Sig P238 Trigger Bite

Ron7624 · May 28, 2012, 03:29 PM

I've been carrying the Colt Mustang Pocketlite for several years, and I have never had a problem. It is an accurate and dependable pistol.
I just bought a Sig P238 several weeks ago, and am very impressed with the Siglite Night Sights. I really, really like them, a lot and want to carry this pistol because of them.
But, after my first round at the range with the Sig, I was extremely disappointed how sharp the end of the plastic trigger was. I found it uncomfortable to shoot, so I continued to carry the Mustang.
I've been looking to buy a better trigger so I can start to use this new gun. Although there was one posted elseware in the forum, I haven't investigated buying it. So today I decided to fix the trigger that came on the pistol. I took a small file, taped up the trigger guard and gently took that razor edge off of the bottom of that trigger. Wow, it worked like a champ. Went back to the range this afternoon and went through a bunch of handloads and a box of commercial stuff. From round nose to JHP, and mixing Colt and Sig magazines, I never a hiccup, and best of all no trigger bite.
I will start carrying the Sig now that it is shootable, and I’ll keep my trusty Mustang at the ready.

BarryLee · May 28, 2012, 03:32 PM

So, in your opinion was this a design issue or a manufacturing defect?

Ron7624 · May 28, 2012, 05:19 PM

Design issue.
The trigger appeared to be made as they wanted it to be made, I just think it is a very low quality piece of a very high quality gun. A friend has a different model P238, but it has the same feel to the bottom of the trigger.
I think Sig should re-think the design of the trigger or at least round it out so as not to pinch, like I did.

lcpiper · May 29, 2012, 10:36 AM

My wife and I have had no problems with the trigger on our P238 and I am wondering if you have thick fingers. My wife is a very slim woman and my hands aren't beefy at all. Our fingers just don't ride that low on the trigger.

Rspeters · May 29, 2012, 08:15 PM

Yeah, I've got many rounds through mine and never had an issue with it.

KyJim · May 29, 2012, 10:31 PM

No issue with mine, either. It may be personal preference, like the difference between serrated "target" triggers and smooth "combat" triggers on revolvers.

mooney1el · May 30, 2012, 06:43 PM

I recently purchased a used P238 and it came with a "trigger shoe" . I do not like it at all, so I removed it. Now the problem is that the set screws on the shoe bit into the plastic trigger deforming it just enough to make it even more uncomfortable. I was going to put it back on, but found a stainless trigger from partsproduction; so that will get installed tomorrow or Saturday and I am hoping that it will be much nicer than the plastic one.

Richard

hardhat harry · May 30, 2012, 06:57 PM

+1 on the Stainless trigger from partsproduction.com

An easy install, especially if you watch the video!!

Ron7624 · June 2, 2012, 01:59 PM

I've never had any kind of a trigger problem at all, with any of my pistols. I have several pistols that range in size from 45acp to 22 rim fire and several wheel guns that range in size from 41 mag to 22 cal.
I've never had a trigger problem until the Sig.
Reading many other posts on the net, there are a few folks commenting on the poor trigger of their particular Sig P238, and others that like it just fine. It may be my grip with this particular gun, but I don't think so.
Although my earlier posted 'fix' with a file has done the job of making the gun a better shooter for me, I am going to investigate dropping a different trigger in the gun.
Thanks for all the comments and I'll update the 'new trigger' project if it becomes a reality.
Ron

Ron7624 · June 2, 2012, 02:06 PM

"but found a stainless trigger from partsproduction; so that will get installed tomorrow or Saturday"

So how did the install go? can you feel a difference in the pull?
Thanks,
Ron

9mm · June 2, 2012, 03:58 PM

If you have big fingers then yes it has a bite. I just notice the bottom of the trigger is sharp. But my fingers are so small it doesn't bother me because they ride high.

FYI you can buy zombie green houge grips for these sigs p238's lol!

Nakanokalronin · June 3, 2012, 08:53 AM

I put a stainless trigger on my P238 from Partsproduction over a year ago and it does make the trigger feel more solid. I never got bit with the old one but I will say that the metal upgrade is worth it. It did not require any fitting.

dajowi · June 4, 2012, 03:50 PM

You could have had Tool Tech install night sights on the Colt and saved some money. Unless of course you just wanted to buy a new gun

lcpiper · June 5, 2012, 10:31 AM

I am trying to find this partsproduction website but having no luck, who are you guys getting these triggers from?

mooney1el · June 5, 2012, 11:35 AM

Search for partsproduction over on the SIG forum (http://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc...382#6580058382) and in his posts he lists an email. I think he is in Oregon. There is a video on youtube showing him installing the trigger (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh2v_-87DRM)..it was that easy for me except for the installation of the trigger bar. I actually had to get my wife to put the pin in while I held the trigger bar in position while compressing the spring.

I understand you can use aluminum the trigger for a Colt Mustang available from Brownells too.(http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=2...UMINUM-TRIGGER)

lcpiper · June 5, 2012, 12:45 PM

Thank You, That's what I needed.

mooney1el · June 11, 2012, 09:45 PM

Sorry I missed the earlier question Ron. The install was easy, just like the video said except for the pin that holds the trigger bar.

As for a change in trigger pull, I really can't say for sure. I had to replace the sear spring at the same time as the stainless trigger install because it had gotten bent sometime in its life. As purchased, the trigger was short with little tactile feedback. Currently, the trigger is crisp and clean and I have not yet measured the pull. The reset is hardly discernible.

I am going to the range this week and will compare mine to another new P238 and will report back differences etc.

Richard

Straitshot · June 11, 2012, 11:16 PM

I just recently bought a P238 and I don't think it has a plastic trigger. It is black in color. I will look more closely. Sorry if this sounds stupid, but how do you tell if it is plastic?

scottl · June 12, 2012, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Sorry if this sounds stupid, but how do you tell if it is plastic?

Magnet

mooney1el · June 18, 2012, 07:15 PM

I said I would be back with a report. Unfortunately, I have not had the time to get to the range, but I did measure the trigger pull and it is 5.5-6 pounds after the installation of the stainless trigger and new sear spring.

9mm · June 18, 2012, 08:19 PM

I think I got one bite, that was because I put my finger on the very bottom of the trigger, and yes its sharp from the factory that way. Just don't put your finger down there.....

Scottjd · June 30, 2012, 07:43 AM

I just bought the gun last week. Was looking for a better CCW in the summer spring than my P229R. I love the size, and went to the range this week to test it out. 250 rounds, one miss fire and that's all. I put the bullet back in and pulled the trigger and it went bang. Hard primer maybe? It was it full battery when I checked after it went click.

I wanted the P938 at first but I read mixed reviews, and it's new so I will wait knowing how many adjustments they did to the 238 over time. It was accurate at 7yrds as expected. Even at 50 feet slow fire I hit bullseye two times with the other 4 in the next ring. That impressed me.

Anyway, so on therapy home I noticed a blister on the inside of my right hand finger. I have long skinny fingers, not thick ones. This is we're the trigger would bite. I didnt notice bite while shooting but it was blistered so I have to assume. I think I will also be trying a new trigger or modding mine with a file.

May 28, 2012, 03:29 PM	#1
Ron7624 Member Join Date: May 18, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 36	Sig P238 Trigger Bite I've been carrying the Colt Mustang Pocketlite for several years, and I have never had a problem. It is an accurate and dependable pistol. I just bought a Sig P238 several weeks ago, and am very impressed with the Siglite Night Sights. I really, really like them, a lot and want to carry this pistol because of them. But, after my first round at the range with the Sig, I was extremely disappointed how sharp the end of the plastic trigger was. I found it uncomfortable to shoot, so I continued to carry the Mustang. I've been looking to buy a better trigger so I can start to use this new gun. Although there was one posted elseware in the forum, I haven't investigated buying it. So today I decided to fix the trigger that came on the pistol. I took a small file, taped up the trigger guard and gently took that razor edge off of the bottom of that trigger. Wow, it worked like a champ. Went back to the range this afternoon and went through a bunch of handloads and a box of commercial stuff. From round nose to JHP, and mixing Colt and Sig magazines, I never a hiccup, and best of all no trigger bite. I will start carrying the Sig now that it is shootable, and I’ll keep my trusty Mustang at the ready.

May 28, 2012, 03:32 PM	#2
BarryLee Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2010 Location: The ATL (OTP) Posts: 3,946	So, in your opinion was this a design issue or a manufacturing defect? __________________ A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

May 28, 2012, 05:19 PM	#3
Ron7624 Member Join Date: May 18, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 36	Cost effective manufacturning technique? Design issue. The trigger appeared to be made as they wanted it to be made, I just think it is a very low quality piece of a very high quality gun. A friend has a different model P238, but it has the same feel to the bottom of the trigger. I think Sig should re-think the design of the trigger or at least round it out so as not to pinch, like I did. Last edited by Ron7624; May 28, 2012 at 06:25 PM. Reason: To directly answer the question

May 29, 2012, 10:36 AM	#4
lcpiper Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2011 Posts: 1,405	My wife and I have had no problems with the trigger on our P238 and I am wondering if you have thick fingers. My wife is a very slim woman and my hands aren't beefy at all. Our fingers just don't ride that low on the trigger. __________________ Colt M1911, AR-15 \| S&W Model 19, Model 27\| SIG P238 \| Berreta 85B Cheetah \| Ruger Blackhawk .357MAG, Bearcat "Shopkeeper" .22LR\| Remington Marine Magnum SP 12GA., Model 700 SPS .223

May 30, 2012, 06:57 PM	#8
hardhat harry Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2010 Location: I've moved... Posts: 233	+1 on the Stainless trigger from partsproduction.com An easy install, especially if you watch the video!! __________________ "Let me live in my house by the side of the road and be a friend to man."

May 29, 2012, 08:15 PM	#5
Rspeters Member Join Date: February 7, 2011 Posts: 72	Yeah, I've got many rounds through mine and never had an issue with it.

May 29, 2012, 10:31 PM	#6
KyJim Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2005 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 9,142	No issue with mine, either. It may be personal preference, like the difference between serrated "target" triggers and smooth "combat" triggers on revolvers.

May 30, 2012, 06:43 PM	#7
mooney1el Member Join Date: November 30, 2011 Posts: 22	I recently purchased a used P238 and it came with a "trigger shoe" . I do not like it at all, so I removed it. Now the problem is that the set screws on the shoe bit into the plastic trigger deforming it just enough to make it even more uncomfortable. I was going to put it back on, but found a stainless trigger from partsproduction; so that will get installed tomorrow or Saturday and I am hoping that it will be much nicer than the plastic one. Richard

June 2, 2012, 01:59 PM	#9
Ron7624 Member Join Date: May 18, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 36	I've never had any kind of a trigger problem at all, with any of my pistols. I have several pistols that range in size from 45acp to 22 rim fire and several wheel guns that range in size from 41 mag to 22 cal. I've never had a trigger problem until the Sig. Reading many other posts on the net, there are a few folks commenting on the poor trigger of their particular Sig P238, and others that like it just fine. It may be my grip with this particular gun, but I don't think so. Although my earlier posted 'fix' with a file has done the job of making the gun a better shooter for me, I am going to investigate dropping a different trigger in the gun. Thanks for all the comments and I'll update the 'new trigger' project if it becomes a reality. Ron

June 2, 2012, 02:06 PM	#10
Ron7624 Member Join Date: May 18, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 36	TO: mooney1el on stainless trigger "but found a stainless trigger from partsproduction; so that will get installed tomorrow or Saturday" So how did the install go? can you feel a difference in the pull? Thanks, Ron

June 2, 2012, 03:58 PM	#11
9mm Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2011 Location: Land of the Free Posts: 2,834	If you have big fingers then yes it has a bite. I just notice the bottom of the trigger is sharp. But my fingers are so small it doesn't bother me because they ride high. FYI you can buy zombie green houge grips for these sigs p238's lol!

June 3, 2012, 08:53 AM	#12
Nakanokalronin Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2006 Posts: 1,066	I put a stainless trigger on my P238 from Partsproduction over a year ago and it does make the trigger feel more solid. I never got bit with the old one but I will say that the metal upgrade is worth it. It did not require any fitting.

June 4, 2012, 03:50 PM	#13
dajowi Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Posts: 1,196	You could have had Tool Tech install night sights on the Colt and saved some money. Unless of course you just wanted to buy a new gun

June 5, 2012, 10:31 AM	#14
lcpiper Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2011 Posts: 1,405	I am trying to find this partsproduction website but having no luck, who are you guys getting these triggers from? __________________ Colt M1911, AR-15 \| S&W Model 19, Model 27\| SIG P238 \| Berreta 85B Cheetah \| Ruger Blackhawk .357MAG, Bearcat "Shopkeeper" .22LR\| Remington Marine Magnum SP 12GA., Model 700 SPS .223

June 5, 2012, 11:35 AM	#15
mooney1el Member Join Date: November 30, 2011 Posts: 22	Search for partsproduction over on the SIG forum (http://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc...382#6580058382) and in his posts he lists an email. I think he is in Oregon. There is a video on youtube showing him installing the trigger (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh2v_-87DRM)..it was that easy for me except for the installation of the trigger bar. I actually had to get my wife to put the pin in while I held the trigger bar in position while compressing the spring. I understand you can use aluminum the trigger for a Colt Mustang available from Brownells too.(http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=2...UMINUM-TRIGGER)

June 5, 2012, 12:45 PM	#16
lcpiper Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2011 Posts: 1,405	Thank You, That's what I needed. __________________ Colt M1911, AR-15 \| S&W Model 19, Model 27\| SIG P238 \| Berreta 85B Cheetah \| Ruger Blackhawk .357MAG, Bearcat "Shopkeeper" .22LR\| Remington Marine Magnum SP 12GA., Model 700 SPS .223

June 11, 2012, 09:45 PM	#17
mooney1el Member Join Date: November 30, 2011 Posts: 22	Sorry I missed the earlier question Ron. The install was easy, just like the video said except for the pin that holds the trigger bar. As for a change in trigger pull, I really can't say for sure. I had to replace the sear spring at the same time as the stainless trigger install because it had gotten bent sometime in its life. As purchased, the trigger was short with little tactile feedback. Currently, the trigger is crisp and clean and I have not yet measured the pull. The reset is hardly discernible. I am going to the range this week and will compare mine to another new P238 and will report back differences etc. Richard

June 11, 2012, 11:16 PM	#18
Straitshot Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2011 Location: West Texas Posts: 199	I just recently bought a P238 and I don't think it has a plastic trigger. It is black in color. I will look more closely. Sorry if this sounds stupid, but how do you tell if it is plastic?

June 18, 2012, 07:15 PM	#20
mooney1el Member Join Date: November 30, 2011 Posts: 22	I said I would be back with a report. Unfortunately, I have not had the time to get to the range, but I did measure the trigger pull and it is 5.5-6 pounds after the installation of the stainless trigger and new sear spring.

June 18, 2012, 08:19 PM	#21
9mm Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2011 Location: Land of the Free Posts: 2,834	I think I got one bite, that was because I put my finger on the very bottom of the trigger, and yes its sharp from the factory that way. Just don't put your finger down there.....

June 30, 2012, 07:43 AM	#22
Scottjd Junior Member Join Date: June 28, 2012 Posts: 2	I just bought the gun last week. Was looking for a better CCW in the summer spring than my P229R. I love the size, and went to the range this week to test it out. 250 rounds, one miss fire and that's all. I put the bullet back in and pulled the trigger and it went bang. Hard primer maybe? It was it full battery when I checked after it went click. I wanted the P938 at first but I read mixed reviews, and it's new so I will wait knowing how many adjustments they did to the 238 over time. It was accurate at 7yrds as expected. Even at 50 feet slow fire I hit bullseye two times with the other 4 in the next ring. That impressed me. Anyway, so on therapy home I noticed a blister on the inside of my right hand finger. I have long skinny fingers, not thick ones. This is we're the trigger would bite. I didnt notice bite while shooting but it was blistered so I have to assume. I think I will also be trying a new trigger or modding mine with a file.