S&W SD9VE Thoughts?

[TheFlashG]

For a while, I've been considering a 'project gun' to have some fun with but with a 'buy-in' that is relatively low budget.
Looking at the S&W SD9VE, there has already been much written about the trigger and the aftermarket options are understood.

Does anyone here have hands-on experience with a stock SD9VE (whether standard or hi-viz sights) and any with hands-on time with mods/improvements?

Thanks!

[ar15barrels]

It's basically an S&W made Glock except without much aftermarket support.
All the same sort of polishing/smoothing applies to make the trigger better.
I have one in my reference collection.

[TheFlashG]

It's basically an S&W made Glock except without much aftermarket support.
All the same sort of polishing/smoothing applies to make the trigger better.
I have one in my reference collection.

Thanks!
Is yours still stock, or did you do the polishing/smoothing you noted that works for Glocks?

[Garbcollector]

What about the s&w 2.0?

[neouser]

I had one before and I actually really liked it. The sear uses dual coil springs, one inside the other, which makes the trigger heavy. If you want to reduce the pull weight, you can remove the inner spring. I do need to point out that the trigger mechanism is nothing like a Glock and requires you to let it travel fully forward to reset, whereas a Glock has a shorter and more tactile reset. I would compare the trigger feel to a double action only pistol. At the time I got it, I think it was under $250, which was a great price point for a reliable pistol.

If you want a project gun, I don't think this will be very satisfying for you. Polishing the trigger won't do much because you can't get around the long reset. Get yourself a cheap 1911 or 2011 such as a Rock Island Armory. You can get one for under $400 and can spend as little or as much as you want overhauling the entire gun. Your first upgrade can be an EGW firing pin stop for $15. Don't radius the bottom and leave it square and it'll be one of the softest shooting guns you've felt.

[morrcarr67]

For a while, I've been considering a 'project gun' to have some fun with but with a 'buy-in' that is relatively low budget.
Looking at the S&W SD9VE, there has already been much written about the trigger and the aftermarket options are understood.

Does anyone here have hands-on experience with a stock SD9VE (whether standard or hi-viz sights) and any with hands-on time with mods/improvements?

Thanks!

First off, even though I and many others call it a Glock made by S&W or other common sayings, they really aren't all that much alike. While S&W was sued by Glock over the design, it really came down to one part of the trigger mechanism.

Now for my SD9VE journey. It goes back to when I bought a first generation M&P pistol. This pistol; as well as the 1st gen SD's, have a hinged trigger that IMHO sucks. I hated pretty much everything about that trigger. I had planned on switching the trigger out for the Apex trigger and never got around to it. My version was in 40S&W and I had planned on getting a 9mm conversion barrel, but never got around to it. Since it was my only 40S&W, I found myself not shooting it and sold it to found a different gun.

Several years later I found a used SD9VE for $225. I bought this gun knowing that I hated that hinged trigger. While it was in jail I ordered the Apex trigger for it. Once I got her home I put in the Apex trigger and went shooting. I can't tell you how the OG trigger was, but if it was anything like the M&P it probably sucked. The Apex trigger felt great. It gave it a light pull and a shorter reset than what the OG trigger would have been. I even let a few friends shoot it that were Glock guys and they liked the Apex trigger on my SD better than their stock Glocks.

I also have a friend that has one of these 1st gen SD's only in 40S&W. When I got mine I told him that I had put in the Apex trigger and that I really liked it. He asked me if I would replace his trigger for him because he wasn't too happy with it. I did the swap for him and he really liked it and found himself shooting that SD40VE more often after I switched out the trigger.

[TheFlashG]

Some great feedback - thank you! Seems like aside from trigger and springs, there isn't much else to do with an SD9VE. (?)

Hadn't considered an RIA 1911 - that could be a better project starting platform than the SD9VE.
Perhaps even the M&P 2.0 would be a better pistol, too. (A bit more $'s to start, but a better result...)

[ar15barrels]

Thanks!
Is yours still stock, or did you do the polishing/smoothing you noted that works for Glocks?

Mine is still stock.
Reference collection is all stock so that if I have a gun come in with a problem, I can take apart the same type of reference gun without a problem and compare parts to see what's missing/wrong with the problem gun.

[ar15barrels]

Some great feedback - thank you! Seems like aside from trigger and springs, there isn't much else to do with an SD9VE. (?)

Hadn't considered an RIA 1911 - that could be a better project starting platform than the SD9VE.
Perhaps even the M&P 2.0 would be a better pistol, too. (A bit more $'s to start, but a better result...)

The M&P 2.0 really does not need much.
You can put lighter springs and a better sear or go crazy and change all manner of fire control parts but the biggest gains for the money is springs and a sear.

The Rock Island is a GREAT gun to play with because there is so much more aftermarket support for the 1911 than there is for an M&P of all generations combined.
More importantly, 1911 parts are made oversized in many cases so you HAVE to fit them while M&P parts are legos and rarely allow you to do any fitting.
You will ALWAYS get a better gun when you start with oversized parts and fit them all together than when you put drop-in parts into a gun.

[Rumblemonkey]

I decided to purchase an SD9VE a while ago, as a test of how a PPT of an off-roster would go in Calif. I have found it to be a steady, reliable piece, not high end or junk. A reasonable purchase, and shooting my G319 vs it, not too big of a jump. (Apex trigger and 3.5 bar on the Glock.) I was not expecting much, but it is OK. No complaints, no raves, nothing remarkable. Just as a sidebar-I added a light to it, but due to qualifying constraints for my CCW, I did not add it. I do not like thinking about what I can grab in a crisis situation, (what is on my CCW, vs what is not), but I had 9 on earlier permits, and it was a PITA! Dropped to 3, but wish it was different.

[newshooter650]

My buddy has one. He had the Apex trigger and it shoots well for sure. The SD9 was a great option a few years ago when the roster was slim as it was one of the lower priced on roster options and the compact and full size M&P were not on the roster at that time. Today the roster is a lot fuller with way more good options. I would not get an SD9 unless you're getting a screaming deal on it. It's a fine pistol but it is older at this point and it does not have the support that a Glock/XD/M&P/P365/P320 type pistol but is not priced dramatically below the base models of those other lines.

[Rumblemonkey]

I sorta wish I had gotten the SD in .40, I have a Kahr PM40 and it kinda kicks my ***! Don't shoot it often, maybe that is the problem. LOL!