Sig P238

[Joshua M.]

I would like some opinions from ACTUAL OWNERS, (not hey I know a guy, or there is a guy that, or so on...) about the P238. I have a Keltec P3AT, and thinking about alittle upgrade. The Kel-Tec has been wonderful, excellent concealment, with probably around 200 rounds through the pipe, and no problems. Just kinda a fan of the 1911 platforms, and I am not "dressy" enough to carry my CDPII around all the time. Thanks alot...-

 

[mec]

there is a certain amount of luck involved in finding any commercial semi auto, and particularly mini pistols, that actually work. It might be a good idea to hang onto your Kel-Tec until after you have a chance to check out the SIG.

 

[plinkn]

I'm still in the early stages of my P238 experience (around 250 rds), but so far mine's been 100% (a 2-tone blackwood). I have shot my friends LCP and the P238 imo is definitely inherently more accurate than the LCP/Kel-tec based on it's features/design and how easily it shoots. That being said, most any pocket .380 produced today will have sufficient "practical accuracy" for the intended distances to stop an attacker.

For me, and I suspect most P238 owners, owning a P238 is more of a combination of the 1911 battery of arms and personal confidence and experiance in the 1911 platform, which can result in a more confidant deployment of the weapon.

Those not comfortable with, or have lack of experience with a single action carry gun will probably veer away from the P238. The P238 does have more of a learning curve if you're not a seasoned 1911 shooter and therefore one should train with it more to be effective and responsible with the platform.

Some find the P238 pricy, but I feel - for me - the confidence of deployment I gain from it's accuracy and soft shooting is worth more than the extra cost v. it's competitors.

 

[LightningMan]

I too am in the early stages of my P238 as I have shot only 100 rds. through mine, but it worked perfect even with my reloads. Plinkin has some good advice, which I agree with. I would like to add as a Kel-Tec & LCP owner also, that the SIG P238 IMO is much easier to handle when shooting, especially when firing in rapid fire. Yes the SIG is a bit heavier, like 6 to 7 oz. more the LCP or KT but is an all metal gun. Even still it is only slightly larger, and still very pocketable. LM

Here's a range report from a new owner on the SIG forum;
http://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/430601935/m/6240006202

 

[Jolly Rogers]

Just got to 200 rds. tonight...all trouble free. Need more mags.
Joe

 

[rellascout]

I'd conceal mine in a safe and carry a pistol instead.

OK, I'm sorry. That was a cheap shot but I simply couldn't help it. It's rare that I'm that nasty and don't wish to disillusion those who know me to be a famously nice guy, but I still just cannot fathom why SIG would copy the Pony/Mustang et al. If yours works, that's great...

Beyond that, the 238 is inarguably not in the same league with the classic P-series guns that made SIG Sauer's reputation, and I would encourage everyone to have a realistic set of expectations. These pistols are sold, and purchased, on price.

Getting your gun back with significant, avoidable damage during warranty repair would be upsetting no matter what it was, of course. My point is that the 238 is an FIE Titan is a Colt Mustang is a ".380 Mosquito", and not a P-series SIG or other best-quality service pistol. Perhaps just getting your 238 to function would seem to be their main priority and a 238 owner's main concern? If it can be made to function reliably you can hopefully make some use of it.

Gray Guns will not work on a P238 because they do not believe that they can make them 100% reliable as a carry gun.

-Bruce Gray

It is the one and only Sig product I have ever seen Bruce Gray bash. YMMV

 

[M2 Carbine]

I would like some opinions from ACTUAL OWNERS,

I'm thinking about getting one. I asked the same question on Glock Talk. All the owners of the gun liked it.

I'll probably get one the next gun show. I would have bought one at the last show but $550 seemed a bit high for a gun I knew nothing about.

 

[mec]

It is troubling that Bruce Gray doesn't much care for them- he's a real SIG guy but there are three consecutive posts above registering five hundred rounds with no functional problems. It sounds promising.
I don't need a micro 380 any more than the near new 55 year old Baby browning I just bought but they are both drop dead cute.

 

[p89cajun]

I also am still in the early stages with only about 100 rounds through mine(extremely hard to find ammo of anny kind for it, especially target ammo) I went shoot it yesterday and it was awesome. I had some problems with it jamming but I chalk it up to the ammo because when I switched to critical deffense ammo it worked flawlessly. Still can't find holsters for it other than pocket holsters but this isn't a big deal for me since I really don't carry it without having a few houndred rounds through it. On a side note, it is one of the only guns I own that my wife can work the slide on. It is extremely smooth. My brother in law just bought the new Kahr .380 and now wants a sig instead. I love it and not a problem yet other than lack of ammo and holsters.

Oh yea mine is the two-tone with night sights.

 

[nonseven]

Mine has been flawless after a short break-in with the first few rounds. But I've only put 100 rounds or so through it. Seems to be accurate, greats sights for such a little gun.

 

[rygould]

I actually just sold mine today. Here is my .02 for what it's worth.

You will not find a better fit and finish on a small .380. Doesn't matter if it's a Diamondback, Kel-tec, Ruger, etc, the P238 is truly a sweet little machine. With fantastic sights the accuracy was amazing, and the trigger pull was even better. Especially when compared to the DA pull on most pocket autos. It is a great size, and not to small to get a good steady grip.

With that being said, I decided to sell it and go with the Talo version of the LCP. I did this mainly because the size of the LCP and it has been flawless in my range sessions. Yes the P238 is MUCH friendlier to shoot. I will not argue that. However, as a pocket option that will act as a BUG in my system, it didn't work as well as the LCP.

I would not hesitate to buy own one again when they are a bit more available and the prices (at least locally) come down.

Hope that helps.

 

[Gelgoog]

I hate it when people compare new guns like the sig to guns that have been around for over 10 years and have had the bugs worked out. The Sig P238 is still in its teething phase...if you get one that works 100% good for you, but don't expect it until you break it in. The early keltecs were horrible, and it took years before they became fairly reliable.

That said, I like the ergonomics and trigger on the Sig P238 over the rest of the competition. It is hard enough to control the mouse guns with the snappy .380 much less +P ammo, but the single action trigger and positive safet on the sig is what has my ticket punched.

Sigs are pricey however I justify it by where I live. 7-8 months out of the year it is warm enough that I don't want to carry an IWB 1911 subcompact, so if I am going to get a gun that is going to be my sole carry for 2/3 of the year, then I will go with something decent...not just the bare bones cheapest option out there....IMHO.

 

[rellascout]

I'd conceal mine in a safe and carry a pistol instead.

OK, I'm sorry. That was a cheap shot but I simply couldn't help it. It's rare that I'm that nasty and don't wish to disillusion those who know me to be a famously nice guy, but I still just cannot fathom why SIG would copy the Pony/Mustang et al. If yours works, that's great...

Beyond that, the 238 is inarguably not in the same league with the classic P-series guns that made SIG Sauer's reputation, and I would encourage everyone to have a realistic set of expectations. These pistols are sold, and purchased, on price.

Getting your gun back with significant, avoidable damage during warranty repair would be upsetting no matter what it was, of course. My point is that the 238 is an FIE Titan is a Colt Mustang is a ".380 Mosquito", and not a P-series SIG or other best-quality service pistol. Perhaps just getting your 238 to function would seem to be their main priority and a 238 owner's main concern? If it can be made to function reliably you can hopefully make some use of it.

Gray Guns will not work on a P238 because they do not believe that they can make them 100% reliable as a carry gun.

-Bruce Gray

http://grayguns.com/

I think that what people fail to realize is that the P238 was made to hit a price point and that numerous compromises were made to meet that objective. It is the difference between a 2010 E class Mercedes Benz that was designed to meet a price point. They wanted a 4 door v6 that would come in under 50K. The engineers designed, spec'd and created the car to meet that price point. They took short-cuts where they could and presented what appears to be on the surface a very pretty package.

But when you compare it to say a 1990 560 SEC which was the last car MB designed where the engineers got to do whatever they wanted and the priced it once they designed it the 2010 E class pales in comparison. The 1990 560 SEC is a better car today than the Price point born 2010 E series in terms of fit finish, design and materials. Guess which one I own? LOL



The Sig P238 is a cheaply made cheaply designed pistol trading on the good dependable name of Sig Sauer. The problem is that if you dig deep you will quickly learn it has nothing to do with Sig Sauer. It has everything to do with "Sig Arms" or "Sig Cohen" as I like to call it. It is another bling move the metal production designed and spec'd to a price point trading on a rock solid name without the rock solid design or manufacturing.

I am not saying that everyone will be a dog. I am not saying not to buy one. I am saying that one should know what they are getting when they buy a P238. They are getting the equivalent of a Porsche 914 which after all was a Porsche in name only.

 

[LightningMan]

rellascout, whats the point of posting the same info twice? So you & Bruce Gray don't like the SIG P238, that is clear. There are also some here that are quite happy with their P238. LM

 

[rellascout]

The point is that people are not looking closely at the P238. They think its a real Sig Sauer design and that it is equal to the rest of the Sig Sauer P series when it is not.

The point is that people are carrying this gun. That IMHO is putting themselves in a compromising position. People need to look at this pistol objectively. Do the research and know what they are buying.

This is not a real Sig by any measure I would hate to see someone lose their life or the life of a loved one before figuring that out.

Bruce Gray who drinks kool aid directly from the company jug does not like this gun. HE will not work on one because he cannot guarantee its reliability no matter what he does to it. IMHO that speaks volumes. Before the P238 I had never heard of a Sig Bruce did not like. Before the P238 Bruce never refused to work on a Sig gun. GSR, P220s, P226, P229, P228 etc........ yet he will not touch a P238.

Again YMMV. Your money your gun your life.

PS I would not stake my life on a Keltec either.... YMMV

 

[TheProf]

My .02 cents...

If you want a pocket gun, the LCP or a .38 snub would be the way to go. The P238 has a nice crisp trigger. Easy to shoot, very accurate for its size.

However, it's SA and perhaps pocket carry is not the way to carry a SA gun. Also, the last time I checked, there is shortage of mags for this gun. (Yes... Colt Mustang mags...work with this gun...sometimes.)

I may make this my primary pocket gun......once I get more comfortable with SA in my pocket. And ...when Sig makes more mags available.

 

[Tommygunn]

The point is that people are not looking closely at the P238. They think its a real Sig Sauer design and that it is equal to the rest of the Sig Sauer P series when it is not....

It is a copy of the old Colt Mustang, which was itself a fine gun.
True, it's design is derivitive of nothing Sig Sauer, per se, but it is still a fine gun for a .380.

 

[LightningMan]

I went to the range again today and ran another 100 rds. through my P238. This time I shot the first 50 rds. at a 8 in. paper plate at 15 feet and shot them as fast as possable reloading the single magazine as quickly as I could. The pistol never failed to work and I had no problems keeping all my shots easily on the plate, even firing one handed with a few mags. The second 50 rds. I practiced pulling from concealment, flipping off the safty, and shooting. Basicily doing practice drills to get used to it. Again, I had no failures with the pistol. I like this gun even if it is nothing like a SIG design. My opinion, yours may vary. LM

 

[Joshua M.]

Thanks everyone...Definately considering one...now if there was just some ammo to be found then I also could shoot one...:banghead:

 

[camper]

I have 300 rounds through mine with no problems at all. My buddy has one as well and has 200 trouble free rounds through his.

 

[BULLSI]

The six rounds I put through mine went off without a hitch.

My first thought though was that the safety was hard to flip off one handed being small as it is.