S&W SD9 VE vs the Glock 19 Gen 3


Let's take a look at just how closely they match up

Dimension SD9 VE 19 Gen 3

Length OAL 7.18 6.98
Width OAL 1.01 1.14
Height OAL 5.34 4.86
Height w/sights 5.57 5.03
Width of slide 1.00 1.00
Height of slide 0.86 0.85
Barrel length 4.00 4.00
Rifling legth 2.78 2.78
Sight radius 6.27 6.04
Trigger reach 2.65 3.05

Max grip width (front to back) 2.13 2.32
Max grip thickness (side to side) 1.30 1.18


As you can see, both slides are made from 1" stock and the barrels are nearly identical. In fact, slides will fit on the opposite brands frame rails, but stop shy of the rear rails due to the trigger bar and ejector differences. The Glock barrel will fit in the SD9 frame, but the S&W barrel is slightly too large in diameter at the muzzle to work in the Glock.

The major difference between the two is the height. The Glock measurement is quite representative, but the grip on the SD9 makes it appear much taller on paper. This is because of the bottom of the grip, which is slanted forward at about a 35 degree angle, due to the magazine having a baseplate that is exactly perpendicular to the magazine body. The two positives about the SD9 height are that I can get a full grip on the weapon, unlike the Glock 19 which has finger grooves sized for very small fingers, and the one extra round that the SD9 carries (16) over the Glock (15).

Where the SD9 wins:
Ergonomics, price, sights

Where the Glock wins:
Aftermarket parts, holster options, magazine cost/options

If I had to choose one, it would have to be the SD9. It just feels right in my hand and it's inexpensive enough to own several, even if you are on a budget.

........SD9VE 19 Gen 3
MSRP $379 $600
Paid (NIB) $300 $500
Mags $35 $25

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Will I be able to shoot an SD9 with a Glock barrel ? If Yes I gonna buy a glock barrel for my SD9.

I have not tried shooting the SD9 with Glock barrel, but maybe someone will post that has tried it. I am not sure how reliable it would be, but since the Glock barrel does not have the same diameter at the muzzle end, accuracy would most likely suffer. Also, as you might be able to tell from the pics, the barrels are slightly different at the cam slot (SD9 is bigger) and the guide rod ledge.

Glock killer? I doubt! if you wanna compare measurements....ok...maybe but even that is subjective. I would first like to see years and years of SD9 high round counts and torture tests before I give a rats $&#&! about the miniscule difference in dimensions


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I'm siding with Arik on this too, the SD might have been the Sigma Killer, but it's not even in the same league as the G19.

I have and love both guns. If I had to put my life on the line and in a combat environment, I would go with the Glock. It has proven it's reliability world wide in just about every type of situation.

For what the SD9VE costs, it will be more than enough for HD, security or other tasks where super high round counts will most likely never be achieved. Anyone know who has the highest round count in a SDVE model and what that round count is?

As a side note, my SD9VE fits in many holsters I still had for my G19.

Glocks have a better trigger but if S&W can turn these guns out for 300 dollars then why can't glock?I think that S&W's price point is the main attraction here,a lot of folks would probably opt for the S&W just because they dont want to spend the extra 200.It would be nice to see more sigma/sd torture tests on youtube,I've seen plenty of glock and hi-point torture test,never seen a sigma torture test.My sw9ve has never ever had a hiccup and I'm sure the sd line is just as reliable,I'll take a M&P over both though.

Measurements being subjective? How is that possible?
I too would like to see more torture tests, reviews and shooting videos in general for the SD9. I think that S&W doesn't want to take away from M&P sales, which is why you don't see much advertising/promotion for the SD9. My post was to point out how underrated this handgun is and how similar it is in size/function/role to the highly popular Glock 19.

Are we talking Gen 3 or Gen 4 Glocks?

Why are the two 'not even in the same league'?
Is it because the SD9 VE is $200 less?

I think that a lot of people dismiss the SD9VE because they
look at the price and say '300 dollars, it can't be any good'.
S&W would probably sell more if they raised the price a little. (Don't tell them I said that, by the way)

The Sd9 is a very good gun if you want to spend 200 dollars more go buy the Glock I have shot both and the SD9 is fine for me.

I'm fortunate enough to be in the situation that I can buy any pistol made buy any manufacturer.

I've fired my share of Glocks in both 9mm and 40 SW. I don't own any Glocks because I feel like I'm holding onto something that just does NOT fit MY hand.

I know it's an exaggeration but I feel like I'm hanging on to a two by four which is NOT the feeling I get with the SD9, numerous Kahr's, CZ/TZ 75's, Browning Hi-Powers and the 1911 A1's I own. You'll note that all of the pistols mentioned are known to have "slim" grips.

In fact, I bought the SD9 because the grip is just alittle bit smaller than the M&P and trust me-I wish that WASN'T the case because there are LOTS of parts available for the M&P and pitifully few for the SD series.

I've said it before-if the striker goes bad on my SD9 and they say I have to send it back to the factory, I'll smash it with a sledge hammer and throw it in the river that is my "back yard" and be done with S.W..

P.S. people are reporting 20,000 plus rounds through the SD series with no failures of any kind. I'm happy with that.

I carry a Glock 19. The grip is too fat, the grip angle is off a little, the trigger isn't great and it's ugly as a Barvarian Brick. I don't carry it to comfort my special hands or finely tuned trigger finger. I carry it because it works and it spits out 9mm rounds accurately every time.
I have never fired the SD9 VE but I understand it is a good weapon. I bought a Sigma when they first came out, I gave it to a friend who traded it for a Beretta.

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Have Gun Will Carry

I've never even handled a Sigma and I know there are people that like them but I'm glad I didn't because I doubt that I would have even taken the time to pick up the SD9.

I shoot regularly and I'm going to quit trying to keep up with the round count but it's over 1000 now with no failures. I've shot just about every kind of ammo you can think of from steel-case Russian junk to exotic "special purpose" ammo and they all went bang. For those of you still having problems loading the pistol without "jams" - remember that to load it properly from a locked open slide-you insert the magazine, grab the slide and briskly pull it to the rear and immediately RELEASE it when it reaches its rearward most movement. Don't just activate the slide release to load the pistol as that's not reliable enough a method and DON'T ride the slide forward with your hand on it-you have to release it and let it fly forward on it's own momentum.

I installed the Apex spring kit before my first rounds down the tube and I'm still checking primer strikes-for now. I'll probably quit next time out because the primerstrikes are still exactly as deep and solid as they were from the first outing. I kept a few cases from the first outing and use them as a reference and I can't see a difference.

The SD series pistols are (I'm sure) cheap to manufacture because of the design features and modern materials that are used. It shows S.W.'s creativity and design innovation. Are they put together like my custom 1911? Nope, but I ain't carrying a single action pistol stuffed in my pants-condition one. I do however, feel totally comfortable carrying my SD9 in my Ready Holster at the 8 o'clock position (I'm left-handed) with no problem whatsoever...

No, they wouldn't. They already tried to sell them for more money. When the original SD with the front night sight and black melonite finish on the slide first came out, they sold for around $449. If they had sold at that price, we would have never seen the VE versions.

These were too close to the M&P and even used the M&P steel sights. M&P's sell for around $450 as well. I never said they should price them the same as the M&P.

I wonder how is the feeding/ ejecting would be before I ever try to shoot it... Does Glock's recoil assembly fit SD9 slide? These are all theoretical questions, please Do Not try to shoot it.

That can be fixed. It will cost you about $25, a little time installing springs and polishing parts and your warranty (+ S&W will NOT sell you parts and will rape you on smithing fees )

And in case anyone is the littlest bit confused, of course no one here is saying that putting the parts together from these two guns would have a chance in heck of functioning and more than likely would be an EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND POSSIBLY LIFE THREATENING experience. I can see a slide/barrel assembly leaving the pistol and heading straight for someone's face/eyes.

I know of numerous times when barrels made by the manufacturer of the pistol in question FOR THAT GUN wouldn't work without being fitted first.

I was issued a first gen Glock when they first came into the country.....I still have that pistol and it has over 150,000 documented rounds thru it..(the only thing ever fixed on it was the trigger pin which I discovered was in two pieces once when I detailed the gun)....it still worked just fine.....no finish to speak of as it has been in and out of a holster a zillion times....I instructed Glocks for years and been thru their armorer's school..when I was there, they had a G-17 that had been by used by a European ammo mfgr to test fire their ammo...this G-17 had over 300,000 rds thru it...that is amazing....people either love em or hate em......but they work.....forever......I am not real crazy abt their barrels as I have to go to after market bl's to shoot my cast bullets.....but I have Glocks in all sizes and calibers.....and have carried them into harm's way several times......and would not hesitate to "saddle up" with any of mine..... my G 20 & G 30's are my EDC's when I carry a pistol.

I will not disagree with you, that the SD VE is a good gun for the money. However, it's not a Glock in quality. The M&P is the comparable Smith to compare to the Glock. I own both and like both.

The SDVE has a heavier,gritty trigger, it's almost Sigma like in my opinion and I don't think there is a debate in the fact the Sigma had the worse trigger S&W ever put in a gun. I despise a long Semi-Auto trigger and the SDVE certainly has one. A striker fired pistol with a long trigger takes away one of the major advantages of this style of pistol.

The SDVE has not even begun to establish the reputation for reliability Glock has. Before someone says something about Gen 4's, it's 2013, they redesigned the spring and no one's mutter a word about issues since, case closed.

Finally, the major advantage Glock has over S&W is the availability of after market parts, particularly trigger kits that don't require selling a body part to get one. This is not just an SD issue, but still worth mentioning.

If you want to say the SDVE is an improvement over the Sigma, I'll agree. If you want to say it's a nice gun for the money, again I'll agree. But to call it a Glock or M&P comparable gun, much less a killer of either, not in my eyes. From most of the reviews I've read online, not in the eyes of the reviewers either.

But hey, if you like it as much, then you're right, you are getting a super value for your buck. After all for you, your opinion is the one who counts for you.

Short BD, I didn't get into my sear assembly for polishing, I did the barrel, striker face and the portion of the slide face that the firing pin protrudes from and that's about it. I dry-fired the heck out of it before the Apex springs showed up and I can't imagine it (or needing it to be) any better than it is right now.

I think SW would do "warranty" work on it (after I put the old springs back in) but that's not the point. I'm not gonna send a gun through the mail, AFTER doing a dance to put it back the way it's "supposed" to be, to change some penny anti part.

I've worked on many different brands of firearms and this has got to be one of the simplest and least complicated ones out there. Just sell me the parts and let me do it myself. If I screw up and "break" something, that's my problem, not S.W.s.

Brownells sells the entire sear assembly for an M.P. for 29 bucks and a striker assembly for 30 bucks. S.W. needs to wake up and offer the parts for the SD as well.

The SD and Sigma guns were built to compete against Glock. They are price point guns. Not meant to be better. Just an alternative for those that are willing to pay less for a gun without Glock's reputation and proven track record.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

True and I almost did give up on S&W over the polishing and warranty thing but lesson learned....Ill never buy a used S&W again and when I get a new one then I'm not touching it.

All I can say bad about a Glock is that I hate the grip angle and its ugly. Besides that what is there not to like besides its not made in America? Anyone that wouldnt own a Glock just because they see how cool it is to hate them on an internet forum is..... well, ridiculous.

The SD9 has an absolutely horrible trigger and just doesnt have the reputation yet that glock does. They are good for what they were designed for without a doubt..... a cheap self defense weapon. But if we are going to go that route we have to throw HI-point into the contest, they go bang every time and wont die (look up some of the torture tests on those poor things on youtube, WOW) and only cost 150 bucks brand new.

I didn't get into my sear assembly either, I just polished the contact points that I could get to. I also polished the trigger bar and striker block.

Here's a picture of the guide rod assemblies, just as a data point. No, I do not plan on using Glock parts in the SD9 or vice versa. No, I do not suggest or recommend it, I'm simply comparing the two.

Also, I have the opposite experience with my SD9 trigger. Yes, it is a bit longer/heavier pull but it is very smooth compared to my M&P's which were very, very gritty from the factory. The downside on the M&P is that the rear sight must be removed to get to the striker safety, whereas the SD9's is in the same location as the Glock. I find it pretty easy to do a trigger job on the SD series, compared to the M&P

The similarities between the M&P and Glock are the sear and trigger disconnect, which causes the trigger bar to move to the side, rather than slide underneath like the SD9.

As for the Glock Gen 4 problems (recoil springs, extractors), why should we not bring those up? Because they are in the past?

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It was a brief problem, long since solved and not relevant to a Sept 2013 discussion. Looking at Glock's complete track record, it's a blimp in a remarkably dependable gun brand.

Because, unlike some companys who ignore their problems Glock got it fixed and the problem is now irrelevant. Now, if they would just fix that grip angle I would buy another. That really is the deal breaker for me, I am used to shooting 1911's and I carry a ruger SP-101 these days so I have no need for it as an SD gun. Let me also say that I am not a glock fanboy, I dont currently own one, but a reputation like that is hard to beat and Ive shot plenty of different models. I will say my only experience with the SD pistols is from multiple range sessions with an SD40 that I had planned on purchasing as a nighstand/carry gun until I fell in love with my Ruger haha.

This thread is kind of like somebody knocking a remington 870 or comparing a savage SD shotgun to it because it looks kind of like it and costs 200 bucks out the door. Like I said, I have no problem with either but the title of this thread is kind of humorous to me.

I own S&W's 8 to 1 over Glocks, but I'll give them their due.

You need to try Grip Forces Glock Grip Adapter, it's $25, is held on by the trigger pin and changes the grip angle to a 1911 grip angle, it makes a huge difference in shoot-ability.

So we should forget about the recalls/issues in the past and only focus on the positive history? Why does everyone give Glock a pass and say they've taken care of all the problems (which if you read GT forum like I do, they haven't) but people are still beating the dead horse of the original SW9F, etc. After all, that was in the past.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM!! You been on Glock Talk.

That explains everything right there.

Don't worry or get upset buddy. The SD or Sigma series of guns will NEVER equal Glocks track record.

I'm not a Glock guy. I own one. I like ALL guns. Except the SD and Sigma.

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I'm also a member of the Glock forum, but will admit, I'm not on there regularly. It's a thing of the past from what I've seen on there.

I own 4th Gen's, zero issues. I know other people who own them besides me, again zero issues. It's just another example of a few people posting the same thing on 12 different forums and making something out of nothing, as far as I'm concerned. I'm sorry, I don't buy into all of the internet rumors. Using your same approach, most new S&W's have a canted barrel and don't buy a Shield because they are all defective. Just because it's said a lot on the internet, does not mean it happens a lot in the real world.

LE Agencies, common people on the internet and most gun writers disagree with your assessments of the SDVE, as well as your thoughts on Glock dependability. I'm not Gaston Glock, I don't feel the need to continue to defend them. Meanwhile, if you like the SDVE, buy several, they are a great deal for you. You're the guy shooting them, others thoughts should not affect your enjoyment of them.

Have a good night, I'm not going to debate this further, I don't think you are going to change your mind and I know I'm not going to.

Kanewpadle,
I'm curious as to why you don't like the SD series. Is it the trigger? I also wonder why the SD9 could never equal Glock's track record. I've posted my opinion, and I'm interested in seeing others post theirs.
Also, if you read the OP, I posted where each pistol 'wins'. For those that summarize it with 'GLOCK is better quality', be specific and tell us why. Is Glock steel stronger, Glock polymer tougher, Glock assemblers smarter?
You'd think by some people's reactions that I posted a Glock hate thread. I don't think I'd own a Glock if I hated them so much.

SW45,
Calm down, I never said Glocks weren't dependable, only stating that there were issues with the Gen4's.

I simply don't care for them. That's all. If you like them. Good. That's all that matters.

But when someone say's that a SD or Sigma is "Glock Killer" expect some flak.

You and I both know that it will never happen.

__________________
Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

Calm down? I'm not angry, I'm just bored with the subject and don't see the need to debate it further.

Like I said, have a good night. I meant it when I said it earlier and still do.

I'm not forcing you to post. Have a good night.

Exactly. I have a SD9 and started a thread about round counts on this forum to hear from those that are long time owners of the SD9 but got one response. I want to know how these SD9 will stand up with high round counts.

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Has anyone ever typed in "glock malfunctions"into youtube search or "glock jams"?Lots of interesting videos out there.

Rut roh, now you dunnit. Now you dunnit.

Ever wonder why every time a glock malfunctions its on video? People pushing the haterade. I can force my glock to malfunction as well. Yet in 10 years of carrying them on duty I've never had a problem........weird lol

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I'm going to say this, spare parts are sort of everything to me. It sucks when a manufacturer looks down on you getting familiar with the way a weapon works down to it's internals and small parts.

The SD9 is nice but the way S&W handles the warranty bothers me. You can't even polish some internals without them having a fit. From what I have read Glock doesn't have issues with that. Plus I want to say spare parts are kind of everything to me imo. You shouldn't have to send the whole gun in if a sear or something cracks.

Is the Glock perfect? No it isn't. I seen a batch of G19 Gen 4's with screwed up/deformed sights. It was irritating but I was replacing them anyways. There have been brass to the face issues as well but these problems have been fixed.

But for the money spent on it you get a lot more going for you than the SD9. Spare parts are cheap and plentiful, trigger jobs are equally cheap. Also if something goes wrong you can easily replace it. I believe certain parts on the SD9 are much cruder in quality. The biggest issue is if something breaks you must turn it in and wait a week or two. The best thing about the glock is that you can have spare parts and keep on shooting after a quick maintenance. Not to mention there are no maintenance classes for the SD9 which leaves you SoL when ordering parts.

It's kind of the same reason I want to get an AR over say a Mini 14.

Don't get me wrong, the SD9 is a very nice and cost effective fire-arm. But I wouldn't going around believing it is the end all be all. If the SD9 was so good they wouldn't have bothered expanding on the M&P lol.

The best thing about the SD9 though is that it is dimensionally similar to the Glock 19. It's the one flaw S&W made with the M&P series height and dimensions.

I have the SD9 and everytime i go to a lgs and ask someone behind the counter about the gun they say its a piece of ish or they wouldnt buy it. I would ask them why and their comeback is typically its newer version of the sigma with out even shooting the gun.

In fact i went with a buddy of mind this past saturday to purchase his first hand gun. I showed him the SD9 just for the sake of it and someone near us made comment to stay away from it. I ask him why and again he said it was a sigma clone.

People are just judging on this gun based on the fact that it looks like the Sigma and than judge it for that point.

I'll admit when i first got the gun i had some jams and stoves, but it was not the fault of the gun. It was me limp wristing it.

Oh and i'm not biased cuz i own this pistol. I use to have a Glock19 Gen4 and sold it cuz it shot so much like the SD9 that i sold it and got the Shield.

Very, very well put Capt Destro. I agree 100%.

Considering the hundreds of millions of videos on youtube...no I've never wondered about that.

I had never heard of such a thing. I may need to check that out.

The only difference i can tell from the glock as far as function would be the trigger/striker and how they interact, other than that I see no difference. While I agree that the SD will never reach the same track record as a glock based on the fact they most likely will never be issued in large #'s to police departments.

I see no reason why they wouldnt be just as reliable as the glock. Just my opinion.

As for the part in red you realise the M&P came before the SD right?