Sigma SW9M ?

[Dksimon]

I was at my local gun shop today picking up my new 10/22 and I saw a neat little hand gun that caught my intrest.
It was an SW9M. Looks like it would be about perfect for carrying since there is no external saftey or mag realease to get caught on clothing or a holster.

I liked the overall look and features of the gun but does anyone know anythig about functionaity or reliability?

 

[SouthpawShootr]

I won't say I'm a fan of the Sigma but I'm satisfied with my 9VE. That was a necessary preamble to my next statement: the Sigma 9M is junk. This gun was very similar in design to the Sigma SW380, which was a real POS. The problem was these two models had very limited service lives (quoted service life was 2500 rounds IIRC). I'm not sure about the 9M, but the SW380 had an zinc alloy slide. I wouldn't be surprised to find out the 9M had the same. You don't see many of these and that's because they were problematic and only made from 1997-98. These guns took a special magazine different from others in the Sigma line. They had plastic tabs on either side of the mag and you had to pinch them to remove the mags.

Fieldstripping for cleaning required a punch and hammer. S&W won't be able to repair it if something breaks, as parts were unique to that line. I suspect that S&W has been quietly removing these from circulation as they've been turned in for repair. At least one account has been posted on www.smith-wessonforum.com from an SW380 owner who returned his for repair and received a discount voucher toward the purchase of a new S&W (notice I'm not saying gun for gun here, so be careful). This sort of gun, I wouldn't buy used (of course I wouldn't buy it at all). It's pretty much shoot a box or two then stuff it in the drawer type of gun.

So many better choices. You didn't say how much, but whatever it's priced at, you can find a decent handgun that will give you acceptable service. Case in point: look at the different surplus offerings: CZ82 and Sig P6 (225) both for around $280 from Aim Surplus.

 

[bhhacker]

With my sigma (.40) it had problems with the striker and the trigger was atrocious...it would be a good carry gun as it would NEVER AD...as it had an extremely high trigger pull, but I couldnt hit the broad side of a barn with it due to that same fact...I got a nice Stainless Springfield GI for 450 and have been hooked on the 1911s ever since.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

Just wanted to reiterate that the SW380 and Sigma 9M are completely different designs from the SW9VE, 40VE etc.

 

[Dksimon]

The price on the gun is 300, which is one of the cheaper pistols at my locoal dealer. Thank you for all of you information. I loved the way it looked but the thing I'm worried about is hitting the bad guy and if I cant do that then I know its not the gun for me.

The dealer had a used S&W im not sure wha it was called but he said it was model number 6904. Does anyone know anything about that gun?

 

[NWdude83]

Trigger is something from S&W's reject dept.

 

[aaronrkelly]

I would buy one, but not at that price.

For all their shortcomings they would still work well in a carry alot, shoot very little situation. Grab one, run a couple hundred or so rounds through it then clean it up, load it and stick in in your glove box, RV, backpack etc.

In my area they run about $180 to $200. They werent even $300 when they were new.

 

[Dksimon]

Wow. what area are you in aaronrkelly? Even if it isn't the greatest pistol I would definitely buy one fo 180

 

[SouthpawShootr]

The dealer had a used S&W im not sure wha it was called but he said it was model number 6904. Does anyone know anything about that gun?

Ah, that's the other end of the spectrum. 6900 series were fine handguns. I had an early 6904 that was a outstanding. Very accurate. Never recall it jamming. In a fit of stupidity, I traded it on something else. I replaced it a few years ago with a 6906 (same gun, just with a stainless slide). The majority of the 04s will have a squared triggerguard. In later models this was rounded. Early models (first year or two had rear sights with rounded edges, later models had Novak sights). Your preference, really no difference. I found the black finish to hold pretty well. These guns had either carbon steel (6904) or stainless steel (6906) slides with aluminum frames. Most of these will be police turn-ins as they were both highly popular service guns with PDs. I'd fieldstrip it and take a close look at the frame. The frame rails will be the major point of concern. Shiny and smooth is ok. Chewed up or cracked is not. I've seen these go locally for $300-500 range depending upon condition.

BTW, brand new current production Sigmas are regularly seen in my area for under $300 (and that's not counting the current $50 rebate and 2 free mags). When I bought mine a year or two ago, total was $290 OTD.

 

[NWdude83]

I would consider the Taurus 24/7.

 

[Z71]

I had one of the first .40 caliber Sigmas that came out. Was a pretty poor pistol. Trigger quit working after a few hundred shots. Had to send it back to Smith for repair. Got the gun back and it wasn't very many more shots fired before you could feel the trigger pull getting worse and worse again. I peddeled it before it conked out.

That was an early pistol, and I guess the problems have been ironed out. Most guy's with the guns now seem to like them.

 

[aaronrkelly]

Dksimon,

Southern Iowa is my location.

I saw the .380 version, SW380 I believe setting at Scheels in Des Moines about 1 month ago. They had $180 on it. Ive seen the 9mm version for $200 at gun shows a couple times.

In 1995 when these came out the dealer price was $200 - Smith and Wesson was shooting to keep the retail price under $300. I remember seeing quite a few of them around and they all ran $250 to $275 or so.

 

[btg3]

SW9M was the first autoloader that I purchased new - - JUNK. It could never fire a full clip regardless of ammo due to misfires. Sent it back to S&W and it could not be repaired (but was replaced with a different pistol). Do your google homework and forget about this pistol.