Looking at an SD9VE. What's the big deal?

[Rickster49]

SW9VE trigger....

I have been blessed with several 9's and although the 9VE is one of the cheapest it is also one of my favorites. Just fits my smallish hands to perfection. It has also been extremely reliable. Never a malfunction with any factory ball ammo. Only rarely a malfunction with cast bullets (95% of my shooting). Even then my function problems are usually the result of overly light powder charges when working up a load. I purchased my pistol new and to my taste it did have a lousy trigger. A thousand rds or so and some judicious polishing of parts gave me a very decent 5 1/2 lb trigger. It is also one of the smallest and lightest 9's which take large capacity magazines. This is a plus IMHO, especially for open carry holstered situations. I would have loved to have had this pistol for my duty weapon back in the day.....

 

[deaheat]

Horrible trigger that even with all the apex parts you can't fix.


You can get a M&P for 399 these days. G2 PT111 that has a better trigger that is double strike capable for around 200. Compact weapon that takes 17 rounders.

Your money

 

[Pointblank2U]

I couldn't resist the local Fin, Feather & Fur's February Sales Flyer. I picked up one yesterday for $289.95. You get a lot of gun for your money. Other than slapping on some rubber Talon grips, I'm keeping it stock. At the very least it will be a glove box gun for when I go somewhere I can't carry. It's a lot of firepower without risking an expensive pistol.

 

[Skeptic 9c]

If you want a great trigger pull, get a 1911 and have a good smith put a 4.5 lb trigger pull on it. I did this many years ago and it has stayed the same and extremely consistent on the Lyman gauge. If you want a double stack 9mm with no manual safety, get a SD9VE at $320 or a SWaMPy 9 at $415 (local sale prices at Shooters of Jacksonville, your mileage may vary)
I have a SWaMPy 9c and a SW9VE with a 15lb trigger, which I am playing with an Apex kit.
IMHO the SW9 series has a better grip than the SD9 series, but I am hard to please.
Geoff
Who will report the results.

 

[AnthemBassMan]

I couldn't resist the local Fin, Feather & Fur's February Sales Flyer. I picked up one yesterday for $289.95. You get a lot of gun for your money. Other than slapping on some rubber Talon grips, I'm keeping it stock. At the very least it will be a glove box gun for when I go somewhere I can't carry. It's a lot of firepower without risking an expensive pistol.

I bought my SD40VE at the Canton Fin, Feather & Fur a couple years ago. Still love this pistol. I installed the Apex spring kit last March or April, and along with some minor polishing of the trigger bar assembly, the trigger pull is now down to 6lbs 1oz. Hopefully I'll be getting my Talon Grip in the mail on Monday. The only other thing I've done is drop filled the front white dot with Testors fluorescent orange paint. I may still replace the rear sight with a standard steel M&P sight. It definitely has a better sight picture than the poly sight on the SD. But besides that, I carry this pistol daily.

L8R,
Matt

 

[stitch45]

I live in a small rural town of about 5,000 or so people and the salesman at our local "Gun Store" sold over 100 of them in 2015 (I know this to be true because I am their holster maker / supplier and I know how many holsters for them they sell ) And rarely does one come back with complaints, This to me says some thing about the gun. I'm an old guy and a 1911 fan from way back, But I bought an SD9VE just to have a low cost light weight 9mm around and I'm completely satisfied with it for what it is. ... Heck the trigger doesn't even bother me.
Good low cost gun that goes bang, I think that's why it is so popular.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

It is an economy model, but a reliable handgun that does the job and a good place to start. I have fired my friends SW SD9VE and the trigger was fine to me and the bullets grouped tight enough.

 

[Skeptic 9c]

I still cannot compute why the grip on the SD9VE is different and larger than the grip on my SW9VE...
Geoff
Who puzzles easily.

 

[vipermd]

I'm in Canada. So self defense isn't even really an option with a pistol. I'm just looking for something decent to take to the range that works when you pull the trigger, doesn't require a lot of babying and doesn't cost a whole lot. Again being in Canada "doesn't cost a lot" is relative with pistols.

I am unfamiliar with Canadian law- Why would self defense with a handgun be any different than a long gun? Or are you like England where self defense is prohibited?? Be Safe,

 

[TheSharkMan]

After 20-some years without guns, it was time for a home defense gun that would work for carry also.

I found my SD9VE at a local gun shop. I didn't know anything about it, other than it was by S&W, it felt good, and it was right in my price range. Usually I read all kinds of reviews and watch a zillion videos before making an important purchase, but not this time. The SD came home with me that day.

Since then, I've only had a couple hundred rounds through it, but it's been flawless. It goes bang every time and the bullets go where it's aimed. The trigger is consistent and I feel as confident carrying it around as I would a good revolver.

They hit a home run with this one, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[fireems151]

As a comparison, the Kel-Tec P-11 I use as my daily carry seems to have a heavier trigger pull. I have not put that many rounds through my SD9VE but the trigger pulls is not that bad.

 

[cptrick3]

I have a friend looking to buy his first hand gun. He was thinking of a Glock 19. I told him he could save $200 buying a SD9VE and he, (being a new shooter) probably could tell the difference.

 

[JaPes]

I have a friend looking to buy his first hand gun. He was thinking of a Glock 19. I told him he could save $200 buying a SD9VE and he, (being a new shooter) probably could tell the difference.

If possible, you should have your friend try both. The stock OEM trigger setup between the two is vastly different. Hinged + long pull to fully cock the striker v.s. trigger shoe w/safety blade + shorter pre-cocked striker. He's got to feel them both under live fire to make a choice.

 

[sixtwoniner]

Best idea yet.

Yup, The SD9VE is a great gun out of the box. Leave it stock and train with it! It is not necessary to change anything at all!! It is made by a great company and I have run well over 3k rounds through it and it performs GREAT! Keep it cared for and you will be very happy with the value you get!

The operative phrase here is "train with it". All the folks that want to improve on the S&W design engineers are quite beyond my capacity. None of the auto pistols can shoot like my my 629 in 8 3/8. Not made to. Sure, I buffed up the sear a bit so I can shoot SA with about 2 lbs of TP but that's a long barreled revolver made for that type of shooting. Point is if I'm too concerned about triggers and sights and shooting with great precision I'll shoot a revolver. If I want high cap mags and rapid fire capabilities I shoot an ACP. I have a pair of SD9VEs and love them right out of the box. Making a bunch of mods to a piece made for fast shooting makes little sense to me. But that's me and I'm old and tired. Bang Bang!!

Shoot, Shoot, Shoot than Shoot some more.
We all need to be proficient or better.

 

[cptrick3]

JaPes, I agree and plan on taking him to the range to shoot my SD9 and rent a Glock 19.