anyone have a Sig p238 that IS NOT a lemon?

[piece of meat]

of all the guns ive researched online, this one has BY FAR the most negative reviews/problems ive ever seen.

it seems like such a neat little gun, and on paper would be the best in its class...just wondering how many of you own this model, and have NOT had problems with it?

 

[swiftak]

Mine is great so far.
I've shot reloads, factory, cast bullets and jacketed bullets.
Not even a hint of a problem.
Probably fired 3 to4 hundred rounds so far. Owned it 6 months or so.

 

[benzuncle]

You are correct; there have been quite a few customers that have had problems with their P238's. There are threads on several forums attesting to various problems. Some have returned them to Sig and had the problems fixed; others have not had them fixed to their satisfaction and still others just "got shed" of it and moved on. (I think we can all agree that it is not a cheap firearm.) However, if you read between those responses you will also find quite a few owners that have had zero problems from day one. They have fallen in love with the P238. One contributor purchased one for himself and his wife. 2 different models; neither has had a problem.

I was one of the customers that did have a problem. I contacted them, sent it back on their dime and received it back from them, once again on their dime 4 weeks later as promised. The CS was stellar. (I have to tell you, I did eat a Listermint before speaking with the CS rep on the phone; that may have had something to do with it. ) I have since shoved 300+ rounds through my P238 HD since getting it back. (This was done shooting at least 100 rounds through it at each session.) I left it dirty between the first and second hundred rounds just to see if that might pose a problem. It did not.

I would suggest that if the P238 intrigues you consider rereading the past threads. Most of the people that have had no problems only say it once. Those that have had issues often respond with several posts explaining their plight. This makes it look like there are a lot more customers with problems. If you are still not satisfied, there are plenty of other 380's on the market. But I have to tell ya, I seriously doubt they will have such a soft recoil or shoot as nice as the P238.

 

[Zerodefect]

Not here.

 

[Flint Ridge]

Most are seemingly fine. Some have problems and are fixed if sent in. A small number are plagued with issues - if you land in this latter category as I have you wish you had never laid eyes on one.

Keep in mind problems tend to show up on the interenet. Also, plenty are still NIB or fired only a magazine or so. Therefore I contend that there will be problematic P238's for decades to come as the NIB ones actually get used or are sold. Beware the early models regardless. Better luck apparently with the fresh ones off the line.

Wish mine worked it had real potential.

 

[Bill2e]

Not me, but a friend of mine has one and the gun is perfect. Shoots everything and shoots it well. Fun gun to shoot. very accurate and zero recoil. The only thing i do not like about his gun is that it is not mine.

 

[03Shadowbob]

I have 2. One is a safe queen and the other a carry gun. My carry gun has been flawless. The other I have not shot.

 

[sidheshooter]

Mine is excellent.

I guess it's about time I told the story:

I was in my favorite LGS maybe a year+ to a year and a half ago. There, to my amazement, was a used P238, complete with night sights (then still optional) and three mags.

Folks, most of the time, my wife is right about all the excess time I spend on gun forums.

This was not one of those times.

Looking at the mags, I saw that the one in the gun had a semi rounded follower, while both the extras had a sharply triangulated follower that stuck up something close to a quarter-inch more. Uh huh... I think I might know why this guy traded in a new, high-demand pocket pistol for a shotgun...

$500 OTD (not bad at that point in time, not bad at all). A quick trip to the range confirmed my suspicions, and backed up all that I had read about P238 mags online: the one in the gun was flawless (if perhaps a little tentative locking the slide stop up) while the two extras completely blocked ejection of the last case from the chamber, completely tying up the gun, every time. By the time I was on the second failure with each spare mag, I had the type of grin on my face that is usually described as an expletive combined with consumption... never have I been that exited about a reoccuring malf before, I can tell you that for sure!

The next week, I called the lady at Sig that everyone said to ask for (valerie? Yvonne? It's in some thread around here somewhere) an RA number from Sig, a trip to the post office and about four weeks later, and I had two shiny blister packs with new shiny mags inside.

Those worked exactly as they should; feed, eject and positive lock open on the last round, everytime.

I'm somewhere well over 500 rounds, including part of a level 2 handgun class, with no failures since the bad batch mags went back to mama Sig for exchange.

Color me happy; mine's more rose than lemon.

 

[EAJ]

Purchased mine serveral months ago. No issues to date using OE SIG mags, and OE Colt Mustang and Government mags.

The next week, I called the lady at Sig that everyone said to ask for (valerie? Yvonne? It's in some thread around here somewhere) an RA number from Sig, a trip to the post office and about four weeks later, and I had two shiny blister packs with new shiny mags inside.

Ask for Victoria; she's the best!

 

[Jed Carter]

Mine runs fine with SIG and Colt magazines, 5 types of range and SD ammunition. About 800 rounds all worked fine, spring is still same length as replacement I bought. With tilting barrel it has less recoil than my P232, but the P232 out shoots the P238. I only have one complaint about the P238 and that is the 8lb trigger, a 5.5lb would be more to my liking.

 

[M2 Carbine]

anyone have a Sig p238 that IS NOT a lemon?

I wish.

Mine has been a real problem since I passed about 300 rounds.

I've got the UPS label to send it in for the 2nd time and I have zero confidence that SIG will get it reliable.

 

[dstag]

I love mine. No problems of any kind. I have only fired about 200 rounds through it. Great fit. Nice trigger. Well finished.

 

[LightningMan]

Mine has been functioned fine with the exception of having a short recoil spring life. If you shoot it very much better buy extra springs for it. My suggestion for anyone using this for a carry gun would be; Buy extra springs, at least 2, but more is better, break the gun in by shooting it till you are happy its reliable. After that install a new spring and test fire it with 50 rds. of your chosen SD ammo and if it doesn't have a hickup don't keep using that spring, as it will be your spring for conceal carry. For practice use the old one or another one. I would not want to always try and keep a round count on a spring that may be needed to protect my life.
If you have been reading the forums, you will find some folks have not been getting even close to SIG's recommended 1500 rds. time to change recoil spring, it has been all over the place on round count. Some have been as low as 300 rds. while some are over 600 and still going. Mine personally broke at around 400 rds. This is just my opinion your milage may vary, LM.

 

[M2 Carbine]

you will find some folks have not been getting even close to SIG's recommended 1500 rds.

Mine is on the 4th spring in about 400-450 rounds.

 

[Tommygunn]

Mine is good to go.
I like the gun. All these threads about P238s with problems have gotten me a bit paranoid though . . . . .

 

[Blind Bat]

M2 - The spring compressed itself that much in <200 rounds?!?!? That is crazy. They must have serious issues with their heat treating.

 

[Craig M. Arnold]

Sig p238

I have two SIG P238s. Both run fine with my reloads and factory ammo. I have over 1,000 rounds through each of my little SIGs with zero failures.

Best regards.

[/IMG]

 

[kokapelli]

I'm kind of into pocket 380s and have shot most of the current brands and none of the ones i've owned and shot come close to the P238 in felt recoil and accuracy.

Mine has 600 rounds through it without a single problem of any kind and am still on the original recoil spring.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

I talked with a girl who is a DIE HARD Sig lover. She bought 3 of them. I guess one in every flavor. All 3 were bad out of the box. Boy , was she pissed!

Not sure what the outcome was, but I know she sent them back to Sig. I have lousy luck, so I think I'll pass on the 238 for now.

I agree though, the disgruntled owners will drowned out the happy customers.

 

[Guns and more]

anyone have a Sig p238 that IS NOT a lemon?

Yep. Me and thousands of others. Your premise is flawed.

 

[philip964]

I have had zero problems with the exception of when I introduced the gun to a new magazine I had bought at a store which claimed it was a factory SIG magazine. The magazine performed poorly with the new magazine. So I returned it and it is back to being perfect again.

I do not shoot this gun as accurately as a full size pistol. From 15 yards my shots all will fit in a 24 inch diameter circle around the bullseye.

A pistol instructor was interested in my gun so I let him fire it. He had never fired a P238 before and just like that put three shots in a 4 inch diameter circle around the bullseye. His second shot actually hit the edge of the bullseye.

I have my work cut out for me and I certainly cannot blame the small size of the gun any more.

I even scored some .380 ammo last week so I am a happy camper.

 

[aryfrosty]

238 problems?

I bought a 238 about 2 weeks ago and it has been a great gun. My ONLY problem has been finding Sig mags, even 'though I was willing to buy at their serious overprice. Even Sig claims they are out of stock. I didn't look for Colt Mags 'though I do know they will work. (I went to CDNN and bought 4 Metalform 'Sig/Colt' mags with round topped followers and they fit better than the factory mag and feed well also. $16. -+ each ) I look upon my Sig as a "belly gun", 'after Jeff Cooper', and carry it in a factory leather pocket holster. I paid $600 for mine and it came with a super pocket holster, a hard polymer belt holster and Siglite sights. (Trijicons). I have a Mustang that has been around a while; I like the feel of the Sig better...more room on the shorter grip frame?

 

[kokapelli]

I bought a 238 about 2 weeks ago and it has been a great gun. My ONLY problem has been finding Sig mags, even 'though I was willing to buy at their serious overprice. Even Sig claims they are out of stock. I didn't look for Colt Mags 'though I do know they will work. (I went to CDNN and bought 4 Metalform 'Sig/Colt' mags with round topped followers and they fit better than the factory mag and feed well also. $16. -+ each ) I look upon my Sig as a "belly gun", 'after Jeff Cooper', and carry it in a factory leather pocket holster. I paid $600 for mine and it came with a super pocket holster, a hard polymer belt holster and Siglite sights. (Trijicons). I have a Mustang that has been around a while; I like the feel of the Sig better...more room on the shorter grip frame?

Midway has all kinds of Colt Mustang mags from $16.95 up.

I purchased three of the $16.95 mags and they work perfectly in my P238.
http://www.midwayusa.com/Search/#colt%20mustang%20mags____-_1-2-4_8-16-32

 

[Jolly Rogers]

I love my trouble free Sig P238.
Joe

 

[Broken Anvil]

I've got about 400 rounds through mine, no problems at all. Carries well, shoots great and feels like a "real gun". I will keep an eye on that spring though.