SD9VE

[JBluezamassa]

I bought a new SD9VE in August. I love the look and feel of the gun. My major problem is, the trigger. I get why it's so heavy, it's by design. I understand that.

My problem is, every time I go to the range I am way off target after only 50 rounds or so down range. The trigger is so heavy compared to my other pistols, I can't adjust to it. I was thinking of doing the Apex spring thing, but I don't really know how much that will help.

Anyone have any suggestions? I'd love to be able to get this trigger to the pint where I could shoot a few hundred rounds down range with some reasonable accuracy.

Thanks

 

[mpreusse13]

Well they apex kit will definitely get the trigger pull down if you go that route. If it's just a range gun I would go ahead and do it.

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[drmweaver2]

I went with the Apex trigger kit route.
However, having had my own SD9VE for a few months now, I think that a lot of dry-fire trigger practice would have been nearly as effective for me. That's not to say I don't like the lighter trigger that the Apex kit resulted in. It speak more to my own trigger pull consistency improving over time.

FWIW, I've been doing a daily dry-fire routine of 25-50 trigger pulse a day with it...but that's with the Apex kit installed, so my results are different than yours might be.

However, I am also doing ~300 reps of GripMaster squeezes with each hand daily, sometimes more. Alternating between full-hand squeezes and fingertip only squeezes has also seemed to improve my grip strength and trigger pull consistency.

Just my 2 cents....

BTW, I really like the SD9VE.

 

[star1]

I waited about 1 1/2 years before doing the Apex springs, much better now but I did have to take their striker spring back out and put the original back in.

 

[SccyPilot]

I just used the Apex trigger and the firing pin safety spring only...I was touching off to many double taps with the complete kit. For a striker fired gun I would just use the trigger and the firing pin safety spring like I did for safety reasons...using the reset on the trigger I am on target all of the time now! My trigger pull is at 6 lbs.

 

[Bozz10mm]

An excellent "How to" video. A little long because, well, it's Sootch

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teJayIOmuX8[/ame]

 

[Bozz10mm]

The spring kit is around $20 and the trigger is $38 at Midway. $58 well spent if you ask me. Should get the pull down just under 6 lbs.

 

[OKFC05]

My problem is, every time I go to the range I am way off target after only 50 rounds or so down range. The trigger is so heavy compared to my other pistols, I can't adjust to it. I was thinking of doing the Apex spring thing, but I don't really know how much that will help.

Well, I'm going to go against the consensus and guess all your other shooting is single action, in which nothing you do to the SD will change your mind.

A seasoned competitor at our range has shot nothing but custom single action S&W triggers for 20 years, and he cannot shoot my M&P 5" Pro that has a 4 1/4# trigger!!
It is not the trigger weight, it is the long trigger pull that gives him CHS (can't hit stuff). He agrees with me.

If you don't want to learn how to shoot a long striker fired action, sell the SD and stick to your single actions.

 

[GKC]

I've never thought of myself as Superman, but I must be...I don't find the trigger on my SD9VE to be too heavy, rough, or tiring to shoot. I guess I'm a real bad man...

In all seriousness, is the trigger 1911 smooth and light? No, of course not...it's not a 1911. It is what it is, and was designed to be what it is: a home/self defense pistol with a heavier trigger to compensate for not having an external safety. Personally, I don't mess with the trigger, since my right forefinger has extremely well developed muscles, evidently.

 

[Maccabeus]

...I don't find the trigger on my SD9VE to be too heavy...

That's my experience, too. It's all relative based on what one is used to, I suppose. I learned to shoot on revolvers fired double action only and then learned to shoot S&W 3rd gen pistols with that first DA shot.



To me, the SD9VE trigger is absolutely ideal. The perfect balance between a Glock and a revolver. I wish all my pistols had the same pull.



Sent from mTalk

 

[S&W Rover]

You will get better with practice.

As others have noted, the SD trigger is not like the "breaking glass rod" of the trigger on a 1911 or the trigger on a S&W revolver that is cocked and fired single action.

It is much more like the trigger of a S&W revolver when fired double action.

I think people who are successful with the SD shoot it like a double-action revolver - a continuous, rolling pull on the trigger until it kinda goes off by itself. It does not work well if you slowly squeeze the trigger (against a fair amount of pressure!) trying to discover where that break point is on the long continuum of the long trigger pull. Some people even end up shaking a bit as they try to control where the pistol is aimed while pulling that relatively heavy trigger.

Being a striker-fired pistol, it just isn't going to be that distinct or clean. (The trigger kit and spring kit make the trigger pull lighter, and a tad shorter, but the basic geometry of pulling a lever away from a spring-loaded striker to release that striker remains the same).

The key to shooting the SD may be the way the shooter manipulates it, in a steady and direct pull... at least in the way I kinda see it. At least, I recommend you give it a try, to think of it the way I mention. I've had some good luck with the SD, and enjoy shooting it. It is not as "accurate" (practical accuracy) as my S&W 686, but I've gotten a lot better with it. The trigger may not be quite as accurate as those two pound, very clean breaking single action triggers on 1911's, Sig-Sauers, S&W revolvers, etc., but you can be surprisingly accurate if you practice enough.

 

[star1]

some might think it's trite but the next time you got to the range keep your focus on the front sight , I mean really focus . I find that that has helped me more than anything else. If your front sight moves when you are pulling the trigger back the bullet will end up where the front sight was when the bullet left the barrle

 

[Chefc14]

That's my experience, too. It's all relative based on what one is used to, I suppose. I learned to shoot on revolvers fired double action only and then learned to shoot S&W 3rd gen pistols with that first DA shot.



To me, the SD9VE trigger is absolutely ideal. The perfect balance between a Glock and a revolver. I wish all my pistols had the same pull.



Sent from mTalk

y
I had three different pistols with three different triggers. When I practiced with one I couldn't shoot the others for chit. I sold one and bought an SD9 and loved it. I sold another and bought an SD40 so I'd have two different guns/calibers with the exact same trigger. I then sold the third of my previous guns and picked up an M&P Shield. Now I have three pistols with that are very close. I believe the Shield doesn't take as much pressure to fire as the SD's. It turns out I did myself a favor. I can shoot all three of them pretty much the same. Guns I sold, SCCY9mm 9 lb trigger, Taurus PT111G2 6 lb trigger and Charter Arms .38 11 lb trigger. I miss the revolver a little but as I said I benefitted in the end.

 

[Rustyt1953]

You will get better with practice.

As others have noted, the SD trigger is not like the "breaking glass rod" of the trigger on a 1911 or the trigger on a S&W revolver that is cocked and fired single action.

It is much more like the trigger of a S&W revolver when fired double action.

I think people who are successful with the SD shoot it like a double-action revolver - a continuous, rolling pull on the trigger until it kinda goes off by itself. It does not work well if you slowly squeeze the trigger (against a fair amount of pressure!) trying to discover where that break point is on the long continuum of the long trigger pull. Some people even end up shaking a bit as they try to control where the pistol is aimed while pulling that relatively heavy trigger.

Being a striker-fired pistol, it just isn't going to be that distinct or clean. (The trigger kit and spring kit make the trigger pull lighter, and a tad shorter, but the basic geometry of pulling a lever away from a spring-loaded striker to release that striker remains the same).

The key to shooting the SD may be the way the shooter manipulates it, in a steady and direct pull... at least in the way I kinda see it. At least, I recommend you give it a try, to think of it the way I mention. I've had some good luck with the SD, and enjoy shooting it. It is not as "accurate" (practical accuracy) as my S&W 686, but I've gotten a lot better with it. The trigger may not be quite as accurate as those two pound, very clean breaking single action triggers on 1911's, Sig-Sauers, S&W revolvers, etc., but you can be surprisingly accurate if you practice enough.

This should be a "sticky".

 

[Buckeye63]

Personally the SD9VE/SD40VE trigger is OK to me .. For the pistols attended purpose.. Self Defense ..... and with practice its good trigger for the range ...
I cut my teeth on DA revolvers .. and alot of DAO shooting .. I guess that experience at a young age has made it easier for me to adapt to a wide variety of triggers

 

[JBluezamassa]

Thanks to all who replied. I've been on the fence about this gun for a while.
I had the entire Apex kit in my cart and didn't hit the buy button.

I saw the Scootch Vid and some others. It seems the Apex system would help for sure. (In my case) My wife has a Shield 9mm and I find that trigger to be a little better.

I have to decide if the SD9VE is a firearm I'm going to keep. If so, I'll do the Apex. My favorite 9mm at the current time is my Canik TP9SA. I know there's some controversy on that firearm around the interwebs.
The de-cocker for one and the fact that it's made in Turkey for another.

All I know is the pistol is a great shooter. The trigger is great. I would like to enjoy my SD9VE, as it's a good looking firearm, and came at a very good price point. Time will tell.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[mpreusse13]

Fwiw, I just installed the apex trigger today and it makes a world of difference on the gun. Trigger is night and day compared to the original. I found it hard to believe before I installed it but it's the truth

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[Disabled1]

Fwiw, I just installed the apex trigger today and it makes a world of difference on the gun. Trigger is night and day compared to the original. I found it hard to believe before I installed it but it's the truth

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You're stating that "just the trigger", not the spring kit, made your SDVE pistol feel/shoot better?

 

[mpreusse13]

You're stating that "just the trigger", not the spring kit, made your SDVE pistol feel/shoot better?

Absolutely, I never had a problem with the trigger before I changed it, but it just feels better. Much shorter pull and just cleaner trigger feel. It breaks right at the back of the pull and resets almost all the way forward. The trigger just feels more solid also.

I won't be changing the springs out and I think I'm done with all upgrades on this gun, just need to order a new RSA for back up.

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[Dr Denby]

Yep, in addition to my personal preference being that style trigger over a hinged one, the pretravel is shorter, the break is cleaner, and the reset length is shorter plus of course it feeling more "solid" as mpruesse said because it isn't hinged.

All of which has zero to do with aim and how you hold the gun and other such stuff.

Doc