S&W Sigma as CCW weapon.

[wolfman01]

OK, I'm not entirely happy with the Bersa as a CCW gun, due to it's rather dubious accuracy, and reliability. I rather like bullets to go where they are aimed, as well as don't want to be concerned if it's going to work right.

I spent some time chewing the fat with one of the reps at Academy today, and checked out the Sigma. Price at Academy is $348. He also gave me a phone number to a local range that rents guns, to see if they have one to try out, before I fork over the bucks.

So, my question is: What's the good, bad, and the ugly regarding the Sigma? TIA.

 

[News Shooter]

I think that is what it was designed for

The Sigma has a really tough trigger. But after a few hundred rounds it starts to smooth out and it is still a very reliable weapon. I carry the 9mm version.
There are plenty of other more expensive options, but this is a safe and reliable one for the money

 

[Don Lu]

whats up...
from what i have heard the sigma is very reliable and the take down and look is almost identical to glock, just doesnt have the proven record yet. It has a great price tag and i think comes in 9mm and .40 s&w. I dont care if they imitate glock as long as they work like glock. But during a discussion at the range/ gunshop the clerks were saying it is a great gun.

 

[10-Ring]

Try the search feature & you'll find several thread on the subject. But in short - it's mixed. I know a guy that really loves his Sigma....he has been shooting it for years now and just can't say anything bad about it.
Me, for poly guns, I really like HK's USPs and Glocks

 

[RH822]

I've never had a problem with mine. I am a sometime carrier of a Sigma
SW9VE and am considering getting a SW40VE just for kicks and giggles.

RH

 

[wolfman01]

Thanx. It sounds like it'll end up being a matter of how it feels when I find one to test fire.

 

[BullfrogKen]

One student brought his Sigma to a 3 day, Level III class this past weekend my local club.

He had brought it out earlier in May for a level II class. On day 2 he was using the instructor's spare Glock.

At last weekend's class it finally died completely, and he admitted he needed to find a better gun.

 

[Srigs]

I have put over 3000+ rounds through my 40VE with not a single problem. It is my HD gun and winter carry gun.

 

[Coronach]

As has been said, results are mixed. If you get a good one, it will probably be fine. The trigger is universally regarded as suboptimal, and reliability is spotty. There are many other guns I would consider before a Sigma, but I know a guy who has one as a CCW and it works fine. *shrug*

Personally, if I was looking at the Sigma, I would also look at the M&P compact series that is now coming online. They're brand new, so reliability is unknown, but the ergos should be great and the trigger is fine. General size/shape/concealability should be similar to the Sigma.

Mike

 

[plateshooter]

I can only speak from my experience. I am quite happy with the 9GVE that I have. When I bought it, the guy behind the counter field stripped the Sigma and a Glock and laid them out on the counter. I was amazed, as they looked almost identical. I find the one I have to be accurate and reliable and I like the trigger on it for a ccw gun. I shoot mine on a regular basis and feel I have learned the trigger well. I do not want a light trigger on my ccw gun. I have other guns with much lighter triggers for shooting paper and wacking plates. When the Sigma goes off, it is because of a deliberate effort to pull the trigger. That is the only safety there is on that gun, and I feel it is a good one. Mine was $289.00 and I believe my money was well spent.

 

[MrTwigg]

Just my $.02

It's a copy of a Glock.
It has a horrible trigger


Get the Glock.
It has a better trigger and it's not a copy of a Glock.

 

[denfoote]

The ergonomics of the Sigma are superior to anything that has ever been in my hand!! That said, the trigger does suck, but so does the PPK/S. They were designed that way on the theory that a heavy trigger lessened the chance of an NG. I have an old SW40F that has not given me any problems!! I carry it in a Bianchi Black Widow.

 

[Skywarp]

The ergos are decent but not as nice as P99, p2000

The action and trigger are near exact copies of a glock but the trigger sucks.


Based on that, I wouldnt. With all the used Glocks on the market i'd pick one up before the Sigma.


This is all my opinion, your mileage may vary.

 

[pablo45]

Well beside's being sued by glock and having a horrible trigger. The sigma is just as good as a hi point in my opinion. The trigger you will not be able to trade out and the off shot's are something you will have to deal with. I bought a sigma for 350.00 and sold it for 250.00 the following week. I thought the gun itself looked nice and was easy ergo wise but when i shot it my hope's went down and i could not keep it any longer. Just some advice before you buy it. Go with the glock, it may cost more but it will be worth it.

 

[EdLaver]

I had one but traded it. I loved it, 1,000 rounds never had a single problem. The one thing I would change on it though would have been a lighter trigger. It has at least a 12lb pull. You may like this though b/c with a lil time and practice I was able to stage my shots like a revolver.

 

[ugaarguy]

A Sigms 9VE was my first handgun. The ergonomics were great, but the trigger left much to be desired. After that I moved to a Glock. The ergos weren't as good, but the trigger was a big improvement. After several years of happily owning the Glock I started shooting friends' guns to get some variety. I took a strong liking to Mr. Browning's Hi Power and M1911. The Glock is no longer with me, and I don't miss it. I do own a 1911 and a BHP. In trying to stay close to the price of the Sigma I'd look toward a used Glock 19 or 26, new CZ-75, used metal frame S&W auto, new or used Speingfield XD, or an FM Argentine made Hi-Power over the Sigma. If you think you'd like a 1911 type pistol a used Springfiel GI or Milspec wouldn't be much more than the Sigma, and sometimes you can find deals on new ones for just a bit more.

Those are my preferences, those are guns that feel good in my hand. I think you should head back to Academy and handle a bunch of other guns in the $350 to $450 price range. Find a couple more that fit you well like the Sigma does and try to find a range that rents them. Spend a few dollars to shoot the Sigma against a couple other contenders and see what you think. Please let us know if we can help you with more info or ideas.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

Seems that $350 (or thereabouts) is a tad high. I see them locally for $310 or so. I have 2 Sigmas. Won't hesitate for a moment to load up and carry either. Generally, when a gun by a major manufacturer stirs up the kind of passion that the Sigma does, I buy one for myself and give it a work out. Been satisfied so far. I have many Glocks. I won't get into a comparison between the two manufacturers. My first Sigma was one of the limited production 357Vs (.357 Sig). Still have it, although I don't shoot it very much. I bought my 9VE b/c I thought it might make a decent carry gun - and it does. The trigger on these guns are universally (it seems) reviled. If you work with it a bit, it smooths out and you become acclimated to it. Yeah it's heavy, but it's a match trigger compared to my AMT Backup .45. My 9VE has been boringly and completely reliable. My 357V gave me some problems with the mag catch, but after a 10 day trip to S&W, it was back in my hands and hasn't given me any grief since (even before the return to S&W, it was reliable, just had trouble with the mags locking in). I'd say look around a little, see if you can find a lower price, but I do recommend them if you're looking for a good, inexpensive, and reliable gun for CCW.

 

[pierrebazukhov]

I had an SW9VE for awhile and traded it off. I've also had two SW40VE's. The first .40 had some feeding problems but the next two were o.k. I used the 9mm as a carry gun- it fed fine, was reasonably accurate, no problems. I like the looks and grip of the Sigma and it seemed to carry well IWB for me- maybe just an "entry level gun" but I actually LIKE the Sigma and miss the ones I traded away. Next week I'm going to buy another one to carry again but haven't decided on 9mm or .40. My only real gripe about the gun is the trigger, but I dry fired the hell out of mine a few times. It smoothed out some, and my finger got toughened up I see them as decent, inexpensive utility type pistols.

 

[yodar]

My sons SW Sigma in 40 S & W

Definitely NOT the first gun to buy. Nor should the CZ 52 be the first gun to buy. IT has it's own peculiarities too. But it's fun as hell and with the 9mm bbl is actually capable of accurate shot placement ( 2" at 15 yards)


SIGMA's Chamber does not offer full support and Dave has had several out of battery discharges that caused minor damage to the gun which S & W fixed no questions asked. The final fix got him essentially a new gun. He shoots it less, preferring a Ruger P-95

Yodar

 

[joe4702]

Shameless plug

I just listed my 9VE Sigma in the Trading Post.
Joe

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=232156

 

[greener]

If you are looking at Sigmas in the mid-to upper $300's, I'm not sure that is a good deal. The M&P9 seems to be a much better handgun and can be bought in the $380-$430 range.

One thing about Sigma's is that there aren't many neutral opinions. When I was looking for a 9mm, "hold it at the counter" test my ratings were (bottom to top): Sigma, beretta, High Point, glock, XD and M&P. (Didn't look at the Rugers or H&K's). Really didn't like the Sigma I fired. Personally, if my choice were down to sigma or High Point (based on limited firing), I'd by the High Point.

 

[wolfman01]

Thanx. I didn't get the opportunity to get to a range on my days off, so I'll be waiting untill I can test one before I move forward. I did get some time to fire the Bersa some more, and I'm getting very frustrated with it. I tore it down, cleaned everything, and lubed the slide. It's simply giving me all manner of fits regarding feeding and jamming. At 15 yards, it's a total crapshoot on accuracy. I know it's a light, short barreled gun, but this thing struggles to hit the broad side of a barn.

I do want to stay with used if possible. I like saving some dough were I can.

 

[salvador31c]

Not a Bad Bang For The Buck Kinda Gun They work, shoot good, value price gun with the S&W Name And Service if i were to get another one i'd go for the 9mm and not the .40 JMHO.

 

[Frisian]

They are a decent gun for the money. They fit better in most peoples hand than do the Glocks.

As many have previously mentioned the triggers are too stiff, but on this type of gun (Stiker fired with no manual safety) thats no necessarily a bad thing.

You certainly can do worse.

If it is comfortable and is your price range it should serve you well.

 

[mljdeckard]

First let me say, that mine was a first generation .40, and I have read that they worked hard to work the bugs out of that model.

This was hands down the worst handgun I ever owned. I bought it, because I liked a lot of the things some others are saying here. The grip was nice. It looked really cool in 1994. I was thinking, "The Glock might be a good idea, but I want to wait for a model someone has worked all the bugs out of."

The first thing I did was to try some 155 gr hydra-shoks. Three stoppages in one magazine. Un-freakin acceptable. So, I had the gunsmith mill the feed ramp, under warranty, and it was fine. It was before I had a permit, so I left it in the door pocket of my car with an empty chamber, resting inverted on the sights. after a week, the front sight, or rather, the nylon plug they used for a front sight, fell out. Oh well, I wanted night sights anyway, right?

This was before I realized that it has a 12 lb trigger. Or rather, that some police agencies prefer a heavier trigger on striker-fired weapons, to prevent cops from shooting themselves in the foot. A stock Glock trigger is 4.5 lbs. NY trigger springs are available for 8 and 11 lbs. The difference with the heavy Glock triggers is, they have a very clean let-off, and can still be fired accurately with some practice. The S&W trigger just sucks. I sold it for a loss. If you want a Glock, but you are feeling cheap, get a used Glock.