SD9 vs SDVE9

spirit4earth

spirit4earth

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I’m thinking about getting one of these as a second gun. They are the same price at some online dealers. It looks like the slide, sights, and maybe the triggers are different, but can anyone tell me the actual differences are? How are the sights different and which are better?
Thanks for any clarity you can provide.
 
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I can't compare the two, because I only have the SD9VE. I can only say that the SD9VE is a very reliable gun. Mine has over 1100 rounds with no failures of any kind.
 
coachray said:
I can't compare the two, because I only have the SD9VE. I can only say that the SD9VE is a very reliable gun. Mine has over 1100 rounds with no failures of any kind.
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Did you change the trigger springs or are you using it stock? By the time I bought new springs and paid someone to install them, I’d be halfway to another M&P.
 
There are some Ads that miss use the name.

However, there was a S&W SD9 which had a night front sight.
There is also a SD9 VE made for Academy which has slightly different features.

The SD9 VE is an excellent pistol, a Glock Clone for a better price, BUT don't expect a light, target trigger, like a 1911 Target Model. It's about like the heavy law enforcement trigger on the Glocks.

You might also try the Ruger in the same price class or the Walther Creed, which is heavier, but has an excellent trigger pull.

Geoff
Who owns the older SW9VE and a Walther Creed.
 
Academy as of 26 Dec 18 lists the SD9 VE at $289.99, before Christmas it was $10 cheaper. Check the website.
Geoff
Who notes some places Academy does not sell firearms.
 
spirit4earth said:
Did you change the trigger springs or are you using it stock? By the time I bought new springs and paid someone to install them, I’d be halfway to another M&P.
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I'm using the stock trigger. It's one of my range guns, so after a few shots I've made the adjustment to the trigger. Granted, it's not as good a trigger as most of my other guns, but It's fine for target shooting.
 
coachray said:
I'm using the stock trigger. It's one of my range guns, so after a few shots I've made the adjustment to the trigger. Granted, it's not as good a trigger as most of my other guns, but It's fine for target shooting.
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Which one do you have?
 
The SD-9 and the SD9VE are very similar. The internals are the same. Here are some of the stock numbers of the various models (including .40 S&W models):

11587 - S&W SD9™ HI-VIZ® Sights Academy Exclusive
11907 - S&W SD9 VE™ HI VIZ®
11908 - S&W SD40 VE™ HI VIZ®
11993 - S&W SD9 VE™ HI VIZ® Gray Frame Finish
11994 - S&W SD40 VE™ HI VIZ® Gray Frame Finish
11995 - S&W SD9™ Gray Frame Finish
11996 - S&W SD40™ Gray Frame Finish
11998 - Model SD9™ Flat Dark Earth Frame Finish
11999 - Model SD40™ Flat Dark Earth Frame Finish
120400/120900/220400/220900 - Model SD9 & SD40 (with metal sights)
123902/123402 - Model SD9/40 VE - MA Compliant

(I'm open to corrections if any of this data is wrong or incomplete)

The SD's are great value for the money but they do have a long, heavy trigger. Therefore, all SDs and SD9VE/40VEs benefit from the Apex spring kit and the Apex "Action Enhancement Trigger," sold separately or together by Apex Tactical.

It is a debating point whether you need to improve their triggers, considering they are self-defense guns. It also can be debated whether it is worth buying them at their low price and adding the springs and trigger modifications at extra cost, or if it would just be better to start out by buying the M&P for about $100 more.

The original SD-9 came with a black slide and metal front and rear sites. The current SD-9 still has the black slide, but comes with the HiViz fiber optic sights. There are versions of the SD with black, FDE, and gray frames.

SD9VEs come with a choice of two sight systems, "plain" plastic or HiViz fiber optic, and have a plain (silver colored) stainless steel slide and either black or gray frames.

The nice thing about SD's and their sights is that they are interchangeable with M&P sights, so that you can upgrade to metal sights if you don't like the plastic ones; plus lots of companies make after-market sights for the M&P - Trijicon, Ameriglo, Warren, etc.
 
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I like my SD9VE, I put the apex spring kit in it. Trigger is better but still a little heavy. Shoots well for the bargain handgun that it is. Chose not to replace the trigger. Would cost close to what I paid for the whole pistol.
 
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Browncoat said:
I like my SD9VE, I put the apex spring kit in it. Trigger is better but still a little heavy. Shoots well for the bargain handgun that it is. Chose not to replace the trigger. Would cost close to what I paid for the whole pistol.
Click to expand...

I agree with the above statement. I too installed the $20.00 spring kit which did improve things a bit. Since it's a SD nightstand gun the trigger is just fine. There's no sense in trying to make a "silk purse out of a sow's ear", as I have other guns that fit that bill.
 
I reckon it’ll be a while before I can get a second gun. Christmas took a toll.
 
I have both the S&W SD9 and the S&W SD9VE. Both came with the plastic three-dot sights. I have replaced one front-sight with the Night-Fision white-dot tritium night-sight and the other with the XS Sight BigDot set. Both were purchased locally from GA Gun Store at $267 each, plus tax. Sights, of course, were an added cost later. Both also got the Apex spring-kit.



Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk
 
I got the SD9 because I didn't like the M&P grips or looks. It was a used super low round count gun I couldn't pass up for like $220. I kinda wish I went SD9 for all black look but I'm content with what I have and have plenty of other guns to either send off or send back to Smith for refinish process to dump that much more on this gun. Used ones I found were in the $300's putting me into a just buy it new and eat depreciation if I no longer want it situation. I went Apex trigger and enhancement and it made the gun feel regular again. That trigger was just too much for me when I shoot 200+ rounds a range session each gun. After doing the kit, it feels about like where my Glocks were out the box before they got trigger work. I'm glad I did it but some folks oversold the kit quite a bit. Besides the other stuff listed above, the words on the SD9 slide are indented vs the VE where they are etched. I was following a few SD9 color fill videos and found out the VE can't except the top of the barrel.

My mods were Talon rubber grip, Apex trigger & enhancement kit. Trij HD XR's and an Air Force logo slide cover plate. the only thing with these sights is they act similar to the HDs that came on my 6906 and the point of aim needs to be adjusted a but upward. This isn't that horrible as the 6906 set, this you went from 6 0'clock to 12 0'clock hold. The 6906 you had to aim 3 clocks higher, lol. I ended up just grabbing another slide with novaks and it's a better shooter now.
 
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