Know what I love about the SIG P238?

[Ascot500]

It's single action,
it's not polymer,
it's single stack,
it doesn't have a bushing or a link.

Know why I won't buy one?
You can't get it in 9mm, .40 or .45

Hey SIG, that's a hint.

 

[Tommygunn]

If you want a 9mm. or a .45, why not just by a compact handgun in one of those calibers?

I have a Sig 238, as well as a few 9mm., a .32ACP, a couple .40s, and a .45. Not to mention a couple .38SP revolvers.


The P 238 is a nice little gun. Admittedly .380 is not for everyone. My other "peashooter" is a .32ACP Walther PP; and it's bigger than the Sig and fires a weaker round.
I am not sure what the advantage of a Sig P 238 in 9mm. would be and if you want a .45 it seems to me you'd want a bigger gun anyway to absorb the recoil (heck, maybe the 9 mil too for that matter).

It wouldn't really bother me if the 238 was in 9mm., but for me, I like the size of the model as it is.
Just my two cents. YMMV.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Know what I love about the SIG P238?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's single action,
it's not polymer,
it's single stack,
it doesn't have a bushing or a link.

That's what I like to.
Shame the thing malfunctions about every magazine.

Sent to SIG.
When I got it back it functioned perfect........the first shot..........jammed on the second.

 

[Ascot500]

Tommygunn, I have a compact 9mm AND a compact .45
but neither one meets all the criteria that I mentioned and,
No one makes a pistol that does.

 

[Allentown]

Well sig makes a gun that meets most of that... i carried a P239 for a while with no complaints at all. A little heavy for the amount of fire power but there are always trade offs.

 

[Cards81fan]

Tommygunn, I have a compact 9mm AND a compact .45
but neither one meets all the criteria that I mentioned and,
No one makes a pistol that does.

Does an EMP in 9mm not fit the bill?

 

[Ascot500]

Does it?
The EMP may not have a bushing but I'm pretty sure it has a link.
Oh, and I forgot about the STI LS series.
Course both of them are pricey options.
Now that SIG 239, hmm......

 

[Guns and more]

When I got it back it functioned perfect........the first shot..........jammed on the second.

I'm no expert, but it appears the ejector is not grabbing the casing.
I'd also like to see the follower on the magazine since Sig has tried three different types now.

For some reason, mine has never failed. Knock on wood.

 

[revjross]

It does look like an ejector problem, sorry to see that!! So far mine has been perfect and the accuracy is amazing for such a little gun. --- I would love to see the P238 in a 9mm!! Still, I really like the little 380.

 

[Strahley]

SIG P220 Compact SAO. There, all of your requirements are met

 

[JDGray]

I thought Sig 1911 look-a-likes, had external extractors? Now they try an internal, and now look what happens Cute little pistol, though!

 

[9mmepiphany]

why are folks surprised that the Sig 238 doesn't function. it didn't do well when it was an Excam or a FIE, why should it be different now.

it has neither the slide mass nor the recoil spring tunnel length for consistent reliable function

 

[valorius]

"Tommygunn, I have a compact 9mm AND a compact .45
but neither one meets all the criteria that I mentioned and,
No one makes a pistol that does. "

Incorrect my friend.
HK P7:

 

[Guns and more]

why are folks surprised that the Sig 238 doesn't function.

Because mine has never mis-fired, failed to eject, stovepiped, or otherwise let me down.
Yeah, I could carry a .45, but then I wouldn't, so the 238 is perfect.

 

[Tommygunn]

why are folks surprised that the Sig 238 doesn't function.

I have heard people complaining about the P 238 in this regard. Some people love 'em, others claim there's just doesn't work.
Apparantly Sig had problems with early ones but has generally straightened the problems out. Over at a Sigforum (www.sigarms556.com) apparantly the one I have is from a serial # after the problems were addressed, but there apparantly are a number of older ones still out there.
I also think there is a tendency on boards that if you get a lemon you're more likely to complain than otherwise, hence a lot of bad rep for the Sig, and some other guns as well.
My P238 has functioned perfectly up to now. OTOH I haven't put enough rounds through it to really season it, or get a good idea if it is a long term reliable gun. It's also possible with extended use some problem might arise, as can happen with any gun.
In blackpowder revolvers I have had problems with springs. They are usually flat metal types, and being reproductions, possibly not of as high quality metals that a modern gun would be made of, and thus the lowere reliability. But I don't give up on a BP revolver when its mainspring dies, I get a new mainspring.

I'm not saying people who buy lemon Sig 238s should be happy, but I am just saying I think that all manufacturersd will put out a few lemons in a big batch. Good companies try to fix guns when they find there's a persistant problem. And I think this is what's happening at Sig.
Just my 2 cents.....

 

[9mmepiphany]

I haven't put enough rounds through it to really season it, or get a good idea if it is a long term reliable gun

a very astute point. it is not even the just the total number of rounds, but how quickly (i know there is a better word, but it just escapes me at the moment) you fire them.

it is hard enough to get folks to test their carry guns with 200 stoppage free rounds of the loads they intend to carry to protect their lives, much less going through a 1k round course/class to see how well it will hold up...you might have to reduce that number some for the 238 as i don't think it was designed to go that long without spring replacements

 

[killchain]

Ah yes, the P238.

The chunky little step brother of the 1911.

 

[Tommygunn]

chunky little step brother of the 1911

It isn't chunky! It's BIG BONED!

 

[AK103K]

I've got a P238 that also isnt working like a SIG usually does. If I make it through 2 mags without a stoppage, its a wonderment. Then again, its really not a SIG design, and its got most of the shorter than Commander length 1911 issues. I should have taken my own advice, and passed. Oh well, doom on me.

Mine was made/dated 5.19.2010, came with a mag with a "rounded" follower, bought a new one with a "flat with dimple" follower, Wolff replacement springs (cant get the SIG springs). So far, nothing seems to work. I've got around 700 rounds through mine now (in about three weeks time), failure to eject, failure to fire, tearing up 5-10% of the brass that does make it out are the symptoms. Add to that, a safety that makes as much noise as an AK or M1/M1A, and has the age old SIG slide stop issue (in reverse), have to replace springs every 1500 rounds (SIG manual), or 1000 rounds (SIG CS rep on phone), I'm REALLY thinking, what was I thinking? ( Well, I wasnt, thats the problem)

Maybe if SIG had copied a Seecamp, it would have been better off. Or better yet, come up with their own gun, something on a downsized P230/232, and one that works. All we have here is, another 1911 copy that doesnt work.

Heres a couple of my stoppages...





As for some of the others...

The P239 is basically as big as the P229. With a gun as big as a double stack, might as well have a double stack, and have the extra ammo. While youre at it, might as well go with a P226, since its only a skoshie bit bigger than the P229.

Skip the "little" or ""littler" 1911's, unless you want to go completely mad. Pretty much skip anything that doesnt have a "Prancing Pony" on it, or "Property of...." too.

Out of everything listed so far, I agree, the P7 is the one. HK should have stayed on these, they are one of the "great" pistols.

 

[Flint Ridge]

1,400 rounds through a Sept '09 P238 for me. Nothing but trouble. Back to Sig 4 times they wanted it a 5th time, I opted for a NIB replacement which is still unfired.

Either they work or don't. Sounds like they are getting better, except the HD's.

 

[wyocarp]

Thanks for the pictures guys, it's hard to argue with that.

 

[Ascot500]

Interesting that the HK P7 is brought up. I had one (PSP actually).
I wanted to love that gun but couldn't. Liked the concept, liked the craftsmanship, liked the squeeze cock. But it would not cycle the bulk ammo that I had on hand so I had to reload for it - and I hate to reload 9mm.
Due to the burn rate of the powder the PSP would always short cycle.

In the end, when I compared it to my K9, it had to go. The K9 is every bit as accurate and gave me no problems with the bulk ammo, and was about half the price.

 

[IMTHDUKE]

If I wanted to shoot 45....I go...


If I wanted to shoot 40....I go....


If I wanted to shoot 9,,,I go....


and for 380...

 

[greyeyezz]

Thats pretty bad when you have to send a gun back four times. I would have asked for my cash back.

 

[03Shadowbob]

Mine has been perfect. Zero failures with a few hundred rounds fired. I feel for the guys who are having problems because in general this pistol is unbelievably accurate, great fit and finish, very little recoil, etc..