MY Sigma 9VE update

[gatorhugger]

I purchased this gun with a lot of hesitation.
I remember when they first came out and they were sort of a joke around here.
In the last couple of years it seems that nobody talked about them on gun forums much except here, and on Glocktalk they are openly laughed at. But the members here that ACTUALLY OWNED ONE seemed to like them.

Some said the trigger pull was too heavy but it was ok for self defense and others said to send it off for adjustments.

True to everyones advice here, I loved the looks and feel of my sigma from day one with the exception of the trigger. I felt it was too heavy, but figured it would lighten with time.

I actually tied a shoe string around the trigger to hold it back and left it that way for a week. I dry fired it about 500 times. I shot a couple hundred rounds through it. I figured you use a spring enough it weakens.
WHATEVER I DID WORKED!
The trigger now feels like 6 pounds. It was always a beautiful, lightweight gun. The fit and finish is the same as $1000 gun.
This is not my first gun, I have had probably 30 handguns, and still own 4.
I really think the sigma is now my favorite and that includes a Smith 6906 in pristine condition.
I love the gun. It's the best $300 I have ever spent on a firearm. Looking for another.
This gun is going to be just like the 3rd generations, not appreciated until after it's gone. Smith will focus on the M&P since the profit margin is larger and I expect the sigma to be discontinued.
Darn shame, what a great pistol!

 

[FennRx]

glad you're satisfied! i love my sigma. like you, best $300 bucks i've spent on a handgun. over on AR15.com, some guy was running his mouth about the Sigma being just a saturday night special made by a decent company.

bullspit i say!

 

[cshoff]

Originally posted by FennRx:
glad you're satisfied! i love my sigma. like you, best $300 bucks i've spent on a handgun. over on AR15.com, some guy was running his mouth about the Sigma being just a saturday night special made by a decent company.

bullspit i say!

I have found that there are generally three types of people that badmouth the Sigma.

The first type are the one's who have never even shot one before, but read some nonsense on the internet somewhere and base their opinion solely on that information alone.

The second type are the ones who have shot the Sigma, but who possess such poor trigger control skills, that they are unable to to shoot it accurately or efficiently. These people blame their own poor skills on the gun.

Lastly, the third type are those who are so dedicated to the type and brand of pistol that *THEY* shoot, that no other could ever possibly measure up. You will find that type among most every brand be it Glock, Sig, Para, Springfield, etc., etc. Those folks are so self concious about their decisions in firearms, that they have to make everything else out to be junk in order to boost their ego.

I've shot a lot of different handguns over the years, and I'd say around 90% of them have been well-made and reliable, from a miriad of different manufacturers. IMO, there is no better value per dollar in a semi-auto pistol than the Sigma.

 

[FennRx]

cshoff,

i believe you are correct. i think i am lucky in that i am a novice shooter, so i dont really know how "bad" or "awful" the sigma trigger is. i certainly am not a marksman, but i can put every round in the chest area of the "bad guy" target. combine that with the fact my Sigma eats cheap and expensive ammo alike, and i have found a weapon that i feel comfortable with keeping in my nightstand.

 

[conn ak]

As one who has championed the Sigma on this (and other) forums, I honestly don't think people who dislike the Sigma trigger assembly "possess such poor trigger control skills." The trigger is not good and it does effect accuracy. I've been shooting for over 40 years and can honestly say that the newer Sigmas have the least desirable trigger/striker assembly of any tupperware gun I've shot. Big deal, it has a stout, long trigger. Within these limitations it is still a great gun. Having shot (and owned) 1st, 2nd and a few 3rd generation S&W semiautos, I honestly think the trigger on the Sigma keeps it slightly out of the 10 ring during rapid fire more consistently than any semi (9 or 40) I've shot. Again, I own and enjoy my 40VE and 9F, but if I'm shooting for beers at the end of the day...I'll use my 639. The Sigma is the best gun for the money I ever purchased new. A better trigger/striker assembly would make it an M&P.

 

[cshoff]

Originally posted by conn ak:
As one who has championed the Sigma on this (and other) forums, I honestly don't think people who dislike the Sigma trigger assembly "possess such poor trigger control skills." The trigger is not good and it does effect accuracy. I've been shooting for over 40 years and can honestly say that the newer Sigmas have the least desirable trigger/striker assembly of any tupperware gun I've shot. Big deal, it has a stout, long trigger. Within these limitations it is still a great gun. Having shot (and owned) 1st, 2nd and a few 3rd generation S&W semiautos, I honestly think the trigger on the Sigma keeps it slightly out of the 10 ring during rapid fire more consistently than any semi (9 or 40) I've shot. Again, I own and enjoy my 40VE and 9F, but if I'm shooting for beers at the end of the day...I'll use my 639. The Sigma is the best gun for the money I ever purchased new. A better trigger/striker assembly would make it an M&P.

Folks who have a hard time getting center-mass hits with a Sigma are generally folks with poor trigger control skills. I've seen those same folks do fine with a single-action trigger like what is found on a 1911, or even with a lighter double-action trigger such as what is on the standard Glock, they just have never refined their trigger control skills to the point that they can manipulate the Sigma accurately. Most of those folks have the same problems when they shoot a double-action revolver. I've had many of them come through my classes and a lot of them try to compensate by shooting the revolvers in the single-action mode; something I do not allow in our CCW or Personal Protection classes. The only way to get those folks shooting good is to have them work on their trigger control skills.

Now, I am not saying that the trigger on the Sigma is perfect, or even ideal, but it is certainly adequate to achieve good defensive accuracy.

The Sigma is not and never was a bullseye gun. Anyone who can rapid fire a full mag out of any auto-loader and land all shots into the 10 ring at 21 feet can afford to pull the trigger faster.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

I'm still kicking myself for not buying a used Sigma 9mm for $200.00 at a local gun show. I should have jumped on that with both feet! I have a 1st generation Sigma 40 that I'm very happy with, and would love one in 9mm that I could shoot steel cased ammo in without feeling guilty.

Regards,

Dave

 

[FennRx]

thats funny dave, i kinda wish i had bought the .40 Sigma.

.40 ammo is the only caliber that seems to be plentiful around here (except for .357 mag).

 

[conn ak]

Originally posted by Double-O-Dave:
I'm still kicking myself for not buying a used Sigma 9mm for $200.00 at a local gun show. I should have jumped on that with both feet! I have a 1st generation Sigma 40 that I'm very happy with, and would love one in 9mm that I could shoot steel cased ammo in without feeling guilty.

Regards,

Dave

If you have a Sigma 40F (1st generation), you'll be surprised how much better the trigger is on the F-series Sigma when compared to the VE series.

 

[conn ak]

Originally posted by cshoff:

Originally posted by conn ak:
As one who has championed the Sigma on this (and other) forums, I honestly don't think people who dislike the Sigma trigger assembly "possess such poor trigger control skills." The trigger is not good and it does effect accuracy. I've been shooting for over 40 years and can honestly say that the newer Sigmas have the least desirable trigger/striker assembly of any tupperware gun I've shot. Big deal, it has a stout, long trigger. Within these limitations it is still a great gun. Having shot (and owned) 1st, 2nd and a few 3rd generation S&W semiautos, I honestly think the trigger on the Sigma keeps it slightly out of the 10 ring during rapid fire more consistently than any semi (9 or 40) I've shot. Again, I own and enjoy my 40VE and 9F, but if I'm shooting for beers at the end of the day...I'll use my 639. The Sigma is the best gun for the money I ever purchased new. A better trigger/striker assembly would make it an M&P.

Folks who have a hard time getting center-mass hits with a Sigma are generally folks with poor trigger control skills. I've seen those same folks do fine with a single-action trigger like what is found on a 1911, or even with a lighter double-action trigger such as what is on the standard Glock, they just have never refined their trigger control skills to the point that they can manipulate the Sigma accurately. Most of those folks have the same problems when they shoot a double-action revolver. I've had many of them come through my classes and a lot of them try to compensate by shooting the revolvers in the single-action mode; something I do not allow in our CCW or Personal Protection classes. The only way to get those folks shooting good is to have them work on their trigger control skills.

Now, I am not saying that the trigger on the Sigma is perfect, or even ideal, but it is certainly adequate to achieve good defensive accuracy.

The Sigma is not and never was a bullseye gun. Anyone who can rapid fire a full mag out of any auto-loader and land all shots into the 10 ring at 21 feet can afford to pull the trigger faster.

Generally or otherwise, I don't have poor trigger control with revolvers, semis or long guns. The Sigma trigger problem is not only the stiffness, but the travel. A recent poster referred to the Sigma trigger as an "ACLU trigger". Rather than relying on the overly heavy trigger as a "safety", S&W should have installed a safety proper with a more reasonable trigger pull. Try an F-series Sigma some day. That probably was an issue with Glock, i.e.,S&W probably infringed on their trigger as well with its chisel point and smooth, crisp release. The Sigma will get the job done, stiff trigger and all. Best gun for the money out there.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

I AM NEW TO THE FORUM,BUT AN OLD SHOOTER.I HAVE
NOT OWNED OR SHOT A SIGMA BUT AFTER READING
THIS INFORMATION I THINK I WILL TRY TO FIND A
2 OR 3 HUNDRED DOLLAR GUN. I ALWAYS LIKED HIGH
QUALITY REASONABLY PRICED GUN'S.
DON IN TN.

 

[conn ak]

Hawkeye10, you can't lose buying a used Sigma. Bought my 40VE used , 2 Hi-Caps-$189. Bought my Sigma 9F used, 2 Hi-Caps-$150. Bought a brand new 9VE, 4 Hi-Caps and a range bag-$299 The trigger is not so bad as to reduce the obvious benefits of an ergonomically pleasant,well-made Hi-cap pistol for a very reasonable price.

 

[cshoff]

Originally posted by conn ak:
Generally or otherwise, I don't have poor trigger control with revolvers, semis or long guns. The Sigma trigger problem is not only the stiffness, but the travel. A recent poster referred to the Sigma trigger as an "ACLU trigger". Rather than relying on the overly heavy trigger as a "safety", S&W should have installed a safety proper with a more reasonable trigger pull. Try an F-series Sigma some day. That probably was an issue with Glock, i.e.,S&W probably infringed on their trigger as well with its chisel point and smooth, crisp release. The Sigma will get the job done, stiff trigger and all. Best gun for the money out there.

What you are calling a "problem" is actually part of the design. I don't really know what to tell you if you see it as a "problem" other than it sounds to me like you are getting along with it just fine.

 

[conn ak]

Originally posted by cshoff:

Originally posted by conn ak:
Generally or otherwise, I don't have poor trigger control with revolvers, semis or long guns. The Sigma trigger problem is not only the stiffness, but the travel. A recent poster referred to the Sigma trigger as an "ACLU trigger". Rather than relying on the overly heavy trigger as a "safety", S&W should have installed a safety proper with a more reasonable trigger pull. Try an F-series Sigma some day. That probably was an issue with Glock, i.e.,S&W probably infringed on their trigger as well with its chisel point and smooth, crisp release. The Sigma will get the job done, stiff trigger and all. Best gun for the money out there.

What you are calling a "problem" is actually part of the design. I don't really know what to tell you if you see it as a "problem" other than it sounds to me like you are getting along with it just fine.

Yeah, I love the Sigma. Aside from my 639, which I'll never trade or sell, I've owned many handguns (mostly purchased used) and traded up or sold outright. I really can't ever see myself trading or selling the Sigma 40VE...ever. I like it that much.

 

[cshoff]

Originally posted by conn ak:
Yeah, I love the Sigma. Aside from my 639, which I'll never trade or sell, I've owned many handguns (mostly purchased used) and traded up or sold outright. I really can't ever see myself trading or selling the Sigma 40VE...ever. I like it that much.

I do as well. In fact, I like it so much that I stake my life on it most every day. It can usually be found riding in my Kholster in the 4:30 position with a high-cap mag full of Winchester 180 grn. JHP's tucked nicely inside the mag well (mine is a SW40GVE).

 

[paxter]

I am also new to the forum, but a long time shooter and S&W owner. I have been looking and reading about Sigmas for quite a while now and 2 weeks ago I finally went and bought a 9VE. Well I love it, the trigger is different, but its not as bad as it's made out to be. I have only fired around 60 rounds through it so far, but I am quite pleased with my accuracy and the gun overall. My 2 cents.

 

[gatorhugger]

I went back to the gunshop yesterday and he had quite a few 9VE in stock.
For $445!
Whoa! I asked him what was up with the price increase, the same guy is selling Glock 19's for $489 which is the cheapest I have seen a 19.
Not sure if he is lying, but he said Smith increased the price.
So now it's not a $300 gun anymore verus a $500 Glock.
ut You know what? I would still take the Sigma if they were the same price!
I like the grip, the fit and finish, the stainless slide, the stainless hi capacity mags, and it's built just like a Glock as far as takedown for cleaning. Disassembly in 5 seconds flat.
It's also a surprisingly accurate pistol.
Before the trigger lightened up I thought it wasn't so accurate, but I did make a couple of shots that caused me to pause and reconsider.
Dead bullseyes.

Now that the trigger has lightened from use, it's bullseye after bullseye. What a fun gun to just throw some cans out a blast away. It's hitting dead center, is quick and light handling, no safties or decockers,
great, great, gun.
Now I have to find another nice used one.
I have a chance to buy a 40 caliber for $299 but I like the 9mm for ammo cost.
Anybody got a like new 9VE they want to part with? I would really like another one at the right price.

 

[tightfisted]

$445! yikes! I've been seeing a pretty consistent $399 for SW9VEs in the western Chicago suburbs. Cabela's and Gander ran a sale last month for $349, I stumbled across one for $339 and promptly bought it.

It's a case of supply and demand and charging what the market will bear. I was also considering a Ruger P95 or SR9 and have noticed those prices varying by $50-$70. Sooner or later supply will catch up with demand and you'll see prices drop.

 

[cshoff]

They still run anywhere from $339 - $369 around here. I've not seen or heard of any price increase from S&W. I will go out on a limb and guess that if S&W raises the price to within a few dollars of the Glock, the Sigma sales will take a beating.

 

[bandit46]

Fellas: I have 2 Sigmas, a 9VE and a 40 VE. Both are very acc-
rate, excellent shooters. I use the 9VE in IDPA competition and I do OK with it. I did put trigger stops in both guns, and the accuracy is super. No movement after the heavy trigger break, ie; accuracy is great. I shoot lead bullets in both guns
and with the standard rifling and slower twist rates of the barrels, the guns are lead bullet shooters. My 9VE will keep 5 rounds in an 1 1/4" from a rest at 25 yards with my lead bullet reloads. The .40 will do 2 1/2" at 25 yrds from a rest, but I'm working on a better combo. I have about 4500 rounds thru my 9VE and just had a striker replaced, under warranty.
Most folks will never shoot that many rounds in their lifetime. I am just getting started with these guns. The grips are great
and a hair better with the hogue monogrips on them, for me that is. They are quick to reload with the double stack mags, and light enough to carry all day for self defense, as well as being totally adequate for the same. It is the best weapon for the price, although they just went up again, I've seen in years. I carried a Glock 17 for years when I was in Law enforcement and it is a great weapon. The Sigma has a better grip angle and once the trigger is mastered, is just as capable as the glock, with the option of being lead bullet friendly. The triggers have settled down fairly nicely after many squeezes
and one spring change. (competition only) I shot revolvers for many, many, years and the transition to the Sigma was easy for me. These guns are made to be shot like a wheel gun and they work, Period. I am very pleased with my Sigmas and I'm glad I bought 2 instead of just one.