Best Round for a SW40VE

Hinch0614

Hinch0614

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Hello Everyone... I recently had an oportunity to fire a Sigma at my local indoor range and had a pretty good experience. I am looking to make a purchase of this firearm and wanted Your thoughts...

I used 180gr Winchester White Box rounds and did pretty well although it wasn't in a stressed situation and I was taking my time with each shot. In your opinion or experience what would be the suggested round for indoor practice shooting as well as for everyday carry personal defense? Thank you in advance for all of your comments!~
 
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I shoot with a buddy from work that has a 40 S&W and I know that he uses the Monarch TMJ .40 Smith & Wesson 180-Grain Pistol Ammunition that Academy Sport sells to practice with. I think that they are right about $15 a box of 50. I have a 9VE that I use the same brand of round nose for practice and with over 500 rounds through mine, I have not a single FTF or jam. As for SD rounds, I believe that he uses the Hornady .40 165-Grain Critical Defense Handgun Ammunition. There is so many SD rounds out there, I would say use what you feel works the best in your 40. Hope this helps.


John
 
The Sigmas are decidedly NOT picky, so I suggest selecting a 165 or 180 gr defense load that shoots to point of aim (I use 180gr Gold Dots) and a practice load of the same size bullet. Most any brand of quality US ammo has worked for me.
 
Thank you for the insight! I will try them all and see what works best for me! I appreciate you taking the time to respond!
 
I have my third Sigma 40 now. Each one I have had functioned with 100% reliability with any ammo I tried. Also all three of them shot to the point of aim with the 180 grain bullet. Other weight bullets shot lower or higher, but always windage correct. From a rest (standing with my arms resting on the tool box of my pickup) at 50 yards all three guns produced average groups of about 4 or 5 inches, but NOT off hand. Off hand at fifty I can keep all shots well in the torso with careful shots. Rapid fire, even at 25 yards, is very difficult due to the ugly trigger pull. With practice, you get better.
 
I shot off 170 rounds through it yesterday with not a single issue! I used the Winchester FMJ 180gr(100) as was suggested. I also used the Range choice which was Federal American Eagle 180gr(50). I wanted to try a HP bullet so I tried a box of Hornady 165gr FTX Critical Defense(20), and had no problems with jamming or misfiring.

As OFKC05 said this firearm is Not Picky and handled all 3 brands that I tried so far...perfectly! I am very happy with this choice and look forward to trying a few reloaded brands and other FMJ/JHP brands when I head to the range next week... Happy Shooting!
 
Do you ever shoot the tula ammo in it. My sw40ve shoots poorly with the tula ammo with a ftf every 3rd or 4th round.
 
40 ammo

Hi guys,

I've had a 40VE for years, since they first came out. I have fed it everything. Never any kind of failure what so ever. Tula, was fine, Blazer steel case was fine. Once you learn your trigger, you're fine.

This thing is a tank. It's been dropped in Alaskan rivers while fly fishing and ground into the snow and ice in Maine, wipe it off, it shoots.

I must be up over 7000 rounds, standard cleaning. No Problems.

Now I do have to say, I don't have any experience with re loads. I guess that comes from my Glock thinking (shrugs)

I'm a Glock armorer and have replaced trigger springs, guide rods etc. with less rounds through the gun. And I'm a certified Glock nut.

Pour what you want through the Sigma 40, it eats it.
 
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I've got 700 rounds of various target ammunition and 250 rounds of JHP's now and not a single problem. I generally clean it everytime I shoot at the range, so I'm sure that is helping the effort. I can't complain at all. I really enjoy this firearm and feel that it is a really reliable and fun gun to shoot.

I haven't tried reloads or steel casing in it so not sure how it will do with that ammunition but with standard brand name I feel this firearm can handle any of them.

I have noticed that when I fire Federal American Eagle brand, it leaves the firearm FILTHY. I don't have the same issues with Winchester brand or Hornandy. Maybe it's just the stock but I used ammunition from the range and from purchased at Dick's Sporting Goods and it was the same each time.

I think my favorite brands are Winchester 40cal 180gr...white box for the range and the Hornandy 40cal 165gr FTX's for critical defense; until I find brands that shoot truer or less dirty that is what I am recommending. Thank you everyone for your input. Happy Shooting!~
 
After over 1200 rounds my 40ve has only had ftf issues with Tula. Every round after the third or so will snag on the top of the magazine. Very irritating, but I don't expect very much from $13 Russian ammo.
 
I recently was able to fire off a box of Black Hills

I recently was able to fire off a box of Black Hills in my new Sigma 40VE and was surprised at how accurate it was. I am a 1911 guy as a rule but liked it. I had a lot of FTF's that never made it all the way out of the magazine and the flat JHP of the Black Hills New (red box) not reloads 165g seemed to stick to the front wall of both 14 round mags that came with it. But I'm chalking it up to limp wristing or ammo after reading some of the posts here. I know in my 1911's and other guns I've used CCI/Speer (.22 Mini Mags and Blazer/Lawman/Gold Dots in .45 A.C.P.) with Zero malfunctions where cheap ammo (Win White Box and Russian Loads) give me all kinds of problems. I bought a couple boxes of 180g Remington Golden Sabers for my Sigma and hope to have better luck next time out. I know it really makes a difference in performance with different ammo. I have heard good things about Black Hills but this is the fist time I've tried them and will be my last if the Golden Sabers run through mine flawlessly. :cool:
 
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Before I sent my 40 off to S&W I took it to the range.My local range started carrying Speer Lawman 180 GR TMJ ammo @ $13 a box.I liked it alot and bought a few boxes for my 9mm also.
 
Someone else said Lawmans run good in the Sigmas

Ruger Nut said:
Before I sent my 40 off to S&W I took it to the range.My local range started carrying Speer Lawman 180 GR TMJ ammo @ $13 a box.I liked it alot and bought a few boxes for my 9mm also.
Click to expand...

I like the Lawman's too. I shoot a lot outdoors and don't reload anymore so I try to get the Blazer aluminum cases when I can. That's one of the reasons I wanted a .40S&W because the availiblity of Blazers and Lawmans seems better, especially at Cheaper Than Dirt - America's Ultimate Shooting Sports Discounter :)
 
Been feeding my 40ve handloads with good results. 180gr. Hornaday and Herco clean and point on. Wolff springs and about 6lb trigger. Just need a good CC holster that hold it high enough.
 
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