I bought an SW9VE two weeks ago and have put 500 assorted rounds through without a hiccup. Every "non owner" I meet tells me "they're junk", "call me when it breaks", "no quality", "buy an M&P", "SW giving them away to Iraqi police", "I've HEARD they have problems", the trigger will break" etc.
I have owned over 100 handguns and although it has a "heavy" trigger, it IS a true DAO and no one should expect the trigger of a Camp Perry/ Les Bear 1911!
I am getting center mass double taps from the leather in 2.0 seconds at 10 yds. What am I missing here??? Is all this true or is this gun the sleeper of the decade??? Just leave it alone and shoot it !!!
PS: My 1911PD and HK P2000 broke at 150 rds!!

I think one's view of the gun may be influenced a lot by one's background. People who cut their teeth on 1911s seem to hate it. Those whose background is da revolver like it a lot more.

I'm a revolver guy, and although I enjoy shooting my 1911, I'm far more comfortable shooting a gun with a da trigger. I've tried the triggers on several Sigmas and they strike me as having a feel not unlike a da revolver trigger. No, you can't stage them but the pressure required to cause the gun to fire is roughly comparable. I LIKE the Sigma trigger, it's right in my personal comfort zone. I also like the gun's ergonomics. The grip frame is way friendlier for me than a Glock grip frame.

I have no doubt that my next handgun purchase will be a Sigma. With the rebate that Smith offers more or less continuously, a Sigma can be had for well under $300. From all accounts, it's tough, accurate, reliable, and has a trigger that I'm comfortable with. What's not to like?

I guess now you know the truth!

I enjoy the heck out of my 9mm Sigma. I thought it was great to begin with, but I did send it to LSG to get things smoothed out and like it even more. My biggest mistake? Letting my wife shoot it and now it looks like I will have to buy another one... for me!

You see, I actually checked out the reviews and asked questions BEFORE I bought it and knew what I was getting into while it seems that most people buy it sight unseen because of the attractive price and then come here and bitch about what a piece of **** it is!

I find it hard having any sympathy for them!

Scott

Agree completely.

I bought my Sigma on impulse, but it was a good impulse buy. A steal at $250 after rebate. Guy at the range next to me last Saturday was there for 1st rounds thru his Sigma. He too could not believe how good the pistol was for what he paid. I've done some trigger work on mine, he was interested, directed him to this forum so he could research, decide if he wanted to do his too.

Sigma just has a bad rep, undeserved IMO, and that rep had kept me from purchasing one in the past.

But there is the positive... if not for that rep, the cost to purchase would be much higher.

Hi, my name is Angel and I'm the exception.

Seriuosly, I did no research, just ran across negative comments on these pistols on the boards, mentally had crossed it off my list of possible purchases when looking for a 9mm. Till I saw the "Hot Deal" tags on the Sigmas in Academy's display case. I took it to the range immediately after leaving Academy, was very happy with my rash purchase.

""SW giving them away to Iraqi police","

I don't know about Iraq, but I was in Afghanistan when Sigmas were issued to the Afghan police. All of the ones I fired over there had very heavy trigger pulls. I started in law enforcement when the DA revolver was the norm and I don't feel that the triggers are that close in comparison. I prefer my S&W revolvers or the Glock to the Sigma.

The Afghan Army also received Sigmas.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Mass ignorance is born when one person has a bad experience, rants about it in public forum or two, then people with no actual experience take it as gospel and spread it around like it's universal truth. You cannot fix the ignorant, you can only hope that eventually they will follow the next sheep off the mountain. This is more applicable to the SW9VE than any other gun I can think of. When people bash or bad mouth your SW9VE just look at them with pity and say "Oh, I thought you were knowledgeable about guns".

Wow.. That has to be a Glock storage container

I recently bought a SW40VE. Just the 40 S&W version of the 9 mm. I bought the Sigma because I am a double action revolver person. I feel more comfortable with a DAO type gun. The Sigma fits my needs. Simple to clean, reliable and accurate enough for SD. Most people bash the Sigma as being junk because of the trigger. But that shows that they have little experience with action types in guns. The same people that bash Sigma probably would bash a double action revolver. They don't understand that guns are made different and every pistol is not going to have a 1911 trigger. In a stressful situation such as defense of a person life most people will be better off with a DAO type gun. That is why experience gun testers recommend a double action revolver over most other guns because of the experience level of most people. The Sigma is one of the semi-autos that is as close to a revolver as possible. I have been shooting handguns and rifles since 1971 and I believe for the person that is learning to shoot either a Sigma or a revolver is the best first gun for HD/SD. As a person gets better then they can always go to a different type gun.
I just hope Smith keeps making the Sigma. Its a excellent gun for its purpose.

Regards,
roaddog28

That was my thoughts too.

New production Sigma's are great weapons. It's a DA, what kind of trigger do you expect? Mine actually feels a bit lighter than the Model 60, so I'm far from complaining. Accuracy to date is great and I haven't even seen it think of malfunctioning.

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Fast is fine;accurate is final

I say trust your own instincts. Rarely has following the herd been a good policy for anything in life. Additionally, the Internet is a repository for a lot of misinformation.

My only complaint with the Sigma's are that they are so well liked the price keeps going up.

I have a SW40VE and next new purchase will be a SW9VE

A lot of us who were around when they first came out were tainted by the quality (lack of) and fragile nature of the actions. Not only am I an unabashed S&W fan, but I also spent nearly 10 years helping a gentleman locally at his indoor shooting range. The early Sigmas were, sorry to say, mostly junky, with poor quality triggers that had a habit of breaking at unusual times - like shooting them.
The Enhanced Sigma went a long way towards fixing the problems and I've heard plenty of good things about the more recent guns. You need to factor in the old adage "you never get a second chance to make a good first impression", and the stigma of the early Sigmas has lasted a long time for many of us.
No, I'm not one of the folks that lambast S&W autos because it's trendy to do so on other boards, the early guns had issues.
Now, for the M&P, I've talked to folks that have been in the gun business for longer than I, work at indoor ranges where these things get shot a lot and don't get a lot of maintenance and have heard guys that have been historically Glock and 1911 fans (bigots) tell me that the M&P works, S&W got it right. I believe them, it does seem to be the gun that the Sigma should have been. I remain on the side of the crowd that will not buy a Sigma. BTW - my son in law had one when he came into the family, very problematic and the $200 bath he took in disposing of it still weighs on my mind.

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.............SmithNut

I agree with that statement. When I attended my first LE Firearms Instructor school in the late 1990's I watched 2 people with SW9F Sigmas suffer issue after issue until the first gun when down completely. I helped detail strip the gun to see if we could diagnose the issue. My assessment; cheap parts, low quality control and insufficient design testing. Not a banner day in the history of S&W. Even then I know a few guys with the original Sigma's that are good reliable guns.

However when the SW9VE came out and the word was made known that it was better made, with better quality control and an "enhanced" design I did not instantly judge the gun on it's predecessor. I did not buy one right away, but after enough people started singing it's praises amongst a ton of haters declaring them ****, I decided I had to buy one to just see for myself. I was and am very pleased that Smith decided not to just discontinue the line, but to make it right.

I will also add that I don't know of a gun that did not suffer initial issues and did not need to be "enhanced". Sig had issues with their duraluminum frames cracking, Beretta slides had issues with blowing off the back of the gun, Glock is up to it's 4th generation of revision and even the venerable 1911 you see today is nothing like the original gun was. Even the new Bren Ten has been slightly modified from the original.

Plain and simple, why listen to people who have never owned one. Thats not to say that very experienced gun owners don't have very valuable information, but everyone has a preference and opinion. I don't give my opinion on Glocks as I've never owned one, I just don't like the feel in hand. Take the info given from those who've owned a sigma (I have 300+ thru my SW40VE with no prob's to date and no complaints but I know of several other sigma owners who have had issues), and figure the pro's vs. con's. My trigger was fine when I bought mine, a little stiff but I knew that when I bought it (and I'm not accustomed to a revolver trigger) and still have no issues with the trigger. It's not a target/competition gun, no one will tell you that it is. Is mine a 100% reliable, so far it has been but I've only got 300ish rounds through mine. Is it accurate, mine is as accurate as I am at this point, can others shoot more accuratly, sure. Has mine been worth every dime I spent on it, yep. Will I admit that there are better quality/performing weapons out there, sure there are. Depends on what YOU are looking for, do your research, and make as informed of a decision as you can. Even borrow/rent one if you can.

Pic is 14rds from 20 yrds, first time I shot this pistol. Additional info: it was 11 degrees this day and I wasn't wearing gloves so I was a little cold (not to make excuses)

__________________
...This too shall pass...

I hefted one in my local gun shop just this morning, and it felt very good in the hand. I was very impressed with how easy it was to rack the slide, also.
But how can one tell if it is a "new production" compared to an "old" production? This particular gun shop does not seem to move a lot of merchandise (probably because of their high prices), and I want to make sure I get a new production firearm. What about the ones Bud's is pushing---are they new production?

Look for a proprietary "rail" on the frame's dust cover. Old Sigmas have no rail. Secondarily the model designation is on the slide. SW9E, SW9VE and SW9GVE are the new models. I am sure Bud's only has the new guns, the old ones haven't been produced since 1998 or 1999.

If it has the rail on the dust cover, its an "enhanced" version and will be of current design...


*edit* Lol pulled the trig the same time as MLK ...

HighStrung, for the first time using a 40VE that is good shooting. And at 20 yds it proves that the Sigma is more than good enough for S/D. Thats why I bought one. I see a 9VE in my future.

regards,
roaddog28

Great comments so far! I hope we can get a fair number who simply say " I own a Sigma XXX and I have put XXX rounds thru it. My experience has been...." What? Click? Snap? Crack or Bang? Thanks

No, that's where the extra $200 you paid for your Glock really went.

All the Best,
D. White

This is where the extra $200 you spent for your Glock really went.

All the Best,
D. White

I have had my SW9VE for about a year now. About 1000rnds down the tube so far and only had one malfunction. On its second mag full it double fed. Haven't had a hiccup since. Trigger is a bit heavy but its not gona go bang unless I intend it to either. Not a target pistol but that's not what it was designed for. It is what it is... tough and reliable. I will trust my life to it. Only problem I have now is with the rebate I want a SW40VE to go with it...

I think its a fine gun myself. I read all the negative comments all over the internet, past and present, then just had to have one. My thinking was its a S&W, I like to tinker with things anyhow, so polishing the trigger was a fun project for me. I have the 9ve. S&W will take care of any problems I have should they arise. Then there is always this:

YouTube - A Few Good Man "You Can't Handle the Truth"

9VE, 300, Bang every time. No malfunctions. I'm very satisfied with it.

I have sigma 9ve and it shot's fine no malfunctions yet 2000rd and counting

3 sigmas, first two were VE's and currently a GVE. 15,000+ rounds though the GVE and probably 10,000 collectively through the other 2 i had. (i miss the days of cheap 9mm )

A couple of feeding failures when they guns were new < 200 rounds and some problems with light strikes while i was monkeying around with spring mods and that sort of thing on the second VE. Other than that they have been 100%.

Older Sigma's will also have smooth non-checkered grips. Those I would stay away from.

Mines has been great to me

__________________
Don't look, reload and shoot!

I've only fired one. At a public range, a younger fellow was having problems with one. My shooting buddy brought this guy to me. I cleared the gun and field striped it because they wanted to see that the barrel was clear. I put it back together. The guy wanted me to shoot it. Now, I had been shooting a G26 for about an hour, and when I pulled that sigma trigger.... I thought the gun was broken. It was not, it was a terrible trigger. My revolvers are lighter and smother than that sigma 9mm. I hope that guy just had a lemon.

When I took it down, I thought wow, I can get a Glock knock-off for cheap. After shooting one, I'll pass.

Have only shot one in .40, about the worse trigger on a auto I have ever shot. I would not buy one just because of the reputation and the resale value. Why not just spend a bit more money and buy a Glock, M&P, XD, etc? Can anyone name a worse auto loader from a major manufacture? Perhaps a P89? Just my opinion.

Colt All American 2000

Some of these Page 4 posts could not have proven my post on Page 1 of this thread any better if I scripted them myself. Ever pulled the trigger on a Sig P6? Like flipping a 12lb circuit breaker. Yet they seem to sell like hotcakes. Why? Because with a little trigger work they are a great gun and an excellent value, just like the SW9VE.

Glock Gen4

I picked up a Sigma a couple weeks ago. I really like it! I took it to the range and was breaking clay pigeons at 50 yards, of course it is a bit like horseshoes, a close miss will often throw up enough sand to break them
Today I picked up a M&P9C for a carry gun, it is just that much smaller than the Sigma and alot smaller than my Colt 1911's.
I was thinking of another full size 9mm and a friend recommended a full size M&P.
Anyhow I like the feel of the Sigma so much I was thinking of getting the all black S&W 9VE I will try them side by side for feel and I may decide to take the Sigma to Florida with me to my buddies who has the M&P full size and try them side by side.

So I have a delima, Sigma or M&P?

I've put 325 rounds through my 9MM Sigma. No malfunctions yet. It has shoot everything I have fed it.

__________________
Smith & Wesson Sigma SW9VE

SW40VE - over 1000 rounds downrange, 0-stovepipes, 0-FTF,FTE.
Takes some skill to shoot paper with, but I can hit center mass anytime. I carry it almost everyday, condition one, never worry about an AD. IMO a great SD/HD gun, it fits my hand like a glove, feels right, dont have to fumble with levers or buttons, just pull it and fire.
What more do you want for $250 ?

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2nd Admen.-Right to bear AR 's

Sorry mlk18, I didn't realize my post was a display of "Mass ignorance" you referred to earlier. I thought I was being kind when I said the Sigma I shot had a terrible trigger, and was perhaps a lemon. Trust me, when I shot the Sigma, I used much more colorful language to describe its performance.

Here is the truth about the Sigma...
You get what you pay for.

SW40VE. Guess I have a few hundred rounds through it (I don't keep track), no problems at all. IMO, whatever problems existed with the first sigmas, S&W solved them with the Enhanced series. They're not a target pistol, but they don't cost that much either. I think they're a good value.

I carry a Sigma. I will bet you your Buck knife and box of Skoal that Plaxico Burress didn't have a Sigma.

"...On Friday, November 28, 2008, Burress suffered an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound to the right thigh in the New York City nightclub LQ when his Glock pistol, tucked in the waistband of his black jeans, began sliding down his leg; apparently in reaching for the gun he inadvertently depressed the trigger, causing the gun to fire..."

__________________
SW40VE Sigma
Ruger SR9c

The truth is, the sigma is a fine pistol (now) that seems to put people off due to the heavy trigger pull.

There are alot of fine weapons that people talk trash on because of heavy triggers, (anyone ever fired a VP70 ? trigger pull like a staplegun). But for those of us that don't have the finger streangth of a arthritic, malnourished cancer patient, they are fine.

If you can't shoot a sigma well, then thats fine; but calling it a piece of junk because your weak fingers can't handle the trigger and your weak wrists can't keep the gun steady while pulling said trigger then thats not the fault of the gun.

LMAO. but truer words have never been spoken

Psychology 101.

Just to keep it simple; there are those with a vested interest in keeping the sigma down. The good news is, it also keeps the price down for those who choose to buy one.

I pay no attention to gun bashers whatsoever! They have a better TV, truck and house than I do, too.

Lee

Good Morning,
Thanks for commenting. Let's get past the heavy trigger and stick to reliability and real experience. I see several names on other forums of people who own Sigma and put many rounds thru with no problems. I am liking this gun more and more. Took the wife to the range yesterday. She has been a Model 65 shooter (K frame revolver) and after 2 mags said, "I'll take it" (she's a quality nut who can't resist a sale!). Looks like we are in for "his and hers"!
PS: I have been carrying concealed in Glock belt slide combat holster and works fine. Make sure it is one of the new ones that fits the large and small frame Glocks ($20??)

jadek669 Way to go love that last post.

I bought one of the Sigma 40's in the mid 1990's. believe it was an F model but not for sure on that?

I owned it but briefly.....as the gun wasn't servicable! I wanted a light-weight .40 service sidearm that wasn't a Glock, and bought the S&W Sigma 40 with a police discount....it was about $120 cheaper than a Glock. Also about $250 too much.......Trigger was tough to begin with, then got worse and worse until the gun wouldn't shoot at all!!! The Sigma lasted about 300-400 shots and died.

A couple calls to S&W customer service, and the gun was off to the repair center for a month. Came back working again, but soon the trigger got worse yet again. I had completely lost faith in it already....not something I wanted strapped to myself as a duty arm. I peddeled it at the next convenient gunshow while it was still working.

The redesigned later model Sigmas seem to enjoy a decent reputation, however my experiences with a 1990's Sigma would force me to rank the pistol right up there with with Lorcin.....or Bryco....

I'm not knocking the Sigma pistols they are making now. S&W about has to have the issues worked out to keep the pistol on the market. The early Sigma pistols however, seem to have set the Sigma pistol series reputation.....and at least part of that horrible reputation is based on broken/defective guns!

When Glock's were $375 NIB you got what you paid for, now you are paying for marketing and supply v. demand associated profit. At sub-$350 for a SW9VE you are also getting what you pay for, you're just not lining someone else's pocket with an inflated price tag. The price of a gun and the value of a gun are two very different unrelated concepts. Either way when I win the big lottery I will just have Novak make me a matched set of custom High Powers and then give away my SW9E to a needy soul. On second thought a great deal is a great deal, ultra-rich or not.

Awesome. Maybe Smith & Wesson should include a free hand exerciser with every SW9VE.

Your comment reminded me that when I was in the police academy the instructor brought out a Ruger P94 that he intentionally made the trigger long and HEAVY, something like 14lbs. He said he started every range session with 2-3 mags full through the P94. When he switched back to his duty gun (Sig P226), he said it was like shooting a competition gun.

I recently traded my Sigma 40VE for a Glock 27. The only problem I ever had from the Sigma was accuracy. After buying a Glock 22, I was comparing the 2 and noticed the Glock barrel had absolutely no movement when in battery but the Sigma could be moved side to side. I say to myself, this is why I can't hit within 6 inches at 15 ft at all. Other than the accuracy, I had no problems at all with the Sigma. No ftf, fte. I have no problem recommending a Sigma to anyone for defensive purposes but I wanted a little more accuracy. I could also afford a little more too.

Sigma Truth questions...

How is the trigger with gloves on? It looks a little close for gloves.

Can you get a .357 sig barrel for the .40 S&W model?

If you had it done, what was the cost for a pro to do the trigger work?