I'm looking into getting a semi auto and was looking for some advice. My local shop has two Sigmas, one in 9mm and one in .40, and theyre only $299. Then you jump to the M&P and you're talking $549. I was wondering if you guys can explain to me why there's such a huge price gap. Thank you

__________________
S&W 686-6 Plus Pro Series

I've owned both the M&P and the Sigma. Both proved to be dependable, but the Sigma's trigger isn't to everyone's liking, as we all know.

Jetguns.com has the M&P9 for $439 and (I think) free shipping.

Ha... I can't wait for some of the answers. I have a new model 40VE and it is so much better than my old model Sigma. I can't say there is anything cheap or low quality about the M&P guns but I'm dying to know how they can go for twice the amount of the Sigma when the insides are so similar. I don't mean interchangeable, I'm just talking use of polymer and stamped parts. There have to be almost zero hand fit parts in these things. The GMROI has got to be a bean counter's dream.

To answer the OP's question. If money is not an issue then by all means get the M&P. The M&P is a direct competitor to the Glock and Springfield XDs and has a great reputation. The Sigma has had a checkered past but I think the newer ones, from what I have heard are more reliable than the first ones. I owned a Sigma once but, in the interest of keeping this forum polite I will not give my opinion of it.

M&P. They may have fixed the Sigma trigger but I still wouldn't own one.

You might take a trip down used but not abused street and look at a 3rd generation trade in like a 4043?

B2

If you look around, you might be able to beat that price on an M&P. At one shop I frequent, the M&Ps are $489. At another, for the same M&P (no night sights) they have it priced at $659! What is really confusing is that on some other pistols, the second shop beats the first shop's prices by a significant amount.

I have owned a Sigma, and it isn't a bad pistol, despite what some who have posted in this thread have said...but, in all honesty, the trigger is very heavy. If you are used to a DA revolver, you might not find it that heavy, but compared to the M&P, there is a great deal of difference.

There is another option you might want to consider...the SD9 or SD40. In most shops, the SDs are priced midway between the Sigma and the M&P.

My advice: get the M&P. It is a better pistol, and over time, the price difference will cease to be important, or as important. Plus, the M&P will have a greater trade or resale value, if that is a consideration for you. The M&P will probably be more fun at the range, because of the better trigger.

Whichever one you get, S&W will give you good service if you do have a problem.

Both are great pistols. My first pistol was/is a sigma 9. Loved it until I got an M&P9 last month for IPSC. Still do love the sigma, but the M&P is far and away a better pistol, they took the best features of the sigma(ergonomics, reliability of the v and ve models) and improved everything else with an eye solidly on beating glocks. And they succeeded as far as I'm concerned.

FYI, on a Lyman trigger gauge, my Sigma's trigger was twelve pounds plus, stock M&P averaged 6.5 pounds, full Apex DCAEK five pounds even, and DCAEK with stock trigger return spring low four pounds.

The newer Sigmas are much improved. My had has a 40 cal version, its nice. I wouldn't take it over my M&P, but I do like it.

__________________
5903TSW 5904 5906 6906 4006

Couldn't agree more! I've recently had a dilemma of choosing a 4006/4043 or an m&p40 (even made a thread about it). Although I really liked the way the m&p shoots and feels, I just like the way an all metal gun feels in my hand and this was reinforced when my friend let me shoot his 4006.

I chose to buy the 4043 and I have no regrets. I've also owned a Sigma and sold it to a friend who wanted an intro 40 cal gun.
I shot almost a thousand rounds through the sigma without one hiccup, even with "******" ammo.
I was pretty accurate with it too, often out shooting my friends' glocks and sigs.
Never got a trigger job, but I think that just made me a better shooter.

Anyway, I have no regrets about owning a sigma and I enjoyed my time with it, I just love the 3rd generations that much more and you can get a decent used one for the same price as a new sigma. I highly recommend summit gun broker.

$100 for the M&P's lighter trigger.

$100 for the M&P's extra backstraps.

$50 for the M&P marketing fund.

Total= $250.

__________________
SD9VE, American perfection!

The M&P has a reinforced frame, reversible mag drop, ambidextrous slide stop lever, an actual front rail you can use, improved sights, completely different trigger, user can change grip size. Also comes with that stupid sear deactivation lever that only gets in the way.

Does all that justify the price difference well that depends for me the only things I would care about are the reinforced slide, front rail and the sights. Personally I dont like the ambidextrous controls they just get in the way being able to change the grip is kinda nice but i could live without it.

You really cant compare the two they are totally different pistols.

you missed being able to rack the slide on any hard lipped surface.

__________________
sw9ve, 24/7 pro Ds, Hs M4

Never seen a Sigma frame wore out yet, every lefty I have met can still drop mags from the "wrong" side, same for the slide stop which really you should pull the slide to release the slide stop anyways, you win on the front rail big time but it can still be used, the poly sights on my G17 are still hanging on so I don't see why the Sigma should be any different, the trigger is SO much better than it used to be but yes it's still heavy and debatable over that being a good or bad thing, and the Sigma/SDx grip is so natural I wouldn't do a darn thing to it even if I could.

So really, I would borderline like to see the Sigma morph into the SD setup minus the spendy sights, front slide cuts, and get the better trigger pull, but keep it's S&W in any hand price point. And EGADS S&W, dump that silly Sigma only rail design...

That was a fun back and forth. Thank you for posting that so I could retort with some proper love but strong criticism for my SW40VE...

I have a S&W 40F Sigma that I got new in around 1994. I don't shoot it much, but I like it when I do. I hear stories about frame cracking in these early models, but for me it hasn't been a problem.

I'll still take a Model 19 Revolver.

__________________
S&WCA #2018

I've worked the triggers on both. There is only so much you can do with the Sigma trigger. The M&P's trigger can be made light and crisp easily.
Personally, I would buy a used M&P over a new Sigma. That would bring the price delta to $100 or so.

__________________
Dave