SIG 238 as EDC gun???

[Bobandshawn]

Hey everyone,
Looking for some advice and opinions here. I currently carry a Glock 26. However, it is a little "blocky" and thick for IWB (tends to pull down on the shorts and is somewhat visible under tee shirts). Don't get me wrong - I love the gun and shoot well with it, but I'm looking for something a little smaller.

I have the opportunity to purchase a Sig 238 in Nitron w/rosewwod grips for $600 out the door. I love the look and feel...especially the 1911 aesthetics. So my question is this - would you feel comfortable with this weapon for EDC with SD rounds? I don't really "need" it, so that's why I'm himming and hawing over it.

Thanks in advance,
Bob

 

[kokapelli]

Hey everyone,
Looking for some advice and opinions here. I currently carry a Glock 26. However, it is a little "blocky" and thick for IWB (tends to pull down on the shorts and is somewhat visible under tee shirts). Don't get me wrong - I love the gun and shoot well with it, but I'm looking for something a little smaller.

I have the opportunity to purchase a Sig 238 in Nitron w/rosewwod grips for $600 out the door. I love the look and feel...especially the 1911 aesthetics. So my question is this - would you feel comfortable with this weapon for EDC with SD rounds? I don't really "need" it, so that's why I'm himming and hawing over it.

Thanks in advance,
Bob

I have one just like you describe and love it.

 

[indykappa]

i think the only question you have to ask yourself is if you feel confident in the .380acp round as an effective self defense round (but perhaps that's what you're asking us)...

i think the .380acp round is a solid round if fired through a reliable pistol (which sig definitely produces). i used to carry a bersa 380, but have found 40s&w pistols in similar sized packages.

the p238 is a small gun, but it is a nice gun. i say go for it

 

[harmon rabb]

get some of the .380+p hardcast buffalo bore stuff. that will get the job done

 

[Storm]

Bob, putting the caliber and the price aside, if I were you I would take the opportunity to test fire the gun. If you can't, then I'd pass on it. This is a sweet gun, but there are some significant reliability issues with this gun. Lots of folks will chime in that they are perfectly happy with theirs, and will point to a since resolved early mag issue, but problems remain. As it is, for an EDC it's possibly a great choice, but you need to shoot the gun first before dropping 600 clams on this one. I think this gun could be great. I have owned one (up until six hours ago), but there are reliability issues with this gun that SIG needs to resolve before it would be anywhere near an EDC gun for me. I really hate to say this as a SIG shooter of thirty years, but the gun ain't what it needs to be. The old "send it back to SIG" is a an option, but a relatively poor one compared to a gun that functions properly right out of the box.

If you have to have a .380, and a SIG, try a SIG 232, a superb gun. If it's a choice of the 238 without test firing I'd stick with the Glock.

 

[David E]

(.380) WWB flat nose semi wad cutters

These are NOT "semi-wadcutters" They are jacketed flat points. BIG difference.

Of the loads they show at your link, I'd get some Corbon DPX ammo.

Secondly, the .380 is a 9mm bullet only traveling at 150 feet less per second than a 9x19 Luger round

You're leaving out the bullet weight, not to mention the energy figures.

And I fixed the last one for you:

When the military switches to .380's, hell will have also frozen over...

 

[sidheshooter]

+1 on kokapelli's response (though I have the 2-tone/black wood version).

Superb shooter for such a small gun, and super easy to tote.

 

[David E]

If you're happy with a .380 as a primary gun (many are not for good reason) then the Sig 238 is a fine choice, presuming you're comfortable with cocked and locked carry.

It's easy to shoot quickly and accurately.

I'd practice multiple face/neck shots, myself.

 

[Jed Carter]

I really dislike subcompact pistols, most subcompact pistols. My EDC pistol is a CZ PCR, but in the Summer I was leaving it behind sometimes. I have a SIG P232, but it's not much smaller than the PCR. So I took a chance on the SIG P238, I had done my research on this and other Blogs. Early P238s had a safety issue up through the mid 4000 sn#. Lately some have reported magazine issues, and a recoil spring that weakens dramatically. It has an 8# trigger pull, needs about a 5#, if there is a fix for this I do not know. I have around 350 rounds with mine, shoots good no malfunctions everthing is great with mine, even has less recoil than my P232. I would recomend getting one and shoot the p--s out of it before making it your EDC. I trust mine but many do not.

 

[dec41971]

Cobon DPX and Speer Gold Dot will be more than adequate. At self defense distances, even the 22LF will do the job unless the attacker is 400 lbs All Muscle linebacker. Humans are not that resilient. Now if the attacker is of the 4 legged type, and weighs north of 200 lbs, I think you will need more than 9mm round for sure.

 

[TheProf]

Here's the scoop on the Sig P2380...

Positives:
1. Small enough for pocket carry.
2. Very accurate...almost laser-like for a pocket gun.
3. Follow up shots are very very easy.
4. Looks nice....like a mini 1911.

Negatives.
1. It's SAO. You carry it cocked and locked. I (and this may be just me) am not fully comfortable with pocket carry of a "cocked and locked" pistol.

2. I prefer my EDC to be double action only. No extra safeties to mess with.

3. This gun is a little bit larger than the LCP. So.....if you really need a deep carry gun,
go with the LCP.

4. I find that I can carry a j-frame just as well as the P238. So...I opt for the j-frame with .38 +P HP ammo (or .357 magnum).

5. But the real kicker is that I am not completely confident about this gun's reliability.
I trust my LCP and J-frame to go "bang" every single time. Not so with the P2380.

So...for pocket carry its either the LCP or j-frame.
For IWB carry... its either the j-frame or Glock 27.

So... for ME... the P2380 is the best looking, nice shooting, USELESS gun in my collection.

 

[Storm]

I think that "useless" is a good characterization for this gun if it isn't 100% reliable. It sure is pretty, and extremely accurate, but if it isn't reliable enough to be used for self-defense/EDC what is it good for? A range toy? No way. With the price and availability of .380 it makes for a very expensive and limited toy. Then add to that the recoil spring wear issues and even if you do shoot it a lot you'll be replacing springs on a relatively frequent basis. This gun, for it's intended purpose, needs to be 100% reliable, or, it's virtually useless.

 

[benzuncle]

I'm not sure why there is so much concern about the cocked and locked trigger. The pocket holsters made for the P238 cover the safety and the trigger. While I know he wasn't carrying it in his pocket, Plaxico Burris punched a hole in himself with a Glock; it doesn't have a cocked and locked trigger. The easiest way to get past this is to try pulling the trigger with the safety engaged with a snap-cap in the pipe, then with a live round pointing down range. I don't own any 1911's, only because I know that if I buy one I won't be able to stop there, but the cocked and locked trigger never concerned me. Far too many people carry them and aren't limping around...

The P238 is a handsome, very accurate firearm at the distances that most are purchasing it for: Self Defense. (How many times on THR has the POI been extoled over the size of the bullet or the loudness of the caliber?) The P238 has as way less recoil than any other pocket 380 that I've fired. Some border on punishment. This can be very important when you want to fire rounds at the range to sharpen your skills. The P238 is not cheap and it would seem that sometimes buying one can be a crapshoot. But when yours is working correctly it is a very good piece.

The real beauty of the P238, aside from its great looks (with the right grips ) is that you can literally have your hand on your firearm whenever you feel the need is there without anyone knowing it.

 

[easyg]

I see it like this...

With the Sig P238 you only get 6+1 rounds of .380, in a 15 oz pistol.

I would rather carry a S&W Airweight 5-shot .38+P snub-nose revolver.
You only sacrifice 2 rounds in capacity but you gain revolver reliability, and you can shoot a more effective self-defense round.

 

[Bobandshawn]

Thank you all for the replies. Lots of good information and plenty to think about. I won't be able to shoot it first, so at this point I think I'm going to pass on the 238. I've heard as many bad stories as good ones. Moreover, I know my Glock is 100% reliable.

Thanks again for keeping me on the straight and narrow!

~Bob

 

[kokapelli]

If you listen to all the BS and biased reports that posted in these forums you will surely be misled!
The only way to really know is to handle and shoot the pistols.

For example the LCP fanatics would have us believe the P238 is way bigger than the LCP.

If you shoot the two and still think the LCP is a better shooting gun you should buy it.

As for reliability, check with your dealers and ask them how many P238s have come back.

As for the size difference here is a comparison of the two..

 

[Storm]

Easyg has it right. It's hard to beat one of these:

To ask a dealer how many 238 come back is one thing, but then there are the ones that just go back to SIG directly with a shipping label. The problems with the 238 isn't just forum BS. It must also be shop BS (where I hear it discussed) and range BS (where I hear it discussed) and from shooters who don't even go to forums.

It's a good thing that there is zero chance that you might get BS from a shop, especially if they are selling a SIG 238.

 

[TheProf]

I have both the LCP and Sig P238. If front pocket carrying in jeans...there is a difference. While side by side the two are similar in size, the sharp angles of the Sig P238 makes a difference in "printing". Also, every millimeter in size does make a difference when pocket carrying.

If I am "upgrading" from an LCP to a Sig P238 (in size), I might as well carry a j-frame.

 

[kokapelli]

I have both the LCP and Sig P238. If front pocket carrying in jeans...there is a difference. While side by side the two are similar in size, the sharp angles of the Sig P238 makes a difference in "printing". Also, every millimeter in size does make a difference when pocket carrying.

If I am "upgrading" from an LCP to a Sig P238 (in size), I might as well carry a j-frame.

How many times has your P238 been back to the factory?

 

[TheProf]

I sent it back to the local dealer. It was a simple fix (firing pin stop fell off...this was straight out of the box), some FTE... It seems ok now...but I have lost confidence in the gun.

To be fair... let's not forget the positives of the gun. Easy to shoot. Very accurate.

 

[Storm]

To be fair... let's not forget the positives of the gun. Easy to shoot. Very accurate.

Absolutely. I could shoot mine out at 25 yards with amazing results for a gun of any size. It was smooth and comfortable to hold for being so small. I loved the looks of it. I hope to own another one someday when/if SIG irons out the issues.

 

[03Shadowbob]

Mine has been nothing but a pure joy to own and I trust my life to it every day. Not one FTF, FTE, jam, nothing.