My future carry gun. Sig P938 vs. XDs 9mm

Status
Not open for further replies.
Orion8472

Orion8472

Member
Joined
May 8, 2008
Messages
3,638
I'm looking to eventually get a new 9mm carry gun. I have narrowed it down to two guns. Both relatively same in price. The Sig P938 Extreme and the eventually released Springfield Armory XDs in 9mm.

I've been carrying "cocked and locked" for some time, so I'm comfortable with that battery of arms. The XDs would be more simple, just pull out and engage. The P938 will be a bit smaller and will have that short SA trigger. It will also come with night sights. The XDs has black rear and red fiber optic [if it is set up like the current .45acp model]. Not very useful in low light. However, it has the potential of being more reliable, but reliability is a whole other thing. One may be reliable, another not.

Suggestions/Comments?
 
I know the P938 has had problems. Others have posted FTE issues, and I've seen the firing pin block fall out and jam the slide back. I would definitely vote XDs.
 
I'm anxious to shoot both. I know one person with a 938 and he sent it back right away because the trigger pull was measuring 14 pounds! I've heard he has it back but haven't heard how it's shooting now.

FYI - I realize the Sig 938 and 239 are completely different platorms, but it just so happens that my two current carry guns are the XDm 3.8 Compact in .40 and a Sig 239 in 9mm. I prefer to carry the Sig but against a timer I am faster, and more accurate while fast with the XDm over the Sig. The 239 is getting me comfortable carrying fewer rounds in the magazine but carrying spare magazines so if the XDs in 9mm shoots as well as my XDm I might be sidelining the Sig. Time will tell.
 
Couldn't begin to tell you. For one, you are comparing apples and oranges. That is like asking what should my next hunting gun be, a pistol-gripped semiauto 12g shotgun, or a blot action 30.06. If you are familiar with the 1911 style SA platform, I would lean Sig, but having not shot it, I am afraid I can't be much help.
 
There HAVE been issues with the P938. I've also seen videos where there haven't been issues and they've run smoothly. So, I guess this thread is more about form and function than potential issues. And it isn't an "apples to oranges" issue at all. No offense to you, Doc. There is one with a thumb safety to swipe off, one without one.

If the consensus was to get the P938, they're out now, and I'd start getting money up for one. If the consensus was for the 9mm XDs, then I will have to continue carrying my old .380acp pistol until SA releases this version.
 
A brand new gun that's known to have issues vs. a gun that doesn't yet exist...

Well, my vote goes with the Sig assuming you get one that runs right. I've been very happy with my P238, might even replace it with a 938 once I trust that they've worked through any issues with it.
 
As a P938 Owner and XDm Lover.... Here's my input.

For ME, the P938 is a pocket carry 9mm to replace the 380 colt mustang it was modeled from.

BUT if you go to an XDS you're talking a bigger slide/frame/etc and it won't be a pocket gun, more a small IWB CCW.

That being said, if you aren't going to pocket carry but want a small 9mm, I'd recommend testing out the S&W Shield. I have never liked S&W's never owned any, but when I picked one up, i had a hard time putting it down.

Just another option that will fit the bill. The S&W Shield is almost identical in width to the P938 but it is a bit taller, mostly in the slide itself. Overall it COULD be a pocket gun but a little on the large side for Pocket carry.

STATS - P938 - S&W Shield 9mm - XDS (.45)

Length - 5.9 - 6.1 - 6.3
Height - 3.9 - 4.6 - 4.4
Width - 1.1 - .95 - 1.0 (Note the 1.1" on the P938 is at the ambi-safety. The slide is only .88")
Weight - 16oz - 19oz - 21.5
Night Sights - Y - N - N
 
Last edited:
SN13, good stats there. For a carry pistol, it would seem that the Sig has the best numbers.
 
By the time the XDs 9 comes out, they will probably have night sights on the market for it.

The P938 comes standard with a 6-round magazine, Shield with a 7. I'm guessing the XDs is going to have a 6 round magazine, maybe 7, when it comes out in 9. The XDs is also the only one of the three (or anything in it's size class, really) with an accessory rail.
 
I hope they come out with a 7 round magazine. The extended [+2] one for the .45acp look ridiculous.

I don't personally need an accessory rail for my carry gun.
 
I don't personally need an accessory rail for my carry gun.
Click to expand...

True, but it does nothing if you don't use it, so no harm having it, eh?

The 7-round one for the .45 ACP I'm assuming is on par with a 1911 magazine, bringing it up to "Duty" capacity. The way I see it, a 6-round 9mm magazine would probably be slightly smaller than a 5-round .45, and a 7-round would have to be a little bit bigger, so it's up to Springfield which way they want to go. I also assume a 9-round 9mm extended magazine will be made.
 
A 9 round magazine would be good for range time, but when the handle seemingly is longer than the slide, it makes for a really weird looking gun. I'm hoping for [when the 9mm comes out] a flush 6 round, a pinky extension 7 round, and a full length 8 round. And actual night sights.

The reason I like the platform of the XDs is not having to mess with swiping a safety off. The added safety of the grip safety would be more comfortable for me than one with JUST a trigger safety.
 
Orion8472 said:
SN13, good stats there. For a carry pistol, it would seem that the Sig has the best numbers.
Click to expand...
Precisely why I have the sig P938. I can't ever get comfortable with an IWB holster. Pocket carry is it. P938 is the only 9mm small enough to Pocket carry (IMO).
 
Last edited:
The P938 has turned out to be exactly the gun I needed to add to the arsenal.
Small enough for pocket carry (but not in tight jeans)
When I carry the P938 in Chinos it is with the 7 rd. mag.
Big enough to be a shooter (The SA trigger helps a LOT).
Perfect for OWB, with it's compact slide and thinner grips, it disappears under any shirt.
I don't care for IWB carry myself, but the people I know who carry a 938 IWB love its thinness, and the checkering on the front strap making drawing simple..
 
I COULD choose the S&W Shield, but would have to slide the small Hogue handall on it. But even then, . . . . the Shield is about as hard to find as the P938.

It makes me wonder how available a 9mm version of the XDs will be. . . when/if they release one. Maybe I should try to choose between the P938 and the Shield [at this point]. If that's the case, I'd probably just go with the Shield and just modify it to my liking.
 
True, but it does nothing if you don't use it, so no harm having it, eh?
Click to expand...

It adds corners and the chance of snagging on the draw. There is some harm, but some people don't mind. For a gun that small, I would prefer to not have it.
 
My own experience

UP FRONT, I HAVE NOT SHOT A SIG 938. Nor do I want too.

I had a KAHR CW9 and sold it after one box of ammo. The recoil was just more than I wanted. The small size of the SIG 938 makes me worry about it for the same reason. Do not discount recoil until you have fired one of these small 9 m.m.

The XD9 Sub Compact is a very nice gun. I have one and use it as a car gun and occasional carry gun. It is accurate and has excellent ergonomics. As a former GLOCK carrier, I find the XD9 fits my hand much better. I also like the grip safety.
The extended magazine with grip addapter is a nice feature for a home gun and so is the light rail. I keep one with my XD9. Oh, if you go with the XD9, give a PEARCE grip extender a try. It really inproved the handling on mine.

Jim
 
golden said:
UP FRONT, I HAVE NOT SHOT A SIG 938. Nor do I want too.

I had a KAHR CW9 and sold it after one box of ammo. The recoil was just more than I wanted. The small size of the SIG 938 makes me worry about it for the same reason. Do not discount recoil until you have fired one of these small 9 m.m.

The XD9 Sub Compact is a very nice gun. I have one and use it as a car gun and occasional carry gun. It is accurate and has excellent ergonomics. As a former GLOCK carrier, I find the XD9 fits my hand much better. I also like the grip safety.
The extended magazine with grip addapter is a nice feature for a home gun and so is the light rail. I keep one with my XD9. Oh, if you go with the XD9, give a PEARCE grip extender a try. It really inproved the handling on mine.

Jim
Click to expand...
Rest assured, the 9mm P938 is much easier on the hand and shooter than a .380 Ruger LCP.
 
As an LCP owner I'm glad to read that....I had a chance to look a friends 938 over this weekend. It's the first little 9 that made me want to ditch my 380.
 
ritepath said:
As an LCP owner I'm glad to read that....I had a chance to look a friends 938 over this weekend. It's the first little 9 that made me want to ditch my 380.
Click to expand...
When i got my P938, I took it and my Colt Mustang .380 and met my friend with his LCP at the range. We both agreed that the worst on the hand out of the 3 was the LCP, with the P938 somewhere between the Colt and LCP in felt recoil.
 
I handled a P938 and thought it felt very good, actually. That gun MIGHT be my first choice because of its size comparison.

It MAY have more felt recoil than my current carry gun [F.I. Industries Model D in 380acp], but I'm good with that. It is more important to have a more potent caliber in my possession than to worry about its snappiness. Now, I like what I'm hearing about the P938 being less than the Kahr. I had a Kahr and was okay with its recoil. Just couldn't get used to the long DAO trigger.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

joneb
  • Locked
selling a XDS 9mm
Replies
12
Views
585
joneb
joneb
Zaydok Allen
  • Locked
Are you still carrying an XDs 45: I need some input.
Replies
15
Views
1K
silvermane_1
silvermane_1
Zaydok Allen
  • Locked
Sig Sauer P938 Legion Unboxing and Initial Impressions
2
Replies
35
Views
4K
Garandimal
Garandimal
B
  • Locked
Kimber Solo VS Sig P938
Replies
13
Views
2K
mgregg85
M
Zaydok Allen
  • Locked
Comparison of 9mm and 45acp XDs recoil
2
Replies
29
Views
2K
drband
drband
Back
Top