Smith & Wesson Sigma SW9C

Question
Hi, I抦 interested in buying a used Smith & Wesson Sigma SW9C. However, I抳e read some comments on the internet that the older model sigmas had a few problems. Is this true? Are the older sigmas unreliable? What problems did they have? Is this the reason why Smith & Wesson doesn抰 make the older models anymore?

Answer
Gary,

The original Sigmas in the 9mm and .40 were such a close copy of the Glock that Glock succesfully sued them for patent infringement (note that though .40 is more properly "the .40 S&W" because it was developed by Smith, and early Glocks carried that designation, since the suite, Glocks now carry the stamp ".40" and have dropped the "S&W")

The original pistols suffered not only from this legal problem, but from problems (intermitent to severe) in feeding, extracing, and ejecting.

S$W addressed many of these problems in the V series Sigmas, but the gun still suffers from a bad trigger, fragile magazines, fragile sights (and it's hard to find steel replacements for them)and marginal accuracy for a handgun (not sure why exactly - whether it's intrinsic or just ergonomically hard to shoot well).  I've seen a few of them in training, and put to hard use, every one of them has failed to perform (simple malfunctions to more serious problems).

What you're probably finding attractive in the gun is the price.  With modern handguns, as with so much in life, you will get what you pay for.  There are, of course, guns that are not horribly expensive, and represent excellent value-for-money, but the S&W Sigma series, in my estimation, does not fall into that category.

For what it's worth, here's my anecdotal tale of a Sigma:  I had taken a friend and new shooter to the range.  He shot one of my Glocks.  He said, "I love this!  Where can I get one?" and "How much does it cost?"  The answer to that last question distressed him, as I told him that to obtain one he would have to part with cash approaching the 500 mark.  "Doesn't anyone make a cheap copy of this?"  "Indeed," I told him, "So close that they were successfully sued by Glock, but you don't want the Sigma."  A few days later he called from a branch of the now-defunct Galyans.  "They've got Sigma VE's here for $230!" he told me.  "You think I should get one?"  "Not really," said I, "because it will be the most expensive Glock you'll every buy." "What do you mean?"  he asked.  "If you buy that gun, you'll hate it, and within a year you'll buy a Glock - only now instead of paying $500 to get to that Glock, you'll have paid $730."  He bought it.  Within a year he also had a Glock and eventually sold the Sigma for $100.

You will find a sort of a cult following out there for the Sigmas.  In the end, it depends what you want it for.  If you just like the gun and want to shoot it at the range some, that's fine (most gun owners have a few of those).  If, however, you were planning to rely on the gun for self or home defense, I would get something else.  Your life is worth the couple of hundred extra bucks you'll spend on a proven firearm (look. e.g. at what PD's are using, and note that none use the Sigma - there's a reason for that).

Hope this is helpful.