Replacement Striker for SD9VE

[canesfanmatt]

I have seen several posts about broken strikers but nothing about being able to buy a replacement. I have three questions:

1) Are strikers only available by sending the gun into the factory?
2) Will S&W remove the Apex springs & trigger I installed if I send
it in? ( I'm more concerned about the trigger)
3) What do they charge to replace a striker?

Any info is appreciated!

 

[star1]

I had them send me one free of charge ( I bought a used gun)

 

[S&W Rover]

The striker assembly is an easily removed/replaced item. I can't find on for sale from the usual suspects (e.g., Midway, Brownell's, Speed Shooter Specialties, etc.) though.

S&W is thus the best (maybe only) source for a striker assembly, and they probably will send one for free, if the striker broke during normal usage.

You don't need to send them the whole pistol to install a new striker, so the Apex parts issue shouldn't be a problem. My guess (only a guess) is that S&W would remove an Apex trigger (or other after-market part) on a pistol sent in for repair, if it were related to the specific issue, but not mess with it if the problem is related to something else. For example, they probably wouldn't remove an Apex trigger to replace a striker.

But, as mentioned, you don't need them to do the replacement of the striker for you. Just call them... or write them a letter and include the broken striker with it... and they will send you one, most likely for free. (If you are looking for a spare striker, and your original is still okay, you can still get one from them -- although you may have to offer to pay for it. Based on the price Midway asks for a similar item -- the striker for one of the M&P's -- even though that won't fit in your SD9VE -- it is a good guess the striker for the SD9VE costs about the same -- $30.00).

Good luck!

 

[canesfanmatt]

Thanks for the feedback, here is an update: S&W will no longer sell the striker for the SD9 it is a "restricted" part. They force you to send the whole pistol in to replace it. Since I installed apex parts the warranty is void. They will not give you an estimate for the work prior to sending it in but based on feed back from the CS reps I talked to it would be over $200 + shipping and even if I tell them not to they will most likely take out the apex parts and replace with stock. The whole thing is more than a little frustrating. I ended up selling the pistol for what I had in it and bought a Glock 19 that was a LE trade in. This will probably be my last S&W just based on their customer service.

 

[S&W Rover]

Ouch! That's a grim outcome.

It's too late to talk about work-arounds, and if you got miffed at them because of this dumb policy, I can see why your patience ran out.

It is understandable why S&W might restrict some parts -- but not something that can be installed in a non-obtrusive manner like a striker.

Some work-arounds, for future reference: Call someone like Apex and ask them if they can obtain a striker. Ditto calling places like Speed Shooter Specialties. But most likely to succeed, go to a local gunsmith who works on S&Ws and have him or her obtain a new striker from the factory (gunsmiths can still obtain restricted parts, I believe) perhaps for a pre-agreed upon price (so you don't get stuck paying a lot for the "installation" of the striker, literally a 1 minute job, although the gunsmith needs to make a living, too).

Another way to potentially win on this sort of deal: get the mailing label from S&W... and take a risk and just send the slide to them (with the broken striker) with a note and see what they do.

I guess a person needing just a striker could also write a stern note with returned gun and say, hey, S&W, fix the striker, leave the rest of the gun alone -- but that is the riskiest of the ideas I can think of.

None of these ideas is in time to help with the situation you were faced with... sorry to hear that S&W's policy on including a striker as a "restricted part" has cost them a customer.

 

[star1]

Did you call them or write them? I had excellent service by calling them, if not satisfied call back and get another CSR .
norm

 

[ou1954]

It seems to me that the sear and the striker, which are on two separate assemblies, have to be precisely aligned to work together.

If that assumption is correct, it would be necessary to have the gun available, as a whole, to verify that the striker is properly released at the right position. Changing either piece would affect the release point or prevent release.

Perhaps that's why S&W considers the striker a "restricted" item.

 

[GKC]

If you install aftermarket parts in the fire control group, you void the warranty...and when the warranty is void, S&W won't fix the gun for free (if at all.) That's exactly why I won't install any parts or make any changes that could void the warranty. Sights, recoil spring assembly, take down lever, and slide cover plate are all changes that can be made that won't affect the warranty...and (except for sights) can be quickly and easily removed before sending the gun in for repair.

The striker assembly is easy to remove, if you have even the least bit of ability...I have the least of anyone, and even I can take mine out for cleaning. I can understand why S&W is willing to pay to have the gun sent in and replace the striker under warranty, though, and that is the issue over liability. In this litigious environment, especially with the firearms industry, manufacturers have to be sensitive to that...so I'm sure that's why they would rather repair/replace the part themselves.

 

[Ofc.JL]

Yep, sad to say it, but S&W has let the Legal Dept take over. If you notice, there are several clues out there that point to the fact that S&W no longer supplies parts on request. No recent parts books out there. No schematics w/ parts numbers. No CS reps sending out parts. Instead, CS reps are sending return labels for sending your firearm in. S&W is even telling the trained Armorers to send in the firearm for serious problems. My last Armorers Training class was dedicated more to how to keep records on the amount of rounds fired thru the pistol, then anything to do w/ service of the firearms. It was quite different then the same course I had several years earlier. Seems that the Liability Lawyers have screwed us all.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

It seems to me that the sear and the striker, which are on two separate assemblies, have to be precisely aligned to work together.

If that assumption is correct, it would be necessary to have the gun available, as a whole, to verify that the striker is properly released at the right position. Changing either piece would affect the release point or prevent release.

Perhaps that's why S&W considers the striker a "restricted" item.

I doubt it. When I had my original SD9VE I tried to order a factory rear M&P sight through S&W over the phone and the guy told me it was a restricted part in a tone like I asked him to send me the serial number stamping machine.

 

[Ofc.JL]

On top of all of this, the SD series of pistols are what's known as "bin" guns. As in quite literally snapped together from parts on the assembly table's bins. There is virtually no hand fitting anywhere. If 2 parts don't fit quite right, the assembly tech just takes one or both parts out, and fits in 2 more. That usually does it and the gun is sent to final inspection for QC. Putting in a new striker is drop in on this pistol series.

The problem we are starting to run into is that S&W has decided to not sell parts any longer, and that, me Boyos, is due to litigation concerns, i.e., Lawsuits. If some DA buys new parts from S&W for his pistol, puts them in incorrectly, and grenades his pistol, it suddenly becomes S&W's fault, and S&W must respond to the litigation. It cost S&W lots of money any way they respond to said allegations. Restricting parts is a way to cut down on idiot lawsuits. We all know people that have no clue when it comes to firearms and really shouldn't even own them, but it is a free country. But people like that in general(not all!) tend to sue other people and Companies for their own mistakes, and that cost S&W money just to prove the person to be the idiot they surely are. So, welcome to possible litigation stopping you from fixing your own pistol yourself. It seems to be the way of the world now. Sad.
And getting the parts you need from someone other than S&W? Good luck, as in those parts people are no longer able to get parts from S&W themselves, same reasons.

 

[ou1954]

<snip>

We all know people that have no clue when it comes to firearms and really shouldn't even own them, but it is a free country.

<snip>

I'm glad you had the nerve to state this right out.

I wanted to say the same thing, based on some posts in this forum, but am still an amateur when it comes to pistols and just didn't feel qualified to say anything.

I can recall several posts made by folks who got themselves into trouble by working on their guns, and the many helpful suggestions from forum members to help them, and the subsequent lack of response from the folks in trouble.

Thanks for bringing this issue to the forefront.

Finally, I want to say that there are indeed qualified folks who run into problems and are helped by this forum. I encourage them and don't include them in the intent of this comment.

 

[Ofc.JL]

I try my best to educate folks as they will allow me, for at one time, I too did not know. My take on the whole thing is anyone who wants to own and operate firearms are more than deserving of my respect because they are smart enough to know that Firearms ownership IS a Constitutional right in this country. That fact illustrates more then your basic education and intellect.
The problem I usually see is a technical one, in as much as Firearms in general are quite technical, and not ever one grasps or understands the details required there of. Those that allow me are usually very grateful for more understanding of the aspects of owning and using Firearms.

I have seen many "Butcher" jobs done to firearms by well meaning but inadequately capable people wanting to make their particular Firearm "better" than it is. Case in point is aftermarket connectors for Glock pistols. If I had a dime for every Glock that had a problem due to the junk connector or parts in it, I would be rich. I try to educate them, but between the Gun magazines and well meaning friends and gun counter people, it is an almost impossible task. I have seen the same problem over the years in the Motor Sports Industry, Snow Ski Industry, and now in the Firearms Industry. While you can get hurt around "screwed up" engines/cars/motorcycles and "screwed up" ski's, you can go to jail for the rest of your life using "screwed up" firearms quite easily, if you don't turn your pet pistol/rifle/shotgun into a handheld grenade.

 

[BigAl512]

I purchased The SD9 VE, While a very capable Fire arm, It is Very Cheaply Made, I Have Put an Apex spring and trigger kit , Much to My Liking, But in reality I would have chose something else , The price was Very good,268.00 But Not better than My Pt111G2 199.00, Which is A much Better built FireArm , See for yourself, Break One down, side By side , Taurus is Much Better built , And they too also have the same Policy, That's Is why if either of these two guns fail, for any reason , they will be Sold for parts, The SD9VE should be Priced Like a Hi Point, your Paying for S&W Name. If I Have to Pay more to fix it than its worth, Not!!! I Have a PT 22 At Taurus Now , Cracked frame , they tell me 6 weeks, Are you kidding Me? Its Cracked !!!! 3 Places, used only 40 grain ammo, It will be sold or traded up, Then,what will Happen is the Buying Public will choose to buy from Manufactures Outside the US, Say Glock, Say Sig, Say CZ, Among others, and the US Companies will have closed them selves out , we are seeing This Happening all the time Now Sad,

 

[OKFC05]

I Have a PT 22 At Taurus Now , Cracked frame , they tell me 6 weeks, Are you kidding Me?

Taurus is Much Better built

My "better built Taurus" PT22 has been back 3 times for about 5 parts (some twice). So far, same frame.

 

[Steve912]

Yep, sad to say it, but S&W has let the Legal Dept take over. If you notice, there are several clues out there that point to the fact that S&W no longer supplies parts on request. No recent parts books out there. No schematics w/ parts numbers. No CS reps sending out parts. Instead, CS reps are sending return labels for sending your firearm in.
<snip>
Seems that the Liability Lawyers have screwed us all.

I'm not a business guy, but I'd wonder if it's part of the cycle of 'bright ideas' for the bottom line.

After a few years of sending out return labels for minor parts exchanges, the next smart guy may just say "look at all the money we're wasting on shipping, and staffing this huge return-service department!", and the pendulum might just swing back, again.

 

[Steve912]

But Not better than My Pt111G2 199.00, Which is A much Better built FireArm , See for yourself, Break One down, side By side , Taurus is Much Better built

<snip>

, I Have a PT 22 At Taurus Now , Cracked frame , they tell me 6 weeks, Are you kidding Me? Its Cracked !!!! 3 Places, used only 40 grain ammo,

Looks can be deceiving, particularly with MIM and polymer. MIM, particularly, can *look* fantastic--till it fails like cheap pot metal.

Taurus is kind of a weird company, from what I've seen. They seem to come up with some great ideas (and great copies, but that's something a lot of companies do), put out a line, then abandon it...like they have a corporate case of ADD. I've seen a few guys in LGS's trying to purchase mags for Taurus pistols that weren't especially old, and there weren't any...from Taurus or anyone aftermarket, either--possibly because Taurus changes their line-ups so frequently?

 

[Edknn123]

I had a problem with an older Model 36 so it wasn't covered by warranty. S&W told me approx 12 weeks to get back. I took it to my local gunsmith for 1/4 the cost S&W quoted me and no shipping charges. I would hate to lose the gun for that length of time for a quick repair job like a striker.

 

[indie_rocker]

I don't get the problem here. A few months back I also had a striker issue with my SD9VE. I also installed the Apex spring kit. Yes, to my dismay, S&W would not send me a replacement striker and needed the whole pistol sent in for them to simply replace what most of us know is a drop in part. This is too easy ladies and gentlemen, put the stock springs back in and send the pistol home. In three to four weeks I had my gun back with a new striker assembly. They didn't care about my Try-glo sights or wrap on the grip. No mention of slight tool marks on trigger pin (I was really worried I was busted lol).

Never bothered to reinstall the Apex springs, the grittiness had smoothed out and I've been shooting a lot of revolvers so it's really not that bad of a trigger after all.

Am I wrong for returning my pistol to stock for warranty work? I can't be the only person that's ever done this...

 

[dsk]

I wonder if some of the new microstamping laws are the reason behind this? Maybe S&W is worried that somebody wants a non-microstamped striker to replace the one they have, assuming they're even doing that on CA guns.