Posted: 9/10/2013 5:52:06 AM EDT
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I am being offered a like new SD9VE for $275. I have an M&P 40c so I know I can get the APEX kit and clean up the trigger on the SD9VE.
What do you think? $275 is a good deal, right? Edit: I am going to probably go through with the purchase, I just want a sanity check. Thanks! |
| $275 is just a little cheaper than they are new. I had a gift card to an LGS last week for $250 and was just walking around seeing what I could get for next to nothing and saw those brand new right in the low $300's(I didn't get one btw). So is it a great deal? No, but it isn't bad either. I haven't looked into them at all so I cannot comment on pro's/con's. I know someone with one in .40 and they like it and use it as there carry piece. |
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My understanding is that they are close to on par with a Glock 17/19. I very reliable striker fired pistol. The trigger is awful though. Which isn't much of an issue, I have all the tools from my M&P 40c trigger job to drop some APEX parts in.
I just hate making a purchase without bouncing it off someone first. Thanks for the information you had. |
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I'm not sure about the apex parts, but I know when I put a different striker spring in my SD9VE, it did lighten the trigger pull some, but it also caused light primer strikes sacrificing a lot of reliability. The lightened pull wasn't really all that much either. I'd rather have a Glock or M&P that I knew was going to work for sure. |
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I had an SD40VE and I did the Apex trigger kit. It was only $25 and made the pistol a dream to shoot.
I sold the pistol to my cousin and over 1000 rounds later he hasn't mentioned any reliability problems or light strikes at all. We go shoot often and I've never seen any malfunctions from it. |
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I am probably one of the biggest supporters of the S&W SD series in here. We own two of the 9mms and both have topped over 1,000 rounds thru each. Not one single failure or any kind. They both work like they should. The triggers have gotten smoother over the time. Mine are factory stock. No apex triggers and one of them breas now at 6 1/2 pounds and the other at 7. You cannot tell a diference between the two. No brass to face issues either. I recently bought a metal M&P rear sight from someone on the EE and it fit perfectly and is more durable than the plastic one. Also it looks better too.
Both SD9VEs have fed 88 , 115, 124, 135, and 147 grain bullets. FMJ and JHPs. They are plenty accurate for what they do and the only thing I will do eventually is put Tritium night sights on them. Magazines were a little hard to find earlier this year, but I got lucky. My wife loves her SD9VE. My oldest daughter loves both it and a Glock 19 and can shoot both equally as well. I also have an SW9VE The Sigma and the SD9VE gun is leaps ahead of it in trigger pull. 275 is the upper limit of what I would pay for a used one. Now if he has spare magazines, then that would be a good deal. I know two people who have the SD40VE and they like them. No problems there either. Just a little more snappy recoil. |
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I think the SD series is a hell of a gun for the money. My LGS sells em by the truck load and never has any problem or complaints. While not the pistol for me. Alot of people like them This...my buddy and I plan on buying them up for stash guns around secret locations in our houses. |
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Sadly the Ruger P series are slowly being replaced by the SR series. Big mistake on Rugers part in my opinion. Even finding the P-95 is getting difficult. Majority of guns being sold now are DAO trigger systems. The decocker/drop saftey guns are still hanging on, but mostly with those experienced in their use. The SD series is a solid gun for the price and mine have performed admirably. The only criticism on them from me I think would be they made the triiger guard a little too big. Just a cosmetic issue though.
Try one out, I bet you won't be disappointed. |
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I am a big fan of the SD9. I also have 9mm and 45 M&P's, and I shoot better with the SD. My stepson, former Marine but not a big pistol shooter, also shoots better with the SD although he preferred the feel of the M&P.
I have one of the all black originals, and a VE with the stainless slide. The trigger on these is fine, nothing like the earlier Sigma. |
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I am probably one of the biggest supporters of the S&W SD series in here. We own two of the 9mms and both have topped over 1,000 rounds thru each. Not one single failure or any kind. They both work like they should. The triggers have gotten smoother over the time. Mine are factory stock. No apex triggers and one of them breas now at 6 1/2 pounds and the other at 7. You cannot tell a diference between the two. No brass to face issues either. I recently bought a metal M&P rear sight from someone on the EE and it fit perfectly and is more durable than the plastic one. Also it looks better too. Both SD9VEs have fed 88 , 115, 124, 135, and 147 grain bullets. FMJ and JHPs. They are plenty accurate for what they do and the only thing I will do eventually is put Tritium night sights on them. Magazines were a little hard to find earlier this year, but I got lucky. My wife loves her SD9VE. My oldest daughter loves both it and a Glock 19 and can shoot both equally as well. I also have an SW9VE The Sigma and the SD9VE gun is leaps ahead of it in trigger pull. 275 is the upper limit of what I would pay for a used one. Now if he has spare magazines, then that would be a good deal. I know two people who have the SD40VE and they like them. No problems there either. Just a little more snappy recoil. Same here. Decent pistol IMO from a great company. The trigger on mine is stock, although I did beta test one of the Apex trigger kits for it. I put the stock parts back in as I couldnt tell the difference. They smooth up and lighten with dry fire and actual shooting. IMO the only problem with the original SD pistols was the price point. Too close to the M&P IMO to not just go ahead and buy the M&P. I like the fact that my SD9 is the same size as a G19 and unfortunately smith does not make an M&P that size in 9mm. |
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I have the gun in my hands now. It is a brand new firearm practically. Has a great feel in my hand and I appreciate the stippled finger rests on either side. The girlfriend expressed interest in a Glock 19 so I think this will be a more than satisfactory alternative to that.
The trigger is... awful. It is a heavy mush mess. This weekend I will put 50 through it and decide how to proceed. I tend to not agree with the 500 round trigger job sentiment if I can get cheap trigger parts. We will see though. |
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I have a SD9VE, put in an Apex spring kit and have slowly gone back to stock. The Apex striker spring caused light strikes on harder primers like Tula, the trigger return spring barely pushed the trigger back out for reset, so now the only Apex spring in there is the striker block spring. Honestly, the stock trigger pull is not all that bad and gets better with use. A proper grip and trigger pull has me not even noticing it. OF course it's not an M&P, Glock, XD/M, 1911 or other lighter trigger pull, but it's not that bad for being DAO.
I know the Sigma, SW9 and SD9 had heavier trigger pulls, but they improved it on the SDVE series so be sure which model people are talking about when they say the trigger pull is really heavy. |
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Lots of people here will trash them because of the "worst trigger ever."
The trigger gets better with dry firing, or you can get it smoothed up under warranty. Mine shoots to point of aim, feeds my choice of self-defense ammo with 100% reliability, and is very ergonomic for a hicap. All I've done is black out the rear sight dots, stipple the grip, and add a Wolff trigger spring. |
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If you have an SD or know someone that has one with an actual 20lb pull call smith. The spec on that is supposed to be about 8lbs. Quoted:
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very reliable gun, but the worst dam trigger I've ever felt on a gun. mushy 20 lb pull with a mushy reset. If you have an SD or know someone that has one with an actual 20lb pull call smith. The spec on that is supposed to be about 8lbs. honestly, not 20lbs I was being smartastic. it just feels that bad compared to 4 or 5 for most pistols. And chase is correct. my bil has the sigma in 40. |
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I think your thinking of the Sigma series. The SD series has a pretty decent pull Quoted:
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very reliable gun, but the worst dam trigger I've ever felt on a gun. mushy 20 lb pull with a mushy reset. I think your thinking of the Sigma series. The SD series has a pretty decent pull That would be my guess as well. The last gen of sigmas had horrible triggers, my BIL has one and the trigger sucks. My SD9 has a decent trigger, its not for target shooting for sure, its for a CCW piece with no manual safety. |
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honestly, not 20lbs I was being smartastic. it just feels that bad compared to 4 or 5 for most pistols. And chase is correct. my bil has the sigma in 40. Quoted:
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very reliable gun, but the worst dam trigger I've ever felt on a gun. mushy 20 lb pull with a mushy reset. If you have an SD or know someone that has one with an actual 20lb pull call smith. The spec on that is supposed to be about 8lbs. honestly, not 20lbs I was being smartastic. it just feels that bad compared to 4 or 5 for most pistols. And chase is correct. my bil has the sigma in 40. I have tried to talk my BIL into sending his back to smith, the pull on it is unacceptable IMO. I wish I knew someone with a trigger pull guage just so I can see what my SD is. I knew a guy with one but his broke, and I am not worried enough about it to buy one |
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Just an update. We shot two boxes through the SD9VE and the trigger is a problem. I ordered the spring parts from amazon (their website is awful and never loads for me) and got some 600 grit sand paper to smooth up the action (just as they do in the Apex install videos). What was probably a combination of heavy trigger pull and anticipating recoil she was pulling the shots really low. I also think she is having to increase her grip along with the heavy trigger pull and that isn't helping her keep it on target. When I made her slow down the trigger pull to a ridiculous amount she hit dead center. It just isn't fun to shoot 1/rd - minute. haha
She shoots a 92FS/M9 very well and the trigger on the rental we had was very light. The trigger on my M&P 22 is also very light. So I am seeing a common theme. I am going to install everything, sand/grease the parts they say to and hope it comes out much better. I can't afford to do a 1000 round trigger job on it so hopefully the $25 Apex kit will accomplish a lighter and crisper trigger. It also doesn't make sense to have a painful range trip again and again just waiting for the trigger to smooth and soften up. I would rather install the kit and train on what will hopefully be an improved trigger. I will update later this week when the parts are installed and we get to the range. |
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Update:
Got the trigger kit and did the install last night. I was intimidated that I would be stripping down a fire arm completely, but it went well. If anyone is on the fence about doing this install themselves, you should do it. Not difficult and at worst just a little frustrating getting some things lined up. Overall, easy. The trigger... is smoother and lighter but I didn't take any metrics before and after. I think the proof will be on the paper when I go to the range tonight. |
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Saw one at a class that wouldn't run out of the box. The gun was properly lubed before firing. The instructor couldn't get it to run either, so it wasn't from limp wristing. The trigger sucks but that's not what concerns me about the gun. Maybe bad mags? It sucks for the person that went to a class with a defective gun, but I would never pay what a class costs without shooting a new gun first to make sure its ok. |
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Maybe bad mags? It sucks for the person that went to a class with a defective gun, but I would never pay what a class costs without shooting a new gun first to make sure its ok. Quoted:
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Saw one at a class that wouldn't run out of the box. The gun was properly lubed before firing. The instructor couldn't get it to run either, so it wasn't from limp wristing. The trigger sucks but that's not what concerns me about the gun. Maybe bad mags? It sucks for the person that went to a class with a defective gun, but I would never pay what a class costs without shooting a new gun first to make sure its ok. It wasn't the mags. The gun's extractor often failed to grab the empty case from the chamber, causing a FTE and double feed. |