Dang Sig P238 FTF Problems

[andrsnsm]

I am not too happy with my Sig P238 today, I took it to lunch at the range today and to thank me it misfed quite a bit. With the Sig mag I had many FTF and it failed to go into full battery a number of times. When using a Metalform Colt Mustang mag it worked fine. I dropped it off at the store where I bought it, I am tired of FTF with this gun. I expect they will probably polish he feed ramp but I am hoping they just send it back to Sig. Grrrrr. On the bright side, my newly acquired Stoeger Cougar 9mm ($299) performed flawlessly as expected.

 

[camper]

Some of the first issued Sig 238 mags had problems. Check the Sig Forum and do a search and see if the mag you have might be on of those.

 

[j21blackjack]

This problem is posted all over the place. Check your mag, it should have a nice rounded follower, the bad ones come to more of a point. If you've got a bad one, Sig should send you a new one.

 

[andrsnsm]

My gun was after all the initial reports of problems and the follower is rounded. That said, I have Colt Mustang mags that the follower is more pointed and the gun feeds just fine with them, go figure. I got a call from the shop today and they fired 20 rounds through it without a single FTF with the Sig mag. All he could say is try some different ammo. Ok, so I guess I will try something else (was using Blazer Brass when I had all the FTF issues). They were using Federal. I have some Winchester white box I will try too. Or....I may just sell the darn thing, I hate finicky eaters.

 

[Bobby T]

Your not alone. I bought myself one for christmas and its junk. I had it all FTF, Jams, wont eject and so on. My box says my gun was made in Nov. 2009, so it should be one on the better ones, go figure. I have only tried winchester ammo in it though. Havent been able to find any different ammo here local to try in it yet. Hope some different ammo work better or this thing is going to find a new home. I cant see giving 600 bucks for something that just wants to work sometimes.

Bobby

 

[MICHAEL T]

That Winchester flat nose ammo causes a lot of problems . I won't buy it at all

 

[sidheshooter]

Interesting.

I have had a good number of FTFs with a newer Bersa Thunder, and this is still going on after something close to 400 rounds. It has FTF'd with both federal and blazer brass ball, but by far the most FTFs have been with the blazer brass.

I feel your pain. This thing with my gun is beyond annoying, especially when the whole western world seems to swear by them online, and it sounds like you're in much the same boat with your sig.

 

[andrsnsm]

I have a Bersa and have had great success with it. Sig told me to send my P238 in and they would look at it so I may just do that. If I do that, it is going to likely find a new home anyway when it returns.

 

[9mmepiphany]

shamelessly cut from a simular thread on the Sigforum

the 238 is adapted from an old design that was not considered really successful as far as reliability and durability are concerned. The concept of using a locked-breech mechanism to make possible a short, light slide in .380 is valid within reason, but there are absolute limits to recoil spring tunnel space and slide mass that I feel the 238 has exceeded.

... Excam .380 = FIE Titan = Colt Pony = 238

i've been reading about a lot of issues of durability combined with a borderline design...it might be time to move on

 

[denfoote]

Yer problem is that it's a Sig!!!
Ya should have bought the Walther!!!

 

[mgh]

I also have problems with my new P238. In 100 rounds I had failure to feed, stovepipes, failure to ignite primer and the mag dropped out a couple of time while shooting. I never had a gun with so many problems all at once. I'm not looking forward to the cycle of sending to factory, testing, sending back to factory etc. It's hard to imagine I'll ever trust this pistol, and while it's fun to shoot (when it shoots), I've got a 22 for plinking.

As an antidote to this experience I'm going to buy an HK - they say that's an outstandingly reliable handgun.

 

[MikeyM]

I can't believe what I'm reading...my 238 mfg'd Nov 2009 has operated flawlessly with round nose (50 rounds), winchester silvertip (20 rounds), and flatnose winchester (50 rounds) all with the mag that came with. I am sending it back for the reason that the trigger requires a 12 lb pull, which I told Sig was unacceptable on a "single action" pistol, and they promised to "look at it," given that the specs call for a "5 pound trigger." All I can guess is that they're producing these pieces on a new assembly line with non-consistent standards. Sig is supposed to be a good gun, and is priced twice what my Ruger LCP is...and the LCP has a flawless record of firing, a 5 lb trigger, and rides in your pocket like it's part of me. Oh, well. We'll see what Sig does to remedy this. I love the single action design.

 

[Guns and more]

the 238 is adapted from an old design that was not considered really successful as far as reliability and durability are concerned. The concept of using a locked-breech mechanism to make possible a short, light slide in .380 is valid within reason, but there are absolute limits to recoil spring tunnel space and slide mass that I feel the 238 has exceeded.

If that were true, none of them would work perfectly. Mine does. I'm always surprised to see others don't.
In the first case, andrsnsm said it failed with the Sig mag, but worked "fine" with the Colt. So he's sending it back! It seems to me it is a magazine issue. My mag had the rounded follower, not the ski slope look. I got two more mags from Top Gun Supply and they are identical to the stock. All feed flawlessly (on PMC Bronze, FMJ) Now, I'm not sure which mag is the original. Mine was made in August, so it was an early one, but after the recall over the safety. I waited for the Rosewood edition.

 

[EAJ]

Sorry to hear about all the problems. That can be very frustrating with a new pistol. Mine too has been flawless with assorted FMJ and JHP ammuntion.

 

[Orion8472]

EAJ, . . .very nice looking pistol. When did you get it? I've had one "on order" for a while now [the all black with wood grips and night sights].

 

[EAJ]

EAJ, . . .very nice looking pistol. When did you get it? I've had one "on order" for a while now [the all black with wood grips and night sights].

Email sent.

 

[9mmepiphany]

If that were true, none of them would work perfectly

when a gun design is borderline on slide mass and recoil spring tunnel space to handle the .380, there are guns on both sides of that line. like the Colt Pony that the Sig 238 is copied from, it just isn't a world better for reliability...neither was the Excam or the FI Titan it is based on.

i happen to love Sigs and own several...mostly 220, 226 and 228...but i see the 238 following in the footsteps of the notorious Mosquito and GSR. some may work, but there are better choices available

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

With the Sig mag I had many FTF and it failed to go into full battery a number of times. When using a Metalform Colt Mustang mag it worked fine.

This suggests a magazine problem to me. Either call SIG-Sauer and ask for a new magazine, or get some more of those that you've found to work in it. When I had to use their customer service in 2007 I found them responsive and professional on the phone.

 

[j21blackjack]

I fully expected to have problems with mine based on all of the bad posts that I've read, but I bought it anyway. Sure enough mine failed to chamber the very first round. Luckily for me, it was only my extractor being extemely too tight. Five minutes of tweaking and it's been 100% ever since.