SD9: Thinking Of Giving Up On It

[ditto1958]

So, the problem for me is, and correct me if this is the wrong approach, it's two completely different techniques.

With the Glock, it's holding the sights on target, while applying about 5 lbs. of pressure on a trigger that's not moving to break, well, not a glass rod, but more like, say, a pretzel.

With the SD, you are trying to hold the sights on target while applying about 8 lbs. of force, and moving the trigger in a good half inch arc. Instead of pressing against a breaking point you've got to try to smoothly move the trigger through pretty much until it stops at the back of the trigger guard without moving the sights. There's no crisp break. What there is of one is more like if you found an old carrot in the back of your fridge.

 

[formula11]

With the SD, you are trying to hold the sights on target while applying about 8 lbs. of force, and moving the trigger in a good half inch arc. Instead of pressing against a breaking point you've got to try to smoothly move the trigger through pretty much until it stops at the back of the trigger guard without moving the sights. There's no crisp break. What there is of one is more like if you found an old carrot in the back of your fridge.

That's why the spring kit helps it drops the 8 lbs to 5.5-6 lbs for $20 just try it you could allways change it back to stock and resell the spring kit if you don't like it.And your right on the SD when pull the trigger back your pulling the striker back till it slides off the sear.

 

[EBK]

Just get the apex kit. it brings the pull down to around 5 pounds and you will be much happier.

I have a tendon from my left foot that was grafted into my index finger after nearly cutting my finger off I lost 60% of the movement, if anyone understands your issue its me. It use to physically hurt my trigger finger to shoot the SD (think AK trigger slap on a very cold day) I ordered the apex and now it is my carry gun Trust me and order the apex kit. you will not regret it.

 

[badjuijui]

you have given yourself the best possible diagnosis....I find no need to buy apex parts for any of my S&W's M&P or Sigma. I dry fire the heck out of them and they just keep on getting better and better.

I would fire the gun over a rest to confirm things or have a proven shooter run the gun as well.

Rarely do I really see it be the gun instead of the shooter.

Randy

So you are saying the more you pull the trigger, the better it gets? Interesting, but I imagine that is a lot of dry firing given how long my pull is. Probably work better for me as I am not very mechanically inclined. How much of a pull do you have now?

 

[J Rich]

Ditto

Like others have said try the Apex kit. It's only $20 and takes 3 days to get, and will take maybe an hour to install. If you still don't like it it's likely to bring you a higher resale price with the kit installed.

What ever you decide I promise you the Apex kit will be a great improvement in the trigger pull for you.

If you do sell don't buy a Sigma. The trigger is 4# heavier on the Sigma vs the SD.

 

[ditto1958]

Ditto

Like others have said try the Apex kit. It's only $20 and takes 3 days to get, and will take maybe an hour to install. If you still don't like it it's likely to bring you a higher resale price with the kit installed.

What ever you decide I promise you the Apex kit will be a great improvement in the trigger pull for you.

If you do sell don't buy a Sigma. The trigger is 4# heavier on the Sigma vs the SD.

Hmmm. Well, I may just have to try that first. Am a bit skeptical, I admit, but I've read lots of positive reports on the Apex kit.

 

[skizzums]

Try this get a laser bore sight, dry fire with the it installed and see what the laser dot is doing. If it is moving during your trigger squeeze work on your technique.

good idea man, ive always just used bore sights for scoping my rifles, thats tghe first time ive heard of doing that for a shooting guide. def going to do that with my wife, she has a tough time with pistols.

 

[micocyco]

So, the problem for me is, and correct me if this is the wrong approach, it's two completely different techniques.

With the Glock, it's holding the sights on target, while applying about 5 lbs. of pressure on a trigger that's not moving to break, well, not a glass rod, but more like, say, a pretzel.

With the SD, you are trying to hold the sights on target while applying about 8 lbs. of force, and moving the trigger in a good half inch arc. Instead of pressing against a breaking point you've got to try to smoothly move the trigger through pretty much until it stops at the back of the trigger guard without moving the sights. There's no crisp break. What there is of one is more like if you found an old carrot in the back of your fridge.

I don't find that to be the case at all.
The coin thing works ( & is as cheep as the coin you use ) along with something kind of like what I have read here dry firing but white you are doing it finding the break & reset points. Don't go past either one, let your finger learn the amount of pressure it takes, I don't think I will ever be able to rapid the gun & hit a target.
But the more I do it the faster I can get back on target, hold there & fire again. 3 or 4 HP's on target are better than 15 spread all over a wall.
My wife has an LCP she shoot it well, I can not shoot it worth a ****. I can not find where it breaks & where it does break is so for back on that small gun I almost lose my grip.

 

[ditto1958]

I don't find that to be the case at all.
The coin thing works ( & is as cheep as the coin you use ) along with something kind of like what I have read here dry firing but white you are doing it finding the break & reset points. Don't go past either one, let your finger learn the amount of pressure it takes, I don't think I will ever be able to rapid the gun & hit a target.
But the more I do it the faster I can get back on target, hold there & fire again. 3 or 4 HP's on target are better than 15 spread all over a wall.
My wife has an LCP she shoot it well, I can not shoot it worth a ****. I can not find where it breaks & where it does break is so for back on that small gun I almost lose my grip.

Hope this is not a dumb question, but what's the coin thing?

 

[badjuijui]

Hope this is not a dumb question, but what's the coin thing?

No question is dumb, except the one we don't ask. Put a coin on the front sight and dry fire the weapon. It takes concentration and practice to keep it from falling off if you have a weapon like the sd9 or sd40 without the trigger kits. I could not do it at first, but now I can do it regularly. It it falls off, then I moved or flinched.

And, btw, my shooting improved each time I dryfired between range days. I don't think that was a coincidence.

 

[GKC]

Put a coin on the front sight and dry fire the weapon. It takes concentration and practice to keep it from falling off if you have a weapon like the sd9 or sd40 without the trigger kits. I could not do it at first, but now I can do it regularly. It it falls off, then I moved or flinched.

If you are putting the coin ON your front sight, then you are really doing well! I put the coin on the slide directly behind the front sight, and found that to be enough of a challenge... (OK, maybe I am being somewhat of a smart-aleck, but then that is what I do best! )

On a serious note, use of the coin or other small, light object plus lots of dry fire really does help. The coin/dry fire will help you learn to manage your trigger without pulling the gun off target, with the added plus that dry firing does help the trigger smooth out. It will certainly never be a 1911 trigger or even M&P trigger, no matter how much you dry fire it, but it does get better over time.

Of course you can also do the Apex or other trigger mods...for me, the trigger is OK as is, but YMMV. Good luck!

 

[badjuijui]

Dummy me was putting the coin on top of the sight. No wonder it took so long to do it.

 

[GKC]

Dummy me was putting the coin on top of the sight. No wonder it took so long to do it.

If indeed you were able to master that, my hat is off to you, sir!

 

[swMO]

my probably dumb question is, is dry firing safe with striker style pistols? i had always heard dry firing would damage a weapon. i have concerns with the sd9ve trigger as my trigger fingers first joint is nonfunctional.

 

[Fat B]

I've dry fired my SD9 thousands of times. No worries. I think it may say something about it in the owners manual. Instead of a coin I just pay attention to the front sight. I can usually tell if it's jumping around.

I also credit the SD for making me a better shooter. Figure out the long heavy trigger pull of the SD and other pistols will get a whole lot easier.

 

[ditto1958]

I also credit the SD for making me a better shooter. Figure out the long heavy trigger pull of the SD and other pistols will get a whole lot easier.

I think that's why the first time out with my new Glock 23, I felt like I couldn't miss.

 

[Rpg]

Well, if you go back to my original statement, I was reluctant to blame the gun, or the trigger. I simply assumed handguns are much more difficult to shoot than long guns, and that I'm just not all that accurate a shooter.

Yet, when I took a brand new gun with a better trigger out of the box, and went out and shot it, suddenly I was more accurate than I ever dreamed I could be.

If you know you can shoot another gun better, GET IT and get rid if the one you can't shoot!

This isn't like trying to save a marriage!

Get rid of the pistol you can't shoot and get the one you can shoot!

 

[doublestack]

If you know you can shoot another gun better, GET IT and get rid if the one you can't shoot!

This isn't like trying to save a marriage!

Get rid of the pistol you can't shoot and get the one you can shoot!

I agree with this post. I have had a couple of pistols that I just didn't like to shoot. There's no use keeping a pistol that you don't like.

There was nothing wrong with the pistols, it was me. But that didn't make any difference, I just couldn't shoot them like I wanted to.

I guess that's why there's such a variety to choose from.

I'm a fan of striker fired pistols and I love my SD40VE. I shoot it pretty well. I'll probably keep it forever. But I know it's not a perfect fit for everyone.

Find something that you really enjoy shooting and get one of those. The main thing is to keep shooting and enjoying your second amendment right.

 

[micocyco]

I agree with this post. I have had a couple of pistols that I just didn't like to shoot. There's no use keeping a pistol that you don't like.

There was nothing wrong with the pistols, it was me. But that didn't make any difference, I just couldn't shoot them like I wanted to.

I guess that's why there's such a variety to choose from.

I'm a fan of striker fired pistols and I love my SD40VE. I shoot it pretty well. I'll probably keep it forever. But I know it's not a perfect fit for everyone.

Find something that you really enjoy shooting and get one of those. The main thing is to keep shooting and enjoying your second amendment right.

I agree with this post that a agrees with that post. For self defense you want to know you can hit the torso at a reasonable distance.
The wife has a small pocket pistol that I thought I would like also but I just can not hit consistently with it.
I do trust I could defend my self with my SD9VE I got mine for 300 just before the panic buying.
I did question my purchase at first but after about 200 rds I started to hit with it, either the trigger freed up some or my finger leaned or both.
The one I would trade it for right now is M&P40c. we rented one at the range & both were able to hit with right from the start. My better half liked it so much that she bought a M&P9c $484 just a few months ago.

 

[ditto1958]

I agree with this post that a agrees with that post. For self defense you want to know you can hit the torso at a reasonable distance.
The wife has a small pocket pistol that I thought I would like also but I just can not hit consistently with it.
I do trust I could defend my self with my SD9VE I got mine for 300 just before the panic buying.
I did question my purchase at first but after about 200 rds I started to hit with it, either the trigger freed up some or my finger leaned or both.
The one I would trade it for right now is M&P40c. we rented one at the range & both were able to hit with right from the start. My better half liked it so much that she bought a M&P9c $484 just a few months ago.

"I agree with this post that agrees with that post?" LOL.

Maybe that's really the bottom line here. The SD9 is made really well. It feels good in the hand, and is easy to maintain. It's fun to shoot. The problem? If an armed BG came at me, I'd be afraid I'd miss if I had to shoot him with my SD9.