S&W Sigma (SW40F) Specifically

[Jenrick]

I found a very nice deal on one, and I'm considering purchasing one and would like feedback on the weapon.

Having done a lot of looking online for reviews about this particular pistol, I've come to two conclusions.

1) It is a piece of junk that will explode in my hand, crack in half, fail to feed, fail to eject, fail to fire, stovepipe, miss the target at 3', and run off with my wife.

2) The weapon is the end all of automatic pistols, it will perform flawlessly after being buried in a salt water marsh for a month, and it will let me shoot X's all day with my eyes closed, it will also run off with my mother in-law and they will both never be heard from again.

Basically what I'd like to ask, is people opinion on the weapon, ONLY if you own one, have owned one in the past, or have significant experience with one. I've gotten all the second hard rumors I need from the net thanks. Specifically I'm interested in: the feel of the trigger (okay I got that it's heavy, but are we comparing it to a race gun or a DA revolver?), reliability, and general accuracy.

Thanks in advance,

-Jenrick

 

[saddlebum]

i don't have one now but, i did. ran about 500 rnds through it with no problems. i just didn't care for the trigger other than that it seemed like a good gun.

 

[Erich]

Here's my thinking on it:

The SW40Fs clearly had some problems. They are available for very little money (in the low to mid $200s) from CDNN.

On the other hand, the new models (I can't remember the numerical designation off the top of my head, and I don't want to run into the can to get the latest issues of PlayGun and American Handgunhustler) are readily available and also quite cheap (around $300). And they supposedly run pretty well across the board.

Why risk it? Hit a big retailer and get the new model for a bit more $.

 

[Alan Fud]

The original models weren't that good. Lately, I've been hearing good things about them but have no personal experience with the newer models to verify it.

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

I have a SW40VE, have had it for about 3.5 -4 years, maybe longer. It is quite simply, one of the best pistols I have ever owned. Mine IS flawless, IF I use the 15 round magazines. With the two 10 rounders it came with, it sucked. I've done nothing to it other than get the 15 round mags. I don't think the trigger is bad at all, and I've never understood what the fuss over it was all about. I have no complaints as far as accuracy either. I carry it in a Milt Sparks Versa-Max II IWB holster. If I could find one thing to complain about it, it's that it still hasn't run off with my mother-in-law.

Sam

 

[denfoote]

1) It is a piece of junk that will explode in my hand, crack in half, fail to feed, fail to eject, fail to fire, stovepipe, miss the target at 3', and run off with my wife.

I don't know about your wife, although, I did have a G26 that was confiscated by mine!!
The answers to the rest of your questions are a resounding NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, and NO!!!

I purposely traded my G29 for an SW40F just to evaluate the crap I had read on the internet!!

750 rounds, 0 malfs!!!

Yeah, the trigger sucks. It's made in the MASSive People's Republic for God's sake!! That the heck do you expect?? Guns with decent triggers are branded cop and child killers in that state!!!
Besides, there are guns out there with worse triggers!! The Walther PPK/S comes to mind. (also made in the self same communist state)

In short.
GO FOR IT!!!

 

[355sigfan]

The trigger sucks. Its inconsistent one of my friends has an early sigma and its trigger varies from 10 to 12 pounds on a trigger pull scale. The reliability is also tempermental. Accuracy is lack luster. Its a very poor attempt at a glock copy. The only good thing I can think to do with one is use it as a paper weight.
Pat

 

[denfoote]

Hi Pat!!!
I'll agree.
The trigger does suck!!!!
However, so do the triggers on my P5, PP, and PPK/S!!!!
It is my understanding that the trigger was designed that way in order to minimumize ADs. Now, you can argue the merits of that strategy, but, that's how the critter was made!!
I found that after some getting used to, the accuracy was there!!!

 

[355sigfan]

No offense but you can shoot any trigger accurately if you have enough strength, control and patients. I admit I hate the whole long trigger dao concept all together. The only gun I like thats is classified as a dao is Glock.

One other thing its a pet peeve of mine but there is no such thing as a AD. (accidental discharge) The correct terminology is negligent discharge or ND. A heavy trigger will not stop most ND's. Keeping your finger off the trigger however will stop all nd's.

Pat

 

[denfoote]

Like I said, we can argue the merits of the strategy.
They take a different view of things in the MASSive People's Republic!!
You probably would go nuts with my P3AT!!!

 

[355sigfan]

Is that a Keltech. I did try one and your right the trigger was difficult for me to warm up to. But to each their own. If you much have dao I would go with one of the new light dao types like the Sig dak HK lem or something along those lines.
Pat

 

[denfoote]

Yeah, it's a Kel-Tek!!!
It's a surprisingly accurate LITTLE gun!!!

But, we digress to the point of Hijack!!!

 

[yorec]

I've had a couple. SW40E about 5000 rds, no problems. SW40F just clearing 14000 (yeah there are three 0s there) rds this month. No problem.

I do believe the internet jabber is not on target when it comes to the Sigma...

And the trigger - yeah, it's heavy and in some guns gritty at first. It does smooth up with use and with use and practice good accuracy is possible. Great guns for the money - if you want better, ya gotta fork over the dough!

 

[SamlautRanger]

I used to have one of the SW Sigma .40, put about a couple hundred rounds through it and did not like it. It was reliable, but I did not find it too accurate and did not like the trigget pull. Felt like a cheap Glock to me. I sold it. Get a Glock or a Sig, better for the money.

 

[MaterDei]

I don't own one any longer because of the trigger I had on the one I had. Awful.

Reliability was iffy but ok for a range gun. The rest was fine. The 'safe action trigger' design is superior to Glock's in my opinion and the fit and finish were acceptable.

Would I buy another? Never.

 

[355sigfan]

You have me a bit confused you said the trigger was awfull but you said you thought it was better than a Glocks. Personally I like the Glocks Trigger system. Just curious as to what you meant.
Pat

 

[MaterDei]

there is no such thing as a AD.

 

[outofbattery]

Get a Glock or a Sig, better for the money.


Will you point me towards the new $269 Glocks and Sigs , I'd like to pick up a few .

For the money , IMO it's a great pistol for those that want an affordable , reliable , easy to shoot autochucker with nice ergos for most . It's half the price of a Sig or Glock and from my experience with them , you get far more than you pay for .

 

[355sigfan]

There is no such thing as an AD because they occur because people were not following the rules. It was not an accident out of their control. They broke one of the rules of gun handling and they fired the weapon as a result of their negligence. Hope that clear up your question.

As for the $269 sigs and glocks. For about 100 more you can get good used police trade in sigs and Glocks from CDNN that are a much better handgun. I would rather have a used model 10 smith than a Sigma.
Pat

 

[denfoote]

One of the advantages of shooting the Sigma is that you develop strength in your trigger finger!!!!!!

So much so that when you switch to the Glock, you have a tendency to not shoot straight!!!
The gun goes off before you have a decent sight picture, unless you are keeping in mind that your trigger finger is now, let us say, more beefy!!!
It puts rule one into a more practical prospective!!!!!!

In that sense, yes, the Sigma has a better trigger!!!

 

[JimLally]

I've owned my SW40VE for a little over a year. Over 1000 rounds and NO malfunctions. I love the way it feels in my hand. It just feels very natural to me.

Yeah, the trigger required me to shoot it a lot to get used to it. Once I did, it was no real problem.

Then I sent it out for a trigger job and got the trigger pull down to 5-5.5 lbs and had the overtravel taken up. WOW, what a difference. Now it's a genuine pleasure to shoot. Still no malfunctions.

Take a look at the attached photos. These were taken the day I got it back from the trigger job.

Take care.

Jim

 

[Jenrick]

Thanks to everyone for the responses.

To those of you who have recomended that I spend the extra $100 or so and get a Glock or Sig, duly noted.

One of the main reason's I've been considering the Sigma is it's a remarkably cheap .40SW pistol, which means the saving can be directly applied to ammunition. Sure a $350-$400 Glock or Sig is a steal, but that's another $150 I can't spend on ammo.

In regards to that (slight topic shift), if I'm going to spend $300 or less (perferably after fee's and such) on a pistol (for target shooting only, no need for it to stop a charging grizzly) in something larger then .22LR what is everyone's recomendation? Only requirements are: must be an automatic, must be no larger then .40SW, and no smaller then 9mm/.38.

-Jenrick

 

[355sigfan]

Personally I would not get the 40. Buy a 9mm and save even more on ammo and have about as good of stopping power with less recoil. But still stay away from the sigma. I know they are junk from first hand experence. You could not give one to me.
Pat

 

[Jenrick]

I agree that getting 9mm would allow me to get even more ammo to practice with. That's why I'm open to suggestions for a 9mm/.38 up to a .40SW.

So any suggestions?

-Jenrick

 

[355sigfan]

Sure Get a used Glock 17,19 or 26. Or if your really strapped get a Ruger P95 there only about 250 or so and are usually relaible and accurate.
Pat