huntsman
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I wouldn’t dump the revolver just yet, shoot the crap out of the Sig first. Always good to have options.
Pre-purchase jitters
- Thread starter Rayna
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Doublehelix
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Congrats. You won't be sorry. Be sure to pick up those Hogue grips. Here is my VERY DIRTY P938 (I carry it EVERY day) with the Hogue grips and the extended mag.
No worries, I'm not planning to sell the revolver until i feel comfortable and confident with the new gun.
bannockburn
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Rayna
There's half the battle right there; finding a gun which has the trigger operation that you prefer the most. I have carried a Colt Mustang, and now a SIG P238, for many years when I wanted to carry a .380. Very soft shooting, nice compact design, decent sights (this is where I give the P238 a slight edge over the Mustang), and a SAO trigger that is both crisp and clean to use. Both guns are extremely reliable and more than accurate enough for their intended purpose.
Another reason I like the p238 - I'm a better shot sao than dao.
There's half the battle right there; finding a gun which has the trigger operation that you prefer the most. I have carried a Colt Mustang, and now a SIG P238, for many years when I wanted to carry a .380. Very soft shooting, nice compact design, decent sights (this is where I give the P238 a slight edge over the Mustang), and a SAO trigger that is both crisp and clean to use. Both guns are extremely reliable and more than accurate enough for their intended purpose.
Well, I had the gun store guy show me how to take the Sig Sauer apart for cleaning, and I feel quite confident that I can do it. Not just that, I think I'll probably enjoy it. I kind of like the detail work involved in taking care of nice things. Also had my husband show me his Glock and Kahr, don't know why I didn't think of it earlier. The Sig is more fiddly, but I guarantee I'll have less trouble with it than I would with the kahr. Everything about that gun is hard for me. There are only two of three guns I've had real trouble racking, a nd it is the worst one.
thought about a mustang, guy we know had one I could try if I wanted, but I specifically liked the sights on the Sig and otherwise reviews on the two guns are very similar, so I didn't waste his time or mine trying it out.
bannockburn
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Rayna
I originally had a Colt Government .380 which I liked a lot but my brother liked it even more so I sold it to him. Next I had an AMT Back-Up .380 which was very compact but was lacking in quality control somewhat. When the Colt Mustang came out I knew I had to have one so I sold the Back-Up .380 and another gun and waited for the next gun show to come around. Got a decent price on one (a gun show is a great place to comparison shop), and carried it for many years until I decided to share CCW time with a SIG P238. While I like the Mustang for it's lightweight, rounded edges, smooth trigger, and total reliability, I liked the better sights (night sights at that), on the P238 just a little bit more. Both carry very comfortably in a DeSantis SOF-TUK holster.
I originally had a Colt Government .380 which I liked a lot but my brother liked it even more so I sold it to him. Next I had an AMT Back-Up .380 which was very compact but was lacking in quality control somewhat. When the Colt Mustang came out I knew I had to have one so I sold the Back-Up .380 and another gun and waited for the next gun show to come around. Got a decent price on one (a gun show is a great place to comparison shop), and carried it for many years until I decided to share CCW time with a SIG P238. While I like the Mustang for it's lightweight, rounded edges, smooth trigger, and total reliability, I liked the better sights (night sights at that), on the P238 just a little bit more. Both carry very comfortably in a DeSantis SOF-TUK holster.
98bluewave
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When I made the comment "I hate taking down the Sig, cleaning, and re-assembling it!!", I was referring to doing a detail strip, not just a field strip. I agree removing the slide, barrel, and recoil spring is pretty straight forward. And in most cases, that's all that is needed.
Good luck with whatever you choose! I hope you shoot it enough to become proficient with it and shoot it often enough to remain proficient.
Spug
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I'm a little late to this thread, but congrats on your purchase Rayna, I think you'll like your new pistol. My wife has the P238 and I have a 938 in addition to several other small handguns. If I didn't have the others I would probably get a 238 in addition to my 938. The Sig in .380 is just enough smaller than the 9mm that it would be worthwhile I think. It's just a charismatic gun and an easy shooter compared to some that I have, and compared to just about any small revolver.
I would say that Both of these are a little more fiddly than some other pistols as far as reassembly after field stripping. My P938 is a bit of a bear to get the recoil rod and springs in when putting the barrel back in the slide compared to a 1911 or S&W Bodyguard 380, for example, while the 238 with its lighter weight spring set is no big deal. My method for reassembling is to hold the slide back with my index finger with the web of the thumb on the grip under the hammer and my finger in the ejection port to hold the barrel forward so that all the right holes line up for the takedown pin. Someone without enough hand strength could find that frustrating, but you'll get the hang of it eventually. Maybe someone has a better technique to suggest.
I think cocked and locked is the way with this sort of pistol, but without a rigid holster there is a risk that the safety could get bumped off if you pressed against it the wrong way, and the crisp short-travel trigger means there isn't much margin for error when the safety is off. You definitely wouldn't just throw either Sig into a pocket or purse without considering that.
Let us know how you like it!
I would say that Both of these are a little more fiddly than some other pistols as far as reassembly after field stripping. My P938 is a bit of a bear to get the recoil rod and springs in when putting the barrel back in the slide compared to a 1911 or S&W Bodyguard 380, for example, while the 238 with its lighter weight spring set is no big deal. My method for reassembling is to hold the slide back with my index finger with the web of the thumb on the grip under the hammer and my finger in the ejection port to hold the barrel forward so that all the right holes line up for the takedown pin. Someone without enough hand strength could find that frustrating, but you'll get the hang of it eventually. Maybe someone has a better technique to suggest.
I think cocked and locked is the way with this sort of pistol, but without a rigid holster there is a risk that the safety could get bumped off if you pressed against it the wrong way, and the crisp short-travel trigger means there isn't much margin for error when the safety is off. You definitely wouldn't just throw either Sig into a pocket or purse without considering that.
Let us know how you like it!
rpenmanparker
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Congratulations, Rayna. Enjoy.
toivo
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Some people like the Hogue rubber finger-groove grips, but I'm a big fan of their checkered G10 grips: more concealable and still plenty grippy.
https://www.hogueinc.com/sig-sauer-p238-checkered-g10-solid-black
https://www.hogueinc.com/sig-sauer-p238-checkered-g10-solid-black
Outstanding! It sounds like it's just about time for range day.
Looks like you made your decision, and I for one think it is a good one, hope it works out. My wife has carpal tunnel, started with a 38 special, then 22, then 22 mag, then 9mm lc9s, then found the sig, she loves it, and can shoot a hundred rounds at the range with it no issues. In my opinion it is a great little carry pistol, the only negative is cocked and locked if that bothers you.
One thing my wife did to get used to it, cocked and locked, and yeah, not ideal but it worked, was she would carry it with no round in the chamber, hammer cocked back, safety on for a while so she could prove to herself that the gun was not going to accidentally go off in the holster. After multiple trips, this way, and no ADs, she eventually went to cocked and locked. This was done to boost her confidence that the safety works and the gun in this condition was to be respected, but did not need to be feared.
I hope you love your new purchase, my wife has 2 now, one for carry, and one she keeps by the bed at night.
One thing my wife did to get used to it, cocked and locked, and yeah, not ideal but it worked, was she would carry it with no round in the chamber, hammer cocked back, safety on for a while so she could prove to herself that the gun was not going to accidentally go off in the holster. After multiple trips, this way, and no ADs, she eventually went to cocked and locked. This was done to boost her confidence that the safety works and the gun in this condition was to be respected, but did not need to be feared.
I hope you love your new purchase, my wife has 2 now, one for carry, and one she keeps by the bed at night.
What does the g10 feel like? Does the grippiness come from the checkering only, or does it have a rubbery feel to it? I ask because the one I shot at the range had grips that were harder than the Hogue grips but still had a little bit of a grippy rubbery feel. I had looked at g10 grips online but don't know if that's what they were or not.
rpenmanparker
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G10 is a very hard and smooth plastic, moreso than wood. Grippiness would only come from the surface finish like checkering or texturing.
Spug
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My P938 has the G10 "Piranha" grips. It is a very hard material, with no give. They have a very aggressive checkering, as does the rest of the pistol. It gives a very secure grip, but unless you wear gloves while shooting or have tough skin from working with your hands every day, your skin might be a bit raw after a lengthy range session. It's a trade-off. Softer alternatives like rubber grips can possibly grip your clothes and be harder to conceal. I don't know if there's a good way to know what works for you other than trying different grips and keeping your preferred usage in mind: easy-wearing with clothes would probably recommend smoother wood grips; extended range time might call for the rubber Hogues; ultimate grip at the expense of some comfort might mean the G10 piranha grips would be best. The particular pattern of the checkering will make a difference too.
WestKentucky
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Yes there is...every time you pull out a little chunk of plastic from your wallet. But who would want to give an anniversary gift as unsightly as a glock?
toivo
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That's pretty accurate, but I wouldn't really call it "smooth." I think of plastic as smooth and glossy, but G10 has a kind of "dry" feel and more of a matte finish. To me, the surface feels very much like wood, but much harder.
Doublehelix
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Haha!!! Love it!!!
Even the Glock Fanbois admit that the Glock is one butt-ugly gun!
Wanderling
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If pocket carry is out of the question, why not go with something like G43 ?
Because I tried the G42 and 43 side by side with the Sigs in equivalent calibers and did not like like them as much, quite simply. To me, price was the only place that the Glock s had an advantage . I preferred trigger, sights, recoil, and accuracy of the Sigs by far, not to mention the aesthetics.
I went to to the range pretty convinced I wanted either a shield or a Glock. The only reason I tried the Sig p 238 was because I wanted to shoot something that was 1911 style since I had no experience with that. The sales lady was a self-confessed Sig snob and went on and on about it while I mentally rolled my eyes. Then I tried the gun, and I fell in love. I don't do large impulse purchases, but I very nearly walked out of there with one that day
rpenmanparker
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I will admit to not being completely clear. It depends upon the surface finish of the steep lates or rollers that the G10 is pressed between during manufacture. If the plates are highly polished, the plastic surface will mild that high polish. Different telxtures can be pressed into the surfaces as well like matte, or even rougher textures.
rpenmanparker
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Edited to add: I'm not bashing Glocks, I just personally preferred the one I ended up purchasing.
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