S&W SD40VE Review (Poor mans Glock?)

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ORHunter79

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Ok, so I love my Glocks. With that said, I have a "new" favorite, that costs $200 less then a Glock. It costs about $360 and other than a long trigger, I love this thing. I think once people catch on, the price of this thing will probably go up. Just to be clear, I still love my Glocks.....:D But I will buy a few more of these to go in the glove box, under the trashcan, etc.

Here is my review of the gun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10ztZCpT_yE
 
Got a buddy with that exact gun. He has no complaints. Striker fired DAO's are not my cup o' tea or I probably would have gotten one too.
 
They've been around for a while. Whenever I see "looking for an inexpensive 9mm or .40", my answer is "Sigma". They can be had new for less than $300..... Ok, a month ago they were that inexpensive. I have the 9mm. Although not the best trigger, 100% reliable and accurate.
 
My son bought a SD40VE not long ago. The trigger pull is kind of long, and takes a bit of getting used to, but is a pretty good defensive trigger overall. I like the gun.
 
Just bought one of these myself. I still need to shoot mine, but from a technological point of view they're every bit the equal of a Glock.

As a matter of fact while it does have a FEW things missing compared to it's "big brother" M&P, most of what its lacking there the Glock is also lacking in the Gen3 configuration.

- The SD has a plastic rear sight instead of the M&P's steel - Glock's sights are both plastic.
- The SD has a plastic guide rod instead of the M&P's steel rod - Glock's guide rod is also plastic.
- The SD has only a right-side slide-stop lever instead of the M&P's ambi lever. - Glocks lever is also right-hand only.
- The SD lacks replaceable backstraps like the M&P. - Glock also lacks these until the Gen4 version.
- The SD's magazine release is not reversible like the M&P - Glock's also isn't until Gen4.

About the only thing the SD gives to the Glock is the heavy trigger (which can be remedied). I actually own an M&P and a Glock as well (both in 9mm though), but so far I think this SD I just got has a LOT of promise.
 
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I bought a Sigma as my first gun. I bought it because I couldn't really justify the extra $200 for a Glock. I was happy with my decision.

I keep hearing even better things about the SDVE series. I may have to try and trade up.
 
I liked the looks of the previous SD (without the VE) as it came with a front night sight. What, something that makes sense? Can't have that.

The old SD costed about $50 more than the current one does. You can get a front night-sight for $40 from Bowie Tactical Concepts. If you want that config you can still have it for about the same cost.

Removing it from the stock config saves the money for those of us who wouldn't opt for one (I'm personally not a fan of them. had them on my Glock when I bought it used and I actually bought aftermarket Warren sights just to get rid of the night sights).
 
My brother has one. Seems like a good pistol, especially for the money. I've heard complaints about the trigger, but really I don't see what the big deal is. Didn't seem to bad at all compared to my Glock.
 
They've been around for a while. Whenever I see "looking for an inexpensive 9mm or .40", my answer is "Sigma". They can be had new for less than $300..... Ok, a month ago they were that inexpensive. I have the 9mm. Although not the best trigger, 100% reliable and accurate.
This is NOT a sigma.

It is a much better firearm
 
Underrated firearm. Great multi-purpose (carry + HD) option, especially if you're on a budget. The heel of the grip is very concealment friendly, and it weighs... 23oz?
 
Haven't been able to shoot my new SD40ve yet, but I'm expecting good things. They've gone up about 40 bucks at Buds since I got mine a couple months ago. Still, the SD's are still available while the comparable Rugers are all sold out at many places. Don't think it's a difference in demand, I think S&W knows how to get product out when demand is high.
 
If I didn't already have a Glock 19 I would certainly give even a VE a hard look if I were to purchase a new gun. Even after upgrading the sights you would still be money ahead.
 
They are a very reliable semi auto pistol , and like the Ruger "P" pistols are an excellent gun for the money.
 
Extremely under rated guns. Own 2 with original black slides very good guns plus i paid more for my guns than the ve model. They are real sleepers in my opinion.
 
Not a fan of the factory trigger. With that said, it's leaps and bounds better than the old Sigma triggers. I had an old sigma and the trigger felt like dragging 25 pounds of petrified turd through a dense forest with a tattered rope.
 
They are a very reliable semi auto pistol , and like the Ruger "P" pistols are an excellent gun for the money.

Hoping mine ends up that way. Got it out the range this weekend and was disappointed. Accuracy was great, but it was failing to fully chamber the round about every 3 or 4 shots. It was strange - the round didn't catch on the feed ramp or anything - the slide would stick open about 1/8" from closing all the way with the round wedged there. Took extra effort to close or open the slide.

Granted, this was with American Eagle and from searching online about 90% of anyone who has had trouble with this gun has had it with American Eagle ammo so I'm going to try another brand before contacting S&W, but it has me a little nervous at this moment.

I'm sure Smith will fix it if it needs to go back though.
 
They've been around for a while. Whenever I see "looking for an inexpensive 9mm or .40", my answer is "Sigma". They can be had new for less than $300..... Ok, a month ago they were that inexpensive. I have the 9mm. Although not the best trigger, 100% reliable and accurate.



Its not a sigma...its a SD without thee mellonite slide and plastic sights.....way more reliable than the sigma was
 
All guns need a slight break in period to set. Did you clean an lubricate this pistol prior to shooting? Sounds to me as a break in period or a possible ammo issue. Probably a 115 grain, i'm finding more and more that the 115's made in the usa are too lightly loaded. Try a 124 or 147 or ammo made outside the us.
I have no idea why but for some reason this country has always underloaded the 9mm round. US ammo in 115 for the most part wont cycle a german luger and I'm not buying the lawyer issue because these firearms were designed for hotter ammo. I'm finding this very issue in my beretta nano. Try a different brand of ammunition before you ship it off to S&W.
 
Hoping mine ends up that way. Got it out the range this weekend and was disappointed. Accuracy was great, but it was failing to fully chamber the round about every 3 or 4 shots. It was strange - the round didn't catch on the feed ramp or anything - the slide would stick open about 1/8" from closing all the way with the round wedged there. Took extra effort to close or open the slide.

Granted, this was with American Eagle and from searching online about 90% of anyone who has had trouble with this gun has had it with American Eagle ammo so I'm going to try another brand before contacting S&W, but it has me a little nervous at this moment.

I'm sure Smith will fix it if it needs to go back though.
It IS the AE ammo. As you saw in the video I ran PRVI through it. I also ran Federal HST without any issues. The only issue (2) I had were with AE.
 
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