Quote:
Originally Posted by gearmesh, inc.
I tried the P238 a while back, but I couldn't get it to run reliably enough for me. About 4 to 5 rounds out of 100 had issues.
I had always been leery about reliability when it comes to these little pocket semi-autos, but I figured if Sig was offering one, they probably had the bugs worked out of it. That ended up just being wishful thinking. After actually owning one for about 500 rounds worth of shooting and trying different things to get it to run reliably, I traded it in on a Glock G26 that I know for a fact will run when you absolutely need it. Everything I did to the little P238 to get one issue fixed just created an issue with another function of the feeding cycle.
After having my hands on a little pocket pistol to study firsthand why they tend to be rather finicky, I can't say I can really trust any of them. There is hardly any mass to the slides of these little guns so action timing is primarily dependent on spring tensions. Of course, we all know that springs age and relax over time, so there will always be the question of if it will really run when you need it to. Larger guns with more mass to their slides are a whole lot more tolerant to varying spring conditions.
In my opinion, if you want a super reliable lightweight pocket pistol, stick with the ultralight 5 shot revolvers. When loaded they come in around 18 ounces and they will go bang everytime. The only fat part of their width is across the cylinder, while the rest of the frame is pretty slim. Having one in the pocket just looks like a set of keys for the most part.
On the subject of the P232, it is a reliable platform worthy of the Sig name. It is big enough to have enough mass to its slide to make it inherently reliable. The sad thing is, it is just as big as some of the smaller 9mm guns out there, so why not step up to a 9mm if you are not recoil sensitive?
|
I have to admit that my 232 is sensitive to what rounds you try to put through it. It doesn't agree with cheap ammo but any ammo that I would trust my life on, it feeds well.
On the subject of it's size, I somewhat agree but it's still smaller and thinner than most other "compacts" in it's category. With that said, I replaced it with an M&P40C for concealed carry. I came to the conclusion that if I am going to carry a handgun for personal protection, the personal protection part comes first and the concealed part comes second. So, my M&P might be a little bigger, but it goes bang a little harder.
My wife loves the 232 and shoots it very well. I just bought a new Hogue grip for it to make it a little more comfortable for her.