I'm probably going to buy a Sig p238 in the next day or two. I've shot one at the range and I really liked it. But its a lot of money, all at once, and it would be the second handgun I've purchased in the last six months. The first one didn't work out so well, so I'm a little nervous.
The first was a .38 special, which I picked out myself. I'd shot .38's a little, and was very comfortable with revolvers, much more so than with semi autos. Didn't love the recoil, but the magic gun that's concealable on a small framed woman, kicks like a .22 and leaves holes like a ,45 doesn't exist.
It's tearing up my wrists, though. If I run 25 rounds through it, they'll hurt for days and it's getting progressively worse. So I have to do something else. I thought about a smaller caliber revolver, but the smaller calibers available for revolvers just seem too small to me, and no one carries them around here, so I can't even hold one before I buy, much less shoot one.
I was gonna go for a glock 42 or 43. Went to the range to try them and fell in love with the p238 instead. I'd actually like the 9mm version but figure I need to go with the softer shooting one. I'll be able to practice more, get better.
My reservations:
1. Is .380 enough? Most people seem to think so, but one gun store guy did try to talk me out of it pretty seriously.
2. Takedown. I've watched the videos on YouTube. Its seems doable. I figure I can learn most things. I am not , however, particularly mechanically inclined. The serious stuff I'd leave to a smith, but I should be able to do basic cleaning and maintenance, right?
3. Cocked and locked carry. Something in me goes "eek" when I think of carrying with the hammer back, safety or no. This is really the big one. Like everything, there are people who seem to know what they're talking about on both sides. But I also have serious reservations about carrying glock style guns with no external safety and a fairly light (compared to my DAO revolver) trigger pull. And as I've gotten more experienced with shooting striker fired guns, those reservations have lessened. I'm completely new to 1911 style guns, so I figure as I get familiar with the gun I'll become more comfortable with the idea of condition 1 carry as well.
I don't plan to actually carry the p238 until I am very comfortable and proficient with the controls. Even if I get one this week, I foresee it being a month or more before I would carry it for self-defense.
I guess I just want people's thoughts on whether this gun is a screamingly bad choice for me, given what I've written.
The first was a .38 special, which I picked out myself. I'd shot .38's a little, and was very comfortable with revolvers, much more so than with semi autos. Didn't love the recoil, but the magic gun that's concealable on a small framed woman, kicks like a .22 and leaves holes like a ,45 doesn't exist.
It's tearing up my wrists, though. If I run 25 rounds through it, they'll hurt for days and it's getting progressively worse. So I have to do something else. I thought about a smaller caliber revolver, but the smaller calibers available for revolvers just seem too small to me, and no one carries them around here, so I can't even hold one before I buy, much less shoot one.
I was gonna go for a glock 42 or 43. Went to the range to try them and fell in love with the p238 instead. I'd actually like the 9mm version but figure I need to go with the softer shooting one. I'll be able to practice more, get better.
My reservations:
1. Is .380 enough? Most people seem to think so, but one gun store guy did try to talk me out of it pretty seriously.
2. Takedown. I've watched the videos on YouTube. Its seems doable. I figure I can learn most things. I am not , however, particularly mechanically inclined. The serious stuff I'd leave to a smith, but I should be able to do basic cleaning and maintenance, right?
3. Cocked and locked carry. Something in me goes "eek" when I think of carrying with the hammer back, safety or no. This is really the big one. Like everything, there are people who seem to know what they're talking about on both sides. But I also have serious reservations about carrying glock style guns with no external safety and a fairly light (compared to my DAO revolver) trigger pull. And as I've gotten more experienced with shooting striker fired guns, those reservations have lessened. I'm completely new to 1911 style guns, so I figure as I get familiar with the gun I'll become more comfortable with the idea of condition 1 carry as well.
I don't plan to actually carry the p238 until I am very comfortable and proficient with the controls. Even if I get one this week, I foresee it being a month or more before I would carry it for self-defense.
I guess I just want people's thoughts on whether this gun is a screamingly bad choice for me, given what I've written.