SW SDVE

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watebo

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Our local Academy store has this pistol on sale for $279. Is this a good pistol? I would like to hear any first hand reports. Thanks
 
I have the sigma sw9v, the trigger sucks but you get used to it. It's accurate and reliable. Oh and you can get a spring kit to upgrade trigger if you absolutely hate it.
 
Define "good." :)

The general consensus is that they're reliable, durable, safe, and reasonably accurate pistols with some cheap and crude touches and a heavy trigger. Factory service is very good, as are ergonomics and ease of use. Routine disassembly is reasonably easy if you can live with pulling the trigger each time—clear that chamber first!—and you aren't intimidated by having to precisely line up the takedown markings. Aftermarket is not great but not terrible either; they take M&P sights, which is a major plus over the SWxVE and Sigma lines they replaced.

If you want to spend minimal dough on a major-caliber brand-name pistol that goes BANG! and puts holes in stuff every time, they're a good choice; just don't expect match-pistol accuracy, fine finish, or admiration from the jealous shooter in the next lane at the range. ;)
 
I bought 2 from Academy @ $269. One is wife's carry gun and the other is mine.

I bought 2 more for $279 a little later. One for daughter and one for son.

I have had eight different people, adults, female, & kids shoot them and no one has said anything bad about them.

I consider them ideal as they are rather inexpensive, so I won't cry much if I have to surrender one to LEO's as the result of an incident. I won't carry an expensive (>$500) for that reason. If you are ever unfortunate enough to be involved in an incident, you can almost guarantee that you will forfeit your carry gun and quite possibly will not get it back.

As far as the SD9VE, it is accurate and fun to shoot. If you are one of these people that has hang ups because of triggers, then I don't recommend it.

I can learn to shoot just about anything, so triggers do not bother me unless they are too light.

PS: they will not let you snap a trigger at Academy.
 
They might if you tell them you need to try the trigger before making a decision...

Decent pistols, heavy trigger though. But if you learn to shoot it well, you will be able to shoot any pistol well.
 
Mine was generally reliable, but I got tired of the heavy trigger. I think Smith does this so it won't cannibalize M & P sales. You can put in an Apex trigger but there goes much of the price advantage.
 
They might if you tell them you need to try the trigger before making a decision...
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I was told that if I pulled the trigger, the transaction was over.

I would say if you wanna find out, go try it and see what happens next.

I wanted the guns.
 
I consider them ideal as they are rather inexpensive, so I won't cry much if I have to surrender one to LEO's as the result of an incident. I won't carry an expensive (>$500) for that reason. If you are ever unfortunate enough to be involved in an incident, you can almost guarantee that you will forfeit your carry gun and quite possibly will not get it back.
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If I have to use my firearm to defend my life, that $500 will be the least of my concerns, both at that moment and likely long term. I've carried $500 pistols, I've carried $1200 pistols. If I had to lose it to an investigation it would likely be the best money I ever spent as if I'm alive to care then the pistol served its purpose.

All that said, if you find the SDVE works for you as well as any other then carry it and rock on.
 
marine6680 said:
I guess it depends on the sales person... I was told for a serious potential purchase, they would allow trying the trigger.
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I've never had an Academy Sports clerk agree to even take the trigger lock off until it was clear that I was purchasing the firearm.
 
First: Regardless what pistol/revolver/rifle I'm buying, if the clerk tells me I cant try the trigger, I go elsewhere. Even Rimfires, I demand they come up with a snap cap so I can try the trigger. If they want me to use snap caps on others, fine, as long as I can try the trigger.

Back to the Topic: I have a 40cal Sigma. Its trigger is a big heavy, but its not a target pistol. In my opinion its a SD pistol. I believe the heavy trigger is an advantage, as in a panic situation and someone FAILS to keep his finger off the trigger (do to lack of training or whatever) there is less chance of an unintended discharge.

I'm more of a revolver guy. I don't think the trigger is any worse then most of my revolvers.

Mine fits my hand perfectly. It shoots well. Mine is a 40 cal. I bought it on a whim because I didn't have a 40 Cal pistol. But I wished I'd got the 9. Not that there is anything wrong with the 40 Cal. I load all my pistol ammo on an old Dillon RL 1000 (fore runner and commercial version of the 1050). Dillon doesn't make shell plates for the RL1000 because there weren't many around in the Mid 70s when they sold this progressive loader. So I have to load it on a Turret Press, with is a bit slower for my taste.

Excluding that problem I like my Sigma. Had it for years and never had a problem with it. I cast bullets and haven't had any problems with any bullet I've tried once, (like all semi's) once I got the load that will work the action. I don't load it hot, if it tumbles steel and pokes holes in paper and works the action I'm happy.

I think the price mentioned is a good price. I think if I found one in 9 at that price I'd jump on it as a companion piece for my 40 Sigma.
 
g.willikers said:
What's the difference between the SD9VE and the Sigma?
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The SD series is basically the 3rd generation of S&W budget polymer-frame auto pistols. The "Sigma" brand name technically only applies to the first generation, along with a couple of VERY poorly regarded 9mm and .380 single-stack subcompacts of essentially unrelated design. (The latter two pistols—the SW9M and SW380—are orphans that were quickly discontinued and share little or nothing with later S&W designs.) More info can be found in my previous writeup here:

https://thefiringline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5316047&postcount=11

In addition to what I wrote earlier, the SD series pistols take different magazines than the earlier pistols.
 
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I've owned a SD9VE and currently own it's pedecessor, the SW9VE, as well as a bunch of other handguns. My summary:

For a reliable, no-frills handgun, that is a very good price and a good gun. You'll need to practice (dry fire practice costs nothing) and become familiar with the trigger. It's not a traget gun, not a competition gun, and not a gun that will impress friends and family. But it's well made, has great customer support by one of the best gun makers, likely more accurate that the shooter, and reliable.

As mentioned, the trigger is heavier than most other polymer striker fired pistols sold now, but it's on par or better than double action revolver triggers (especially those in this price range, ie: Taurus and Charter and Rock Island). Now the SW9VE, that is one bad trigger!!
 
I've had a SD9VE for a few years and it has been very reliable. I looks, shoots and takes down just like a Glock 19. The trigger improves the more you shoot it. Mine feels good to me after 600-700 rounds (I don't know when that exactly was). I was happy to pay $289.99 for mine and $279 is the cheapest I have ever seen one advertised.
 
I got one LNIB in 40 caliber when that was the only ammo I could easily find. It went bang every time. The trigger was poor. The magazines were nice. It would have been fine for SD. I traded it away after I got a 40 with a better trigger that was more suitable as a range gun.
 
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