Hello everyone. New to the forum. I'm replacing a sccy cpx2 as my concealed carry weapon. I like everything I've read so far about the SD9 & quite frankly am also attracted by the price. There are 2 questions about the SD that my research hasn't answered. Is it practical for concealed carry & how difficult is it to rack the slide. I'm 70 and have significant arthritis. The sccy 9mm became very difficult to rack. That's why it's gone. Any advice would be appreciated.

I think mine is very easy to rack however I can come compare it to a sccy cpx2. I suggest finding one at a local gun shop and testing it out

It is a great gun for CCW I carry one and no problem racking it.

saybrook69:
I am 83 years young and have no difficulty racking the slide on
my SD40ve. I imagine the SD9 is quite similar.
I also have a Body Guard 380 that is more difficult for me to rack!
Here is a link to some excellent info on that subject.
Rack the Slide | Cornered Cat
This article By "Kathy Jackson" is very good in my opinion. I use the :Overhand Method and it works well for me.
Good Luck!

Thanks to everyone who replied. I especially liked liked the article on racking the slide.

With the trigger on the sd9 makes for a great carry gun. You should have no troubles racking slide.

The gun was made for carry with the long trigger pull ; )
Y/D

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Although I don't like them, (unlike the sigma), the SD has serrations at both ends of the slide. This could aid in the racking if you use them. I think it's pretty easy myself.

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SD9VE, American perfection!

Attachment 150763 I conceal carry my SD9 quit often when not carrying my M&P 9. Best bet is to try it before you buy it. Oh yea welcome to the forum

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A.D.S.I

I conceal carry my SD9VE's on my strong side in either my Bulldog Belt Slide or Galco pancake style leather holsters.

Having arthritis in my right wrist I can sympathize with your pain. However the SD9VE's slide is fairly easy to rack and gets lighter with use.

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NULLI SECUNDUS

I am very fond of my newly acquired SD9VE and find the slide easier to operate than most other 9s I have tried. I would not hesitate to use the SD9VE for a CCW provided 1) you can live with the factory trigger which is usually very heavy on unaltered pieces and 2) you make sure it reliably feeds the ammo you will utilize for CC purposes. These pistols have a great reputation for feeding most any ammo reliably so that shouldn't be a problem. If you can't live with the factory trigger it is easily remedied with an apex spring kit for $25 or so. I installed the apex kit and polished a couple parts as per the apex video in my own 9. Made a world of difference.....

i CC mt sd40 with a alien gear holster. i always keep on in the pipe so no need to rack normally. only time i need to is clearing the chambered round before slapping some FMJ's in for target practice

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Fugitive Recovery Agent

I'm looking at one for the same purpose. I recently contacted several well-known shooting schools and received a reply this morning from one of the lead instructors - I'll skip his name in case I misquote him - but he said the SD9 VE was a good carry pistol and he'd have no problem recommending it.

I did just the opposite. I changed to the Sccy for the size and ease of carry. I concur with the slide of the S&W being easier. It just didn't fit me as well as the SCCY!

sd9ve is about the same size as a glock 19, its no 26 by any means. im a "heftier" guy so i can conceal it well. i would personally recommend foxx or aliengear kydex/leather hybrids.

they work very well and i hear many good things about them. i personally prefer the AG over foxx but thats because i like the full muzzle being covered.

High quality concealed carry leather holsters | Alien Gear Holsters

Home

if you wish to check them out. they are both crossbreed style and cost a lot less without sacrificing quality

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Fugitive Recovery Agent

Welcome aboard sir. Have you considered a revolver?

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_It was love at first shot_

one thing i have to chime in about that... 5-6 shots vs 17...

the ability to carry 34 moire with a dual mag carrier

i keep a revolver by the bed for a nightstand gun. a charter bulldog .44 2 inch i picked up off armslist for dirt cheap. I would not consider one for carry due to capacity issues. thats just my $.02

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Fugitive Recovery Agent

Being roughly the same size, same thickness and same weight why limit your capacity

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im assuming for ease of use. although a racked and loaded SD is point and shoot....

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Fugitive Recovery Agent

my wife is tiny and constantly has problems racking slides but racks my sd9ve like a boss dawg.

*plays slim thuggs "like a boss"*

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Fugitive Recovery Agent

stinks that you had to give up the cpx2. It's my work gun as it's thinner and lighter than the sd40 I just got. to me, the slides on both have about the same rack tension but the sd , being a little wider is easier to grip. problem with it is even with a polo shirt, i print like xerox

I like my sd40ve, easy to conceal carry, easy to rack and fire. Where you located on NE Ohio? Near Norwalk? I can let you try one out.

How comfortable is it carrying the SD40 IWB? I'm 6'2" and 220lbs. It's seems like it would be bulky with that style carry. I have looked at the Alien Gear for carrying my Bersa Thunder .380 but haven't considered it for my .40. Now my curiosity is peaked.

I am 5'10" 225lb and my sd9/40ve is very comfortable with the aliengear holster.

im 6'3 about 275-300 and mines the same with the AG on any of the 3 settings.

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Fugitive Recovery Agent

Well, I see an AG holster in my near future.

Update: I now how one on the way. Thanks to a great member on here.

I have fired my neighbor's polymer 5 shot snubbie. Nasty recoil for my arthritic hand.

I live in Ashtabula, right in the NE corner of the state. Also referred to by LEO's as the wild, wild west.

The SD9VE is good pistol to carry..just about any holster for a Glock 23 or 19 will work...I suggest a pancake ..high and tight..

I have no problems racking my SD9VE...I have Raynaud's Disease ..which means in the cold months I can have problems...but I tote with one in the tube anyway..
And hello to Ashtabula...I have some old friends that live in Geneva ..

and even though my Handle is Buckeye..I live in TN

hello im 61 and im about5'4 in height and i have the sd 9ve and i love it i could conceal it with no problems

I believe I've narrowed it down to three pistols. 1. SD9 2, Shield 3. Millenium g2 More than likely it will be the SD as the other 2 seem to be as scarce as hen's teeth in these parts and I like a brick and mortar store in case of problems Thanks again for all the input. It greatly assisted me in narrowing things down.

Just carried my Sigma 9mm tonight. Very workable, even in warm weather. The Shield and the Taurus are more concealable, and good guns, but if you're going to have only one gun, the added capacity of an SD or Sigma tips the scale, IMO. Good luck.

Just to add some food for thought, on another thread I'd asked for feedback on buying from LGS or online. One fact that was apparent, buying from brick and mortar may not help you in case of problems. Any repair work under warranty would have to go to the manufacturers. I own an SD40ve and it IS my home defense weapon. I'm going to buy a Shield soon for CC. Whether I'll buy local or order online will come down to price and availability. If no LGS has it or can get it, I will order it.

Based on my experience with the SD, you would love it, especially if capacity is important. But if CC is what you're after, the Shield deserves a long hard look. I don't know much about the millennium.


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JR
SD40VE and Shield 9

i looked at the shield. one thing made me deter from buying. 6 or 7 round capacity. im not a fan of taurus. they have been known to have lemons in high numbers. i have owed 3 in my lifetime and will never buy another.

the SD fits MY NEEDS well. it has the capacity i was looking for in a 4in bbl, its easy for me to conceal. and it goes bang every time for the past 7000+ rounds

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Fugitive Recovery Agent

CCW is the only reason I hesitate on the SD. On the LGS I guess it would depend on what the FFL would charge for transfer plus the shipping costs. Plus I like to support the local businesses when possible.. I do have a mini-mag revolver that I can carry now that the weather is getting warmer. With some of the "hot ammo" available now in .22mag It will do some damage at close range.