I have a buy on a 3rd Gen S&W 909 (with one mag) at an "only OK" price...
I'm familiar with these "value priced" 9mm's, but wondered...
How would this 909 compare to a more recent SD9 in quality at the same price?...
Looking for a starter 9mm for my youngest son...
Thanks for any insight....

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Travel light..stay aware..

Depends on price. The 909 is perfectly fine for under $400, but more than that and other guns would be a better buy.
I would get any $400-ish 9mm 3rd gen over ANY modern striker-fired polymer handgun.
Every day of the week, even with my head in a bag.

To my knowledge the 909 was a 'value' priced model. Not quite as refined as the 'genuine' third gens with four numbers in their designation, like the 5906.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Can you find a 3913 shooter?

You can get a 915 for $375 these days, which would be so much better than an SD9 that it would be embarrassing to place them together for comparison.

The used 909 can be had for $308 OTD with one mag. (90% condition)...
A new SD9 is about the same price with two mags...
So a toss-up price-wise...
However, the 909 looks to be a more substantial weapon...

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Travel light..stay aware..

If you get that 909 for $300, you will be miles ahead. Mags are around and not the end of the world, price-wise. I sold a trio of them on this forum for $80 recently, to give a bit of perspective.

3rd gen hands down, any day.

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Pine_Worker
Ex-LEO, NRA Life

For a self defense gun, I'd go with the SD9 + the Apex trigger/spring tax.

If its just gonna be a range toy or teaching handgun fundamentals, nothing wrong with the 909. From what I understand the 900 series has some issues because of it being the cheapo version of the 5900 series. The SD9 is pretty much a straight Glock clone except with no adjustable backstrap (I use skateboard tape on mine). It has a terrible stock trigger like Glocks do though. It's also a double stack vs the 909's single stack.

At the same price as a SD9 and as a starter pistol I’d get the 909. I don’t know how familiar your youngest is with firearms, but I think there is a great teaching and safety value to having a first pistol with a hammer. A hammer is a great visual tool as to the condition of the pistol. Plus the extra weight helps and, most important in my opinion, a 3d gen S&W has a better trigger than the SD series.

That said, last year I bought a SD9VE to compare against my other semis. The SD is my first poly framed striker pistol, my other semis are all steel or aluminum framed and hammer fired. Frankly, other than the inertia movement from the striker releasing as the trigger breaks, the SD is good pistol. Functioning is 100% and accuracy is very good. Not in the same class as my CZ P-01 certainly but acceptable. The trigger pull and weight, other than the break, is similar to the DA pull in my revolvers. Because the SD’s trigger break is weird I’d get the 909.

Carried a 908 for 3 yrs and have had 3914's since (carry one and have a spare). These slim single stack's are in my opinion superior to any tupperware out there. I have several other 3rd gens and have never had one hiccup on anything. Period. Far better than a modern SD 9

The S&W 909 it is...love the slim feel of the single stack...

Attached Images

	S&W 909 - best 1.jpg (78.3 KB, 50 views)
	S&W 909 - best 2.jpg (68.7 KB, 43 views)

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Travel light..stay aware..

Hands down, easy choice. Buy the 909. Much better firearm than the SD9. You even get a good ol' fashioned hammer on the 909.

Now, I read this whole thread. And it distressed me a few times.

The OP says he wants to buy a "starter 9mm" for his son. What's the implication here? Will the pistol be used to start races at track meets? Is it less dangerous if mishandled because it's a "starter?" If it's his first 9mm, why not just say so?

Someone else referred to one or the other pistols as a "weapon." I know I'm beating a dead horse but please don't refer to guns as "weapons" unless or until they are used as such.

A golf club is a golf club until you hit someone with it. That's when it becomes a weapon.

Military terminology aside, a firearm is a firearm until it's shot at someone. That's when it becomes a weapon.

The indiscriminate use of the word "weapon" instead of "firearm" or "gun," only gives the anti-gun nuts ammo. Weapons, weapons, weapons, kill, kill, kill.

And, by the way, the term should be changed to "Concealed Defense Device Permiit," or something like that.

Last, why the hell do people refer to firearms as "TOYS?" Firearms are NOT toys. And the people who call firearms "toys," put all firearm owners in a bad light.

"You know, a lot of those guys refer to the deadly weapons they own as 'toys.' They're all nuts."

We need to win people over, not alienate them with careless talk.

You know how it is these days. When people, including bystanders/eavesdroppers, hear the words weapon, gun or firearm, their ears perk up.

Don't scare them. Win 'em over.

"Looking for a starter 9mm for my youngest son"...
My youngest son (26) is not really a "gun guy" like his two older brothers... He's a custom car guy.... So this is my attempt to "win 'em over" with a nice, but not too expensive, semi-auto 9mm. If he gets the gun bug, then there are plenty of nicer handguns in my safe for him to enjoy.
However, I did enjoy your post... lots of good info about the gun culture and how we are perceived by the general public...
Thanks for joining in....

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Travel light..stay aware..

Thank you for your gracious reply.

I guess the "starter" thing reminded me of the real estate agent who sold us our first home: 3 beds, 2 baths, more than 2000 sg. feet.

Once he knew it was our first home, he kept referring to it as a "starter home." For some reason, the term bugged me and still does.

34 years later, we're still in our starter home.

909 hands down.

What he said.

I Agree Mikem with Good Proper handling teaching at every club this can be a extremely enjoyable sport or Hobby even. As a Range Officer myself I generally try to turn a shooting infraction on the range into a learning session instead. This always works in keeping the range safer.

Yep. Love my Model 909. I still think of it as the final modern manufacturing iteration of my beloved classic Model 39-2. Comparing that to an SD9VE is almost embarrassing.

Totally agree!

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Pine_Worker
Ex-LEO, NRA Life

Honestly, I will take a Ruger SR9 over any of the SD series guns.
All day. Every day.

I have one Ruger SR9 and 4 3rd gen Smiths.
The Ruger is a carry piece. If I have a wreck on my motorcycle and my carry piece gets uglied up or demolished, I'd rather it be the SR than the 3rd gen.
If (God forbid) I have to use it in SD and it gets confiscated, I'd rather it be the SR than the 3rd gen Smith.

I wouldn't be thrilled about either situation happening to the SR, but it's a LOT easier to replace than the 3rd gen.

I'd like to use my early 6906 as a carry piece, but I'm afraid I'd have to use it. I can't bear the thought of it sitting, lonely and unloved, in an evidence locker until Hell freezes over.
The SR? I love it. But if it ended up in solitary, I'd just get another. The great thing about plastic is that it's cheap and disposable.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

I only disagree with you from this standpoint:
I have been in exactly ONE gunfight outside of work (I'm active duty military).
I am very happy to have had the best pistol I could afford and was comfortable with at the time of this one incident. I got it back from the Bothel, WA police after a very short time, and have parted with it at some point along the line but was THRILLED to have had it for that one moment in my life. (It was as Sig P220)
I will very likely never ever face this type of situation again, as the odds of the first one were infinitesimal. But I will carry fine guns for the rest of my life, knowing I have the best thing I can afford with me should I need it for anything. What else is the point of carrying a gun?
The 909 is a great pistol. If you REALLY want to make it greater, get a 915 top end for it, as the locking lug system is far superior in the 915 (and 3904).

Fixed it for ya

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

I don't disagree with you.
However, the SR9 has been 100% reliable.
I trust it as much as i trust any firearm.
But, if one of my guns has to go sliding with me down the pavement, I'd rather it be the not pretty plastic fantastic.
Would be a shame to have one of my 3rd gens look like I took a belt sander to it.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?