Quality of the SD9VE?

[Aahzz]

I have owned 2 SD9VEs, and they were excellent pistols. Accurate, ate everything I fed them, no hiccups - I'd never hesitate to recommend one to anyone. I no longer own one because I do prefer the feel of the M&P, but that's very subjective. As a certified instructor I am always quick to recommend these as an excellent defensive/carry weapon regardless of price - I think the trigger, though heavy-ish, is smooth, and will serve very well as a defensive pistol, particularly with those students I see that I know won't practice as often as they should.

 

[MBeach222]

The cardboard box and lack of foam padding & cleaning tools may also contribute to the lower cost. Also, Glocks come with the copper-colored factory lube on the slide, while my SD9VE did not. Those things do not matter much to me, so why not trim away a few bucks. There may be other differences that I am not technical enough to notice.

 

[JWH321]

Mine has been excellent. The long trigger can be improved with a few Apex parts. It's been a very accurate gun. It has also been in orally and completely reliable. I bought it some inexpensive fiber optic sights ($40) and spent a rainy afternoon polishing every piece that moved or had something move against it. The SD9VE is the most underrated gun on the market in my opinion.

 

[HappyTom]

Hello,
My SD9VE has been perfect. I've shot a 100's rounds thru it over the past 2 years and have not had "one" FTF or FTE. I've seen a lot of people posting that the trigger is too stiff, but mine is fine. I've been wondering if some people may have the the CA \ MA compliant model with the heavier trigger.. or maybe I'm use to triggers like it has.... Regardless, I highly recommend this gun.. for the range, self defense or for work dty. My 2 cents.

 

[MyDads38]

The SD9VE was my very first polymer/striker fired pistol. The SD40VE was my very first 40 caliber handgun. I have since became an M&P owner, but it took a while for me to be as accurate with my M&P's, as I was with the SD/VE pistols.

I've never had an issue with any of my S&W handguns, firing or functioning and they are all more than accurate for their intended purpose. IMO, the SD/VE series is a "working man's gun"-a quality built, reliable handgun that the "average" person can own, shoot and feel confident in owning. Much like a Model 10 revolver.

 

[oldylocks]

You may find the following Youtube video valuable. This gent does a thorough comparison between Glock 19, S&W SD9VE, and Springfield XD9. He reviews the external and internal components.

S&W SD9VE, Glock 19, XD9 3-way Review
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpW7rdTJpBE[/ame]

 

[GSR_Joe]

Hey guys, new to the forum but wanted to give my quick opinion on the SD9VE. Overall, I love this pistol. I have 6 other pistols chambered in 9mm; Glock 17 Gen4, Glock 19 Gen 3, M&P Sheild, Ruger SR9c, Sig P226 Navy, Kimber Solo carry. No exaggeration, I shoot the SD9VE just as well at all distances as any of my other 9mm handguns. I have ~800 rounds through my SD9 thus far and have had zero issues that were not ammo related. Even when the gun was brand new, it never missed a beat using all weights; 115, 124,127, 135, 147 of commercial 9mm that I can find. The only two malfunctions I have had with the pistol in those 800 rounds was with some smoking hot Buffalo Bore +P+ @ 1400 fps. The spent casings of this load have expanded diameters of .395 and higher which does not aggree with the chamber on my SD9 or my Kimber Solo. The round will fire fine, but spent casing gets form fitted into the chamber causing the barrel to have to be removed and clearing of the spent case. I have shot over 250 rounds of other +P ammo through this gun with no problems as well as more than double that amount of various 115/124 grain FMJ ammo. I am very accurate with the SD9VE and it feels superb in my hand. In fact, with 124gr NATO 9mm ball, I shoot the better groups with the SD than any Of my Glocks. The only modifications I have made to my SD are an Apex trigger & spring kit. In retrospect, the $22 spring kit alone would have been good by itself, but I went overboard and got the trigger replacement itself also, which IS nice but at $80 not a great bang for buck purchase. (The spring kit brought trigger pull down to ~5.5-6# with a much cleaner break AND reset than factory. The replacement trigger is similar to a Glock style trigger which does away with the S&W style "hinged" trigger.)
All in all, my SD9VE has been an excellent gun that I think gets a bad rap sometimes soley based on price. I paid $340 for mine brand new and it is accurately, Comfortable & dead reliable. You just can't beat that. I even carry it sometimes now that it's winter and I'm wearing heavier clothing even though I own literally a dozen other more expensive handguns. Loaded with a mag of Federal HST 124 with a spare mag of 147 Federal in a pocket I do not feel outgunned one bit knowing how I shoot it.

 

[Tzuriel]

I can only speak for my SD9VE, it was my first CCL weapon (to date my only) and I have carried it daily for almost two years now and it shoots as true today as it did when I bought it. I carry one in the pipe and I crawl under houses, on top of roofs, and crawl into sewers and the gun still looks brand new. I clean it weekly obviously and ATM have done no modifications.

With that said I plan to get some new sights and add a trigger kit. I was going to get the glock trigger but it's not worth $40 (to me) and you have to shave a lot off it to make it work.

 

[S&W Rover]

Influenced heavily by the comments from the group to this thread, I ordered a new SD9VE today - along with an Apex trigger and Apex Spring kit, plus a NDZ takedown lever. I already have a SD9 (black slide) with a Galloway recoil spring. The recoil spring and the black slide will be swapped onto the new pistol.

Buying a SD9VE was what I was leaning towards when I started the thread, and everything I've read here and in my meanderings on the interweb confirm this choice. Net layout is around $350. I know the result is not a 1911 built by Bill Wilson -- but it will fit my hand, be thin and handy, robust and reliable, and possess good accuracy (all for a reasonable price). It will serve as a house defense gun, a travel gun, and occasionally a carry gun - once it is vetted by testing with a variety of ammunition, including the preferred self-defense ammo (124 grain GDHP).

Added: and, early in the new year, I am going to take it to a shooting course, where everyone will have the latest and greatest guns... I think it can hold its own among the more expensive hardware!

 

[deputy tom]

Based upon my love for the Shield NTS I wanted to buy a larger pistol and was planning on an M&P9 FS. After reading an old gun magazine article on the SD9 I figured the SD9VE would be my choice if it fit my hands. I went to a larger store or two, called a few more and none of the stores that advertised the SD9VE pistols at low sale prices had any in stock. I tried one more LGS and they let me handle and dry fire the display model. I bought a fresh one from the back room @ $309.00 plus tax and PICS. Just $10.00 more than the other big box stores. I shot it a few days later with several ammo brands , bullet weights and configurations (ball, jhps, etc.) with zero problems and good accuracy. I'm tickled with this pistol. Now the search for a light, holster, and mag. pouches begins. tom.