I recommended an SD9VE even though I don't own one.

[Linejudgemick]

My brother told me a few days ago that he was looking for an inexpensive general purpose 9mm pistol. When he said he wanted a Ruger P95, I recommended he check out an SD9VE. I've always been a Ruger fan, but I thought for what he wanted the S&W might be a better option. I have an M&P9C and a Ruger SR40C - both are good pistols, however I don't own a SD9VE. But, based on what I've heard and read, they are good inexpensive striker-fired pistols. Besides, I had just read that Ruger will/has discontinued the P-series pistols.

Anyway, today he called me and told me he got one for $299. He plans to come over this weekend and so we can give it and my M&P a work out. Hopefully he will not have any reasons to regret following my recommendation, and the SD9VE will perform well. I'm posting this to see if anyone that has one, has any suggestions for a new SD9VE owner? Thanks.

 

[nelmar]

All okay with SD9VE

Hello:

I, too, have a SW SD9VE that I purchased at the Academy (Forth Worth, TX) for $319 (now it's on sale for $299).

I have shot every cheap and good ammo known to mankind, and this gun, with over 450 rounds, has been incredibly dependable.

It's easy to maintain, light with acceptable recoil, and has no safety to complicate things in a stressful situation--lock and load and I'm ready to meet what's trying to harm me. It's my personal defense piece with HMJ. For the price, it's shines over any expensive gun.

I, also, own a Ruger P95, which is quite a gun for the price and a Remington 1911 R1, a gun that I bought for its historical appreciation. Back to the SD9VE---it's the best gun for the price for I envision its use.

 

[raymo2u]

 i polished all moving parts/faces/touching spots and i did help but pulling slowly on the trigger when racked it was still hard to stage perfect most times. thus i added apex spring kit, which lightened the pull greatly the gritty staging problem was still present. i added the m&p aek whick was nice and added to the overall feel of the spring kit .

 practice can help, lay a penny on then end of the barrel by the front sight, then practice dry firing until it stays in place with each hand supported and non-supported for 10 successful shots. that will be a good basic line to start from for training.next use snap caps in between rounds in the mag but do so so you wont know the order their in. while you fire you will see what your doing wrong when you get the snap cap be it flinching or yanking the trigger, ect.

 

[brchambersjr]

I've got well over 3000 rounds through mine and I have not experienced one FTF or FTE. Very good pistol for what you pay and you get the S&W warranty. I am happy with my purchase.

Bill

 

[Linejudgemick]

Here's an update to my post - btw, thanks to all that replied. My brother brought his new SD9VE to my house (I live in the country) along with a new target stand he made based on a YouTube video I sent him. I got out my M&P9C and we set up our target stands and did some shooting. He hasn't used pistols much before, so I showed him how to clean and lubricate his SD9VE and how to grip it correctly. We then went on to fire over 200 rounds through the gun with only one FTFeed (quickly fixed with a quick tap on the slide) using Blazer Brass 115gr ammunition. Although my M&P is obviously more robust and has more features, I was impressed with the SD. It shot well, was accurate, and handled nicely. The trigger wasn't nearly as bad as I expected after reading quite a few complaints about it on-line. All in all I thought he got a bargain for $299.99 plus tax out the door. I won't have any hesitation now recommending the SD9VE to anyone looking for a good full-size pistol that doesn't break the bank.

 

[Capt Crunch]

I would agree, polish the moving parts, that is about all you need to do. Cosmetically there are a few things that one can do as far as grips, stripling or grip tape but that is really a user thing.

 

[godsmack]

While I dont have an SD9VE, I do have one of the original SD9s, closing in on 2K through it with only a problem early on that smith took care of quickly. The trigger has smoothed and lightened to be almost perfect for a carry pistol IMO. I would recommend the pistol to anyone.

 

[Happyjuice]

My brother told me a few days ago that he was looking for an inexpensive general purpose 9mm pistol. When he said he wanted a Ruger P95, I recommended he check out an SD9VE. I've always been a Ruger fan, but I thought for what he wanted the S&W might be a better option. I have an M&P9C and a Ruger SR40C - both are good pistols, however I don't own a SD9VE. But, based on what I've heard and read, they are good inexpensive striker-fired pistols. Besides, I had just read that Ruger will/has discontinued the P-series pistols.

Anyway, today he called me and told me he got one for $299. He plans to come over this weekend and so we can give it and my M&P a work out. Hopefully he will not have any reasons to regret following my recommendation, and the SD9VE will perform well. I'm posting this to see if anyone that has one, has any suggestions for a new SD9VE owner? Thanks.

I have owned my Smith SD9VE for about 6 months now and after ordering and installing the Apex Spring Kit, Dropped a Stainless Steel Guide Rod and the Apex Tactical Polymer SD AEK Action Enhancement Trigger. I cannot find a negative comment to make about the performance and my overall satisfaction in the gun. With just a few relatively inexpensive add-ons, For the price and after these additions its shoots just as good if not better than its expensive counterparts (H&K/Glock/M&P(9mm)). I am more than satisfied with this Pistol.

Edit: Also, I have tested almost every producer of 9mm load/reload and it chews up and spits them all out without 1 FTF/FTE. Hats off to S&W on this model 9mm.
Thanks - Mike

 

[Capt Crunch]

I have owned my Smith SD9VE for about 6 months now and after ordering and installing the Apex Spring Kit, Dropped a Stainless Steel Guide Rod and the Apex Tactical Polymer SD AEK Action Enhancement Trigger. I cannot find a negative comment to make about the performance and my overall satisfaction in the gun. With just a few relatively inexpensive add-ons, For the price and after these additions its shoots just as good if not better than its expensive counterparts (H&K/Glock/M&P(9mm)). I am more than satisfied with this Pistol.

Edit: Also, I have tested almost every producer of 9mm load/reload and it chews up and spits them all out without 1 FTF/FTE. Hats off to S&W on this model 9mm.
Thanks - Mike

Where did you get your steel guide rod? I've only been able to find one type and they wanted 25 bucks for it. I was hoping to find one a little cheaper.

 

[GKC]

Where did you get your steel guide rod? I've only been able to find one type and they wanted 25 bucks for it. I was hoping to find one a little cheaper.

The best (IMO) aftermarket guide rod is the one made by Galloway Precision. It's not cheap...$35 on Amazon...but it's a quality part, and includes the spring as a captured assembly. (I bought mine on Amazon, because we have Prime and get free shipping.)

I also have the Galloway Precision extended take down lever...any aftermarket extended lever made for Glocks will work, and you can find them cheaper than the Galloway part, but unlike the other aftermarket options, the Galloway lever is tapered...that is, wider at the bottom than the top, and it makes it easier to grasp and pull down. I've tried a few different styles when I had Glocks, and I like this one the best of any of them.

 

[drakan1908]

http://gallowayprecision.com/smith-...tainless-steel-guide-rod-for-Sigma-and-SD-VE/ $30.00 plus shipping and includes the spring of your choice.

 

[MyDads38]

New SD9VE owner here. Only 150 rounds through mine so far (since 8-2-2014). Read/watched/learned all I could about the SD series before buying. No issues so far, and IMO, the trigger is not nearly as bad as others have said. Shooting S&W revolvers for a lot of years, the trigger on the SD9VE feels very natural to me. Can it be improved? Of course, but right now, I have no plans to change anything internally. Added a Hogue Handall and may try a few other grip options. May check into different sights, but the 3 dot is fine for now-my 2 other semi-autos have them too, so they are all consistent.

The SD/VE series is a very nice pistol and I have no regrets with my purchase. Hope your brother enjoys his new SD.

 

[Bundesheer]

My brother told me a few days ago that he was looking for an inexpensive general purpose 9mm pistol. ........ I recommended he check out an SD9VE. .........based on what I've heard and read, they are good inexpensive striker-fired pistols.

If you looking for a general purpose gun that is inexpensive, reliable, simple to maintain and without the high $ Diva problems you are right with a SD9VE. Whatever you feed her, she takes it and works as long it said 9 mm Luger. She works with all given ammo almost like a revolver.
The SD9VE is a very good basic strikerfire gun that performs just great.
Aftermarket upgrades can make this gun to a target range pistol that don't have to fear the $ Divas from the shelve above without breaking the Bank.

 

[Tom95YJ]

I really like my sd9ve a lot. I've owned it since February and I have about 1,700 rounds through it with no issues.

My gun is still stock but I do intend on adding some night sights , Galloway guide rod and apex spring and trigger kit. To it in the future.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[leejack]

I'm very happy with mine, best $300 I ever spent!

 

[Linejudgemick]

I had forgotten about this thread until I saw it again today. My brother's SD9VE still functions fine. Last I personally saw it we were hunting last fall and were bored after a lot of walking and no pheasants. So the pistols came out and some empty pop cans and water bottles paid the price of our boredom. His SD9VE ate some Tulammo like candy and several people there tried it out. None of them experienced an issue with it. My opinion hasn't changed - while I'm happy I have my M&Ps, I still believe the SD VE series is a good, reliable, inexpensive platform for anyone needing something like that. Plus they''re still advertised for $290 - $300 pretty often too.