SD40VE at the range. 40 S&w budget pistol- Self Defense 40 Caliber Value Enhanced. Is it any good?

I bought this SD40VE Smith and Wesson pistol to go along with my SD9VE. This gun is just as good as the 9 mm in my opinion. It has an Apex spring kit in it, and it was as reliable as could be during my range session today

[@JG-xt9io]

I've had my SD40VE for 7 years now and it has fired everything. It does have a long trigger pull but it is a self defense gun , and you can always change the trigger . I got mine on a black Friday sale for 279 and where I got it they gave me a free box of range ammo

[@crankygunreviews]

That’s good feedback. Not many people I have seen have issues with these. My SD9VE won’t extract some steel cases or aluminum cases Ammo, but I just bought a new extractor and spring to see if that helps the situation, I may polish the chamber as well because I have flitz. I think they really are a great budget mid to full-size option for anyone. I don’t mind the long trigger pull either. If you shoot this next to a gun with a better trigger, you’ll pull your shots and flinch, but once you’re used to it, I think it’s not bad at all

[@FlySoloDre]

I have this gun brand sd40ve, I like.9mm & .40 cal.

[@crankygunreviews]

👍

[@user-oz3ng4kd9k]

In a self defense situation, that accuracy is excellent.

[@crankygunreviews]

More than ample

[@lukeskywalker1840]

Selling my SD9VE tomorrow to buy one of these.

[@crankygunreviews]

Keep both. The 40 is a lot snappier in this light gun

[@Keithjmcc]

Good video thanks. I carry 40, alway have.

[@Cinyon08]

My SD40 lives on my nightstand. I swapped out the trigger and added a WML.

[@crankygunreviews]

Good bedside gun

[@maxmccain8950]

I love the 40. What a versatile caliber. It throws 165 grain hollow points at a little over 1100 fps. That about the same as 124+p. Great video sir. I don’t know if I could ever adjust to that trigger though.

[@crankygunreviews]

The weight is ok to make lighter, it’s still a very long Pull. I flinched more than once expecting it to break and it didn’t because it is so long.

[@andrewespino3928]

Shot mine today for the first time and it was cool

[@crankygunreviews]

It’s got more recoil than an all metal gun, but I found that if I slow down shooting a little bit over what I normally can do with a 9mm, I am a lot more accurate

[@darrenschenkel-hl2ex]

Finally a good video on this pistol

[@crankygunreviews]

Lol, it’s a decent gun!

[@joeyphillips1181]

The sw9ve was the first gun I ever bought and I was surprised at how accurate it was but you can definitely tell it's a cheap pistol but it's reliable 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@crankygunreviews]

Inexpensive*

[@campingman1942]

Great video, you just proved to all the ( it's too SNAPPY to get back in line for the follow up shots ) great grouping. 👊👍😎

[@crankygunreviews]

Glad you enjoyed it. It is snappy, but just shoot a tiny bit slower for better grouping,

[@campingman1942]

@@crankygunreviews I agree with you, that's why shot placement is very important. I really enjoy your honesty/ straight forward videos, no favoritism.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@campingman1942 thanks! I try to give fair reviews and honest feedback always

[@Sandhill1988]

Get a Heavier recoil spring and guide rod, you will be surprised at how it tames it down. I have a stainless rod and a 20 lb spring. It shoots flat not very snappy at all, and I can do doubles with ease.

[@mdubb4855]

​@@Sandhill1988what energy (ft lbs) are you shooting? Mid 400's?

[@JohnDoe-sy2gz]

I like mine I have a stream light 4 ; 3 mags and ran 5 boxes of ammo so far. I had a few problems with it but mostly because of trigger pull and packed magazines. Poor ammo sucks too. Speer is great lawman 180 is perfect. I have some hot stuff but it kinda makes me flinch my shot. Man for a self defense pistol here in Montana I'm sure a bear would change his mind real quick. I love having it I'll never get rid of it and I would suggest it for learning on. If you can shoot that you can shoot almost anything. Bri

[@crankygunreviews]

It’s pretty easy to shoot

[@bucknakedbullfrog]

I put the Apex trigger in mine and hated it, so I went back to the stock trigger. The spring kit is worth every penny. Have toyed with the idea of the stainless steel guide rod. FYI Herters ammo aint bad, it will work in a pinch especially when the Zombies are at the door.

[@crankygunreviews]

I have the factory trigger and only the apex spring kit. I love the way it feels despite the long throw on the trigger. It's a self defense pistol, it shouldn't be a 3 pound competition trigger

[@jpdaddy678]

Pretty good shooting

[@crankygunreviews]

Thanks. I always get better with time.

[@momotyson6428]

@@crankygunreviews in your opinion is this gun good for a beginner

[@crankygunreviews]

@@momotyson6428 a better beginner gun would be a Taurus G3C - it has a manual safety and it’s a 9mm, comes with 3 mags and is reliable with many types of ammo.

[@momotyson6428]

@@crankygunreviews is this gun good for self defense is it better than a Walther 22lr?

[@crankygunreviews]

@@momotyson6428 Walther 22 is a good pistol, but should not be a primary self defense pistol. .22lr is too finicky to be trusted. Go with a center fire- at least a .380 if not 9mm

[@13BravoBiggunsM110SP]

I can shoot mine accurately and fast, also some of my other options including my revolvers in 357 and 327 magnum But I have military and law enforcement experience since the 70s

[@crankygunreviews]

I think guys who start on revolvers can be really good at most others.

[@13BravoBiggunsM110SP]

@@crankygunreviews I have training in various calibers and weapons and have used various types both in the military and law enforcement, most things people complain about, does not effect anything with me,I have learned to adapt ,I would always tell my friends, that had custom guns and triggers,, you might have to change too a different caliber or gun or brand, especially in a emergency or your favorite EDC 9 mm 45 acp or custom one becomes damaged or something, always have options 🤔

[@crankygunreviews]

@13BravoBiggunsM110SP I agree, you can adapt to pretty much anything.

[@williamoxendine6121]

I like mine if I remember I paid somewhere between 350 bucks for mine

[@crankygunreviews]

Yeah they’re still around for close to $350 or sightly less new. Used you can often get better deals.

[@MegaBait1616]

You will find over time on the SDVE's the striker, firing pin spring will need to be upgraded....Ya will start to get light primer strikes.... It's cheap to replaced like 20 bucks good all S.S. handgun.. be well.

[@crankygunreviews]

I’ll have to keep an eye on that - my SD9VE probably has close to 1000 rounds through it with not issues yet

[@MegaBait1616]

@@crankygunreviews , check ur striker channel...for pieces of brass.. be well.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@MegaBait1616 I will thanks!

[@bigbadjohnpesek9894]

This is my every day carry gun. And i dont mind the trigger pull.

[@crankygunreviews]

I don’t either- with the apex kit it is better though

[@bigbadjohnpesek9894]

I may have to try that. Not that the trigger is bad on mine its just that im so used to it.

[@joemorganeatmyshortschannel]

In a ban state 40 makes more sense

[@crankygunreviews]

Ehh if you can get extendo pre-ban mags for a 9mm it’s the same to me…

[@joemorganeatmyshortschannel]

@@crankygunreviews I mean say you want a carry gun like a g2c and that g2c has only a ten round 9mm mag but the full g2c line has a 40 cal option that's standard short mag is 40 cal also holds ten where as the 9mm holds 12 in the standard size but also takes 15 17 baseplates for plus 5 and stendos but you don't have pre ban mags for it would you still go 9mm or go to 40?

[@crankygunreviews]

@@joemorganeatmyshortschannel I would probably still go 9mm for carry because you get 1 or 2 more rounds, and they don’t weigh as much. Get some good 124 grain hollow points, and they’re still plenty effective

[@joemorganeatmyshortschannel]

@@crankygunreviews thats kinda my argument with the why is 40 a thing post ban era

[@mehmetucar3685]

🎉

[@mehmetucar3685]

19. Big Like 🤝👦🏻

[@crankygunreviews]

👍

[@vonfields6889]

Ok

[@crankygunreviews]

👍

[@Max-wd8ox]

@Cranky Gun Reviews would the 9mm sigma work the same?

[@crankygunreviews]

As far as mags go? Yes.

[@mdubb4855]

It has kinda bad rep, it was made based on SW design work, they got smart and copied Glock after that (to the point there was a lawsuit and settlement, presumably license fees until the patents ran out). If the articles I read are correct, the initial SD was too expensive so they repositioned it as the VE and put it below the M&P lineup. It's not a cheap gun, it's an "offer something for everyone" gun, priced for casual homeowners while the MP lineup gets all the love as the premium lineup. Glocks are much more versatile terms of magazines barrels etc but thus is rock solid. The only thing I can't figure out is why California only gets 40, not 9. 40 is much more popular with police, 9 with civilians. Maybe market research shows that civilians buy lots of the Shield lineup in 9, few in 40due to recoil and capacity, so if you want a house gun in 40 buyers move sideways to the SD40 VE.

[@uzi__6734]

Was it new . Seen a used one for 245 with 2mags and 22 rnd

[@crankygunreviews]

No mine was used, but came with 5 mags and two boxes of defensive ammo.

[@joefleming6175]

Where did you buy this gun from I want to get one for that price

[@crankygunreviews]

Local small gun shop- Bear Arms in Mass- I think they have another right now

[@grahamohea2424]

I bought a Sigma in 9mm over 20 years ago that still runs like a champ. I've thought about getting an SD40VE to "complete the set", if you will. However, I've never been able to actually go through with it as I already own every .40 Glock except the G24... why buy a poor knock off when I already have the real thing? (An Apex trigger turns the Sigma/SD from a terrible gun to a half decent one, but even then still not as good as a Glock). Plus, .40 S&W is my least favorite caliber... I'd rather shoot 10mm, .357 Sig, or 9mm over the .40, so all in all, while having a pair in 9mm and .40, old and new, is somewhat appealing from a collector perspective, I just can't really justify it to myself

[@crankygunreviews]

The only other 40 I have is the 4046, so for me this one completed my “set” of SD pistols, and got me another 40 (like I needed it lol) It’s really not bad. The funny thing was I shot the 4046 then the SD and the SD is MUCH snappier because it weighs less than half what the 4046 weighs

[@jaycee30865]

Why: grip angle.

[@craigklein5563]

My stock trigger pull on my SD40 is closer to 8 lbs.

[@crankygunreviews]

Massachusetts makes them around 11 from what I’ve read. The Apex kit brings it to a nice 5.5 to 6 lb