SIG Hämmerli P240

[CLASSIC12]

So when SIG and Hämmerli decide to collaborate (ok SIG had taken over Hämmerli)

you get this

A precision match pistol in the Hämmerli tradition with a SIG shape and feel, in .38 special wadcutter, a rival to the S&W 52

It’s not pristine but in good condition. Those are quite rare and pricey, $ 1700 for this one. It’s still at the LGS while I wait for the permit, can’t wait to shoot it, and I already have some ammo for it

 

[ColbyBruce]

That is a unique handgun, but I can’t imagine how pricey those magazines are.

 

[VictorLouis]

I don't think I've ever heard of that pistol before. Wow. Too sexy!

 

[Jebus35745]

That’s a very nice gun, would love to own one. Gotta show us range results when you get there. May be on the hunt for one in the future, Larry

 

[Andyd]

The P240 is rather large and only about 5,200 were produced in all calibres, .38 Special WC(about 3,000), .32 Special Long WC ( about 2,000), and .22 l.r. ( about 200). A few came with all calibre conversions. I chose the .32.
It is basically a purebred match pistol that was developed out of the P210 for UIT matches originally in .38 Special WC.

 

[CLASSIC12]

According to M. Zeleny :

Total P240 production includes no more than 200 rimfire pistols in .22 Long Rifle made from 1974 to 1987 in the serial number range from 202987 to 205587; 3,052 centerfire pistols in .38 S&W Special Wadcutter made from 1977 to 1987 in the serial number range from 200001 to 205659; and 1,960 centerfire pistols in .32 S&W Long Wadcutter made from 1977 to 1987 in the serial number range from 202202 and 207540. Serial numbering is discontinuous as a result of including numbered caliber conversion kits in addition to complete pistols. The complete P240 production run includes a very small number of three caliber sets matched to a single frame and numbered en suite.

 

[CLASSIC12]

Update, I took it to the range for first tests and sighting it in to my liking. However the 25 m range was full so I went straight to the 50 m range

Trigger is amazing, it breaks at 0.8 kg, which is 1.76 lbs

Coincidentally I shot the same score with my 210-6 in .30 Luger

Just before closing I fired six shots hastily at the 25 m range. This gun has potential (or rather the shooter has potential with this gun)

Some more pics

 

[astigmat2000]

Hello Classic12,
I'm one of your neighbours and a P240 shooter as well in the 3 calibers. I've got a complete pistol in .38, one in .32 + one conversion in .32 and one in .22LR. As you can read, well equipped in SIG Hämmerli but not as a good shooter as you.
I bulged my .38 barrel, as many did, a few years back and IGB Austria replaced the barrel by one of their productions and I'm very happy with it but I always shoot home reloaded ammo, bullet hollow base .355 (9mm) from H&N Germany.
One of my P240 is fitted with a nice adjustable grip from Karl Nill but the second is fitted with a modified Rink grip I'd like to replace by a Nill one.
Have you got any idea on where I could find a second hand Karl Nill grip in order to get the 2 pistols with the same feeling at the range?
Thank you.
Greetings from Brittany.

 

[astigmat2000]

Pictures

Here are the picts of my P240s...

 

[505Gibbs]

It would be interesting to see the 240 in 38WC & the Model 52 S&W shot out of a Ransom rest for accuracy.

 

[6518John]

I grew up reading Guns and Ammo way past my bedtime with a flashlight under the covers. I always LOVED Elmer and his disciple Bob Milek article’s on handgun hunting.

The wyoming cowboy: remembering Bob Milek. - Free Online Library

It may sound of blasphemy, especially with a precision, match-grade gun of that quality and expense, but I think these handguns would be near ideal for small game and varmint hunting (especially over an electronic caller with a decoy).

With a quality holster, I would not hesitate to take squirrel hunting over a good treeing Feist like our Teddy Boy. And I think they would be a blast on coyotes and any other varmint you can call in close to a dying rabbit decoy.

 

[muzzleblast]

Classic12, you are so lucky to live in Switzerland, and have gun rights, and be able to find, acquire and afford the magnificent and rare firearms you have shared on the forum. Thank you for your posts. Keep them coming.

MB

 

[357p239]

My P240

The SN of the featured gun seemed to ring a bell. I sold mine several years ago. Checking my records it was P200116, and a great shooter it was, much better than its owner.

 

[Protocall_Design]

I WANT ONE!!!!!

 

[Troystat]

That Sig 240 is a neat pistol, I seem to remember reading about having to be very careful about bullet diameter because the barrels are easy to bulge.

 

[6string]

The bulged barrel issue haunted Hämmerli throughout and after the P240 production. At one point, Hämmerli released a statement to only shoot factory ammo, and that use of handloads would void the warranty. There were rumors that the problem only occurred with a certain lot of hot ammo made in Australia, but problems occurred elsewhere and over a long period of time.
Why did Hämmerli conitinue to make the barrel with the thin midsection knowing of the problem? They could have solved the problem with a different barrel profile.
Astigmat2000 wrote in another forum the long and expensive ordeal to get IGB barrels in Austria to fabricate a replacement barrel.
The idea for the P240 project grew out experiments at SIG-Neuhausen to make a 38 wadcutter version if the SIG P210-5. A few of these were built and are highly sought after collector's items.

 

[CLASSIC12]

There is even a warning in the manual about not using certain batches of Dynamit Nobel (Geco then) ammo.

Google translate :

When firing the Dynamit Nobel ammunition it is necessary to make sure you only use cartridges 38 Special Wad Cutter from manufacturer's batches fabrication RV and following in alphabetic descending order (i.e. SV, TV or later KW, LW etc.).
The production batch (code) is printed in the lid of the packaging.
Cartridges from previous productions (e.g. marked with code OV, LV etc.) must not be fired with the P 240

 

[CLASSIC12]

Hello Classic12,
I'm one of your neighbours and a P240 shooter as well in the 3 calibers. I've got a complete pistol in .38, one in .32 + one conversion in .32 and one in .22LR. As you can read, well equipped in SIG Hämmerli but not as a good shooter as you.
I bulged my .38 barrel, as many did, a few years back and IGB Austria replaced the barrel by one of their productions and I'm very happy with it but I always shoot home reloaded ammo, bullet hollow base .355 (9mm) from H&N Germany.
One of my P240 is fitted with a nice adjustable grip from Karl Nill but the second is fitted with a modified Rink grip I'd like to replace by a Nill one.
Have you got any idea on where I could find a second hand Karl Nill grip in order to get the 2 pistols with the same feeling at the range?
Thank you.
Greetings from Brittany.

Sorry I failed to respond

I have no idea where you can find a second hand Nill grip. The pistol itself is extremely rare, and I’ve only seen two for sale in the last ten years, including mine. Your best bet is to contact Karl Nill and see if they still have or will make a new pair.

Salutations de Lausanne

 

[Florey55]

I WANT ONE!!!!!

You can't have one !

 

[Florey55]

Sorry I failed to respond

I have no idea where you can find a second hand Nill grip. The pistol itself is extremely rare, and I’ve only seen two for sale in the last ten years, including mine. Your best bet is to contact Karl Nill and see if they still have or will make a new pair.

Salutations de Lausanne

A somewhat late response but, yes, Nills still make ortho grips for them. I ordered 2 grips from them a couple of years ago.

SIG H"ammerli P240 adjustable right with finger grooves-SH013

So does Rink grips, but the Rinks are not adjustable

Haemmerli SIG 240