Sigma 40 - Opinions?

[Blowtorch53]

Hello,

I am thinking about buying a Sigma .40 caliber (I think it is the VE Model 10+1 SS Slide) for my 24 year old daughter to use to get her concealed handgun permit here in Texas.  I have a friend who has an older Sigma 9MM and I've shot it a few times and liked it ok.  I bought her a Bersa 9mm and we tried it but it just has too many controls and is too hard for her to operate.  I can handle it fine but it is new and stiff.  She has no trouble shooting it but I think it is just to complicated for her use.

I would like your opinions about two things:

1.  I own a lot of handguns, some very nice and expensive ones, but I don't know a lot about the Sigmas.  I heard a clerk at a gunshop once call them "Sigmoids" like they are the the lowest form of gun life.  This might have been because he was trying to buy one off a customer.  I know how that works since I used to be a dealer myself.  What do you really think of the quality of these guns considering it's relatively inexpensive price for a defensive handgun?  I know it's a Smith so that is a plus.  It's a very simple gun to operate.  A local store here has them for $346 which is not a wad of cash.

2.  Do you think a beginner like her (though she has a lot of range experience with me) can handle the .40 Caliber?  Do you think the recoil is much worse than the 9mm?  I don't have much experience with the .40 but I shoot many other calibers and the .357 Magnum is my favorite of all time.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.  This is a great forum so thanks to everyone for contributing.

Blowtorch

[ILHunter]

I have carried and been around alot of S&W auto pistols for 15 years.  I would avoid the Sigma!  Some were OK.  Alot were problems.  I saw several break on the range.  Some were the small .380s.  Some were personal 9mm and .40 cals.  I would not trust my life or the life of a loved to them.

The 3 digit value line of S&Ws were OK but the used 4 digit models , like my old duty 4043 are great guns and a great buy on the used market.
I love the .40 cal round as a defensive pistol.  Good as a .45acp-No.  Close to .45acp and fits in 9mm sized frames.  I see female officers handle them fine.  Through I see smoe struggle now with our Glock 22s.  The trigger pull on glocks is lighter, but they struggle with grip size on the glock with proper grip and trigger finger placement.

I am trying to get an idea on what to ask $ for my 4043, if you are interested.  You can read about it and what it comes with in my thread.

Thanks ILHunter

[greenjeans]

The small .380 and 9mm Sigmas were not even close to what the Sigmas are today. Totally different pistols. Some of the early full size Sigmas had some problems, but you hear very little bad about the VE Series in either 9mm or .40 cal. I have the new 9mm VE and other than the long trigger pull it is great. Never had a problem with it. If you buy one of the new VE Series I think it will serve you well. It fits my hand much better than my Glock 17.

[Blowtorch53]

Thanks ILHunter and greenjeans for your replies.  I value the opinion of one who carries a gun all the time and depends on one to go home every night.  I heard some bad things about the older model Sigmas but have not heard much bad about the new ones.  Does the trigger on the VE models work like a Glock in that it is almost like a single action pull after the first shot?  Or does it revert to the long D.A. pull again?  She has trouble aiming since she is new and I can't even shoot D.A. very well.  If the Sigma does not seem like a good choice...what is?  In
Texas you can't carry any caliber larger than you qualify with.  Also, if you qualify with a revolver, you can't pack an automatic.  Qualify with an automatic, and you can carry anything.

Thanks,

Blowtorch

[greenjeans]

The Sigma trigger pull is much heavier than the Glock. I also have a Glock 17, so have experience with both. The Sigma, and Glock, are the same every shot. The Glock is just much lighter than the Sigma. If your daughter is not familiar with shooting and doesn't have very strong hands she will probably not shoot the Sigma very accurately. It takes some getting used to. The .40 cal is a good round and will have quite a bit more bite than the 9mm. I wouldn't recommend anything smaller in .40 than the Sigma. The Ruger P Series are not all that expensive and all of mine are totally reliable. They are a little large for concealed carry, though.

[ILHunter]

How about a steel Kahr .40 or a XD in .40.   Or a polymer frame Kahr in 9mm.  The Kahr are single stack pistols and much easier for females to grip and allows them proper finger trigger placement.  The Kahr has a nice light DAO trigger too.
Speaking of good triggers and a more user freindly grip (for a double stack mag.) I would recommend the Springfield XD.  It seems to be easier to grip for shooters with smaller hands than the Glocks grip is.
Good Luck
ILHunter

[corbanzo]

as a beginner, the .40 isnt a good first gun.  I owe the SW40VE, and love it.  I have not had one single jam or other malfunction.  it is small and light, and the .40 kicks pretty hard.  Not too much shove, but a whole lot of very fast snap, it can get to the wrists after a while.  The 40 snaps even faster than a .45auto does, especially in a polymer gun.  For the strong wristed shooter, I recommend this gun hands down, for a beginner, its a little much on the hands.  If she wants something she can shoot often, and trust herself with, i would recommend stepping down to the 9mm.

[corbanzo]

p.s.

I bought mine for $330, but $345 really isnt too bad of a price.  I have seen them NIB for as low as $309

[mikemayberry]

I have a pair of the SW40VE and keep one in the vehicle and one in the house.  I have had them for 7 or 8 years when I bought them new and consider them to be reliable and very concealable.  .40 is a defense caliber I can live with and mine hold 15 rounds in each magazine.

Here is the point that caused me to wade in on the original question.  The Sigmas don't have much in the way of safeties and I just carry them without a round in the chamber.  I always figured I could rack the slide and be ready to go if needed but it would certainly attract attention from the bad guy.  Still you have 15 rounds to finish the job.

I guess I am just saying that some other handguns may be safer in the hands of a beginner.  Since I have kids in the house, I always empty the chamber when I am not with the gun (keep them locked up most of the time so don't think I am careless about this).  By the design, the Sigma or a Glock can be picked up and fired with little effort on the trigger if a round is in the chamber.  Other semi-autos require a bit more like moving "off safety."  I consider one of the safest carry guns to be the Walther PPKS because of the double action first shot.  I just wish it was capable of .40 and also more capacity.

If she is taught to go with an empty chamber and to keep it empty before and after use, it might be the one.  If you are not sure she will do this, I suggest another pistol with more telltales that it is in full battery and ready to go off if the trigger is touched.

Hope this helps.

M