sigma SW380????

jaymag · March 25, 2006, 09:28 PM

I have a east german makarov for my ankle gun.It's a little bulkey on my leg.Also the safety easily gets bumped off.Besides that it's a cool little gun.Iv'e been looking into smaller guns for my ankle and the smith&wesson sigma caught my eye.VERY small and light.And fires a respectable 380.Any feedback on this gun thanks!I herd of the 9mm sigma but never seen the 380Looks kinda cute.

Majic · March 25, 2006, 09:51 PM

You won't hear many people singing praises of that pistol. Do a search and read the posts then most likely you will change your mind.
Cute is probably the nicest thing you can say about it.

drifts1 · March 25, 2006, 10:01 PM

Funny that you ask this, as I happen to have a SW380 on my ankle at this moment and all day long for that matter. It is a very small, lighweight, and extremely reliable pistol that will cycle all types of ammo. I have had mine almost ten years now and it has been flawless. But you should know that the slide is made of zinc alloy which means it wont last forever, S&W only tested these pistols out to 3500 rounds, service life after that is unknown exactly. Since it is meant to be carried, more than used as a regular plinker at the range I only have about 1200 rounds thru it in almost ten years. At close range, which is its intended use it is very accurate and controllable. Although it is has your typical blowback snappy recoil, after a couple of trips to the range I dont even notice anymore. It makes a great ankle gun, especially when a larger gun isn't practical as was my case today, I was at the movies for 4 hours and having my Glock 19 anywhere on my waist wasn't gonna happen. +1 SW380

Logs · March 25, 2006, 10:11 PM

I saw one (.380 Sigma) at Fayette Firearms in Lexington, KY today.
Didn't get the price. I had not seen one in years.

I almost bought a Sigma 9mm, but instead picked up a nice S & W .22 pistol.

Mosin44az · March 26, 2006, 12:13 AM

Sigma .380 has a terrible reputation as being unreliable and cheaply made, not durable. Would advise against this.

LH2 · March 26, 2006, 12:23 AM

Mine was not to be trusted as far as reliability, and surprisingly snappy to shoot, so I got rid of it.

I'd get a Kel-Tec P3AT if you want a tiny .380 for carry.

thor745 · March 26, 2006, 06:43 AM

I bought mine about 3 months ago for $150. For that price I didn't feel like I would be out much if the gun turned out as bad as most people make it out to be. To my surprise it has been totally reliable, though I have only put 200 rounds through it. It is light and more accurate than one would think for a pocket pistol.

denfoote · March 26, 2006, 11:50 AM

http://thearmedcitizen.com/gunpages/sigma380.htm

As has been already stated, this pistol gained a reputation for being a "throw away" or "plant" pistol.
The substantially low service life and the zink alloy slide probably fueled that notion more than anything else!! The guns did not sell and were dropped from the S&W lineup rather quickly!! I read somewhere that, marketing wise, American gun buyers were not althogether thrilled with the notion of a "disposable" pistol!! Cigarette lighters yes, pistols, no!!!

gmeister · March 26, 2006, 11:59 AM

I owned one for my first year or two of carrying concealed, Other than the service life consideration, it was a much better pistol than you would think from its reputation.

I think the majority of people who will tell you how bad it is, never actually owned or even shot one.

March 25, 2006, 09:28 PM	#1
jaymag Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2005 Location: springfield,MA Posts: 239	sigma SW380???? I have a east german makarov for my ankle gun.It's a little bulkey on my leg.Also the safety easily gets bumped off.Besides that it's a cool little gun.Iv'e been looking into smaller guns for my ankle and the smith&wesson sigma caught my eye.VERY small and light.And fires a respectable 380.Any feedback on this gun thanks!I herd of the 9mm sigma but never seen the 380Looks kinda cute.

March 26, 2006, 11:50 AM	#8
denfoote Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 1999 Location: Buckeye Arizona Posts: 5,363	Good review on the SW380. http://thearmedcitizen.com/gunpages/sigma380.htm As has been already stated, this pistol gained a reputation for being a "throw away" or "plant" pistol. The substantially low service life and the zink alloy slide probably fueled that notion more than anything else!! The guns did not sell and were dropped from the S&W lineup rather quickly!! I read somewhere that, marketing wise, American gun buyers were not althogether thrilled with the notion of a "disposable" pistol!! Cigarette lighters yes, pistols, no!!! __________________ Ich bin kein Nationalsozialist!!!!!! Ich bin Republikaner!!!!!!!! Neca eos omnes. Deus suos agnoset. Arizona: Flush the Johns!!!

March 25, 2006, 09:51 PM	#2
Majic Senior Member Join Date: May 24, 2004 Posts: 3,888	You won't hear many people singing praises of that pistol. Do a search and read the posts then most likely you will change your mind. Cute is probably the nicest thing you can say about it.

March 25, 2006, 10:01 PM	#3
drifts1 Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2005 Posts: 119	Funny that you ask this, as I happen to have a SW380 on my ankle at this moment and all day long for that matter. It is a very small, lighweight, and extremely reliable pistol that will cycle all types of ammo. I have had mine almost ten years now and it has been flawless. But you should know that the slide is made of zinc alloy which means it wont last forever, S&W only tested these pistols out to 3500 rounds, service life after that is unknown exactly. Since it is meant to be carried, more than used as a regular plinker at the range I only have about 1200 rounds thru it in almost ten years. At close range, which is its intended use it is very accurate and controllable. Although it is has your typical blowback snappy recoil, after a couple of trips to the range I dont even notice anymore. It makes a great ankle gun, especially when a larger gun isn't practical as was my case today, I was at the movies for 4 hours and having my Glock 19 anywhere on my waist wasn't gonna happen. +1 SW380

March 25, 2006, 10:11 PM	#4
Logs Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 1999 Location: Louisville, KY USA Posts: 1,294	I saw one (.380 Sigma) at Fayette Firearms in Lexington, KY today. Didn't get the price. I had not seen one in years. I almost bought a Sigma 9mm, but instead picked up a nice S & W .22 pistol.

March 26, 2006, 12:13 AM	#5
Mosin44az Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2006 Posts: 1,148	Sigma .380 has a terrible reputation as being unreliable and cheaply made, not durable. Would advise against this.

March 26, 2006, 12:23 AM	#6
LH2 Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 627	Mine was not to be trusted as far as reliability, and surprisingly snappy to shoot, so I got rid of it. I'd get a Kel-Tec P3AT if you want a tiny .380 for carry.

March 26, 2006, 06:43 AM	#7
thor745 Member Join Date: April 29, 2002 Location: bel air, md Posts: 14	I bought mine about 3 months ago for $150. For that price I didn't feel like I would be out much if the gun turned out as bad as most people make it out to be. To my surprise it has been totally reliable, though I have only put 200 rounds through it. It is light and more accurate than one would think for a pocket pistol.

March 26, 2006, 11:59 AM	#9
gmeister Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Location: Central PA Posts: 147	I owned one for my first year or two of carrying concealed, Other than the service life consideration, it was a much better pistol than you would think from its reputation. I think the majority of people who will tell you how bad it is, never actually owned or even shot one.