sig sub compacts.
I'm thinking of buying either a sig 238 or 290.Does anyone have any information about both guns as in range reports,carry,function,how well the lazer works or anything that might help me make up my mind?
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Just bought a p238 and absolutely love it. No problems at all at the range. Sorry that I cannot address the p239, except to say that the one I handled at the store had a much harder trigger pull than the 238, and it was significantly heavier. Hope this helps. 0 -
Thanks.I wanted to know about the 290 not 239.I appreciate the answer on the 238. 0 -
I am the same as oldnbald, I have the P238 and love it. I carry it everyday. But I can't help you with the 290. Sorry. 0 -
The SIG 238, is almost a direct copy of the Colt Mustang. It has a single action trigger, and in most cases, is not safe to carry, with a chambered round, unless it is in the cocked and locked posistion, much like the 1911. The safety issue is not that the round is in the chamber, but letting the hammer down, to be in a safe posistion, on such a small arm, can, and is a dangerous proposistion. Secondly, yes, the 380, is a tad bit better than a knife, or pepper spray, and a 22, or 32, but it is on the ragged bottom of being a decisive fight stopper.
The SIG 290, should have a harder trigger than the 238, as it is a double action only trigger pull. It is much like the Glock, Springfield XD, S&W M&P, and most double action revolvers. You load it, and chamber a round, and it is ready to go, but requires an absolutely known trigger pull, to fire. There is NO manual safety. On the plus side, it is a big step up, in 9mm for firepower. Although, the 9mm is not exactly what all of us would like(most of us like the 40S&W, or 45ACP), it does have enough to become a good deterrant. The Laser will only work as well as it is adjusted, and only if it is kept in supply of batteries to power it.
If I personally were in the market for one, and those were my only two choices, I would take the 290. If they were not my only choices, it would be a Kahr CW series in 9mm, 40S&W, or 45ACP. They are all double action only triggers, but are the lighest and smoothest I have seen, for that type of trigger. They are also very compact, and have the availability of lasers.
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Most important difference between the two is caliber.
9mm luger hits harder, but also offers more recoil that .380 (aka "9mm short"). 9mm ammo interestingly, is also typically cheaper, since there are many more manufacturers, and more supply.
Responding to above, Sig 238 isn't merely a "copy" of the Colt Mustang, its reportedly actually built on the original Colt tooling, that Sig bought from Colt!
Yes, this gun has the drawbacks (and advantages) of a single-action gun. Light trigger makes it easier to shoot accurately, but also easier to shoot by accident under stress.
Double action of 290 makes gun harder to shoot accurately, but is generally safer.
IMO 9mm luger is perfectly fine for defense, and its about as powerful as you want to get in a light pocket pistol. More than that becomes simply punishing to shoot. (And even a 9mm from a small gun may be too much for novice shooters).
In terms of absolute power, 9mm is more powerful than a .38 special, which was the standard American police service round for 70 years, with .38s still plenty popular for backup and off duty police use.
9mm luger is still used by probably 90%+ of military and police units on the planet. Pretty much everywhere else on the planet *except* the USA (where we drink 32 ounce beverages, eat half-pound hamburgers, drive in gigantic trucks with 12 cylinders, etc), they seem to think 9mm works fine.0 -
Early 238s were problematic, I think Sig has them fixed now. I'm an R/O at our local range and a year back I watched two fall apart while their owners were shooting them. One of them had just got it back from Sig after they "fixed" it. He traded it in that day. Most people who bought them like them alot [if they had no issues]
Two friends of mine bought the new 938 in 9mm. You can bairly notice the difference in size and recoil seems the same as .380. Great little carry gun and they have been totally reliable. Price is the issue, Almost $800 out the door.
And another friend bought the Keltec PF9. Holds the same number of rounds, very reliable, accurate as any of the Sigs, and about one third of the price. The trigger is much like a revolver though so you have to get use to it. I will be buying the Shield [when I can find one] I shoot the M&P already and its just a dandy little single stack with a very good trigger, I think you can get it in 40 too!
I don't know anything about the Sig 290. Go to a busy range and shoot and hang out for a while. You will see alot of people shooting pocket guns and will get some ideas about whats best for you.0
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