I found a used SD40, not the VE, at the local shop today. No box or extra mag, but very nice looking. It has the black slide and fiber optic sights. I got it for $230.OTD. It needs some cleaning from the previous owner shooting Tula steel cased ammo in it. But I will clean it up and feed it a better diet. I had been thinking about one of these but never see any except new at Academy. I assume most people who get them, keep them.
I'm happy. We have rain in the forecast for the next few days. I hope I get to take it out soon.

I have the SD40 VE and it's a great gun. I shoot the heck out of it and don't baby it at all.
You're exactly right about staying away from the Tula ammo. The steel/aluminum case ammo can be a problem in terms of ejection in the .40.
Mine has never malfunctioned with any kind of brass including several types of hollowpoints.
Also........the SD will shoot M&P .40 mags by ProMag that hold 15 rounds. S&W modifies the M&P mags to not work in the SD. But ProMag doesn't do this and the M&P mags by them work flawlessly in the SD.
And they cost half as much.

That's interesting. Thanks.

Okay, I have a question. I looked on S&W's website and did not see the SD40 with black frame and Hi-Viz sights listed, only FDE or gray. The SD9 with Hi-Viz is listed as an Academy exclusive.
Does that mean the SD40 I have is discontinued?

Not discontinued, just a specific production for Academy, I believe.

The SD-40 with Hi-Viz sights (SKU 11588) is still listed for sale on Academy's web page (as of 5 Sep 18). Not sure why the SD-40 version is not shown on S&W's web page -- its absence may mean it is being discontinued -- but not necessarily, because the S&W web site is not a definitive version of their full catalog.

A SD-9 variant (SKU 11587) of the same gun, also with a black slide and Hi-Viz sights, also sold as an exclusive by Academy, is currently listed on the S&W web page as well as Academy's web page.

There is an earlier version of the SD-40 (and SD-9) with the black slide but with white dot metal front and rear sights, now discontinued. The black slide makes for a nice looking pistol, although most SD's sold in the last few years have been -VE variants with the bright stainless slide.

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S&W Rover