ancient-one
US Veteran
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.
Sig P238
- Thread starter ancient-one
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Cal44
Member
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.
The slide is one of the easiest to rack of any semi I've tried.
Very nice gun. Easy to shoot accurately.
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
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:
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
Member
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.
I have seen sales on them that made the gun even more appealing. I just have no desire to get back into 380.
dmthomp32
Member
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2016
- Messages
- 905
- Reaction score
- 1,309
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
Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk
yanici
US Veteran
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.
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
Member
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.
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.
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.
Last edited:
OP
ancient-one
US Veteran
Thank all of you for your answers. She is debating the single Action bit.
LVSteve
Member
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
Member
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.
Mine is a tack driver, and easy to manipulate the slide.
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
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.
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.
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.
Last edited:
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.
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.
Last edited:
Grayfox
US Veteran
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.
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
Member
Where did you find one in Maine for $325.00?
Cal44
Member
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
Member
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.
Sig P238, Kimber Micro, or Colt Mustang, it's all pretty much the same - a delayed recoil locked breech mechanism.
That's significant as the delayed opening of the breech spreads the recoil out a bit more with an initial stage of barrel and slide locked together followed by much lower chamber pressures requiring a much lighter recoil spring to keep the slide velocity manageable.
Objectively, a 17 oz alloy framed Kimber Micro or Sig P238 will have about the same felt recoil as a 27 oz steel frame straight blowback operated PPK/S. The PPK/S recoil is actually less, but feels much sharper due to the blow back design, and requires a much heavier recoil spring, making it much harder to rack the slide.
Sig offers a steel framed version of the P238 which will run around 23 oz, and further reduce the felt recoil.
The RIA Baby Rock is also a miniature 1911 in .380, but it has 3/4" more barrel and uses a straight blowback operating system. At 25 oz, the felt recoil is very close to the PPK/S. FEG used to make the SMC (imported by KBI) which was a straight blowback PPK clone but in an alloy frame, where the recoil could be objectionable for some shooters.
One advantage with the P238, Kimber Micro, Colt Mustang and Baby Rock is that the slide can still be operated with the safety applied as the safety doesn't lock the slide. That lets the shooter clear the weapon without taking the pistol off safe.
Clockwise from top RIA Baby Rock, Ranger made Walther PPK/S, FEG SMC, PPK/S, Kimber Micro and CZ 2075 RAMI (a 9mm pistol).
That's significant as the delayed opening of the breech spreads the recoil out a bit more with an initial stage of barrel and slide locked together followed by much lower chamber pressures requiring a much lighter recoil spring to keep the slide velocity manageable.
Objectively, a 17 oz alloy framed Kimber Micro or Sig P238 will have about the same felt recoil as a 27 oz steel frame straight blowback operated PPK/S. The PPK/S recoil is actually less, but feels much sharper due to the blow back design, and requires a much heavier recoil spring, making it much harder to rack the slide.
Sig offers a steel framed version of the P238 which will run around 23 oz, and further reduce the felt recoil.
The RIA Baby Rock is also a miniature 1911 in .380, but it has 3/4" more barrel and uses a straight blowback operating system. At 25 oz, the felt recoil is very close to the PPK/S. FEG used to make the SMC (imported by KBI) which was a straight blowback PPK clone but in an alloy frame, where the recoil could be objectionable for some shooters.
One advantage with the P238, Kimber Micro, Colt Mustang and Baby Rock is that the slide can still be operated with the safety applied as the safety doesn't lock the slide. That lets the shooter clear the weapon without taking the pistol off safe.
Clockwise from top RIA Baby Rock, Ranger made Walther PPK/S, FEG SMC, PPK/S, Kimber Micro and CZ 2075 RAMI (a 9mm pistol).
I really like that feature. I wish my 1911 was like that.
I have to strongly disagree with this. I had a PPK/S and have owned many 9x18 Makarov pistols, and the recoil from them is far worse than from any non-blowback 380. Even my 380 Bodyguard is a *****cat compared to a PPK.
That IS a good feature, IMO. M&Ps are like that, as is the M17 P320, but I have a hard time retraining myself to use it. Old 1911-habits die hard.
I have a friend who owned a 238. When the 9mm version came along, he replaced his 238 with a 938. Once in a while he will remark it might have been a bad move.
I did the same thing for the extra power and more variety in ammo choices.That IS a good feature, IMO.
I have a friend who owned a 238. When the 9mm version came along, he replaced his 238 with a 938. Once in a while he will remark it might have been a bad move.
I still have my 238, shoot it once in a while, but carry the 938.
Any idea why he thinks it might have been a bad move?
I have no regrets, but can fall back if I do have one someday.
mr-mom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I purchased a Sig P238 several years ago to use as a pocket carry piece. My Bride spied it on the bench one day when I was out back shooting. She said "Gee that's a cute little gun, can it shoot it?" She picked it up, racked the slide and put all rounds in the center ring at 5 yards. I haven't had that gun since. It resides permanently in her purse.
Dave
SWCA #2778
Dave
SWCA #2778
keithhagan
Member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2018
- Messages
- 221
- Reaction score
- 130
As others have said, slide racks easily and the 380 recoil is tamed in the locked-breech operated p238. I have the p238 Legion (generally considered the top of the line for Sig) and currently they can be found new for about $431 shipped.
The HD models weigh about 5oz more (20.5 oz vs 15.2 oz) and I'd imagine the recoil impulse would be even less, but I can't say from experience.
Another single action option she might consider is the Browning 1911-380. They can be had in 3 5/8" barrel (16 oz) or 4 1/4" (18oz). They are true 1911's scaled down about 85%. I have the 4 1/4". It shoots like a dream (less snap than p238) and I'd say it's readily concealable because of its light-weight and thinness, even more so the 3 5/8" barrel. Plus, it's much more fun at the range than the p238.
The HD models weigh about 5oz more (20.5 oz vs 15.2 oz) and I'd imagine the recoil impulse would be even less, but I can't say from experience.
Another single action option she might consider is the Browning 1911-380. They can be had in 3 5/8" barrel (16 oz) or 4 1/4" (18oz). They are true 1911's scaled down about 85%. I have the 4 1/4". It shoots like a dream (less snap than p238) and I'd say it's readily concealable because of its light-weight and thinness, even more so the 3 5/8" barrel. Plus, it's much more fun at the range than the p238.
Last edited:
I have heard reports of lint tying up the action with that tiny hammer trying to fall through the stuff when it is worn inside the pants daily, long term.
Of course one could carry it not cocked, but that kinda defeats the purpose. Maybe ok for someone that checks it daily.
Of course one could carry it not cocked, but that kinda defeats the purpose. Maybe ok for someone that checks it daily.
Keep your lint in a different pocket.
{I have both the 938 and the 238, the size difference seems small, but for some forms of carry, it makes it easier} I am more accurate with the 938. Probably because I shoot it more.
{I have both the 938 and the 238, the size difference seems small, but for some forms of carry, it makes it easier} I am more accurate with the 938. Probably because I shoot it more.
Last edited:
That would take an awful lot of lint - several weeks worth.
I guess if you never clean it...
