Float Pilot
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For anyone who owns , has owned or has extensively shot a Sig P-239,
What is your overall opinion??
What is your overall opinion??
Any Sig P-239 owners here? Opinions?
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toivo
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I have a P239 SAS. I love it. It's my favorite 9mm pistol.
I didn't like the stock hard-plastic grips, so I put Hogue Extreme G10 grips on it. Hogue rubber finger-groove grips are good too, and much cheaper.
It's very accurate and easy to shoot. Felt recoil is minimal. The trigger is good. It's a bit large and heavy to carry, but not impossible.
I didn't like the stock hard-plastic grips, so I put Hogue Extreme G10 grips on it. Hogue rubber finger-groove grips are good too, and much cheaper.
It's very accurate and easy to shoot. Felt recoil is minimal. The trigger is good. It's a bit large and heavy to carry, but not impossible.
AustinTX
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I've never been an owner, but I've probably put 500 to 600 rounds through different P239 pistols, mostly in 9mm. Don't know if that meets your definition of extensive for purposes of this post, but I'll give my impressions anyway.
They're quite comfortable to shoot at the range, though I find the muzzle flip more pronounced than one would hope to find in a gun that weighs 29.5 ounces unloaded (just 4.5 ounces lighter than the full-size P226), due to SIG Sauer pistols' characteristically high bore axis in combination with this model's short slide/barrel. There are lighter and thinner guns that get back on target more quickly from shot to shot in my hands.
I've enjoyed shooting the gun, but I'm not really sure what niche it's supposed to fill. It's quite thick and heavy for something that only gives you single-stack capacity, and the muzzle flip makes it a less effective shooter than even significantly lighter and thinner pistols, at least in my hands. I would either carry a lighter and thinner single-stack like the Walther PPS, or I'd just step up to a double-stack of some sort, since the P239 is already heavier than many double-stacks and similar in width.
I've thought about picking one up just as a range toy, but there's always a long list of things I want more. If I get one, it definitely will not be one made during Ron Cohen's tenure at Sig. His aggressive application of his Kimber playbook (i.e., trade on the company's previously well-earned reputation for quality to maximize volume and profit while increasingly cheapening the product -- cheapening as in skimping on quality, that is, not as in reducing prices for the consumer, quite obviously) has ruined Sig for me. The 1990s and early 2000s American Sigs, on the other hand, are just as good as their German counterparts, in my opinion, so I'd be looking for an unblemished specimen from that era.
rskent
Member
Its a great gun.
Pros: Very reliable
Scary accurate
Very nice trigger
Cons: Its a little heavy compared to a more modern designs.
But that’s probably why it shoots so dam good
Bonus: Got to watch a buddy shoot a hole through his chrony with it.
You had to be there to appreciate just how funny it was.
Pros: Very reliable
Scary accurate
Very nice trigger
Cons: Its a little heavy compared to a more modern designs.
But that’s probably why it shoots so dam good
Bonus: Got to watch a buddy shoot a hole through his chrony with it.
You had to be there to appreciate just how funny it was.
guyfromohio
Member
I echo the above. I've shot several thousand rounds through mine. Never the slightest hint of a hiccup. Carries well. Great trigger.
Con... Plenty of other guns out there of the same size and twice the capacity.
Con... Plenty of other guns out there of the same size and twice the capacity.
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barnett
Member
Had one in 357sig. was my carry piece for a while.
Never warmed up to it though.
Sig reliability was great. I shot the gun well enough. Just kind of heavy for everyday concealed carry for me.
If it matters, my current edc is a 9mm Shield.
Never warmed up to it though.
Sig reliability was great. I shot the gun well enough. Just kind of heavy for everyday concealed carry for me.
If it matters, my current edc is a 9mm Shield.
AK103K
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I had one in 357 as well. Good shooter, reliable and accurate, like my other SIG's.
My only complaints, the factory grip panels are to skinny, and need more swell. The gun itself, is big for a single stack.
If you add more hand filling grips, you basically end up with a gun very similar in size to the P226/229, with half the capacity.
Up until the past few years, SIG always had a weird idea as to what a "compact" gun was. They have come around with some of the more recent offerings though.
My only complaints, the factory grip panels are to skinny, and need more swell. The gun itself, is big for a single stack.
If you add more hand filling grips, you basically end up with a gun very similar in size to the P226/229, with half the capacity.
Up until the past few years, SIG always had a weird idea as to what a "compact" gun was. They have come around with some of the more recent offerings though.
Plan2Live
Member
I completely (and respectfully) disagree with AustinTX.
I have carried a 239 in 9mm for about two and a half years now. I have gone through advanced carry classes using this pistol and keep pace with other students using "modern striker fired" guns. I reload more often but that means by default I get to practice that skill more often. I prefer a DA/SA hammer fired system and the 239 fills that niche for me. Keep in mind when you hear comments about bore axis that is generally code for check out G-lock.
I shoot this gun well and have no trouble carrying it using a purpose built carry belt and quality holster. My only complaint is with holster manufacturers. I wish more holster makers would offer more options. Specifically I wish Galco made their Avenger holster cut for a 239. Galco seems to think the 239 is more of an an ankle carry or backup gun.
I have carried a 239 in 9mm for about two and a half years now. I have gone through advanced carry classes using this pistol and keep pace with other students using "modern striker fired" guns. I reload more often but that means by default I get to practice that skill more often. I prefer a DA/SA hammer fired system and the 239 fills that niche for me. Keep in mind when you hear comments about bore axis that is generally code for check out G-lock.
I shoot this gun well and have no trouble carrying it using a purpose built carry belt and quality holster. My only complaint is with holster manufacturers. I wish more holster makers would offer more options. Specifically I wish Galco made their Avenger holster cut for a 239. Galco seems to think the 239 is more of an an ankle carry or backup gun.
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AustinTX
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Maybe generally, but not always, and certainly not in my case. I also do my best not to speak in any kind of "code." If I wanted to recommend a Glock, I certainly wouldn't be coy about it.
In any case, to dispel any notion that I'm here to covertly advocate for the Austrian pistol, I'll just mention that I own just a single Glock, and I'm not particularly enamored with it. I shoot other guns better. On the other hand, I own several SIG Sauer pistols, and I like them all quite a bit. Additionally, my very favorite guns are all hammer-fired (although the Walther PPS works best for me as a CCW).
The high bore axis of a Sig P-series pistol, which normally isn't much of a factor to me, is still a physical fact that does come into play with this particular gun in my hands, given the much-reduced mass ahead of the trigger. I can shoot it just fine, and I certainly wouldn't feel like I was in bad shape if I were forced to carry it. It's just that I perform better with other guns when we're measuring performance in a fine-grained way -- guns that also happen to be significantly lighter and thinner.
I'm not saying that the P239 is incapable. Far from it. But there are a number of reasons I don't find it to be optimal, and the existing pistol closest to optimal for a given application is what I'm looking for in a CCW. If someone else finds it to be the best option, however, then they should carry it.
guyfromohio
Member
My advice.... You can't go wrong with it, but check out a CZ 75D Compact (PCR). Same size, same decocker (although easier to thumb and rests at a 1/3 cock position), 14+1, and about $175 less expensive. I won't sell my 239, but I don't carry it any longer since I bought and vetted the PCR.
I have the P6/P225 which was its predecessor, and I've handled 239s. Lovely guns and the only real downside is the weight. I stopped CCWing mine after I got a J-frame that weighs half as much. But the 225 was easy to CCW as long as you didn't mind the gravity on your hip.
If you have a good belt and want a gun at home both on your person and at the range they're hard to beat. I prefer single-stack grips by a longshot, so the capacity is just a given as far as I'm concerned. If carry is your number 1 priority I might go with something lighter.
If you have a good belt and want a gun at home both on your person and at the range they're hard to beat. I prefer single-stack grips by a longshot, so the capacity is just a given as far as I'm concerned. If carry is your number 1 priority I might go with something lighter.
Claude Clay
Member
mine is a two-tone 2nd generation and came from the factory as a 40 S&W
with night sites and Hogue grips. the DA/SA trigger & decocker makes
the gun as close to lawyer proof as a revolver
It was my primary carry for 10 years and is still used for carry,
though most of its usage now is for IDPA and instruction.
I have two EFK Firedragon bbls; 9mm conv and a 357sig
best balance between size, weight, accuracy, capacity and how it fits me.
all 3 calibers use the same magazines and bbl spring.
if I was restricted to only 5 guns this would be one of them.
with night sites and Hogue grips. the DA/SA trigger & decocker makes
the gun as close to lawyer proof as a revolver
It was my primary carry for 10 years and is still used for carry,
though most of its usage now is for IDPA and instruction.
I have two EFK Firedragon bbls; 9mm conv and a 357sig
best balance between size, weight, accuracy, capacity and how it fits me.
all 3 calibers use the same magazines and bbl spring.
if I was restricted to only 5 guns this would be one of them.
OP
OP
Float Pilot
Member
So how does one tell the difference when shopping used Sigs ?????
My reason for asking is that I am looking for a new general carry CCW arm. I have a five shot 44 Special Taurus 445 snubbie, but it has limited accuracy past 10 yards. Plus it is just as bulky as many larger autos. So it is only good as a heavy jacket/coat gun.
For most of 20 years I carried a Sig 220 as a duty holster and later plain clothes carry piece. Even when my dept went to all Glocks, I was able to stay grand-fathered with my Sig since I was a range-master / instructor. So the Sig de-cocker manual of arms is really ingrained in my wee little brain.
While I own a couple Glocks, they do not index correctly in my hand for a rapid engagement.
I also have a tricked out 1911, but I really do not care for carrying it.
I sometimes carry my wife's little KAHR CW-9, but the super long trigger pull is mediocre.
I am somewhat of an accuracy freak, so I wish I had not sold my old H&K P-7 many years ago.
So as it is, I am looking for a slim, concealable ( I am 6' 1" and 210lbs) semi-auto with notable accuracy potential. I think in terms of a 25 to 50 yard torso-shot and 7 to 15 yards as head shots.
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AK103K
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Id still suggest you look at the P239, along with the other P series guns, at the same time, if youre looking at SIG. Get them in your hand and see what you think. The size difference between the 239 and 229 really isnt alot, and the 226, while slightly longer, is closer to the 239 in thickness.
I know pics dont tell it all, but they will give you an idea. My P239 here, had Hogue grips on it, which make the grip fuller, but also more in line with the double stacks too. They make the gun a lot easier to control though, especially in rapid fire.
P239vs P229
I know pics dont tell it all, but they will give you an idea. My P239 here, had Hogue grips on it, which make the grip fuller, but also more in line with the double stacks too. They make the gun a lot easier to control though, especially in rapid fire.
P239vs P229
If the the weight doesn't bother you then go for the P239. It's a great gun. Of course you can always buy another HK P7 if you have a grand kicking around.
If I could only own one new handgun it'd be the 239, or maybe a Smith 3913 if they still make those. If I could own two it'd probably be a Smith J-frame and a P220.
If I could only own one new handgun it'd be the 239, or maybe a Smith 3913 if they still make those. If I could own two it'd probably be a Smith J-frame and a P220.
boricua9mm
Member
I have a pre-Cohen P239 in 9mm; it was my carry gun for 6 or 7 years before I switched to pocket carry for my EDC needs.
I think the 239 is one of the best single stack pistols available. I am also rather fond of the P7 and the 3913. My pistol has around 8,000 rounds through it, and it had one single malfunction that was due to a chewed up case rim. Not only has it proven reliable, but it is extremely accurate as well. The trigger pulls in both DA and SA have really sweetened up with use. It is one of the few DA/SA pistols that I can shoot just as accurately in DA mode as I can in SA. There's something to be said for a pistol that you can shoot really well, even if it doesn't have 16 rounds on board.
Aftermarket grips are available, but most of them make the grip fatter, which closes the gap with pistols offering higher capacity. I use a set of factory walnut grips (made by Hogue) that I reduced to dimensions more comparable to the factory panels. With the factory plastic grips, or with reduced wooden grips, the 239 is much, much slimmer in the grip than it's brethren.
For concealed carry, there is a significant difference between the P239 and the P229. The 228/229 has a much fatter grip, which is the part of the gun that you must work hard to try and hide. For my hands, the single stack feels much more natural in my hands. I would also recommend getting your hands on a P225 (not a P6) and seeing how you like it. Many folks believe it to be one of the most comfortable grips available, but be advised that the grip panels of the 225 are thicker than those of the 239.
I bought a factory threaded barrel for my 239, and I now use it as a suppressor host. If I had to start selling off my guns, this would be one of the last to go. I would most likely find difficulty in replacing it, because like AustinTx, I don't trust SIGs made after 2004.
If you find a 2-tone with the nickeled controls, it was made in "the good years." I would avoid the 2-tones that only have the nickeled slide, the SAS and DAK trigger models, as you're now treading on the Cohen territory. Aside from that, the plastic grips are date coded inside, which is helpful assuming the grips are original to the gun.
I think the 239 is one of the best single stack pistols available. I am also rather fond of the P7 and the 3913. My pistol has around 8,000 rounds through it, and it had one single malfunction that was due to a chewed up case rim. Not only has it proven reliable, but it is extremely accurate as well. The trigger pulls in both DA and SA have really sweetened up with use. It is one of the few DA/SA pistols that I can shoot just as accurately in DA mode as I can in SA. There's something to be said for a pistol that you can shoot really well, even if it doesn't have 16 rounds on board.
Aftermarket grips are available, but most of them make the grip fatter, which closes the gap with pistols offering higher capacity. I use a set of factory walnut grips (made by Hogue) that I reduced to dimensions more comparable to the factory panels. With the factory plastic grips, or with reduced wooden grips, the 239 is much, much slimmer in the grip than it's brethren.
For concealed carry, there is a significant difference between the P239 and the P229. The 228/229 has a much fatter grip, which is the part of the gun that you must work hard to try and hide. For my hands, the single stack feels much more natural in my hands. I would also recommend getting your hands on a P225 (not a P6) and seeing how you like it. Many folks believe it to be one of the most comfortable grips available, but be advised that the grip panels of the 225 are thicker than those of the 239.
I bought a factory threaded barrel for my 239, and I now use it as a suppressor host. If I had to start selling off my guns, this would be one of the last to go. I would most likely find difficulty in replacing it, because like AustinTx, I don't trust SIGs made after 2004.
If you find a 2-tone with the nickeled controls, it was made in "the good years." I would avoid the 2-tones that only have the nickeled slide, the SAS and DAK trigger models, as you're now treading on the Cohen territory. Aside from that, the plastic grips are date coded inside, which is helpful assuming the grips are original to the gun.
BSA1
member
Appearances can be deceiving.
P239 and Taurus M-85. Both measure 5" x 7" and the 239 holds 4 more rounds.
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OP
OP
Float Pilot
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.
Actually there was a VERY NICE Euro model P-7 for sale about 300 miles north of me. For $800.
I had cash in hand and was pre-flighting my plane when the seller told me that he just sold it to another buyer.
AK103K
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Up until the 238 came along, all the P series were really not all that much different, when it came to size. A little here and there, and that was about it.
The only one missing in this pic, was the P239, which would go right net to the P245 on the bottom there. You can see them together in the next pic.
All of these were pre-238, and the P230's were the "babys".
Heres some more, with a 642. Ive carried all of them a good bit, and while I was carrying SIG's, settled on the 226's with the 230's in the "baby" spot. My P238 was not like the other P series guns, and not reliable enough to trust.
I liked the 239, but found the size of it to close to the others, and they offered more. If you think the P226 or P229's are to big (I never did), the P250 would actually be my next choice. Its also got what I thought was the best "feeling" grip, of all the P series guns. The P226 came in second.
The only one missing in this pic, was the P239, which would go right net to the P245 on the bottom there. You can see them together in the next pic.
All of these were pre-238, and the P230's were the "babys".
Heres some more, with a 642. Ive carried all of them a good bit, and while I was carrying SIG's, settled on the 226's with the 230's in the "baby" spot. My P238 was not like the other P series guns, and not reliable enough to trust.
I liked the 239, but found the size of it to close to the others, and they offered more. If you think the P226 or P229's are to big (I never did), the P250 would actually be my next choice. Its also got what I thought was the best "feeling" grip, of all the P series guns. The P226 came in second.
boricua9mm
Member
That's because you slapped a set of fat wooden grips on it. Put the factory grips back on, or thin down your wooden grips, and you'll notice a huge difference in the grips between the 239 and the 228/228.
Deaf Smith
Member
I've owned three of 'em. Have one now.
Used them years ago to qualify at LFI-1. Aced out the test and another gent borrowed one of mine when his KAHR .40 went belly up. He was amazed at the accuracy and ended up buying one of mine.
Excellent guns. Reliable as any of the best. Shot like rifle.
I carry a custom Glock 26, but I'd have no qualms packing my 239.
Deaf
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Float Pilot
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Hmm, it is noticeably larger than the old P230. Which is almost the size of many of the new compact 9s. Interesting...
I have looked all over during long trips for a P-239 up here in Ak. I have yet to see one in person.
I have looked all over during long trips for a P-239 up here in Ak. I have yet to see one in person.
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