Sig Sauer P238 Review: Sig’s .380 Ugly Duckling

SIG isn’t a 1911 company, but man, they produce a lot of 1911s. In fact, they’ve arguably helped evolve the platform. They’ve indeed shrunk it a time or two as well. The SIG P238 happens when SIG gets the idea to make a pocket pistol inspired by the M1911, and to chamber it in .380 ACP. Today, we are going to review this micro-sized 1911 wannabe.

Just a couple weeks later I had one of these diminutive .380s.  Being a 1911 guy I should have taken to this gun like a duck to water.  There is a lot to like – and to dislike – about this gun, so I guess you could say my relationship with it is “complicated.”

Sig P238 Background

The SIG-Sauer P238 is a single-stack, single-action, sub-compact .380 ACP pistol that earned a spot on our list of the best .380 handguns. Many different versions have been released over the years, with Sig Sauer currently listing seven on their website. It also has a bigger 9mm brother, the Sig P938.

I own the all-stainless P238 “HD” version. SIG makes many different models with different finishes, sight options, and more. The gun closely resembles a 1911, but you should know about a few key differences.

First, it features a traditional 1911-style safety, sort of. SIG designed this gun for “cocked and locked” carry. As the first carry gun I owned that saw serious, day-in, day-out carry, it carries well in Condition One. I should note, however, that the safety lever is a little small.

I invested many hours into mastering this little gun, but I found that the small, rounded safety isn’t the easiest to disengage. This became most noticeable when I tried to reengage the safety; it was very difficult to hit one-handed.

Unlike a 1911, the P238’s safety also engages with the hammer forward, locking the slide in the forward position. While interesting, I wouldn’t recommend carrying the gun in this condition.

Sig P238 Features

1 Siglite Sights

Full-sized, steel sights that should be on every handgun of this class.

2 Single Action Trigger

The P238 has a very good, very short SA trigger.

3 1911 Style Takedown

This gun field strips just like your trusty 1911. This gun field strips just like your trusty 1911.

Sig P238 Model Variants

When it comes to the P238, Sig’s got a bunch of different models.  However, the differences between are essentially just color and grip variations.  Nevertheless, they’ve probably got one (or more) that you’d like better than the standard model.

Sig Sauer P238 Review – Our Take

The P238’s performance is undoubtedly its most positive aspect; it’s a “sweet shooter.” I’ve found it accurate, comfortable, and, most importantly, incredibly reliable.

Reliability

Since I’ve owned my P238, I’ve put over 2,000 rounds of ammunition through it. That’s probably about ten times more than most “mouse guns” ever see, and its reliability has immensely impressed me. Unfortunately, I haven’t always kept the detailed range log I maintain now, so I can’t be as precise as I’d like. However, I can tell you this: I’ve experienced only a single-digit number of malfunctions, and those occurred very early on. I haven’t had a malfunction in at least the past 750 rounds. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more reliable automatic pistol of such compact dimensions.

Accuracy

I won’t mince words: The Sig P238 is the most accurate ultra-compact gun I’ve ever shot. In fact, it’s not a stretch to say it’s more precise than some much bigger guns. Sig’s decision to equip this pistol with “grown-up” sights is the most significant contributing factor

Most ultra-compact .380s have marginal sights. These make them difficult to acquire quickly and challenging to shoot well at a distance. Not so with the P238. The sights on this gun are Sig’s 3-dot “Siglite” sights, which I find outstanding. I’d be satisfied with them on almost any pistol, and I’m absolutely thrilled with them on this little pocket-sized firearm.

The sights aren’t all, though; the P238’s trigger makes it easy for me to get decent hits. Compared to the Nighthawk Custom 1911 I carry daily, the SIG’s trigger feels rough. But in comparison to everything else in its class (and many guns that aren’t), the P238’s trigger isn’t bad at all. Mine measures a little over 6 lbs. It’s very smooth and clean, and its single-action design means the trigger exhibits tiny movement. Overall, this is a fantastic trigger. It’s one of the best stock triggers on the market.

It’s worth pointing out that although the trigger looks like a 1911 trigger, it’s not. The 1911 is famous for its straight-to-the-rear pull. Like most modern pistols, the Sig’s trigger is hinged at the top, but I didn’t find this detrimental.

Ergonomics

The P238 offers a “just right” combination of size, weight, and caliber; I find this gun pleasant to shoot in a way that most .380s simply can’t be. I also have a lot of experience with the P238’s big sister, the P938 in 9mm. This gun doesn’t scale tremendously well. On the other hand, this gun definitely leaves your pinky finger dangling. I know Ryan dislikes that, while I am willing to live with it under the right circumstances, so take that for what it’s worth. An OEM, extended, 7-shot magazine is available that corrects this, but it spoils the P238’s most appealing aspect: its carry size.

Most people choose exceedingly small handguns for their diminutive size. They are easy to carry, and adopting them requires minimal disruption to one’s wardrobe or habits. The P238 isn’t the smallest handgun on the market but very small. With a halfway decent holster, I can carry this gun all day, every day, and literally forget it’s there.

I’ve already addressed the ergonomics of the safety. In short, the safety could be better, and I’d be cautious about recommending this gun to a new shooter or one who isn’t going to put in the necessary hours of practice. The rest of the controls aren’t bad at all, though. The slide release is slightly extended, efficiently operating the slide under the light .380-powered spring. The magazine release is well-placed and appropriately sized, so I have no complaints.

Recoil

Small .380s are infamous for their stiff recoil. The tiny guns chambering them don’t leave much for you to hold onto, nor do they have much recoil-absorbing weight. This is one area where the P238 shines above the competition.

First, the P238 is relatively wide at about 1 inch on the grip panel. Compare this to a maximum width of 0.82 inches for the Ruger LCP, and that difference makes a huge impact. I can lock this little gun down tightly enough to feel the slide firmly hitting the end of its travel. I welcome the larger grip surface of this gun, even if it makes it slightly less concealable.

Next, let’s talk about the weight. Most P238s aren’t heavy guns by any means. Well…I take that back. My HD model is an aberration here; it weighs around 20 ounces, about five ounces heavier than the standard, aluminum-framed P238s. Even with the aluminum frame, however, the Sig weighs over 15 ounces, about a 60% increase over the Ruger LCP. Again, everything is a compromise, and the additional weight might make this ever-so-slightly harder to carry.

Final Thoughts

As mentioned in the opening, I have mixed feelings about the P238. On the one hand, I find the safety lever too small and hard to disengage. The short grip leaves your pinky dangling (and can pinch your hand if you try for a speed reload). 6+1 is also a bottom-of-the-barrel capacity for a gun of size and weight. And for the money, let’s say this thing costs a lot for a 6+1 .380.

Despite these points, I still really, really like this gun. It’s a tiny gun that shoots like a big gun. Recoil is entirely reasonable, and the grip size, weight, and Siglite sights make outstanding accuracy possible. As someone who carried this gun for almost two years, I’ll put it this way: this gun probably isn’t for the casual owner. But if you’re a 1911 enthusiast—and/or are willing to put the time in to become proficient with it—the Sig P238 will serve you exceptionally well.

Sig P238 Pros and Cons

Finding a Sig P238 isn’t necessarily too tough.  There’s tons of models available and just about every marketplace carries one.  Just remember, the deals listed above are subject to price and availability change.

Compared to the SIG P938

The P238 and P938 are nearly identical guns. They are similar and have extremely similar dimensions. The P938 is .4 of an inch longer and weighs .8 of an ounce more. That’s impressive for a 9mm. The 9mm version offers more affordable and common ammo, but also packs an increased recoil punch. It’s not too uncomfortable to shoot, but the SIG P238 is a much softer shooting gun overall.

Best Ammo for Your Sig P238

Picking the best ammo for your Sig P238 isn’t as simple as just grabbing any old box 380 Auto. Some rounds are made better than others for certain things.

If you’re using this as a personal defense firearm, you’re going to want to maximize the amount of stopping power your P238 has.  You’re going to want to find the perfect balance between expansion and penetration.  But if you’re just slinging metal downrange, cheap ball ammo would probably be your best bet.

Sig P238 Starter Pack

If you’ve decided to bite the bullet and pick up the Sig P238, you’ll want to make sure you have everything else needed for basic firearm operation.  This includes eye & ear protection, extra magazines, cleaning kits, and proper storage. 

• Magazines–Sig P238 Mags at Palmetto State Armory
• Gun Cleaning Kit: Gloryfire Universal Cleaning Kit on Amazon
• Shooting Glasses: Check out our Best Shooting Glasses article to pick the best for you.
• Hearing Protection: Find out which shooting hearing protection best fits your needs at our Best Ear Protection article.
• Storage: Vaultek VT20i on Amazon

Upgrades and Accessories for the Sig P238

When it comes to choosing the best accessory you can get for this gun, we recommend a quality holster.  While the firearm is small enough to fit in some pockets, you won’t just want it bouncing around there unsecured.  Here are our top 3 picks for best holster for the Sig P238:

Best Holsters for the Sig P238

Galco Tuck-N-Go		IWB Fits P238 very well Very discreet	See on Amazon
DeSantis Nemesis		Pocket Holster Ambidextrous Textured exterior	See on Amazon
Comfort Tac Ultimate Ankle Holster		Comfortable Neoprene brand Silent draw Flexible fit	See on Amazon

How to Care for Your Sig P238

If you’re going to spend the money to purchase this .308, there’s no doubt that you’ll want to properly care for it.  And doing so requires breaking it down and cleaning it out once in a while.

However, this isn’t necessarily the easiest firearm to disassemble.  And if you’re unfamiliar with the weapon, you might just lose a pin or shoot a spring across the room.  Molly from Shoot Point Blank does an absolutely phenomenal job explaining how to take down, and put back together, your Sig P238.

https://youtu.be/8eS8IJTYxKk

Important Links and Manuals for the Sig Sauer P238

Need some more info on the Sig P238?  A great place to start is the manufacturer’s website and the User’s Manual.  We’ve listed them below along with a sweet video review from Hickok45.

• Sig Sauer P238
• Sig Sauer P238 User’s Manual
• Hickok45 Video Review