Recently I purchased my father a SR9C as a thank you gift for a trip he took me on recently. First, that SR is one nice gun. He already has the full size and wanted the compact so I didn't really bother comparing it to any others.

Anyway, I have been exclusively shooting my SD, prepping for possible IDPA matches this summer. Until I compared the SD next to the SR9C I hadn't realized how loose the slide sits on the frame. I keep telling myself it's like an AK, loose tolerences makes the thing run like a champ in all conditions. Which is has, no FTE's or FTF's of any sort. But now I listen to my SD rattle next to the tight Ruger and it makes me think twice.

Anyone else have an SD that's slide is pretty loose conected to the frame? Anyone's Sigma or M&P rattle that much?

Mine is beyond loose if I rack the slide then put pressure on the trigger I can see the slide tweak a little as I pull the trigger. It seems to shoot fine but it really bothers me hell my HiPoint C9 is tighter than my SD. My Sigma is far tighter than my new SD and my sigma has about 1500 through it.

It is enough that im thinking about sending it back as I have never seen a modern pistol with so much play. My worry is that if it is this loose now when it is brand new what will it fell like after 2000 rounds? Im starting to wish id bought another Sigma

A few links talking about SD rattle/poor slide fit

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/i.../t-572206.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-w...#post135687425

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-w...e-not-mag.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-w...me-please.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-w...40-review.html

My SD9 is just fine. Fits well to the frame.

My slide to frame fit is good as well. Looser than my SW9E but well with in expectations. Tight slide to frame fit will in some circumstances improve accuracy, but it can also hinder reliability. The AK47 for example feels sloppy and loose compared to a good AR15, but you cannot deny that they are very reliable.

All the SDs I have handled have had a loose fit very loose. I think the reason that most dont comment on it is because the SD is the first semi-auto they have owned. The fit on the SD is very poor S&W will not admit there is a problem but I would bet my last dollar that they will address this issue with the second generation of the SD.

I think you guys are splitting hairs. The SD9 is a $400 polymer auto. It's a fantastic one, IMHO. It works, its got a great grip, and a freaking lifetime warranty.

It's clearly not a $1200 performance center gun, or a competition level target gun.

Mine seems to shift sideways on the rails when I dry fire about a eighth, a sixteenth of an inch maybe.

Does not seem to have any adverse effect on accuracy. Once at the range, I got in the zone and put about 10 rounds through the same hole in the Target. The gun is a lot more accurate than I am. (granted, that's not saying much)

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

Wow, I didn't realize that this problem was common.

I knew it was a little loose when I bought it and never really paid too much attention. But now that the gun has a ton of rounds through it, it seems to have loosened up a little more to where the slide is shifting when I fire it and like on of those threads stated, it sounds like a can of marbles when I shake my hand a little.

I've never thought of it as a competition gun or a supreme target shooter, but the whole loose slide makes me wonder if it was designed like that or if S&W called it good enough and sent it into production. And this whole issue for me came up when I was comparing it side by side with another $400 polymer auto that seemed quite a bit more solid.

Now don't get me wrong, I still love my SD. Maybe the rattle is there on purpose and that I what I have to thank for the zero FTE's or FTF's. My SD is still 100% reliable, it feels great in my hands, it looks nice, and is backed with a warrenty until the day I die. My SD is not going anywhere. I just think the tolerences are a little off for a company like Smith and Wesson.

2nd generation SD's???? Now that is something that never crossed my mind until now.

This is a huge quality control problem, my Sigma and all the Sigmas I have handled are very tight compared to the SD. The SD is a step up from the Sigma so whats the deal with the poor fit and finish? When the barrel and slide shift when you pull the trigger thats a problem. Too many write it off by saying its a so called combat pistol, no its poor quality control on the first run of a new product.

@Fat B

Im with you on the SD dont hate it really but I have major concerns. Bought the gun for no real reason other than to check it out. Not going to sell it but wish I had not bought it. There is no reason for the SD to be so loose in the slide to frame fit other than poor quality control. I can see making a gun a little loose so you dont have to break it in like a 1911 (which needs the parts to actually be worn in to fit) but this is excessive play.

S&W will have to address the issue after enough of use send the SD back for repair. Im going to keep sending mine back until it is repaired correctly. This gun should at least be at the level of the Sigma as far as quality control of fit and finish is concerned.

Just saw on the S&W facebook page that the SD series is going to be discontinued. I just got a SD40 and have only put about 50 rounds through it. I wonder if the problem talked about here is the reason?

Don't count on a 2nd Gen SD series gun. S&W did not even mention the SD series in their 2012 sales/marketing report. They did however talk in depth about the Sigma, Bodyguard and M&P line.

There are no issues with the SD series. There may be a QC issue with a small portion of the guns manufactured, but that is typical of most guns.

The SD series is not selling as well as the other three S&W semi-auto lines because of it's price point. Save a little more and get an M&P, spend a little less and get a Sigma. If they would have discontinued the Sigma the SD line would have been a much better seller, but they couldn't because the Sigma is one (if not THE) best selling handguns in the USA. Decisions like this are made almost solely based on the almighty dollar. I am just happy that I got my SD9 and if they announce that the series is actually discontinued I will be sure and pick up one or two more to put in the safe.

Smith & Wesson Corp. ‎Brad Paynter - you are correct. I just looked at the 2012 price list and the SD9 and SD40 are no longer listed meaning...out of production. As for why? Lots of models ome and go, it all comes down to some top secret magic formula that only finance people pretend to understand. But no worries, if you own one, we'll cover it under the Lifetime Service Policy. And if you want one - I'm sure they are available at retail.
February 29 at 7:56am · Like

+1 - mine is fine also....

" the Sigma is one (if not THE) best selling handguns in the USA."
I've seen this posted several times and just wondering if there are some actual numbers that support this?

__________________
KMAG YOYO

So for those of you who's slide fits well, does it rattle when you shake it lightly? Mine still fires correctly and I'd rather not be without the gun for several weeks just to let Smith and Wesson tell me it's within tolerences.

How about this: I can easily push the slide back and forth so that the bottom of the front of the slide, (just under the end of the main spring end which obviously is under the barrel) will touch either side of frame. If I center it, the frame doesn't touch the slide in the front at all, as there is a small gap.

Centered:



One side:



Other side:



This fit differs slightly after each dry fire and each time I rack the slide although it never goes the extreme and comes to a rest with the slide touching the frame as shown in the pictures.

For those of you with good fitting SD's, can you do that easily? Maybe I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill. And surprising, the rattle comes from the back of the slide, not the front.

Mine has the gap between slide and frame, equal on both sides- but no rattle whatsoever. Kinda amazes me that some do, mine is really tight, other than the appearance of the teeny gap.

The gap between the dust cover and the slide on my Sigma is not that wide but it flexes just the same. The portion of the frame ahead of the slide lugs have no operational purpose,cut it off with a hacksaw and the pistol will operate the same. Keeping stuff out,holding accessories and on these pistols a place to put the serial# is what it does.

__________________
KMAG YOYO

Id say the reason the rattle is coming from the back is because the rear frame rails on the Sigma are attached to the frame of the gun but on the SD the rear frame rails are attached to the removable sear block.

This is a huge design flaw as the rear sear while shift when you pull the trigger which in turn shifts the slide. S&W failed with the SD big time I already called asking replace my SD40 with a Sigma 40, who cares what the trigger feels like when the slide and barrel float all over the place.

The fit of the SD will only get worse as the rear frame rails are in no way secured to the frame of the gun. My guess is this had a lot to do with the SDs going away that and price point.

I checked out the gun without the slide on. The Sear block housing is still in there tight as a bug. The frame to the frame rail fit is what's causing all of the problem, I think it's something that I'll have to tell myself not to fret about.

So any consensus here? Is the frame rattle within normal specs or something that I should have S&W take a look at?

Normal for SD yes.....normal for modern semi-autos no

I've been eyeballing an SD but this is giving me 2nd thoughts. I've heard and read mostly good reviews on the SDs.
If S&W is discontinuing the SD does anyone believe the Sigma will get a better (lighter) trigger.
Seems like a no brainer for S&W.
I sold my Sigma cause of the trigger but otherwise it was a great value and 100% reliable.

Id go with the time tested Sigma, I doubt S&W will do anything to the Sigma seeing as it is selling so well. They would have to retool their line.

My SD shoots fine it kicks more than a Sigma since it is lighter, my only concern is how the gun will wear in.

Update having shot my SD40 for a while the slide is even looser now so much so that when I let others shoot it they comment on how they can see the rear sights shift as you pull the trigger. The entire rear of the slide will flex with the tension of the trigger as you pull it. I really think this is due to the rear rails not being attached to the frame.

Comparing my Sigma to my SD you can see the Sigma frame is much thicker where the rails are inserted in the front.