Well I've had my SD9VE for a week now and haven't fired it because I was waiting to put on the apex spring kit on. Well after two hours of looping the video I got it on. No click from the trigger and now the slde is stuck so I can't rack to disassemble. So any suggestions or head to a gunsmith? Thanks
New owner problem
- Thread starter lilcobra2
- Start date
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MyDads38
Member
Any progress? Still trying to process why you would buy a new gun, and not fire/shoot it before making mods?
MOONDAWG
US Veteran
.Still haven't figured out why everyone wants to lighten the trigger on this firearm? It is a self defense weapon. The 8# trigger is to help prevent an AD. It wasn't made to be a competition target gun. The stock trigger on it is fine.
My best recommendation for you is to call APEX. As many of these kits as they've sold they've probably had situations like yours crop up before. The only change I make on SD9 VE's is to replace the polymer sight with a steel one. Other than that I recommend running them box stock. That seems to eliminate the problems many folks have.
Best Regards,
ADP3
Best Regards,
ADP3
Slide removal
This has come up before. You should be able to find the post. I assume you have removed the magazine and tried to rack the slide a bit while pulling the trigger.
Do a search on this forum - someone reported a similar problem and there was a very responsive post.
This has come up before. You should be able to find the post. I assume you have removed the magazine and tried to rack the slide a bit while pulling the trigger.
Do a search on this forum - someone reported a similar problem and there was a very responsive post.
brchambersjr
US Veteran
Lock the slide back and remove the slide end plate and striker. You should be able to remove the slide from the frame then.
Bill
Bill
Big Cholla
Member
IMHO, you should get personal instruction on the manual of arms for that pistol before you do anything else. Also, it has been proven over and over that a new handgun should be shot 50 to 100 times fairly free of lube and clean from the manufacturer's preservative BEFORE opening it up to start modifications. Another ALSO: It is a self defense handgun not a target pistol. That OEM trigger pull will not even be noticed by you in an actual self defense situation when your adrenalin is up. Learn to shoot it that way. AND lastly, I have installed APEX kits for others and can't for the life of me see any real improvement. YMMV....................
Bill - I think there was another method posted somewhere on this forum, unless it was you. I sort of hesitate to suggest that a newcomer remove the rear slide plate and the striker. Are you really sure that's the best and only way?
brchambersjr
US Veteran
If there is another way to get the sear to move down without pulling the trigger I would be surprised. Maybe push in on the right side of the frame and maybe the trigger will push it back enough.
Removing the end plate and striker really are not hard to do. I mean if you are willing to make modifications to a firing mechanism it would seem that you would be able to do that. Plus, in order to install the apex spring kit you already have removed this and a whole lot more.
Bill
Removing the end plate and striker really are not hard to do. I mean if you are willing to make modifications to a firing mechanism it would seem that you would be able to do that. Plus, in order to install the apex spring kit you already have removed this and a whole lot more.
Bill
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Pisgah
Member
Folks, this is one reason I sometimes question the value of forums like these. Many of us are guncranks with loads of experience, and after using a certain gun, perhaps for years, we sometimes decide we'd like to tweak it a bit. All fine and well.
But all too often I see folks going on and on about the latest good-for nothing-but-draining-wallets whizbang "improvement" that is utterly un-needed on 99% of guns and by 99% of owners, and the newbies get the idea that, A) it's a MUST, and, B) "If he can make that mod, I can." Often, both A and B are wrong.
Particularly when it comes to Glock-style trigger-action guns, folks who either have never owned any gun, or who have never fired anything but a revolver or single-action auto, think there's something "wrong" with the way they work. Here's news: they are fine just as they are. It's just that the shooter needs to learn how to operate them. You are NOT going to turn a Glock in to a 1911, but you CAN turn yourself in to a DA-only shooter!
lilcobra2, I sincerely hope you get your gun up and running, and I also hope you have learned something by the experience.
But all too often I see folks going on and on about the latest good-for nothing-but-draining-wallets whizbang "improvement" that is utterly un-needed on 99% of guns and by 99% of owners, and the newbies get the idea that, A) it's a MUST, and, B) "If he can make that mod, I can." Often, both A and B are wrong.
Particularly when it comes to Glock-style trigger-action guns, folks who either have never owned any gun, or who have never fired anything but a revolver or single-action auto, think there's something "wrong" with the way they work. Here's news: they are fine just as they are. It's just that the shooter needs to learn how to operate them. You are NOT going to turn a Glock in to a 1911, but you CAN turn yourself in to a DA-only shooter!
lilcobra2, I sincerely hope you get your gun up and running, and I also hope you have learned something by the experience.
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brchambersjr
US Veteran
Agreed Pisgah. I personally like the trigger.
Bill
Bill
PeterPocket
Member
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Are you sure the recoil spring & barrel are in it?
Yes, it happened to me. I reassembled my SD without the barrel & spring and couldn't remove the slide. The easy solution was to push the slide into battery, pull the trigger, and the slide came right off.
Since you can't fire the trigger, you can't remove the slide.
If the gun is fully assembled with barrel, guide rod, and spring, if it's not getting past the takedown lever, then that's where the problem lies.
S&W has a manufacturing defect in the SD's as to how they seat the leaf srping for the takedown lever. It's the reason why so many people struggle with it.
I'm composing a long letter to S&W complete with annotated photos. I was saving the explanation for a separate thread - but if you're having trouble getting the slide past the takedown lever, I'l address it now.
Pls let me know, ASAP.
Yes, it happened to me. I reassembled my SD without the barrel & spring and couldn't remove the slide. The easy solution was to push the slide into battery, pull the trigger, and the slide came right off.
Since you can't fire the trigger, you can't remove the slide.
If the gun is fully assembled with barrel, guide rod, and spring, if it's not getting past the takedown lever, then that's where the problem lies.
S&W has a manufacturing defect in the SD's as to how they seat the leaf srping for the takedown lever. It's the reason why so many people struggle with it.
I'm composing a long letter to S&W complete with annotated photos. I was saving the explanation for a separate thread - but if you're having trouble getting the slide past the takedown lever, I'l address it now.
Pls let me know, ASAP.
I just don't understand why one would buy a firearm just to add the latest and greatest before using it.
I don't own a plastic fantastic, but I research things before I buy and after reading these forums I would definitely try it before I buy it,but that's just me.
I don't own a plastic fantastic, but I research things before I buy and after reading these forums I would definitely try it before I buy it,but that's just me.
Tmatahead
Member
ANY UP DATE?
The issue is most likely the new APEX trigger, which is not a drop in part. I put only the springs in my wives SD9, put the springs & trigger in my SD40. WHAT a PAIN. Found two solutions.
1) with a very thin metal object (I used the smooth polished end of a metal emeryboard) just under the ejection port you can push the trigger bar back.
2) pull the trigger while cycling the slide, you will hear the striker fall when you are successful.
Now remove the trigger and start removing material from the back of the trigger. I easily filed off 3/32 of material. my hands are so big the new trigger pinched my index finger under the trigger, so I went back to OEM, and modified weatherstrip that is a bit wider than the trigger, attached it with superglue. This eliminated most of the over-travel.
The issue is most likely the new APEX trigger, which is not a drop in part. I put only the springs in my wives SD9, put the springs & trigger in my SD40. WHAT a PAIN. Found two solutions.
1) with a very thin metal object (I used the smooth polished end of a metal emeryboard) just under the ejection port you can push the trigger bar back.
2) pull the trigger while cycling the slide, you will hear the striker fall when you are successful.
Now remove the trigger and start removing material from the back of the trigger. I easily filed off 3/32 of material. my hands are so big the new trigger pinched my index finger under the trigger, so I went back to OEM, and modified weatherstrip that is a bit wider than the trigger, attached it with superglue. This eliminated most of the over-travel.
First thanks for the suggestions on getting the slide off. Yes I'm a newbie to owning the gun but I did rent one at the range before buying mine. I liked everything but the trigger. That's why I tried to put the apex kit on before firing it. I do have the average skills to take things apart and reassemble. My problem was the slide lock.I didn't notice the wire wasn't under like it was supposed to be. Everything is now fine, with the little changes I have done. Thanks everyone
