My SW40VE review with pictures

[SeekingSigma]

I am a first time handgun owner. I have owned a Marlin 30/30 and a Ruger M10-22. The only handgun I have ever shot is a .22 snub nose revolver and that was well over 10 years ago. Recently I decided to get a C&C license and carry for personal protection.

My personal quest to find the right caliber lead me to .40 due to its fine ballistics and high magazine capacity's. After much research and personal debate I concluded the SW40VE was going to be my first handgun. The price was unbeatable, the ergonomics were incredible, and I found the gun to be aesthetically pleasing. I also like the fact it has no safety, I will be carrying her ready for action.

Last week I picked up my SW40VE Allied Forces edition firearm from my local S&W dealer. Grabbed a hogue hand all grip as well. I took her home and gave her a thorough cleaning and inspection. It was a dream to field strip and clean the sigma. In seconds she can be field stripped, proper cleaning and lubrication can be done in just minutes.

Right after my purchase



Regardless of being quite sick with flu like symptoms I could not resist the urge to go shoot my new firearm. I shot a single box of CCI Independence 40 SW 180gr FMJ. I used silhouette targets at the range's required for the C&C class. All shots were made standing and one handed. Here are my range results.

3 yards, 20 shots, 1" grouping

photo showed more of my finger than the target :banghead:

7 yards, 15 shots, 1 7/8" grouping Not bad but next time I will do better



15 yards, 10 shots, 6 1/4" grouping I could have done a lot better here



25 yards, 5 shots, all shots in the 5 point range did not have time to measure I would guesstimate a 10" grouping

I must say all in all I am 100% satisfied with the SW40VE. I had no failures of any kind. The recoil was downright enjoyable! The "trigger hype" of this gun is incredibly overstated. Is the trigger pull hard? Yes. Is the trigger pull rough? No. Did it effect my accuracy or ability to enjoy shooting the firearm? No. I felt the gun was more accurate than I was, but this will change! I plan to visit the range frequently and get to know her well.

I feel that the SW40VE is an excellent choice for personal and home protection. It is a full size weapon and probably not ideal for summertime conceal and carry but I can fit it in most of my jean pockets with a limited amount of discomfort. It fits into my coat pockets very comfortably. I do plan on buying and using a variety of holsters.

Since the range I have dry fired her a few hundred times to practice keeping steady and having good trigger control. I am hoping my next range visit will yield even better results. I just bought a remington mega pack 250 rounds of .40 and I plan to shoot it all this weekend!

 

[SeekingSigma]

Remington UMC....

I slipped away for a gun range lunch break today.

I am very dissatisfied with the remington mega pack UMC .40 SW 180gr. I did not expect the ammo to be near as accurate as the Independence loads I have used, but did not expect it to be this severe. My grouping doubled (not counting flyboy's) and 1/4 of the rounds I fired were generally 5 inch's off point of aim or greater.

If the accuracy was the only problem, I would be fine shooting it just to get cheap rounds down range. It wasn't the only problem. After only 50 shots my gun was covered in powder, and my barrel was fowled horribly.

I will not purchase cheapo remington rounds again.

After my first range visit shooting a whole box Independence rounds the outside of my firearm had no visible powder and the barrel looked almost spotless. You get what you pay for, only premium ammo for my firearm from now on.

 

[FieroCDSP]

Yeah, Remington can be dirty at times. I'm not personally worried about a little crud, as some of my reloads are cruddy. But I'm glad you like your Sigma. Most people think they're terrible. I don't shoot mine because I like my M&P better, and have more faith in it's chamber. But it's still in the safe, waiting....lurking....

 

[SeekingSigma]

The sigma's bad rep is brought on from its troubled relatives. As far as I can tell anyone that actually owns a sigma VE is pretty happy with it, if they can get passed the trigger.

Passed some threads as I did research for my CCW. There are plenty of happy sigma enhanced owners... http://handgunforum.net/showthread.php?t=2066
http://mp-pistol.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=53

Is there a mechanical reason to have more faith in your M&P's chamber or is it personal preference?

 

[waroberson3017]

I also recently purchased a Sigma (40VE). I was given an explanation by the gun store guy as to why the Sigma has such a hard trigger (12 pounds). The story goes that when S&W put out the Sigma, it as SO close to a Glock that Glock sued S&W. In the settlement, S&W agreed to make their tripper pulls at the level they are now, so as not to be as light as a Glock. May be true, may not be. Just relaying what I was told.

 

[nwilliams]

My first poly framed striker-fire pistol was a 40VE that I bought back in '01 if memory serves. I had it about a year and then sold it to a friend who still owns it to this day. For what they are you can do worse, other than the trigger the gun is pretty nice and gets an undeserved bad rep.

Congrats!

 

[MadMercS55]

I have a Sigma 9VE and it's been a perfectly fine pistol and rather accurate when I do my part. Mine has over 1200rnds or so through it so far and the trigger is not nearly as bad as others I've tried. It's a keeper as a backup/car/hiking/whatever pistol for me. Probably one of the better deals going out there right now for a decent sidearm.

 

[SureThing]

The closest thing to a Glock clone, closer than the XD or M&P, yet get's little respect.

 

[Disaster]

I was given an explanation by the gun store guy as to why the Sigma has such a hard trigger (12 pounds). The story goes that when S&W put out the Sigma, it as SO close to a Glock that Glock sued S&W. In the settlement, S&W agreed to make their tripper pulls at the level they are now, so as not to be as light as a Glock. May be true, may not be.

Not true. Sigma was released that way because S&W lawyers thought that would be "safer" and they were responding to some law enforcement agencies who, as far as I know, never ended up buying any anyway.

 

[Gunz]

You did well, with a well-priced defensive gun. The shooting targets look pretty good!!!!

I like mine, too. Lighter bullets 155 and 165 grprint higherfor me. The havier 180 print low and alittle left.

 

[GlowinPontiac]

I love my sigma .40
Especially since i only paid 100 dollars for it and when i bought it it was less than 6 months old and had less than 500rnds through it!

I have the stainless steel upper assembly and it came with 4 12rnd mags. The trigger was a bit on the heavy side and felt like it was full of sand and rocks when I got it but removing 2 springs and a little polishing of the sear did wonders for it and reduced the trigger weight by more than half. (the springs removed did not render the gun unsafe or unreliable in any way, it had 2 springs with one inside the other so I removed the heavy outer spring opting to only have the lighter inner one in place and removed one other spring at the bottom of the sear assembly that seemed only to serve as a backup incase the upper springs failed or the sear became so packed with dirt that it needed a TON of force to reset.) I keep the gun clean and properly lubricated so this causes me no problems.

I found instructions to do this on the S&W forums and everyone there seems to be happy with the sigma's with the exception of some who dislike the heavy trigger.

 

[NavajoNPaleFace]

I have a Sigma 40VE two tone and I'll put it's accuracy and reliability up against any .40 out there.

If it wasn't as large as it is I would make it one of my carries so I settle to carry the Kahr PM40.

 

[Mickstix]

I think the Sigmas are about the best deal on a "nightstand" gun going..