S&w sd9 ve

[socalbeachbum]

I handled one at a show yesterday, the SD9 VE looks well made, trigger felt just like my Glock.

It this a good model? It certainly is priced right.

 

[HoosierQ]

Lots of people seem to hate on the trigger. I cannot recall anyone making note of any other issue. There is great debate as to whether or not this gun is a true DAO or "just like the Glock"...which is, presumably, more or less of a half cock sort of thing.

If you are looking at a current and new model of this thing, I'd suspect that the trigger issues will be less. If it's an older version, it may have the long and/or hard trigger.

Again, all the "controversy" around this gun was the weight of the trigger pull. S&W makes them to be safe, simple, economical self defense guns.

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

The SD series pistols are the new budget line for S&W. They replaced the previous P.O.S. line called the SW series. The worst one they made was the SW380. You had to pinch the sides of the magazine to release. The SD series guns work fine for what they are and will serve the occasional shooter well. By occasional I mean you wouldn't want to use it for high round count competition. I don't expect it to hold up to 10K+ rounds like a higher dollar pistol would. It does have S&W's warranty service though and that goes a long way.

Some of the areas where they saved money are as follows:
Polymer rear sight, no interchangeable back straps, two magazines rather than three, a cardboard box rather than a hard sided carry case, stamped sheet metal slide release, and plastic guide rod.

The sights are interchangeable with M&P sights. The gun takes down like a Glock. For the money it is not a bad gun. They don't hold their value like the more expensive guns when trading in at a retail shop but they cost less to have a decent working pistol too. Ergonomically S&W did their homework. I think it fits the hand very well. I have medium size hands. Overall, I can't say it has very many negatives unless you have a high-end expectation on options, fit, and finish. Hope that helps.

*Side note* The 9mm version is more desirable on the used market for trade in as compared to the .40 S&W.

 

[357smallbore]

I have one. Bought new for $299.00 two years ago. I love mine. I think S&W hit a home run with the SD 9VE. Sure its a copy of the G19. Have to be a fool not to see that.
I've had no issues with this weapon in a negative way. Reliability, look, carry, shoot ability and accuracy are all excellent. The other nice thing is you get two hi-caps with the weapon. And they are very nice mags. Its in my ccw rotation. I don't think you will go wrong owning one. I think the trigger is fine also. Carry, shoot and shoot some more. No substitution for practice

 

[RustyShackelford]

entry level .....

Smith & Wesson started the SD series in .40 & 9x19mm to get a part of the growing home defense market and to appeal to new/entry level gun owners.
Those that may go shooting or target shoot 3/4/5 times a year but want a handgun for protection.
The SD9VE & SD40VE are okay for most defense uses. I get "qualified professional" prices from some gun shops-vendors so I have seen pistols around $250-279.00 NIB(new in box).
I like the S&W 3 dot sights and striker fired DA only system but the fit-style of some SDs I saw was less than great, .
YouTube gun channel host: The Yankee Marshal praises his SD40VE & is very happy with the trigger, features, sights, grip, etc.
The Smith & Wesson lifetime warranty offer is a good selling point to new gun owners or those looking for a value type defense pistol.
From what I know the SD models fit most S&W military and police holsters, but keep in mind, gun manufacturers often tweek or modify frames-weapons so don't assume a SD pistol fits every M&P holster on the market.

 

[JTQ]

From what I know the SD models fit most S&W military and police holsters, but keep in mind, gun manufacturers often tweek or modify frames-weapons so don't assume a SD pistol fits every M&P holster on the market.

It would surprise me if the SD pistols fit any well made M&P holsters. The M&P is a 4.25" barreled gun with a tapered slide. The SD is a 4" gun with a square slide.

The SD is the evolution of the Sigma Series that was introduced in the mid-90's. It is built to a price point, but it is a well tested design.

 

[oss117]

I owned an SD40VE. I struggled with shooting it as accurately as other pistols. It was my issue, not an accuracy issue with the gun. It was 100% reliable. The only mild quirk to mention was some rattle from a fully loaded magazine. That's common, but does not affect function. Make sure you try the trigger before you buy. Many people do not like DAO triggers because they want them to be SA triggers.

 

[burk]

Now that the P95 is no longer available the only real competition to it is the SR9E. They are decent guns for the money. As has been said here earlier they aren't made to withstand a high round count or the riggors of duty use. There is a reason the M & P and the Glock or more expensive. But they are good values for a budget minded shooter, ecspecially used.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

Trigger from apex and the little pistol rocks. Older versions (sigmas) same complaints about trigger and first versions had no Picatinny rail.

 

[Armor Snail]

For the price point I'd rather a Witness PS or a Sar B6.

I like hammer fired guns though that have half decent triggers to start with though.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Smith & Wesson factory, SDs ....

I read online that newer(05/2015 & forward) M&Ps produced by Smith & Wesson in MA will have refined triggers/re-engineered pulls. Maybe this upgrade-remade M&P trigger will filter down to the value line SD pistols in .40/9mm.

 

[357smallbore]

Theses guns will stand the round count. These weapons will outlast there owners. The majority of shooters (majority)( not all) only shoot on average 800 rounds a year or less. These guns will stand the test of time.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Buddy has one. I've handled it and it felt nice. I'll get to shoot it on Tuesday when I finally make it to the range.

Personally, I'd opt for the M&P-9, but the SD9VE is still a good gun that's going to do pretty much everything you want tit to do and do it well.

 

[ljnowell]

The SD series pistols are the new budget line for S&W. They replaced the previous P.O.S. line called the SW series. The worst one they made was the SW380. You had to pinch the sides of the magazine to release. The SD series guns work fine for what they are and will serve the occasional shooter well. By occasional I mean you wouldn't want to use it for high round count competition. I don't expect it to hold up to 10K+ rounds like a higher dollar pistol would. It does have S&W's warranty service though and that goes a long way.



Some of the areas where they saved money are as follows:

Polymer rear sight, no interchangeable back straps, two magazines rather than three, a cardboard box rather than a hard sided carry case, stamped sheet metal slide release, and plastic guide rod.



The sights are interchangeable with M&P sights. The gun takes down like a Glock. For the money it is not a bad gun. They don't hold their value like the more expensive guns when trading in at a retail shop but they cost less to have a decent working pistol too. Ergonomically S&W did their homework. I think it fits the hand very well. I have medium size hands. Overall, I can't say it has very many negatives unless you have a high-end expectation on options, fit, and finish. Hope that helps.



*Side note* The 9mm version is more desirable on the used market for trade in as compared to the .40 S&W.

I would bet dollars to donuts it would stand up just fine to 10k rounds. That's just broke in for a modern handgun.

 

[mgmorden]

I would bet dollars to donuts it would stand up just fine to 10k rounds. That's just broke in for a modern handgun.

Yeah - 10k rounds is nothing. I wouldn't expect one to fail at any less than 50k rounds and to go more than 100k wouldn't surprise me in the slightest.

With "higher dollar" pistols you're often buying features, not long term durability. Yes, some of the absolute bottom of the barrel cheapies like a Hi Point and Keltecs will wear out a bit faster, but that's only really a thing at the absolute lowest price points. Nothing from S&W is going to wear out that fast.

 

[djont57]

I have one; shoot it a lot, like it a lot!

 

[Zendude]

I have a family member who has one. It is very reliable. That alone qualifies it as a good value for a $300 semi auto.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

I've got an SD9VE and like it. It's a decent Glock clone, there are some corners cut, but none that really matter for the shooting I do. For the price, there's a lot to like. The two-tone finish looks good, the gun shoots pretty well, it's been reliable so far, and I love the grip on it. I have small hands, and a lot of pistols don't fit me well, but the SD9VE just feels great.

The only problem I have with it is the trigger. It's fairly smooth, but heavy and very long, and kind of a pain to shoot. There is a spring kit out there that is supposed to lighten the trigger up some, I'll have to give it a try.

To be honest, I don't see any reason to worry about it's long-term durability either. Say it breaks after 10,000 rounds. Oh well. That's $3000 worth of WWB, and if I get that much use out of my $300 plinker, I'll be very happy with it.

 

[mdThanatos]

It isn't a bulls eye pistol by any means, but they are easy enough to shoot, sure a little long and heavier in the trigger, but it isn't that bad. They are gtg.

 

[mgmorden]

It isn't a bulls eye pistol by any means, but they are easy enough to shoot, sure a little long and heavier in the trigger, but it isn't that bad.

One thing too: if you swap the Apex trigger and spring kit, the SD trigger is just as good as most any other duty-sized polymer gun. It both lightens and shortens the pull and it's a lot crisper.

Now both the gun and the upgrade parts (about another $50) take it sort of into another price bracket, but if you already have one, or you take a gamble on the trigger and you decide you don't like it, then the Apex parts will improve it significantly.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Buddy has one. I've handled it and it felt nice. I'll get to shoot it on Tuesday when I finally make it to the range.

Personally, I'd opt for the M&P-9, but the SD9VE is still a good gun that's going to do pretty much everything you want tit to do and do it well.

So I got to shoot my buddies SD9ve. Handles nice, but shoots LOW. Like at 7 yards, two or three inches lower than POA.

He's going to look into some aftermarket adjustable sights. I'm going to have him try some different ammo before he does that though. This was with Fiocchi 115gr FMJ and hollow point. He also shoots a bit to the left, but that's probably him, it was centered up when I shot it.

Anyone else have that issue where it shoots way lower than point of aim at close range?