SD9VE: Question about Spring Kit and Guide Rod Upgrades

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Aleous

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Hello! New to the forum, just ordered my first firearm and handgun an SD9VE and just had some questions.

When researching about the SD9VE the upgrade that comes up the most is the Apex spring kit, a major reviewer even advised dropping this in first before first firing the gun. Do you agree? Should I install the spring kit first or try it stock before I change anything?

Second question is about upgrading the guide rod to a Galloway Stainless steel one. I read that the stock guide rod is plastic, 18lbs, and some people having some problems with it while others say it is perfect as is with even some superior qualities to the steel one.

At first I just wanted a steel guide rod for aesthetics but I then read that a 20lbs one is recommended if you want to shoot 147 grain or a steady diet of +p. I will mainly be shooting 124g FMJ and 124g +p Federal HST JHP but I don't want to be unable to use 147g if I feel I would like to try it. My question is if I install the 20lbs steel guide rod will it affect lower grain bullets at all or cause any problems?

Also is the guide rod just drop in like the apex spring kit or would it need fitting and more preferably a gunsmith to install it like the trigger upgrade?

Thank you all for taking your time to read this and any and all advice you give.
 
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I have both the SD9VE and SD40VE-both stock from the factory. Unless something actually breaks, I see no reason to change anything. If you think you need to replace parts on a gun you don't have yet and/or haven't fired yet; you probably bought the wrong gun. Same could be said for the M&P series also, and I have 3 of those-again all factory stock with no mods.

It's your money, spend it any way you want to. If you look at some of the threads here, you'll see some folks had to put the stock springs back in to get reliable function/firing. I've got over 1,200 rounds through my SD9VE and when I cleaned it last night; checking the recoil spring, I see no wear or tear on mine and it functions reliably with every shot. I shoot factory and reloads through mine (NO +P) and functions just fine.

The internet can be a wonderful thing, lots of information out there-some good, some not so much. I didn't know there was so much wrong with all my guns; as I don't have any issues with any of mine at the range. So I must be doing something wrong, or I got the ONLY guns that came out right from the factory.
 
I have an SD9VE with the apex spring kit installed. I did not put mine in until I had around 500 rounds through the pistol. I found the factory trigger to be heavy and mushy but absolutely loved everything else about the pistol, the inexpensive apex kit took care of that.

You might want to fire the gun 1 or 200 times before you go changing the firing components. Who knows, you might find that you like it the way it comes from the factory.

I also have a steel guiderod with an 18lb spring. I shoot mostly 124gr standard pressure stuff but will run +p w/o any problems. I also haven't had any problems when I've shot 147gr standard and +p with this setup. I didn't replace the factory guiderod until it was so beat-up that I no longer trusted it's ability to function properly. The factory rod/spring works well and there is no need to replace it until needed. There was no fitting required, it dropped right in.

As for your question about recoil spring strength. They will absolutely have an effect on how the gun operates. Setting it up to run +p ammunition only, could make running standard pressure unreliable. You could run into a problem where the slide short-strokes on recoil, failing to eject a spent cartridge and chamber a loaded round.
 
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Mine is bone stock and I like it that way. I think you should shoot it several hundred rounds before you spend money you may not need to spend. If you have shot DA revolvers much, you will find the trigger familiar.
 
If you are going to use it as a Range Gun go ahead and modify it to your heart's content. If you plan on using it for Self-Defense buy a spare factory recoil spring assembly. Run 100 rounds through the gun with each Recoil Spring Assembly and check for reliability. Keep one in your range bag for range use and reinstall the other when you leave the range for self-defense. If you feel you need to modify your gun for self-defense use you bought the wrong gun. Spend your money on ammunition and range time, even some instruction from an experienced shooter. Since this is your first gun don't set your expectations for accuracy too high and too soon. When you can regularly keep all of your shots on a 3" target at 50 feet you've reached the full potential of the SD9VE and yourself as a shooter.

Best Regards,
ADP3
 
Everyone is going to be different but IMO the trigger upgrade is an absolute must for any S&W polymer pistol. I just don't like the hinge trigger and that's all there is to it, no amount of fixing will help, again just my opinion. I also ended up putting the stock striker spring back in and have had no issues since that time. It's a great shooter and is in fact my IDPA pistol.
 
Had my SD9ve for 3 months great gun except for 2 things.
I replaced the slide lock lever with a extended one, I could not get the short factory one to release the slide.
also replaced the hinged trigger with an Apex Trigger.
 
I bought the SD9VE specifically for what it is: an inexpensive, reliable handgun with a heavier trigger (since it has no external safety.) If I wanted a handgun with a lighter trigger, I would have bought one.

There are two modifications that I think are beneficial: an extended take down lever and a steel rear sight...and those aren't really even necessary. A stainless steel recoil assembly may be of some benefit...mainly aesthetically...but S&W will send you a stock RSA for free, so get a spare to keep on hand should you need it, and it's free.

What is essential for this gun is ammo...buy some and shoot it. Shoot it a lot. Then decide if you really need to tinker with the firing mechanism.
 
I left my trigger stock due to hearing so many people having light striker hits with the apex kits installed, I did however replace my factory plastic guide rod after it warped and bent after like 500 rnds or so in my gun, I believe there is good polymer guide rods that are made well with heavier quality plastics and there are cheaper ones, and my belief about the SD series guns is that they have the cheap plastic guide rods in them and some people have better luck with them than others do but they will eventually fail way,way earlier than a steel guide rod ever will, actually a steel guide rod will never fail, only the spring will wear out and get weak after alot of rounds down the pipe. After I replaced my cheap plastic rod that failed on me with a stainless steel one from Galloway I have shot thousands of rounds through the gun with out any problems (no slide damage like everyone likes to say happens) and the guide rod still looks brand new like the day I bought it and functions perfectly. I put the original weight back in the gun though, I bought the 17lb stainless steel guide rod that you just drop in the gun easily, its already assembled and ready to go, no gunsmithing required. I think in the SD9 manual it says these guns are not designed to run +p ammo or anything over 124g without possible damage to the gun, I may be mistaken though but some how I remember reading that in there somewhere. You may want to check that out. I do not run +p ammo in my SD9 or anything over 124g.
 
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I did the spring kit and didn't like it. I'll be taking it back to stock prior to taking it to the range again. The lighter pull makes it feel like a longer pull. I think you should put at least 500 rounds thru your SD9 prior making any changes.
 
Absolutely love the Apex spring kit and trigger on my SD40VE

Now with a nice short pull, beautiful crisp break and reset.

Funny how the same gun and the same parts get such varied reactions/results.

Just goes to show you can't go by what people say about it. Gotta be willing to try it.

Doc
 
Hello,I'm new here not sure where to post this for help.I bought a SD9VE used in very nice condition,the person I got it from put the Apex trigger spring kit in and I want to find and buy the factory springs and get the Apex kit out and get the trigger pull back to factory specs.Problem is I can't find anyone that is selling the factory spring,does anyone know where to get them?
 
PSA of the Day -

Even IF you are convinced you will wish to change (whatever) , always function test in bone stock configuration. Any issues have corrected before changing anything. Any changes made, do one thing at a time , then test for reliability.

Preferably fire several hundred rounds in stock configuration before deciding if changes are needed.

The Sigma's trigger was soooooo bad it needed help in order to be usable as a normal pistol. the SD-VE pistols are usable, if not as good as the M&P .
 
Indeed Flyinghigh is wishing to put back to stock. The PSA was aimed at the OP and any other people considering to modify a new, unfired pistol.
 
flyinghigh1970 said:
Hello,I'm new here not sure where to post this for help.I bought a SD9VE used in very nice condition,the person I got it from put the Apex trigger spring kit in and I want to find and buy the factory springs and get the Apex kit out and get the trigger pull back to factory specs.Problem is I can't find anyone that is selling the factory spring,does anyone know where to get them?
Click to expand...

Hey, flying

PM sent.

Doc
 
Stock parts

flyinghigh1970 said:
Hello,I'm new here not sure where to post this for help.I bought a SD9VE used in very nice condition,the person I got it from put the Apex trigger spring kit in and I want to find and buy the factory springs and get the Apex kit out and get the trigger pull back to factory specs.Problem is I can't find anyone that is selling the factory spring,does anyone know where to get them?
Click to expand...

There must be many folks here who have upgraded their guns and are happy with the result. Seems to me one or more of them would be happy to just give you the stock parts they no longer want.

As an alternative, it just may be that S&W would take your gun for warranty repair, and from what I see posted here, it would come back stock.
 
The problem is that the MIGHT do that.

They might not. Hell, someone with a bad day could decide to void the warranty if he thinks the upgrade caused trouble.

It's why the best thing to do is to put the factory parts back on before sending it in, that way they got nothing on you.

I sent a pm willing to sell my stock parts, but I haven't got back an answer.

I am not trying to make a profit, I just put a lot of time and effort into perfecting the performance. And I would be out a lot if I had to send it in after I got rid of my stock parts.

Doc
 
This thread has me wondering: what are other members thoughts or experiences on parts interchangeability with the SW9VE series? I know for a fact that the magazines work in the SD pistols, the baseplate is just a little different. Numrichs has many parts available, such as the trigger return spring that the OP would need to return to stock and sear spring.

The slide looks very different and I would imagine that the barrel would not be the same either. But the slide stop looks very similar. I'm mainly interested in the sear, it looks identical to the SD series. Mine has some galling and I'm not interested in sending my pistol into S&W for a few weeks.

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufa...42024/SigmaSeries-35314/SW9V-41971.htm?page=1
 
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