I took my Sigma to the range for the first time in a long while today. Well, the first time I've ever actually taken it to a range. All the other shooting I've done with it was plinking cans and such.

Even though I was shooting a box of my own reloads, one of the first boxes of 9mm ammo I'd reloaded, that silly gun just worked like a champ. Not one malfunction. I even managed to hit the target a time or two, which if you know me you'd realize what a surprise that is. Shoot. I didn't even pull my finger out of joint pulling the trigger.

Now what am I going to gripe about in the "I hate Sigma's" threads?

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John 3:16 .

[QUOTE
Now what am I going to gripe about in the "I hate Sigma's" threads? [/QUOTE]

That theres no subcompact??

That you saved $200 over the XD....

You have such a delema....LOL

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1911Pro9 M&P9 40 45c 686.357

That theres no subcompact??[/QUOTE]

Or ultra compact. Like the new ruger LC9

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The kool-aid Sigma drinker

I think the only complaint is that it's made in the USA! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

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SD9VE, American perfection!

Took my 9wve to range shot 100rounds and the pin that holds trigger in was backing out. Put 50more and the trigger felt loose to me.probably needs to be staked in, but I traded if in on a Taurus millennia.

My 40VE works like a champ with anything I feed it.& didn't cost an arm & leg. Made by Smith & Wesson in the good old USA by American workers. What am I doing wrong?? What's wrong with the pistol? Who at S&W do I contact? Which forum do I go on to complain loudly? I was told by many that the Sigma was junk. Where can I find those people to thank them for setting me straight? Even the trigger feels good after dry firing & shooting some rounds downrange. Something isn't right!

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Former USN, Retired US Army

If that pin backs out on the Sigma, the pin is installed backwards.

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Science plus Art

I had a Sigma 9 that I put 2,000 flawless rds. of my reloads thru. Sold it for something else, but I had no complaints!

I've put nealry 500 rnds through mine & other than the trigger I have no complaints. Shoots well & well worth the price. I too wish they had a sub-compact as I'm looking for a good CCW...

You can complain about customer service. I know you haven't used it but the people who complain about Sigmas haven't use one either. !

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Most patriotically,
Eric

My first handgun was the SD40VE and I've had no real problems with it. Got a used Taurus Millennium and problems with the trigger safety engaging when it shouldn't have been. Removed the trigger safety and haven't had a problem since. I'll still take the made in the USA S&W over the made in Brazil Taurus.

Later,
Hock

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Later,
Hock

Well, you cant brag to the other Mall Ninjas about how much you spent and how smart that makes you. I qualified for my CHL with my Sigma. Another shooter showed up with a $1,000 plus custom 1911. My Sigma performed flawlessly and I shot 49 out of 50. His custom 1911 choked so badly he could not finish. I had an extra box of ammo and loaned him my Sigma and the ammo and he finished the course.

Complain that they don't have one in 45 ACP.

I sold dozens of them when I worked at Bass Pro if they weren't any good you'd think the word would get out.

Mike Grandick

I had a SW40VE it was a solid gun never any trouble I just did not like that funny trigger.

Love My SW40VE trigger and all one wish would be one in black so I could have two and be able to tell them apart

I'm sorry for your suffering.

However, if you start messing with it like many of the kitchen table gunsmiths by trying to put in new action parts (APEX or perhaps others), taking out springs and other parts S&W thought necessary to the design (those silly gun designers at S&W), and maybe do some of your own modifications, you too can have an unreliable SIGMA and come on here and complain bitterly about how S&W will not fix your gun for free or turn it into a Performance Center match gun for $50.00 with free shipping.

Hey, now...you'd be ruining my side business of buying these "junk Sigmas" and repairing them, then reselling them for a small profit!

My latest acquisition is a SW9VE that includes a homemade take down plate that sticks, ball point pen spring, and a botched polish job. I actually traded a Mossberg 702 Plinkster for it...and I only paid $79 for the Mossberg a few years ago for my son. The boy has since been upgraded to a Ruger 10/22.

I think I have enough spare parts in the shop for it, including the TD plate from when I changed mine for a wider one.

When done, I should have no problem getting $275 or more.

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Μολών λαβέ!

Oops. Sorry about that!

I would not want to take away your business!

There is another thread on here about a gent who carved away a substantial portion of his SWVE frame (cannot remember if it is a 9 or 40), and fabricated his own take down plate from aluminum.

I am not sure about that, but on the Glock, it is used to lock the barrel and must be placed in correct orientation after removal. I thought perhaps it was a stressed part and therefore might need to be steel having plenty of support from the sides of the frame. I always wonder about this stuff, but perhaps I should just let it go so you have plenty of "defective" SIGMAs to buy, fix and resell.

a62rambler, gotta take exception to that remark. I did own a Sigma for app 3-4 days and couldn't get rid of it fast enough. the retired cop that sold it to me as part of a package deal couldn't git rid of it quick enough either. when S&W were briefly taken over and wanted to compete with the cheaper black plastic market and FIRST CAME OUT WITH THE SIGMA. there were plenty of bugs in them like: Hercules couldn't fully load a mag, the mag would invariably fall out on the ground after a couple of shots, if the mag did manage to stay put, there were lots of ftf's and fte's. so my gripes about them are first hand exp's. the newer ones are a whole other story and I'm saying nothing about THEM.

I have a VE model in .40 cal that I'm waiting on a frame for. The previous owner took too much away from the frame, and it can't be saved. I may just use it as spare parts for other ones I pick up.

I like these guns...very simple with an easy to understand firing system. All too often, people think they know what they are doing when trying to modify them, but ruin them in the process. Granted, these are inexpensive handguns, and they are designed to be cheaply manufactured, but there isn't much that can be done to improve them, because of the design.

I carry one daily, concealed or open, depending on the weather. I know that each time I pick ut up, it will fire properly. I know that I can trust my life on it to operate as designed...which is better than my 1911's. With the exception of my AO 1911, which is a true mil-spec version, I wouldn't trust them to do what they are supposed to do, because I've modified them so much. The VE versions are perfect, if not a bit too wide. They are a great handgun, perfect for personal defense, and were priced, much like the SD line, in the range that most homes can afford one.

Perhaps one day someone will eventually come along and design an aluminum trigger for the Sigma/SD versions, but I doubt it. The cost to develop and test them would be so high that the average owner won't put the cash out for the improvement.

I'm currently working on an the housing for the sear block trying to cheaply insert a .015" piece of stainless steel so the sear block rides on steel instead of plastic. This is where the gritty trigger comes from. No amount of polishing the transfer bar will improve the feel of the trigger. I'm also messing around with a larger diameter pin to connect the transfer bar to the sear block, in hopes of lessening the trigger travel. All of this takes a lot of time, and the demand for the improvement is low...for the average owner.

In the end, this isn't a weapon that is highly sought after, isn't a weapon that is cheaply improved upon, but is a very reliable handgun that will work each time if left alone.

As long as there are people screwing around with them, I'll be able to repair them and sell them rather cheaply.

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Μολών λαβέ!

You didn't buy one for each hand maybe.

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Don't leave home without it!

I've owned a Sigma 9, SD9 (original, not VE), M&P 9C, and now a Shield 9. Never had a bit of trouble out of any of them. After I did the trigger spring fix on the Sigma, it shoots as good as the rest at 10 yards. Really, that's what it was designed for.

Originally, yup. After I sold one for more than I had in it, I decided to buy more. I've always got my eyes open for another that needs repaired after someone fiddles with it.

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Μολών λαβέ!

Exactly...these aren't match pistols. They are, however, a reliable SD weapon.

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Μολών λαβέ!

I just purchased a Sigma in 9MM from my local Gander Mountain yesterday. For $349.00 before taxes, a pistol with such fit and finish seems to be a real bargain! As it's my 12th S&W in nearly 4 decades of shooting, I suspect I'll like it.

Don't tell the folks in the semi-auto section how great the Sigma's are.

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Sure you did

I would still complain about my first gen Sigma if I really thought it was worth doing so.

But the last gen Sigma I had and sold (shouldn't to that...) was just fine. I really enjoyed having it as the bedside gun the whole time I had it.

I'm still thinking of adding the newest SD to the collection.

I have an old series 80 Colt Gold Cup that was accurized at the Ft. Benning army pistol teams shop.
It is no more or less accurate than my 40VE. For the money involved I would take the 40VE any day and would lean toward the Sigma for the grip angle.
I've been shooting and working on firearms for about 50 years have only seen one out of the box pistol that did not need any tweaking and that was a Colt Python.
It would be very hard to come up with a pistol that cost $300.0/$350.00 that beats the Sigma and I've seen some $600.00/800.00 guns that have worse triggers than the Sigma, which seems to be the main gripe about the S&W.
I'll keep my 40VE.

I just shot my first IDPA, yes while embarrassing to say with all the 'real' guns there, I used my Sigma! I guess since it was my first match, no one laughed, (at least loud enough for me to hear, must have been my ear plugs), the gun didn't shoot the wrong target, break or blister my trigger finger, oh well....

I have a SW9VE that I actually like. It fits my hand quite nicely. As long as you remember these are "value" guns, not fully refined premium pistols. I have a blast with mine, however it is not something that I would stake my life on.

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

Why not? It's a very reliable firearm. Lemme guess...you'd only stake your life on your 1911A1 with all the bells and whistles, right?

Seriously...it's a great gun that is very reliable.

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Μολών λαβέ!

I agree, I've shot over 2,000 rounds out of mine, training classes, etc., I would definitely bet my life on mine!

I bought an SW40VE at a bargain , the only disappointment it has given me is that I'll never get a better pistol for what I paid for that one again!

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THX , Roy

At the risk of shaking up all the sd9ve haters......I have owned several all metal s&w 9mm's, .45 cal's, and currently the M&P 9 and the SD9VE, after 40+ years of shooting I have to conclude the most reliable, accurate semi auto has been my SD9VE. I prefer the appearance of the M&P 9 but Never had a single issue, malfunction FTF, FTE, nothing with the SD9VE. Super reliable, I don't recommend shooting with your eyes closed, but hardly can tell any difference between the M&P 9 and the SD9VE except the M&P is slightly heavier. People mistake the model as a sigma, which it is not.

I paid $350 for the SD9VE when the MSRP was $379., now one store has them for $275. new ,apparentely the confusion with the original sigma made them hard to sell.

I rotate my SD9VE and SW9VE as my carry weapon. I own higher dollar guns, to include a Springfield 1911A1 Range Officer.

I equate them to cars...I own a classic Mercedes that I enjoy driving, is worth a lot of money, and is noticed when it's out. It costs me a decent amount of money to maintain the Mercedes. I also own a Chevrolet, that I paid less for, and it costs much less to maintain. The Mercedes has been in the shop more than the Chevy, so I rely on and use the Chevy as my daily driver.

My 1911 is finicky, but fun to shoot. It cost me a decent amount of money, and I have about the same amount in it on custom stuff as I paid for it. When it's in a good mood, it will give a stellar performance. However, with it being finicky, and won't work as designed at times, I carry my ugly black and silver S&W...because I know it will work everytime I pull the trigger.

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Μολών λαβέ!

Hmmm...I guess I look at it differently. If I have a gun that works perfectly, without any issues or failures, why wouldn't I stake my life on it, regardless of what it cost? For serious need, I am going with the most reliable gun I have, every time. For range fun, finicky guns are acceptable...not great, but acceptable...I just want better than acceptable when my life is on the line.

IMHO the S&W Sigma is like the Ruger P95. Blue collar ( as in not cool), totally functional, reliable, and proven, decent triggers and sights, built like a tank, priced well below other "cool" semi-autos. Both are more than well worth the money. So why the raps ?? They don't deserve it, but those of us who own them can smirck knowing we have the best pistols on the planet for the $$

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John

Love my SD9VE. But I must say that my Sig Sauer SP2022 is also a very well built and reliable firearm for about the same MSRP.

I have had my 9VE for seven years now. Only had one real problem with it, which was caused by a friend field-stripping it to clean it, and he broke the guide rod. Sent it to S&W, who also smoothed out the trigger while they had it.
It is one of my carry guns, and stays in the truck as my back-up. You can't go wrong depending on the Sigma.

The price on the SP2022s has gone up, at least around here. I used to see them for $399 at Academy. In the gun shops, they are about $50 more. I paid $299 for my SD9VE a few months ago. Now, Academy has them listed for $459, but they never have any in stock. I saw one in a local shop the other day for $599.

The SP2022 really is a good gun...it is very under-rated, and actually has a better trigger on it than many other SIGs I've owned: a SP2022 in 9mm, as well as a P220 in .45ACP; a P229, P228, and P239 in 9mm; and a P238 and P232 in .380ACP. The small grip fits me better than any other, except the E2 grip.

The only thing I don't like about the SP2022 is the take down lever...but it's not that bad. It's just not as easy to manipulate as is the standard SIG take down lever on the other pistols.

Sat LGS has SD9VE for $315. Will have to go back and take a good look at that.

I put several thousand rounds (mostly Win. W.B.) through my SW9VE with no malfunctions at all. I sold it when the M & P's came out, then I bought three M & P's. Now I wish I still had the SW9VE even though it got to where I hardly ever shot it.
Hate selling my guns!!

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NRA & TSRA
Texas CHL Holder