UPDATE 3: Sig Sauer P238 Range Report

[gwashorn]

You mean like... "Bon-fires"?


Maybe thats a bad example, that was a terrible tragedy.[/quote]

Yeah, you know many of us still cry over that. I do.

Gary

[flintknapper]

TLynnHughes wrote:

The slide stop always locks back when you insert an empty magazine and then rack the slide. It fails to lock back about 80% of the time after the last round of a magazine no matter who the shooter is.

Any failures to eject?

How far are spent casings being ejected (landing) relative to your shooting position?

If the the slide is achieving full rearward travel....then the slide stop should catch it when begins to come forward again.

The only things that would prevent this are:

Problem with magazine/follower/spring (not able to push slide stop up forcefully).

Problem with slide stop working its way out, stop out of spec or broken.

Slide stop rounded off where it engages the slide.

Slide stop detent in slide rounded off or peened.

[TLynnHughes]

TLynnHughes wrote:

The slide stop always locks back when you insert an empty magazine and then rack the slide. It fails to lock back about 80% of the time after the last round of a magazine no matter who the shooter is.

Any failures to eject?

How far are spent casings being ejected (landing) relative to your shooting position?

If the the slide is achieving full rearward travel....then the slide stop should catch it when begins to come forward again.

The only things that would prevent this are:

Problem with magazine/follower/spring (not able to push slide stop up forcefully).

Problem with slide stop working its way out, stop out of spec or broken.

Slide stop rounded off where it engages the slide.

Slide stop detent in slide rounded off or peened.

Since the last response I decided to compare the old slide stop with the new one. There are visible differences in the two, so it would seem that you are right on the money. There is a little notched edge that makes contact with the magazine. On the new slide stop, that notch is "deeper" ( for lack of a better term).

I'm hoping for range time on Friday to test the theories!

T.

[TLynnHughes]

I couldn't wait to get to the range with the 238 so I made a quick trip after work. I installed the new slide stop and applied a liberal amount of gun grease NOT oil. First, the gun grease makes a huge difference. Who knew? The slide just glides effortlessly on the frame with the grease. I ran 45 rounds through the gun pretty rapidly using both the new magazine and the old magazine without any jams. The slide failed to lock back a time or two, but I think I might be resting my thumb on the slide stop. When I consciously kept my thumb away from the slide stop, there were no issues. Just a bad habit on my part. I am one happy camper!

Sig customer service was the best! They made it right and I ended up with a free magazine ($50 value).

It will feel really nice to actually start carrying my little jewel.

Thanks again for all the information and feedback. It really, really helped me learn!

T.

[USA1]

And they all lived happily ever after.

That's great TLynn. You'll sleep good tonight knowing your new gun is a keeper.

[flintknapper]

I couldn't wait to get to the range with the 238 so I made a quick trip after work. I installed the new slide stop and applied a liberal amount of gun grease NOT oil. First, the gun grease makes a huge difference. Who knew? The slide just glides effortlessly on the frame with the grease. I ran 45 rounds through the gun pretty rapidly using both the new magazine and the old magazine without any jams. The slide failed to lock back a time or two, but I think I might be resting my thumb on the slide stop. When I consciously kept my thumb away from the slide stop, there were no issues. Just a bad habit on my part. I am one happy camper!

Sig customer service was the best! They made it right and I ended up with a free magazine ($50 value).

It will feel really nice to actually start carrying my little jewel.

Thanks again for all the information and feedback. It really, really helped me learn!

T.

Yes, I considered asking about that in my last post (based on the photo in your avatar), but didn't know if that was a representative grip for you or not.

With short pistols...making contact with the slide or S/S is very easy to do when shooting a "high parallel" grip.

One thing you can do...is rotate your support hand down (after acquiring the support grip), it not only makes it less likely that you'll make contact with the S/S, but it helps control recoil.

A good firm grip....properly executed... will go a long way towards pistol reliability (assuming no mechanical flaws).

Keep at it and let us know how things turn out.

Remember: Keep the pistol clean, use a good gun GREASE on the slide and frame rails, oil everywhere else.

Also, thank you for your post, it has been informative.

Flint.

[Divided Attention]

TLynn I received my P238 Liberty version today. Brought her home, cleaned well, greased well, racked the slide like a billion times, wiped it down, took some pictures and am anxiously awaiting this weekend to head to the range! I have learned from your experience - Thank you - and hope to have a good experience with this little beauty. I have heard so many good things about this weapon, and every woman I have met that has one loves it.

If I were smarter than the forum site I would have the picture pop up here, but I can only get it to insert a link to the pic I took of "his and hers" future carry as we are in the DPS Torture holding pattern. Thanks to everything for what I am learning here!

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/20025 ... .jpg[/img]
his and hers

[TLynnHughes]

TLynn I received my P238 Liberty version today. Brought her home, cleaned well, greased well, racked the slide like a billion times, wiped it down, took some pictures and am anxiously awaiting this weekend to head to the range! I have learned from your experience - Thank you - and hope to have a good experience with this little beauty. I have heard so many good things about this weapon, and every woman I have met that has one loves it.

If I were smarter than the forum site I would have the picture pop up here, but I can only get it to insert a link to the pic I took of "his and hers" future carry as we are in the DPS Torture holding pattern. Thanks to everything for what I am learning here!

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/20025 ... .jpg[/img]
his and hers

Congrats on the new firearm! It sure is a pretty one. I really like the Liberty versions. I hope you have as much fun shooting it as I have. It really was worth working through the initial problems. I learned so much! I'm still amazed at the minimal recoil but terrific accuracy of such a little gun. It's my daily companion now. Did your come with the little holster that looks like it would fit on a Care Bear?

Look forward to meeting you at forum day. And of course, we expect a range report after you make your first trip.

T.

[LongHairedRedneck]

Glad to hear that your problems are now resolved. My little 238 runs like a champ, many people don't believe this but I've only had one Failure to Feed out of nearly 750 rounds.

[Divided Attention]

Well, budget afforded hubby and I 50 rounds each through our new - soon to be - pocket carries.

Lady Liberty (Sig P238 Liberty version) is SWEET!! I have to admit I was a little worried about how something that small would feel, and my first shot was awful! I blinked and flinched in anticipation... took a deep breath, and had lovely groupings! I am so impressed with this little weapon! I could have easily put 200 rounds through, and my 50 were up way too soon. Taking heed of all the prior postings, I took it home after picking it up Wednesday, broke it down completely and cleaned and greased it well. I did have one slight FTE with repeated rapid taps, but I think my grip had gotten a bit sloppy, and the empty cartridge cleared easily with dropping the magazine out. It was a good tactical reload practice. Other than that it ran like a dream. Can't wait to work more with it in one of CompVest's classes.

Hubby (Middle Age Russ) took his new pocket the S&W Bodyguard 380. A smidge lighter, and only a tad livelier than my Liberty, but still a solid, fun shoot!. The trigger pull is very "double action revolver" feel - long and smooth till BANG! The first shot up, I thought I had a problem, I had gripped "fully" expecting more zip, and had my trigger finger so far through the guard I ran out of finger bend before the end of the stroke. Regrip and no problem - sweet little shoot there as well. MAR too had cleaned and lubed gun well and his 50 ran with no issue. Note on policing spent brass, it does like to throw them straight up and forward... in front of the firing line.

So relieved, thrilled and LOVIN' my Liberty. Found an awesome quote today that is just so fitting! " I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand." ~Susan B. Anthony

Thanks again to TLynn and everyone for the "prep" info so I had a great experience.

DA

[Shasta]

So glad to see this thread here. I bought a P238 Equinox last weekend at the (Ft. Bend) gun show. It was, for me, an impulse purchase (I was only "checking out" prices) egged on by the certifiable "gun nuts" in the family. In all honesty, it's time for me to have something I can easily carry on my person, instead of in my car, handbag, etc.
I'm absolutely thrilled with the night sights on this gun, and it is FAR more comfortable in my hand than my sister's little Ruger LCP. Thanks to this thread, I'll be forewarned about cleaning & greasing it down well.

I am sitting here as I type, staring at my first 200 rounds, but it wouldn't be fair to sneak off to the range without Mr. Shasta.
As I get mine broken in, I'm looking forward to discussions of what SD rounds people are feeding through their P238s.

[G26ster]

As I get mine broken in, I'm looking forward to discussions of what SD rounds people are feeding through their P238s.

You will have to join the debate over the effectiveness of .380 SD ammo, vs. FMJ. Two camps here. One camp believes the SD ammo on the .380 has too little penetration before expansion, so FMJ would be better. The other camp believes the larger wound left by the .380 SD ammo does not require deeper penetration. Right now in my P238, I have Pow'r ball SD ammo, which is said to penetrate much further before expansion, but I'm not sold on it. Perhaps a mix of both in one magazine is appropriate. Don't know.

[Divided Attention]

Used my "Lady Liberty" at the Ladies Drills for Skills clinic at Forum Day. I was very thrilled with how it shot, the groupings and over all performance of the "P-Shooter" as CompVest called it was great! Put another 85 rounds through it, and nary a hiccup! Thanks again TLynn, and I am sorry I missed you at forum day, I was hoping to meet you.

[MrsFosforos]

Used my "Lady Liberty" at the Ladies Drills for Skills clinic at Forum Day. I was very thrilled with how it shot, the groupings and over all performance of the "P-Shooter" as CompVest called it was great! Put another 85 rounds through it, and nary a hiccup! Thanks again TLynn, and I am sorry I missed you at forum day, I was hoping to meet you.

Hi, I was next to you during that session! You did great with it! I am still sitting on the fence, but I sure like the P238! The other lady who was shooting one was doing well with hers too.

[Divided Attention]

Mrs. F! I like your Juli Goloski, and you were doing a great job too.- my "big sister" future is an M&P 9C and I love it! Hubby says I have fully converted now from revolver to semi-auto.

I enjoyed meeting you and learning with all the ladies in that session. It is nice to meet other ladies with similar interests!