Sig P238 and the new Sig p290 about the same size.

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tackstrp

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Physical dimension of the P238 and P290 for length, height and width are the same. Weight about 5 oz different. I find my self looking forward to seeing the P290, granted a double action. I carry the Sig P238 around in my front pocket at all times, in and out of the house. So light that i just dont notice. From experience I am sure i would notice the weight loaded P290, guessing about 24 oz.

Regardless the new offerings from Sig P290 and Ruger LC 9 should be hot sellers. The Ruger will be half inch longer. Either, wold be a great backup for a person in harms way, such as a policeman. I may sell my P238 back up and replace with a 9mm.
 
Unless Sig has a major problem with the 290, it will be a much superior gun, and certainly more reliable, than the 238 has proven to be.

If your 238 works, you are very lucky
 
Two, neither worked even after going back to the factory....actually one was a replacement when they couldn't fix the first. I've seen five different ones fail at the range and my gunsmith finally explained it to me...he won't even touch them.

The 238 is descended through the FIE, the Excam and the Colt designs which all had marginal recoil spring travel and not enough slide mass for reliable function. It was Sig's stopgap answer to customer's calls foe a smaller gun until the 290 could be brought to market. The Sig 238 and the Mosquito are currently vying for the title of their most embarrassing introductions...at least the Mosquito's faults can be corrected. When the nation's foremost Sig gunsmith tells you that not only can he not recommend a gun, but that his shop won't even work on them, I take that as a pretty clear sign to look at what else is on the market.
 
Me and three of my friends have the 238's, they have worked perfect since the day we picked them up.

Guess we are all on the lucky boat as well. I have yet to see one fail at the range and they are pretty common there.
 
Sorry you had such bad luck. See then being rented at trhee gun ranges, know two gun salemen that were one in when working, not counting the dozen of so people that i see at the range.
 
The 238 is descended through the FIE, the Excam and the Colt designs which all had marginal recoil spring travel and not enough slide mass for reliable function. It was Sig's stopgap answer to customer's calls foe a smaller gun until the 290 could be brought to market. The Sig 238 and the Mosquito are currently vying for the title of their most embarrassing introductions...at least the Mosquito's faults can be corrected. When the nation's foremost Sig gunsmith tells you that not only can he not recommend a gun, but that his shop won't even work on them, I take that as a pretty clear sign to look at what else is on the market.
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+1000000

I personally pick the P238 because Sig actually manufactures that one.
 
I guess I'm one of the thousands of "lucky" ones.
Never a problem.

The width of the 238 is not what Sig says it is. I think they used to say it is 1.1" wide and it's nowhere near that. I got the calipers out and it was about .8" at the safety.
(you would think Sig could figure this out.)

As far as the 290 for me? UGLY! I'll keep the Kahr PM-9, thank you.
the nation's foremost Sig gunsmith
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And who would that be?
 
I own a P 238 and am looking forward to the P290....
I haven't had a malfunction in the P238, but recently I noticed the recoil spring is becoming deformed. There have been problems with them in other guns, and some discussion as to whether or not it was inherent with the spring, or because some people putting them in backwards. IMHO it can pretty much be resolved (in my mind atleast) that there is an inherent problem with the spring, since I am very aware of how the spring goes in, have been from the time I purchased the gun, and have always put it in correctly.
If that isn't enough, I note Sig has come out with a new spring with flat coils. It's longer than the original and I gather it makes assembly a bit harder, but it should be a hardier spring. Until I can get one of these I have purchased several standard springs to replace the defective one I currently am stuck with.
I will be p'o'd with Sig if they made the P290's recoil spring out of the same shape spring as the P 238. I have a Sig SP 2022, and several other semi autos and none have the recoil spring made out of round wire coils.
I am not saying that round wire coils are inherently bad, but I think my experience, as well as others' , show that the .380ACP Sig P238's design just is not the best for the type of gun it is.
 
FIE, the Excam and the Colt designs which all had marginal recoil spring travel and not enough slide mass for reliable function.
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Weird, because I own a Colt Pocketlite and it's absolutely reliable.
 
Im not sure where SIG thinks its going with the P290. It seems they may have screwed the pooch "again", and immediately following the P238, whether it works or not.

From pics I've seen of the gun in someones hand, and from looking at the specs, whats it going to do for me that my Glock 26's, which are basically the same size, and easily do better right off? The least they could have done was make the P290 a double stack, give it comparable capacity, and let it use P229/229 mags as well.

Im starting to think someone left the glue bottle open in the shop up there in NH. :)
 
Mine has been too, since I got rid of it. Havent had a lick of trouble since! :D
 
The 290 is going to be introduced at the SHOT Show and should be available to dealers after that.

While I've had good experiences with the Colt .380 Government Model...and like it as a successor to the M1908...the re-engineered clone that became the Colt Mustang really was just a bit small for reliable function
 
the re-engineered clone that became the Colt Mustang really was just a bit small for reliable function
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You pull the trigger and they go bang. They are now going for about $1000 on the gun auction sites.
 
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