Santa put two new 380's in our stockings this Christmas. My wife got a Sig P238 blk with Tritium nite sights, I got a new production Colt Mustang Pocket-lite (aluminum\stainless)
Initial fit and finish:
Both were fairly equal, no obvious machine marks inside or outside. The P238 feed ramp was polished mirror smooth. The P238 was slightly smoother in operation where the Colt had a slight hitch about 3\4 slide travel.
Both pistols ejected their magazine with gusto.
The Colt safety was very well fitted with a positive click on and off. The Sig was a bit stiff to put the safety ON.
The Colt had a slightly better trigger, with both breaking around 6lbs.
Range Impressions:
I brought a box of lightly loaded reloads and shot 50 rounds through each. The large 3-dot Tritium sights on the Sig were perfectly adequate, while I could not find the front sight on the Colt on a black target. I had to use a 6-O'clock hold with the Colt.
The Colt slide would stay open about 40% of the time. I thought I had kept my thumb away from the slide release. Other issues could be that my ammo was underpowered and\or too long for the Colt to digest. The Sig was 100% reliable.
Accuracy: This was not very scientific, but...with my elbow rested on the tray, I could clover-leaf three out of 5 shots at 7 yards with the Colt. Usually keeping all shots within 1 1\2". Again, I had to use a 6 oclock hold or I could not see the sights in the dimly lit indoor range. The sights were dead on.
The Sig's sights were nicer, but if you lined up the three dots, it tended to shoot several inches high. I could not seem to get the same level of accuracy out of the Sig, but a different load could change that. The Sig shot about an inch high and left for me averaging about 2-3"
Neither was shot with premium hollow points.
Final Opinion:
I am a Colt collector and just HAD to have the Mustang. However, if choosing between the two for life insurance, I would have to recommend the Sig.
Initial fit and finish:
Both were fairly equal, no obvious machine marks inside or outside. The P238 feed ramp was polished mirror smooth. The P238 was slightly smoother in operation where the Colt had a slight hitch about 3\4 slide travel.
Both pistols ejected their magazine with gusto.
The Colt safety was very well fitted with a positive click on and off. The Sig was a bit stiff to put the safety ON.
The Colt had a slightly better trigger, with both breaking around 6lbs.
Range Impressions:
I brought a box of lightly loaded reloads and shot 50 rounds through each. The large 3-dot Tritium sights on the Sig were perfectly adequate, while I could not find the front sight on the Colt on a black target. I had to use a 6-O'clock hold with the Colt.
The Colt slide would stay open about 40% of the time. I thought I had kept my thumb away from the slide release. Other issues could be that my ammo was underpowered and\or too long for the Colt to digest. The Sig was 100% reliable.
Accuracy: This was not very scientific, but...with my elbow rested on the tray, I could clover-leaf three out of 5 shots at 7 yards with the Colt. Usually keeping all shots within 1 1\2". Again, I had to use a 6 oclock hold or I could not see the sights in the dimly lit indoor range. The sights were dead on.
The Sig's sights were nicer, but if you lined up the three dots, it tended to shoot several inches high. I could not seem to get the same level of accuracy out of the Sig, but a different load could change that. The Sig shot about an inch high and left for me averaging about 2-3"
Neither was shot with premium hollow points.
Final Opinion:
I am a Colt collector and just HAD to have the Mustang. However, if choosing between the two for life insurance, I would have to recommend the Sig.
