S&W SD9VE 9mm or a Taurus?

I owned a SD9VE for several years. I owned Taurus G2C for 6 months. If I were making a that’s choice between a S&W and a Taurus, I would go S&W. The SD9 VE feels like a solid gun. It has a great grip and the weight with its 4 inch barrel absorbs recoil. I have never held a Taurus semi that really felt good in my hands. Add to that the fact the S&W has good service which you will probably never need, I can’t say that about Taurus from personal experience.

I have shot both SD9VE and G2C. While solid pistol, SD9VE with 7+ lb trigger could definitely use lighter trigger to improve accuracy and you can buy Apex spring kit to reduce trigger pull by 2 lbs - https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1004069826/

G2C's I shot had surprisingly smooth trigger in comparison (Felt less than 5 lbs) with striker release that won't move/jerk the front sight out of the box, crucial to producing small groups and G3/G3C have multi-strike triggers - https://www.guns.com/news/reviews/taurus-g2c-best-seller

G3C review - https://www.handgunsmag.com/editorial/taurus-g3c-pistol-review/387075

After a coworker bought one for his wife, I had a chance to examine it close and shoot it with my reloads and was pleasantly surprised with the trigger and accuracy. Like my Glocks with 4.5 lb factory triggers, G2C allowed for fast follow up shots.

I liked the G2C quite a bit and when sister/BIL moved to Texas, I bought them his/her G2Cs and range tested with them with reloads from reloading press set up I took down for them as house warming presents. While sister was proficient with M&P40 she took from me after Burwell trigger job that she shot pistol matches with, BIL and nephew were surprised by how well they shot the G2C. (New G2C had better trigger feel and shot better than coworker sample I shot) They did produce smaller groups with M&P40 at 15 yards. I produced around 1" groups at 7 yards and around 3" groups at 15 yards with G2C.

We did look at G3 but since they were interested in carrying the pistols, I suggested G2C which is slightly shorter than Glock 19 with similar height. (Yes, G2C/G3C accept larger G3 magazines)

Full disclosure: I am a fan of M&P40/45 and Shield 9mm.

BTW here's G3 review with 25 yard groups ranging from 3.07" to 3.84" - https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/tested-taurus-tx22-g3-pistols/

FYI, comparison to other pistols 25 yard groups - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...s-and-discussions.778197/page-9#post-10940688

I'd choose the Smith and Wesson.
Even a Ruger SR9 would be better
My wife bought a Taurus .... It's the worst quality I've seen in a gun. Good thing it's got a lifetime warranty, you'll need it.

Lo-Profile said:

My wife bought a Taurus .... It's the worst quality I've seen in a gun.

Click to expand...

Was it a G3 or similar model of recent year manufacture?

I did not like Taurus pistols of decades past, especially the DAO trigger but in recent years after 2015 massive recall of Millennium/G2 lines, SA/DA trigger and firearm reliability has improved markedly to where I am recommending 2019 G2C and newer models.

There are so many budget options now, I feel like the SD has been dated for like 10 years

I have owned both. There is nothing really "wrong" with the SD9VE really, except for it's revolver like trigger, and even that's not really as bad as some people make it out to be, at least I don't think so. I like the feel of the gun better than say a Glock 19. It never malfunctioned, just chugged along with whatever ammo I stuffed into it.

However...I like the Taurus better. Which has surprised me. I thought I had sworn off plastic pistols, but here I am again. I've got a G3, and a G2C and like both of them. I've only had them a few months but have put a few hundred rounds through each, and am still waiting for the first malfunctions. They also just chug along shooting any kind of ammo I'd put in them. RN, TC, HP, factory or reload...whatever. Doesn't seem to matter. The triggers are pretty good. Better than the SD9VE, with the G3 having the better of the two. The G2C had a funny "hitch" in the trigger at first, but either I've gotten used to it, or it's worn in because I don't notice it anymore. Both of them have a long take-up to the "wall" but break cleanly at about 5 lbs, with a short reset. Grips are well stippled, but I don't feel like I've been holding onto a wood rasp after a shooting session. Sights on both are pretty good, with the G2C's being fully adjustable, although I've never touched them out of the box. I believe the G3's take any sights made for a Glock if you want to change them.

I got the G3 first, and really got it because (1) it was "on sale", (2) I'd never owned a Taurus semi-auto before, (3) I had a couple of gift cards from the shop that dropped the price even more. I was so impressed by the gun that I went back and got the G2C to use as a carry gun. I thought the G3 was a little bigger than I wanted to carry. It turned out the G3 was the "T.O.R.O." model (Taurus Optical Ready Option) something I didn't notice until I had the gun at home. It came with three or four mounting plates and screws. I've tried a Ruger Ready Dot on it. It worked OK, but I probably will take it off soon. This old dog doesn't learn new tricks quickly.

Shot the SD9VE and didnt think much of it, not bad, good or unique, but it went bang and mostly shot where I was pointing it. My buddy had it at the range and I only put one magazine thru it. He likes handguns, and we often go in on stuff just to try....the SD9 found a new home very quickly after that trip so Ive never shot it again.

I have a G3c Toro and quite like it, but its not really special in any way besides having a very crisp (if moderately heavy) trigger and the fact I seem to shoot it better than average. Ive got a Cyelee Cat? dot on mine, both have been a good combination for about 300rnds and 6 months of ownership.

Ive also shot a fair number of other similar pistols (as i said we try stuff....), and Ill admit, pretty much ALL of them have been very acceptable, and nothing but a few have really shown any issue with ammo sensitivity.....well 'cept the Kimber and the Alpha something or other my buddy had at the range last week, those were noticeably problematic.

I have a few SD40VEs and have installed the spring kits in all of them, with the trigger kits they shoot very well, holsters and sights are interchangeable with the M&P line. I use them as I was told they were intended, Self Defense Value Edition, I thought when they were on sale for $200 they were a deal.
Recently I shot a PSA 9mm and was impressed with it, came with a range bag and extra mags, I would look at one of them if I was thinking of a 9mm.

I owned the 40-caliber version of the Smith and was unimpressed with the trigger. It went bang every time.

I've owned four Taurus 9mm:
PT92 - copy of the Beretta, have had it for 30 years and it always goes bang
709 slim - didn't fit my hand, couldn't stand the trigger
G2C - it's a Glock 26 with a slightly weirder trigger. I kept the Glock instead, but it was a good pistol
GX4 - liking it so far, decent trigger and sights

So I guess my answer is that it depends on the Taurus. The Smiths are "entry level" pistols that go bang. I've heard good things about the G3, but I haven't shot or held one. Chances are good that whatever you get will go bang, anyway. The question is pretty much just how it fits your hand and how you like the trigger.

For the same prince, my preference would be the SAR B6C. There's a recent thread about it.

I have the Taurus G3. It's a good pistol. I have had no problem with it. I wish I had the S&W SD9VE because, for some inexplicable reason, I like how it looks, I like the trigger design which seems nearly indestructible, I like the stainless slide and barrel. But l was on a budget so I ended up with the Taurus because in my Country the SD9VE is ridiculously overpriced without no real reason: it's like €600, same price of a Glock Gen3... The Taurus was €350 which is high but was still the lowest price for a 9mm brand new pistol on the italian market.
I think the G3 is slimmer and lighter than the SD9VE. What I like about the G3 is the option of the thumb safety and the second strike capability. What I don't like are the plastic sights even if they have never given me problems and in any case the most recent versions have steel sights. It is a little snappy with NATO spec ammo which are 90% of the loads you find here. I made a review of my G3 here:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/my-new-taurus-g3-alot-of-pics.877292/

I’ve got the G2C and am pleased with it.
I got it for practically $-0- due to Academy Sports having it on sale for $229 a year ago. Between $200 in gift cards, and a military/public safety discount.
Like CajunBass, mine too has the mid pull “hitch”.
Initially, it gave me a problem as it felt like it should fire, but didn’t. It took a continued additional pull to make it go bang.
Strange was, it didn’t do it left handed. I thought it was in the trigger safety, but it’s where the trigger bar lifts the sear release tab.
I polished the trigger bar where it raises the release tab and it significantly reduced the “hitch”.
I actually prefer it to a Glock.
Accuracy is unremarkable, not bad but not great. But expected for the price point.
My wife and a female range officer who both shot it this past week really liked it. Long light d/a pull then slight resistance and “bang”! They especially liked the fiber optic sights I replaced the original plastic sights with!

I really can’t complain about any Taurus pistol I ever had nor be able to point anywhere on the doll where one has hurt me, but I would take the SD9VE every time.

I can’t narrow it down, maybe it’s all the horror stories I have heard about Taurus and their CS. Maybe it’s the weird trigger of the SD that I like. Don’t know, but in a this or that situation I would take a SW every time.

A couple of people have mentioned the double strike capability of the Taurus trigger, and I think it's a good idea too...HOWEVER...the one time I had an opportunity to use it, I actually had a "dud" round, I never thought about it. I racked the slide, chambered another round, and went back to shooting, as I suspect most of us would. I later picked the "dud" up off the floor and tried it again, and it fired. There it was, a perfect opportunity to use the double strike and I never thought about it. Maybe next time. I still like the idea.

Just don’t shoot a Glock or Taurus or Beretta and then pick up and shoot the S&W Sheild .30SC EZ!!!

First shot went in the DIRT! I wasn’t expecting the light trigger with crisp release!
I started trigger take up and BANG!
My wife did the same thing. After 10more rounds she pronounced “I LIKE THAT! I want one!

I have a SD40 S&W which should be about the same as the 9mm version. I have also had a G3C Taurus. Between the two I would take the Taurus in a hart beat. The SD has one of the worst triggers I have ever pulled. Might just be mine but it is real heavy. The Taurus trigger was Ok but it took some getting use to because of the double strike capability. If it was the only gun you were shooting not a big deal. But swapping out different ones it took some getting use to each time. If I can find a buyer for the S&W SD40 its gone. I sold the Taurus but I did like it. If they offered it without the double strike capability I would get another. I was thinking about getting one of the G3's with the Toro option to use a Red Dot Sight to try it out.
WB

I have a Taurus PT111 Millennium Pro that I bought in 2008
I have two G2c and one G3c
I don't have a SD9, but I do have the SW9VE (Sigma), but I don't know how it compares to the SD series.
I've never had a failure of any kind from any of these guns with the exception of the G3c choking on the first mag.
Both of the G2c have the hitch in the trigger, but it seems to be getting better. The G3c doesn't have the itch.
Personally, I like them all and plan on keeping them all.
There's a lot to be said for inexpensive yet reliable guns.

I've owned both, still own my GC3. SDVE9 was accurate and reliable, but I don't like casings flying straight over my head, or into my cap bill when shooting from retention. That's the one and only reason I don't still have the S&W. If it's gonna be a range gun, go with the S&W.

I would not trust a Taurus for a door stop

I'd look for a police trade-in S&W M&P if you're on a budget

Skip past both right to a Gx4TORO. Better trigger than either without resorting to an aftermarket trigger or springs. I had a G2c, my son has a SDVE40; of the two the Smith was better, after he put an Ajax trigger in it.

I owned a Taurus G2 and an SD9VE at one point. I sold the Smith and still own the Taurus. My only complaint with the Smith was the aforementioned stiff trigger, the natural point of aim was not where I like it and the lack of a manual safety.

The Taurus was my carry gun for a couple years. The finish on parts of the slide rubbed off but did not rust. I had it Cerakoted. That is the only problem I had while carrying it.

I moved on to a Sig P320 Compact, then a 365.

Between the two ?
Get a Dagger



I have a G3X and two GX4’s and a SD9VE
All good to go
But the Dagger is the way to go