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Old August 31, 2012, 07:15 PM   #1
380guy
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SIG 938 Verdict

What is opinion on compact 9mm vs 380 SIG?

Would like to hear from those of you who have purchsed the 9mm?
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Old August 31, 2012, 09:02 PM   #2
francisco d'anconia
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I have a 938 sig 9mm. 200+ rounds so far. No failures of any kind. Accurate for its size.

The recoil takes getting used to, strong hands help. I like it and trust it. Mine is a keeper.

Dont know about the 380, I have never fired one.
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Old August 31, 2012, 11:11 PM   #3
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I have both and have zero problem with either.

I like the P939 better just because its a 9 and the ammo is cheaper.





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Old August 31, 2012, 11:50 PM   #4
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A buddy of mine had a 238. Great little gun. IMO the 938 is a better option due to being chambered in a more powerful round while losing virtually nothing from the 238.
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Old September 1, 2012, 05:29 AM   #5
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I like the ambidex safety on the 938.
I'd wait a while and let them work out the teething problems. Every pocket auto has them.

I also wonder if eventually Sig will make a pocket 1911 .40 which would be even more punchy.
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Old September 1, 2012, 12:37 PM   #6
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I did a lot of searching on 238 reliability, a year ago, and found "lots" of people with complaints. My experience with a 238 was extremely positive. SIG heavily subsidized the purchase of a 238 for the prize table at our IDPA match, and rather than just have a drawing for it, we set up a short course of fire, and to get a number for the drawing, you had to shoot. Over 100 different shooters shot the gun over the weekend (500+ rounds), with only one malfunction of which I was aware.
It's not outside the realm of possibility that those experiencing problems with their 238s were themselves contributing to it.
I have yet to even see a 938 locally, but agree that the "penalty" for moving up to a full 9mm seems minor, compared to the 238. Of course, even a small difference in bulk can turn a pocket gun into a belt gun.
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Old September 1, 2012, 04:29 PM   #7
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Most of those 238 problems were early on. It's dependable now. I won't repeat myself.
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Old September 1, 2012, 06:05 PM   #8
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P938 Verdict

I own both the P2398 and the P938. I had some growing pains with the 238, but after Sig went to the flat recoil spring and the V3 magazine, the problems went away and the P238 was my primary carry. I always wanted the heavier caliber, though, and recently bought a P938. The first 3 mags through, I had a few FTEs, which I attributed to the pistol being very stiff. I have put over 100 rounds through since with no malfunctions whatsoever, including Winchester White Box 115gr, Remington Golden Sabre, Hornaday Critical Defense, and my new carry ammo, DRT (the frangible stuff, 85 gr). Recoil with the DRT in the 938 and my Kimber Solo both is noticeably lighter than the 115/124 gr ammo.
My only knock on the Solo is that I would like the grips a bit thicker, but I have some G10s coming to fix that problem.
Sig seems to have learned from the problems of the 238, and now both the 238 and 938 are great pistols.
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Old September 1, 2012, 06:07 PM   #9
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P938 Verdict

Oops, sorry, those G10 grips are coming for the P938. The Solo fits very comfortably in my grip with the Crimson Trace laser.
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Old September 1, 2012, 10:29 PM   #10
Bill DeShivs
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This is kind of funny to me.
SIG blatantly copied the Star DK .380 as the 238.
Now, they copied the Star BKM 9mm for the 938!
At least they copied good guns. The only real difference is that the SIG guns look "transformerized," or "tactical."
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Old September 1, 2012, 10:35 PM   #11
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Sig copied Star, who copied FN, who copied Browning, who copied Colt....

"And the beat goes on..."
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Old September 2, 2012, 12:33 AM   #12
Bill DeShivs
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Star didn't copy FN. FN didn't copy Browning. And Browning certainly didn't copy Colt!
The Star was a copy of the Colt (Browning designed) 1911 action.
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Old September 2, 2012, 01:22 AM   #13
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Hickok45 just did a great review on it. Looks like his test gun is accurate, reliable and a good size for IWB or OWB carry, not so much a pocket gun for most people. I have not heard of any serious issues yet (I haven't really researched the 938 either) so it seems like a good buy. Here is the review...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6Js4...e_gdata_player
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Old September 2, 2012, 11:11 PM   #14
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Watched the video. Every time he shoots, makes me want to buy another gun. I love his comment about using google to search for problems on a firearm. Any model of gun will have them.

Plus he has one of the best and most fun looking back yard range.
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Old September 3, 2012, 12:43 AM   #15
Shadi Khalil
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marquezj16 View Post
Watched the video. Every time he shoots, makes me want to buy another gun. I love his comment about using google to search for problems on a firearm. Any model of gun will have them.

Plus he has one of the best and most fun looking back yard range.
Hickok45 has the best channel on YouTube. I suggest subscribing, you get to see what a lot of guns are really capable of doing.
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Old September 4, 2012, 12:49 AM   #16
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Thanks for all of your replies!

I carry an all steel Colt Mustang in a Mika pocket holster. It is a simple loose fitting holster with closed muzzle. If I went to an open muzzle, the 938 would be about same length as my current set up even though it has 1/2 inch longer barrel.

The aluminum 938 would actually weigh a bit less even w heavier ammo.

How many of you folks would consider the 938 a true pocket pistol rather than IWB?
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Old September 4, 2012, 05:03 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 380guy View Post
Thanks for all of your replies!

I carry an all steel Colt Mustang in a Mika pocket holster. It is a simple loose fitting holster with closed muzzle. If I went to an open muzzle, the 938 would be about same length as my current set up even though it has 1/2 inch longer barrel.

The aluminum 938 would actually weigh a bit less even w heavier ammo.

How many of you folks would consider the 938 a true pocket pistol rather than IWB?
I don't consider the 938 a pocket pistol for two reasons; the size and the fact it has a manual safety. That of course is my personal preference. Plenty of people have no problem with the size or the safety, case in point, you.
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Old September 4, 2012, 12:20 PM   #18
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Better it didn't have a safety??
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Old September 4, 2012, 04:07 PM   #19
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Mine is the nightmare and has been perfect, very accurate! I love the cocked and locked!
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Old September 4, 2012, 05:42 PM   #20
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Better it didn't have a safety??
I don't think that he meant the 938 would be better without one, given that it is a SAO. Seems like he just doesn't want to carry a SAO in a pocket holster, which I can appreciate.
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Old September 4, 2012, 06:58 PM   #21
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My verdict after taking a good close look at a friends new "Nightmare" this weekend; I WANT ONE.

What a nice little pistol. Sure I'd rather have a SA/DA like my p229 but I can live with a SA 1911 style unit.

I don't know about pocket carrying a SAO pistol but it would make a nice easy to conceal OWB piece.
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Old September 4, 2012, 07:06 PM   #22
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Quote:
The Star was a copy of the Colt (Browning designed) 1911 action.
The Star is similar to a 1911, in that it has a hammer that pivots on one pin, and a sear that pivots on another, but the trigger and disconnector of the BM/BKM/BKS/PD series of pistols is completely different. The SIG is more like the Star, and the Colt Mustang, of which the 238 is essentially a clone.
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Old September 4, 2012, 07:37 PM   #23
Bill DeShivs
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I should have said "modified/simplified copy." You are correct!
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Old September 7, 2012, 04:47 PM   #24
Shadi Khalil
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Originally Posted by vyse.04 View Post
I don't think that he meant the 938 would be better without one, given that it is a SAO. Seems like he just doesn't want to carry a SAO in a pocket holster, which I can appreciate.
Thank you, that's exactly what I meant. I thought it was pretty obvious..
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Old September 7, 2012, 05:12 PM   #25
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The comment on the safety was a bit of misdirection, in that what you meant is that you'd prefer a pocket gun that has a trigger action that makes a manual safety less necessary?
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