First P238 Pistols Read more. Its a little light for self-defense for my taste, but it is what it is. The frame can be cleaned next. load bearing equipment. Refer to your owners manual for instructions on how to disassemble your Sig Sauer P238 for cleaning. 9mm short, 9mm Browning) 6 Rounds in the magazine with capability to be carried safely with. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Also, we offer a 30-days hassle-free exchange. I have seen several first time gun buyers select the P238 as their first gun, or as a gift for spouse or girlfriend. Plus, the design is easy enough to train yourself to disengage during your draw cycle. Next, youll want to disassemble your gun. Filter. The P238 is anything but expensive, unless you consider a brand new in the box P238 with 3 magazines, night sights, and Hogue grips for $440 (which included shipping) to an FFL as pricey. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. Your best chance for customizing this pistol lies in the grip. The Ruger LCP Max, with its 10+1 (12+1) and other improvement is a more intelligent Ruger to utilize in your comparison. It will put hits on a man-size target as fast as I can pull the trigger and align the sights easily at 10 yards, and out to 15 yards if I slow down a bit. Next, move on to the slide assembly. Heres how to clean your P238 using the Sig Sauer cleaning kit. Magazines are single stack and all metal. Use the cleaning rod and brush to clean the bore of the barrel. The thumb safety is one, the cost is the other. While doing this, push the slide forward so you can remove the spring, and next the barrel. That I don't get. Seriously, a Walther PPK?! You have huge hands, you wouldnt be happy with them. He agreed. I'm left handed, too, and I either buy SA semi autos with ambi safeties or have one put on by a gun smith. It really did look neat, like a little 1911 (in fact, thats pretty much what it is). Next, slide the slide onto the frame. However recent events have me rethinking that. I am now considering with safety off. And if its not reliable, then its not worth carrying. We arent entirely sure why, but they are. Many advocates of the 1911 pin or otherwise defeat their grip safety, anyway--Including Col Jeff Cooper. For its intended purpose, it fills the bill just fine. I'm not at all clear as to what the safety concern is when racking the slide w/ or w/o the safety on. Even when the Safety is on in this position, when you squeeze the trigger the hammer will drop just a little bit. I'm with Doctor Duck on this one. Sig Sauer P238 "We The People" .380 ACP Pistol - 238-380-WTP . It may not display this or other websites correctly. The kit comes with a bore brush and cleaning rod to clean the barrel. Save my name and email to use for future comments. Im 61 years old and my 33 year old Son in Law loves shooting this gun. Squeeze the trigger. 3.1K 394K views 8 years ago Target Shooting 101 with Top Shot Champion Chris Cheng Top Shot Champion Chris Cheng demonstrates for beginners how to properly load a magazine. I guess I could get into owning a 1911 style handgun for nostalgia's sake. Handgun Maintenance, Cleaning and Gunsmithing. Our loaders are designed using the dimensions of your specific handguns thus, it fits perfectly and comfortably. Why its important to keep your kit clean? Learn how your comment data is processed. Next, take a look at the parts. Most Affordable Defense Ammo Deep carry means in a pocket, not riding in a belt holster under a shirt. Having said that, you should bear flint in mind if youre going to pocket carry. Reassembly is fairly easy, but the extractor must be pushed down for the slide to be placed back onto the frame. Norman is a US Marine Corps veteran as well as being an SSI Assistant Instructor. 2023 GunMag Warehouse. I showed my child but they still know to double check just in case of malfunctions.Also not to point it at anything you don't want to shoot. It is good to know how to do basic gun maintenance and how to clean your gun.Also, you will find out how to lubricate your gun. The Sig P238 has been released in many different configurations, grips, and colors. The barrel is 2.7 inches. They disappear in my pocket. and get 15% off. Are you just mailing this in? This means a weak wrist wont affect the ability to shoot it quite as much as on weapons with a stronger kick. That was an important selling point for me. The Hornady American Gunner .380 ACP features the XTP projectile and penetrates very well. The barrel, slide, and frame all need to be cleaned. You will also need a cleaning solvent and a lubricant. A big plus for the .380, yet, there are some less than desirable facets to the caliber and its guns that deserve thought. So, no thank you. For good measure, Smith & Wesson added a few other assets, such as aggressive slide serrations and flared section at the rear of the slide. I take no credit for creating the models or textures. After a little practice drawing from the holster, this pistol comes right up into my line of sight like it was made for me. Which brings us to the safety. Having fired smaller pistols before, Ive always thought of them as having very snappy recoil in a hard-to-get-ahold of package. Its larger size relative to other .380s is partly to thank for this, with the gun measuring in at 4.13 inches in height and .98 inches in width. Grimwarrior.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to amazon.com. Its just a bit difficult due to the small rounded size. The stock sights are rather good right out of the box. He loves writing and sharing his extensive knowledge of firearms, especially AR rifles and tactical equipment. There is no grip safety on the P238 like most 1911s have. Bersa Thunder, Firestorm Sig P238 S&W Bodyguard Taurus Spectrum PT 738 Walther PT738 PK380, PPK/S Kahr CW380, CT380 Springfield 911 and many more! You never, ever want your round to go through your target and hit someone else or ricochet. Finally, my pistol will not fire if a magazine is not inserted. Norman is very proud of his service, and the time he spent in the Marine Corps and does not dwell on his injuries or anything negative in his life. This, however has a short, light, single-action only trigger pull compared to the typically long, heavy and usually accuracy hindering double-action pull found on most \"pocket\" 380s. Wipe it down with a clean rag and set it aside to dry. If you are not satisfied with your purchase for any reason, please contact us. I have no trouble shooting a 50 round qualifying round on an FBI Q target. I tried the Sig P938 in a LGS. Reviews on line would indicate the Max is a much better option to consider. Assuming you have the basic cleaning kit that comes with the gun: Unload your gun and make sure it is clear of any ammunition. cross body bags & waist packs. Read more about the condition New: A brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item in its original packaging (where packaging is applicable). They made some tweaks, of course, and then they introduced the P238 to the world in 2009. A gun of this price shouldnt reward you with a painful pinch whenever you shoot if for the first time. There are often warnings about specific grain ammo to use, or some such issue known to shooters. Make sense to anyone but me? Compare. Very small pocket pistol, in the same category as Ruger LCP, Kel-Tec P3AT, Micro Desert Eagle, and others. I am not suggesting the the advice offered by the many is inaccurate. It was. In particular, the pistol is lighter (12.6 ounces) than the P238, arguably has better sights (Pro Glo day/night), nicer standard grips (G10) and is considerably more affordable. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Cannot easily take off the safety with my left hand during a draw. All in all, this pistol is a winner! Accuracy is as expected from Sig. color camo. It is entirely possible to take your sig safety and reshape the existing thumb area to mimic the 1911 and still remain free of slide. RangeTray's Magazine Loader exclusively for the Sig Sauer P238 .380 Caliber magazines. GLOCK 22 .40 S&W, Glock 23 .40 S&W, Glock 24 .40 S&W, Glock 27 .40 S&W, Walther PPX .40S&W. Positive feeling and reliably deliberate yes, finicky, hardly. Choose carefully. I carry a Colt Gov't 380 and it is cocked and locked. In regards to shooting expertise, I would consider my marksmanship abilities as competently accomplished and not at all expert as you state is necessary to shoot this pistol well. headwear and eyewear. This is to say, the debate over whether its a smart move to carry a .380 ACP as your primary self-defense gun is alive, well and hot as ever. Take solace, few ever feel the pistol is a waste of money. The kit comes with a small brush and some cleaning solution. How did Ruger squeeze so much into so little? Start with the barrel. So, lets get to it and find out if this is the right concealed carry firearm for you. Though, it is a straight blowback action, which means it tends to produce stouter felt recoil. First, it helps to prevent rust and corrosion on your Sig Sauer P238. The P238 is 15.2 ounces, and before I get into the rest of the specs, let me tell you that it is an absolute joy to carry! There simply isnt all that much room for mounting them. I know this is an extremely old thread, but since there are still many who will search this same question and come to this thread, I thought I would try to update some misunderstanding on the internal mechanisms of the P238. I hope others will find useful. But like all guns, it needs to be cleaned and maintained to function properly. vintage clothing. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. There are, however, internal safeties; a firing pin block, hammer safety, and a disconnect that prevents firing if the pistol is out of battery. Accuracy is spot on. He spent a lot of time writing this article, too bad he did it based on unverified sources. A high quality. Start with the barrel. Elwood Shelton is an online content developer for Gun Digest. Spring load measures how much it takes to compress a spring a given distance. This has reasonably rectified the situation and rebuilt my complete satisfaction to the point where I hold them in the highest regard as a firearms manufacturer. My 911 is the first firearm I purchased and will be the last to go. Use the cleaning rod and patch to clean the chamber. SIG ships the P238 with their glow in the dark night sights. At 3.9-inches in height and 15-ounces unloaded it is legitimately a pocket pistol and would do well in this role. Also, check out Chris' new book, \"Shoot to Win: Tips, Tactics and Techniques to Help You Shoot Like a Pro,\" available at http://www.topshotchris.com/store.htmlGlock 19 courtesy of Salient Arms International: http://www.SalientArms.com/Ammunition Provided by WinchesterFilmed at the Richmond Rod \u0026 Gun Club in Richmond, CA. Yes, it is a bit expensive, and you are limited to .380 cartridges, which arent our favorite. Read more. John Browning's original design (for what became the M1911) did not include a grip safety. Yes, you can shoot 45 ACP out of a 410, but it is not recommended. It took 3 weeks with no mag and only 1 in the chamber before I received mine back form Sig. How To Mount Atlas Bipod On Remington 700 | Ultimate Guide. Use the bore brush and cleaning solvent to clean the bore of your Sig Sauer P238. Okay, I figured, Ill stop by the shop again and just take a look at it. messenger bags & shoulder bags. To be honest, were not a huge fan of this design. So, take your sig safety and a 1911 safety to somebody who can cut and weld. I have the 238 with the Hogue grips, never had a slide bite from this pistol. Field stripping is carried out just like a 1911, with the slide being retracted until a cutout lines up with the stop pin, which is then withdrawn. For the most part, pocket pistols tend to be quite snappy. Take solace, few ever feel the pistol is a waste of money. Notify When In Stock. Second, it ensures that your gun functions properly and smoothly. People run out and snap up the latest goodies, which often leaves the older models, which are still stellar, overlooked. Don't slow the hammer down, stop the hammer and then ride . Reassemble the firearm in the reverse order. The bore brush is attached to the rod and passed through the barrel from the breech end to the muzzle. It also includes a toothbrush-style brush and a cotton swab to clean the outside of your gun. But as far as picking a piece thats a no-brainer to carry every day, few beat Rugers little .380 pistol. Assuming you have all the necessary parts to your kit-. JavaScript is disabled. Use the cleaning rod and brush to clean the bore of the barrel. You should clean your Sig Sauer P238 after every use, or at least every couple of weeks. How to reassemble your kit after cleaning? Follow this with a dry patch. Sig Sauer P238 MagGuts-High Capacity Magazine Conversion Adds a round to your 7 round Sig Sauer P238 .380 caliber magazine without adding extension. So, I did some horse-trading with the gunshop owner and walked out with the little pocket pistol (that I really didnt need or want, but had to have). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This light recoil will help you stay on target shot after shot, which is an important factor to consider when shopping for any new firearm. Its light, I barely know its there. You think this pistol is beautiful, my Sig 1911 9mm match elite is a work of art! I could not agree more Don_P. The support hand, when shooting two handed, should be nowhere near any moving part, which would cause injury of any kind. Recoil is nothing even with the hottest of rounds. digital military camo. In fact, I fired a second round just to make sure what I was feeling was normal. Abbreviated Grip: Most .380 pistols have a small grip, both in height and circumference. All Rights Reserved. Assuming you have the basic cleaning kit that comes with the gun: Its important to keep your kit clean for a number of reasons. There are a number of higher priced models but a blanket statement claiming the P238 to be all but unaffordable is simply inaccurate. You can't rack it with the safety on unless the hammer is cocked. But it still has a place in on-person defense. Many of the guns were shipped with defective magazines. So we have a tiny 1911, and the controls are as good on the P238 as they are on the legendary 1911. In turn, many new to handguns will need time to master the LCP II. At some point, I want to give the 9mm P938 a try, but until then, this Sig Sauer P238 will fill the bill quite nicely. Loaders?RAE Industries loaders offer the shooters a means to quickly and efficiently load magazines, the device saves thumbs and time on the range. And I haven't got a holster for it yet. What solvents and cleaners to use on your kit? Our Range of LoadersWe have a large variety of loader for different guns magazines like Beretta M9 9MM / 92F / 92A1, Beretta Cheetah 84 / 85 / 86 .380 ACP, EAA Witness Elite Match, Pavona, Tanfoglio Large Frame .40 S&W, 1911 .45 ACP, American Eagle .45 ACP, Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9MM, Wilson Combat Hackathorn Special .380 ACP. Though, if it or any other part of the G42 isnt up to your standards, the Glock aftermarket is huge and the pistol upgradeable. Walther once again is the exclusive manufacturer, which adds up to excellent fit, finish and quality control. No. I have a child so my gun is on safety chambered and with a full magazine. I have had mine for 7 years without issues. I wonder how many people passed on this outstanding gun based on this review? document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); 2023 Grim Warrior | All rights reserved. There is a a "half cock" position on the P238, but I do not recommend using it.. A high on the back strap grip is preferable and no cause for concern as the beavertail does not allow you to grip the gun so high as to put your hand in harms way. Find information on how to contact our Customer Service department. To further note, 32" of penetration in ballistic gelatin is unacceptably high for a defensive cartridge. You should also clean it after exposure to any kind of corrosive substance. Hammer down with bullet chambered isn't the recommended carry. Its not designed to replace every pistol on the market, but it does fit its niche perfectly. The standard tritium night sights are probably the best and largest of any semi-automatic I own. Let's see how long it will take until I am banned from there: https://twitter.com/firearmsofaBut since everyone is mass leaving Facebook and Twitter, here is my Parler as well: https://parler.com/profile/FirearmsOfAmerica I have no use for them. Much of this is thanks to Rugers improvements on the trigger, giving the double-action hammer-fired gun a single-action feel. My next handgun purchase will almost definitely be another Sig Sauer. It could not be placed more perfectly and is just the least bit stiff, which is not a bad thing if you plan on carrying this pistol in your pocket. We often hear the phrase, I barely know Im carrying a pistol used to describe some handguns, and that fits perfectly here. But is the SIG Sauer P238 the best pocket pistol for the price? Now I just bought a ruger sc40c. Be sure to get all the nooks and crannies. Finally, the kit comes with a microfiber cloth to wipe down your gun after cleaning. PMC Bronze, Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Gun Guy Goes Gaming. I consider. Sig Sauer P238 SAS Review Right-handed . Lock the slide to the rear and remove the slide stop. The Taurus TCP looks good, I hadnt heard of that one. Questions and concerns? and get 10% off, Buy 4 or above Spray the solution on the brush and scrub the slide and frame. Accuracy was good in my opinion. As my cc instructor said, "your brain is the safety". To keep your kit clean, start by disassembling the gun and wiping down all the parts with a clean cloth. SIG SAUER P238 .380ACP MAGAZINE SPEED LOADER Design: The Sig Sauer P238 speed loader is specifically designed for .380ACP carry handgun magazine. Although capacity is not large, with the extended magazine of seven rounds, plus one in the chamber, an eight-round capacity is not bad. Why RAE Ind. One of the best things about the P238 is there isnt a whole lot to clean once broken down. classic military & hunting camo. The sights on this tiny pistol are very good, and show up well at night. The slide release and magazine release are standard and both function as expected. Sig Sauer P238 380 ACP HD with Rosewood Grips and Night Sights $799.00 $639.99; Brand: Sig Sauer; Item Number: 238-380-HDW; Sig Sauer P238 NBS15 Two-Tone Platinum 380 ACP Special Edition with Night Sights $738.00 $519.95; Brand: Sig Sauer; Item Number: 238-380-NBS15; Sig Sauer P238 Edge 380 ACP Carry Conceal Pistol with Night Sights . The SIG P238 has an anodized aluminum frame and a stainless steel barrel and slide. Condition 1 carrying with the hammer cocked can unnerve some people. In addition to this, SIG has crafted-in a firing pin safety block, hammer safety, as well as a disconnector that wont allow the gun to fire when the slide isnt properly locked in position. In turn, keeping a .380 pistol concealed is a somewhat easy task. At present, there are a number of manufacturers offering ballistic competent self-defense ammunition that penetrates and expands reliably well, and all are competitively priced. The parts contained in the P238 are far from fragile as you claim. It feels more sturdy than some polymer frame competitors. JavaScript is disabled. Its pocket-sized design makes it easy and convenient to carry in a purse or range bag. The other part of the equation, excellent ergonomics that fit even the large mitted. The Sig P238 is the same gun. I totally agree with Don P . And the hammer won't go down unless the trigger is pulled.= 2 safeties. Introduced in 2009, the P238 is not the latest, greatest wonderpistol. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Not to mention, the aluminum-frame mite is fully capable of shooting the lights out. Instead of the snappy recoil that I was expecting, I felt a gentle push. This cleaning kit has everything you need to clean your P238 and keep it running smoothly.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'grimwarrior_com-medrectangle-1','ezslot_15',103,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-grimwarrior_com-medrectangle-1-0');report this ad. At least, until you need it. A little goes a long way, so dont overdo it. It looks like +P .380 has no real standard that Buffalo Bore has to meet. That doesnt mean I have to leave with it, right? The P238 is 15.2 ounces, and before I get into the rest of the specs, let me tell you that it is an absolute joy to carry! But you must remember that first trigger pull is a hefty 13 pounds or thereabouts. The ambidextrous safety pinched my trigger finger when I flicked it down with my thumb. Not enough of it, the projectile wont penetrate deep enough nor expand properly, if at all. Sold my P238 right only and bought an ambi. and get 5% off, Buy 3 - 3 Not doing so can cause damage to the ejector. You can calculate it with this formula: Load = Spring Rate * Travel (in inches) Spring Rate = force or weight to compress the spring 1 inch. They didn't come with a ambi safety and the only aftermarket ones I ever heard of were one of customs that cost more than the gun to get done. I have a P238 Two Tone with just over 1000 rounds through it, including JHP, FMJs, and a lot of Sig Crown JHP and not one failure to feed. I would not change a thing! I carry mine locked and cocked with one chambered round and a full 6-round magazine, like a normal 1911. Keep the Safety up or on Safe. So if a guy with weak wrists can handle this weapon imagine what normal people can do with it. Then, field strip the gun according to the instructions in the owners manual. care and received a \"gift\" shortly thereafter. In layman terms, this means a gun youll carry every day. Conceals well and still packs a punch. We often hear the phrase, "I barely know I'm carrying a pistol" used to describe some handguns, and that fits perfectly here. Once the slide and frame are clean, use the brush to apply some lubricant to the moving parts. As you can imagine, there arent a whole lot of accessories that are designed for such a small handgun. Be sure that it is seated correctly and that the barrel is aligned with the slide. Then the Slide should move back. Well, this pistol does feature a fairly strong trigger pull of about 7 pounds. Lubrication is an important part of gun maintenance. It is not finicky as far as ammo goes, after 1000 rds, no failures of any kind.it eats FMJ and HPs with no problems. Most shooters will likely carry cock and locked, which is better known as Condition 1. They are what youd expect from a single-action of 1911 linage. In turn, those familiar with the gun can run it fast, accurately so. Using a brush and solvent, clean the inside of the frame. Its well known that so-called pocket pistols are finicky at best. I'm a left handed but I am amdexterous. I do not hold the factory holster in high regard and opted to purchase a DeSantis Mini-Scabbard, which carries outside the waistband (OWB) very comfortably. Its better known today as the.380 GM(Government Model), and its a stripped down 1911. Sort. It's a small gun and the small motor movements involved in both taking off the safety and cocking the gun are going to be tough to pull off efficiently when adrenline dumps into your system under stress.