Sigma 40VE magazines not locking in
 

Hello, this is my first post here and I was unable to find any information about this, so forgive me if it's been covered previously.

I recently got a Sigma 40VE in a trade for a laptop I didn't want/need. It came with 2 magazines, but I like to have at least 6 for all my weapons, so I hopped on gunbroker and found 3 for $80 shipped. I bought them and they came in today. Upon opening the box and such they were a bit dirty (used LEO mags) but overall were in great shape. I cleaned them up a bit and then was going to do a test fit. The magazines slide in perfectly and fit well, but they do not engage the magazine release. When the magazines are loaded, they simply fall out of the pistol. I can get one of them to lock in by wiggling it a bit, but neither of the other 2 will lock in at all. The magazines look exactly the same, but none of my magazines specifically say Sigma or 40VE or anything other than Smith and Wesson .40 on them. Is it possible that these mags are for another S&W pistol? Maybe the 40*3 series or something? What should I do with them?

Well I found the problem, the floorplate on these is thicker than the other mags. If I swap the floorplates, they work fine.

Anybody know why these are thicker?

40F mags?
 

They should not be 4000 series mag they are skinny cpmpaired to a sigma. But you could have 40F mags, the F had a different frame-grip shape than 40VE. If that is the case you can remove the mag base plate and sand off 1/8" on the lip. then they will fit your 40VE.

Very odd. I'm just guessing but maybe they were older mags? Built for the original version of the Sigma?

Hopefully someone will be along who know better than I.

If they are F series mags the mag bodies would be quite a bit longer to allow for the extra round. F series mag is on the left.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6.../sigmamags.jpg

At any rate i would simply sand down the base plate a bit till they fit.

Don't sand the follower you need to sand the base plate. Remove the base plate from the magazine body. Put it open side down on a piece of sand paper on a flat surface. Lightly sand the base plate. Put the mag back together and try it. Repeat as necessary. Try it with at least one round in the mag until it fits. I have done this with a bunch of loose LE trade ins and it works great.

LOL ... why did i say follower ? Brain fart.

Edited original post to reflect correction.

Shortly after posting this I took my dremel and shaved 1mm off the top of the floorplates and the mags work just perfectly now. They are 14 round though and not 15, so I'm not sure if maybe these are just older mags (they are LE only marked) and maybe they have changed the pistols a bit since then or something. Either way, it works now :)