Enjoy your new handgun and do not be discouraged if it does not work like a dream out of the box, you may need to get used to each other.

Enjoy your new handgun and do not be discouraged if it does not work like a dream out of the box, you may need to get used to each other.

+1 for Remington UMC FMJ 115gr. 9mm ammunition...

When I started loading that stuff during my last trip to the range, I truly fell in love with my SD9VE for the first time. I had this nasty **** going through it before that was blowing stuff all over my hands (these really find dark gray metallic speckles of whatever)... Dark soot everywhere; on the ejection port, the muzzle, on the tops of my magazines. It took forever to clean my gun, etc. I will never touch that brand again, ever.

Shot through some stuff I already had before I finally arrived to my new supply of Remington UMC FMJ 115gr. ammo and I was (pardon the pun) blown away. Seriously. Force without the violent recoil so my control was INCREDIBLE. Very little muzzle flash, just a few sparks. My 9 turned into a real joy to shoot with that ammo. I was sending up targets clean and they were coming back with the TIGHTEST groupings I've ever shot. And I was doing 2s (2 on the right, 2 on the left, back and forth, until the mag was empty) and these were some laser shots. Granted, my front sight tracking/flash sight picture skills are improving but still, I was having a really good time. I want to find some .40 UMC to see if this also helps with shooting my SD40VE.

As a side note, I have no issues at all with the trigger pull on this gun. Being a "wheel gunner" all my life, I'm used to the double action triggers on S&W revolvers. If the trigger smooth's out as I continue to shoot it; it will be even more of a pleasure to shoot!

I am thinking about buying a SD9, I like the double action pull, similar to but a bit lighter than a revolver. Do you think an exterior safety could be necessary?

I had been a revolver shooter all my adult life, both as a duty weapon and in PPC competition. The SD9VE was my first poly frame/striker fired pistol. I had no trouble shooting/being accurate with it, and I contribute that to my years of revolver shooting. Mine is completely stock and the trigger has smoothed out nicely. My SD40VE's trigger was already as smooth right out of the box, so I assume S&W may have upgraded the triggers on the SD VE series.
I would not trade the 915 for a SD9VE unless you get a very good trade value. I would either keep it or sell it outright and then buy the SD at the regular price of around $300. You won't be disappointed with a SD9VE, IMO.

Thanks MD38. I am keeping the 915, taking it to the range. Still very interested in the SD9VE but will hold off buying it for now...(-:

Range trip 7-30-2017

I'm ashamed that it's been 14 months since I last shot my SD9VE :-(

Shot 32 rounds of Factory 124 gr. FMJ RN, followed by 30 rounds of Reloads-Blazer cases, 124 gr. Xtreme RNFP, 3.8 grs. TiteGroup, CCI 500 primers. C.O.L. 1.120". Even though these shot fine from my FS M&P 9; the C.O.L. is too short for the SD9VE and my Shield 9mm. Had 2 mis-feeds in the SD9VE. The load shot well @ 10 yards and grouped fine. So, I will lengthen the C.O.L. and try again.

So, I now have 1,555 rounds through the SD9VE with 2 Fail to Feed rounds that were NOT the pistols fault. I was amazed at how smooth the trigger pull was. I've always shot this pistol well, just need to shoot it more!! :-)

Range trip 11-14-2017

Only 4 months (not 14) since the SD9VE went to the range LOL. 50 rounds of 124 gr. reloads, with COL lengthened a bit. No problems at all this trip! Accuracy was very good as well.

I do need to make a correction to my COL from my previous post. I reported my COL was 1.120"; it was not. I misread my dial caliper and the actual COL was 1.020". This was too short to feed in the SD9VE and my Shield 9. The COL was lengthened to 1.10 and these fed/fired/functioned just fine in the SD9VE. I may try to shorten the COL slightly, as 1.10" seems a little long. Will report back next range trip.

Round count 1,605

Love this thread! Looking to get a SD9VE soon. A friend of mine got his wife a SD40VE a couple of years ago. They let me shoot it.
I loved the ergonomics, but the trigger was really bad. His wife could never get past that trigger, so they sold it and she got a XD9, which she loves. I really liked that SD40VE though.
For the price they are hard to beat. Been doing a ton of research on them. It's not going to be hard to fix that trigger. I like a project anyway.
Can't wait.

I've had an eye out for a deal on an SD9VE on my local classifed sites, for a while now, but they don't pop up very often, and they're never at any 'deal' prices (and even those seem to go quick). So, they seem to hold their value pretty well, compared to Glocks, XD's, and other relatively higher-end pistols, that can often be found at (roughly) 25% less than new.

__________________
Unrepentant magna hater !!

I’ve got both the sd40ve and sd9ve. The .40 was my first pistol. The sd9 was supposed to me my wife’s but that didn’t turn out like I planned. I’ve done a couple things to the .40 including apex spring kit, polished the feed ramp and had hi viz sights installed last night ( used off eBay for cheap lol)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

+1 on this

In looking over this thread, I just realized that I've owned my SD9VE for over 3 years! No issues at all and still enjoy the pistol very much; just don't shoot it near enough :-( With the new frame color options, I'm tempted to buy a few more! :-)

Range trip 11-29-2017

Quick trip to the outdoor range after work. Another 36 rounds (last of the rounds loaded on the Pro 1000) through the SD9VE. No issues, now in 1,641 rounds through the pistol. :-)