Sigma 9mm or .40SW?

[WoodyUSSLUCE]

I bought the 40 but I vote 9 for the ammo price ! The best would be both though and if they have the rebate program again I'll buy another Sigma in 9mm !

 

[cshoff]

My Sigma is my primary carry gun. As such, it was a no-brainer to go with the .40. I actually bought two of them at the same time; one for me, and one for the wife, both in .40 cal. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go with the .40 just the same.

The 9mm is OK, but there is nothing it can do that a .40 can't do better.

As far as ammo prices are concerned, if you just want to stand in front of a target, plugging round after round after round of ammunition into it, then I suppose price is a consideration. If you actually want to TRAIN with your gun, you can accomplish and gain an awful lot with 100 rounds of ammo and PROPER training techniques; much more than you will ever gain from popping off rounds from one spot into a target.

Remember, when it comes to combat handgunning, quality is MUCH more important than quantity. 100 rounds used in conjunction with quality training techniques is worth much more than 1000 controlled rounds into a stationary, non-reactive target.

 

[tonytgman]

I voted for the .40ve. If you're looking for a good defensive weapon the .40 is a great ballance between a larger and smaller calliber. besides, if you're looking to do some damage nothing beats the .40 in hollow point. Also the amount of money you would have to pay for a really good hollow point with the same amount of stopping power in 9mm would be much more then you would pay for over the counter .40 jhp which would still do more damage. If someone came into my home in the middle of the night, I wouldn't want to just put wholes in them with a 9mm, I would rather use a .40 cal jhp and rip there guts out.
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Just always keep in mind what you are shooting at, and whats behind what you are shooting at, no matter what you get !!!

 

[lamador]

The 9mm will be fine for home protection, safety and training will be up to you to gain accuracy.

However, I've shot my .40 with Winchester rounds and has always fired "under," I'm not a firearms expert, but it doesn't seem right. Anybody have any feedback?

The trigger pull is not bad, I'm a large and strong man, it does not bother me. I really liked the price $375 out the door with CA fees.

 

[conn ak]

Hear that often from SW40VE owners, that is, shoots low, left. My 40VE shoots Winchester White box well. It certainly doesn't shoot high, maybe slightly low, but on target. Using a little Kentucky elevation, the 40VE is spot on. I sold my 9VE, no shortage of 9mm pistols, and kept the 40VE because it's the only 40 I own and I like its better thump potential as my carry gun.

 

[cshoff]

Originally posted by lamador:
The 9mm will be fine for home protection, safety and training will be up to you to gain accuracy.

However, I've shot my .40 with Winchester rounds and has always fired "under," I'm not a firearms expert, but it doesn't seem right. Anybody have any feedback?

The trigger pull is not bad, I'm a large and strong man, it does not bother me. I really liked the price $375 out the door with CA fees.

I'd guess you are "pulling" the muzzle of the gun downward with each pull of the trigger, despite the fact that you are big and strong. I've seen it happen many, many times.

I'd recommend some dry fire practice to help you get your trigger control down pat. Find a nice quiet space, make sure you don't have ANY live ammo present, and choose a spot on the wall to concentrate the sights on as you work the trigger. After each "shot", you will have to rack the slide about a quarter inch to reset the striker. Remember to concentrate on the sight alignment with the spot you have chosen each time you squeeze through the trigger pull. This kind of practice will help greatly with your problem.

 

[sigma 9 & 40]

lamador I agree with cshoff here. I had the same problem at first with my 40GVE. After doing the dry fire practice my grouping have become tighter. Most accuracy issue can be traced back to trigger control issues. Takes some getting used to but once you get it you will be much happier with your Sigma.

Also OI bought both. My wife has claimed the 9mm and the 40 is my carry/defensive weapon. Could not be happier with this gun.

 

[MK]

I'd have to say my .40 shoots a tad low.
I noticed it right off the bat, and I've done
careful tests to make sure it wasn't me yanking
the trigger.
Mine does shoot a tad low, and the farther the
target, the lower it tends to print.
But at the normal defense ranges, I don't think
it will be much of a problem.
As an example, here is an old video I took of
me popping a can with mine. I estimate the
distance as maybe 7 yards or so.. ??
http://home.comcast.net/~disk100/killacan.wmv
I was pretty much aiming at the middle of the
can, but it hit towards the bottom. Maybe
an inch lower than where I was aiming.
I was shooting one handed, with the cam in the
left hand, but I have fairly decent trigger
control, so I don't really think that is the
problem. It does the same with a two hand
grip.

If I shoot a real far distance, it shows up
more, and it gets to the point you would need to
alter the sight picture to keep it on target.
But like I say, at the closer usual defense
distances, it's not going to be off enough to
miss the target.
I could shave the front sight, but that would
probably trash my white dot, so I'd prefer to
just adapt a new sight picture for long shots.
I'll have to experiment with that someday when
I'm bored.

BTW, I was using 180 grain...
I don't know if switching to 155/165 grain would
make any difference or not on the longer shots.

 

[cshoff]

This was my first magazine through my SW40GVE when I got it back in Feb. 2007. All shots taken at 7 yards, at 1 second intervals:

In a nutshell, my Sigma shoots dead on. Always has.

 

[MK]

Yep, yours looks pretty good.
I'm not sure what the deal is..
Guess it could be me, but I'm still not
so sure.
I've tried using rests, etc, and mine still
shot a bit low.
If I shoot a really long distance, it's really
low. Once I was at a friends place and was
shooting across a pond at a tree trunk on the
other side. My shots were not even making it
across the pond. And I tried different trigger
methods, slow and fast pull,using a rest..
Still the same. I'm using a normal sight
picture so far.
What grain rounds are you using?
I've always used the 180 grain so far.
I've been considering trying 165 grain to see
if any difference.

 

[cshoff]

Originally posted by MK:
Yep, yours looks pretty good.
I'm not sure what the deal is..
Guess it could be me, but I'm still not
so sure.
I've tried using rests, etc, and mine still
shot a bit low.
If I shoot a really long distance, it's really
low. Once I was at a friends place and was
shooting across a pond at a tree trunk on the
other side. My shots were not even making it
across the pond. And I tried different trigger
methods, slow and fast pull,using a rest..
Still the same. I'm using a normal sight
picture so far.
What grain rounds are you using?
I've always used the 180 grain so far.
I've been considering trying 165 grain to see
if any difference.

It's quite possible that your gun/sight combination just shoots low. It may not be anything you are doing at all. If slightly adjusting your sight picture helps, then I say go for it.

The point I was trying to make is that not all .40 cal Sigmas are natural "low" shooters. I have two of them and they are both right on. That said, with as many Sigma's that are out there, there are bound to be a few that shoot a bit "off".

 

[conn ak]

Originally posted by MK:
I'd have to say my .40 shoots a tad low.
I noticed it right off the bat, and I've done
careful tests to make sure it wasn't me yanking
the trigger.
Mine does shoot a tad low, and the farther the
target, the lower it tends to print.
But at the normal defense ranges, I don't think
it will be much of a problem.
As an example, here is an old video I took of
me popping a can with mine. I estimate the
distance as maybe 7 yards or so.. ??
http://home.comcast.net/~disk100/killacan.wmv
I was pretty much aiming at the middle of the
can, but it hit towards the bottom. Maybe
an inch lower than where I was aiming.
I was shooting one handed, with the cam in the
left hand, but I have fairly decent trigger
control, so I don't really think that is the
problem. It does the same with a two hand
grip.

If I shoot a real far distance, it shows up
more, and it gets to the point you would need to
alter the sight picture to keep it on target.
But like I say, at the closer usual defense
distances, it's not going to be off enough to
miss the target.
I could shave the front sight, but that would
probably trash my white dot, so I'd prefer to
just adapt a new sight picture for long shots.
I'll have to experiment with that someday when
I'm bored.

BTW, I was using 180 grain...
I don't know if switching to 155/165 grain would
make any difference or not on the longer shots.

Yeah, I've been shooting for over 40 years and have owned many handguns. My 40VE shoots low, no trigger control issues, it simply shoots low. Again, it only requires the simple adjustment of covering the 10 ring a bit high before squeezing the trigger @40feet.

 

[DiggerDog]

This week I plan on getting a Sigma 40. I've read all of the posts in this thread and really appreciate all the great information. I know the 9mm ammo is less expensive but I'm sold on the 40.

Oh - by the way, this is my first post. Hello everybody.

 

[cshoff]

Originally posted by DiggerDog:
This week I plan on getting a Sigma 40. I've read all of the posts in this thread and really appreciate all the great information. I know the 9mm ammo is less expensive but I'm sold on the 40.

Oh - by the way, this is my first post. Hello everybody.

Welcome to the forums! I hope you enjoy your Sigma as much as I do mine.

 

[FennRx]

i dont know about the .40, but i have the 9mm. i also have a 642 and a taurus pt-145. the sigma 9mm is by far my favorite to shoot. it is very comfortable to hold and easy to shoot. even though i am relatively new to firearms, my ability to get consistent body shots with the sigma is rapidly improving.

for cc, i use the 642 or pt145. but if someone was in my house at 0300, i would grab my sigma.

 

[conn ak]

Originally posted by DiggerDog:
This week I plan on getting a Sigma 40. I've read all of the posts in this thread and really appreciate all the great information. I know the 9mm ammo is less expensive but I'm sold on the 40.

Oh - by the way, this is my first post. Hello everybody.

The 40 is a hoot to blast away with. You can still find Winchester White Box .40 S&W for around $30-35. The trigger does have an impact on the performance and accuracy, but you get a feel for it eventually.

 

[DiggerDog]

I have a question about ammo for my new Sigma .40. A friend of mine shoots Blazer Brass purchased at Walmart. Have any of you shot this? If so, what are your opinions of it?

 

[cshoff]

Originally posted by DiggerDog:
I have a question about ammo for my new Sigma .40. A friend of mine shoots Blazer Brass purchased at Walmart. Have any of you shot this? If so, what are your opinions of it?

I've shot a number of boxes of Blazer Brass. Asside from it's tendancy to burn a little dirty, I've never had any issues with it.

 

[duckmart]

I hope I'm not repeating myself. But someome on this forum suggested to use the second joint of the trigger finger with the DA trigger pull. I helped me alot!!

 

[DiggerDog]

Originally posted by duckmart:
I hope I'm not repeating myself. But someome on this forum suggested to use the second joint of the trigger finger with the DA trigger pull. I helped me alot!!

DA trigger pull? Forgive, as I am new to the pistol world.