most hits in the 9 & 10 ring at 10 yds and I feel now it should keep most shots in the 10 ring.

As a clarification, I do not want to start a war concerning safety by removing the block, but I have been shooting pistols for over 50 years and have always been safe. But, I would like to ask you guys opinion on removing the Block. A couple of friends of mine at work said if the factory put them on, don't remove them. A few more said they agree with my decision to remove so the pull would be smoother. My current carry pistols are a Beretta Cougar or a Sig P250 and a Ruger LCP in an ankle holster. I do not plan on any modifications to these pistols

Still love my Walther pistols though!!!!!
 
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#2 ·
I wouldn't feel comfortable removing it. To sacrifice safety (potentially) for a slightly smoother trigger is a compromise I would not be willing to make, but that's me.

How many rounds through your PPQ? With a clean, oil, and few hundred rounds I believe it would have polished itself smooth on it's own, BUT, if your method works, it works.
 
#4 · (Edited)
I had the same exact issue and it drove me nuts for 2 weeks. Like you, I tried the polishing which was little help. Removing the FPB proved where the issue lay, but is not much of a solution.

What has made a world of difference is using gun grease- TW25B in my case, on the FPB and trigger connector. I actually pop out the FPB, clean the hole, and re-grease all of the contact points. At the risk of sounding like a shill, the grease is a miracle. I ran a few hundred rounds through the PPQ and it was still effective. Some may not like the idea of grease in the FPB hole, but it's easy to clean and doesn't seem to get dirtier than lube.

For what it's worth, the only other lube I've tried is Weapon Shield and Ballistol, both of which were useless for this particular issue. They're still useful elsewhere but the grease is amazing.

Oh, and the action of the greased trigger is not quite as smooth as with the FPB removed, but I actually prefer having it in because it gives better tactile feedback and a bit of resistance. Having no FPB made the transition from takeup to break too harsh.
 
#5 ·
Re-install the striker block and apply grease to the places the trigger bar makes contact. Removing the striker block isn't a good idea as the striker is fully cocked. It's different than the firing pin block of the 1911 which simply keeps the firing pin from striking the primer if the pistol is dropped. The striker block keeps the striker from firing the pistol if the trigger is not pulled in case a sear fails or if the pistol takes a hard enough hit to jar the sear. The striker block also keeps the PPQ from firing out of battery
 
#7 ·
I wouldn't have removed the firing pin safety.

As far as triggerpull smoothness I did nothing at all not even lubricate anything to improve the smoothness. I simply dryfire(with snap caps) which is invaluable practice anyway and shot 2,100 rounds.

My trigger is super smooth now.
 
#10 ·
Put the FP block back in and go to grease! The FP block is there for a reason.

I’ve got 2 PPQ-9s, the 2nd had a decent trigger out of the box, but the 1st had the gritty trigger and the bar was out of alignment with the FP block. With #2, I did some slight polishing and went to grease, great improvement. On #1, I did the polishing, and bent the trigger bar slightly to correct for the misalignment, and went to grease. I’d say the trigger on #1 is better than #2.

I’m not a big fan of “shooting a gun smooth” when a few minutes of work will accomplish the same thing. But, I’m also not afraid of making a couple hundred dollar mistake and have lots of spare guns laying around.

Mistwolf has some very good pictures of the PPQ trigger with details on where to lube with grease. Hopefully he’ll post them again, or the several threads in which they appeared.

Chuck
 
#11 ·
Guys, Thanks for your opinions, and good ones at that!!!

I am a very safe person with firearms,and understand the reason for the Firing Pin Block. After getting the PPQ, I did love the feel of the pistol; it fit my hand perfecty. The grittiness just drove me nuts, LOL! I did clean and lubricate the pistol before firing the first time. After firing, I polished the contact surfaces of the Firing pin Safety, the grittiness was a little better, but not good. Then I found the article on the reason for the grittiness and followed the instructions closely. I pulled the Block out, lighty polished all sufaces, lubricated behind the Trigger Bar, and made sure the Trigger Bar was over the center of the Block. After approx. 2K rounds, the grittiness was still there. Then after removing the Block, all grittiness was gone! I went to the range yesterday and shooting the PPQ at 25 yds. was shear pleasure.

I may shoot it ths way a little more, but I am keeping the Block and if I do carry the PPQ, the Block will be returned fo safety reasons.

Again, your comments are very much appreciated and I think the majority has ruled, KEEP the Block in the pistol!!!!!!
 
#18 · (Edited)
Guys, Thanks for your opinions, and good ones at that!!!

I am a very safe person with firearms,and understand the reason for the Firing Pin Block.
Good idea on putting it back for your own liability! You made posts on the internet about how you intentionally removed a safety feature to lighten/smooth the trigger pull, do you have any idea what would happen to you if you have a negligent discharge and hurt someone now? Lawyers would eat you alive.

Put it back, shoot the gun, there is nothing wrong with the trigger that needs any "fixing" other than just being shot. If you still think it needs something, send it back to S&W.
 
#12 ·
I also polished both of my blocks, most importantly checking to insure there were no sharp edges that may catch during activation. I basically beveled all those edges that may have been hanging up. Worst case is, you could overdo it and be out a FP block.

Do the trick mentioned in the article about applying pressure from different angles to see “where” the grittiness is coming from.

Chuck
 
#13 ·
Out of my 6 handguns my PPQ is #1! Prior to PPQ purchase my XD40sc was my favorite. Can't really describe it but not too crazy about my PPS 9mm. It is my first handgun & treated me good at CHL class. So, doubt I'll ever trade/sell it.

Anyway, I kind of stage my PPQ trigger [entire time pointed toward target] and quickly learned it's sweet spot. Love the trigger!
 
#14 · (Edited)
The PPQ I purchases had the same gritty trigger problem. This is actually my first handgun so I don't have very much experience although I have been shooting rifles for 10+ years and most of the ones I own have match triggers.

Well my PPQ trigger definitely felt off from the beginning. I couldn't get a consistent trigger pull during the take up and I wasn't sure if it was normal. I let my buddy shoot it at the range and he asked me if I oiled the trigger because it definitely did not feel right. All this time I was thinking WTF, why was every single review raving about the trigger?

So I started reading online and started trying out these possible fixes. First I took out the firing pin block and put it back together to dry fire a couple of times.. Now I FINALLY felt how great the PPQ trigger is supposed to be! But I knew I couldn't leave it in that configuration for safety reasons so I oiled the trigger with Slip2000, polished the trigger bar, bent the trigger bar little by little, and applied TW25b grease to the hole where the firing pin block sits. Basically every possible fix I read about online. Right now it feels 95% of how it does if the firing pin block wasn't there. I wonder if it would ever be possible to get it to where it feels like the trigger pin block weren't in there at all.

Now I know there are some guys that say it gets better after shooting a couple hundreds of rounds. To me that sounds like your coach telling you to "walk it off" after being hit in the groin with a softball. Although I need practice with handgun I feel that the gritty trigger was really affecting the consistency of my trigger pull and most of more my enjoyment of shooting. I guess just working the trigger does help it 'wear in' but I seriously couldn't have stand shooting a couple hundred rounds with the gritty trigger I had.
 
#15 ·
There is a definate theme here, removing safety block is bad JUJU!!! It a bad thing just waiting to happen.

On the grease suggestion, what about putting a small amount of polishing compound in there, cycle it until it smooths out then a good cleaning and good to go. Has anyone tried this?
 
#21 ·
What some guys “just don’t seem to get” is that all PPQ triggers are not the same. Some are out of alignment, and the “shoot it in” will just waste a bunch of ammo.

I’ve got two PPQ-9s, the 2nd one good (now better) and the first had me seriously wondering what all the “greatest trigger in the world” fanboy nonsense was about. It really was gritty, more than gritty, it felt like it was binding when pulled through slowly. Careful examination showed it looks like the out of alignment trigger bar/FP block. As I pushed down on the FP block from several different directions, it could be felt hanging up.

So rather than comment on a trigger on a pistol you’ve never seen, never mind actually fired “is fine and there’s nothing wrong with it that a little shooting won’t cure”, maybe give the guy the benefit of the doubt that he knows what a good trigger feels like, and the one he has isn’t it.

Chuck
 
#22 ·
...So rather than comment on a trigger on a pistol you’ve never seen, never mind actually fired “is fine and there’s nothing wrong with it that a little shooting won’t cure”, maybe give the guy the benefit of the doubt that he knows what a good trigger feels like, and the one he has isn’t it...

The problem is that everyone's idea of a good trigger pull is subjective. Here's a great article by one of the best revolversmiths in the country. Though it pertains to revolvers the same principle carries over to semi-autos:


GrantCunningham.com - Library
 
#24 · (Edited)
I do agree with Chuck on this part: We have no idea how bad the trigger is. Maybe it's horrific and maybe it's something that a little shooting will cure.
I'd argue that if the trigger is that horrific, then maybe it should go back to the factory.

The first question that comes to my mind when these threads pop up, is "did you lube the trigger bar, FPB, and the sear"?

Trigger Bar (the yellow part):
-Lube the top of the center section where it contacts the half-circle on the frame
-Lube the ear on the left side that contacts the FPB (pink)
-Lube the section all the way on the right, where it rubs on the frame on the side of the sear

FPB (the pink part)
-Lube the angled area where it contacts the trigger bar
-Lube the channel in the slide that it rides in

Sear (the green part)
-Lube the small area where it contacts the orange part underneath it. It is easier to get to this part when the trigger is pulled.




The above image is of a P99 AS, but it is in the cocked state, just like a loaded PPQ would be. Disregard the style of the trigger and the shadowed area in front of the rear sight. As you can see, the two pistols are extremely similar internally.

If lubing these areas does not fix the grittiness, then I'd suggest a trip back to the factory. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable bending the trigger bar.
 
#26 ·
1. I had a 1 in a million PPQ with something actually wrong with it, and all the others out there that complain of a gritty trigger; either don’t know what a good trigger is, or can’t figure out how to lube one, or haven’t put enough rounds through it to smooth out.

OR

2. The Walther guys aren’t quite as infallible as some here would believe them to be, and maybe, just maybe they let an occasional pistol out the door that’s not “perfect”. I mean, I don’t know how detailed the inspection process is on a $500 dollar (cost is probably closer to $250-300) mass produced polymer pistol, but it is plausible, right?

I don’t know about anybody else, but I’m leaning towards #2.
There's no way for me to really know, but I think it's more #1 than #2. I'm sure some bad examples will slip through and get sold though.

There are a lot of new members here who are new to pistols, and I think that if I was a new shooter, and I handled my PPQ when it was new without knowing where to lube it, I would have considered it a gritty trigger as well.

My own PPQ started out gritty, and even now, if I don't lube those areas, it isn't as smooth as it could be. But on my PPQ, when those areas have grease or oil on them, the trigger stroke is smooth as butter. I mean to the point that I have a serious doubt that anyone could make mine smoother, when these areas are lubed.

This is just my own experience with my own, single, PPQ.
 
#29 ·
Just wanted to post another link to the "gritty" article. It was deleted from a former server. I added a little more information, specifically regarding the fine tuning with springs.

PPQ Gritty Fix
Smokem', I clicked on the link, it wants me to sing in to my account. I'm not aware of having an account at this location, much less a password. Just wondering, could you post the info here as well?
 
#36 ·
The pistol is yours to do with what you wish, but I would suggest that bending the trigger bar is not something just anyone out there should be doing.

I'd suggest caution when trying something like this, and I would suggest it as a last resort to all other means of smoothing the trigger. Try lubing all the areas suggested in the manual first, and see if that improvement is not enough before bending important parts in your pistol.
 
#37 ·
The pistol is yours to do with what you wish, but I would suggest that bending the trigger bar is not something just anyone out there should be doing.

I'd suggest caution when trying something like this, and I would suggest it as a last resort to all other means of smoothing the trigger. Try lubing all the areas suggested in the manual first, and see if that improvement is not enough before bending important parts in your pistol.
I agree with everything you said. And I did all those things you mentioned. After reading Smokemup's 'Gritty Trigger' write up, I proceeded to visually check the alignment on all my Q's as well as my P99C. The Q's were all aligned pretty nicely....the P99C was misaligned. I tweaked it and now the alignment is perfect and the trigger feels every bit as good as my Q's. But yeah, this modification is not for everyone...if they don't feel confident in doing it....DON'T DO IT.

I'm actually just blown away with the difference that little tweak made in the feel (smoothness) of the trigger. Who woulda thought? I coulda used 45 gallons of the best gun lubes on earth and it would not have solved the problem. I coulda put 3 million rounds thru the pistol and it would not have fixed the problem. The trigger bar WAS misaligned....and it was actually a simple fix, although one that requires finesse.
 
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