Smith & Wesson SD9 2.0 Review — Best Budget 9mm?

OK, so what do I imply by third time’s the attraction? Merely this… S&W’s unique “worth” 9mm pistol was the Sigma.

Launched in 1994 in an effort to compete with Glock, the SW9F had blended evaluations. The set off was the wrongdoer. It was not so nice. You skilled a protracted and gritty set off pull, with a pull weight that made it tough to maintain the entrance sight aligned with the goal.

So, in 2012, they launched an upgraded mannequin, the SD9VE. (The SD-VE stood for Self Protection, Worth Enhanced.) They made each of those pistols in .40, as effectively.

Even contemplating the cost-saving strategies employed by S&W, this pistol was higher than its predecessor. The set off was lighter and fewer gritty. The sights had been first rate, and the gun dealt with fairly effectively. I owned two of them. They offered pretty effectively as competitors to different compact, polymer-framed 9mm pistols within the Glock 19 dimension class. Its sights had been satisfactory, and it dealt with effectively. I bear in mind dry-firing the gun 500 occasions to interrupt within the set off a bit; it labored. The set off was notably smoother after the train.

With a 16-round journal, SD house owners weren’t under-gunned, and its stainless development was not solely good-looking but in addition protecting.

That gun was correct and dealt with a number of completely different 9mm masses with ease. I recall that my solely criticism (except for the set off) was that the grip was not sufficiently textured. My hand stored slipping after I shot it. I fastened the issue with a soldering iron, stippling it. That prompted it to remain planted in my arms.

Even with a greater set off than the Sigma had, the cottage trade that sprang up constructing substitute triggers thrived. My weapons had been each fairly correct and soft-shooting. SD9/40VE gross sales had been first rate.

Quick-forward to December 2023. S&W determined to improve the SD pistols by introducing the present model, the SD9 2.0. I’ve realized to concentrate when S&W calls one thing “2.0.” I personal a Bodyguard 2.0 .380, which is a serious enchancment over the unique Bodyguard. I simply reviewed a brand new mannequin of that pistol made by the Efficiency Heart that features a slotted barrel and slide as a muzzle compensator. It really works. Slotting the barrel and slide is an economical strategy to minimize felt recoil and muzzle rise with out having to screw a separate compensator on a threaded barrel. These work, too, however add size and weight to a pistol. I’d think about they’re the dearer of the 2 options.

Anyway, again to the topic at hand… This “2.0” means one thing. This gun is light-years forward of earlier fashions when it comes to development, grip texturing, and set off.

Let’s have a look at its specs.

Width: 1.29 In

Size: 7.2 In

Peak: 5.5 In

Weight: 22.7 Oz

Caliber: 9mm

Dimension: Compact

Capability: 16

Motion: Striker Fired

Barrel Size: 4 inches

Grip: Polymer

Sights: White Dot

Optic Prepared: No

Security: None

Colour/End: Grey/Black

State Compliance: DE

Threaded Barrel: No

Barrel Materials: Stainless Metal

Body: Polymer

Laser: No

Quantity Of Magazines: 1

This gun has a full MSRP of solely $349… I think about that’s why you solely get one journal with it. A minimum of it’s 16 rounds. Suitable mags are $42 on the S&W web site.

Pictures

Let’s check out some pics I took. The gun could be very photogenic!

The grip and flat-faced set off. There was some take-up, however not a whole lot of creep, and it broke proper at 5.5 kilos.

Shut-up of the grip. Texturing is spot on, one thing that couldn’t be claimed for its predecessors…

Want to hold a light-weight? Go forward. Additionally be aware the textured pads over the set off guard. You may relaxation your set off or assist fingers there when not in any other case engaged.

Observe the slight swell on the muzzle. That’s one factor that helps to lock the barrel into battery.

Very clear machining.

Slide engraving. Observe the “Maryville, TN” marking.

Cleansing The SD9 2.0

The gun comes aside like a Glock, takedown lever and all. There isn’t any tough half to it. Simply be certain the gun is empty earlier than you begin. Been there, carried out that with a (loaded) “unloaded” gun. No pleasure! It does require a set off pull to launch the striker earlier than the slide will come off.

Vary Time

My capturing expertise are progressively coming again after three stents had been put in in my plumbing, so these targets will likely be nothing to put in writing dwelling about. My expertise with the 2 SD9VEs I owned was that they had been extra correct than I might benefit from, and that’s probably the case with this one as effectively.

Anyway, I shot three 115-grain, FMJ masses at 20 yards in my yard vary. Listed here are some pattern targets.

Federal Brass was the worst of the three.

Fiocchi Vary Dynamics

PMC

Not one of the three had been horrible, however I wish to experiment with a number of extra manufacturers and bullet weights to search out the one which this gun shoots the most effective. For a self-defense pistol, it’ll work.

Summing Up

In case you are available in the market for a cheap 9mm higher-capacity handgun, the SD9 2.0 is value a glance. To have the ability to purchase a S&W for less than $349 (decrease, in fact, in outlets and on-line – I’ve seen it for $299) is saying one thing.

The gun is the third era of “worth” pistols by S&W, and as such, is worthy of a glance. A very good buddy who commonly carries a Walther commented that of all of the budget-friendly 9mm pistols, this one was the most effective. He’s had expertise with lots of them and will know.

I are inclined to agree. I’ve seen a complete lot of lesser-expensive 9mms all through my writing profession, and assume that this gun is likely one of the better of the bunch. Is it good? No, however it checks sufficient of the proper bins to be value a glance. For 300 bucks, you could possibly do worse.