Describe your experience with your SIG P-239

[Lone Star]

I recently handled my daughter-in-law's SIG P-239. It's stock, save for Hogue grips, which are very comfortable.

If you own a P-239, please tell us about you experience with it. Do you like it, or not, and why?

If you are a truly skilled shot, and have shot it slow fire on bullseye targets, what was the range and the accuracy? (Those who boast on the Net of their six-inch groups at 10 yards need not reply. )

Is it reliable? I wouldn't be buying a "games" gun, for action matches and such. If I have to fire it other than for routine practice, it will be to save a life. Probably mine...

Overall, are you satsfied with it, and is your experience with firearms wide enough to compare it to other guns?

If it is dropped, will the hammer spring (?) probably break? I think the German police P-6's often had that problem. Some departments even altered the hammers to let the armorer know if the gun was dropped.

What else should I know before buying a P-239?

Thanks,

Lone Star

 

[AK103K]

I have one in 357SIG. Its accurate and reliable. The stock grips are a little to skinny for me, and need more swell in the palm. I put Houge checkered coco bolos on mine, and it solved the problem.

In reality, the P239 is not all that much smaller than the P229, and the P229 carries half again the ammo on board. Its also a little heavy for its size. Not a bad thing when it comes to shooting it, but not the greatest for everything else.

 

[jame]

I sold mine to buy a Springfield Mil-Spec. I like the .45, but I LOVED the 239, and I can't say I made a good decision.

I carried it in a Kramer MSP paddle holster, and it was a very "natural" setup. It just seemed to be part of me, and I can definitely say I'll own another.

If you're think of buying one, just stop thinking. Buy it!

 

[lcubanito]

I own a P239 SAS Gen1. Sweet gun and an accurate shooter. The melt job is a nice touch for CCW. While it is compact, there are better, more compact choices out there. Despite being a single stack, it isn't any slimmer than my Glocks. I own a Glock 19 and a Glock 26. The G26 is lighter and easier to conceal and holds 10 more rounds in the standard magazine. The G19 is about the same size as the P239, but the G19 is lighter and holds twice as many rounds.

The Gen1 SAS has a DAK trigger on it, so I wouldn't consider it the best trigger for squeezing out the very best accuracy the gun has to offer. Having said that, the gun groups really well. I don't shoot combat pistols at distances past 15 yards. At 15 yards, the P239 will put the rounds in a ragged hole within a 3" bull all day long.

My P239 has been every bit as reliable as both my P226's, my Glocks, my Kahr, and my S&W's.

I guess I'll admit, while I don't regret buying the pistol (shoots good and is reliable and aesthetically pleasing) not sure it fills a need. I have better choices in the stable for CCW, and for range use.

 

[gbelleh]

I regularly carry a 239 .40 in winter months. It is a little large and heavy for its capacity, but it still conceals well and is very nice to shoot. Reliability has been 100% and accuracy is plenty good, but I don't seem to shoot it quite as well as my USP .45c.

 

[rellascout]

I used to own one in 357 Sig. I also had a 40 S&W barrel as well as a barsto 9mm conversion.

It was a good gun. I like it and in 357 Sig it was hot. It is a little unbalanced IMHO. It sort of tilts in the hand. It is not as well balanced as the P228/P220/P226 Etc. It concealed well in a WMII holster. Even with its limited capacity I never felt it was not enough for concealed carry.

All that said it is not really a compact gun. It is a tweener. It is not that small and as others have pointed out there are other choices out there that are just as concealable but offer higher capacity and are ever slimmer.

It is an accurate gun but IMHO the P225 is more accurate Sig in 9mm Single Stack. Both will be more accurate than the shooter. Whether is shoots well for you is more a matter of you matting up with the gun vs its mechanical accuracy. If you put it on a mechanical rest you would be stunned at how accurate the little pistol is.

Again all that said for my money the P225 is a better gun. It is slightly longer but in a good holster it will not make a difference.

Length, overall 7.1"
Height, overall 5.2"
Width, overall 1.3"
Barrel length 3.9"
Rifling twist 1 in 10"

Vs the P239

Length, overall 6.6"
Height, overall 5.1"
Width, overall 1.2"
Barrel length 3.6"

 

[1SOW]

I'm used to my SA/DA plain jane 239, so yes, I like it. I even competed with it for a few months.

As rellascout says the little devil shoots pretty well. I tried it at 25 yds offhand just for grins, and my groups weren't noteworthy; but they all hit. It was me , not the gun that opened up the groups.

It's safe, reliable and accurate (as are many), and it suits my purpose. I also have some sig 10 rd mags for it that work well but are a little awkward for carry.

 

[HAMMERDROP]

My wife has one ...

In .40 w/CTC laser grips... I have large hands and find it has a short gripping surface but its those laser grips however the factory grips were not much better for me. Recoil is a non issue for a .40 even with +P loads the weight absorbs the punch, concealibilty is 1+.
Drawing does take some practice especially if your used to drawing a gun with more of a grip especially from IWB. I think it would be a perfect shoulder holster gun but do not have one to try. But feel it would give a draw nearly 100% purchase on the grip. Her Bianci paddle is made for a man not a woman and I have a ruff time popping the snap and getting my hand to grab enough grip in one motion without having to adjust as I bring it on target, slow is smooth... And for its stout grip I wish it held at least 10 rounds. IMO


Michael

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I had one in the late 1990s. One hundred percent reliable, but it had an oddity in the DA trigger pull that I just could not get used to. It was very accurate in slow fire.

 

[czrami9]

I just picked one up in .40 this past week. I love it. I don't find it too big to carry or conceal, but I am fairly used to carrying heavy, larger guns than this. The only drawback is I believe it is a blued finish over a stainless slide. Not optimal for carry. Does anyone know if the frame is stainless as well?

 

[RobMoore]

Like others, I found the stock grips too thin. It made the gun feel very top-heavy.

 

[AK103K]

It doesnt feel as top heavy when loaded, or at least it doenst seem so to me. If your handling it, dry firing it empty, it will feel different than when its loaded.

 

[rskent]

Lone Star
I have had a P 239 for about 7 years. Mine is a 9mm, and totally stock. I keep thinking that the grips are a little small for me, but I hit well enough with it so I am afraid to change out the grips for different ones. They also hide well, and don’t grab my shirt (print).

Accuracy wise, I can pretty much hold 2” off hand at ten yards. I have never shot off a rest, so I don’t know what the guns accuracy potential is. But at self defense distances, it is good enough for me. I did shoot it at a hundred once. It took me a few shots to get on paper. The rest of the magazine stayed on paper. This was on a standard NRA SR-1 target 21”x 24”. I was shooting prone.

I have to respectfully disagree with AK103K. Even though size wise the 239is about the same as a 229, it carrying it is night and day different. Here in Florida the normal cover garment is a T shirt or Golf shirt.
The grip on a 229 (mine is a 228-same thing) prints horribly for me. I can only carry the 228 in the winter.

All in all the P239 is a great little gun. It is just a bit heavy for a compact 9mm. It shoots pretty well. It carries pretty well. Mine has had no malfunctions or breakdowns yet. The finish is holding up well, considering how much time it has spent in a cheap Galco IWB holster. YMMV

Steve

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

The only drawback is I believe it is a blued finish over a stainless slide. Not optimal for carry. Does anyone know if the frame is stainless as well?

Bluing being an oxidizing process, you cannot truly blue stainless steel. It is simply a black coating. Even if it wore off it would only expose stainless steel underneath. The frame is aluminum alloy which has been anodized black.

 

[JDGray]

Had one for awhile. Good shooter, top heavy, carried very well. Did not like the slide catch location, or DA first pull. My grip would engage the catch, and hold open the slide. Never warmed up to the DA first shot, nothing wrong with it, just prefer SA only. Loved carrying the thing, great grip angle and small enough to not print. Very good guns, just not for me

 

[czrami9]

How does this coating finish hold up on these guns? When I purchased it from Bud's, the description said blued, but also said Nitron??? The only Sig I have other than this one is a P230SL, so I am not familiar with their finishing options.

 

[rellascout]

All P239s are nitron.

 

[Campusninja]

Heres my German Ilaflon finished 239 9mm

Love this gun alot, and will be getting a Galco Skyops holster before too long. Fit and finish is outstanding, and the Ilaflon finish is extremely nice.

 

[rellascout]

I was going to say that the exception to Nitron is the all German Iffalons but less than 100 of those came into the country IIRC.

 

[bpsig]

I traded for a 239 tactical. I love the grouping in slow fire and the short reset. However the grips need work. I wish it was available in same set up in 40.
But i rarely carry it. usuallya 229 in 40/357

 

[grimjaw]

I had a 239 for awhile. Nothing at all wrong with the function or accuracy of the gun, but it wasn't much smaller than the G19 I replaced it with.

I think if I was going to one gun only, the 239 (in .40S&W) would be a strong candidate.

jm

 

[DennisE]

I love the 239. It's my favorite CCW. I've had 7 total including all 3 calibers. My current one is the best. A 9mm SAS Gen2 with the SRT trigger! Dennis

 

[Jed Carter]

Love the way it shoots .357 SIG, not so much .40 S&W. Just not enough grip length to love it like the P229, or P226, too bulky to carry in warmer months, went to P232 for that. The P239 was my first SIG I now own 5 including a SIG 556 rifle. However the combination of low capacity, wide slide width and short grip have made it a safe queen, my main carry weapon for all but the warmest weather is now the CZ 75D PCR.

 

[garyhan]

I have six years with my 239 9m/m. ) malfuntions. A dream to shoot. Accuracy is at about my ability--2" at 50 ft. Easy to carry in a pocket holster.

gary

 

[JustinL]

I am very happy with mine. It is quite comfortable to carry & has never ever malfunctioned on me irrespective of the ammunition I have put through it. The only downside is that it is a little heavy for its size given the competition now available.