Photo courtesy of Smith & Wesson.
Smith & Wesson Corp. has unveiled a new line of firearms designed to assist with personal and home protection called the Self Defense (SD) Series. The SD9 and SD40 are chambered in 9mm and .40 S&W and offer features requested by individuals for use at home and for personal defense applications, according to the company.
"The new SD9 and SD40 pistols combine the best of both price and functionality in a reliable, ergonomic firearm engineered with one specific goal in mind—self defense," according to Tom Kelly, Smith & Wesson's vice president of marketing. "With the introduction of the new Self Defense Series, we have addressed these criteria.
Manufactured with a polymer frame, the striker-fired SD9 and SD40 feature a stainless-steel slide and 4-inch barrel. Both pistols are standard with a black Melonite finish that helps to reduce unwanted glare while yielding a surface hardness of 68 on the Rockwell scale.
Among the key features found on the Smith & Wesson SD9 and SD40 is the new Self Defense Trigger (SDT) that provides a smooth, consistent trigger pull from the first round to the last, according to the company. To aid shot placement and quick sight alignment when it matters the most, the SD9 and SD40 pistols feature a tritium front night sight and a steel, white two-dot rear sight.
For improved firearm control, the SD pistol has been fitted with an 18-degree slim grip with aggressive front- and back-strap texturing. The Smith & Wesson SD9 and SD40 arrive standard with distinctive front and rear slide serrations that enable comfortable manipulation of the slide. A universal Picatinny-style equipment rail allows optional tactical lights, lasers and other accessories.
The Smith & Wesson SD9 and SD40 have also been built with a textured finger locator directly above the trigger guard on the left and right side of the frame.
The SD9 is available with either a 16+1 or 10+1 round capacity while the SD40 is standard with either a 14+1 or 10+1 magazine capacity. Both pistols have an unloaded weight of 22.7 ounces and a width of 1.29 inches. The SD9 and SD40 are supplied with two magazines.
The SD9 and SD40 carry a suggested retail price of $429.