SIG has scaled up their .380 ACP P238 platform to create the 9mm P938. The P938 is all metal, single action and has a 6+1 capacity. I did not have the opportunity to fire the gun but what I saw I liked.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 9mm NATO |
| Capacity | 6+1 |
| Finish | Nitron or Stainless |
| Grip | Wood or G-10 |
| Barrel | 3.0" |
| Overall Length | 5.9" |
| Weight | 16 oz |
| Sights | Low-Profile SIGLITE Night Sights |
| MSRP (Price) | $795-$838 |
The P238 is a great gun, I’m hoping this is just as good!
9 
0This Sig 938 will be the most popular concealed carry since the Walther PPK! I bet its popularity will run for another century! While I find the larger 1911 offerings from Sig extremely ugly renditions of the 1911 theme, the sig 9238 is a far sexier gun than the older Colt mustang! The classic Sig angular chamber and slide makes for a very sexy single action mustang-like auto, and now a 9mm version? Hold on to your butts everyone as this sucker will OUT-SELL EVERY OTHER AUTOLOADER FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS! I hope Sig makes a lot of them because it will be hard to get your mits on one! I hope they do an HD variant too!
4 0Hmmm, my wife is considering a Springfield EMP. This might be a competitor to that.
3 0Better make sure she can rack the EMP before you buy one for her.
They have a ridiculously stiff spring in them.
I picked mine up cheap from a guy who bought it for his wife but she couldn’t rack the slide.
2 0She can.
If your friend’s wife can’t rack the slide then there’s really some other issue besides the gun.
0 4Does anyone know if this is chambered specifically for for 9mm NATO? I noticed that the picture from SHOT Show lists it simply as “9mm.” If so, that’s a terrific idea for a CCW.
Also, does anyone know if a 9mm NATO chambering will handle +P+ rounds? My understanding is that 9mm NATO is rated about 500 PSI higher than 9mm +P rounds.
2 0This is exactly what I’ve been saying I wanted. I can’t believe they made this.
Now if the PS-90 came out in 9x19mm I’d have to buy a lottery ticket or start telling fortunes…
3 1I think the new Sig P938 will be a great firearm if it is anything like the P238. I own and have shot most of the major, quality firearms on the market and have carried a firearm as an officer for over forty years. I have also been a firearms instructor since 1969. Take my word for it this gun will be a great sell for years to come for people who shoot and know how a 1911 type firearm works. For them it should prove to be completely reliable and concealable. It will need to be completely reliable, accurate and small enough to hid away.
1 0Would this qualify as a 1911?
2 1No. It certainly has features in common with a 1911, but it’s much thinner and smaller, and I doubt any of the parts are interchangeable. I don’t know how much parts commonality there is with the 9mm, but Hickok45 did a review of the .380 version (p238) of it here: http://youtu.be/6W4AVpxvGgg
I want.
2 2The 9mm round may be a little hard on these little guns. It will be interesting to see how much they can take?
1 0It’s not that much smaller than my LC9, and it can take it. And it takes it very well. At about half the price.
2 0I’m curious as to when they’ll make a .40 S&W version!
0 0so what happens to sig p290?
0 0I’m betting they keep it in production. It’s MSRP looks to be almost $300 less and it’s a DAO action instead of the SAO of the P938.
3 0Is the safety ambidextrous or removable?
It’s a nice looking pistol, but as a lefty I won’t own a gun that I can’t make fire with just my left hand.
0 0All P938s will have an amib-safety lever as standard.
0 0So, does it take Wilson Combat magazines?
0 2I love my p238, everyone at the range has one for carry. This gun isn’t going to be for everyone. But for people who shoot 1911′s (thats pretty much all I shoot) at the range all the time, it seems a little ridiculous to carry a DA or DAO when your life may depend on it… I don’t want to be trying to pull the hammer back on my Taurus Slim (which I would never want my life to depend on) and be trying to figure out what the hell happen to my hammer because thats what I’m use to doing with my Big boy guns. I live in a very low crime area and I’d rather have a gun with a hammer down that is completely safe. If that’s what you practice and all you own its no big deal. I just hate the idea of sticking a gun down my pants that doesnt have a safety. I don’t want to loose my will to live because of an accidental misfire. Some idiot just had a gun go off and shot someone at a church down the street form me… So I’m really looking forward to the this one being in the 9mm, so I have something with more power when I have to go across the river…
1 3Let hope it has less issues than the .380 one of my bosses had, it had to go back to sig 4 times before he decided he didnt want a range gun (wouldnt trust it for carry) and sold it back to the shop.
0 5Buy one now, I foresee a short lifespan for this pistol.
It’s fine for a cop’s ankle gun or a B.U.G. in case your primary runs dry or malfunctions. Beyond that, my reaction is meh. There are better small 9mm pistols out there, including DA/DAO pistols that make more sense. With the Sig, proper safety dictates that your holster not only cover the trigger guard, but have a safety (retention) strap between the hammer and firing pin. Having carried a 1911 and a Colt Mustang before, it’s all too easy to find that safety lever disengaged during a day’s journey — during some bending, kneeling, twisting or other motion.
I’d rather have the EMP-9. Or even a Kahr CW-9. My K-9 is similar, but heavier and a wee bit larger than the P938. On a pistol this size, I think a DA or DAO action makes more sense, especially when used as a back-up gun. As a primary? It’d be a primary only on days approaching 100° when you can’t hide anything else.
2 8Short lifespan? All of your arguments against the P938 also apply to the P238, and yet the P238 is popular anyway. The P938 exists because of the popularity of the Sig P238. So the marketplace seems to agree with Sig instead of you.
6 0I agree, the want for a 9mm version directly communicated to Sig is one of the main reasons they decided to do the P938! This sucker will outsell the P238 two to one because of the popularity of 9mm over 380! Man I can’t wait to get my hands on one! I want to wait a little bit to see any teething issues ironed out before I buy, but my guess is I won’t be able to wait very long! Dang I want one of those! BTW a good holster is a must for a single action! It would suck to get a bullet in the leg! A good holster and good practice is a must for any CCW as I’ve heard people shooting themselves accidently with glocks!
6 0I thought Colt Mustangs did not sell very well because they were introduced when revolvers were more popular backup weapon, there were no customers in the concealed carry market, and no use for 380acp in other areas.
1 0The Colt .380 and Mustang variants had about a 3-5 year run, then were gone because there weren’t enough sales to justify production costs. The 9mm might sell better, however I think the SA trigger and C&L carry will turn off a lot of potential buyers, especially those thinking of pocket carry. Just my opinion and worth every penny you paid for it!
4 4You’re a moron. That is all
0 12Refer to the comment policy below. I express an opinion, feel free to disagree, but at least put some cogent thought into the expression.
7 0I don’t think it is valid to say the Colt pocket autos were a commercial failure and thus other single-action pocket .380′s will be as well. The Colt Government .380 was introduced nearly 30 years ago, and the firearms market has completely changed since then. In 1983 fewer than 5 states had shall-issue concealed carry laws, as compared to 40 today. Pocket autos are one of the most popular types of concealed carry guns, and a portion of that market (not the majority, but probably enough) prefer SAO pistols.
Saying that the SAO Sigs (and Colts, now that they’ve reintroduced the Mustang) is like saying compact 1911′s aren’t viable because they require C&L carry and that buyers will prefer a Glock. Of course there’s a portion of the market that will, but taste varies widely in this as in everything.
5 0I agree with Tommy. That is all.
0 3Let’s hope this thing runs better than the P238.
0 6What problems are you having with your P238? Mine, my best friend’s, and my brother-in-law’s all run flawlessly and always have.
4 0There were a few issues with the P238 when it was released. SIG has changed a few things over time though, so hopefully this release goes smooth. I’m definitely interested to see how it turns out.
2 0I am a gunsmith, and I used to like the p238 for days when I was just wearing shorts and a regular t-shirt, but after 2500 rounds, I was having non-stop failure to fires. I examined the hammerspring, the firing pin, the firing pin spring, and then I discovered the problem. It was the firing pin block spring which failed, and unfortunately, I had to drift out the rear sight to replace it. I also have had to replace the recoil spring every 500 rounds, a ridiculously low count. A normal end-user should not have to deal with such constant detailed maintenance and parts replacement such as this. I talked to Sig about my issues, and their reply was that the gun “wasn’t meant to be fired that much”. Not an acceptable response in my book. Given, my 340PD will crack after 5000 rounds of .357, but that’s the price you pay for lightweight, tiny guns with a lot of power.
2 0Had to replace both springs on my two P238s after approx 500 rounds as well. Still have occasional FTEs and is very picky about ammo.
That being said…. I will be buying a P938 as soon as I can get my hands on one. Ha!
1 0My P238 has been 300 rounds of Corbon DPX tested using factory magazines before being carried as backup weapon. Everyone that has complained to me about reliability issues used cheap ammo or did not have the right grip with this gun.
1 0What was your problem?
Mine wont feed hollow points.
0 0try the hornady critical defence, they feed pretty well
0 0critical defense*
0 1Just to play devil’s advocate; what advantages does 6+1 of 9mm in a 1911 platform bring in a carry pistol over 5 rounds of .357 in a simple, dead reliable,cheap snub nosed revolver? None, that’s what. It’s not a duty pistol, it’s a last resort emergency backup. Why add a whole extra layer of mechanical complexity and an extra step in your manual of arms on the microscopic chance you’ll need to do a combat reload? You’re far better off carrying a Glock 19 under those circumstances. K.I.S.S. and save the shiny toys for the range where everyone can admire them.
5 15It’s not a 1911 platform. It’s much more compact.
7 3Here are some of the advantages of carrying a P938 over a 5 shot .357 revolver -
Slimmer and easier to conceal
Single action trigger
9mm has less recoil then .357 but you’re not losing much in the way of so called ‘stopping power’
Faster follow up shots
6+1 is greater then 5 – if you know how many rounds you are going to fire in a self defense situation before hand, then carry a Derringer.
Much faster reloading
Familiarity with 1911 controls
9mm is cheaper then .357 and more widely available
That’s just off the top of my head.
26 1meaning, if you take the smallest 1911 you can find, this is still a lot smaller than that. Also, it’s smaller than a S&W model 37, or Taurus Model 85, which aren’t even .357.
5 1Just to add,
You can also carry magazines easier than a speed loader or moonclips.
Consistency in switching from auto to auto
4 0How isn’t it a 1911 pattern? Hickok45 even titled his video which you linked “Shooting and discussing this popular little pocket 1911″. And an LCR .357 is 6.5″ long and 17 oz’s, I hardly think .5″ and 1 oz is a significant size difference. And the Smith M&P 340 is 6.3″ long and 13.3 oz’s which is even smaller. I’m happy for you to rebut my argument, but claiming “it’s not a 1911 because it’s smaller and anyway .357′s are alot bigger” which, aside from being factually wrong,doesn’t address my point which was why add a layer of unnecessary cost and complexity to a tool for no gain in practicality?
5 2also, down-voting this is stupid, since it’s a statement of fact… idiot.
4 4I guess it depends on your definition of pattern. If pattern means, “kinda looks like”, then I guess it’s fair to say it’s 1911 patterned, but to me it means that it uses the 1911 spec. in at least some aspects of it’s design. There are of course, tons of 1911 compact pistols out there. Someone mentioned the Springfield EMP, which to my way of thinking would be a compact 1911 patterned pistol. None of those guns can share any parts with the p238/p938, because they’re too big in every aspect.
Aside from a derringer, I can’t think of ANY .357 that would be smaller than this, particularly in terms of width, which is important for concealment.
3 0with respect to not addressing “unnecessary cost and complexity”, I didn’t address that because I don’t necessarily disagree. It may be that for a lot of people, particularly ones who can wear looser clothes, a small revolver such as the .357s you mentioned would be a more practical choice.
My original intent was to point out that you might not understand how tiny this pistol actually is, particularly since you seemed to think it was a compact 1911, which it is not. If anything, it’s “patterned” on the Colt Mustang, which is also NOT a 1911.
2 0Single action? That is a big difference from other manufacturers. And just that bit more unsafe than DA/SA or DAO small guns. Cocked and locked in a pocket carry?
2 13It’s different, because it’s designed for people who like the 1911 mode of operation. I wouldn’t say it’s less safe. People accidently shoot themselves with DAO pistols too. If you compare it to single action striker-fired SA pistols, you could make the case that it’s safer, because it gives you the option to decock and lock, which you don’t have with a glock or XD. With any quality firearm, the most dangerous and unpredictable part is the operator. If you train with your carry gun, and use some sense (notice I didn’t call it common sense), then you’ll probably be ok. If you never put in any serious training time with your carry gun, then you’ll probably shoot yourself in the leg.
15 2I hear these comments from novice or untrained shooters all the time. If you have a quality firearm that has been well tested and trained with, there is no “less safe” factor.
2 0
I think the new Sig P938 will be a great firearm if it is anything like the P238. I own and have shot most of the major, quality firearms on the market and have carried a firearm as an officer for over forty years. I have also been a firearms instructor since 1969. Take my word for it this gun will be a great sell for years to come for people who shoot and know how a 1911 type firearm works. For them it should prove to be completely reliable and concealable. It will need to be completely reliable, accurate and small enough to hid away.
This Sig 938 will be the most popular concealed carry since the Walther PPK! I bet its popularity will run for another century! While I find the larger 1911 offerings from Sig extremely ugly renditions of the 1911 theme, the sig 9238 is a far sexier gun than the older Colt mustang! The classic Sig angular chamber and slide makes for a very sexy single action mustang-like auto, and now a 9mm version? Hold on to your butts everyone as this sucker will OUT-SELL EVERY OTHER AUTOLOADER FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS! I hope Sig makes a lot of them because it will be hard to get your mits on one! I hope they do an HD variant too!
I love my p238, everyone at the range has one for carry. This gun isn’t going to be for everyone. But for people who shoot 1911′s (thats pretty much all I shoot) at the range all the time, it seems a little ridiculous to carry a DA or DAO when your life may depend on it… I don’t want to be trying to pull the hammer back on my Taurus Slim (which I would never want my life to depend on) and be trying to figure out what the hell happen to my hammer because thats what I’m use to doing with my Big boy guns. I live in a very low crime area and I’d rather have a gun with a hammer down that is completely safe. If that’s what you practice and all you own its no big deal. I just hate the idea of sticking a gun down my pants that doesnt have a safety. I don’t want to loose my will to live because of an accidental misfire. Some idiot just had a gun go off and shot someone at a church down the street form me… So I’m really looking forward to the this one being in the 9mm, so I have something with more power when I have to go across the river…
Buy one now, I foresee a short lifespan for this pistol.
It’s fine for a cop’s ankle gun or a B.U.G. in case your primary runs dry or malfunctions. Beyond that, my reaction is meh. There are better small 9mm pistols out there, including DA/DAO pistols that make more sense. With the Sig, proper safety dictates that your holster not only cover the trigger guard, but have a safety (retention) strap between the hammer and firing pin. Having carried a 1911 and a Colt Mustang before, it’s all too easy to find that safety lever disengaged during a day’s journey — during some bending, kneeling, twisting or other motion.
I’d rather have the EMP-9. Or even a Kahr CW-9. My K-9 is similar, but heavier and a wee bit larger than the P938. On a pistol this size, I think a DA or DAO action makes more sense, especially when used as a back-up gun. As a primary? It’d be a primary only on days approaching 100° when you can’t hide anything else.
Short lifespan? All of your arguments against the P938 also apply to the P238, and yet the P238 is popular anyway. The P938 exists because of the popularity of the Sig P238. So the marketplace seems to agree with Sig instead of you.
The Colt .380 and Mustang variants had about a 3-5 year run, then were gone because there weren’t enough sales to justify production costs. The 9mm might sell better, however I think the SA trigger and C&L carry will turn off a lot of potential buyers, especially those thinking of pocket carry. Just my opinion and worth every penny you paid for it!
I agree, the want for a 9mm version directly communicated to Sig is one of the main reasons they decided to do the P938! This sucker will outsell the P238 two to one because of the popularity of 9mm over 380! Man I can’t wait to get my hands on one! I want to wait a little bit to see any teething issues ironed out before I buy, but my guess is I won’t be able to wait very long! Dang I want one of those! BTW a good holster is a must for a single action! It would suck to get a bullet in the leg! A good holster and good practice is a must for any CCW as I’ve heard people shooting themselves accidently with glocks!
I thought Colt Mustangs did not sell very well because they were introduced when revolvers were more popular backup weapon, there were no customers in the concealed carry market, and no use for 380acp in other areas.
You’re a moron. That is all
Refer to the comment policy below. I express an opinion, feel free to disagree, but at least put some cogent thought into the expression.
I don’t think it is valid to say the Colt pocket autos were a commercial failure and thus other single-action pocket .380′s will be as well. The Colt Government .380 was introduced nearly 30 years ago, and the firearms market has completely changed since then. In 1983 fewer than 5 states had shall-issue concealed carry laws, as compared to 40 today. Pocket autos are one of the most popular types of concealed carry guns, and a portion of that market (not the majority, but probably enough) prefer SAO pistols.
Saying that the SAO Sigs (and Colts, now that they’ve reintroduced the Mustang) is like saying compact 1911′s aren’t viable because they require C&L carry and that buyers will prefer a Glock. Of course there’s a portion of the market that will, but taste varies widely in this as in everything.
I agree with Tommy. That is all.
Does anyone know if this is chambered specifically for for 9mm NATO? I noticed that the picture from SHOT Show lists it simply as “9mm.” If so, that’s a terrific idea for a CCW.
Also, does anyone know if a 9mm NATO chambering will handle +P+ rounds? My understanding is that 9mm NATO is rated about 500 PSI higher than 9mm +P rounds.
Just to play devil’s advocate; what advantages does 6+1 of 9mm in a 1911 platform bring in a carry pistol over 5 rounds of .357 in a simple, dead reliable,cheap snub nosed revolver? None, that’s what. It’s not a duty pistol, it’s a last resort emergency backup. Why add a whole extra layer of mechanical complexity and an extra step in your manual of arms on the microscopic chance you’ll need to do a combat reload? You’re far better off carrying a Glock 19 under those circumstances. K.I.S.S. and save the shiny toys for the range where everyone can admire them.
It’s not a 1911 platform. It’s much more compact.
meaning, if you take the smallest 1911 you can find, this is still a lot smaller than that. Also, it’s smaller than a S&W model 37, or Taurus Model 85, which aren’t even .357.
also, down-voting this is stupid, since it’s a statement of fact… idiot.
How isn’t it a 1911 pattern? Hickok45 even titled his video which you linked “Shooting and discussing this popular little pocket 1911″. And an LCR .357 is 6.5″ long and 17 oz’s, I hardly think .5″ and 1 oz is a significant size difference. And the Smith M&P 340 is 6.3″ long and 13.3 oz’s which is even smaller. I’m happy for you to rebut my argument, but claiming “it’s not a 1911 because it’s smaller and anyway .357′s are alot bigger” which, aside from being factually wrong,doesn’t address my point which was why add a layer of unnecessary cost and complexity to a tool for no gain in practicality?
Here are some of the advantages of carrying a P938 over a 5 shot .357 revolver -
Slimmer and easier to conceal
Single action trigger
9mm has less recoil then .357 but you’re not losing much in the way of so called ‘stopping power’
Faster follow up shots
6+1 is greater then 5 – if you know how many rounds you are going to fire in a self defense situation before hand, then carry a Derringer.
Much faster reloading
Familiarity with 1911 controls
9mm is cheaper then .357 and more widely available
That’s just off the top of my head.
Just to add,
You can also carry magazines easier than a speed loader or moonclips.
Consistency in switching from auto to auto
I guess it depends on your definition of pattern. If pattern means, “kinda looks like”, then I guess it’s fair to say it’s 1911 patterned, but to me it means that it uses the 1911 spec. in at least some aspects of it’s design. There are of course, tons of 1911 compact pistols out there. Someone mentioned the Springfield EMP, which to my way of thinking would be a compact 1911 patterned pistol. None of those guns can share any parts with the p238/p938, because they’re too big in every aspect.
Aside from a derringer, I can’t think of ANY .357 that would be smaller than this, particularly in terms of width, which is important for concealment.
with respect to not addressing “unnecessary cost and complexity”, I didn’t address that because I don’t necessarily disagree. It may be that for a lot of people, particularly ones who can wear looser clothes, a small revolver such as the .357s you mentioned would be a more practical choice.
My original intent was to point out that you might not understand how tiny this pistol actually is, particularly since you seemed to think it was a compact 1911, which it is not. If anything, it’s “patterned” on the Colt Mustang, which is also NOT a 1911.
The 9mm round may be a little hard on these little guns. It will be interesting to see how much they can take?
It’s not that much smaller than my LC9, and it can take it. And it takes it very well. At about half the price.
I’m curious as to when they’ll make a .40 S&W version!
Single action? That is a big difference from other manufacturers. And just that bit more unsafe than DA/SA or DAO small guns. Cocked and locked in a pocket carry?
It’s different, because it’s designed for people who like the 1911 mode of operation. I wouldn’t say it’s less safe. People accidently shoot themselves with DAO pistols too. If you compare it to single action striker-fired SA pistols, you could make the case that it’s safer, because it gives you the option to decock and lock, which you don’t have with a glock or XD. With any quality firearm, the most dangerous and unpredictable part is the operator. If you train with your carry gun, and use some sense (notice I didn’t call it common sense), then you’ll probably be ok. If you never put in any serious training time with your carry gun, then you’ll probably shoot yourself in the leg.
I hear these comments from novice or untrained shooters all the time. If you have a quality firearm that has been well tested and trained with, there is no “less safe” factor.
Let’s hope this thing runs better than the P238.
What problems are you having with your P238? Mine, my best friend’s, and my brother-in-law’s all run flawlessly and always have.
There were a few issues with the P238 when it was released. SIG has changed a few things over time though, so hopefully this release goes smooth. I’m definitely interested to see how it turns out.
What was your problem?
Mine wont feed hollow points.
try the hornady critical defence, they feed pretty well
critical defense*
I am a gunsmith, and I used to like the p238 for days when I was just wearing shorts and a regular t-shirt, but after 2500 rounds, I was having non-stop failure to fires. I examined the hammerspring, the firing pin, the firing pin spring, and then I discovered the problem. It was the firing pin block spring which failed, and unfortunately, I had to drift out the rear sight to replace it. I also have had to replace the recoil spring every 500 rounds, a ridiculously low count. A normal end-user should not have to deal with such constant detailed maintenance and parts replacement such as this. I talked to Sig about my issues, and their reply was that the gun “wasn’t meant to be fired that much”. Not an acceptable response in my book. Given, my 340PD will crack after 5000 rounds of .357, but that’s the price you pay for lightweight, tiny guns with a lot of power.
Had to replace both springs on my two P238s after approx 500 rounds as well. Still have occasional FTEs and is very picky about ammo.
That being said…. I will be buying a P938 as soon as I can get my hands on one. Ha!
My P238 has been 300 rounds of Corbon DPX tested using factory magazines before being carried as backup weapon. Everyone that has complained to me about reliability issues used cheap ammo or did not have the right grip with this gun.
Hmmm, my wife is considering a Springfield EMP. This might be a competitor to that.
Better make sure she can rack the EMP before you buy one for her.
They have a ridiculously stiff spring in them.
I picked mine up cheap from a guy who bought it for his wife but she couldn’t rack the slide.
She can.
If your friend’s wife can’t rack the slide then there’s really some other issue besides the gun.
This is exactly what I’ve been saying I wanted. I can’t believe they made this.
Now if the PS-90 came out in 9x19mm I’d have to buy a lottery ticket or start telling fortunes…
Would this qualify as a 1911?
No. It certainly has features in common with a 1911, but it’s much thinner and smaller, and I doubt any of the parts are interchangeable. I don’t know how much parts commonality there is with the 9mm, but Hickok45 did a review of the .380 version (p238) of it here: http://youtu.be/6W4AVpxvGgg
I want.
Let hope it has less issues than the .380 one of my bosses had, it had to go back to sig 4 times before he decided he didnt want a range gun (wouldnt trust it for carry) and sold it back to the shop.
Is the safety ambidextrous or removable?
It’s a nice looking pistol, but as a lefty I won’t own a gun that I can’t make fire with just my left hand.
All P938s will have an amib-safety lever as standard.
So, does it take Wilson Combat magazines?
so what happens to sig p290?
I’m betting they keep it in production. It’s MSRP looks to be almost $300 less and it’s a DAO action instead of the SAO of the P938.
The P238 is a great gun, I’m hoping this is just as good!