Table-top review of new SW9VE ($250)

[Walthernut]

I was considering one of the 9mm. You can't beat the price with the rebate. However, I can get a slightly used .40 in box with papers and paddle holster for $225. My concern is the recoil. With both actually. I have rheumatoid arthritis in my hands, and am wondering if the .40 would be too much. I've always preferred a wheelgun, but the price of these Sigmas is very tempting. Any thoughts, besides the posts above, on the difference in recoil between the two? One other thing, my concern isn't just with recoil, but also racking.

Rack one at a dealer to see if you can handle it. As far as recoil goes see my previous posts.

 

[trailblazer02]

been lurking here for a while & i need a question answered.

where do you find these guns for $250.00? i checked G/Broker & most of the new ones are $300.00 +.

thanx in adnance,
trailblazer

 

[WildCard ZX6R]

been lurking here for a while & i need a question answered.

where do you find these guns for $250.00? i checked G/Broker & most of the new ones are $300.00 +.

thanx in adnance,
trailblazer

Smith is doing a rebate offer right now. $50 back or two (2) free mags.

 

[S&W Rover]

Bud's Guns had them on sale for $299 (minus $50 rebate) at the beginning of October. Bud's is now listing them for $330 for all-black Allied Forces version, $354 for bright stainless (and that is the 10 rd mag version).

 

[Rick-F]

Bud's Guns had them on sale for $299 (minus $50 rebate) at the beginning of October. Bud's is now listing them for $330 for all-black Allied Forces version, $354 for bright stainless (and that is the 10 rd mag version).

No-- the stainless model with two of the 15 round mags is just $299 . . .

Guns for Sale

See home page. I think the $330 price is one of the S&W Sigma "kits" which includes some extra accessories.

 

[S&W Rover]

Rick-F,

Thanks for catching my mistake -- and I'm glad they are still available at that price.

 

[Rick-F]

I've had mine for a few weeks now. I like it a LOT more than the first time I shot it. The first day I could not hit a 3" circle at 7 yards: all rounds were low and to the right in a pattern a volleyball might cover. I picked up my Heritage SAA (cowboy) sixgun and put 5 .357 Mag into that 3" circle. I then tried a (get ready for this cheepo) Hi Point 45 Auto and all but 6 of 7 in the 3" circle with that monster boat anchor-like hand gun.

After shooting a couple of hundred rounds and polishing the trigger parts and removing the ''pig-tail" spring, I tried it again Well. still could not hit the 3" disc aiming at it-- but my pattern was much, much smaller and not to the left-- about center -- but I was till LOW. Can the rear sights be raised a little or can I lower the front sight some. I'm very please with the size of the pattern now. and the trigger pull is not my problem anymore. I like this pistol a lot.

I can hit that 3" disc all day now if I aim about 4 /12 inches high-- I really don't want to try to remember that, should I ever really NEED to fire this pistol as a weapon.

Suggestions?

 

[jdmdriver8]

Rick did you buy your sigma new?? If you did you should not need to mess with the sights. My guess is you are breaking your wrists down when you pull the trigger. We all know about the sigma trigger so I am not going there. But what you can do is try to keep your wrists from breaking down and dry fire your sigma until you get the hang of it. A nice little trick I have been doing is put some live ammo in a bowl and mix in some snap caps or dummy bullets. Load them without looking or get someone else to load them for you in random order. Now take your time and go through the mag slow and steady, when you come up to a blank you will not know it and then you can tell if your breaking your wrists down. I shot my sigma LOW when I first got it. After some practice and some time behind the gun I have gotten really accurate with it.

Here is a video link to the little trick I was talking about
YouTube - Shooting Techniques Part 3 [ Trigger Control ]

 

[Double-O-Dave]

I was considering one of the 9mm. You can't beat the price with the rebate. However, I can get a slightly used .40 in box with papers and paddle holster for $225. My concern is the recoil. With both actually. I have rheumatoid arthritis in my hands, and am wondering if the .40 would be too much. I've always preferred a wheelgun, but the price of these Sigmas is very tempting. Any thoughts, besides the posts above, on the difference in recoil between the two? One other thing, my concern isn't just with recoil, but also racking.

Misty,

I have osteoarthritis in my hands, so a bit different from your issue, but I still feel your pain. I have a 4006, which is an all stainless steel 3rd generation S&W semiauto in .40S&W, in fact, I believe it was their first semiauto offered in that caliber. I also have a Sigma 40F, which was the first generation Sigma and is no longer in production. Surprisingly, between the two, the Sigma is easier for me to handle and shoot than the 4006. I think it is due to the polymer frame that flexes under the recoil. It's not pretty, but it will put a whole magazine full of bullets in a fist sized group at 25 yards without any problems. Manipulating the slide hasn't proven to be a problem, but I think field stripping it under "stressful" conditions isn't going to happen. I've been looking for a used Sigma in 9mm for a while now so I can shoot ammo out of it that I can't, or won't shoot out of my H&K PSP. My two gripes with the Sigma are easily fixed: 1) the grip doesn't fit my hand comfortably - fix: Hogue Hand-all; 2) cheap, plastic sights that shift side-to-side under recoil - fix: after market sights, either night sights or not. By the way, if you get a chance, you should try the H&K P7. It has very low recoil and "whip", and due to the front grip safety, your grip actually improves under recoil - you actually only need about 1 pound of pressure to keep the safety engaged. Is there a range close by where you could rent some 9mm handguns to try out first?

Best of luck,

Dave

 

[Rick-F]

Yes, It was purchased new (last month a few days before the rebate . . . ). Only had it the range 4 times-- but have dome some polishing on the internals-- much smoother now and not so hard-- but it is a Looog pull and I guess that is its nature,

jmdriver8, thanks for the link to the excellent video. I will work on this and see what I can do to improve my aim. As I indicated, a small amount of trigger work has shrunk my pattern from volleyball size to softball size and moved it to the near center. I just need to get the tennis ball size up into the middle. It may take some time.

I do not have this "antisciptation" problem with the large, heavy 45 ACP or with the SA 357 Mag revolver. I also have a small K-T P11 that also has an ever more difficult trigger pull and "kick" even more than a Sigma. But it is small and reliable and I need to learn to control it well. Practice, Practice. Problem is , I LIKE to SHOOT-- but this "practice with the Sigma and Kel-Tec P11 is not a lot of FUN on an indoor range-- really boring and expensive.

 

[bj9449]

Here is AZ they are a far cry from $250. More like $389. Are these new 9's or used? If new where are they $250?

 

[Rick-F]

Here is AZ they are a far cry from $250. More like $389. Are these new 9's or used? If new where are they $250?

Actualy they are $299.99 with a $50 Rebate = $250 (NIB)

If ordered on line, may be sales tax free also, at

Smith & Wesson SW9VE Sigma 9mm Pistol Black/Stainless [220025] - $299.99 : Larrys Pistol and Pawn, Best Pricing around!

He has FREE SHIPPING but charges $3.00 for it-- So, 249.99 + 3.00 shipped to your FFL holder.

I bought a Smith & Wesson from him on Monday-- should get it tomorrow.

 

[Kuntry Boy]

Trigger pull

Rick-F, I have a SW9 as well, tell me more about your
work on the trigger.
Thanks.................Kuntry Boy

 

[fastexas]

Is this "torsion" spring you refer to the same as the "pigtail" spring?

 

[hawgleg]

Great knock-around gun for that price. I got 2 at that price. Just can't beat something to leave in a toolbox or anywhere for that price. Best buy for 17 rounds.

 

[sigmaluvr]

It's about time we've had a thread on the SW9VE where folks liked the gun. I've had mine about 6 weeks and am very pleased with it. I've only run about 350 rounds through it, but I've had ZERO failures of any sort with the 5 different types of ammo used, including Hornady Critical Defense (my preferred SD) on the high end and Atlanta Arms which is factory reloads of who-knows-what casings at the low end. It also fed Blazer Aluminum perfectly. As another noted, in a SD situation, reliability is priority #1, #2, and #3. If you miss the first shot, you can try again. If it doesn't go bang the first time you don't get a chance for a second , possibly more accurate, shot.

I will probably have S&W polish the trigger at some point; I'm not crazy about the 'gritty' feel, although it seems to be smoothing out (or is it just me?) The pull is long and stiff, but my wife's 642 tires my finger more than the Sigma. As a CCW without a safety, I'm OK with the long stiff pull.

Accuracy is good. I also seem to shoot slightly down and to the right, especially when my hand starts getting tired. I'll take the advice given and practice some more. The amount I'm off would be like aiming for a BG's right ventricle and only hitting the left one. I could live with that accuracy because the BG could not...

 

[sigmaluvr]

I forgot to mention that I paid $299 at my LGS. I opted for 2 additional mags rather than $50 rebate. They came fairly quickly direct from S&W.

 

[Group 4]

Great video, jdmdriver. Next time I go to the range I'm going to try your exercise.

Thanks.

Rick did you buy your sigma new?? If you did you should not need to mess with the sights. My guess is you are breaking your wrists down when you pull the trigger. We all know about the sigma trigger so I am not going there. But what you can do is try to keep


your wrists from breaking down and dry fire your sigma until you get the hang of it. A nice little trick I have been doing is put some live ammo in a bowl and mix in some snap caps or dummy bullets. Load them without looking or get someone else to load them for you in random order. Now take your time and go through the mag slow and steady, when you come up to a blank you will not know it and then you can tell if your breaking your wrists down. I shot my sigma LOW when I first got it. After some practice and some time behind the gun I have gotten really accurate with it.

Here is a video link to the little trick I was talking about
YouTube - Shooting Techniques Part 3 [ Trigger Control ]

 

[mawguy]

$250 for a Sigma? None of the sites I have checked in the last couple of days are less than about $330. Am I missing a good source?

 

[Racer X]

Rick-F, if you don't know about them, check out ktog.org for a Keltec forum. I have a P-11 as well. For those that don't know, it will also use 59 and 69 series double stack 9mm Smith magazines.