Sigma 40 shooting low

[hunter5567]

My Sigma 40VE is shooting low with 180gr bullets and I m wondering if switching to 165gr-155gr- or 135gr ammo will raise the impact enough so as to not have to mess with the front sight. Also, what weight bullet do you find the most accurate in your Sigma .40 ?
Me being the cheap sort will buy the cheapest bulk pack at Chinamart to shoot in it but its all good quality ammo.
Will S&W send a new lower front sight or do you have to send it in to get it replaced?
I'd rather my pistol shoot on or higher with all types of ammo since its easier to hold under a target than over it.
I thought about grinding the front sight down a bit and then painting over the white dot and then painting a white dot lower on the sight.
I know S&W will pay for the shipping to send it back, yada yada but want to avoid that until last resort.
An ammo weight switch might do the trick anyways.

 

[Tslepebull]

Lighter bullets will hit even lower than the 180 gr due to the shorter time in the barrel during recoil arc.

Is there an appreciable gap between the bottom of the front sight and the slide? There have been some reports of front sights sitting high; this would cause it to shoot low. It is also important to note that Smith designs the sights for a center hold rather than a 6:00 hold.

One other thing to try is to change your grip and/or try shooting from a rest. Sometimes a shooter new to the Sigma will pull the shot down at the trigger break. You might try dry firing (after thoroughly checking to see that it is empty) and concentrating on the front sight as the trigger breaks.

My point of contact moved around a bit (both side to side and up and down) during my first few trips to the range with the Sigma. It has all settled down now that I am used to the way the trigger breaks.

Generally I have found that my revolvers and autoloaders shoot smaller groups with ammo at the upper weight range for that round. I have myself convinced that this is due to the longer bearing surface of heavier bullets.

 

[hunter5567]

Actually lighter bulets should be shooting higher or at least they do in my 357 revolver and rifle, and my 44 mag and 45 colt revolvers.
If I was newbie to the Sigma the grip, trigger squeeze thing might be a factor but this probably about the 18th to 20th Sigma I have owned since they first came out in the early 90's or late 80's.
The groups are nice and round and centered-just low and I did shoot it off a rest to see if that was a factor, groups just got tighter.
I'll probably see if I can get a lower front sight from S&W or let them change it on their nickel. I may try to lower the sight myself and if I fudge it up I can always have S&W put on another one. I think the front sight part costs about $2.50 so they'll be out more on the shipping.

 

[Jim H]

Before you modify the sights, be sure you don't need to modify the shooter first!

Try dry firing with a coin balanced on the barrel, and if the coin does not move or fall off while squeezing the trigger, move on to live ammo at the range.

Anticipating the shot and recoil can cause to you subconsciously pull the gun down when it doesn't go bang as soon as you expected.

Also try from bench-rest.

Just be sure before you modify the gun, I'm just sayin'

 

[J_SW40]

Here's are some ideas about Sights & Adjustments:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...front-sight-replacement-12.html#post135886439

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...ls/125251-sw40ve-front-sight-replacement.html

Also, I talked with one of the major Reloader companies in the Southeast and who also give Police Training, and they said they found that 180gr bullets (in training) were found to be less than consistant, found the 165gr bullets to perform more consistantly, and this is their preferred load for training.

Hope this helps...

 

[roker]

My 9mm also shoots low. Its probably me though but my 45 is pretty dead on with a Kimber. Lighter trigger pull though.

 

[rlpos1]

My 40ve shot low with 165's as well replaced the sight with a shorter one resolved issue. Now it is dead on and it was a 15 minute task including the filing to fit.

 

[Ceapea]

How new (to you) is the Sigma? I noticed that you have only 12 or so posts. The reason I ask is that most everyone that gets (and keeps) a Sigma, tends to shoot low with it until they get used to it. The trigger needs to be gotten used to and it also breaks in and gets a little lighter after several hundred rounds and/or dry fires.
I too have a SW40VE and I shot low with it for a box or two of ammo. But then, I just started shooting it right and there have been no problems what so ever, since.
Search this forum for Sigmas shooting low. You should find a few topics. Most end up telling you the same thing. No sight problem with the gun, only that the shooter has to learn the gun.

Good luck and enjoy your pistol.

 

[CcwSigma]

Dropping shots

I shoot low with my Sigma but I am a rusty novice(rough combination). I've only been teaching myself how to shoot for the last few years and as soon as I was getting down a good stance/grip/trigger pull/proper focus on sights/target I had my first kid! So for the last year I've only gone shooting 3 times so much of what I learned is now difficult again-i have to consciously think about how I'm shooting as opposed to having some muscle memory or solid technique..That said I got to take my 1/2 new sigma out for a reliability check after getting my entire upper(minus the barrel which got a little polishing) replaced by S&w(for free). At very close range (10 feet), I was dead on, putting every round in the head of my silhouette target with 5 of the 10 rounds touching eachother and the others in a tight group. Then I pushed the target out to 21 feet, reloaded and my shots started dropping significantly (my head shots were hitting the torso). I felt this was my fault more than anything as my technique was so inconsistent, after a good warm up shooting naturally I think I started pulling my muzzle down right at the end of my trigger pull, after pulling back smooth and even I would try to hurry the break near the end of the pull; trying to force the shot while my sights were still on target which really screwed me up, kind of a flinch reaction or something expecting the shot and pulling down at the last second. This is just my personal issue as I'm so rusty but something to always keep in mind. Don't take it personal as you have owned 18+ Sigmas and I have only owned 1 1/2. However I don't believe S&W will work on your trigger for you, warranty our otherwise, unless it is somehow defective. I know that they used to lighten and smooth out triggers but they do not anymore that I know of. If you do send it in, complain about it being terribly rough and gritty, don't ask them to"lighten" the trigger pull. I just got my Sigma back a few weeks ago and they adressed every issue I brought up minus the trigger pull. I complained about it being too gritty hoping for a nice polish job but that they didn't touch. I got a brand new slide, lots of testing and polishing the mags, practically every thing but the trigger pull. By the way I had already done some polishing of my sear assembly and contact points and they did not void my warranty as many say they will do if you have any work done by anyone except a certified S&W gunsmith. But perhaps that is why they didn't do any polishing to mine, in case of failure or something I can't blame their smithing. I don't know if it's just from the new striker spring or what but I do seem to have a cleaner break. Sorry for the novel, just trying to give any relevant info I can. I am also interested in replacing my front sight but don't know how to at home and am not interested in paying a smith..

 

[hunter5567]

Well, I was shooting low at 20 yards--60 feet.
I did the coin on the slide trick and it didn't budge an smidgeon. I am used to shooting heavy recoiling handguns like the 454 Casull and 480 Ruger where you really have to concentrate to shoot nice groups with all the thunder and fury--especially 400gr bullets at 1200fps out of the 480.
One comment I saw was the center the target with the sights which may help as I use the 6'o clock hold.
At 21 feet I can shoot the tops off of 2 liter bottles, so at that miniscule distance it does fine. I usually limit my shots to 50 yards when hunting with iron sights on handguns and use the scopes for longer distances out to 100 yards. I am usually more accurate with revolvers especially since they have a lot better trigger pull. I did polish the stiker and sear surfaces and that probably dropped 3-4lbs off the trigger pull or feels like it did.

 

[CcwSigma]

Oops

Sorry, I just re-read your o.p. and you didn't mention anything about working on the trigger...I need to improve my technique but am also interested in lowering my front sight. As far as I know there is only the one front sight made by smith and wesson. I wonder if any of the after market night sights are available in different heights? I know some people have used glock front sights but have to do some mods to make them fit..

 

[hunter5567]

I looked at the parts list for the Sigma 40VE and it listed 3 different sight heights.

 

[J_SW40]

Another reason why I and others shoot low:

Welcome to the forum.

But what you didn't say was what sight picture you were starting with. The Sigma sights are made to cover the bull, not lollipop like most of us were taught. That can obviously lead to low shots.
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