Modifying my CCW...

[Anthonytsi]

I have heard that modifying my ccw trigger (lightening it) can cause bad legal problems if I ever have to defend myself from an aggressor.
I've gotten opinions on both sides of the fence and need some hard facts.
I have the Sigma .40. I polished internal parts to get rid of the gritty pull and I have removed the pigtail. I also replaced the outer spring with one from a ball point pen.
The trigger feels great and still has some weight to it. It's still heavier than other guns I have shot. I live in TN if that helps.
Thanks in advance.

 

[leejack]

Welcome to the club!

If you're question is about the legality of monkying with the trigger, I can't help you cuz I'm not a lawyer.

I am however, a proponent of leaving the sigma alone; but I may be in the minority around here.

Post often and share some good sigma stories! Glad you joined!

Lee

 

[ken158]

If you fire your gun legally in self defense then a good trigger pull is of no concern...

 

[.357 mag]

The spring on my pen broke yesterday. I must have been writing to hard.

Don't take offense to this. But do you understand where I'm coming from?

 

[bennettfam]

Sorry I don't have hard facts, but my opinion is poppycock. If you shoot someone you shouldn't you obviously didn't follow the safety rules anyway, so it's your fault regardless of what you did to the spring. I'd fix the gun to my liking.

 

[leejack]

The gun isn't broke in the first place.

 

[bennettfam]

Sorry I don't have hard facts, but my opinion is poppycock.

I typed that in a hurry and it came out wrong. I didn't mean my opinion is poppycock (though it may be at times) but rather, the idea of always fearing lawsuits and lawyers in everything we do is poppycock.

Be responsible and legal, but enjoy your firearms and freedoms without constant fear of litigation.

Not sure about that ball-point-pen spring thing though.

 

[Backon4]

I too live in TN and the rule of thumb is that it is up to the local DA. The states AG has not directly weighed in on the issue. However you also have to remember if you do ever have to use your firearm in self defense, you should still plan on having to testify, maybe in your own defense. A prosecutor or apposing counsel may and could tear you to shreds of the issue. Hence the reason I say leave it alone. I personally will not "monkey" with my carry weapon. I did modify my sigma at one point (was a range only gun) and found the differences to be minute, even with a Glock 5lb striker spring and a few other custom wound springs. Even then the trigger was still around 7.5 lbs (was 8 to start). I fired about 250 trouble free rounds but when my dad asked for it as a carry weapon it went all back to the originals. The trigger may have a tough pull but it also makes it that much safer to carry. My M&P has broken in to the point where I no longer carry it because the trigger is too light (3.5 lbs). So I use it at the range and am considering selling it or sending it in to smith to have it redone.

Take this any way you want. All I can do is give you my opinion and what I would do.

 

[brent701]

I am also a CCW holder and in my opinion I would leave it be.
I don't really understand the "Modifying my CCW..." title per say
the CCW just allows you to conceal a weapon. in AZ it doesn't say anything about what is done to the gun unless it is illegal and making the trigger lighter to pull isn't illegal unless there is a Law with specs on what min lb it has to be

If you have to defend yourself from a aggressor I would think a lot more would be on your mind than how easy the trigger felt...

Now if you are worried about due to the spring you installed would make the gun just go off or not fire when you did pull the trigger or jam than I wouldn't do it.

just me though. .

 

[Anthonytsi]

The spring on my pen broke yesterday. I must have been writing to hard.

Don't take offense to this. But do you understand where I'm coming from?

None taken but I don't understand.


Brent701, Not worried at all about the spring. Its just a cage for the inner one. About the title I chose for this thread, I meant that I am modifying my Concealed Carry Weapon, not my permit.

Took it to the range and it performed great except for one thing. About 1 out of 10 times the slide would not stay back after the mag was emptied.
Any thoughts on that?

Due to the various opinions and very good points, I will have to see it this way.... If modifying my carry weapon allows me as an individual to shoot that particular gun more accurately, than that, in my opinion, is in the best interest of myself and innocent bystanders. Hopefully I will never have to test that theory.
I have small hands and a 2 ton trigger pull will do nothing for accuracy.

Thanks for all the comments.

 

[Rick-F]

I think you have very little to be concerned about with respect to criminal prosecution with respect to modifications you have made to the sear block assembly. If it is "good shoot"-- that is, if you were legally justified in using deadly force-- you're in the clear.

The problem comes when the guy you shot, or his family, sues you in civil court claiming that you modified the handgun to have a "hair trigger" because you were a "cowboy" (or racist, or insert anything negative) and were looking to shoot someone . . . you never even considered another means of resolving the situation-- you WANTED to shoot. Your intent was to shoot someone-- modifying the weapon proves it.

I know it is all bullshit-- but juries are strange and ANYTHING can happen. Besides, even if you win, you are going to be out thousands and thousands of dollars defending yourself. In civil cases there is no "reasonable doubt" . . . sometimes there is nothing reasonable about what a jury might decide.

 

[ken158]

Why/when are you going to "give yourself up" about making any adjustments on your gun? Ever put a 4 barrel carb on a car to make it perform better? What if you have a wreck? Ever buy a buddy a drink at a bar? What if he runs over someone on his way home? A lawyer can sue a ham sandwich... and he may find a jury that will find in his favor but I refuse to be afraid of a litigious society.

 

[bitstream]

I wouldn't worry about it; in a situation where you draw your CCW to defend yourself, I'll bet your finger could pull a 100lb trigger without a problem Probably nothing wrong with cleaning it up, but I'd be careful about doing much more.

 

[Anthonytsi]

Thanks guys. Very good points.

 

[stasher1]

Imho, if you draw the weapon and intentionally fire at another person, the modifications to the trigger shouldn't matter. You intended to shoot them, and you did. Whether it was a 2 lb, or 22 lb trigger, the end result would be the same.

Now, if you have an AD because you tinkered with the trigger, that's something else entirely.

 

[Backon4]

BTW the "cage spring" is not what you think it is. When the sigma first came out they only had this spring. They later added the inner spring to help with failures. My 98 does not and never has had a inner spring. Replacing this spring can cause failures to reset. I for one would not want to take that chance.

 

[writerinmo]

IF you ever shoot someone, you have no business talking to anyone about anything other than if you think you need medical attention unless there is an attorney present to keep you from saying something you shouldn't. I decided long ago that if deadly force was ever necessary, I would call 911 first, then my wife to tell her to have our attorney on the way. Something that you think means one thing to you can mean something entirely different to someone else.

And I never saw any reason to mess with the springs on my SW40VE. I think that those who have a big problem with the trigger on these are either newer shooters that might have owned a few semi-autos, or old guys that don't like "tupperware guns" just because they think all metal guns are more manly... as much as I've shot DA revolvers over the years, I think my Sigma is very reminiscent of my S&W model 13 shooting DA, to tell the truth.

 

[Anthonytsi]

Just ordered a 3.5 lb striker spring for the sigma to further the lightening process. Hopefully no FTF's or it goes back to stock and I start injecting steroids into my trigger finger. LOL
Got to get it to shoot comfortable and accurate for "me".
Thanks for all of the comments and opinions.

 

[all5x]

Not sure..

I don't think I would modify any part of a CCW that takes away from factory specs..that would just give somebody a "hole" to try and break things open..at least if you keep it "stock" so the company who made the gun can back you up that it meet all specs and federal safety features..just my .02 to throw in..

 

[PDL]

A justified shoot is just that - justified. If you live in one of those BS states that require a certain pound pull or a certain capacity magazine, that might turn your firearm into an illegal weapon. That could cause problems I suppose. Otherwise, if you need to shoot someone, shoot. Let your lawyer talk.