Sig P239 or Springfield Armory XD40 (for CCW)? Any other suggestions welcome!

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inSight-NEO

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Currently, my wife owns the smallest weapon in the house...a Sig P239 DAK in 9mm. Since she does not carry much, I have taken certain liberties with this weapon as my 4" and 5" barreled weapons are just too large for optimal CCW.

Now, my issue is this: I will soon be in the market for a sub-compact weapon of my own, for CC purposes, and am pretty much centered on the .40 S&W. Now, I love my wifes P239 and have seriously considered it (in .40) as my next purchase. However, I also like the XD40 sub-compact as I have tried out several of these and they shoot/handle very nice...particularly for the price. In addition, given that the barrel on the XD40SC is 1/2" shorter vs. the P239, it would conceal a bit better.

I guess Im just looking for opinions/experiences regarding either of these two weapons. Frankly, I think I would do well with either. Its just a matter of weighing out a few positives/negatives.

Keep in mind that I am also open to suggestions regarding top-grade .45ACP sub-compacts as this happens to be my preferred caliber. I just have yet to discover an "easily concealed" .45ACP. Hence, my current preferred CCW caliber being .40 S&W.

Regardless, Im open to any suggestions (other than Glock...been there, done that) that deal with reliable, proven semi-autos in the sub-3.6" barrel range.

As a side note: I have been looking in to the H&K USP Compact as well, but they seem a tad too large.
 
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Does the XD Subcompact come in .45 GAP? that seems to be a pretty popular cartridge among people who own one, the Glock 39 (I know, I know, you don't like the Glock. They do make in my mind the gold standard subcompacts though) is a .45 GAP, I'm not sure I know of any other subcompacts in that caliber.
How about the HK P2000SK? That's a subcompact, .40, has a good reputation, every time I've seen it brought up, not many times, owners seem to love them.

How large is too large? How heavy is too heavy? I like ~3.5" barrels, they seem to balance well in a small auto without being long enough to adversely affect concealability.

Looked at the S&W M&P 40c? a little bigger than the XD subcompact, probably pretty close to the 239 in size, again owners seem to love them.
 
I have a Sig P239 in 40. I find the rounded SAS (Sig Anti Snag) system to be superior to the boxiness of the XD as far as concealed carry goes.

The 239 has good weight to it, and handles the 40 rounds nicely. The grip is good for medium to large size hands too, while maintaining concealability.

The XD's are smooth shooters too.

I'd still go with the 239 over the XD because I'm a sucker for all metal guns, just because. Also, the machining, fit/finish on the Sigs is quite a thing of beauty. Mine is super reliable, has never once malfunctioned (from day one), and is one of the most accurate pistols I've ever shot.
 
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Have you considered a Sig P250? I just got mine yesterday and it is awesome. I had an XD-9 subcompact and it was just a bit snappy for my taste. I've handled a Sig 239 and that is almost what I purchased ($650+tax) but, I got a better deal on the P250 ($550 OTD). That's just my opinion.

starshooter231
 
another thought

I have a sig p226 in .40 and love to shoot it, but it's too large for me for Concealed Carry... looked at all the sigs and talked to a lot of folks.. i ended up with the Walther PPS (available in .40 and 9mm, i got the .40) and have been very very pleased... conceals easily (super thin), the trigger is awesome to me for a da trigger and i honestly shoot it nearly as accurately as the full sized P226 sig...

When i bought it, i was unsure.. I have not even considered buying anything else for carry since i got it...

You should at least give one a try.
 
Does the XD Subcompact come in .45 GAP?

Not that Im aware of. They have this caliber in "compact" form I believe, but that is basically a 4" barrel with a shorter grip. Hence, its not what Im looking for.


Thanks for the input all. I have taken a look (per suggestion) at the Walther PPS .40 S&W...it looks promising and is certainly worth more investigation.

Thanks again.
 
With the 239 .40 cal, you can also buy the 357Sig bbl and shoot both cals with the same mags. I have the 9mm and have shot all three cals and liked the 357sig ballistics and shooting best, but couldn't afford the ammo.

I would suspect your original Sig vs XD question is actually striker fired versus DA/SA or just DA personal preferance. They are both good guns.
 
Thanks for the input all. As of most recent, I have been taking a serious look at the Walther PPS in .40 S&W, along with the XD40 SC.

1SOW-

Actually, I like both striker fired and "traditional" SA/DA weapons, along with the Sig Sauer DAK implementation. Heck, if I end up going with a P239, it would most likely be a DAK. But, for now due to cost, I will start with Springfield Armory or the Walther. Still, I do like those P239s!

Regardless, in spite of my recent interest in the Walther PPS, it seems that the XD40 SC offers the greatest capacity both with and without a mag extension. Ditto when comparing the XD40 SC to the P239. This means something to me and is why I just cant get the XD out of my head. Its just a damn shame the P239 is so expensive and sports an aluminum frame (not ideal for extensive +P ammo use). Otherwise, capacity notwithstanding, Id opt for the Sig in a heartbeat.
 
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Sig P239

I have had my Sig for some time (it was much cheaper when I bought it new).

I have used a Galco OWB holster for my CCW, and the Sig is easy to conceal on my 6' 175lbs frame-even in the summer time (although not at the beach...).

I have just ordered a Crossbreed supertuck (I'll post my thoughts after I have had a chance to use it for a bit).

I have not had a single FTF or FTE (or any other issue) with my Sig, and I am very pleased with the firearm (and recommend it to others).

However, everyone is an individual (thank goodness). Your mileage, comfort, and preference may vary. Nothing wrong with that either.

I advise you go handle as many weapons (compact or not) to see which you like. The shop may allow you to test them in a holster as well (never hurts to ask...).

Good luck with your choice, and do let us know what you buy!
 
Between the two choices you gave, I'd go with the Sig P239.

They weigh about the same, but the XD is much fatter/bulkier. The P239 was obviously designed with IWB (in the waist-band) concealed carry in mind, being a thin, single-stack design. The XD barrel is only 3", which IMO isn't a good thing for ballistic performance. Don't get me wrong.. I've owned two XDs in the past (a .40 and a .45, both the 4" service model). They are reliable, great shooting guns. I just don't think they are the best choice for concealed carry applications. You really can't go wrong with either though...good luck!
 
You said no Glocks, but I'm going to say it anyway. G36. 45ACP, 3.78" barrel, single stack 6+1 or 7+1 with Pearce extension. 6.8" overall length. I recently bought one and really like it. Very concealable IWB in a cheap Blackhawk holster from Tactical-Store.com.
 
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