Are Sig p238 really worth the money?

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Praxidike

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I'm in the market for a micro pistol chambered in .380 ACP to conceal carry while I'm at work. After considering the Ruger LCP stainless vs the Taurus TCP 738 stainless, I decided that the TCP was the gun/deal in this class, i.e., it has last round hold open, comes with 2 mags, and is $25-$75 cheaper. Anyway, I recently started to also take a look at the Sig P238 too being that so many people were raving about it. It seems like a really nice firearm, but the only down side is the price. I'm just wondering, and I know this is highly subjective, is the P238 worth paying $700+ for? What would I get with the Sig that would warrant the 2x+ the price of a TCP other than looks, safety, and sights?
 
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I don't think I've ever seen a P238 on the shelf for $700. We sure didn't pay that for my wife's - more like $500. Shop around. But yes, there is a price premium for the P238 over the TCP or LCP. Is it worth it? It was for my wife. Only you can decide if it's worth it to you.

What do you get for your money? A lot less recoil, for one thing. The polymer .380s are snappy little beasts; the P238 is pretty gentle. You get sights - the P238 has usable sights; the TCP has only the barest suggestion of them. You get a manual safety and probably the best trigger you'll find in a pocket auto.

And as always with Taurus, there's the question of quality - if you get a good one you're fine, but it seems you're a little more likely to get a bad one with Taurus than with some other makes. Taurus quality tends to be a little spottier than some other manufacturers. (Before I get branded a Taurus hater, no, nobody's perfect, yes, I'm aware of the problems the P238 had when it was first released, yes, they've been fixed, no, I'm not a brand snob, but no, I still wouldn't own a Taurus. Happy now? No? Oh well.)
 
While my top pick would be P224 the P238 is about equal to Colt 'Mustang' therefore it is not inexpensive firearm.
 
I don't think I've ever seen a P238 on the shelf for $700. We sure didn't pay that for my wife's - more like $500. Shop around. But yes, there is a price premium for the P238 over the TCP or LCP. Is it worth it? It was for my wife. Only you can decide if it's worth it to you.

What do you get for your money? A lot less recoil, for one thing. The polymer .380s are snappy little beasts; the P238 is pretty gentle. You get sights - the P238 has usable sights; the TCP has only the barest suggestion of them. You get a manual safety and probably the best trigger you'll find in a pocket auto.

And as always with Taurus, there's the question of quality - if you get a good one you're fine, but it seems you're a little more likely to get a bad one with Taurus than with some other makes. Taurus quality tends to be a little spottier than some other manufacturers. (Before I get branded a Taurus hater, no, nobody's perfect, yes, I'm aware of the problems the P238 had when it was first released, yes, they've been fixed, no, I'm not a brand snob, but no, I still wouldn't own a Taurus. Happy now? No? Oh well.)
I've only seen 2 main issues with the Taurus earlier versions that, like you said with the sig, I heard has since been fix with the newer models. From my research online by actual owners of the firearm, I do not believe that they have anymore reliability issues than their competitors have had with their firearms (especially their first releases)...

I've only searched online, and have moistly seen the sigs go for the $600-$700 range. You know of any sights still selling for around $500?

While my top pick would be P224 the P238 is about equal to Colt 'Mustang' therefore it is not inexpensive firearm.

Thanks... I have not taken a look at the p224, but I certainly will now. [edit] nevermind lol.. Not paying $1000 for a pocket gun.
 
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The P224 is professional grade pistol though rather large not unlike S&W M&P 9c.
 
Look for a better price. Mine was under $500 for a 238 HD with night sights. Was it worth that to me?

Well yes, I bought it didn't I?
 
I own both and would not hesitate to recommend either.

The P238 is overall the better gun, but the TCP in my opinion is the best gun in it’s price range and is smaller and lighter than the P238.
 
Look for a better price. Mine was under $500 for a 238 HD with night sights. Was it worth that to me?

Well yes, I bought it didn't I?
when and where did you buy yours? Do you own any other 380 micro pistols, and if so, do you notice the difference in weight while carrying?

I don't care about the trigger, recoil, or sights because this isnt going to be a range gun for me. I do care about not having to worry about rust, excessive wear and tear, and weight. I plan on only carrying which ever 380 I buy while at work or while exercising.
 
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DA and SA/Cocked and Locked are totally different manuals of arms, and require (IMHO) some differences in how the gun is carried; that seems like the largest difference between the two guns, moreso than price or anything else.

Some folks (rightly or wrongly) are less comfortable with condition 1 carry; especially, for some others, in a smaller pistol. I'd sort out which manual of arms you prefer in that size before making any decision.


Larry
 
DA and SA/Cocked and Locked are totally different manuals of arms, and require (IMHO) some differences in how the gun is carried; that seems like the largest difference between the two guns, moreso than price or anything else.

Some folks (rightly or wrongly) are less comfortable with condition 1 carry; especially, for some others, in a smaller pistol. I'd sort out which manual of arms you prefer in that size before making any decision.

Larry

Where are you all finding this firearm for $500? I searched all of the major places online & even on armslist in my area, and they're all are almost $600-$700+. Also, to everyone who has replied who has carried a kel tec, ruger, or taurus, hows the weight difference? I'll be conceal carrying a Ruger LC9 normally, but want a nice and light mouse gun in stainless with a good fit and finish to carry when I'll be more active and/or need deep concealment.
 
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I purchased my P238HD around a year ago and paid a little over $600 after all was said and done. It could not be found at the time locally for any price and I had to purchase mine off Gunbroker. Stainless slide and frame make for a 21oz chunk of steel, but it feels like it will last forever. The standard tritium sights don't hurt either.

In retrospect, I would certainly still buy it and I do feel it's well worth the money. It has been 100% reliable and it surprisingly accurate. The recoil is very mild even with Underwood's 102gr Golden Saber, which are loaded hotter than Remington's offering.

Though much heavier and thicker, overall it's not a whole lot bigger than my tiny P32 and it's a bit smaller than my P64.

8494487092_304484cd80_z.jpg
 
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when and where did you buy yours? Do you own any other 380 micro pistols, and if so, do you notice the difference in weight while carrying?

I don't care about the trigger, recoil, or sites because this isnt going to be a range gun for me. I do care about not having to worry about rust, excessive wear and tear, and weight. I plan on only carrying which ever 380 I buy while at work or while exercising.
In addition to the P238 and TCP, I also own a couple of P3ATs, a micro Desert Eagle and had an NAA in 32acp, Baretta Tomcat and a Diamondback.

The ones that are gone were not reliable, especially the Diamondback and the NAA.

The P3AT, TCP and LCP are pretty close in size and weight and IMO are all good guns, but of the three I prefer the TCP.

THE Micro Desert Eagle is a fine pistol and utterly reliable, but heavy and punishing to shoot.

The P238 is my favorite pocket pistol to shoot, but a little larger than the rest and if you don't like the idea of carrying a single action pistol cocked and locked it is not the right one for you.

I also have an LC9 and it's a little to large for me to pocket carry as is my Kahr PM9.
 
$492.79 on 6/19/10 at a gun show with 6 additional mags.

I have now 2 gov 380's, a mustang, a 84F and a BDA all in 380. I like the sig 238HD for carry due to its night sights and stainless steel. It is overbuilt for what it is but then again, now that it runs well, no big deal. It is a drop in the pocket holster type of gun.
 
I've shot a 238, they are nice. I usually carry a keltec p3at in my pocket. My choice would be based on how it would be carried. I would only carry something as big as a 238 on my belt. I have a rohrbaugh r9, it is about the same size as the sig...but a 9mm. I would go with the kt p3at or lcp first...I just don't like taurus.
 
I thought it was a great deal. My shooting buddy did also and he got two also. One for him and his wife to carry.

This was back when the 238 was having ejection and spring issues and not many were being bought. I figured SIG would work it out so I bought mine and yes it took a trip back to SIG but since then it has been great.
 
Thanks all for the replies...

They've been less than $500 at the local Academy Sporting Goods big box store forever, and they're not particularly cheap on their handguns.

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/sig-...tol/pid-421723


Thanks for the links! @45_auto: from what I could find, apparently the model that both Academy (which is not in my area) and Palmetto State Armory carry are exclusives that only they carry. I'm not sure what is any cost saving short cuts were made with this version, but I just might pull the trigger on purchasing one (pun intended).
 
I bought my P238 on sale for $499. It came with the Nitron finish, night sights, laser module, spare magazine, and holster. Look around and I'm sure you'll find one at a decent price.
 
I guess I will the one person not to rave about the p238. Personaly I don't want a pistol for pocket carry that has a single action trigger and a external safety to mess with.

I also do think much of the quality of triggers in he few sig baby 1911's I have shot . I like to swap firearms at a public range I visit often and between the 380 and the 9mm version that not on a list of mine. Triggers on the 3 I have tried seemed to be over 7 or 8 lbs 2 of then gritty too. If they were a half size larger they would make a ok iwb with a trigger job but other wise there not for me.

The first two I got to shoot were early run pistol and both made a early on trip back to sig . The lastest one was a 9mm version with 1100 rounds thru it and was as any handgun should be , trouble free for the owner . He was shooting some tulla brass ammo in it at the time.
 
I guess I will the one person not to rave about the p238. Personaly I don't want a pistol for pocket carry that has a single action trigger and a external safety to mess with.

I also do think much of the quality of triggers in he few sig baby 1911's I have shot . I like to swap firearms at a public range I visit often and between the 380 and the 9mm version that not on a list of mine. Triggers on the 3 I have tried seemed to be over 7 or 8 lbs 2 of then gritty too. If they were a half size larger they would make a ok iwb with a trigger job but other wise there not for me.

The first two I got to shoot were early run pistol and both made a early on trip back to sig . The lastest one was a 9mm version with 1100 rounds thru it and was as any handgun should be , trouble free for the owner . He was shooting some tulla brass ammo in it at the time.

Yea, I do not think that a cocked and locked 16oz pistol makes sense as a pocket gun either, and if I plan on IWB carrying, I might as well stick with a PF9 sized 9mm rather than carry a .380... I'm very tempted to buy even though I know it doesn't make any logical sense. The pluses about the trigger and sights are kinda pointless based on the range and up close and personal purpose of the gun in a self defense situation. I doubt that I would have time to (or would even need to) stop, point, and sight an on coming attacker that's only a few feet from me, and I doubt that I'd give a rats behind about how nice the trigger is (or isn't) as well in that moment. I guess I was trying and almost talked myself into buying one...
 
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