Hello everyone,
I recently purchased the SD9VE and I live in California. I went to disassemble the gun to get familiar with it, mag removed and no ammo in the chamber, straight out of the box. I read and reread the instructions and am having an issue with removing the slide.
I took out the empty magazine, ensured the trigger was not cocked, pulled the slide back about 1/4" and them pulled down both sides of the release. It will move slightly forward but not allow the slide to come off. I then can put the empty magazine back in, rack it back, release the lock and pull the trigger and then pull the slide back 1/4" and pull down on both sides of the release and it will then slide off, no problem.
If I reassemble the gun then try without the mag in, it won't allow the slide to come off.

I am at a loss as I have watched the video's on YouTube and no one seems to have to do that to get the slide to release. What am I missing?

You are probably pulling the slide back far enough to cock the striker when you go to pull down the release. Pulling the trigger again will get the sear down out of the way. If you listen when you pull the slide back, you will hear a click, which is the sear resetting.

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Science plus Art

OKFC05,
Thank you for the reply. As simple as it seems, you were right on. I pulled it back about and 1/8th of an inch and it came right off.

Thank you for helping !! Now I feel much better and the slide comes right off.

Welcome to the forum, and the S&W family.
Let's help you make your SD9VE better. Buy an extended slide release lever. It makes it easier on your finger tips. I had originally installed an APEX spring kit. Oh, it shot very well........until I shot my friends SD9VE with a Wesbaun spring kit installed in it. His shot 10X better than mine. I bought a Wesbaun SD9 spring kit and installed it in mine. It was a tack driver with the APEX spring kit, but it's now a MUCH BETTER tack driver with the Wesbaun spring kit!
I would suggest a Galloway Boudica trigger. It's less expensive than an APEX trigger ($22.50 VS $39.95) and it's made from carbon fiber. Unlike the APEX trigger, you don't have to do any filing down on the Galloway trigger.
9mm ammo is almost double of what it was 6 months ago. Your SD9VE will eat ANY 9mm ammo! If you can find steel case ammo, it's cheaper than brass, and shoots just as good as brass cased ammo. I buy from SGAMMO, but not lately. Luckily I am very well stocked up. I refuse to pay these ridiculously over priced ammo prices!
Good luck finding ammo, and if you do, shoot, shoot, shoot. Practice makes perfect.

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How many guns are too many?

Ruger Nut,

Thank you for the welcome.
After breaking nails and having a heck of a time with the stock slide release lever, I bought the extended and Ohh, so much better.
I actually bought the Galloway spring kit and Boudica trigger and just got them installed, thank you for the suggestion.
I haven't had a chance to go to the range yet to try it out.
My brother is getting a S&W M&P 9 so when the 10 day waiting period is over, we are going to try them out.
Being in California, we can't use steel jacketed ammo at the range, only brass. I was driving by a Big 5 last week and stopped in to see if they had any 9mm and they had just gotten a shipment in so I bought all they had. It was .33 per but considering how hard it is to find ammo now, figured it was a steal.
Now to get to the range...

What are your thought on swapping out the rear sight for a red dot or would a Olight laser and lamp be the better option?

Ok,
After being able to remove the slide a few times, now I can't seem to get it to release with out an empty magazine in it now matter if I move the slide back just a little or more.
I noticed there is a lever in the magazine well of the gun when the slide is off and if I push it down, then replace the slide and rack it, I can remove the slide every time. Once I put the magazine back in and rack the slide, ensure the trigger is released, remove the magazine and try to remove the slide, it just won't go forward other than like 1/4" and get stuck.
I'm sure the slide release is pulled down but it just doesn't want to slide forward. I have emailed S&W about it to see what they have to say.