Sig P238

[ancient-one]

My daughter is interested one for a carry gun. My question is how hard is the slide to pull back? I would appreciate an answer because I have found some on sale.

 

[Cal44]

I have one.

The slide is one of the easiest to rack of any semi I've tried.

Very nice gun. Easy to shoot accurately.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Very easy to rack for me, even though my grip strength isn't great. A very finely finished little firearm, inside and out. It was my first bottom feeder and I've been using it for over five years and two months now. Everyone I bring to the range tries it and never had a failure. Surprisingly accurate for a sub-compact.

It's snappy to shoot but the Hogue grip keeps it on target. Came with an OEM laser that still works fine. It's not my EDC, but it's small enough to be with me even with wardrobe challenges. I'll often carry it as a BUG, just because I can do so easily.

SIG Wallet Holster, Hogue Grips, and extended magazine:

OEM SIG laser:

 

[gman51]

A friend let me shoot his and I was totally surprised by the gun. It was easy to rack and the recoil was what really surprised me being a pleasant gun to shoot. It fit my hand very well and it looks good to boot. If I was to get into shooting 380 again I would buy the P238.
I have seen sales on them that made the gun even more appealing. I just have no desire to get back into 380.

 

[GeoJelly]

I have one and really like it – and they are easy to rack. Even easier with the hammer cocked. Mine has been 100% reliable and you just can’t go wrong with one.

 

[dmthomp32]

I managed to snag the Legion version for the same price as the others. I like it for the sights and magwell (allows me to get a full grip). Easy to rack and easy to shoot well for a micro pistol!

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

 

[yanici]

Easy to rack and recoil is not hard for girls. I have over 2000 rounds through mine without a hitch, as long as I stick to the hollow points that will feed reliably.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I have one and like it very much. Slide is not hard to rack. Even easier if you cock the hammer first. I have the steel frame version, which weighs more but kicks less, not that that is a huge issue for .380 anyway.

 

[Cal44]

I have one and like it very much. Slide is not hard to rack. Even easier if you cock the hammer first. I have the steel frame version, which weighs more but kicks less, not that that is a huge issue for .380 anyway.

I have the all stainless steel version also.

The recoil is very mild. Not an issue at all.

Before I purchased mine, I rented an Aluminum frame version to try.

The recoil of the lighter weight gun was a bit more, but still wasn't an bad at all.

The lighter P238 Aluminum version seemed just as accurate as the steel gun.

One nice feature of the P238 I bought was it came with nice night sights.

Good sights are becoming more and more important as my eyes aren't getting younger.

 

[ameridaddy]

My hands are so arthritic, I can barely touch a thumb to a finger, so there's almost no grip for slide racking. That's why I bought the P238. I loved mine, would be carrying it still, but moved up to the very similar P938 to get to the more potent and available 9mm.
My P238 was an early one, had a strange, inconsistent ejection pattern, one or two FF's. I polished the ramp, radiused the bottom edge of the extractor and after that, it ate everything from RN FMJ to JHP to lead RNFP (Buffalo Bore) without a failure and had a nice consistent ejection pattern over my right shoulder.
Do get the longer 7 rd magazines. The longer grip afforded by the pinky rest makes it much easier to draw and shoot well.

 

[ancient-one]

Thank all of you for your answers. She is debating the single Action bit.

 

[LVSteve]

Thank all of you for your answers. She is debating the single Action bit.

If single action is a concern, then the Sig P250 compact and subcompact in 380 spring to mind. They have a full DAO action, making them a square revolver. Trouble is there aren't made any more.

Nearest new gun like it is the SCCY CPX-3.

 

[squidsix]

I bought one thinking I would resell it if it didnt work out for me. That was 18 months ago. I found several used ones locally for $325 with three mags and night sights and bought one. Its a fantastic little pistol. Went to my work Christmas party last night with that gun on my ankle in a DeSantis Apache holster, and I barely noticed it was there.
Mine is a tack driver, and easy to manipulate the slide.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Thank all of you for your answers. She is debating the single Action bit.

You don't say what about it she is debating, but carry cocked and locked is my least favorite feature of it. The guy at my range that got hooked on his carry DA/SA CZ PCR, now has switched to the sub-compact DA/SA CZ RAMI. It's about the same size as the SIG but thicker, since it's a double stack.
The decocker feature on these DA/SA carry arms, without a safety, is now my preference, with a long and heavy first pull, quick trigger reset, with fast and light follow-up shots.

 

[dr. mordo]

Another gun to consider is the LC380 (note: not the LCP). Slide is easy to rack, trigger is a 7ish pound revolver-like DAO, and you can get a aftermarket kit to lighten it to ~4 pounds. Holsters and accessories for a LC9 or LC9s work with it.

It's slightly larger than a P238, pretty much the same size as a Shield. I was not thrilled about the safety; I don't see the need for one on a DAO gun. However, it's a very difficult to turn on accidentally. Pretty much impossible IMO.

Best price I have found is ~$220 shipped from Tombstone Tactical. I bought mine from them last week, haven't shot it yet. It's a handsome gun.

EDIT: One thing I should have noted is the LC380 is not a blowback gun, so the recoil should be tame compared to blowback guns like the PPK.

 

[Imissedagain]

We have a P238 Equinox and a P238HD-CA.
I carry the HD.
Racking is very smooth and with proper technique, never an issue.
Nice sights and accurate.

My other carries are two S&Walther PPKs and are not easy to rack but the DA/SA has merit as does the decocker/safety.
Both are accurate.

 

[Grayfox]

Its the locked breech design that makes the gun easy to rack and makes the felt recoil much lighter than blow back .380s.
The P238 is Sig's version of the Colt Mustang which was the original baby 1911. The only difference is the way the barrel locks up. I have two Mustangs and love 'em.
You might take a look at the Colts as they can often be found a bit cheaper.

 

[garddogg56]

I bought one thinking I would resell it if it didnt work out for me. That was 18 months ago. I found several used ones locally for $325 with three mags and night sights and bought one. Its a fantastic little pistol. Went to my work Christmas party last night with that gun on my ankle in a DeSantis Apache holster, and I barely noticed it was there.
Mine is a tack driver, and easy to manipulate the slide.

Where did you find one in Maine for $325.00?

 

[Cal44]

Another gun to consider is the LC380 (note: not the LCP). Slide is easy to rack, trigger is a 7ish pound revolver-like DAO, and you can get a aftermarket kit to lighten it to ~4 pounds. Holsters and accessories for a LC9 or LC9s work with it.

It's slightly larger than a P238, pretty much the same size as a Shield. I was not thrilled about the safety; I don't see the need for one on a DAO gun. However, it's a very difficult to turn on accidentally. Pretty much impossible IMO.

Best price I have found is ~$220 shipped from Tombstone Tactical. I bought mine from them last week, haven't shot it yet. It's a handsome gun.

Interesting.

I have an original hammer fired LC9 upon which the LC380 is based.

I like it's long revolver-like DAO trigger better than striker fired guns for pocket carry.

 

[squidsix]

Where did you find one in Maine for $325.00?

Kittery Trading post had five of them at that price. Now there are still several of them but the price is a little more.
Of note:
Metalform makes the magazines for sig on this gun. The exact mag branded by Metalform costs less than $20 and is in stock at places like midway.