Why would anyone buy a Sigma instead of a Glock?

For cc one can understand the concern for some sort of a manual safety. Less obvious is the need for a manual safety on a pistol that will be carried in the dash of a car, etc. Nevertheless so carried, it is not unreasonable that one would want a manual safety.

With a lifetime of using autos with manual safeties, to use a striker fired pistol such as the Glock, etc., without a manual safety would be less than satisfactory to many users For those who have less experience with older designs and more experience with the Glock, perhaps trigger discipline and absence of a manual safety is less disconcerting. Using a quality holster of correct design, lack of a manual safety would seem to be of less significance. I agree that a longer revolver like trigger movement would render more safe unholstered carry of the Glock in cc. Perhaps as mentioned in your comment, training is a significant variable.

As I do not currently cc, that issue did not enter into my thought about the need or lack of need for a manual safety. I think that as originally conceived, Browning did not plan for the 1911 to have either a grip or thumb safety. That it did have both reflected the insistence of the US Army. On Brownings Hi-Power, only the thumb safety remained but a magazine safety was added. Perhaps the Glock safe-action design only reflects similar original assumptions of Browning. Personally I would find it hard to conceive of the 1911 design absent the grip and thumb safeties. A SA Mil Spec currently sits on the nightstand... cocked and locked.

All in all, I would imagine that circumstances for the LEO are seldom ideal. My twin-brother (deceased LEO) used to tell me of some of the situations they encountered at the range and in day to day duty. The issue of safety for officers was for him a major concern.

Thank you for responding to my question. Your response is certainly not offensive. Further I can well understand your appreciation of the Glock. It is a very excellent design. I have no experience with the M&P series. From what I've read, many are pleased with its performance. That it has a safety doubtless will help its acceptance by some users.
 
Hey Old Navy. I followed your logic on the preference for the trained usage of a safety on a 1911. Are you also making the point, maybe not on purpose, for why the Sigmas have long strong triggers in DAO? Being an old revolver guy, I remember 30 years ago taking a .357 to a gunsmith and asking him to lighten the trigger. When I got it back, it was silky smooth, but still heavy. When I complained about it he said "son, that is a .357 and you better MEAN it when you pull this trigger."
Yes I was pointing out the revolver like trigger I encountered when I fired a club members Sigma that was a early model, but that was 2 years ago and only one I have experience with. He was saying it was one thing he and his wife didn't like about the gun (it was wife's) was the long trigger pull, and I told them that was the safety for the pistol. I got a strange look and explained why using my G29 & 610 as training aids and hands on example. Seen them several times since and the lady is pretty good now with her 9mm Sigma. She did have accidental discharge when picking up the Glock off the firing bench the first and only time to shoot the Glock, she shot the dirt below and behind the 25 yard target. She held the gun out and asked for someone to get the gun out of her hand, in a very firm manner using words not allowed here. :eek:

Speaking of revolvers I have 4 Dan Wessons and one of the the several differences for the gun over the S&W is a very short and smooth DA trigger pull that often rattles first time shooters that are Smith revolver shooters and for me shooting both I tend to shoot the DW's more because less strain on arthritic hands. From the short easy DA and SA that is better then most 1911's you can buy. The guns are a true wonder and I wish S&W would take up the design, but they had a lot of hand fitting and a S&W made the same way would be in the $1500 to $1800 range for a plain PC revolver. That might not sell well. ;)
 
Sigma trigger felt washer.

Owned one of the first 9VE to hit town many many years ago. Didn't shoot it much but really liked the way it felt in the hand. Local PD started having trouble with their Sigma 9s and got rid of them fast. Grizzled sergeant told me there was a felt washer in the trigger assembly that would disintegrate when exposed to cleaning solvents and render the gun into a club. So i sold mine. Was the felt washer present back then as told to me? If so, is it still there? That would prevent me from buying another.

Oh yeah, this is the first post of a long-time lurker.
 
Owned one of the first 9VE to hit town many many years ago. Didn't shoot it much but really liked the way it felt in the hand. Local PD started having trouble with their Sigma 9s and got rid of them fast. Grizzled sergeant told me there was a felt washer in the trigger assembly that would disintegrate when exposed to cleaning solvents and render the gun into a club. So i sold mine. Was the felt washer present back then as told to me? If so, is it still there? That would prevent me from buying another.

Oh yeah, this is the first post of a long-time lurker.
Welcome lurker.
smileythumbsup.gif


Can't answer the question though. Sorry. :o
 
My SW40VE has something inside the trigger spring, kinda looks like felt. I read somewhere that it was to absorb 'spring oscillation'. Doesn't look like the loss of it would affect the operation... it's just a little cylinder of material inside the spring.
 
I've owned two (.40 and the 9mm) and I've really enjoyed them both. I've had zero FTF or FTE on either guns, even the 9mm which is my most recent. (Aside from some FTFs that turned out to be caused by a weak magazine spring, not the gun) I have about 500 rds through it so far. I am kinda a clean freak though and I strip and clean all of my guns every single time that I shoot them.

The price was not the deciding factor for me but dang man, who can argue with it!? :)

Fits my hand in a nice way and is a natural pointer. Plus it just has a great feel to it.

The only negatives I've really found with it, and they're not super huge issues, is accessories. I can get a holster made for the Glock 19 at the checkout stand of a 7-11 but trying to find one for a Sigma is pretty tough. YES you can find them on the internet, but no they are not nearly as available as other guns. Same goes for magazines ($40 vs. $20), mag spring replacements, trigger parts, etc.. I honestly think that S&W could clean house with this gun if it had an aftermarket availability like Glock does. And don't even get me started on the fail rail. Come on S&W! lol :)
 
The real hang up with the gun I see is most look at it as not pleasing to the eye, granted it not fugly like a Highpoint, but before I would buy the Sigma I would pay the extra $$$ and get a M&P w/o a doubt.
 
The real hang up with the gun I see is most look at it as not pleasing to the eye, granted it not fugly like a Highpoint, but before I would buy the Sigma I would pay the extra $$$ and get a M&P w/o a doubt.


+1 for appropriate use of the word "fugly". But for something to stick in your BOB that you dont care if it gets rained on or stolen, cant beat a hi-point! :)
 
+1 for appropriate use of the word "fugly". But for something to stick in your BOB that you dont care if it gets rained on or stolen, cant beat a hi-point! :)
I can't see why anyone would steal one, but guess stupid is as stupid does.
 
I have two Glocks, but the Sigma design interests me, so will pick up a used example (inexpensively) in two weeks. Find Sigma's to be attractive looking designs, that get no respect. I realize they had early problems, and carry a bad reputation. Much like my late model Glock G36, that works flawlessly. Cheers
 
For me, the decision was:

1) It's a Smith & Wesson.

2) I liked the way it felt in my hand.

3) I didn't like the way the Glocks looked and felt. (I have never fired one, though...to be fair.)

4) You cannot beat the price...I just bought my second one tonight, in 9mm this time, at Academy Sports. $299 plus the $50 or 2 free mags coupon.
 
My personal reasons for buying the Sigma included price but that wasn't all. The Glocks I shot didn't feel good in my hand at all. The Sigma feels and points so much more natural, which translates to much easier to hit your target in a stressful situation. S&Ws warranty and customer service is second to none. My only concern before trying one was the hype about the trigger so I dry fired it several times before I bought it. Sure the pull was heavier and longer but smooth as silk and I was able to keep it aimed at a light switch 30' away while dry firing with ease. Maybe having strong hands from 30 years of construction has something to do with it but I find squeezing the trigger on a Sigma without pulling to be effortless. From a down position I can pull up, aim at a spot on a target and hit it way faster than with any of the Glocks I've fired. Plus the one time I actually witnessed someone using their gun in a defensive situation it was guy with Glock vs guy with steel pipe. Glock fired once, missed then jammed. Guy with Glock lost. It wasn't a pretty picture.
 
Glock lost me as a customer many years ago when a friend of mine happened to purchase one after all the hype about being able to slip them through airport metal detectors. My Friend bought a Glock 17 when they first came out and a short time later he bought a couple of the mag extenders for it. First day on the range with his modified mags and < 3 shots down range, his mag floor plate, spring, follower and the rest of his ammo were on the ground. After spending 20 minutes trying to find all the pieces (twice), I swore I would never own a Glock.

Now I am aware Glock wised up and started metal lining their mags to prevent them from flying apart like that but the fact that they are still plastic where the floor plate mounts is enough to keep me away from them.

The other reason I won’t own one is due to the way the slide is retained, which is a problem with the Sigma as well for me. If someone grabs your slide and gets a good grip on it, they can take your gun apart before you know it. Give me the old metal frame with the removable takedown pin and you can keep the spring lock. The bad guys won’t be taking mine apart if they happen to get that close.
 
The other reason I won’t own one is due to the way the slide is retained, which is a problem with the Sigma as well for me. If someone grabs your slide and gets a good grip on it, they can take your gun apart before you know it. Give me the old metal frame with the removable takedown pin and you can keep the spring lock. The bad guys won’t be taking mine apart if they happen to get that close.

The slide won't come off unless the striker is de-cocked. Also the slide needs to be retracted slightly before the take down device is engaged for the slide to be removed.

If your ever faced with that situtation and you agressor is someone who has that kind of skill and dexterity... well you best stop messing with ninjas ...

funny-pictures-curtain-ninja-cat.jpg
 
WildCard:

I remember a thread here on S&W forums I read not to long ago where a guy mentioned he had a friend who was a LEO and he showed how the slide of a Glock could be put on the frame of a Sigma and would fire. The two pistols are very much alike in the slide.
 
WildCard:

I remember a thread here on S&W forums I read not to long ago where a guy mentioned he had a friend who was a LEO and he showed how the slide of a Glock could be put on the frame of a Sigma and would fire. The two pistols are very much alike in the slide.

I would have to call BS on that. The sear and trigger arrangement on the sigma is quite different than that of the glock as well as the way the two function.

Yes they are quite similar in overall design, but far from interchangable.
 
Love Smith revolvers. Would never own or trust my life to any pistol other than Glock. I have never ever ( that includes thousands upon thousand of NYPD data reports that one ever did not fire the round in the chamber.
 

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