Taurus PT840 Or S&W Sd40Ve (Opinions)

[ICEN]

I'm about to turn 21 in one month so I am looking for my first handgun. Before anyone says anything, I have shot guns before just never bought any obviously because I can't yet. I have shot things like .45 acp down to .25 acp. So don't worry about saying .40 is too much because its easy too me. (no disrespect just saying I think people over exaggerate who can handle a gun, especially when I am way stronger than any 7 year old on youtube shooting a 357 magnum )

DEPENDING on how much money I have by next month I will either buy a cheaper gun in the $320-$420 range and if I get more money I will obviously buy something in the $400-$510 range, as of now I am just talking about these two firearms.

So any opinions would help. Here is what I am thinking

Smith and Wesson SD40VE
- can hold 15 rounds of 40 S&W (1 less of the taurus)
- MAY be more reliable because its basically a copy of the glock and I haven't herd many problems as far as reliability.
- I don't like how the polymer frame looks, it looks shinny like how a toy gun looks although the slide looks fine.
- I know the trigger is kind of heavy BUT smooth and I know that you can get a apex trigger kit. I also seen on youtube how long the reset of the trigger is.

Taurus PT840
- Holds 16 Rounds of 40S&W (1 more than the S&WSD40VE)
- Is double action and single action
- I seen the reset on youtube and its AMAZING and very short
- I assume the double action looked smooth
- has a saftey/decocker
- I like the looks better, the frame looks non toyish like the sd40ve does

Which gun has more pros? correct me if I'm wrong.
* taurus holds 1 more bullet
* The trigger is way better (single action)
* The reset is amazing and 100x better
* has a saftey/decocker so I can carry single action on saftey
* The frame doesn't have that shinny toy look.


So I am leaning towards the Taurus because of what I mentioned. I am not hating on either I am just trying to buy the better gun for me.

So my main concern is the accuracy and reliability of the Taurus of which most said is good. I get the taurus cost a little more. All of those things is why I am leaning towards the Taurus though.

If anybody owned both guns or one of them it would be nice to get feedback.

 

[dkelly27]

Check the Taurus website.

 

[tom-tom]

I've handled a friend's Taurus 845, for all intents and purposes the same as the 840 save the calibre. It looked like a competent gun. I like the safety option of cocked and locked or dropping the hammer safely for DA/SA. That puts it ahead of the SD.
I've got to add this, however: although I haven't owned a Taurus, there are horror stories about quality control. I realize that some of these are no doubt internet fairy tales, but the shear volume of bad reports give me pause.
Any company can put out a bad product, although it seems to happen more today than it did twenty or even five years ago. Certainly S&W have their lemons, but I think the track record for them is better than Taurus.
I like to buy American when the opportunity arises. I recently went to Bass Pro Shop to get a couple of pistol cases. The price was $10 for the Redhead brand or $5 for a no name. They look the same except for the large drake on the named product. But they both came from China.
I bought two of the no name brand, but would have gladly paid twice that for an American made product.
So, the choice for me would be +1 for the carry option on the Taurus, +2 for the source and quality Sd40. Of course, ergonomics and intangibles enter into the equation. No one else can speak to those factors for you.
Like the saying goes, it's your money.

 

[Silversmok3]

Neither.

Go to budsgunshop.com, and order a used LE trade in M&P9.

Go forth, and sin no more.

 

[Bartman3562]

agreed

Neither.

Go to budsgunshop.com, and order a used LE trade in M&P9.

Go forth, and sin no more.

Or wait till you have more money. Look on gunbroker even. Should be able to find a good 3rd gen for the same money or a little more. Firearms, especially for self defense, are not a place to skimp.

 

[Capt Crunch]

Get the 40VE you will not be disappointed. Don't get a Taurus, quality is just too random, you might get a good one, you might not. Too much of a chance. The SDVE series is a little known secret that is gaining a lot of steam. You are getting a much better quality gun for the money and you can find them for 300 and change in a lot of places if you look around.

 

[md015]

I realize I don't have many posts on this forum so my thoughts may not carry as much weight to some. That being said, I own a Taurus pt809 (9mm version of the 840) and a Taurus Judge PD Polymer, and between my family and I we own a total of 6 Taurus firearms, all of which have had absolutely zero problems. My girlfriend has managed to cause a FTE with the 809, but that was due to her limp wristing it. I cannot speak to the SD40VE as I have never fired one before.

Don't let the internet stories alone scare you away from the Taurus. They are not the company that they used to be. The current CEO is actually taking the time to clean the company up, but having to fix the quality control issues that Taurus had at one time is not an easy task. If you did happen to come across an issue with your Taurus, they come with a lifetime warranty that is transferred between owners.

By the way just in case anyone is wondering why I'm on this forum since I own two Taurus firearms, I also own a Bodyguard 380 .

 

[hmbiohazard]

i own a sd40 VE. its my favorite and most used carry gun. have shot hundreds of rounds of all kinds through it and never had 1 issue. i have enough faith in that gun to carry it on me as my main defense pistol. i have owned taurus pistols before and do not prefer them after having one i bought constantly jam up every magazine i would try to shoot through it.

 

[golfguyphil]

Get the SD..Much better weapon..

 

[DanP7]

Out of the two....the smith


But I would hold out for a used Glock 19 or 17, or a M&P 9. Not much more money, and a lot more gun with cheaper mags and better selection of holsters and parts. Or get the .40S&W equivalent.


I know you asked about two specific guns, and not unsolicited advice, so don't take this the wrong way...I've been through this before myself, as well as through at least a dozen new shooters. It ends up costing more in the long run to just end up with the Glock or M&P that are marginally more $$$.

 

[Nakanokalronin]

I had a SD9VE and it was a great, reliable and accurate gun. I only sold it to fund something else. I will get another some day. Learn the trigger and you'll be fine. I put the Apex kit in it and didn't like the flimsy trigger reset so I took it out and found out I didn't need it anyhow.

Obviously my vote goes towards the SDVE.