Sigma trigger fix

[brianrn]

Okay fellas, I know this has been covered in the past but I came across a fix that is simple and I think makes more sense than striker spring replacment. Here is the link.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=400180&highlight=sigma

Hope the link works. Its an old forum posting but I followed the instructions and it seems to have worked well. It involves taking an extra pigtail spring out of the sear block thing, not sure of the technical name). The spring should not as far as I can tell have anything to do with striker strength. What I mean is I don't think this will cause light primer strikes. However I have 1000 rounds comming soon and will test it to make sure. It does feel better to both my wife and I agree it is a better trigger. We both have SW9VE's and I have only done the modification to mine till I find out if it causes any problems. Any one else tried this?

 

[brianrn]

Okay fellas, I know this has been covered in the past but I came across a fix that is simple and I think makes more sense than striker spring replacment. Here is the link.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=400180&highlight=sigma

Hope the link works. Its an old forum posting but I followed the instructions and it seems to have worked well. It involves taking an extra pigtail spring out of the sear block thing, not sure of the technical name). The spring should not as far as I can tell have anything to do with striker strength. What I mean is I don't think this will cause light primer strikes. However I have 1000 rounds comming soon and will test it to make sure. It does feel better to both my wife and I agree it is a better trigger. We both have SW9VE's and I have only done the modification to mine till I find out if it causes any problems. Any one else tried this?

 

[OKFC05]

Originally posted by brianrn:
Okay fellas, I know this has been covered in the past but I came across a fix that is simple and I think makes more sense than striker spring replacment. Here is the link.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=400180&highlight=sigma

Hope the link works. Its an old forum posting but I followed the instructions and it seems to have worked well. It involves taking an extra pigtail spring out of the sear block thing, not sure of the technical name). The spring should not as far as I can tell have anything to do with striker strength. What I mean is I don't think this will cause light primer strikes. However I have 1000 rounds comming soon and will test it to make sure. It does feel better to both my wife and I agree it is a better trigger. We both have SW9VE's and I have only done the modification to mine till I find out if it causes any problems. Any one else tried this?

You're right, this has been beat to death.

Taking springs out of the sear block assembly possibly can cause failure for the sear to reset when firing hot defense loads (think single shot). It is a legal modification for IDPA and does not appear to cause problems with moderate loads.

Of course, neither I nor S&W can recommend such a modification for a defense gun.

 

[brianrn]

OKFCO5 thanks for the info. I intend to test the modification for at least 1,000 round. As I only shoot normal pressure rounds I am less concerned but will be on the lookout for problems. If it works for me I will post results.

 

[bullitt1668]

Originally posted by brianrn:
OKFCO5 thanks for the info. I intend to test the modification for at least 1,000 round. As I only shoot normal pressure rounds I am less concerned but will be on the lookout for problems. If it works for me I will post results.

Can you plz tell us what were your findings? Did removing the 'pig tail' spring help with the trigger pull? Was the gun still relaible with HOT loads? What kind of loads did you shoot?

Thanks,

Bulitt

 

[gmchenry]

The OP hasn't posted on the forum since 4-26-08.

 

[gglass]

I have done 3 of the spring removal mods on SW40VE and SW9VE models and have gotten to each around 6 lbs pulls. This involved removing the "pigtail" spring, the heavier sear inner spring and polishing the sear and associated trigger components. I have not and would not recommend swapping the striker spring with the 3.5# Wolff spring. This causes light strikes on the primers.

To date on all 3 Sigmas... Not a single issue with feeding, cycling or ejection. This includes standard WWB plinking ammo and hotter SD ammo like Tactical HST's and Speer Gold-Dots.

I am very much convinced that the original stories of S&W making the Sigma trigger mechanisms heavier after the Glock lawsuit are true. If you have ever fired one of the original Sigmas you could see the obvious difference.

Even though my experience in modifying Sigma triggers has been positive, I DO NOT recommend anyone perform this modification if you depend on the weapon for self defense of duty. This is only a target range modification.

 

[gmchenry]

gglass, I'm curious how you got the pistols to around 6 lbs.

I've tried removing the pigtail and the inner sear springs on my SW9VE and SW40VE. The pistols were still measuring about 8.5 lbs (5 pull avg.) on my Lyman digital trigger pull gauge.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Originally posted by brianrn:
Okay fellas, I know this has been covered in the past but I came across a fix that is simple and I think makes more sense than striker spring replacment. Here is the link.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=400180&highlight=sigma

Hope the link works. Its an old forum posting but I followed the instructions and it seems to have worked well. It involves taking an extra pigtail spring out of the sear block thing, not sure of the technical name). The spring should not as far as I can tell have anything to do with striker strength. What I mean is I don't think this will cause light primer strikes. However I have 1000 rounds comming soon and will test it to make sure. It does feel better to both my wife and I agree it is a better trigger. We both have SW9VE's and I have only done the modification to mine till I find out if it causes any problems. Any one else tried this?

The link in question says, in pertinent part:

"no be carefull not to loose **** and remember where stuff goes. There is one pin and should be 2-3 springs in there (model depending) there will be a "pigtail" style spring at the bottom over the only pin ." [sic]

"remove the pin and throw out that spring it serves nothing but to increace the trigger pull." [sic]

It is unbelievable to me that anyone would do this to a perfectly good pistol. The word "moron" seems appropriate at this point to describe anyone taking this advice for the sake of a lighter trigger pull. If a gun for serious use, then the word "dead moron," seems even more appropriate.

If you want a lighter pull, get an M&P, or for that matter a Glock and replace the connector with one of the aftermarket 3.5 pound connectors.

Actually, the post to which we were directed with the link is the sort of post that makes many responsible gun owners fully in favor of strict IQ testing before allowing idiots to have guns.

 

[bullitt1668]

Alright, I worked on my trigger today, and it was so easy! I removed both the outer spring and the pig tail spring, leaving only the thin longer spring. I also did some polishing of the sear, but I don't see how much this really helps. Anyways, the pull now is amaizing. I really can't tell you how much lighter the pull is, but it's light!!!

I'm going the ranger tomorrow, so I'll report back with the findings.

Thanks to everyone how has shared their experiences with working with their Sigmas, so we can enjoy ours!

Bullitt

 

[OKFC05]

I'll report back with the findings.

Findings? There's no mystery, it will shoot as long as you use regular range ammunition.

The hotter the loads used, the greater the possibility that the sear will not reset, leaving you with a single shot.

This "wonderful new mod" has been known since the Sigma came out, and is legal for IDPA.

By the way, you should have left the pigtail in, since it does not change trigger pull, but insures the sear is held as high as possible. All you had to do is remove the outer sear spring and polish a bit.

The gun is now considered unreliable for defense use with hot defense ammo, and tends not to reset the sear.

 

[mcholak]

I've done some hand polishing in the past and a few days ago decided to give it a go with the dremel. Helped out a bit, though not a ton since I'd already done a lot of the preliminary work. What I couldn't figure out was how to take the sear apart. I have to assume the sides of the sear could use some polishing, the frame as well but I couldn't figure out how to get it apart and figured I better not mess with it. Anyone have any thoughts, suggestions, or plain obvious things I should have seen?

 

[bullitt1668]

As promised, I went to the range today... and oh man, the trigger pull is amaizing!!! I don't have a gaige so I can't tell you how light it is now, but removing both springs made a huge difference. The trigger pull it's still long, but it's light. At ten yards I had several 3" groups (3rounds), and in my book, that's good enough!

I shot 150 rounds of regular winchester target ammo 115gr and 50 rounds of speer gold-dots 124gr hollow points (my carry defence rounds)... and guess what? I did NOT have a sigle problem with any of the rounds.

I'M EXTREMLY SATISFIED WITH MY TRIGGER MOD! AND AGAIN I THANK EVERY ONE WHO HAS POSITIBELY CONTRIBUTED THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR SIGMAS SO WE CAN ALL ENJOY OURS!

OKFCO5,
The pig tail spring does add weight to your trigger pull, I tested it, and with it or without it the sear stays right where it is becuase it held by the bottom pin not the pig tail spring.

Happy shooting everyone!!!

BULLIT1668
Now a Proud Owner of his 9mm Sigma!

 

[Brant]

I did this fix on my 9mm and 40mm and have about 1000rds through each w/o any misfires using a variety of moderately powered ammo brands. I shot 50 rds of hi-powered 9mm reloads and it did just fine. Trigger pull is about 5 lbs on the 9 but a little more on the 40 after the fix.

 

[varoadking]

Trigger pull is about 5 lbs on the 9

5 pounds? Really? Did you measure with with a gauge?

TIA

 

[Brant]

Yes - just a digital fish scale but I use it on all of my triggers including varmint rifles and it is within a few ozs. Not quite sure why they came out differently and why the 9mm came out lower. The 40mm was 5.9 or so and the 9mm is 5.2-5.3. At my range now two folks have purchased Sigmas after trying my 9mm. This was measured recently after considerable rounds through both guns.

 

[grantvisser]

Thank you all for the write ups. Here are some of my pics, in case someone else attempts it.

 

[Deltaboy]

Call S&W send it in and get it fixed by the experts. I sent my 40VE in and got it back in 7 days with a 5.5 pound Trigger pull that is smooth as butter.

 

[CG2]

what did you tell them when you called?

 

[Deltaboy]

I told them the Trigger pull was too hard and gritty. I also said this was not the way a S&W trigger should feel.