S&W Sigma

Hey there, I have the opprotunity to get a used (5000 rounds) SW9VE for $250-$300. New they're going for $400-$450 around here. I have not had the chance to take a look at this particular weapon yet, and won't buy until I can fire it.

But I was just curious what you all think of them(other than the heavy trigger) reliablity, easy maintenance, etc. Anything particular I should look for?

Thanks.

I stronglly suggest shopping around a bit more. Not that I have any major complaints about the Sigma (i own a SW9VE myself and carry it) but the price seems awfully high. I paid $300 brand new for mine, and have seen the price elsewhere, as well as on budsgunshop.com The real kicker is that right now, you can get two free mags or a $50 rebate when you buy them new, bringing the price down to $250, or almost 1/2 of what you'd be paying for a USED one. I like the Sigma, but if one is going to spend nearly $500 on a handgun, theres better choices. If you can get one new around $300, I don't think you'll regret the decision, but theres no way I'd pay full retail for a used firearm.

I'm going to LOOK at a used one. For $250, 4 mags, 150 roundds of ammo. I would like to know what sort of wear/damage I should look out for. If any.

*edit* original owner has put about 5000 rounds through it.

I agree with Davek1977. I like the gun (have the same one). You won't regret it in general. They are reliable and easy to maintain. However, that used price seems way too high given that you can get new (after the rebate) for the same amount.

About $150 seems more appropriate to me.

So price discussion aside for a moment, I'd specifically look at/understand the following if I were looking for another:

1. I'd make sure that it was actually the most current model with the upgraded design. Many people complain that the prior sigma design was unreliable

2. I would understand what (if any) work has been done on the trigger sear and/or striker spring. With the heavier triggers, many people do modifications. some modifications are ok, other's maybe are not. Regardless of what was done, I would make sure that any original components were still with the gun. But honestly, with 5000 rounds through it, if someone did something to the trigger, they probably did a reasonable job.

3. I'd look at the slide mount points on the plastic frame and just make sure that they were solid with no signs of damage/imminent failure.

4. The only problem in the newer sigma that I have occasionally heard about (haven't yet experienced with mine yet): with higher round counts the magazine release spring/mechanism sometimes wears and the magazine will occasionally drop when you're shooting. Smith and Wesson has just replaced the parts (for free) in all the cases I read, but I'd look at that release closely I guess.

Can't think of anything else "sigma" specific at the moment. Best of luck!

Bud's Gun Shop (http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_39_71/products_id/26109) has them online NIB for $339 delivered.
I have one, it's a good gun, comfortable and accurate.

I have an SW40VE. Great gun, accurate, reliable, light, good ergonomics and easy to shoot.

My gun has a 3.5 lb. striker spring (Wolf #30085) which is slightly shortened, a steel guide rod with a 15 lb. recoil spring (Wolf #53615) as well as polished internals.

The gun was great out of the box and I was happy with its performance. I did the work myself (parts swap took 15 minutes, polishing a bit longer) and the gun has (my estimate) a 2.5 lb. trigger now and is very smooth.

sigma's are reliable, and they shoot true, however the giong price that you stated around your area is high, you could get into a glock or sa xd for the $400-$450. if i was gonna buy a new sigma, brand new i would pay no more than $350 for it. no 5,000rds to me is not alot at all, and i think that is a good place to say that it is broke in and ready for duty but that is me. used is used to me.

One of the most argued guns here and on Thefiringline forums! I love mine, the trigger is not THAT bad, but the "fix" is simple. $250.00 used with 1000 rounds is high, but maybe not in your area. New they are $330-400.00, it comes with 2 mags and a coupon for $50.00 or 2 mags back from S&W. I have the SW9VE and the SW40VE and love them both.

I like my 40VE but don't pay that much for a used one. You can do much better. Bought mine at Academy for $299. If you can't find them in your area, buy one online. You'll still pay less, even after transfer fees.

I teach the pistol course required in my state for a concealed pistol license and bought a Sigma 9VE to use as a loaner for my class.

I received the Sigma from my FFL on Saturday and took it out to the range today (conditions - 30 degrees, snowing and strong cold wind - not ideal). I fired approx 130 rounds and the Sigma performed flawlessly - I did some target shooting, rapid fire and deliberately tried to "limp wrist". No malfs of any kind. The DAO trigger is a bit stiff but will likely smooth out with some more use. As it is, I am very happy with the Sigma as a range pistol for students, especially at the price.

I paid $300 shipped from Buds and my FFL charges a $25 transfer fee. I opted to use the rebate for the two extra mags instead of getting $50 back.

Hello,
I just bought a used SW40VE for $250.00. Its hardly used. In California that is not a bad price. But I would not pay anymore because new they are $350.00 before rebate. Sigmas are good guns. I don't have a problem with the trigger because I shoot revolvers. The trigger on the Sigma is much like a revolver. Long and heavy. Mine is very controllable and that's what I like. Too me its like shooting a revolver. A lot of folks don't like the trigger. Most of those folks have never shot a revolver and don't know what a double action trigger is all about. Anyway, I agree with the others to try and find a new one.

Good luck,
roaddog28

Thanks for all the tips. What do I look for to ensure it's the newest version, is there a serial# cutoff?

Long and heavy... Thats what she said (couldn't resist). My only other handgun is a GP100, everyone comlains about those triggers, I personally like it.

Thanks for all the tips. What do I look for to ensure it's the newest version, is there a serial# cutoff?

Long and heavy... Thats what she said (couldn't resist). My only other handgun is a GP100, everyone comlains about those triggers, I personally like it.
No serial # cutoff.. The 'E" in SW9VE is "Enhanced". That's pretty much all you need to know. Same with the '40'.. You will like the gun, most of the chatter or hype on it is overkill. If for some reason, after 500 rounds you do not like the trigger, just do the sear polish and remove the pigtail spring (do not do everything at once, do one part and then go test fire, then move to the next part, etc..) and you have yourself a great gun to own!

Midway sells a wolff spring for the trigger that can improve it a lot, but its still grittty. The M&P is a whole nuther story, as is my wifes XD. I'm not selling the Sigma though-

Midway sells a wolff spring for the trigger that can improve it a lot, but its still grittty. The M&P is a whole nuther story, as is my wifes XD. I'm not selling the Sigma though-
I think what they are selling is the "striker" spring, not the trigger spring. I ordered one, installed it, and had misfires with several brands of ammo. The striker spring is the one, pulled into tension by the sear, that delivers the energy (punch) to the primer on the bullet. If you reduce the striker spring, you reduce the energy needed to fire the cartridge. This is a bad thing.
The trigger feels "gritty" because of the machine marks on the sear. Disassemble the gun, remove the black plug from the end of the slide (carefully) and pay attention to the extractor, the extractor spring and follower, the two plastic cups on the striker and the striker spring (sounds MUCH more complicated than it is!!!!!!). Take the striker assembly and look very closely at the sear. There are machine marks in it.. Use a medium and then fine wetstone to hone away the machining marks. If they are not deep, you can steal one of your wifes cardboard nail files and that will work. Polish it to a smooth surface, then use a polishing compound to polish it to a mirror surface. Assemble the gun. Dry fire it a few times to feel the difference! You now have a smooth trigger pull! The machining marks are the gritty feeling... Take your time and good luck!!

Ditto. The machine marks on the sear are the "gritty" culprit. I used a dremel tool with polishing compound. It is NOT AT ALL complicated to get the sear in/out, takes about 2 minutes. Once it's all polished up, that gritty feeling will be 100% gone and it's silky smooth. Still "strong" depending on what you do or don't do with the springs, but nice and smooth.