Ruger P95/S&W Sigma ...value or junk?

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I'm glad to see that S&W renewed the rebate, our local dealer was pressure-selling the Sigmas over the holidays based on the expiration of the rebate. I told him I was pretty sure it would be renewed, I may just pick up on of the .40 Sigmas this year!
 
MikePaiN said:
I called the shop and they have several of both in stock(which I'm amazed at) so I'm going to put paws on them.
This shop also has a "10shot for $10" offer at their indoor range...so if they have either or both as range rentals I might try a few shoots.
Anyway, I report back.

thanks for all the input
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I forgot they had the range there :banghead: Trying them out is always the best answer.
 
1. My friend and I were at the range and his Sigma polymer frame shattered and completely failed while he was shooting.
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:confused: I don't currently own a Sigma but know many people that do. A real good friend owns a gun shop and sells them as fast as he can get them in and has never had one of the VE models returned for repairs. I have also never seen any accounts of exploding Sigmas on the web anywhere. There seems to be a fairly consistent dislike for the trigger but I have'nt seen anything to suggest that the polymer frames are anything but reliable and strong. I'd love to see some pictures of the frame in question.
 
I'd play the odds. The Sigma is really a good gun but lots of people have a hard time getting used to the trigger pull weight. I am going to say that it is easier to adapt to a squishy trigger than a heavy one.

...or...

If your Kahr is DAO, there may be a similarity of operation that would put the Sigma over the top.

If it were me, I'd get the Ruger.
 
I have two cousins who own Sigmas and neither have said anything bad about them. I have a P95DC and the only issue I had was shooting some of that Ultramax 124gr LRN CRAP that failed to eject often and dirtied up everything. EVERYTHING. Other than that, I love my P95 and wish I had paid as little as the one you can get.
 
Do you know which generation of Sigma it was that blew up? Just curious.


leadcounsel
My experience with Sigmas:
1. My friend and I were at the range and his Sigma polymer frame shattered and completely failed while he was shooting. It's the only gun I've ever seen disintegrate while shooting it. I would never buy or own a Sigma. On the plus side, S&W sent him a brand new one. He promptly traded it at a gun store!
2. My brother is on a tight budget and has one and swears by it, even as his carry piece. To each their own.
I have never shot the Ruger P95 but am tempted to buy one at that low price!
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I didn't even read the OP's post, just the title. And the answer is... They are value!
 
1. My friend and I were at the range and his Sigma polymer frame shattered and completely failed while he was shooting. It's the only gun I've ever seen disintegrate while shooting it. I would never buy or own a Sigma. On the plus side, S&W sent him a brand new one. He promptly traded it at a gun store!
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Sir, I had the same thing happen to me but it was a Glock 22 and I did not get a new handgun.......
 
Both are great guns. I used to own a pair of Rugers, and have shot a Sigma. Great entry level safe weapons that are dependable. I recommend them to people moving into an auto loader that don't plan to shoot too often and don't want to spend a lot of money.
 
heres there straight to the point truth i work at a gander mtn and we sold loads of the sigmas over the holidays and have had probally 10-15 returned since jan 1st for parts breaking and trigger pull it comes with a 12 lb trigger pull and also is very cheaply made the plastic on it is not as strong as the polymer on most guns if u drop it on cement it will break with the ruger ur getting a hard to beat price whether it has a rail under it or not the ruger will last much longer and give u less problems with little maintenence i own a ruger p97dc and a sigma i am purchasing a p95 this weekend hopefully but the sigma has had about 50-100 rounds thru it and i was so upset with it i just stuck it in the safe and am planning on taking it to the next gunshow and trading it for the p95 with a little cash
 
i was raised in handgun shooting (as far as a standard caliber hicap semi auto is concerend) with a sigma .40. it was 100% reliable and accurate, and at times i wish my dad still had it. i think that they are a great value in the gu world.

i had a ruger p95, and it was everthing you could want out of a gun, reliable, accurate, and built to last, but after owning it i discovered that i do not like da/sa guns, and sold it. it was also a little big, but i did like it over all.
 
I have a possibility of buying a P95 for $200 from a friend at school. He thought it would be a good gun for him but he just doesn't like it. I am gonna be able to shoot it first to see if I like it but no clue when. How heavy is the trigger pull in DA and SA?
 
The history of the sigma's is hard to forget, I hate the sigma's trigger, and I have not heard enough good things or how smith changed the old problems. I do like the way it fits in my hand thought, not at all how a glock feels. I owned a p95 as my first handgun, I think I was 15 when it was purchased, it fed a variety of ammo well and was very accurate although the fixed sights were a little off. I never liked the mag release and it was a little blocky feeling but I liked it. I would say ruger p95. The other thing to think about may be a used police trade in (smith 59 or glock 19/17) run about 300 bucks.
 
Ruger P95 is very solid and reliable. The DA trigger pull is very long, however. You may want to consider some lighter Wolf springs. Makes DA pull much more enjoyable.
 
I bought my Sigma/SW40VE in 2005 brand new and have approximately 3,500 rounds fired through the gun without a single malfunction. I have run all kinds of ammunition from cheap to expensive. I finally settled on Winchester Ranger SXT 180g ammo, which I feel runs the best in my Sigma. Sometimes it's hard to find though, so I stock up when I can.

When the gun was new the trigger was well over 10 pounds but with break in and regular use it settled to around 6 pounds. I eventually did the spring swap and it's about 2.5 pounds now. I have the 15 round magazines, was lucky enough to buy a bunch of them at once off GB. I also swapped the plastic guide rod for a steel one.

I keep the gun clean and it gets shot at least twice a month. I find it to be accurate enough inside 75 feet. This is not a competition gun, it's an inexpensive, reliable, rugged SD or duty gun that can take a some abuse and keep on running. Right now I use it as my back pack gun for when I'm out hiking/camping/etc.

In my opinion the ergonomics are great and with a loaded magazine the weight distribution is near perfect, though as the magazine empties it does become nose heavy. The gun points very naturally, like a 1911. It has all the best qualities of a GLOCK for less money and it's US made.

Some clarifications:

Is it the best gun ever? Of course not, but for the asking price, which most places is well under $300 it's a bargain.

Is it my favorite gun? No, but it does what it's supposed to do when I ask it to do it without any fuss. That's a successful gun IMO.

These are my personal experiences with my gun. Your results may vary. Personally I don't know what some people are doing to these guns to have all the problems they are having (speaking current gen guns, not 90's guns).
 
May depend on who ends up showing you the guns there...they have so many people working there on the weekends...maybe I am just unlucky.
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Thats how it's been every time i walk in there. It really does depend on who you get to help you. Some guys are great while some make you wish you were at cabelas.

See if they have them in their rental counter and do the 10 for $10 deal.
 
I have no experience with the Sigma so won't comment on it. I do own P95 however and believe it to be one of the best deals going, period. Mine has always been 100% with whatever fodder I've ran through it and the accuracy has been more than acceptable as well. I'd like to get another P95 at some point since the one I currently own has proven itself time and again.

www.rugerforum.com www.gunnerforum.com
 
I would vote ruger I havent owned the ruger but hear great things. I have on the other hand owned a sigma and it had FTF/FTE problems. When I had one I kept my highpoint next to my bed if that tells you anything.
 
I can tell you that the P-95 does not like underpowered ammo that some pistols will shoot. A couple drops of Mobile-1 on the slide grooves helps a lot. And if you are in a storm of trouble , the creepy trigger will not bother you one bit.
 
I have both a P95 and a Sigma 9mm. They are both high value guns for the money paid. I think I'll buy another P95. Think about it for a minute: Ruger - S&W, excellent companies with excellent products and service, what's not to like? How many people on this board own Rugers and/or Smith and Wessons?

Check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/user/nutnfancy#p/search/4/QXYQF5ZgpWw
 
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