I believe this is a real value (S&W Sigma)

[Erich]

Gosh, guys, thanks!

I mentioned the Sigma to a friend at work who's looking for a truck gun - just can't see how he can do better than this deal they're running.

 

[rayb]

That review is better written, more useful & informative than the stuff you read in the $3.99 - $5.99 gun rags.

Good clear writing, no BS, the facts.

Thanks for taking the time to post it.

rayb

 

[depicts]

Erich, great review. Solid information, clear and concise. Would that some of the gun magazine writers were so perceptive.

I was "gifted" with a SW40F awhile back. I had shot it once at the range before my friend gave it to me. It's a first model Sigma, and the first and only plastic gun I've ever shot.

Sighting the gun, I felt like I was looking down the deck of an aircraft carrier. It was so wide compared to the S&W 36s and 34s and .32 HEs I like and use so much.

But the sights are great. The rear sight give me enough room to quickly center and get my front sight on target.

Well, I put it in the safe, and have thought of getting rid of it. I've kept it only because it's the largest capacity handgun I have here in 10 Round Massachusetts.

Your review made me go to the safe and take the gun out. I have the original sales receipt for it from 94, and it was under 300 bucks then. It was and is an incredible bargain. Imagine, S&W quality with a lifetime guarantee at just above Hi-Point price.

I think I'll take it with me Sunday to the range, blow the dust off it and see what I can do.

Thanks for getting me excited about something I already own, instead of something I drool over and have to scrimp to buy.

Bill

 

[John Krzos]

Howdy,

Excellent article on the Sigmas. I recently bought a SW9M & SW40F(new) for $590.00. I think I got a good deal, since I'm into S&W's.
Will try to get to the range, before it snow again. Thanks again

John Krzos

 

[J. Plate]

I bought a 40GVE back in September as my first pistol. I've been told that probably wasn't a wise decision for my first, but I pretty much got my carry permit in NY for the "if Hillary gets in" reason that was mentioned before.

My reason for buying the Sigma was price and fit. Of all the pistols I actually held in my hand, the Sigma just fit. Period. I brought this one up to my face and the sights were immediately there.

I have to say, after a couple hundred rounds and some serious range time....it's a joy to shoot and I really am pleased with the purchase! I'm sold on S&W and have already been looking at the M&P line for a .45ACP and the 22A for a plinker.

 

[quailman]

Great review, Erich! Definitely a real value! I bought a 40VE last spring after having a chance to shoot a few dozen rounds through a friend's Glock 22. So I'll offer my opinion on how the Sigma stacks up to a Glock. After shooting that Glock 22, I swore I would never buy a Glock. Ugly, incaccurate (in my hands), and I couldn't hold on to the thing either. Every 2 or 3 rounds I had to adjust my grip on the thing. Then a local shop had the Sigma's for $279. I liked the feel and the price, plust the fact that it is a S&W, so I bought one. The 40VE fits my hand so much better. The trigger is only about 8 lbs on mine too. Not much different than the particular Glock I fired. I've fired about 600 rounds now without a problem. Another plus that few people seem to be aware of is that the Smith has a fully supported chamber, the Glocks don't. Anyone who reloads .40 S&W's has seen the warnings not to use those loads in Glocks!! I personally can't imagine buying a centerfire pistol that I couldn't safely reload ammunition for. So, those are just a few more things to consider for anyone thinking about buying a Sigma.

 

[Bompa]

Erich it seems as though your report on the dreaded Sigma has brought a bunch of owners out of the closet..Many are seeing just how great the gun is..When I bought mine,9mm,almost three years ago I was originaly looking for a Glock..The way the laws are in this state a new Glock is not to be had,just used ones..A used G-17 was almost two hunderd dollars more than the Sigma..After getting them both in hand it was no problem deciding what was the better feeling
grip..The Sigma followed me home that day and has been to the range at almost every trip..
It won't take the place of my 1911's but fits in rather well..Also it eats lead bullets like they were going out of style,and does it well..
The only thing I will do is change the front sight one day to a FO style,or place a red dot
sight in the rear sight slot..J-Point or Docter or something of that type as most of my handguns wear them,old eyes need help..

 

[Ky Bob]

Great review. I have six of the Sigma's because they are fun to shoot and go bang EVERYTIME without fail and IMO the best out there for the money. The 2 free mags pushed me over the edge so I now have 6 great pistols (with another on the way) with a lifetime warranty. Thats hard to beat.

 

[MattB]

Originally posted by Bompa:
Erich it seems as though your report on the dreaded Sigma has brought a bunch of owners out of the closet..Many are seeing just how great the gun is..When I bought mine,9mm,almost three years ago I was originaly looking for a Glock..The way the laws are in this state a new Glock is not to be had,just used ones..A used G-17 was almost two hunderd dollars more than the Sigma..After getting them both in hand it was no problem deciding what was the better feeling
grip..The Sigma followed me home that day and has been to the range at almost every trip..
It won't take the place of my 1911's but fits in rather well..Also it eats lead bullets like they were going out of style,and does it well..

Just one more reason Massachusetts gun laws suck. A new Glock is a threat to society but a used one is perfectly okay...the Attorney General of Massachusetts is such an idiot.

 

[runninmike]

Love the review here. I have had the 40ve a few years now, paid $289 on sale and got a cool knife as a send in rebate-(actually decent).
I love your green 9mm and will have to acquire one.
I have a Beretta 92 Brigadier 9mm, but heck, I'm a shooting enthusiast and very enthusiastic over the Sigmas so a second 9mm of another flavor is welcome here. Try the Bianchi accumold for this pistol everyone! It's an excellent compact rugged rig!
Best-MC

 

[robertgreen]

Wonderful review i bought my sigma as my first smith and wesson weapon. I picked it up on clearence at local candy store for a mere 256.35 nib otd. I love it! I have since then bought a M&P IN 9mm i carry for work but somtimes i reach for the sigma instead it is just a reliable well shooting weapon. It has in fact sold me on S&W products now if i could just stop sending so much money down range and save a bit more for one of therre 1911's...........

 

[Erich]

Thank you for the kind words. I'm hoping that the weather permits me to take my Sigma back to the range next Saturday . . . when I return from Cancun!

 

[CarbineKid]

This is the best review I have read about any handgun. Its honest, and as a Sigma owner I agree with everything you said.

 

[Erich]

Well, dang! Thanks, man!

 

[Erich]

So, finally got back to the range today (37° F, 5950' above sea level, chrono at 20 feet from bench), and did some more chronographing.

Winchester's RA9TA 127-gr +P+ load
M 1400 fps/ES 90.50/SD 37.02 (the first round was way slow compared to the others, that were bunched up nicely)
Speer's Gold Dot 115-gr +P+ load
M 1430 fps/ES 73.68/SD 31.35
Speer's Lawman 115-gr FMJ practice load
M 1324/ES 48.24/SD 20.17

Just to ensure the chrono was working properly (these numbers seemed high), I re-chrono'd two loads that I did last month (and decided the chrono was fine):

Winchester's "personal defense" white box 147-gr JHP
M 1027/ES 34.23/SD 14.10 (last month 995.0/38.51/14.24)
Winchester's NATO 124-gr FMJ
M 1289/ES 20.00/SD 9.32 (last month 1251/36.63/16.64)


Just to show that a Sigma has decent accuracy, look at the target on the top left (5 rnds Lawman, 10 yards) - this target also demonstrates how my Sigma always throws the first round to the left (this is probably due to the difference in force and seating between a hand manipulated slide and the gun loading as it fires):

I think this gun is an unreasonable value, and I really like it a lot.

 

[MattB]

In your opinion, is the M&P worth the extra $250 or so over a Sigma? I am trying to decide right now between getting a Sigma now while the rebate is still available or waiting a few months until I can afford the M&P.

Does anyone know if there is a good laser made that fits the Sigma's rail? CTC doesn't make lasergrips for it like they do for 3rd gens and M&Ps.

 

[Ky Bob]

I would say no to the M&P and get the Sigma. I had a MP 9MM and sold it. It had some trigger creep that I just couldn't get use to.

 

[Erich]

Matt, I can't say: the M&P is ergonomically wonderful and does have a better trigger than the Sigma. I started this thread only because I was psyched at what a great gun the not-well-regarded Sigma turned out to be!

 

[MattB]

Originally posted by Erich:
Matt, I can't say: the M&P is ergonomically wonderful and does have a better trigger than the Sigma. I started this thread only because I was psyched at what a great gun the not-well-regarded Sigma turned out to be!

I was also impressed by the one I had the chance to shoot out at S&W the other day. I also like the fact that pre-ban magazines exist for it, which would allow me to have full capacity in Massachusetts, which is impossible with an M&P.

 

[Wyatt Earp]

Originally posted by bwh:
I have to wonder just how much time and effort it would take S&W to change the mold to create an industry standard accessory rail. Maybe a day or so...

Probably two. One day to mill out square the portion of the mold that make the rail and to machine an insert to mold MIL-STD-1913 rails and one day to fit them up.