[the carpet man]

Well I got my Glock 23 Friday. I compaired it so my SW9VE. Racking the slide on the SW9VE felt smoother (or quieter) and the grip felt better in my hand, not that the 23 felt bad. My wife says racking the Glock is easier and she couldn't do it on the SW9VE. I couldn't really tell. I handled every size Glock at the shop and the 23 and 36 felt the best. The 36 felt perfect and I plan on getting one in the future. The mag release in the SW9VE is lighter and operates without adjusting my grip as much. I do like that the Glock's mag release is tighter for some reason. Basic field stripping is exactly the same but when replacing the slide, the SW9VE slides right in. The Glock's slide can catch on the plastic edges at the end of the frame. Not a big problem and maybe a quicker motion would prevent that, but it could be perfected. I dont like the trigger on the SW9VE at all. The Glock's trigger took no time to get use to. It goes "click" as simple as that.
I wont compair the recoil between the two because, i dunno, they're different size pistols. I put over 300 rounds of different ammo in 155, 165, and 180 grain thru the 23 saterday and it performed flawlessly. On a side note, the lady shooting next to me blew the back clean off of a shell in her Beretta and couldn't shoot it anymore.
I'm pretty new to handgun shooting and the closest target at the pistol range I go to is 25yds. Between shooting my friends .45 auto, .44 mag, .357 mag, and my own .25 auto and SW9VE, accuracy for me with the Glock 23 is like day and night. I dont know what it is. I cant hit crap with my SW9VE and no one else I let shoot it can either. After partially breaking the 23 in and cleaning/re-oiling, racking the gun was definatly smoother. I'm still getting use to it but I'm loving every minute of it. The SW9VE is very frustraiting at the range.
My over all review- Smith & Wesson "improved" Glocks design, but when it comes down to whats important, Glock gets the job done. ;c

 

[Black Metal]

I have heard alot of people post hear that dislike the smith and wesson pistol you have. Most say it is because it has a horribly long heavy trigger. One of the main things in shooting accurately is trigger control. Thats something i have to consistently work on also. It will come with practice, however, you may develop it faster with the glock because of its short light trigger. just my 2 cents. I have not been shooting very long either, so i would suggest moving the target in to 10ft then 15ft then 25ft etc. Once you get good groups close then move the target out gradually. 25 yards out seem a little far for regular practice. Another 2cents to make 4 cent total.

Enjoy your pistol

Black Metal

 

[Sam White]

+1
JMO, but I think people tend to start shooting handguns with semi-autos these days before they "discover" revolvers. I think this explains some of the complaints about Sigma's "bad" (heavy) trigger- just an observation. Lots of practice can help your groups with stiff double action trigger pulls.

 

[toocool]

I have a Smith & Wesson 9E (same as the "VE" but with night sights and a blackened slide) and a Glock 23. I had serious issues with the 9E when I first got it (like, 30 failures-to-fire out of 150 rounds) which have since been repaired by S&W. Since I got it back, I have over 600 rounds through it with no failures of any kind. I much prefer the way the Smith feels in my hand, and I also prefer the trigger - it's a little heavier, but it doesn't have the safety lever in the trigger like the 23 (that pinches my finger). My 9E and G23 are about equal in accuracy, but the recoil is much less for the 9 (obviously) although I can shoot the 23 more quickly due to the lighter trigger pull. I currently carry my 9E at work because I shoot it a little better due to the grip angle, and it's less punishing on my arthritic old wrist, but I do like the 23, too. Maybe with some practice (and a wrist brace) the 23 will become more comfortable.