Smith And Wesson Sigma in 9mm/40 cal for first handgun?

[collateral]

What do you guys think? I've read a few reviews on these pistols and shot one once. They seem pretty nice to me. Cabelas has a deal on them now.
I have shot pistols a lot but Ive never owned one. I shot the Sigma in 9mm but 40 cal is available as well. What do you suggest?

 

[bhp9mm]

get the 9 ammo cost less i don't like the 40 sigma it a good gun but i don't really like the 40 round it is more powerful but i just shot 9mm better but the 40 sigma is a good gun for the price i have the 40 it has never jammed i don't like the tiggers.

 

[Jenrick]

Here's a thread I started a long time ago that might help:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=131866

-Jenrick

 

[40SW]

Here are the pros and cons in my opinion.

Pros.
1. Excellent price
2. Excellent reliability and dependability.



Cons.
1. Horrific trigger, even though its a DAO, the trigger pull is 12 lbs+, I don't know how the Aphganistan National Police force handles them.

Here are some alternatives in 9mm and .40SW in the same price range($300-$350) NIB that are better guns with better triggers .

1. Taurus Millenium Pro (latest generation). in 9 or 40
2. Witness Tanfoglio Compact.(CZ75 compact clone). in 9 or 40, they even have a 45 and 10mm version.
3. Bersa Thunder Ultra Compact (available in 9 and 40, Walther P88 clones).

Just my 2 cents worth. Same money, much better triggers.

 

[winddummy]

Sigma

Its a good reliable pistol, very good price with the rebates. The trigger pull can be reduced with a little work on the sear and sear lever springs.

 

[Ed Ames]

I just bought one of these due to the price/rebate. Quite pleased. The trigger is stiff but not bad (a lot like a DA revolver) and it's actually pretty far down the list of bad triggers I've encountered.

I could go into great depth but I'll just offer a couple of references instead:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/520103904/m/3631058002
http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/520103904/m/4561077362

Those more or less match my impressions.

 

[Halo is for Kids]

Here are the pros and cons in my opinion.
Pros.
1. Excellent price
2. Excellent reliability and dependability.

I'm gonna add to your pros column:
-Excellent warranty and customer service.
-Made in the USA.
-Heavy trigger smooths after use.
-As a first handgun, the trigger won't spoil you. It will make you a better shooter. Dry fire practice with that heavy pull and focus on holding the sights steady. When you move on to a lighter trigger you'll be able to shoot longer and with less fatigue. It's like a workout for your trigger finger.

 

[possum]

i say at a minimum upgrade to the m&p line and get the better trigger ergos and etc. do get 9mm for ammo prices. there are better choices out there i think for what you want that will cost you only a little more. the sigmas that i have experinces with were not good at all, and as a matter of fact the first autoloader that i was taught on was a sigma. and man the world of difference that i saw in other handguns. thats why i own xd's now.

 

[politicalgeek]

Sigma gets a bad rap, but its not bad. Price is good. Mine ate up 3-4 different brands of ammo when I took it to the range a few weeks ago. It is a great starter pistol, especially if you are looking at a house gun/carry option on a budget. If you have shot it and like it, go for it.

Right now the current offer is 2 magazines and $50 rebate from S&W. My gun store had it at 300 with 3 magazines, plus the rebate, plus 2 more mags...not a bad deal and I will probably be able to use it for trade fodder at some point. i just happen to be a fan of steel and wood in a gun.

 

[Ed Ames]

Possum, When was the sigma you fired made? I've heard that the older guns were really hit and miss and I'm wondering if your experience helps confirm that.

My sigma is brand new... I picked it up last Friday and it has only 150 rounds through it now. I've seen nothing wrong with it at all and frankly I didn't see the M&P I've handled as worth the extra money to me for what I wanted. I already have guns with more target-practice-oriented triggers but I didn't have a dead-simple (no safety, no gimics) full-cap semi-auto that would work every time but wouldn't be a large financial loss if stolen or banged around. The Sigma seems to be impossible to beat for that role right now.

I think the trigger on the Sigma will seem the worst to new shooters. I've fired guns with light and crisp match triggers, I've fired guns with heavy and weird DA triggers, and the sigma pretty decently in the middle. However, IF this was my first gun I could see how it would seem bad in comparison the first time I tried a single action auto. I think it's good practice though.

 

[Black Adder LXX]

i say at a minimum upgrade to the m&p line and get the better trigger ergos and etc. do get 9mm for ammo prices.

+1 I have had no problems with my M&P.

 

[collateral]

Thank you all for your input. The trigger pull on the sigma didnt bother me, it just felt almost like a revolver.

I opted to get this pistol as my christmas gift from my parents this year, so I'm not really able to upgrade to something more expensive. The limit was 250 and cabelas was offering it for 300 with a 50 dollar mail in rebate so my dad said it was okay.

I still haven't decided 9mm or 40 cal yet. I wont be carrying this gun, at least, not yet. I'm only 19. But my parents are going to buy it and transfer it to me. I'll mostly just be punching paper or plinking with it, so the extra punch offered by the 40 wont really benefit me as I have better home defense options already (Bushy M4A3, WASR10, Remmy 870).

 

[Ed Ames]

Get the 9. Cheaper practice ammo more than offsets the "less effective" combat ammo for an only pistol. That's my take anyway.

Oh, and call Cabela's and have them reserve one if you haven't already. The store in my area had no more .40s a week ago and thought they'd be out of the 9s this week. "More are coming but probably won't arrive until after xmas". ... or call some other gun stores and see if they'll match/beat the Cabela's price. Some will though $299 in-store seems very fair to me.

 

[massglockman]

i have never owned one but have shot a few of them. They do have a bad rap but im not quite sure why. But get the 9mm its so much cheaper in the long run

 

[kle]

I had a SW9VE (the 9mm version) and felt it was a good pistol.

I even won an accuracy competition with it: 10 rounds, any standing stance, no rest, no time-limit, 75 feet, trying to hit a 2" target--I put 4 rounds through the bullseye.


The trigger was heavy, yeah, but I was coming from the world of double-action revolvers and a heavy trigger is nothing new. What I didn't like was the trigger's overtravel after the shot breaks--made the sights wiggle from exerting so much trigger-finger pressure on such a light pistol.

I liked its ergonomics: it fit my hands pretty good, there weren't any finger grooves (I don't like finger grooves), and it pointed more naturally (for me) than a Glock or my H&K P7.

I also managed to break the striker, somehow:


I emailed S&W, and they fixed it under-warranty, with no charge to me. Excellent customer service--It came back fixed, test-fired, and with an extra magazine, even. It was flawless afterwards, too.

I ended up selling mine a month ago to pare down my collection a little and to help pay for a Beretta 92FS. I kinda regret selling that thing, now, because it would've made for a good HD/SD pistol, small enough to carry concealed (IWB only, however!), and it was quite accurate.

One thing I don't miss, however, was the lack of aftermarket parts and accessories for it--no extended mag-release, no extended slide-release, etc. I ended up making my own holster out of kydex because I couldn't find anything else for it, and good luck finding a light or a laser to go on that proprietary rail system (not that I use either, but it would've been nice to know such options were available--it would've made for a slimmer pistol without the rails, which would've been nice).

It was a decent pistol, and a good first pistol that I would recommend to anyone.

 

[jgorniak]

I bought the 9mm Sigma late last year; it was my first purchased handgun. The main reason was price, both of the gun itself and 9mm ammo.

I read all of the horror stories after (duh) I made the purchase. I then came to realize that these tales were usually referring to the older first- or second generation Sigmas.

I didn't have anything to compare it too, so I found no problems with it. Today, after using / purchasing other guns, it's still one of my favorites.

Since you've already got other SD options, stick with the 9mm. The ammo cost alone will allow you to put that many more holes in paper.

 

[possum]

the one that i have experinece with was made few years back, and i have herad that they have improved, really it is personal preference if you don't mind the trigger and you think that the gun will fit you then go for it.

 

[btg3]

For your first handgun, get the 9mm because:
1. Price of ammo. You'll want to, and indeed should, shoot A LOT.
2. Recoil. It's easier to learn good habits without excessive recoil.
3. All that chest-thumping about big bullets and energy is fun, but negligible.

FWIW, I got the compact for CC. Love it!

 

[wally]

Here are some alternatives in 9mm and .40SW in the same price range($300-$350) NIB that are better guns with better triggers .

2. Witness Tanfoglio Compact.(CZ75 compact clone). in 9 or 40, they even have a 45 and 10mm version.

I like my EAA Witness pistols, but not in .40S&W unless you can find the now discontinued "small frame" model. The large frame guns have magwells sized for the .45/10mm round, and the mags lose control of the shorter .40 S&W causing them to be jam-o-matics with full house loads. Strongest mag springs from Wolff only helped a little. The 9mm guns seem OK because the recoil impulse is lower and the lighter rounds make the magazine springs relatively stronger.

Download them, or load to near 10mm OAL and mine are fine, but I'd avoid the Witness .40S&W for defense use. You can get a CZ75B which is sized for .40S&W (or 9mm) and is reliable. Look around, you might still find the CZ40B for ~$300, oddball gun but great shooter.

The Sigma with the current rebate and free mag offer is tough to beat, its easy to spend more and get a less reliable gun with inferior service and support.

The M&P is better, but costs a third more, worth it if you can afford it, but if the budget is tight, the Sigma will serve you very well and leave some money for ammo.

The bad rap comes from the old Sigma's made by the "old" S&W Company who's conglomerate owners cut the deal with Bill Clinton. The new owners have fixed the problems with the Sigmas, backed out of the Clinton agreement and are delivering the best service and support in the industry.

--wally.

 

[FieroCDSP]

I like my Sigma 40VE. I dont shoot it much since I got my M&P40, though. I will also say that you should probably go for the 9mm. THe Sigma 40 has a stout recoil, and with the hard plastic grip, it can slip a bit in your hands. The M&P doesn't have that problem with it's soft rubber grip inserts, and something about the darn thing tames the 40 recoil. It's still a 40 recoil snap, but it's not as bad as most 40 guns make it. Others have said so also.

If the money is tight, get the Sigma. If you can spare another $100 bucks or so, get the M&P. Did anyone mention that the Sigma VE's are being shipped overseas to our (sorta) friends in the Iraqi Defense forces? I read that somewhere.

The big thing I didn't like about the Sigma was that it's so much like the Glock, it "glocks" the brass a bit. With my desire to reload for cost savings, the M&P has a fully-supported chamber and doesn't have trouble with reloads.
Shoot them both at a range if you can before deciding. I think you'll like either of them.