I've been looking for a concealed carry gun for my fiance. She doesnt have the hand strength to pull the trigger on a DA revolver and she cant rack slides on compact guns. She can rack my glock 19 and 1911 but I dont think she'd carry either of them because they're too big. I really wanted to get a glock 42 for her because of the size and control-ability with recoil but she cant manipulate the slide on that either. She handled the Sig p238 and could rack the slide on that since you can precock the hammer, I have no experience with them and dont know what recoil is like. I was also looking at the piston operated ccp since it has a very light slide pull, but I'm weary of moving her up to a small 9mm due to the recoil in small platforms. thanks for any help in the matter if there's any other guns im not thinking of feel free to chime in.
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Anyone have any experience with the Sig p238?
- Thread starter lefty620
- Start date
I had the opportunity to shoot a P238. I don't generally care for the little blow back 380s because they recoil all out of proportion to the small caliber they chamber. But, the 238 is locked breech, similar to a mini 1911. I was impressed. Recoil was very soft due to the locked breech. It did not malfunction when I shot it and I did not see any malfunctions when the owner was shooting it. Seemed like a decent little pistol to me.
How about a Glock 26? Or 43? How is she firing your 19?
Has she tried a Ruger LCR? Probably best DA revolver trigger, at least out of the box.
P238 is probably a good choice but "mini 1911" is an apt description. Would she be comfortable carrying cocked-and-locked?
Whatever you do, let it be her decision. Don't try to force something on her.
Has she tried a Ruger LCR? Probably best DA revolver trigger, at least out of the box.
P238 is probably a good choice but "mini 1911" is an apt description. Would she be comfortable carrying cocked-and-locked?
Whatever you do, let it be her decision. Don't try to force something on her.
I own and recommend the Sig P238 with two caveats: 1. It should be carried "cocked and locked" and (2) it should be carried in a holster that prevents the safety from disengaging. In other words, it shouldn't be thrown into a pocket or a purse without a holster. The holster doesn't have to be expensive. I carry mine in a De Santis Nemesis pocket holster.
My wife and I each have a Sig P238 and they've been excellent. Light, reliable, soft recoil (compared to the sharp, snappy recoil of many small .380s), excellent sights, and surprisingly accurate for such a small pistol. As an addicted junkie of the 1911 I don't favor many of the popular double action polymer pistols so this small "1911 style clone" was easy to like.
If she's going to carry in a purse then the size of the gun isn't really that important, or not as important. I'd really recommend finding a range that does rentals and might have a few of these to try, or maybe find some shooting buddies that do. Us telling you how we find recoil with certain pistols might give you some ideas, but it doesn't answer for your wife. Make sure this is also something your wife will be able to train or practice with regularly, i.e. ammo cost and shootability for durations factor in. Just having a gun is only part of it. She needs to make the conscious decision to carry and do the due diligence that goes with that.
Fair enough, my point is something Glock 26 size wouldn't be out of the question for a normal purse. If she carries basically a pocketbook sized purse even a P238 will barely fit in there. As for recoil, some 380 guns can be pretty snappy. You can get lighter defensive loads in 9mm too. Also don't forget the P938. It's the same height and width, just 0.5" longer. Given how customizable the loads for 9mm are and the small sizes of a number of 9mm options I honestly don't get the point of the 380 auto pistols unless you need something absolutely tiny and then those aren't typically easy to shoot. Has she shot anything in 380 before?
shooter1911
New member
I don't own a .380, and don't have any desire to own one, but I was at the range the other day shooting next to a guy with a P238. I'll have to admit I was impressed at how well he shot the gun. I used to have a Colt Mustang, and it was a very nice shooting gun. The big question is weather your fiance can adapt to a single action platform. If I wanted a .380 I would lean towards the P238.
If you might be planning on buying used, you need to watch the older/earlier 238's. I had one when they first came out, and they were having a lot of issues then. From what Ive been hearing, they seem to have the bugs worked out.
The 238 is a very soft shooter, as is the Glock 42. Most .380's are straight blow back, and tend to have a snappy recoil impulse. Some are worse than others too. The lock breech guns, like the 238 and 42, are totally different critters.
If she handles and shoots the 19 well, and likes it, Id go with that. The smaller guns are generally harder to shoot well with, and not novice guns. I know a lot of people carry them, but you constantly hear complaints about recoil, lack of sights, etc, and you have to wonder how much those who carry them, actually practice regularly and realistically with them. That is something you need to do with anything you carry and/or count on.
The 42 is one of the oddballs in the above respect, as it shoots as well as the larger models.
Another thought would be some strength and/or tecnique training for your fiance.
The 238 is a very soft shooter, as is the Glock 42. Most .380's are straight blow back, and tend to have a snappy recoil impulse. Some are worse than others too. The lock breech guns, like the 238 and 42, are totally different critters.
If she handles and shoots the 19 well, and likes it, Id go with that. The smaller guns are generally harder to shoot well with, and not novice guns. I know a lot of people carry them, but you constantly hear complaints about recoil, lack of sights, etc, and you have to wonder how much those who carry them, actually practice regularly and realistically with them. That is something you need to do with anything you carry and/or count on.
The 42 is one of the oddballs in the above respect, as it shoots as well as the larger models.
Another thought would be some strength and/or tecnique training for your fiance.
I said the same thing she needs to strengthen her hands. Yea I may just end up getting another G19 but if i do get a p238 I'll make sure to get a newer one thanks. I did think the Glock 42 would be perfect especially in the reliability department but the slide was too heavy. I was even looking at the Browning Black label 1911 380.
My daughter is under 5' tall and under 100 lbs. She does well with her p238. I've fired it enough to know the recoil is mild and the combat sights are easy to line up. She's also done well with a 9mm Shield. She can rack the slide just fine, but I usually have to put the last round in the magazine for her. She usually carries the Sig because is conceals so much better.
Bill DeShivs
New member
Show her a Keltec P32. Be prepared to buy it for her.
My wife has very little shooting experience but decided to start shooting so she can get her conceal carry. After handling several guns, she chose the P238 and loves it. We have fired two different factory loads and 4 of my handholds through it and recoil has been mild on all of them. From 30 feet, she can put all seven rounds in the kill zone every time.
I carry a P 238 much of the time, recoil is minimal and they are super accurate at close ranges. My Kimber Micro is a bit easier to work the slide but recoil and accuracy are on a par with the Sig. The G42 is slightly larger, more accurate and harder to manipulate the slide. Better for a pocket or purse without a holster.