So I had purchased two Sigma 9VE. I used to teach a concealed handgun class. I liked the Sigmas because they had such a horrible trigger (heavy pull) I figured anyone who could qualify with those guns could shoot ok with just about anything. I also taught a lot of first time shooters and some of them had no sense of safety. So I figured if one of them turned the gun away from down range they would have to really work on an accidental discharge. (Humor intended).

I bought one at the height of the gun ammo shortage spurned by rumors of a certain politician wanting to ban all high capacity guns and “assault”rifles.

I sold one to a fellow retired cop who needed a gun for self protection. He got rid of all of his guns after retiring and then got robbed at gun point at a fast food establishment.

I took the second to my favorite LGS and put it on consignment. I wanted 200 bucks for it. It took them about five months to sell it but finally they called and said it was sold. They were asking 359.00. I did not ask what they got for it, but I bet it was 300 bucks. I did not even pay that much when I bought it brand new.

But Aside from the trigger they were reliable, accurate and they ate any kind of ammo I fed them.I loved the way it felt in my hand. It had a great feel and balance. But I’m happy they are living in another happy home.

I was given a SW9V with three ten round mags a short while ago. Truly one of the worst triggers I have experienced but very close to my Sig P250sc 9mm. A LEO friend had his department armorer install a $20.00 spring kit in the pistol for me, which helped. He also scrounged up a high cap mag and a belt slide holster for it. It wasn't so bad.

The newer version, SD9VE, runs around $305.00 new and can be found cheaper when on sale. Used ones do not bring squat around here, $200.00 or so, less for an older one like mine was.

Overall, I too believe those to be decent pistols at a good price point. I did not need another 9mm carry gun so I sold mine last week.

I had a used SD9VE $225 the only thing I didn't like was the takedown plate.

Last October I bought a used LNIB SW40VE with one 10 round magazine and blue factory hardcase for $199. (Standard Capacity 14 round mags can be found for as low as $10 during sales, so it wasn't expensive to get more.)

I've been carrying it ever since and have even upgraded it with a Meprolight Tru-Dot Tritium Front Sight which I got on sale for $12 during a Holiday Sale on Optics Planet as well as an aluminum backplate.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

I had two of the sigmas. Sold one and the one I kept broke two strikers in less than 50 rds. S &W fixed both in a short time at no charge. I still have it but I will never trust it for anything but
plinking.

The one that broke two strikers would worry me. Might be a good idea to buy and keep a spare striker for it.

But overall, agree with all the comments above: a good value for the money and good ergonomics.

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S&W Rover

What model/generation was it? I've heard that older models had issues with strikers breaking, but nobody ever specifies which model or generation it was.

I ask because I'd like to know and perhaps narrow it down. The Sigma series has gone through many revisions in order to refine the pistol and address issues, but since most folks neglect to mention what model it is when problems are reported, it's tough to tell what models may have the problem.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

The two were purchased when first introduced.

As in the original first generation (1994-1996) SW#F model?

I suspected as much due to the fact that the Gen 1 models had a different firing pin than later models, which would explain why S&W redesigned it in the first place.

Thank you for confirming my suspicion. Fortunately, mine is a 3rd Gen SW40VE.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

The Sigmas take a lot of grief for the lousy trigger, which is certainly deserved. However, you can fix that for $20 with an Apex trigger. Once you've done that, you have an excellent hi-cap 9mm that has superior pointability second to none.

I consider the 1911 the most naturally pointing pistol, an opinion shared by a lot of people. The Sigma has the same grip angle as the 1911. I would never get rid of my Sigma.

Personally, I've heard too many reports of trigger modifications coming at the more significant cost of reliability, causing the trigger to fail to reset with full-power 180gr SD loads.

If making the trigger better without sacrificing reliability were possible at the cost of a mere $20, then one would imagine that Smith & Wesson would be willing to accept said cost in order to address one of the biggest criticisms of the Sigma Series.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

My SW9ve is the latest gen, purchased in 2004 by my FIL. I inherited it and indeed the striker broke while dry firing (with snap caps) somewhere around 2010. SW fixed it and I've had no other problems since. Had some spring work done on the striker assembly and significantly lightened the trigger pull.

Actually, the latest generation is the SD#VE.

I know that some folks will argue until they're blue in the face that the SD Series is separate from the Sigma Series, but that's just them desperately trying to separate their newer guns from a series with a bad rap. However, the SD Series is indeed part of the Sigma Series, as SD originally stood for Sigma Delta, with Delta being the fourth letter in the Greek Alphabet because it is a 4th Generation iteration of the Sigma Series, but Smith & Wesson ultimately decided it was better to distance it from the Sigma Series and thus claimed that SD stood for Self-Defense instead. Regardless, it is part of the Sigma family through its lineage.

That being said, striker breakage on a secondhand firearm dating back to 2004, which I'm going to assume you don't know how many times was fired total, (dry or otherwise) isn't particularly concerning nor does it necessarily indicate that later generation models are just as prone to striker breakage as older generation models, but thank you for sharing regardless.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

Guess I'm one of those desperate people who has always thought of the SD series not being Sigmas. Different triggers, different strikers, different sears etc. Beyond the mags, I didn't think other parts were interchangeable. Go figure.

It's possible and has been done hundreds (or thousands) of times, with absolutely zero issues if you install the trigger properly. Many people don't, choosing to remove another spring that causes reset issues.

S&W gives these guns lousy triggers because of the lawyers. They're not looking for a way to improve them. To say that issues with firearms exist and remain because the manufacturer can't find a way to improve them is a bit naive.

Well said.

If it's all about lawyers then why do they offer so many other pistols with better triggers? Honestly, every last gun in the M&P Series has a better trigger, not to mention all of the old 3rd Gen S&W Pistols which were sold alongside the Sigma Series up until about a decade ago when they were discontinued. If it had anything to do with lawyers, then all of their pistols would have triggers just as heavy as the Sigma.

Or are you one of those people who believes in ridiculous unsubstantiated rumors like the Sigma Series having a heavy trigger as part of the settlement with Glock?

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

I don't know anything about S&W vs. Glock.

And I also don't believe that there's something specific about the design of the mechanism of a Sigma/SW# Series that results in a lousy trigger pull that was somehow changed in the SD# Series.

Well, you're wrong there. The whole reason why the SD has a better trigger than the SW Series is because S&W redesigned the trigger mechanism which not only provides more clearance between parts to prevent binding, but also altered the arrangement of the parts in a way which simply couldn't be done in earlier models.

It's important to note that for a time the Sigma SW#VE and SD coexisted, occupying different price points in S&W semiautomatic pistol lineup, with the SW#VE being the budget model, the SD being their intermediate offering, and the M&P Series as their best yet most expensive model. Later on they discontinued both the SW#VE and SD models and combined features of both to make the SD#VE.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

Structurally speaking, the only thing that really separates the SD from the M&P is that the M&P has a Stainless Steel subframe whereas the SD's frame is completely polymer. However, it's worth noting that Glocks have completely polymer frames as well, and it hasn't really ever been a problem, especially considering the Glock's reputation for durability.
Furthermore, the lack of a Stainless Steel subframe makes the SD substantially lighter in weight, and thus easier to carry. (SD9VE = 22.4oz / M&P9 2.0 = 28oz)

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

Bought an SD9VE 5 years ago for my 1st pistol. I learned to shoot with that long, heavy pull. Everything after that is like butter. I sold that pistol. But I missed it so much, I bought a used one a few months ago.

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