I haven't owned a gun yet but I'm planning on picking up a S&W SD9VE here in the next few months and was wondering if I had to do anything to it before I shoot it. Cause I was planning on getting the gun and a box of ammo and going straight to the range to get some practice in on it. So please let me know thanks..

It'ss up to you. A lot of people would recommend cleaning it first, but when i bought mine first thing i did was put 150rds through it. And then a week later another 100, and only after that did i clean it and tbh it was so clean I really didnt need to.

Since you havent own a gun yet i would recomend that you read every word of the manual. yes even the very boring large print red words that they continue to repeat on what seems like every page. ive owned several guns and i make it a tradittion (regardless of how boring it is) to read the whole thing. Congrats on your new firearm and be safe.

__________________
Aim small miss small

Along with reading the manual, I highly recommend that you have an instructor or someone that has a lot of experience in firearms to be with you the first time you fire the weapon. Most ranges will have someone that will assist you.
Good luck and have fun, but be safe!!!

It's been mentioned, but I strongly recommend taking the gun home and cleaning it, as well as the magazines, before taking it to the range. S&W doesn't usually send out their guns dripping in oil or packed with grease, but a good cleaning and lubrication can't hurt and may help avoid malfunctions.

Field-stripping and cleaning it will help you become familiar with your gun, and how it operates. I definitely second the suggestion to read the owner's manual. If you aren't familiar with grip technique or how to clear malfunctions (if any should occur), and especially with safe handling, ask for instruction at the range.

Good luck!

K thanks guys.

Ditto on all that was said above but I would also go to YouTube and look at all the reviews about the gun...you can learn a lot about it even before it arrives.
Look at both the good and the bad reviews...you can still learn from the bad reviews also.
Good luck and have fun and be safe!!!

Yeah I've been watching a lot of YouTube vids on it and I can't wait to get it.

When you get ready to buy, check Academy Sports. I bought mine there a few months ago for $299. I think they have them listed for $319 now on their website, but that's still better than you might find in most gun shops. The only problem is finding them in stock....which may be the problem in most shops as well.

If you have trouble finding any extra SD9VE magazines, the SW9VE magazines work fine and seem to be more readily available.

I own one with the exception of mine being a 40 S&W. It's not a bad gun. It seems to shoot well enough for this novice. You'll find the trigger to be a bit stiff & will take a little bit of time to get use too. You might want to practice dry firing it a bit to ensure you don't have some of the typical problems with firing a gun with such a hard trigger pull (shooting down & to the left for us right handed folks).

I let my son & in laws fire it & they both thought it was a good gun. It does go bang when I pull the trigger. I'm still getting use to the trigger pull.


Best of luck & congrats on your purchase.

I would recommend taking a hand gun class. You you will get answers to questions you don't yet even know to ask. Having someone there in person, hands on to help you familiarize yourself on how to handle firearms safely can be invaluable.

Apex Tactical offers a trigger kit for the SD pistols for $20.95. I haven't used it. But everything I've read on it says it tames the trigger pull pretty well.

https://apextactical.com/store/produ...php?pid57.html

The website also has a video that shows how to install the kit in approximately 15 minutes. I intend to get one for my SD40VE.

I BOUGHT TWO IN JAN THEY ARE GREAT GUNS

Before you go to the range; get totally familiarized with your firearm. Know how it functions, where the controls are (mag release, slide lock, etc) and be able to operate them with your eyes closed.

Disassemble the firearm, clean the grease, lube the gun, check functionality.

Get used to the gun for a week or two after you pick it up from the store.

__________________
Jesse

For safety's sake, clean it first. They leave the factory with an inhibitor sprayed on them that should be removed prior to firing. Clean the firearm well, learn everything you can about it, read all reviews, read the manual and pay close attention to safety precautions. Know your weapon prior to taking it out to the range.

__________________
Μολών λαβέ!

Academy is where I plan to go since I have one right around the corner from my house.

Ordered 2 SD9VE mags from S&W last week and they came today.

I bought an SD9VE and find it to be a great gun. Over 500 rds thru it and it will shoot any brand ammo clean every time. I didn't clean it till after 100 rds. It's an easy break down and clean process. Everybody that has shot it, loves it and the price. Beware as it has no safety and will shoot without the magazine! Be careful and have fun!

Good for you! I haven't checked S&W in a while...they never have any in stock!

I don't really need any right now...I have three...so I'm waiting for Greg Cote LLC to get them back in stock. He has the best prices I've come across.

The webpage had them on B/O staus but when I called to order they said that they had them. IIRC they were $40 each.

Well I just sold my SW9VE and have an extra 16 round magazine in good condition for $25 shipped...not sure if this price is too high or not but I am sure I will be told on here....lol.
I can take either PayPal or USPS Money Order.
[email protected]
I am sure I will miss the S&W but had to sell it to get the 1911.

If you haven't already, you should list this in the classifieds. You might get more views that way.

IMO, $25 shipped is not a bad price...new ones sell for $35 and up, on the sites I have seen.

I don't want to read too much into this, but the first thing I notice is you have never owned a gun and in a few months you plan to buy the SD9VE and go to the range for some practice.

I suggest you go to the range first and meet the owner/manager and some of the regulars. Try out several revolvers and semi-autos. As an instructor, I find that semi-autos are the rage, but they are not suited for everyone.

The 9mm does not have the recoil of a 40 S&W or a 45 ACP, but it is not a 22 LR either.

There is probably a NRA Basic Pistol Shooting Class offered in your area. What ever your selection, SAFETY FIRST, read the owners manual, and put in the trigger time to really get to know your gun, especially if this is for self defense and/or home protection.

My CCL was approved, went to the courthouse this morning to pick it up and stopped by my local shop on the way back and put a lay away deposit on the SD9VE.

I've been contemplating between the SD9, Glock 19, and M&P 9 for about 4 months now, with lots of hands-on time with each. I eliminated the M&P 9 for it's larger size and (lack of) magazine availability, so it basically came down to the Glock 19 and SD9. For me it was just to hard to justify the price difference especially since I could never get used to the feel of the Glock. The Ergos and feel of the SD are much better for me.

Oh also, I ordered 2 more magazines from 44mag.com. Just looked at there's 76 still available.

Your manual will show you 6 places to put a drop of lubricant before using it for the first time. My sd was a little stiff out of the box until I did that.

Being new to guns an intro class would be well advised.

Most of the important stuff in the manual they'll cover in such a class. Do one or both of those, but the class is the better option IMHO.

Generally, when I get a new gun I sit down for a while and check it out. With it unloaded, I familiarize myself with any quirks of the design (for the most part autoloaders mostly work the same as each other with a few exceptions thrown in here and there) and then break it down to clean it. Given the number of used guns I buy that have no manual that just works better for me (and I'm going to do anyways).

Just make sure you understand very specifically how to handle and operate the gun before ever taking your first shot.