Sig P239 - Is It Really a Hair Drier ?

M

Mike H

New member
My favorite carry piece is, and probably always will be the H&K USP Compact 9, I'm sure there is someone out there who doesn't like the grip but I've never met them. The P239 is it's Sig counterpart and has a big following, but hey, I handled said firearm and it's a little weird to say the least. All the weight is "up top" and the grip is like a lollipop stick, just looking at the thick slide and frame made me think that the whole rig was unbalanced, and that's just how it felt. Am I alone in thinking it was modelled on a hair drier or has anyone else found the same thing ?

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A Person Is Smart
But People Are Stupid

Mike H
 
When you switch it on, it has a tendency to part your hair a little too rapidly for me.

If you're asking if we think it feels balanced, for me the answer is yes, it feels fine.
 
The 239 is just fine in terms of balance. The key to making it perfect for users with big hands is putting the Hogue rubber grips with finger grooves on it. I was a little underwhelmed by the small and very angular grip, but it's a whole different gun with the Hogues.
 
Yeah. After one use you'll never have to worry about a bad hair day again. ;)

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So many pistols, so little money.
 
The P239 is a gun you either like a lot, or not at all. Mine is in 357, and yes, it feels top-heavy without a full mag. Once the mag is in, it feels *just right*. Made for my hand.

Shooting the 357 makes me appreciate the heavier slide. Flip for me is not a problem.

I also have the Hogue grips, like my P232. I'm a happy shooter!

Roon
 
The 239 is very popular because it delivers versitility (9mm., .40 S&W, .357 SIG), power, reliability and accuracy from a platform that's small enought to conceal, but large enough for easy handling. If you're confused about its function, using it to blow dry your hair will speed up the natural selection process and serve to purify the gene pool. Regards, Dennis
 
Now now Dennis play nicely.

Bowling ball on a plunger, certainly a better analogy than a hairdrier, I'll use that in future. I accept the point about the loaded magazine, with the Hogues and a full clip things would certainly improve.

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A Person Is Smart
But People Are Stupid

Mike H
 
Shoot! and I wanted to get one. Now I can just simulate with my old bowling ball and the wife's plunger. ROTFLMAO
What a gas or should I say blast of fouled air.
MAN THIS POST SAVED ME SOME $$$$$ :D :D
 
Mike, do you always check the true balance of a pistol without a full magazine in it? Admittedly, it would be hard to do in a store, but if you found one that balanced well empty, would you then say it's like a bowling ball on a pendulum when loaded?
 
Mal,

It's a good point and well taken, I handle most new firearms with the mag in but no rounds. For me, it has never steered me in the wrong direction, if the weapon felt ok when empty, it was just great when loaded. Ultimately, only actual range experience tells me how well balanced a shooter it is, my experiences with a commercial Miltex Makarov taught me that lesson only too painfully. Nice gun in hand, but a handful to shoot at all well. Saw a guy start to load the clip of a used .45 Star (is it Firestar/Megastar never sure) in the store, I observed the rest of the incident from the floor looking up, it caused quite a stir, he explained later that he was just making sure it wasn't faulty, if he was checking the balance of a loaded weapon then it almost got him ventilated.

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A Person Is Smart
But People Are Stupid

Mike H
 
Mike, I'm glad you took my post the right way. When I re-read it, it sounded a little flamish, which it wasn't. This whole thing brings up a good point though. How do you (everyone) check the balance of a pistol. The balance may be more important when there are only a few rounds left, because it means you have either missed a lot or you didn't and the BG is still coming. That is not the time for the gun to contribute to poor sighting. Hmmm, there may be no good answer to this. But, we know it's not when it's empty and you have no mags left, however you do want it to fly straight when you throw it at the BG. :)

The guy you described in the store has the right idea, but he had piss poor judgement. If I wanted to check it, I would bring a set of cartridges, in a box,which only had bullets, no powder and no primer; hand them to the clerk and ask him to check each one and load the mag for you after he is completely satisfied with their non-firing characteristic. I would never even try that in a dept. store gun dept., only in a gun shop.
 
Mal,

Makes good sense but as you say, care is certainly advised.

As for me taking your post without getting all hot and bothered I don't think anyone who carries a firearm should come equipped with a short fuse, some of the angry responses I've witnessed here have at times made me concerned about that very subject.

Regards,

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A Person Is Smart
But People Are Stupid

Mike H
 
There's several guns out there that look too heavy up top and too skinny down bottome. I agree that the 239 is disproportional. That's why I like to skip right up to the Sig 229... VERY NICE.

Look at the old HK VP-70 (I think)
just about ANY Hi-Point pistol
HK USP Compacts (sort-of)

I'll think of some others later.
Ben

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AOL IM: BenK911
ICQ # 53788523
"Gun Control Is Being Able To Hit Your Target"
 
A CZ-75 feels good empty or full. As any gun should. As for the logic of having to have a full mag to make a gun feel balanced, I don't get it. You realize of course that when you shoot, the magazine tends to empty... right!?

For the money you all are talking about handing over for one of these jems(and even if it were free) it should feel good empty, full, right hand, left hand, gloved hands, inside, outstide, upside down. If the gun is going to get more awkward the more rounds are shot form the mag this is not a good thing right?

It may just be me, but I can shoot better and faster with an 40 yr. old piece of junk that feels good in my hands as opposed to a sweet new machine that doesn't

A CZ over a SIG any day, any way. If it's not a CZ or a SIG it is probably cr*p. All CZ and SIG clones suck! Peace! and Good Luck!
 
DDT,

I wasn't necessarily talking about BALANCE while shooting, but the gawky LOOKS are what I was commenting on. I agree that a gun's fit and balance is one of the most impotant things to look for, and I'm sure those firearms I mentioned previously are well balanced while shooting, but...

Look at their side profile. The grip at the guns I mentioned appear get skinnier at the top of the grip. You might be able to include the Beretta Cougar. Please note I said APPEAR. They simply LOOK top heavy because of the way the grip goes into the frame. I think some examples of balanced-looking guns are the Kahr 9-40, any medium-compact S&W autos (excluding Sigmas) nearly any Beretta, Walther clones, etc.

Ben

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AOL IM: BenK911
ICQ # 53788523
"Gun Control Is Being Able To Hit Your Target"
 
Sorry Ben, you are quite right. As for my vote on the most awkard FEELING pistol it has to go to almost any Ruger Semi Auto but especially the Ruger MKI and MKII .22 cal pistol. Way too much weight up top and forward of the grip and even worse with a bull barrel. Ruger Revolvers are sweet to hold in the hand... Why They drop the Ball w/ auto's who knows. Peace. DDT
 
Hogue grips made the P239 my favorite Sig. The 229 would be fine, but I did not want to pay for wasted space in the grip where there should be 12 or 13 rds instead of the Clilnton ten max rds. With the 239, you are getting 8 rds in the gun, and that is what it was designed for.
 
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