SIG P-238, Is it fussy about ammo? Failure to feed/fire ssues at the range
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Redlg155
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I have a SIG P238 that I am perfectly happy with. So far I have used several brands of ammo with no problems. I've owned both the Taurus and Keltec .380 versions and I prefer the Sig for the overall feel and quality.
My standard for reliability is not that it shoots absolutely everything reliably, but that it shoots what I use for carry 100 percent of the time. Given enough brands of ammo, I'm sure that I could make just abougt any model of handgun choke.
My standard for reliability is not that it shoots absolutely everything reliably, but that it shoots what I use for carry 100 percent of the time. Given enough brands of ammo, I'm sure that I could make just abougt any model of handgun choke.
herkyguy
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sorry to be digging up an old thread, but I'm dealing with the same problems at the moment. I've contacted Sig this morning who advised me that their guns like to run a bit more wet than others. Anyone solve their FTF problems with some oil on the feed ramp?
won't be able to shoot it for a few more days.
I really do love the gun. it's a blast to shoot, but 40% FTF is killing me.....
BTW, i thought their customer service, over the phone at least, was quite good.
looks like the XDs will be primary carry gun for the time being.
won't be able to shoot it for a few more days.
I really do love the gun. it's a blast to shoot, but 40% FTF is killing me.....
BTW, i thought their customer service, over the phone at least, was quite good.
looks like the XDs will be primary carry gun for the time being.
wickedsprint
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Ours is not fussy.
My very first round that I tried to rack in jammed. I found out that the springs in the mags are so stiff that if your not careful you will not get the 6th round seated all the way in the magazine so when you release the slide the round will tip up and jam the pistol. Actually you can get it to miss feed if you try to ease the slide closed. Load the magazine, put it in the gun and than release the slide catch and let the spring do its thing.
My 238 seems to love Aguila JHP rounds so I get them whenever possible. No problems with Remington UMC FMJ, Remington Home Defense JHP, or Remington Golden Saber JHP
I do shy away from the Winchester White Box Ammo regardless of caliber due to its blunt nose. Most of the LGS in my area will not even carry it because of the complaints from customers and even their own employees about it not feeding properly in some weapons.
I have put about 250 rounds through my 238 and whenever there is a loading problem it is due to the operator error that I already mentioned.
I do keep my guns cleaned and oiled though. My wife and I hit indoor range about once a month, then on Sunday while she goes grocery shopping and visiting, I clean and oil the guns.
Al
My 238 seems to love Aguila JHP rounds so I get them whenever possible. No problems with Remington UMC FMJ, Remington Home Defense JHP, or Remington Golden Saber JHP
I do shy away from the Winchester White Box Ammo regardless of caliber due to its blunt nose. Most of the LGS in my area will not even carry it because of the complaints from customers and even their own employees about it not feeding properly in some weapons.
I have put about 250 rounds through my 238 and whenever there is a loading problem it is due to the operator error that I already mentioned.
I do keep my guns cleaned and oiled though. My wife and I hit indoor range about once a month, then on Sunday while she goes grocery shopping and visiting, I clean and oil the guns.
Al
Don't put oil on the feed ramp. Grease the slide rail, frame rail, and the exterior parts of the barrel and barrel hood that contact the slide during cycling. I use CLP on the guide rod and recoil spring. Sig puts a trial package of TW25B in the package with a new gun, and that is what I use on all micro-pistols that need to be run wet.
herkyguy
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I am shooting my way through a white box right now, with its blunt nose, so that may be contributing. i initially experienced problems with some JHPs, which was why i opted to grab some cheapo white box. I burned through two boxes of Speer Gold Dot when the gun was brand new and had a few problems.
i'll have to pick up some additional JHP and give a few other brands a try. thanks for the tips. who makes the most rounded JHP? she got some CLP love this afternoon and i will try her again this weekend.
i'll have to pick up some additional JHP and give a few other brands a try. thanks for the tips. who makes the most rounded JHP? she got some CLP love this afternoon and i will try her again this weekend.
I've never had a problem with my P238, purchased in the spring of 2011. I have probably put 600 rounds through the gun. I haven't tried a variety of hollow points, just some winchester. Range ammo is exclusively round nose FMJ rounds. Never had a failure to extract or feed a round (knock on wood). Using the Sig factory mags. I did recently replace the recoil and firing pin springs with new springs from Sig. Probably didn't need to, but figured it can't hurt to keep good springs in the gun. I'd rather change them out early than wait until the gun starts having issues. I lube the slide rails, frame rails, and barrel surfaces that contact the frame with Brian Eno's Slide Glide.
I will say that the times my sig has run rough have been when it is on the dry side. Keep it well lubed with a bit of grease or good oil. Also, the recoil spring should be a flat ribbon of wire, not the typical round wire spring. If you have a round wire spring, call sig and they will likely send you a "reliability pack". If you are having problems with it that aren't solved by lubing or changing ammo, call Sig. Seriously, just call them and let them deal with it. That is part of the premium you paid when you bought this gun was for their support.
Right now I wouldn't let my Sig go for much of anything. It has been a reliable, accurate gun that is perfect for pocket carry.
I will say that the times my sig has run rough have been when it is on the dry side. Keep it well lubed with a bit of grease or good oil. Also, the recoil spring should be a flat ribbon of wire, not the typical round wire spring. If you have a round wire spring, call sig and they will likely send you a "reliability pack". If you are having problems with it that aren't solved by lubing or changing ammo, call Sig. Seriously, just call them and let them deal with it. That is part of the premium you paid when you bought this gun was for their support.
Right now I wouldn't let my Sig go for much of anything. It has been a reliable, accurate gun that is perfect for pocket carry.
I also have a 2011 P238 but am still using the round recoil springs and have not had a single malfunction with any of the numerous brands of ammo I have used.
I don't count rounds but am sure I have well over a thousand rounds through it.
I don't count rounds but am sure I have well over a thousand rounds through it.
see if you can find a box of Aguila 90g JHP ammo, the bullet has a nice taper to it rather than a rounded nose. Both the Remington HD 102G JHP and the Remington Golden Saber 102g JHP seem to work fine for me.
If I were a gambling man, I would probably bet that Remington just changed the name from Remington Golden Saber to Remington HD Home Defense as a marketing ploy and actually for your sake should you happen to shoot someone.
Part of my 8 hour CCW class covered the more important aspects of Michigan Gun Laws and the lawyer present recommended purchasing "Home Defense Ammo" for your Defensive weapon. Even though there really isn't any difference between ammo, he said that the words "Home Defense Ammo" coming out of your mouth when asked by the prosecuting attorney can help sway the jury in your favor.
Does it work, I sure hope I never have to find out!
Al
I don't mean to resurrect a dead thread, but I've started having problems with my P238. I will have the occasional failure to extract. Or, in some cases, the extractor doesn't make it over the rim. I've replaced the extractor, but I think the gun will ultimately have to go back to Sig. I might end up selling the darned thing at a gun show and buy a new Colt Mustang and be done with it... Even if Sig were to fix the gun, I'm not sure that I'd want to rely on it for carry.
meanmrmustard
Member
This. No point in nursing an issue that they should resolve.
meanmrmustard
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Because a gun that costs that much should be reliable with a plethora of ammo.
Snowdog
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- 4,608
The P238HD that I purchased about 4 months ago has been flawless from round one. There's been about 700 rounds through it, most in the first couple months after purchasing it.
Many have been Winchester 95gr FMJ-FP and various JHPs. Not a hiccup of any kind, ridiculously mild in recoil and amazingly accurate. Perhaps I ended up with a gem, but for what I paid for it, I would have been rather upset had I not.
My only concern now is that my wife may make an attempt to commandeer my P238HD like she did a couple years ago with my Kahr K9.
Many have been Winchester 95gr FMJ-FP and various JHPs. Not a hiccup of any kind, ridiculously mild in recoil and amazingly accurate. Perhaps I ended up with a gem, but for what I paid for it, I would have been rather upset had I not.
My only concern now is that my wife may make an attempt to commandeer my P238HD like she did a couple years ago with my Kahr K9.
First time poster here.... I'm always reading the site and figured I would join. To the topic at hand. I traded for a used Sig P238 off a retired state trooper this past weekend. Was his BUG.
Anyhow, I shot about 200 rounds through it yesterday and it was flawless, EXCEPT for the slide wasn't locking back after the last round on every mag. Did it every time. I have 3 of the original updated mags. Had read where they had trouble with the earlier mags. The gun is a 3rd generation P238 made in Nov 5th 2010. After firing it at the range yesterday, I brought it home and cleaned it and find that it still has the short recoil spring. I called Sig a little bit ago and they are sending me a new flat spring. The updated one I guess. They were super nice on the phone. He said that could be causing the slide to not lock back. He said to see if that fixed it and we would go from there. Can't beat that.
What do you guys think?
Thanks!
Anyhow, I shot about 200 rounds through it yesterday and it was flawless, EXCEPT for the slide wasn't locking back after the last round on every mag. Did it every time. I have 3 of the original updated mags. Had read where they had trouble with the earlier mags. The gun is a 3rd generation P238 made in Nov 5th 2010. After firing it at the range yesterday, I brought it home and cleaned it and find that it still has the short recoil spring. I called Sig a little bit ago and they are sending me a new flat spring. The updated one I guess. They were super nice on the phone. He said that could be causing the slide to not lock back. He said to see if that fixed it and we would go from there. Can't beat that.
What do you guys think?
Thanks!
Robbins290
Member
Ive had hundreds of rounds down range in my p238. No issues. Even ate some steel core tula stuff. Its not as accuate was my plus II mustang, but shoots everytime i pull the trigger. My wife carries it now
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