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[BACK] Product Review By MHS Member MOHunter
Product
Name/Type of Product: Smith
& Wesson Polymer Frame Pistol
Model Number (if
applicable):
SW40GVE (Trade name Sigma)
2100 Roosevelt Avenue 1-800-331-0852 (USA)
http://www.smith-wesson.com/
Caliber:
.40S&W
When I came across the SW40GVE, also referred to as the Smith & Wesson Sigma, I decided to do some research before I purchased anything. I came home that evening and started looking for information on the Internet. It turns out that there was plenty of information to be found.
The Sigma series has been around for a number of years. Early production model designations were SW9F and SW40F (also, both were available in green and carried the SW9G and SW40G designations), the SW9F was chambered in 9mm and the SW40F was, of course, chambered for .40S&W. The original design used a 4 1/2" barrel, had a rectangular striker pin (firing pin), and had a stainless steel slide that was finished in a black, Melonite finish.
In
order to solve some reliability issues, the originals were replaced by a
second-generation series, which carried the model designations of SW9V and
SW40V. These second generation guns sported a new polymer frame, a 4"
barrel, and thus, a new slide which was now a bead-blasted stainless piece
instead of the black slide that was used on the previous series.
Again, the guns were offered with either the black frame, or the OD green
frame.
With my research complete, my wife and I decided we would purchase two of these weapons. While the majority of comments I read on these third generation Sigma pistols were positive, I did find a few detractors out there, but we decided we would take the chance due to the lifetime warranty that Smith & Wesson provides on these handguns and of course, the Smith & Wesson reputation.
The first thing you notice upon taking a Sigma series pistol into your hands is the excellent ergonomic feel. The Sigma engineers knew what they were doing when they chose the 18° grip angle, which ironically is the same grip angle used on the timeless 1911 autoloaders. The grip melts into the users hand and becomes an extension of the arm. Even users with smaller hands will find the grip design quite pleasing and easy to use with trigger reach being a non-issue for all except those with the smallest of hands.
The next feature that the observant user will notice is the absence of a mechanical safety lever. The Sigma series handguns are striker fired weapons, meaning that the striker pin has to be pulled back to it’s firing position via a pull of the trigger before it can be released and strike the primer on the cartridge. This procedure must be repeated on each subsequent shot meaning there is no way the weapon can fire unless the trigger is pulled deliberately and all the way rearward. This system also insures that the weapon is completely drop-safe meaning that in the event the firearm is accidentally dropped or struck on a hard surface with a cartridge in the firing chamber, there is no way it can be fired by the resulting impact. The end result is a weapon that is 100% safe provided that the user practices safe gun handling techniques. This system is known as a passive safety system and is used in a number of different striker-fired handguns.
Upon moving the weapon up to your line of sight, the
three-dot combat sighting system becomes quite visible. The windage adjustable rear
sight contains a white dot on each post, while the front ramp has a single
white dot imposed on it.
As far as function is
concerned, there is no doubt the Sigma performs just as it was
designed to. While I have read some complaints from folks who do not like
the rather stiff trigger (about 9 – 10 lbs from the factory), for those of
us who are used to shooting double action revolvers, they are quite easy
to master. In fact, I was able to accurately shoot double taps almost
immediately with my new Sigma. The sighting system makes target
acquisition so easy that with a small amount of practice, you can squeeze
off two or more shots as fast as you can pull the trigger and easily
deliver all of them to the kill zone in a B34 (or similar) silhouette
target at normal defensive ranges (inside of 7 yards). The ergonomics are
such that acquiring a master grip on the weapon from the holster is a
completely natural motion. Provided that you have spare loaded magazines
on your person, reloads are a quick and simple procedure thanks to the
smart location of the magazine release button, which is also adequately
sized and easy to find with the thumb of the right hand even in the dark.
Accuracy is another area where the Sigma has not let me down.
It handles the .40 S&W cartridge with ease and controllability.
All in all, I believe Smith & Wesson has a winner on it’s hands in the Sigma, and I believe their sales numbers prove that even further as the Sigma series is the best selling autoloader that Smith & Wesson manufactures. At about $150.00 less than a comparable Glock, you will have plenty of money left over to buy some ammunition or accessories for your new handgun. The Sigma does what it was designed to do, and it does it without fuss or fanfare. As far as how much quality you can get from a $330.00 defensive handgun, I believe the proof is in the pudding.
Do You Feel This Product is a Good Value? Yes Would You Recommend This Product To Others? Yes Rating from 1 to 10: 9
This section contains product reviews that have been submitted by Midwest Hunting Source members. All reviews are the intellectual property of their respective author(s) and are subject to federal copyright laws and are used here with permission. The views expressed are not necessarily those of MidwestHuntingSource.Com.
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These new guns
carry a new polymer frame, lower ejection port, loaded chamber indicator,
equipment rail (which also stiffens the frame to prevent cracking),
redesigned trigger group, checkering molded into the sides of the grip,
contoured slide corners, and a round, close-tolerance striker system which
prevents striker breakage, instead of the older, rectangular chisel-tip striker system found in
the older series of Sigma’s. 
By simply aligning the three dots with the
intended target, target acquisition is easily achieved. While the
sighting system is very fast and simple, and works fairly well even in low
light conditions, the sights are made of plastic, which will eventually
wear and need replaced, especially after repeated presentations from a
holster during practice drills. It is my understanding that there are
aftermarket sights available for the Sigma that are made of steel, as well
as Tritium sights that can be purchased, but I have not yet investigated
either since my original sights are still working quite well despite the
thousands of times my weapon has been presented from it’s holster. My
fear is that at some point, I will look down the slide and find the
front plastic ramp has fallen or broken off at which time I will have no choice but
to replace it. 
The slide release lever is another area where Smith & Wesson engineers did
not skimp, unlike the slide release levers found on other polymer frame
handguns. On the Sigma, the lever seems to be perfectly placed where the
thumb of the left hand can easily manipulate it after a reload and it too,
is adequately sized so as to be a useful feature. While the weapon itself
is economically priced, Smith & Wesson apparently spared no expense when
it came to making a ergonomic design because above all else, the superb feel of
the weapon in the users hand is what seems to stand out the most to every
person who has handled my Sigma. 
My first
14 rounds fired off-hand at 21 feet are pretty self-explanatory and these were the first
cartridges I had ever fired out of this weapon. As I stated before, the firearm is
fast handling and easy to use. Engaging multiple targets is pretty
straightforward business with the Sigma as the three-dot sights make
target acquisition quite simple. While I have not had the opportunity to
use the Sigma on a practical course, I have been able to perform a
multitude of combat type drills at my own range and have found that I can
engage and readily hit the kill zone on three B34 targets from 21 feet in
under 5 seconds, including the presentation from the holster. To this point, I have fired at least 7
different brands of ammunition, including Winchester, Remington, UMC,
Federal, CCI, Speer, and even some Russian made Silver Bear, and I have used a
number of different styles and weights of projectiles, from target-powered FMJ’s to high-powered JHP’s, all with the same results; not one single
failure to fire, failure to eject, or failure to feed malfunction.
Now,
after over 3,500 problem-free rounds through my pistol, I am quite
confident in it’s reliability and performance. 