Sig Sauer P238 Advice?

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trippstadt

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Finally got my wife to go to the range with me (historically, she's been almost hysterically afraid of guns). Not only did she not freak out, but actually handled my Sig Sauer P220 Sport (.45) quite well. I've given her lots of positive reinforcement, and now she actually wants us to get our Concealed Carry permits (go figure?).

While at the range, she saw a Sig Sauer P238 in the display case, and immediately fell in love with it. Given the history, I'm planning on buying her one for Mother's Day. Any thoughts on this weapon? The online reviews I've looked at are almost universally positive.
 
It had some problems a while back. From what I know, Sig has fixed all that. Something about jams. I've handled one and it has a nice trigger. Seems to be a Colt Mustang copy. The only thing that kept me from selling my LCP and getting a Sig 238 was the price tag.
 
Friend has one he carries in a back pocket holster when he isn't carrying something larger - so far, he really likes it (he retired military and used to the basic 1911 style) Found it accurate and comfortable to shoot. I don't know what he uses in it, most likely Gold Dots
 
Do the research... It is very hit or miss.

It has undergone 9 different changes since being introduced. The most recent one is the change in the slide to the HD slide which is heavier.

I personally would not take one if you gave it to me for free. :what:
 
Beware Sig P238

One of my students recently bought a Sig P238. She shoots Federal 95grain FMJ ammo.The first 50 rounds had one failure to eject. The second 50 rounds were fine. The last 2 sessions of 50 rounds each resulted in multiple failures of the slide to go into battery with both magazines almost every magazine full. The problems most commonly occur at rounds 3-4 for some reason. She is not a limp-wrister and the gun has been cleaned and oiled after each 50 rounds. I have shot the gun myself with he same results, just not quite as often.

. Check around and you will find these problems are not isolated. For a $600 Sig this is inexcusable. She is going to contact Sig to resolve the problem.
 
I wonder if your student did not reassemble the weapon properly after cleaning it?
 
My Sig HD went back to New Hampshire three times before being replaced. The jury is still out on the replacement gun...It's good enough right now that I do trust it for carry but not by much.
 
There are a number of threads on the P238 and I think if you check you find that most people that actually own a P238 love them.

Like most of the pocket 380 pistols some of the early production had problems but now they seem to be reliable and a pleasure to shoot.

Mine has been perfect from the first round and is by far the best pocket 380 I own.
 
Mine was Mfg 12/15/10, purchased in January 2011. It's been back to Sig twice because it is chewing up the brass. They are replacing it. We'll see what happens when it comes back. Unacceptable level of problems for a gun of this price IMO. :banghead:

That said, it is a great looking gun, very accurate and fun to shoot. It will be a while before I have full confidence in it.
 
Ruger LCP and a pair of S&W Bodyguard 380 have been 100% out of the box for us and even work with Wolf steel cased ammo.

Kel-Tec P3AT had to go back initially but has worked well since but is hopeless with steel cased ammo.

My P238 was chock full of failure to return to battery until I managed to get about 175 rounds through it. There is about a half inch of finish worn off both sides of the frame up front that seems to have been the cause of the issues. Been fine since with everything but steel cased ammo. Its by far the easiest to shoot well of the four but also by far the worst to use left handed. Its also the heaviest, weighing as much empty as the Bodyguard 380 does fully loaded with 102gr Golden Sabers and it lacks the laser. LCP and P3AT are the lightest but again lack the laser.

This thread has some photos I took comparing the LCP, Bodyguard 380 and P238 to my much more powerful Kahr PM40:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=576986
 
I've put well over 500 rounds through mine. I had a couple of jams with the first two mags of ammo, but then everything smoothed out and its been flawless. I really like carrying it due to its light weight and small size.
 
Problems!

NO! Sig has NOT worked out the problems and they are MANY!!!!! Mine is a paper weight and they have not done a single thing to help me! I have parts on order now for over 5 months and not one single item has arrived and when I call, well the "we will check and get back" always comes out! FTF and FTE are tremendous! Nothing works on these JUNK guns! Buy one and become a member of the Sig Sauer "we won't fix it crowd"!!! Sig has let me down. I own 4 Sig P220s and love them. They got caught on this one and WILL NOT FESS UP!
 
Are you willing?

Are you willing to chance this POC gun for what you bought it for? NOT ME!!
 
My 238 HD had problems from the factory but they fixed them all. I shot 100 rnds with it today and no problems at all.

I now basically put 100 rnds down it every time I go to the range. I carry it now with confidence.
 
Bought one last month, have taken it to the range several times and have over 300 rounds thought it with no problems. I trust my life with it, and am thinking of buying another.
 
All the negatives here resemble Kimber haters:neener:...I have a 238 HD, with about 400+ down the pipe, all different kinds of ammo, and I don't recall any problems. Match it up with a crossbreed supertuck, and you got one hell of a sd combo, (if you don't like .45 acp).As I have found with the Kimber flamers, no one brags about how great they are, the only ones you hear about are the very select few with problems, they are a production pistol, and occasionally they get a less than perfect one through the qc. My experiance with Sig has been great, and wish my impulse buying would stay with Sig (and not Para)...my.02 worth;)
 
I guess I'm one of the lucky ones, bought a SAS model and have 1000+ rounds through it and no problems. :D:D
 
^^^^Yet another Kimber hater^^^^ see what I say, there is always someone that wants to dis another.;)
 
My 238 has been great. It's reliable, accurate and easy to carry.

IMO it's the nicest shooting .380 on the market today. Buy a new one, test it out at the rang, and start carrying it.

Joker19, if it's so bad, I'll give you $200 for yours.
 
Just sent another 100 rounds through my Sig P238, and no problems. I've fed it Remington, Winchesters, S&P, and other miscellaneous loads, and no problems whatsoever. Total of about 450 rounds thus far.
 
Slowplayaa said:
Just sent another 100 rounds through my Sig P238, and no problems. I've fed it Remington, Winchesters, S&P, and other miscellaneous loads, and no problems whatsoever. Total of about 450 rounds thus far.
Click to expand...

Just wondering what year of manufacture & what model P-238 do you have?
Dave
 
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