SIG Talk banner
  • Notice image

    SigTalk is a forum community dedicated to SIG Sauer enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about Sig Sauer pistols and rifles, optics, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!

New Sig P938 is nice

11K views 46 replies 26 participants last post by  Bob144 
#1 ·
I got lucky and pickup up a sig P938 Extreme yesterday. I am left handed and really liked the P238 I got for my wife 8 moths ago..but they made no ambi safety for it at the time.... plus I wanted more firepower in a easily concealed package. Do not be scared off by negative comments regarding shooting low, misfeeds excetra. this was my experience... I had 3 fail to eject in the first 4 mags with 115gr federal fmj.... took it home cleaned and oiled it and took it back to the range. It worked flawlessly with 115 gr federal fmj, 124 winchester fmj Nato load, 124 gr winchester pdx+P hollow, 124 gr fiochi extrema hollow.

A police officer happened to be giving a couple next lane over some tips on shooting and he recommend getting a gun for the wife like the 238 I was shooting ( his wife carries a 238). He was shocked to find it was the new 938 not a 238. I let him shoot it and he put 3 of 3 shots in the middle of the target at 21ft. His eyes glazed over!!!
It may not be for every one but I am very very happy with it. I paid $725 and got 2 mags ( 1extended and 1regular)...they are pricey

I posted this cause I was one of those guys starved for information and feedback and used to read anyones post that had an opinion on this newly released gun. I thing most people in the short term are going to luck up on a gun and have to make a quick decision if they purchase or not...cause if you don't the next person will.
The cost benefit decision though is personal.
Hope this helps someone!!!!
 
See less See more
#16 · (Edited)
I do continue to be very information starved, I'm on a list at my LGS and have been for some time.

I suspect once it shows up in my neck of the woods I'll be one near the top of the list. I had the fortunate/unfortunate occurence a couple of weeks back when paying a visit to my LGS to notice a shiney new P226 Stainless elite (in 9mm) sitting very much unmolested in the case and I foolishly/wisely decided to give it a loving home. Goes without saying that it's a fair bit of wisely/unwisely spent folding money that took away from my 'hobby fund', so whatever I do next I hope to be wise and fulfilling because I might not be able to quickly recover or recoup my losses to much satisfaction.

I generally dont like being an early adopter so for me this is a leap of faith and I dont know about you fellas but where I live firearms are a "ALL SALES FINAL, NO REFUND" reality. If it's a horror I'm stuck with a customer service exchange with the manufacterer playing tag for lord knows how long until issues are resolved if ever. And generally by the time issues are sorted I'll likely be soured from the experience and have lost faith and will sell it on which at best might be for half of what I paid for it, thats like tossing money in the wind not to mention the estimated $100 worth of ball ammo used during the break in process.

Much like the p.238 this outprices the other entries in it's category by a near 2-1 ratio. It is not a cheap pistol and items like the M&P Shield is being showered with praises and costs nearer to what a "get scuffed, sweaty and knockabout" EDC pistol tends to truly be.

The frank truth is I'm largely going on faith, hope and 'general' brand reputation, but this is not an insignificant sum compared to it's peers. I just hope it up to the task at hand. No expectations of a holy-grail or peerless performance, but I'd hate to be saddled with a "nightmare" if'n ya dig! I fully expect to clean it thoroughly and break her in with hundreds of rounds prior to an every day carry promotion.

Until I get my call I'm scouring the interwebs gleaning report primarily by new owners as to what their experience is like. I trust reviews by real folk way more than the 'professional' reviewer. I'm hoping that when my time comes I'll feel confident enough to go and get it.

As you have occasion to stretch its legs at the range I hope you will post your frank experience with it. I'm sure there are large number of folks like myself that have our fingers crossed.
 
#36 · (Edited)
Until I get my call I'm scouring the interwebs gleaning report primarily by new owners as to what their experience is like. I trust reviews by real folk way more than the 'professional' reviewer. I'm hoping that when my time comes I'll feel confident enough to go and get it.QUOTE]

I based my decision to buy the P938 on my experience with my P229, a rented P226 and my wife’s P238.

The first two gave me experience with shooting exceptionally well made guns that outperformed my abilities. The second gave me experience with a gun Sig had worked through its initial release problems. So, I don’t have doubts that Sig produces quality products and will resolve issues that come up.

My personal experience with local gun stores is that most of them have just the gun you need and they just happened to have it in stock. The next guy down the street has a different solution and he too has it in stock. So, I’ve pretty much given up on finding a trusted expert in a local gun store. I imagine there are some, just not in this area that I’ve found.

So, you do have to do your homework, sift through some terrible YouTube videos and decide how big a grain of salt to take with some “range reports” you read. The best review is what you experience. If you can find one to rent, do it!

I just got a new P938, and it “met my expectations.” What I mean by that is that I found that if I do my part, it does its. It fulfills my requirements for an EDC. After a break in period and ensuring it will feed the ammo I intend to use for self-defense, it will become my EDC. One thing for sure a P938 is not a gun that you will want to take to the range and run a couple hundred rounds through in one session. Other, Sigs will fill the bill for a “fun shooting experience.”

If you have realistic expectations of the P938 I don’t think you will be disappointed. Physics dictates that it will exhibit recoil you will notice, but can control. The sight radius is short, so your part is critical to the accuracy. First thing I did was put a bore sight laser in and confirm the sights, so when my first shot was off by nine inches, I knew it was MY PROBLEM. When I put rounds 95 through 100 in a 2” group I knew I was operating it properly and it was functioning as intended.

The gun is way too expensive, but there is a tremendous demand of this type of weapon and Sig’s reputation ensures people will pay it. After all, it’s cheaper than today’s average cost of a funeral.

Good luck getting one and best of luck owning one!
 
#19 · (Edited)
About 200 rounds later on the 938 Im finding the gun to more than just a slightly bigger 238. The recoil is much more powerful requiring a very firm grip. The trigger pull is harder definitely requiring more pressure and more downward pull on the trigger than the 238. I have heard from others that Sigs"loosen up" after about 500 rounds or so. My wife's sig 238 definitely did.
Im not one of the many experts that may be represented in this forum but do have multiple pieces I classify as fun to go to the range with. I would put this gun in the category of ...a little tiring to run multiple practice rounds thru because of the necessary firm grip, energy etc. required to keep it on target.
Once its completely dialed in and vetted its gonna be perfect as what I bought it for.. in my safari shorts concealed carry. It has enough snap where I don't expect my wife to swap her 238 for my 938.......perfect!
 
#21 ·
P938 - Congratulations

I like my P938 Nightmare. It is definitely more "bounce to the oz", but worth it. Like you, I found the P938 to tire my wrist more. As another person said, using the straighter arm stance would help.

I added the Crimson Trace LG-492 from my P238 and that was where I realized that shooting from the hip tired my arrm.

Jim
 
#22 ·
Thank's for the review. I just purchased the p250 2sum to replace my Glock 26 and am pretty happy with the switch. I really liked my G26, but love the fact that I basically got a full size and subcompact for the same price as 1 Glock.

I had heard about the p938, but didn't get a chance to look at one until after I purchased my 2sum. After reading your review though (and always hearing my buddy rave about his p238) I might look into getting one to replace my S&W Bodyguard 380 in the future.
 
#23 ·
For jasonworthing,
I found a p938 at a local store yesterday and shot 200 rounds today.
My experience was one FTF and 4 FTE. I was shooting 180 of federal American eagle 124 gr and 20 hornady duty defense. It does have more kick than my 238 as expected. My 238 is only a month old with under 450 rounds, but the trigger seems tighter on the p938' I hope this will loosen up. I will clean it up again (like I did before my first outing) and run some more next weekend.

I can say I have had no issues with the 238' just flawless just like my 229. So if the feeds and ejects don't clear up I may send it back for some work. The screws on the grips were loose by any standard so be sure to tighten them before shooting. This I read in other posts so I checked them and found them to be loose. As an extra measure I put blue loctite on and they held good. My 238 has wood grips so they have tension back from the grips unlike the aluminum grips.

For mogunguy24, I highly recomend the 238 if your in the market for a different 380. I'm able to pull 1 inch group with it at 7 yards. And hit criticle mass even at 50 feet. Very impressive little gun.

Now I have a choice to make in the next month. I plan on only keeping one. The 238 or the 938. This will depend on the performance with the rest of the break in on the 938. But only one stays. I'm hoping for the 938 but only more range time will tell.
 
#24 ·
Update: I have read some good and some bad on the P938. But no ones seems to know the difference between the guns. My story is not so good at this time.

After another good cleaning I did take it back to the range and fire another 170 rounds.
I got tired of the FTE, FTL problems.
300 + rounds over three trips to the range and three cleanings and it still was having an issue so it was shipped bag to sig yesterday.

I also noticed that the barrel was locking in battery position when I was stopping it to clean. Locking may not be the best was to describe it, more like jamming. It even happened to the gun smith at the dealer I bought it from and he also told me to send it back.

Also the slide release was working its way out after a few rounds or just racking it a few times.

Well I have a 1 to 2 week wait until I see if it gets any better.

Ammo shot was:
Winchester WB 115
Federal champion 115
Blazer brass 115
Hornady duty 135gr
 
#44 ·
Update:

Ammo shot was:
Winchester WB 115
Federal champion 115
Blazer brass 115
Hornady duty 135gr
I hate the Winchester WB! I had no feed problems ever from my duty gun for 12 years until we switched to it for our range ammo. That could be a culprit for some of your feed/ejection problems. I expect a problem of two out of the Blazer but I will take the annoyance because of the low price of the ammo when going out to the range.


BB985
 
#26 ·
Thanks for that report ScottD...I'm still waiting but must honestly say that I'm thinking seriously about waiting until version2.0. I love my sigs', I have three of them and to be honest was feeling bad about the possible retirement of my p238 which has been ball-peened hammer flawless (27A serial num).

The sig costs more than any of its obvious competitors in this space by a couple hundred bucks..Money I would happily spend for a Sig that works as a Sig should. I know the internet has a talent for amplifying controversy and negativity so I'm sure there are many new owners out there loving their p938's but I'm afraid of the gamble to be honest and truth be told, I'm not much of a gambling kinda guy. Once you buy there are no returns, it's a matter of a back and forth shuffle with customer service and weeks/months without the new firearm you just paid for with the hope that if it ever gets right you have not already soured and have no trust in its performance and reliability and so either park it in the safe for range trips (which is not this models area of talent) else sell it on for half what you paid for it.

I was about to create a thread asking folks if anyone has found any sources for good IWB holsters for this handgun....I'm a tad sad and wary right now...
 
#28 · (Edited)
Update after being sent back to SIG
Ok, mine went back and now was returned. Before it was experiencing about %15 FTE. It's now at %2.5 FTE rate, but these were all one type of ammo.

It now has over 500 rounds shot by me, and not sure how many sig shot.
I would say its working better now and would trust it to carry.

Ammo tested
Blazer brass 115gr - 26 rounds - 2 full 6 round mags and 2 full 7 rounds mags
Blaze brass 124gr - 26 rounds - 2 full 6 round mags and 2 full 7 rounds mags
Federal champion 115gr - 44 rounds - alternating mags
Blazer aluminum 115gr - 26 rounds - 2 full 6 round mags and 2 full 7 rounds mags
Winchester white box 115gr - 100 rounds -alternating mags with all.
Hornady Critical Duty 135gr - 26 rounds - 2 full 6 round mags and 2 full 7 rounds mags

Total rounds shot 248

Failures
5 FTE all Winchester White Box
1 FTF Blazer Aluminum
About round 150 I wiped off the feed ramp, then finished the last 14 federal and the rest of the Winchester White Box.

Final thoughts
I think I will stay away from Winchester White Box, besides I payed more for this then I usually do and don't normally use this ammo. I went out of my way to Walmart just to have this in the variety.

Sig said they only ran 50 rounds without failure, but it was returned not cleaned, and I have never seen the gun so dirty and with so many brass shavings in it.

I broke it down taking off the grips and striping the mags before testing, cleaned and re-oiled with my oil of choice "Tetra Gun".

I wish they included more notes so I could tell you what they really did.
They only said:
"inspected the gun"
"Adjusted trigger pull" - now sits about 5.5 to 6lb pull.
"Function checked and test fired 50 rounds with no malfunction" - by the dirt it looked like more than 50 rounds.

Since it works much better I'm guessing they did other things and not just what they listed.

Update 2: I figured out what was changed. I looked at a video I did before I sent it out and noticed the barrel had different ware. New barrel is on the right, and you will see it has less ware even after I put 248 round. The old barrel had about the same number of round before sending it out.
 

Attachments

#29 ·
I have the Extreme model and had no issues after cleaning and running over 500 rounds thru it as I have detailed on earlier posts. My serial number is over 2000 so maybe it is a later manufacture. It seems like the Nightmares have had more problems thanExtremes. My 938 is replacing the P238 for power and the G26 for concealablilty/weight. It is reliable and accurate for me. I love mine
 
#30 ·
938 extreme report

I have fired approx 300 rounds FMJ 115 speer lawman, S & B 115 FMJ, and maybe 50 rounds of speer hollow point.

For comparison I am not a "seasoned" shooter, but have and routinely shoot a M&P9c, a Caracal C QS, a PPQ and PPS all in 9mm. Plus various 380, 22 mag and LR, etc.

Trigger edges are "sharp" and relatively unforgiving on skin. Extreme handles are rough. Initial rounds all significantly low and left...so much so I thought "this has to be me, this gun is demanding". Sure enough...after paying attention to aim, stability, technique...right on the target.

For me...no FTE/FTF or other problems after about 350 rounds.

I think the gun demands proper technique, but rewards the same.

I have some 380's...they are marginally lighter and easier to bring back on target...lower recoil. I am unsure so far which is the best option for me as a still relatively novice CCP near senior citizen.

But I DO think the gun is nice, and I am looking for some softer Hogue grips to tame things down a bit. If I can find softer grips, I anticipate this would be on my CC roster.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top