Hey yall

I'm going some time this week to get my first pistol. I'm pretty set on getting this gun. I don't have much experience with pistols at all. I have been reading reviews and doing research on this gun for a few weeks and it seems that most ppl are biased towards other guns. The only real problem seems to be the heavy trigger. So I'm here to ask those of you who own/owned, or have legitimate info about this gun. No homers please.

I was wondering since I'm fairly new to guns in general if the trigger would really stick out to me and if it really messes with target shooting


Has this gun been reliable for you? Is it fun to shoot


Is S&W really as helpful as I've heard?

Really Id just like to hear yalls overall impression on this gun.

What's the best ammo for it

Ill be using it for SD/HD and a weekend shooter til I learn more and can afford a better pistol, if I even decide to advanced.


Thanks in advance

First of all, triggers and how they "feel" are very subjective. If you have strong hands, or started your shooting life with double action revolvers, the Sigma trigger seems just about right. If you have mostly single action revolvers or automatics, then the Sigma trigger will be horrible for you.

I would say this about the Sigma and any double action only gun. It is the simplest, safest and easiest system to master quickly with a minimum of training. All other types of actions can be mastered and be safely handled, but the key is training and practice.

The Sigma series are designed to be personal self defense weapons, and to be dependable and reliable. Mine has been flawless on all counts. I would say that it is not a "range gun" meaning, a gun that can be taken to a shooting range and consistently shoot small groups of holes in paper. The Sigma is designed to protect you at close quarters and do so with predictable reliability.

If you can shoot one before you buy it, I would advise it. Also, the 40 cal is a great weapon. However, if it is a first gun, I would suggest the 9mm version because it has less recoil and might be easier to master.

Best of luck.

__________________
SW40VE Sigma
Ruger SR9c

First of all,welcome to the forum.You are about to buy one of the best guns S&W has ever made,IMO,not only in its price range but overall! Yes the trigger is somewhat heavy but it will get better as you shoot it.It will take ANY kind of ammo you feed it.

S&Ws customer service is 2nd to none! If you have a problem with your gun they will pay shipping on it there and back.Try to find that somewhere else.

I have the SW40VE and love it! As mawguy stated,you might want to get the SW9VE and go from there.The recoil is less then the .40 cal and 9mm ammo is cheaper.Keep us updated on what you do.

great gun! Trigger is heavier than other pistols but not unmanageable. My Sigma has a lighter, shorter trigger than my .357 if that helps.

__________________
The kool-aid Sigma drinker

Welcome, I have the 9VE and the 40VE and carry the 40 everyday. I bought the 9VE first and then the 40VE. For a first pistol, as was stated by others, you might what to get 9mm first and then then move up to the 40VE. The 40 does have a little more kick to it. As for SD/HD ammo, there are many different sizes and brands to choose from, my personal choice to carry is the Winchester PDX1 165grain JHP and for target practice I use the Monarch ammo that Academy Sports sells, it is cheaper where I am at. But you have no worries, the Sigma will use pretty much anything that you feed it without fail. Good luck with you purchase, I think that you will be happy with your choice.

I couldn't agree more with getting the 9mm first because as a new shooter you will be wanting to practice and shoot a lot and the price difference in ammo will be important. There is also less recoil with the 9mm and the recoil of the 40 S&W is diffgerent and for a lack of better a term it's snappier.

HOWDY! <grinning and waving>

You should not have much problem with the trigger. The trigger is not, and was never meant to be, a light, slick pull with a release like a breaking glass rod for Bullseye target competition. Even though it has a reputation as 'heavy' it really feels like a double-action revolver. My S&W 'J-frame' Model 442 has a trigger that is just as heavy.

So, since you are a 'beginner' with this gun, forget about the trigger weight and concentrate on a smooth, deliberate pull all the way to the rear. The smooth pull should allow the front sight to stay on target, and then that's where the bullet should go!

Has this gun been reliable for you? My SW40F suffered some early malfunctions and was been repaired by S&W at no cost. It's been reliable since then.

Is it fun to shoot? Yep! It is even more fun to show others that a Sigma can be shot well.

Is S&W really as helpful as I've heard? Yep! I have had great service from them, and I have heard of a lot of others who are more than satisfied.

Really Id just like to hear y'alls overall impression on this gun. It is competent. It is reliable. It is cost effective. It won't impress most other shooters, but they may admit grudgingly that it can be shot well. Of course, you have to do your part and learn to shoot...

What's the best ammo for it? I'm a cheapskate, so for practice I buy Winchester White Box full metal jacket, or whatever else is on sale. It has not been picky about what I feed it.

Ill be using it for SD/HD and a weekend shooter til I learn more and can afford a better pistol, if I even decide to advanced. The Sigma should give you many, many years of faithful service. Someday you may find a 'better' pistol that is more of an incremental improvement and that the Sigma has nothing to be ashamed of.

Good luck to you, and let us know how it goes.

Heard all of the negatives about the Sigma as well. Since I was never going to be a "competition" shooter the trigger issue wasn't critical. Purchased my 40 cal about a month ago. The "kick" was not that bad. The trigger pull was no worse (actually better) than a Model 27 I had gotten from my grandfather. I bought the 40 cal with a laser sight at Gander Mt. In my mind it was a great buy and has functioned flawlessly for the 100 rounds I've put throught it. Very satisfied with my purchase.

I have a 40VE that has now 600 rounds through it by me. It has functioned flawlessly. I have shot mostly reloads through it and nary a problem.

__________________
SW40VE AF
2000 rounds so far

i just got my 40ve and have not shot it. my father in law had to of these guns. he gave one to my bro in law and kept one as it was his service pistol for a few years. he, at one point or another, was employed by local and state police. my wife had shot one of the 2 before i had met her. when we decided to buy a gun for the house, this is what she wanted, so it is what we bought. i saw a flyer advertising them for $279 and not being sure if that was the exact gun, sent my father in law an email about it. he called, asking when i was going to pick him up. he wanted to be with me when i bought the gun that was going to protect his "little girl". now i need the weather to break or find an indoor range to shoot the dang thing.

This is one gun you are going to enjoy shooting.

I bought my sigma 40 last Friday. I've only put 100 rounds through it . Being a rookie pistola choota, I was all over the place the first 50 rounds. Just like any other firearm, it takes ALOT of practice to master. and I have a long way to go. The trigger is NOT an issue. Especially since you are , like me, a rookie. Just concentrate on your sights and a straight deliberate pull all the way to the back.

I have well over 2500 rounds thru mine and the trigger is so smooth now.I know it will only get better.

i love my 40ve it has never failed me no matter what kind of ammunition i put in the magazine... i carry mine almost daily (whenever i possibly can!)... i do agree with the others who say you may want (if you can) to rent one and try it at the range before you purchase just to make sure it's what your after but yo u wont find a better gun for the price!

i know, i can't wait...but there are not any indoor ranges close by...i've got an itchy trigger finger....lol

Road trip!

Thanks for all the feedback

Hey welcome to S&W. im new to the forum as well. i got 2 sw9ve on dec 24. one for me and one for the wife. I wanted the .40 but went with 2 9mm. cheaper ammo and wife was a first time shooter.

2 trips to the range with both guns. First trip was Flawless shooting about 60rds total each gun half tulammo and s&p ammo.
2nd trip was close to flawless. Wifes gun shot 95 rounds flawless. i shot 90 rounds no problem. but when it got to the last 5 tula ammo i had, it had one ftf (cleared mag and reloaded)and then one ftl and it jammed on the 4th rd..........

Not sure what happened i didn't clean the guns after the first trip on purpose as i really wanted to run about 300rds each before cleaning to see how it reacts. My guess right now is ammo or break in period (im no expert)

I did clean it when i got home but i will run another 100 rds of the tula and some other ammo next week to see how she does.....

Sorry for the long post but at the end of the day i like the guns and for $300 its not bad..... theres alot worse you can waste $300 on.

Useful info, thanks. I am now also considering the EAA Witness P.

Well I went today and my background check had a delay on it. They said it could be from my ID having a different address. Anyone think that would hold me up?

I've had a few of my pistols choke on Tulammo that have otherwise been flawless on brass cased rounds. However my Sigma 40VE has never had an issue with it. But, I really haven't shot more than maybe 100 rounds of the Tulammo through it. The steel cases don't slide together well like brass, I was having failures to load in 9mm and 40S&W pistols. I was having a hell of a time loading the mags to full capacity with the Tulammo too. Tulammo is fine for plinking but I'd never rely on it to be used in a bad situation unless that's all that was available. Try a few different kinds of ammo for sure, some pistols just don't like certain brands.

Yes,it sure can.They have to verify where you live and if you have conflicting info,even an address,it raises a red flag.

Here in Florida 98% of drivers licenses have a "0" (zero) as the last number.Mine has a "6",meaning there are "5" other people in the USA with my name.Before I got my concealed weapons permit it took forever to do a background check on me.

__________________
How many guns are too many?

Bought new on 11/12, 1st time @ range on 11/26, trigger broke on round 196, called S&W on 11/29, pre-paid fedex rec'd via email 11/30, sent 12/1, rec'd 12/3, fix 12/8, fedexed to me 12/9, & rec'd 12/13 all no charge & easy.

Now 800 rounds total & very happy!

__________________
VE40 2010 22A 1110 MPc40 706

The trigger broke? Like the thing that your finger pulls on, broke? Or did the internals break?
Never heard in all my years of using any sort of firearm, a trigger breaking. I've heard of them not being assembled right and falling out of the gun after a round or two. Never heard of one just breaking.
Maybe you should not squeeze so hard there, Rocky.

It wasn't specified what broke internally. It may have been a spring or, more likely, something that the springs push against.

Plan an hitting putting 400 rounds a month through it & update my sig! I will be purchasing a M&P Pro in the next 4-5 months because I am very happy with S&W's integrity.

__________________
VE40 2010 22A 1110 MPc40 706

Thanks man. Was starting to worry lol

I bought the 40VE as a backup to my Glock 22. I hated the trigger pull on it since I've got the 3lbs kit in the Glock. Do a youtube search on the trigger pull fix and you wont look back afterwards. Polish the sear and remove the 2 useless springs and you will be a happy camper. Enjoy the pistol!

Welcome to the new members!

I recommend that if anyone is interested in the gun, try it out if possible first. If not, dry fire it in the store; if you like it, buy it and shoot the snot out of it.

If you don't like it, don't buy it; removing springs, ball point pen mods etc, simply isn't necessary. None of this adds to the reliability of the gun.

__________________
SD9VE, American perfection!

From me, too!

Me too, too!!

Before you learn the "Tricks of the Trade" start out by learning the Trade itself.

I've had mine for about 2 years now. Got it as my first gun and went with the 40 for the stopping power. The trigger is heavy, but I got use to it and love it. For the last year I have been using it as my practical shooting gun and haven't had one issue. I have close to 3000 rounds through it, most being reloads I get at the gun shows when they come to town. I thought about doing a trigger job on it, but then thought about how reliable it is and didn't want to mess with that at all. In the next year I will be getting something else, something like a 1911 for my practical shooting. As most have said, you can't beat it for the price. Very Very Nice gun!!!

My advice is to start with the 40 S&W - a superior defensive round over the 9mm. Just start your shooting sessions with milder loadings, and advance to hotter loads when you are able. Good Luck.

__________________
NRA Certified Instructor