Sigma Saturday! Three Generations of Smith and Wesson Sigma- SW9VE, SD9VE and SD9 2.0

Bench top review of the SW9VE, SD9VE, and SD9 2.0.
I was surprised at the many differences between the SD9VE and the SD9 2.0.
Many differences in the stippling, trigger, sear mechanism, transfer bar, slide serrations, slide anti-glare striations… they are more different than you think.

[@charlesmorgan1879]

I have a sd40ve i got little over 5yrs ago , came in blue polymer box 2-14rd mags for 220 beans so a good buy. Also went to a pawn store gun shop found a mag(14rd)=25. Trigger heavy pull as no safety which i like and still get used to. Thanks for info.

[@JG-xt9io]

My buddy picked up the sw40 , at a show last week , it has a heavy trigger . We took it out with my sd40ve , I did put apex spring in mine.

[@crankygunreviews]

I have an SD40VE as well, I shoot it well, but it has a bit of recoil being so light

[@JG-xt9io]

@@crankygunreviews my friend at work also has the SD40VE, he put a light on it , so it would be heavier for reduced recoil

[@crankygunreviews]

@@JG-xt9io good idea.

[@NormanPOlt]

You stated that you were interested in adding a SW9F to your collection: Classic Firearms has these (and a WHOLE LOT of S&W 2nd & 3rd Gen pistols available NOW...! GOOD LUCK!

[@crankygunreviews]

I will have to check it out.

[@deucedeuce1572]

I believe that bump cut into the slide is the disconnector cut for the trigger bar, to push it down when the slide cycles to reset the trigger. On the SD9VE and the SW9VE they're on the inside where they can't be seen when the gun is assembled. 15:00

[@crankygunreviews]

@@deucedeuce1572 you’re probably right.

[@christopherness4274]

SW9VE grip is the most ergonomic and comfortable of any pistol I have ever shot or even held, even left-handed!.

[@crankygunreviews]

I wouldn’t go that far but it’s shoot able for sure

[@hristohetimov2728]

​@@crankygunreviews u Shall try Springfield Armory HELLCAT 9mm (aka HS-11 9mm) made in Croatia; also CZ-10C 9mm, Browning Hi-Power MK3 & a steel frame CZ-75b and bd

[@crankygunreviews]

@@hristohetimov2728 I’m not a fan of the hellcat - proportions seem off to me

[@2yoober]

T H A N K Y O U, for the comprehensive comparison! As SOON as I learned of the new version, I looked for a side by side! 3 versions is a charm! 😎

[@crankygunreviews]

Thanks!

[@melvinbanks7375]

I've been looking for a review like this thanks ! was really informative. I recently purchased the SD92.0 and had shot the SD9VE b4 so I wanna see the difference soon

[@crankygunreviews]

Thanks! I try to answer questions I have t seen answered before

[@m_soko]

I have the tweener of his 1st Gen and his 2nd one. My rail has some lines that matches the back groves. His 2ndŕ3rd Gen is a bit behind

[@LilyWasHereMB]

went to buy a Taurus G3C. Handled the SD 9 2.0 and bought it. While bigger and 2 oz. heavier, the S&W felt lighter than the Taurus. I now have a G3C as well. The S&W still feels lighter; maybe its a balance thing. my novice, newbie, un-interested in guns as a hobby self, likes the S&W better.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@LilyWasHereMB may be a balance thing. The G3C has one advantage-second strike capabilities. If it doesn’t fire the first time, pull the trigger again. The SD9 2.0 is pretty awesome though

[@godsson1603]

Me too both stainless

[@FlyDre-g9h]

I have the sd40ve brand new with four magazines total. I will be purchasing the sd9 2.0 next nice video.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@FlyDre-g9h they’re both pretty good!

[@FlyDre-g9h]

@@crankygunreviews exactly I love my sd40ve.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@FlyDre-g9h if you’d shoot it well, you should be a dead ringer with the 9mm

[@FlyDre-g9h]

@@crankygunreviews thank you

[@charlesmorgan1879]

Also i got a TW10 light to put(amazon) a good deal at less than 40 beans , rechargeable. Not sure if still available but worth checking ! Ive heard that saying from Buffalo outdoors , freedim is the greater good

[@crankygunreviews]

Good deal on the light. Yeah, I borrowed the saying from Buffalo

[@NicksGuns]

The part about his wife is something I feel all of us gun tubers have said at one point or another to keep them happy with our "hobby", lol.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@NicksGuns tolerant of the hobby is good enough for me :) I had a long conversation with my wife about my channel and videos and guns before I made this, so I was speaking from the heart.

[@Biscuit7102]

Is there an average break in period? Helpful comparison, thanks. Edit: Sorry, didn’t catch the name of the sight style @ approx. 13:17 ?

[@crankygunreviews]

I think it’s called patridge

[@larrycollie5330]

I own a sw9ve and a sw40ve love both,triggers of the day were designed to shot like a revolver of the day , target shooting you notice trigger in a gun fight you won't, lite triggers are overrated and unsafe in the wrong hands.

[@crankygunreviews]

I agree

[@JustinDeFiblander]

Great comparison. Now I know the new 2.0 is not worth upgrading to. Same trigger pull and reset. Just a trigger change. The hinge trigger is not that bad for those who shoot revolvers. 😆 Thank you brotha

[@crankygunreviews]

The 2.0 is pretty good. I did a shooting video with it recently but I think I shoot the VE better

[@BuckeyeBallistics]

Waiting to see you shoot the new one 100% better lol. But maybe not with your MA triggers...

[@crankygunreviews]

Well, maybe just the flat trigger is that much better. Maybe it will break in and be lighter too.

[@Ray-vq2jc]

Mags on the Sigma 40cal. are not inter changeable with the SD "S.

[@crankygunreviews]

On the SW40F?

[@Ray-vq2jc]

@@crankygunreviews the 40VE sigma and the SD mags will actually fit but you cant rack the slide to chamber a round.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@Ray-vq2jc is that maybe because of the pressure from the rounds in the mag? Did you try locking back the slide, Inserting the mag, then dropping the slide? The 9’s insert hard with a full mag on a closed slide.

[@danielvoegele1643]

The PD I retired from issued SW40F in 1994. We carried them until 2012. They were 15 rd mags. The F model was dropped from production after the Glock lawsuit. The SW 40VE took its place. They were 14 rd mags. The two mags would fit in either gun but would not function well. A 14 rd mag in the F model didn't feed properly because it was too short. The 15 rd mag worked in the 40VE, but not something I would trust. The problems with the F model stemmed from close tolerances in the slide. Gun oil accumulated in the slide and turned to varnish, slowing the mechanisms in the slide. We dismantled each gun at least once annually cleaning the slide thoroughly. We also switched to Lucas synthetic gun oil, which did not turn to varnish. Stoppages were very rare.

[@bigcee5702]

I own the SD9 2.0 The Sw9 👀 looks old school

[@crankygunreviews]

It is old school

[@jbrown6030]

I like the oldest and the newest one

[@crankygunreviews]

They’re all good in their own ways

[@RG-ru3ux]

Hey: This was a really good video comparing the various S&W pistols from the same family...great job. I have a SD9VE, and I have been looking at replacement trigger spring kits. Are you happy with the aftermarket trigger spring kit you installed in your pistol? And, would you recommend it, or is there another spring kit you would recommend? Again, thanks for making this informative video.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@RG-ru3ux I highly recommend the APEX kit for the SD9VE- they’re like $21 and take about 30 min to install following their video. That’s all mine needed, but you could get their flat trigger too if you wanted

[@RavenZ27]

I have an SD9VE and I got the full bit from Apex (trigger and springs). I really like it.

[@romeowalk8104]

Are the slides interchangeable among the 3 different generations?

[@crankygunreviews]

@@romeowalk8104 no. Between the SW9 and the SD9VE there are subtle differences, the SD9 2.0 is totally different- I think show them with the slides off- did you watch the whole video?

[@romeowalk8104]

@@crankygunreviews After I posted my question, I saw in the video you showing the differences. Thank you for making the video. It's very helpful.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@romeowalk8104 great thanks for watching!

[@luisfigueroa2899]

can you interchange the slides

[@crankygunreviews]

@@luisfigueroa2899 no- if you watch to the end I show the differences

[@REHTWO]

Do they even watch the video before asking silly questions???

[@2ManyStickzTV]

Question: I just my bought my first gun (A Smith & Wesson SW9c). Can the 32rd pro mag for the S&W SD9ve go in the gun I just bought? Serious question.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@2ManyStickzTV maybe. Promag are not known to be great quality magazines. The SW9Ve, SD9VE, and SD9 2.0 mags do interchange, but I cannot say if the pro-mag ones will work

[@2ManyStickzTV]

@@crankygunreviews Ok thx bro!

[@luisfigueroa2899]

can you use a sd9 slide on a sw9 frame

[@crankygunreviews]

I talk about slide interchangeability in the video - I believe the internals in the SW9VE and the SD9VE are Very close, I think you can swap the slides, but I’m not sure they’re 100% the same- I have not, and will not try swapping them and firing it.

[@REHTWO]

No, no and still no.

[@deucedeuce1572]

Damn, I'm really confused about the sears on the different models. I know the SW9 (sigma) models have the 2 piece sear design and that the SD9 has the 1 piece sear... but I swear I've seen SD9's with the older style SW9 two-piece sear... and then I was certain that the SD9 2.0 models had the newer style sear like the SD9's... but they don't? They have the older style SW9 sear? Like damn... I can't even imagine why they'd go back to that design. I always thought it was terrible and pretty much unfixable. Even with lighter springs, the SW9 trigger just sucks. I guess the SD9 trigger is pretty crappy too though... but I don't recall it ever being as bad as the SW9 trigger (even if the SW9 has lighter springs). That's pretty confusing now... and I'm not sure which parts are compatible now. Like, do the SD9 2.0 and the SW9 use the same sear housing? ...and do the SD9 2.0 sear housings have the rear rails integrated into them like the SD9? ...or so they have the rails integrated into the frame like the SW9? If anyone knows, please let me know, because I seem to be getting conflicting information. I thought I knew, but I guess I'm not so sure.

[@crankygunreviews]

Yeah, I don’t know. The SW9VE and SD9VE are way better with apex spring kits. The SW9VE I also put an MCarbo sear spring in, feels way better

[@aaronotoole6905]

Are the SD9 and the SD9 2.0 mags compatible?

[@crankygunreviews]

@@aaronotoole6905 yes if you watched the video you’d know that

[@REHTWO]

Did you watch the video???

[@Denman500.]

My Sigma 9 has SS slide.

[@crankygunreviews]

@@Denman500. nice. I prefer them in black, and they seem less common in black too

[@deucedeuce1572]

I hate when they design 10rd magazines that can't be modified. It's disgusting enough that cowards and tyrants pass these 10rd magazine "laws" that have no legal power or authority... but it's even worse when cowardly companies not only obey these disgusting "laws", but enforce them in a way that they can't be modified. It makes them the tyrants also.

[@crankygunreviews]

But it makes the guns legal behind enemy lines.

[@deucedeuce1572]

@@crankygunreviews "legal". Even the modifiable one's are legal though. The laws don't say that the magazines have to be 10 rounds and that they have to have some kind of feature that makes them impossible to ever upgrade. The cowardly companies go above and beyond for tyranny when they do that. I live in NY and have purchased 10rd magazines before... and the majority of them are easily modifiable to hold their standard capacity. I don't even bother anymore though. I'm not going to spend more money on a magazine that holds fewer rounds and/or has to be modified to work correctly. Cowards obey tyranny... and for that, they deserve it.

[@crankygunreviews]

Yeah I agree- companies are too worried about being sued

[@Cruiser777]

I agree

[@REHTWO]

Stop voteing for idiot gun grabbers

[@DrBrite-g4r]

Your missing the 1st gen and 3rd Gen

[@crankygunreviews]

I know I’m missing the first gen, but the SD9VE is the third gen- what model were you referring to as the third gen?

[@DrBrite-g4r]

3rd Gen is the regular Sd9

[@FatalFlaw85]

Yea, SW9, SW9VE, SD9, SD9VE, SD92.0 so SD9VE is a hybrid of sigma and sd9 basically a 4th generation sigma

[@crankygunreviews]

@@FatalFlaw85 so I need to look for more ?

[@georgiacarry4748]

@@crankygunreviews The first gen Sigma was the SW9F and SW40F. The compact and the value models were actually the 2nd gen; SW9V/SW9C and SW40V/SW40C. The SWVE (the one with the improved grip texture and proprietary equipment rail and upgraded slide) is actually the 3rd Gen. The SD was internally called Sigma Delta at S&W when being developed. Delta is the 4th letter of the Greek alphabet meaning that the SD was to be the 4th Gen of the Sigma line. Since the Sigma name got some a bad rep from the 1st gen models having issues and it carried over to the 2nd and 3rd, S&W, as a marketing play, decided to rebrand the SD as Self Defense and abandon the Sigma name altogether. Sigma was chosen as the name for the gun because polymer guns was something that S&W has never done before and it looked at the new polymer gun as a totality or "summation" (summation is represented in the Greek alphabet as ∑ or Sigma) of all of it's expertise in handgun manufacturing. The SD2.0 would have been the 5th Gen Sigma.

[@D-A-1776]

Had the sd40ve, biggest piece of crap I've had. The sd9ve was actually pretty good especially for the price. The 40 though had so many problems.

[@crankygunreviews]

Mine has been fine for the couple hundred rounds I’ve put through it and mine was used when I got it

[@skiplee12]

So can the sd9ve slide still work on the sd9 2.0?

[@crankygunreviews]

No they’re very different

[@Brownlightning1990]

@@crankygunreviewshow about the slide from the sw9 to the sd9ve?

[@georgiacarry4748]

@@Brownlightning1990 An SWVE slide will work on an SD Frame. The slide from an SW9F or SW40F will not work because it is longer and S&W also redesigned the striker safety block and trigger bar in the SWVE and it would not fuction corectly with the 1st gen Slide. You might be able to get a slide from a 2nd Gen Sigma (SW9V or SW9C) to work on an SD9VE if you change out the striker safety block in the slide, but I am not sure how the Striker would interface with the Sear in the SD since S&W started using a different striker started with the SWVE series (3rd gen)

[@REHTWO]

If you don’t watch the video then don’t ask stupid question!!!!