Sig P238

Nice pistols.

If you are looking to buy used, avoid the first year's production unless the gun has been updated. Sig had some teething problems early one. Mine is one of the early ones.

Learn what the improvements are on your own, do not trust the seller. Disassemble the pistol to make sure it has been updated.

One main problem was the recoil spring; early ones were coiled wire springs, the spring was round. It was also slightly truncated and people were "supposed" to put it in with the thin end pointing toward the hammer end, but many didn't.
IMHO it didn't matter anyway; in my Sig P238 I was sure to put it in right ..... but after a few boxes (forget exactly how many) of ammo I noticed that the thin end of the recoil spring had been, well, "scrunched" up. Interestingly the gun still functioned correctly but had the condition worsened I'd bet that would change.
I had heard about the new recoil spring from Sig so I bought some. These new ones are flat and they work, and, so far, I'm stil on the first one and no problems, no "scrunched" spring, it is just fine.
If you buy a 238 make sure it has this new flat wire spring!

Nice guns. Soft shooting, accurate, easy to carry. My wife has one. I'm not a real big fan of the .380 cartridge, but it's in its element in the P238.

Does anyone have any experience or opinions on the Sig Sauer P238 .380 Auto?

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Uh yep, and we've had several threads on this pistol (as well as its big brother, the P-938).

Bought one a year ago for my wife, love the thing --- awesome trigger. Soft-shootin' and accurate. Been 100% reliable with a few hundred rounds of various JHPs through it.

Gratuitous pic of wife's Extreme next to my P-938 Extreme:

Really excellent 380 auto. and the night sights are almost bright enough to read by.It,s my summertime carry.

Great little .380. I bought one to give my Colt Mustang an occasional breather in the CCW rotation. Got a nice deal on this one with night sights, rosewood grips, Nitron finish, laser, and a holster. Decent trigger and those sights are so easy to acquire and get on target.

Mine has been very finicky. One problem after another. Recoil spring only lasts 600 rounds.

I am beginning to believe that most of the problems with the 238 were remedied with the design of the 938. I see no reason to own a 238 except for recoil sensitive shooters.

I have both a P238 and P938. My only complaint is with the trigger pull. But I'm used to a S&W models 10 and 15. Maybe I'm being to picky. The Sigs are defence weapons not range guns.

My p238 is a very accurate defense pistol. Its small and it very accurate out to a MAX of 7yds for quick shots. Anything farther takes some smooth aiming due to the short barrel.

It is a very good defense pistol.

be safe

Great pistol although with the 938 being almost the same size I feel it's a much better choice. Both models though are great pistols and actually have some real sights so you can actually aim and hit.

After watching the "Ammo Quest" 9mm tests from short barreled 9mm pistols I don't see a big enough difference in the 380 and 9mm round from these very short barreled pistols to favor the much harder recoiling 938 over the lighter and softer recoiling 238.

The 238 has been extremely reliable and trouble free. It is the best 380 out there that I have used, especially in the pocket gun class of 380s. In every gun shop I have been to the 238 is always the most highly recommended 380.

I have to agree with most of the above statements. The P238 is the highest quality .380 I have shot. Mine have been reliable with any brand ammo put through it. I have two P238, one is the same style as your pictured one in the original post. It has the best trigger of any .380 that I can think of. I highly recommend it for a small .380, though I am not really a .380 fan. Sometime you just need the extra small carry option.

If you're okay with a .380acp and a SAO pistol, it's about as good as it gets. I don't carry my P238HD anymore as it's been replaced by a CM9, but I really liked the pistol.

It has the best trigger of any .380 that I can think of.

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Really? Thats the one aspect of my 238 that I think really needs some work. Its smooth enough, and breaks ok I guess, but its a hard pull. it could be lightened up by a few pounds for sure.
Other than that, it really is an impressive, well made little pistol.

Funny, the trigger on my wife's 238 is as good as the triggers on a couple of my high-end and semi-custom 1911s. That's what first astounded, then delighted me, about the 238.

My 938, not so much, but it's still a good SA trigger.

My daughter's p238 jammed on every magazine until we sent it back to the factory. They replaced the extractor, and it's been 100% reliable since. I enjoy shooting the little pistol, it's got great sights and little recoil. I'm trying to come up with a good reason to buy one of my own, but so far I'm too responsible to spend that kind of money on a little BUG. I'm still feeling guilty over the Ruger Vaquero I bought on impulse "just because".