That is the question.

Back in the hay day of the mighty Sigma, before the SD and Apex, we discussed this ad nauseum. Some people were removing springs, changing springs, working the dremel, you name it everyone had an opinion.

Now that the SD and Apex are alive and well, how do you guys feel about modifying your gun now?

Opinions and discussion welcome. Please cast your vote!

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SD9VE, American perfection!

Got the SD which is so much better than the Sigma.
I am fine with the almost 8lb trigger as is. It isn't my EDC but great for HD.
I do understand why you would want to mod it but I prefer to keep things stock.
And it makes me wonder about some folks when they refer to the SD as a Sigma.

well in all fairness the SD is the new gen sigma.

i have a apex spring kit in my sd40ve, it made a big difference. getting a AEK trigger soon as well as a flashlight/laser combo

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Fugitive Recovery Agent

I've tossed around the idea of installing an apex kit in my SD9VE and doing some stippling but to this point I've only replaced the rear polymer sight with a metal m&p sight and added a light.

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Debating on doing a spring/trigger, but I don't mind the stock setup all that much. I added a laser and front sight (picked up a FO on sale). Will be getting the truglo TFO front and rear at some point

800 rounds total down the range with my SD40VE (had it for less than a month)
First 400 bone stock (which included qualifying for my CPL) and last 400 with Apex Trigger and spring kit.
The spring pressure really didn't bother me, but the hinge type trigger and the excess travel did.
I like a "Glock Style" blade safety and solid trigger with less pre-travel and zero over travel.

Factory sights are fine. Going to hit them with some glo paint when the factory paint wears off.
This will be my EDC, so tactical light or laser are probably out.

Like the gun so much, probably going to get the GF a 9mm and just put the spring kit in for her.

I put the apex spring kit in SD9VE. The trigger was smooth but a little heavy. The apex kit made it feel a lot better.

I cast the first vote to keep it stock.

I use to say, the sigma is what it is, now I have to say, the SD is what it is. LOL!

I still haven't shot mine yet but I'll let you guys know when I do. I have however, taken out numerous zombies on the TV screen. LOL!

Cast your vote ladies and gents!

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SD9VE, American perfection!

-I'll leave mine stock for now until I've shot it quite a bit. Then I'll go from there...

L8R,
Matt

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SD40-VE owner and proud of it!

I'm one of those who won't change a thing. I don't have a problem with the trigger pull weight or travel distance. And my SD40VE doesn't have the gritty travel distance feel others have had. Basically, I hit what I aim at and love the gun...no need to change. If it ain't broke don't fix it...unless you're an addicted tinkerer like many of those who have to "soup up" their guns in some way.

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S&W SD40VE; So mote it be.

-I'm a somewhat addicted tinkerer, but that is mainly reserved for my guitars! Maybe the only thing that I'd do to this pistol is replace the front sight sometime with a tru-glo style, fiber optic sight, then black out the dots on the rear. But there rear sight being plastic doesn't bother me...

L8R,
Matt

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SD40-VE owner and proud of it!

My SD9VE was purchased for home/self defense. I don't want any extra problems in court if I have to use it. I also don't want warranty problems with the manufacturer if it needs repairs (again). If I can't get used to the stock SD9VE, I'll park it and use something else.

Planning on getting a TLR laser/light combo and maybe the spring kit for mine. We'll see. Gonna be my nightstand gun once I get another few choices.


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im debating cerakoting mine. takedown, slide release, mag release, barrel out be done in gold and the slide and frame would be done in another color. maybe OD green the total cost would be $145 but would give me a one of a kind SD40VE

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Fugitive Recovery Agent

I would get a M&P.

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Jorge

nah i sold my M&P i didnt like it very much, i now carry my SD40 or my Glock 23. next pistol will be a XD 4" service model. nothing personal agains M&P but i dont like their handguns, my M&P 15 is amazing though

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Fugitive Recovery Agent

Fair enough...

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Jorge

You already know what I voted Lee!

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The kool-aid Sigma drinker

In an effort to figure out why I am dead-on with other pistols I hadn't previously fired, but can't group well of hit the mark with my SDVE, I upgraded with the Apex trigger kit. Several visits to the range later and multiple changes to the way I was gripping the pistol, I finally was able to gain some accuracy and put together some decent groups.

Now 3 months later, the better part of a day was spent at the range...couldn't hit **** with the SDVE at 25 yards. Fired my brothers PPQ, 3-4 inch grouping...fired the XD-40 of a guy at the bench next to me and I was right on. Very frustrating.

Then I got an idea, pulled one of those fancy new "work gloves" from the cubby in my vehicle, has the padded palm, and BAM, back on target again! No glove, horrible. Add glove, consistency. So my next step is to find a way to change the grip on the pistol.

Other than these issues, I love the pistol!

i use a hogue handall grip. made my groups get considerably closer together

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Fugitive Recovery Agent

No doubt in my mind.

Great to be back in the saddle again!

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SD9VE, American perfection!

I added the Apex Tactical Trigger spring kit to my SD9VE and never looked back. The trigger is now much smoother and I am deadly accurate in the 7-15 yard range for which the gun was intended. Also, I added the Apex +3 mag extensions to both my factory magazines. Now, I can greet a BG with less than honorable intentions with 20 rounds of +p 9mm to try and dissuade him. I say modify.

I voted to leave them stock...maybe I should clarify....I have no problem with changing sights, or grips, but every gun that I have seen puke at a USPSA/IDPA match have had something done to the trigger/action to make it BETTER....so THAT part I leave stock.


Randy

-That's what I just found out about mine. Even with a very firm grip, the pistol just moved around in my hand too much during firing. Either a Hogue slip on grip, or a Talon friction grip tape kit should fix me right up. Besides that, I love this pistol!!

L8R,
Matt

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SD40-VE owner and proud of it!

I voted "Other" and here's why.

I haven't left mine "stock" in that I have changed out the take down lever, sights, and I've added a grip sleeve. (I have used a Hogue handall - didn't like it; a Pachmayr - liked it OK but it tended to move; and now, I'm trying an inexpensive product that seems very grippy, and I'll do a review after a little more experience.)

I see no need to add mag extensions, which often can induce malfunctions. If I can't do the job with 16 rounds, then I'm in more trouble than I can handle!

I've gone back and forth over modifying the fire control group...my preference is no, don't do it. The trigger is OK, the gun isn't a target gun, or a 1911, and it works...so, I probably won't mess with it.

I have a Galloway Precision stainless steel recoil rod in stock weight; as funds permit, I may order one in a different weight "just to see." That is easily changeable, though.

I tried the Apex spring kit and the AEK trigger and they all worked flawlessly. I did start to get light primer strikes after a few thousand rounds and put the original striker spring back in. After a few thousand more I remembered what i bought the pistol for. Self defense. I ended up putting all of the factory springs back in as well as the trigger. The way I look at it is it works good for me that way and if I ever did use it in a self defense situation, and it was used as evidence, it would not seem as though I was trying to "modify" my pistol to a court room. Hopefully I will never have to use it on someone but I don't want to look like the bad guy to a jury if I did. You just never know.

Edit: I do have an extended take down lever and tritium sights still installed.

Where to look at various modifications? Is there a site, book, or forum? Thanks!

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All I did was removing the torsion (pigtail) spring and the trigger's still hard enough for safety's sake. I also greased the sear cam/housing for smooth pull.

Oops, it's the Sigma 9mm.

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_It was love at first shot_

Gentlemen, here are my additional thoughts on modification. I added the Apex spring kit to reduce the trigger pull effort and make it smoother, that it did. I don't see that improving performance or function is a negative thing. As far as the extensions, I would agree that it could led to malfunctions. I haven't experienced them yet.

Next, I live in a part of Texas that borders with Mexico. We have some less than honorable people that make this their home. Mainly, drug or gang-related. My SD9VE was purchased for self-defense. My prayer is that I NEVER have to use it on a human being to stop a threat to myself or family. However, if I am ever in that position, I want as much firepower as possible to neutralize that threat. Believe me, the BG's do. If I have 100% reliability with my modifications, I will keep them until this becomes an issue.

I have spoken to a couple of defense attorney's in my area and the consensus is that If I truly use my weapon in a self-defensive manner to neutralize a threat to my car, home, or life with my "modified" gun that I shot someone with intentionally, it will most likely make no difference in my legal defense. The shooting was not accidental, it was intentional.

The gun is a tool, nothing more. I didn't purchase it to become a world-class marksmen, I purchased it to protect myself and family. If I can improve the functionality of that tool, all the better. Just my two cents.

The gist of the argument from those who want to make it an issue is that the prosecution will paint a picture of you to the jury as someone with reckless disregard for safety. Not necessarily that you accidentally shot the "victim" but that you had such disregard for safety that you modified a handgun against the manufacturer's recommendation (and you can bet that if the prosecutor is so inclined, he or she will probably ask S&W if such mods void the warranty, etc.) Since you have little regard for safety, you by extension have little regard for human life...blah, blah, blah. If the jury is composed of people with little to no knowledge or experience with guns, they might buy that argument.

Whether or not that's a valid argument in Texas is very debatable. Since we have the castle doctrine, and Texas is in general a gun-friendly state, I'd say that it probably wouldn't be an issue in a self-defense shooting in your home or on your own property. It might be a very different matter if you were involved in an accidental shooting, or someone (like a child) in your home accidentally fired the weapon. Then a lightened or modified trigger pull could very well be an issue.

While I am aware of these potential negatives, the main reason I don't like to mess with the fire control group is simply that I don't want to chance malfunctions and I don't want to void the warranty. That's just me.

I removed the pigtail spring from my sw9ve and the gun works great.Only problems I ever had was 2 failure to fire with rem umc and 5 failure to fire with tula,I suspect ammo was the problem.I have been thinking about getting the apex spring kit but I'm concerned about reliability considering this is my primary weapon for home defense.

At any rate leave the firing pin spring alone.

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_It was love at first shot_

I voted modify I've been tinkering sence i was 8 and got my 1st minibike lol got a single barrel 12ga. HR at 12 yrs and it spilled over. i did keep my sd9ve stock till 1700 rounds only cause this is my 1st gun with no safety. but to be honest the second thing i think about when i shoot a gun for the 1st time is if theres anything i need to look for to make it better for me. the 1st is how does she feels in my hand....that being said a guns just a tool, the better it does its job the more valuable is to me. i dont push others to modify tho my attitude is to each his own.... shoot safe and alot!!

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Aim small, Miss Small

I only did the spring kit and the wider take-down lever.

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JR
SD40VE and Shield 9

Personally I'll keep mine stock, save for perhaps a tac light.

The trigger ain't pretty but to me mastering it is part of the fun. :thumbup:

Sent from my SGH-T769 using Tapatalk 2

Stock I say, i read about the trigger before I got it & think I tried a little to hard to compensate for it at first. Now the only time I even think about the trigger is when I am read about them here.
For me the SD9ve is just what I wanted.
But that said , your gun is your gun tinker with all you want.

"All things simple are good" Mikhail Kalashnikov

"STOCK"

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NULLI SECUNDUS

I put the Apex spring kit in my SD9VE and took it back out 2 range trips later. It was a little lighter, but the reset was bad. It barely pushed the trigger back out for reset with the Apex kit in and it wasn't really bad at all with the factory set-up. S&W made the trigger even better than the SD9 so I think it's time to stop calling these 3rd gen Sigmas since they're far better on looks, better rail, better trigger, better ergos and just an all around better gun. If S&W wanted to keep calling them Sigmas, they would have. Is'nt this section called Smith & Wesson SD & Sigma pistols?

I bought an SD9ve and replaced the striker spring, the trigger spring, the plunger spring, and the sear spring. Put in a new trigger (apex) and extended takedown lever. Removed the mag disconnect safety (Calif) and now the gun is GREAT!

apex trigger kit in my sd9ve....want truglo sights next......some sya MP sites will work

How did you remove the mag disconnect safety? That thing is so damn annoying! How many rounds do you have through the gun since these mods?

There a video on how to do it for the SD9VE?

I couldn't find any. I could find videos on removing the mag disconnect on M&Ps, but I don't know if that would be the same process...I've never seen a SDVE pistol with a mag disconnect, so I don't know how it's configured. Can you post a picture of your slide interior, so we can see where the mag disconnect is?

Question: can you legally remove the mag disconnect in California?

The mag disconnects on the Ruger SR series pistols are incredibly easy to remove...wish they were all designed that way. Or didn't come on the gun in the first place!

No idea about the legality. Anyone know about the legality of disabling the magazine disconnect safety? Also, here are some pics of the disconnect safety:
uploadfromtaptalk1404605864596.jpguploadfromtaptalk1404606064564.jpguploadfromtaptalk1404606073189.jpg

Attached Images

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The mag disconnect is the lever in the mag well...it isn't on the slide, like on Ruger SR series pistols. I'm not sure how it would be removed. If you can figure it out, I'd be sure to make sure it isn't illegal in California to have a gun without a mag disconnect. It may be a pain, but it'd be a much bigger pain to get arrested!

That would be quite a hassle. It's just so annoying, 1 to break the fun down 2 it puts a bit of pressure on the magazine so it doesn't just fall out when I want to change mags (biggest annoyance, and with only 10 rounds per mag... *** CA)

trigger job. galloway kit.

my sister in law just received an SW9VE as a gift for home defense purposes from her brother....my brother and his wife are not whatyou woud call "gun enthusiests" however they respect them and are aware that there is nothing better for protecting themselves and their home.considering for all intents and purposes this is a drawer gun i am wondering if i ahould make a big deal out of the plastic guiderod comments please?

Why? Mine haven't broke yet and that's after 1000s of rounds.

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_It was love at first shot_

That plastic guide rod will work 100 years from now.

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SD9VE, American perfection!