IWB grumblings led to the Sig P238

Status
Not open for further replies.
9

9mm+

Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2009
Messages
856
Location
Cary, NC
After grumbling to myself about carrying IWB with even small 9mm's, I finally sucked it up and bought a Sig P238. I bought a good pocket holster for it today at the Dixie Gun and Knife Show in Raleigh, and I'll have to say that I am never looking back! I don't want this to get into some debate about 9mm vs. 380 vs. 45ACP vs. 38spc, etc., but I will tell you from personal experience that I just didn't carry as much as I should with my other pistols because of their bulk, and I felt that the Sig P238 would make a more convenient carry firearm. I carry it everywhere now and don't even notice that it's there. Sure, there are better man-stoppers out there, but the bigger calibers are 100% useless if you don't have them with you.

The Sig has worked out very well and eats just about anything you feed it. For the record, I have no problem with an SAO defensive carry gun. Some people have a beef with it, but it works very well for me.
 
Last edited:
9mm+ said:
The Sig has worked out very well and eats just about anything you feed it. For the record, I have no problem with an SAO defensive carry gun. Some people have a beef with it, but it works very well for me.
Click to expand...
Those are my exact feelings and my experience with the P238 as well.
 
Thanks, Starter and Kokapelli. Moving to the P238 has to be one of my best decisions. I carry 100% of the time now (except when prohibited by law, of course). The sticker shock has now worn off a bit (quite an expensive pistol, but nowhere near the Rohrbaugh), and the build quality and shooting comfort of the 238 are outstanding.
 
Sweet, indeed. I don't know what took me so long to get a pocket pistol, especially the 238, but wearing oversized shirts and stuffing a gun inside my waistband may be well in the past now.
 
^ Glad you're happy with your purchase. Pocket carry is damn sweet, I agree.

However, I continue to NOT be able to understand how people have trouble pocket carrying the 9mm in a Kahr PM9. I carry mine in everything from regular-fith jeans, suit slacks, and lightweight REI shorts.
 
I guess I don't feel the same way. I find IWB to be very easy to carry, and it negates a lot of weight. I currently carry a somewhat small gun (PX4 subcompact) IWB, but I've carried all the way up to a full size 1911, and it has never bothered me

But to each their own, as long as you're taking something with you, that's all we can ask for
 
I tried to carry a PM9 in the store and it worked fine, but it was a bit heavy and slightly larger than the 238. It would do fine for carrying, but I wanted to go with a smaller 380 because I wear a lot of shorts and pants with smaller pockets which would accommodate the pistol better.
 
I feel the same way I originally bought a Glock 26 for carry but it was too bulky for the clothes I wear, I have the p238 also and it is much easier to conceal.
 
You guys wearing skinny jeans or something? I didn't have to change my wardrobe at all to accommodate for carrying IWB (especially when carrying a smaller gun)
 
I have a 238 and it never had a failure, I love it.
I went even smaller by carrying a Seecamp in a DelFatti pocket holster, but the 238 is sweet.
 
You guys wearing skinny jeans or something? I didn't have to change my wardrobe at all to accommodate for carrying IWB (especially when carrying a smaller gun)
Click to expand...
Good question!

Perhaps tight pants coupled with a sub-par holster and/or belt?
 
My days of skinny jeans are long gone :) , but I do find that the 238 goes with any attire so long as you have a pocket. Nothing against IWB (I still carry that way, too), but the 238 is very versatile in carrying possibilities.
 
I have a 238 and it never had a failure, I love it.
I went even smaller by carrying a Seecamp in a DelFatti pocket holster, but the 238 is sweet.
Click to expand...

It is very sweet. I had a few FTE's when breaking it in which was due to really crappy ammo, but that's really no different than any other quality gun I've owned. It's rock solid and quite accurate for a short 380. The sights are most excellent, too.
 
I'd like to handle one someday.

Like the CZ82/38s, the SIG can use real Nites.

Your P238 is much smaller than the CZs though.

I'm using Hornady FTX in my two .380s, but hope to get some
Double Tap TAC-XP in the near future and run through them.
 
The CZ is a great pistol but just a tad bigger than the 238. I put 300 rounds of PMC crap through it for the break in and only had a few FTE's at the beginning. Hornady and Speer work very well in the 238. Most experienced shooter know this already, but be sure to break in your firearm before carrying. I'm still surprised by how many I see in the Raleigh area who haven't done this. (This was a bit off-topic, but I mentioned it because I remembered the few FTE's I had with the Sig.)
 
I'm fixen to change holsters so I'll have a HolsterPro R/H IWB or it can be used as a L/H OWB.

PM if you think you'd like it. I'll probably post it tomorrow in the Traders Post.
 
Update -- IWB grumblings led to P238

Okay, I have put the p238 through its paces and LOVE this pistol! It's the sweetest shooter I've experienced in a long, long time. :) For the IWB fans, you will be happy to know that I still use IWB with my XD40 and have even ordered an IWB holster for the Sig, but I really prefer pocket carry (back pocket with jeans) most of the time.

Because of the all-metal construction and a solid design, the 238 offers very little recoil, nothing like the LCP. I did some range practice (all at 7 yards, which is quite close but the 238 is a short-barrel pocket gun after all) and came up with 2-3" groupings in timed fire (6 shots in 10 seconds) and 4-6" groupings in rapid fire (6 shots in ~3 seconds). These were with crappy PMC ammo, but I carry with Speer Gold Dot 90gr.

Now I'm on a buying spree for all things 238 related... :) I haven't been this satisfied with a firearm in such a long time!
 
Also, I'm toying with the idea of swapping out the factory grip panels with some Rhyno ones (in ebony wood). Anyone have experience with these grips? They seem pretty nice and should increase the grip significantly in light of the small size of the P238.
 
@9MM+
Do you carry yours cocked & locked?
I carry a Glock 26 in the winter
Summer: I did carry a kel-tec but last summer i Switched to P-238--I like it
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
Sig P238 For Carry?
Replies
16
Views
4K
Harvey
H
Snowdog
  • Locked
Sig P238 Owners: What's your take?
2
Replies
30
Views
2K
Karate
K
P
  • Locked
Are Sig p238 really worth the money?
2
Replies
46
Views
9K
Jlr2267
J
S
  • Locked
Kahr p380 vs. Sig p238
2
Replies
43
Views
6K
JERRY
JERRY
M
  • Locked
SIG P238 warning.
Replies
10
Views
1K
9mmepiphany
9mmepiphany
Back
Top