vsraptor
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- Nov 13, 2012
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I'm sorry I had the sw not sd.
SD40 VE - Impressions on the gun
- Thread starter Drakkun
- Start date
I'm sorry I had the sw not sd.
Ya I'm just waiting for something like that to happen.
Had a state police officer ask me what I was carrying while at the scrap yard.
Just told him .40 smith.
He said he had to carry 40 smith also but didn't offer what model.
Other than that nothing said.
Local officers just look at my gun and up at me, I just nod my head and they usually smile.
3
Short Bus Driver
Member
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2013
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Ya I'm just waiting for something like that to happen.
Had a state police officer ask me what I was carrying while at the scrap yard.
Just told him .40 smith.
He said he had to carry 40 smith also but didn't offer what model.
Other than that nothing said.
Local officers just look at my gun and up at me, I just nod my head and they usually smile.
3
My local PD is pretty cool, but some others aren't.
blackbird94
Member
2nd trip to the range with my SD40VE. 150 rounds 0 problems. solved the firing everything in the 7:30 area. Last mag was a 4 1/2 " pattern. Mostly top to bottom. No throws left or right. Trigger is much smoother and lighter than the 1st trip. Very happy. A little more technique work and I'm good.
Honestly like it was said earlier in the forum, .40(10mm short) is the best of both worlds. Its got plenty of stopping power, and a decent price, seeing anywhere from $14-25 for the normal boxes of ammo, to 40ish for the premium stuff. The Accuracy is about the same.
Apart from the shape of the round not much different in my opinion. Grain wise, .40 is a bit heftier than 9mm. I'm no expert with 9mm but the smallest grainage from a .40 is 160grn i believe. Largest 9mm is about 130 on the high end +p (I could be wrong so dont quote me). But no your not missing out on a whole lot, apart from slight bit more on the stopping power end, though 9mm ammo capacity is larger.
Alrighty, Hit the 5000 round mark. Gun is still running like a champ, gun is well broken in now. Have not ran into the ftf snag from the OP since it happened. Fell into the sweet spot with this gun finally, running 175grn reloads now, Hornady projectiles(semi wadcutter), powder, and primers, 'new' cartridges and what not. Not as kicky as the 180 grain, but not as sluggish as the 160-165's (opinion). With the performance of the weapon, if they ever made a metal frame, I'd never retire the weapon.
Con's - Starting to notice a bit of wear on the guide rod and frame, but after 5000 rounds, It is fully understandable with the polymers.
Con's - Starting to notice a bit of wear on the guide rod and frame, but after 5000 rounds, It is fully understandable with the polymers.
I replaced my polymer guide rod assembly with the stainless steel guide rod assembly from Galloway Precision...not because of wear, but because I just prefer steel guide rods (I've replaced them in every pistol I own that comes with a polymer guide rod, if there is a steel one available.) I did use the OEM weight recoil spring.
At the rate I'm going (cost of ammo, lack of availability) it will be a LONG time before I hit the 5,000 round mark.
drinva
Member
Thanks for the report!!
On the .40 over 9mm....
you will shoot less 40, you will enjoy shooting 40 more-but for not as long, 40 is just fun as **** to shoot-but it will "wear" on you if you shoot quite a bit-fatigue.
You cannot beat a 9mm as a plinking range round in many ways, it's so popular for a reason(s) like stated above. Anyone can shoot a 9-but most shy from a 40 after a while, it's quite a bit more "gun" to shoot with-recoil wise, snappy- especially in smaller lighter weight frames
Love mine!!
DR
On the .40 over 9mm....
you will shoot less 40, you will enjoy shooting 40 more-but for not as long, 40 is just fun as **** to shoot-but it will "wear" on you if you shoot quite a bit-fatigue.
You cannot beat a 9mm as a plinking range round in many ways, it's so popular for a reason(s) like stated above. Anyone can shoot a 9-but most shy from a 40 after a while, it's quite a bit more "gun" to shoot with-recoil wise, snappy- especially in smaller lighter weight frames
Love mine!!
DR
Trenchcoat Vampire
Member
Cost aside, I prefer 9mm Luger to any other handgun caliber, if not that then .45 ACP then .357 SIG. I don't like the .40 though, I'm in the "worst of both worlds" crowd. Anyway, handgun rounds are still weak but modern cartridge design has made all service calibers respectable, so I side with the one that is better for control and higher on mag capacity. I like how the 147g 9mm's recoil feels and since I can get 147g Golden Sabers locally, no sweat. I tried 100 rounds with my 9VE, nothing noteworthy happened.
The recoil rod assembly is suppose to be replaced after 5,000 rounds.
How's the leading in the barrel ?
Any idea on the velocity ?
I've shot some 135 gr. sierra's, didn't group that well, I think I loaded them to hot.
Not a lot of love for the .40, Probably because of cost of ammo and recoil.
Love mine though.
3
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I'll have to get a chronograph for velocity tests, as honestly I haven't done so. If I had to guess via feel, I'd say roughly 1050-1100 ft/s.(on my reload they feel about equal to critical defense hornady's so it may be higher)
The barrel is visibly in pristine shape. I clean the gun religiously after each trip to the range. I dont always shoot reloads, but those have all been clean on the gun, and apart from the occasional tul ammo (each time i go i use it less and less) I rarely use any dirty ammo. Tul ammo is by far the dirtiest I've ever used, and with Tul's I notice a bunch of particles left on the rifling. If I had to put a lifespan on possible barrel replacements, if the gun is well taken care of you should see about 10k rounds at least. Keeping in mind you don't use tul ammo(or bad reloads) 7.5k replacement imo, just too dirty.
When ever I should have to replace the barrel, I'll probably still have the feed ramp polished, but if that happens in the near future I'll let you guys know when to expect it.
skimp241
Member
Took my sd40ve to the range again yesterday,I must say this gun is great.I was downsizing my 9mm collection when I ran across the sd40ve.I wasn't looking for a 40 but after looking at it and talking to my dealer I was sold on it.I'm at the 500 round mark with zero issues,Iv'e shot fmj's and a variety of hollow points with no issues.This is a fine firearm at a great price,thanks s&w
Perhaps I am coming in at a late moment in the game, but, all things being considered: cost of the gun (pistol/revolver/long gun/etc.), maybe we need to consider another factor: cost factor per per round or something along that lines(s). Maybe a valuation of the number of rounds expended versus the cost of the weapon is another venue. The number of rounds expended til the first failure of some sort. A failure is a failure in my book. $400.00 dollars divided by 400 rounds is quantified number. It is not the years but the miles, ya know, concept. It does take the the fun factor out, but, it is a verified number. Before I am hung out to dry, folks, think about all the folks who brag of the decreased costs of reloading of a favorite caliber. To those that live by a number, well, ...food for thought.
Big Mike
Member
Drakkun, great info. Couple questions: How do you carry this pistol? Also, how much does your fully loaded SD40VE weigh? Thanks, Mike
I have carried it in my waist band and on my hip, I will say its a little more snug in the waist band than I'd like, with my slacks it doesn't print, front or rear. On my hip I just use a standard holster, usually for range days, practicing draws and what not.
I have not weighed the weapon, if I had to guess, fully loaded it feels like about 3-5 pounds but I could be way off. Its a comfortable weight to me so I've never really given it much thought. Now if only I could figure out how to quiet the rattle we'd be in impeccable shape considering the price. The rattle seems to be with even numbers 14-12-10 etc.
Original post updated with some pics of the weapon and my holster -
Might be grabbing some mods for it here soon, I found a silicone slip on grip that I liked and it actually fit pretty snug. And maybe a light/laser for the rail just for giggles, though with my current holster, it the light and laser wouldn't fit.
Might be grabbing some mods for it here soon, I found a silicone slip on grip that I liked and it actually fit pretty snug. And maybe a light/laser for the rail just for giggles, though with my current holster, it the light and laser wouldn't fit.
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Jmc24
Member
Drakkun: Which slip on grip did you choose?
Pachmayr Model 3, got it at a gun show a few weeks ago. It retails at $12 dollars I believe, but was able to get it for free with a box of Hornady critical duty.
armallard
Member
Drakkun which holster is that? I need to find something like that for my 9. And is it me or or are they about the same size?
