S&W introduces new SD40 and SD9 pistols

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Smith & Wesson has put out a brochure on the new SD9 and SD40 pistols.

The best description I can give is this: SIGMA lower with different stipling/molding, stainless slide and barrel with melonite finish, styled to look like M&P slide. Slide has front and rear grasping grooves.

Steel white dot sights, front and rear are both dovetailed in, tritium night sight in front only.

Constant double action only trigger of 8 pounds on each shot (as opposed to 13 pound SIGMA and 6.5 pound M&P), which they are calling the SDT (self-defense trigger).

16 + 1 in 9mm and 14 + 1 in .40 S&W. The pictures make it look like the SIGMA mags will work, but I stress this is just a guess. I have no confirmation on magazine interchangeability.

No .45 ACP, don't ask!

Picatinny style equipment rail, as opposed to SIGMA's proprietary rail.

They are being billed as for home and personal defense for the everyday consumer. Price point is between SIGMA and M&P. It looks like retail may be less than dealer on other competing brands. Check with your dealer for actual pricing, but the brochure shows an "average retail price" of $429.00 for the SD pistols. For comparison, the brochure lists "average retail price" for SIGMA as $349.00 and $569.00 for M&P.

Uses are listed in the ad brochure as home/personal defense, security details and range practice.

I am sure we will hear alot more about these new pistols in the coming months.

UPDATE: Someone in customer service at the factory told me today (May 6, 2010) that the part number for the magazine assembly was not the same for the SD40 and the SIGMA 40, leading him to believe the magazines were not the same.

I was not, however, convinced that he was entirely sure of his answer as he seemed not very confident. He did, however, say he was looking at a build sheet on the computer which supposedly shows a complete listing of the parts in a particular SKU number.

I wonder if the magazine tube could be the same and the floorplate is different leading to the use of a different part number for the magazine assembly. I just cannot believe we have to go out and stock another magazine, especially when the frame on the SD40 and the SIGMA look so much alike and the capacities are the same on the two pistols within caliber. If they made an entirely new magazine, why not go with higher capacity than SIGMA?
 
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I like my SW40VE, but it appears they improved on the Sigma a little; so thats sweet.

I would bet the regular mags will work with it, why would they need to change the frame, its fine.
 
Dang it all!! Second thread I have seen of this and I too feel the need to buy one. It is your fault mlk18. HA!!
 
Gun MFGs are sure not like car MFGs ,im guessing late 2010 ? I can already buy a 2011 Ford vehicle LOL
how long before they show up in stores?

Im chompin at the bit for a .380 Guardian
 
On FB they said they will be in stores first week of June.
 
Is it wrong for me to be unimpressed? There is such a market for a true CC pistol from a Major American Manufacturer, and we get another Sigma?
Nothing against Sigmas, but they are duty sized. The market is flooded with duty polymers.

How about a CS-9 sized, polymer pistol, with a DA/SA hammer?
 
Think this is to replace Sigma, not just augment pistol that is nearly identical in function, looks, and price. Also perhaps to diminish the effect of the early bad Sigmas.
 
It has my interest peaked. I will be watching the SD's and the Sigma's if dropped/get cheaper.
The wife has all my money going to a new house and closing. I hope for Santa to bring me some new toys. LOL :cool:
 
I've been following the SD's release across the gun internet and I have to say, I'm pretty disappointed in the large numbers of S&W hating Fudd's, who are either still living in the Clinton presidency or just can't seem to grasp that most of the Sigma,s reliability problems were solved a decade or more ago.

It looks to me like S&W may well have finally refined the Sigma into the budget Glock killer it was originally intended to be.

S&W will drop the Sigma VE's now as they did the 99 OL's and just run the SD's as the budget line and the M&P's as the premium line.

Never believe a pre-release retail price. My guess is the SD's will be selling at the Sigma,s low to mid 300's price point by New Year's 2011.

At $150.00 less over the counter, with conventional rifling and a supported chamber, Melonite over stainless recontoured slide, new lighter trigger, factory tritium front and what appears to be a "no pusher tool needed" rear sight and a new non-proprietary rail. The SD's are aimed right at Glock's aging 2nd and 3rd gen law enforcement replacement market.

The M&P then takes care of the H&K, XDM,and FNX over priced europlastic.
 
It may be an upgrade for some but I don't see where this new model offers me anything significant over my existing SW40VE. I already have S&W installed night sights, factory trigger job brought my trigger pull to around 7lbs already, don't use a light so the rail doesn't matter to me and add in the fact that the 4 mags I currently have for my Sigma probably won't work and I just have to say no to this new model. I would have loved to see S&W bring out a 9mm in their Bodyguard Series that would be about the same size as a Taurus 709 Slim. I will check out the debut of these new models at the NRA Annual Meetings this weekend in Charlotte before I pass final judgement but for now, a little disappointed with S&W for offering something that is not very innovative at all.
 
I'm a little confused by all this inovation expectation surrounding the release of a $300 to $400 entry level service pistol.

It would seem, some of you expect S&W to tap the Sigma VE's with a magic wand and turn them into $3000.00 Nighthawk Customs, "but still priced lower than a beat up, 30 year old Ruger Security Six at a 10 table gun show, at 5:45pm Sunday after noon. "Or we'll turn up our noses at it and gripe."

This model is not directed towards the S&W collecter with a safe full of $1000.00 uber guns, or the guy thats all ready got his and hers Sigma VE's in both night stands. The SD's are aimed at the first time handgun buyer, who's standing in front of a gun counter, with a Glock and an SD in front of him, but still has to feed a wife and 2.5 kids this month.
 
Agree. OR it is aimed at people like myself who love the sigma and want just a tad more. I really hope a baseplate change will allow Sigma mags to work. Or the new baseplate on the sigma to make it more comfortable to carry concealed.
 
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