New sig p238

GeeRawkz · January 9, 2013, 08:49 PM

Hey All,

Quick question, I just got in my new sig p238:

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1357782204.427662.jpg

I understand there is about a 200 round break in firing period. But prior to doing so I like to always keep gold cup hollow points loaded in it since it is my backup cc.

The problem I am running into is when cock the gun it seems to get stuck like the following picture:

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1357782360.721664.jpg

Now if I pull it back again while it is locked up like that it loads properly but i can't help but think I'm either loading or cocking the gun improperly. Although the gun is very similar to 1911s, I unfortunately have no experience with them as my main gun is a g17 and CC is a ruger sr9c. Any help would be greatly appreciated and I apologize in advance for my lack of knowledge. Thank you!

Yung.gunr · January 9, 2013, 09:05 PM

Are you inserting the loaded mag then pulling the slide and sling shoting it? The only ammo I have found that it doesn't like is the the cheap Tulammo.

GeeRawkz · January 9, 2013, 11:09 PM

Yes, with the hammer still up I load the mag and pull the slide back but it doesn't seem to slide forward seems to lock up a bit until I pull it back again. Whereas with every gun I've had when I rack the slide it goes forward and back flawlessly

weblance · January 10, 2013, 01:24 AM

I have a new P238 as well. Mine is very smooth when chambering a round. Try this. Lock open the slide with no magazine inserted. Insert loaded magazine and then use the slide release lever to close the slide. It should chamber a round with no hesitation at all. If it still refuses to chamber a round, simply give the slide a bump with your hand to help it chamber the round. Normally, you "slingshot" the slide to chamber a round. This is grasping the rear of the slide, after the slide is locked open, and pulling back on the slide, and letting go. The recoil spring slams the slide shut with force. This is the accepted way to chamber a round. With many pistols, its not recommended to close the slide with the slide release lever, but the P238 can be closed this way with no damage to the slide stop. The P238 is a very high quality pistol, and there shouldn't really be anything you can do to help the "smoothness" It should already be a nicely polished action from the factory. Many people will tell you to take a Dremel and polish the feed ramp on the barrel with some rouge, but the Sig usually comes very well "slicked up" from the factory. You haven't said if you have actually fired the pistol yet. If you haven't, rest assured that it will perform perfectly, even if you have to give it a little help to chamber the first round.

GeeRawkz · January 10, 2013, 07:17 AM

Thank you. Normally I slingshot the slide to chamber around but for some reason with the p238 at least with gold cup hollow points it gets stuck in the back position as the las picture shows (that is from slingshotting the slide) just seems to get stuck like that until I re rack it again

hulley · January 10, 2013, 09:00 AM

I bought a P238 blackwood recently and the first thing I did was polish the feedramp and manually cycle the slide 500 times, in fact I do that with all my guns when I purchase them new. I've always been a "release the slide with lever" kinda a guy and I have had zero malfunctions through 250rds. I do use slide grease instead of oil on my Sigs, something I think they require.

GLI45 · January 11, 2013, 11:34 PM

Got my wife a P238 a couple of weeks ago. What a great little gun. Runs like a top and amazingly accurate for a sub compact. She uses Hornady Critical Defense for personal protection ammo.

Homie Clause · January 13, 2013, 05:07 PM

My P238 did that as well when new. It was always just the first or 2nd round out of a full clip and just with JHP rounds. After handcycling about 200 rounds through it, it's feeding fine. I took it to the range and put 100 rounds through it and had no feeding issues. Had one failure to eject. I broke the gun down to clean and lube and after reassembling, I had the same feeding issue as when new. I handcycled about 50 rounds through it, and it's doing fine again. It seems to be getting better the more I cycle/shoot it.

I'd recommend putting at least 300 - 400 rounds through it and, if the issue persists, contact Sig.

5R milspec · January 13, 2013, 08:17 PM

Make sure oil is on the slide and polish the ramp.First thing I did to the wifes was that I polished the ramp.So far so good,not one bad thing to say about the little pistol,other than its a Lady and looks funny when I carry it.

comn-cents · January 13, 2013, 09:09 PM

I would never care a gun I haven't shot even if it is a backup. In your head you are thinking that it will work, but what if it doesn’t? then what option 3??
I would rather have my backup be a knife or pepper spray, a club or something that I know is going to work. Shoot it before you carry it.

January 9, 2013, 08:49 PM	#1
GeeRawkz Member Join Date: May 30, 2012 Posts: 64	New sig p238 Hey All, Quick question, I just got in my new sig p238: ImageUploadedByTapatalk1357782204.427662.jpg I understand there is about a 200 round break in firing period. But prior to doing so I like to always keep gold cup hollow points loaded in it since it is my backup cc. The problem I am running into is when cock the gun it seems to get stuck like the following picture: ImageUploadedByTapatalk1357782360.721664.jpg Now if I pull it back again while it is locked up like that it loads properly but i can't help but think I'm either loading or cocking the gun improperly. Although the gun is very similar to 1911s, I unfortunately have no experience with them as my main gun is a g17 and CC is a ruger sr9c. Any help would be greatly appreciated and I apologize in advance for my lack of knowledge. Thank you!

January 10, 2013, 09:00 AM	#6
hulley Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2008 Location: Hoschton, Ga. Posts: 726	I bought a P238 blackwood recently and the first thing I did was polish the feedramp and manually cycle the slide 500 times, in fact I do that with all my guns when I purchase them new. I've always been a "release the slide with lever" kinda a guy and I have had zero malfunctions through 250rds. I do use slide grease instead of oil on my Sigs, something I think they require. __________________ Nov 2, 2011 sent form 4, SS Sparrow. Arrived May 29, 2012. Jan 30, 2012 sent form 1 for SBR. Arrived July 12, 2012 Jan 22, 2013 Sent form 4, 762-SDN-6. Arrived Sept 13, 2013

January 11, 2013, 11:34 PM	#7
GLI45 Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2009 Location: Houston, TX. Posts: 143	Got my wife a P238 a couple of weeks ago. What a great little gun. Runs like a top and amazingly accurate for a sub compact. She uses Hornady Critical Defense for personal protection ammo. __________________ STI-Eagle(2)/Trojan(2)/Edge/Guardian/VIP/Rogue/Ranger III/Sentinel/Tactical 4.0/Escort; Remington Rand-1911A1; Ruger Redhawk/Blackhawk; Sig P238

January 13, 2013, 08:17 PM	#9
5R milspec Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 360	Make sure oil is on the slide and polish the ramp.First thing I did to the wifes was that I polished the ramp.So far so good,not one bad thing to say about the little pistol,other than its a Lady and looks funny when I carry it. __________________ life is great but its better when you can own as many guns you wish to own.for me I haven't bought enough yet.

January 13, 2013, 09:09 PM	#10
comn-cents Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2008 Location: Pac.N.W. Posts: 1,804	I would never care a gun I haven't shot even if it is a backup. In your head you are thinking that it will work, but what if it doesn’t? then what option 3?? I would rather have my backup be a knife or pepper spray, a club or something that I know is going to work. Shoot it before you carry it. __________________ Be Smarter Than A Bore-Snake!

January 9, 2013, 09:05 PM	#2
Yung.gunr Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2010 Location: Phoenix area Posts: 1,442	Are you inserting the loaded mag then pulling the slide and sling shoting it? The only ammo I have found that it doesn't like is the the cheap Tulammo.

January 9, 2013, 11:09 PM	#3
GeeRawkz Member Join Date: May 30, 2012 Posts: 64	Yes, with the hammer still up I load the mag and pull the slide back but it doesn't seem to slide forward seems to lock up a bit until I pull it back again. Whereas with every gun I've had when I rack the slide it goes forward and back flawlessly

January 10, 2013, 01:24 AM	#4
weblance Senior Member Join Date: October 3, 2012 Posts: 1,229	I have a new P238 as well. Mine is very smooth when chambering a round. Try this. Lock open the slide with no magazine inserted. Insert loaded magazine and then use the slide release lever to close the slide. It should chamber a round with no hesitation at all. If it still refuses to chamber a round, simply give the slide a bump with your hand to help it chamber the round. Normally, you "slingshot" the slide to chamber a round. This is grasping the rear of the slide, after the slide is locked open, and pulling back on the slide, and letting go. The recoil spring slams the slide shut with force. This is the accepted way to chamber a round. With many pistols, its not recommended to close the slide with the slide release lever, but the P238 can be closed this way with no damage to the slide stop. The P238 is a very high quality pistol, and there shouldn't really be anything you can do to help the "smoothness" It should already be a nicely polished action from the factory. Many people will tell you to take a Dremel and polish the feed ramp on the barrel with some rouge, but the Sig usually comes very well "slicked up" from the factory. You haven't said if you have actually fired the pistol yet. If you haven't, rest assured that it will perform perfectly, even if you have to give it a little help to chamber the first round.

January 10, 2013, 07:17 AM	#5
GeeRawkz Member Join Date: May 30, 2012 Posts: 64	Thank you. Normally I slingshot the slide to chamber around but for some reason with the p238 at least with gold cup hollow points it gets stuck in the back position as the las picture shows (that is from slingshotting the slide) just seems to get stuck like that until I re rack it again

January 13, 2013, 05:07 PM	#8
Homie Clause Junior Member Join Date: January 13, 2013 Posts: 1	My P238 did that as well when new. It was always just the first or 2nd round out of a full clip and just with JHP rounds. After handcycling about 200 rounds through it, it's feeding fine. I took it to the range and put 100 rounds through it and had no feeding issues. Had one failure to eject. I broke the gun down to clean and lube and after reassembling, I had the same feeding issue as when new. I handcycled about 50 rounds through it, and it's doing fine again. It seems to be getting better the more I cycle/shoot it. I'd recommend putting at least 300 - 400 rounds through it and, if the issue persists, contact Sig.