SD9 compared to SD9VE

[WPWarhawk]

Just got home with my SD9VE. I thought I would do some initial comparisons with my SD9.

The SD9 came in a plastic clamshell box with 2 magazines. The SD9VE also came with 2 magazines but was shipped in a blue S&W cardboard box.

Here are a few comparison pics.

SD9 (black slide) above the SD9VE (silver slide)

The slide is melonited on the original SD9 and left bright stainless on the SD9VE. This is really the only noticeable difference until you look close.

The SD9 has been my CCW gun for a while now, the finish is holding up extremely well.
I saw a post that indicated that the loaded chamber indicator might be different, but it is not, not on mine anyway.

You can see that the sights are different. The SD9 rear sight has a set screw that the SD9VE sight does not.

The front sights are similar, but the SD9 has a front night sight, versus just a white dot on the SD9VE.

The SD9VE also has a different, and slightly better, trigger than the SD9. The weight is about the same but the length of pull on the VE is shorter and slightly smoother. I expect it to get even smoother when it's had a bunch of rounds through it. The triggers aren't very different, and I probably wouldn't notice if I didn't have them right here to compare back to back.

 

[Fat B]

Nice comparision! Thumbs up on the pics and showing us what they are like side by side, much better than just hearing about it.

Trigger is a shorter pull? That's interesting to hear.

 

[Scrat]

Very nice comp!! after seeing this probably just stick with my sd and leave the ve

 

[WPWarhawk]

I paid $327 plus $10 transfer for this SD9VE. For the money you can't even come close. If S&W can shake the Sigma's reputation (warranted or not) they will have a winner.

 

[GKC]

I just got home with a new SD9VE, and I hadn't even noticed that it didn't have the front night sight like the SD9 has. I bought a SD9 when they first came out, and ended up trading it shortly after I bought it...no problems with it, I just found something I wanted more, and needed to use it to help pay for the other gun. I've been wanting to get another one, to carry in my car, and when the SD9VE was announced I thought I would wait and get the new one. I stopped in at my LGS this afternoon to browze, and they had one, and a 40 as well.

When I bought my SD9 it was $399, and the SD9VE that I bought today was $339. It's a good thing when gun prices come down!

 

[WPWarhawk]

I just got home with a new SD9VE, and I hadn't even noticed that it didn't have the front night sight like the SD9 has. I bought a SD9 when they first came out, and ended up trading it shortly after I bought it...no problems with it, I just found something I wanted more, and needed to use it to help pay for the other gun. I've been wanting to get another one, to carry in my car, and when the SD9VE was announced I thought I would wait and get the new one. I stopped in at my LGS this afternoon to browze, and they had one, and a 40 as well.

When I bought my SD9 it was $399, and the SD9VE that I bought today was $339. It's a good thing when gun prices come down!

Where did you find it? I've had a few folks (DFW area) ask where they could get one.

 

[GKC]

Where did you find it? I've had a few folks (DFW area) ask where they could get one.

I bought this one at B&S Guns in Garland. I know they had a SD40VE in the case as well, but I don't know if they had any more SD9VEs, other than the one I bought.

 

[TangoFoxtrot]

Good camparison!

 

[marlin.357]

How is the slide to frame fit on the SD9VE as compaired to the SD9?

 

[cbr6864]

How is the slide to frame fit on the SD9VE as compaired to the SD9?

The SD9 and SDVE are the exact same gun (minus the finish and sights) and both have a good degree of play in frame to slide fit when compared to the Sigma. As I mentioned in other posts I believe its due to the rear rails not being attached to the frame. Not sure what the OP means by stating the SDVE trigger is better than the SD they are exactly the same trigger and sear.

Here are some pics of my Sigma and SD to show how the rear rails are not attached to the frame

 

[tomaximus]

Didn't know they came out like that.

 

[cbr6864]

Didn't know they came out like that.

Either did I until I bought mine, that is the biggest design flaw with the SD and SDVE the rails should be attached to the frame. I have no idea why S&W did this as far as I know they are the only ones who have done this. It is a very weak design.

 

[WPWarhawk]

Not sure what the OP means by stating the SDVE trigger is better than the SD they are exactly the same trigger and sear.

Must just be the difference in two individual guns. The trigger on my VE is definitely smoother than the SD9. Maybe that makes it feel like a shorter pull, but it definitely feels that way to me and 2 others who have looked at it.

 

[cbr6864]

Must just be the difference in two individual guns. The trigger on my VE is definitely smoother than the SD9. Maybe that makes it feel like a shorter pull, but it definitely feels that way to me and 2 others who have looked at it.

Im sure it feels different to you as there will be a slight difference between spring rate and final machining of the sear assembly from gun to gun but they are the exact same assembly.

nice write up though are the sights plastic on the SDVE?

 

[mlk18]

Either did I until I bought mine, that is the biggest design flaw with the SD and SDVE the rails should be attached to the frame. I have no idea why S&W did this as far as I know they are the only ones who have done this. It is a very weak design.

Design flaw and weak design were the same words described when polymer frames came out. Of course time proved those naysayers wrong. We'll see if the SD9 series rail design does the same. My SD9 has surpassed the 2,500 round mark with no issues or wear whatsoever. The internals look like new.

 

[tomaximus]

.

nice write up though are the sights plastic on the SDVE?

My rear sight is plastic, but the front is metal.

 

[cbr6864]

Design flaw and weak design were the same words described when polymer frames came out. Of course time proved those naysayers wrong. We'll see if the SD9 series rail design does the same. My SD9 has surpassed the 2,500 round mark with no issues or wear whatsoever. The internals look like new.

The rails are not attached to the frame its not a theory its basic physics.

 

[WPWarhawk]

Im sure it feels different to you as there will be a slight difference between spring rate and final machining of the sear assembly from gun to gun but they are the exact same assembly.

nice write up though are the sights plastic on the SDVE?

S&W's sale literature mentions a "Self Defense Trigger", so I thought maybe there was a difference.

I hadn't thought to check ... the front sight is steel, the rear is plastic.

 

[WPWarhawk]

I bought this one at B&S Guns in Garland. I know they had a SD40VE in the case as well, but I don't know if they had any more SD9VEs, other than the one I bought.

Thanks Ken, I went into B&S Guns ONCE and decided they should rename the place BS Guns. They must have cut their prices since I was there last year.

 

[cbr6864]

S&W's sale literature mentions a "Self Defense Trigger", so I thought maybe there was a difference.

Thats what they put in the original SD as well which is what I showed a pic of in my SD40. The sear acts like a lever instead of the funky design of the Sigma sear. I really think it had to do with the lawsuit, why wait this long to fix the one thing everyone disliked about the Sigam