Jump to content

Do you own a Sig P238?


ArmedWithKnowledge

Recommended Posts

I just recently purchased a Sig P238 SAS and took it out for it's first range session the other day. While cleaning it discovered what appear to be abnormal wear (metal sheering/peening on the corners, finish scraped away). Because of this, I'm extremely interested in seeing other P238 owners barrel and frame wear, specifically on the underside of the barrel shroud and the area beneath the slide stop catch. Seeing the wear on your P238 (and knowing how many rounds you've put through it) will greatly assist me in deciding whether or not I go without my new carry gun for up to a month while I send it back to it's birthplace for inspection, so I would really, really, really appreciate photos of as many different P238s and their respective wear as possible. I'm attaching the photos of mine for reference as to what I'm interested in seeing.

 

Thank you so much in advance, I'm spinning my gears here worrying my gun might be faulty.

post-17972-0-54045100-1502384113_thumb.jpg

post-17972-0-59342700-1502384119_thumb.jpg

post-17972-0-77648000-1502384125_thumb.jpg

post-17972-0-64302100-1502384130_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have a .22 version of the 938 and also have wear under the slide and on top of the frame. Have the same issue with my Beretta 92 and Ruger SR22. These are all aluminum frame firearms. The slides on the Sig and Ruger are also aluminum. I am an Engineer by trade and can validate that even with hardcoating aluminum will wear faster than steel. For this reason I limit the number of aluminum frame firearms I own. Don't freak out because of this. Unless the wear is very quick and severe it is normal. Check YouTube for some examples. There are some on the SR22. Hope this helps.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have a .22 version of the 938 and also have wear under the slide and on top of the frame. Have the same issue with my Beretta 92 and Ruger SR22. These are all aluminum frame firearms. The slides on the Sig and Ruger are also aluminum. I am an Engineer by trade and can validate that even with hardcoating aluminum will wear faster than steel. For this reason I limit the number of aluminum frame firearms I own. Don't freak out because of this. Unless the wear is very quick and severe it is normal. Check YouTube for some examples. There are some on the SR22. Hope this helps.

I agree in regards to the frame wear but not on the preening where the barrel and slide lock up. That looks like a timing issue.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd be interested in hearing what they say. My 238 shows some wear too -- but I'm one of those weirdo's who figure wear is normal and only becomes a problem when you pull the trigger and it no longer goes BANG.... I wonder what the design lifespan is and what the B-10 failure rate is -- obviously they are not designed to be a range gun but how long are they designed to last..?? I understand your concern...
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd be interested in hearing what they say. My 238 shows some wear too -- but I'm one of those weirdo's who figure wear is normal and only becomes a problem when you pull the trigger and it no longer goes BANG.... I wonder what the design lifespan is and what the B-10 failure rate is -- obviously they are not designed to be a range gun but how long are they designed to last..?? I understand your concern...

It arrived back at Sig today but it'll probably be a week or so before I hear anything from them. I'll make a follow-up post once I hear from them to let you and everyone else know what the end-result is. And I want to thank you and everybody else for all your responses, I really appreciate it.

It's my first Sig and it wasn't cheap, so I've been a bit worried (could you tell? :frantics: )

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
Hey everyone,

I wanted to give you folks a final update because I spoke with the Sig customer service rep again today. The Sig rep told me that both he and the gunsmith examined my gun. He told me the gunsmith said he'd seen 100's of guns with the exact same wear on the barrel shroud and it's a result of contact when the gun returns to lockup. He didn't specify as to what the barrel is contacting (although I would assume the guide rod), and while it is understandably alarming, the rough peening will soften as it breaks in, and the corners will eventually become nice and smoothly rounded. He also reportedly said that while some guns do wear more than others in those locations, he has never seen one come in where that wear (say that 5 times fast lol) has affected functionality.

I was told he made the same determination regarding the frame wear under the slide stop catch, and said that while it's true some guns don't get wear in that location and others do, again it should not affect functionality.


On the one hand I'm still a bit "ehhhh" about that kind of wear because as a carry gun, it *has* to function flawlessly and it looks like it's been damaged. But then on the other hand, the Sig gunsmith has determined it's "working as intended" so I *should* be good. Maybe part of my thoughts about it are based on the fact that the wear looks pretty bad (damage-wise) even though functionally it's sound. But it's a carry gun so as long as it's in perfect working order, if the wear won't cause a problem then I'm a happy carrier.


Thanks again everyone for all your input, I really appreciate it. I'll be getting my P238 back on Monday next week, and I think a range trip will be in the cards after it arrives.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey everyone,

I wanted to give you folks a final update because I spoke with the Sig customer service rep again today. The Sig rep told me that both he and the gunsmith examined my gun. He told me the gunsmith said he'd seen 100's of guns with the exact same wear on the barrel shroud and it's a result of contact when the gun returns to lockup. He didn't specify as to what the barrel is contacting (although I would assume the guide rod), and while it is understandably alarming, the rough peening will soften as it breaks in, and the corners will eventually become nice and smoothly rounded. He also reportedly said that while some guns do wear more than others in those locations, he has never seen one come in where that wear (say that 5 times fast lol) has affected functionality.

I was told he made the same determination regarding the frame wear under the slide stop catch, and said that while it's true some guns don't get wear in that location and others do, again it should not affect functionality.

 

On the one hand I'm still a bit "ehhhh" about that kind of wear because as a carry gun, it *has* to function flawlessly and it looks like it's been damaged. But then on the other hand, the Sig gunsmith has determined it's "working as intended" so I *should* be good. Maybe part of my thoughts about it are based on the fact that the wear looks pretty bad (damage-wise) even though functionally it's sound. But it's a carry gun so as long as it's in perfect working order, if the wear won't cause a problem then I'm a happy carrier.

 

Thanks again everyone for all your input, I really appreciate it. I'll be getting my P238 back on Monday next week, and I think a range trip will be in the cards after it arrives.

If you're uncomfortable carrying it, I'll take it off your hands cheap lol

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Hey everyone,
I wanted to give you folks a final update because I spoke with the Sig customer service rep again today. The Sig rep told me that both he and the gunsmith examined my gun. He told me the gunsmith said he'd seen 100's of guns with the exact same wear on the barrel shroud and it's a result of contact when the gun returns to lockup. He didn't specify as to what the barrel is contacting (although I would assume the guide rod), and while it is understandably alarming, the rough peening will soften as it breaks in, and the corners will eventually become nice and smoothly rounded. He also reportedly said that while some guns do wear more than others in those locations, he has never seen one come in where that wear (say that 5 times fast lol) has affected functionality.
I was told he made the same determination regarding the frame wear under the slide stop catch, and said that while it's true some guns don't get wear in that location and others do, again it should not affect functionality.
On the one hand I'm still a bit "ehhhh" about that kind of wear because as a carry gun, it *has* to function flawlessly and it looks like it's been damaged. But then on the other hand, the Sig gunsmith has determined it's "working as intended" so I *should* be good. Maybe part of my thoughts about it are based on the fact that the wear looks pretty bad (damage-wise) even though functionally it's sound. But it's a carry gun so as long as it's in perfect working order, if the wear won't cause a problem then I'm a happy carrier.
Thanks again everyone for all your input, I really appreciate it. I'll be getting my P238 back on Monday next week, and I think a range trip will be in the cards after it arrives.

 

I'm sure you've read this on the sigtalk forum, but I use grease not oil on pretty much all contacts points on my 238. Mil Com TW25B comes in a syringe applicator and works great,

Link to comment
Share on other sites

While you're probably fine, I know the feeling of not trusting a Sig that went back to get checked out... especially if it's a carry gun. You don't want to be second guessing the reliability of a carry piece when you're unexpectedly forced to defend yourself.

I ended up getting a Glock 43 and selling my pocket Sig. If you prefer a

.380 maybe a Glock 42 is more your style. I don't really like Glocks, I prefer HKs and hammer fired Sigs and Berettas...but the G43 is 100% solid and the right size for me when I wear light clothes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't own one, but that doesn't look normal.

 

Galling metal is never a good thing, and is not normal wear.

 

I had some metal galling on an expensive CZ over under. It was galling on the pivot nubs. I brought it to the gunsmith, and while he did explain in detail what was wrong with it, I couldn't tell you lol. It was because it wasn't fitted correctly from the factory. I had 1300 rounds through that over under before I started seeing galling.

 

I'd be sending that one back for repairs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I'm interested in hearing what Sig says about it. I have the same gun very similar markings. I have 750 rounds thru it and have never had any sort of issue ever. It has proven to me its trust and beyond. Love this gun! Bought it just before the P938 came out and was just besides myself. So I was going to trade it in and get the 938 SAS, but for some reason at last minute bailed on selling 238 and now have both. I shoot the 238 FAR better than the 938, and oddly probably carry it more often. That said here's pics of mine(hopefully I can get them to load), very similar to yours.

 

 

 

 

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj292/blacktara3572002/Sig%20main_zpsowp0a8uo.jpg

 

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj292/blacktara3572002/Sig1_zpsy9nzyhhv.jpg

 

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj292/blacktara3572002/Sig2_zpsz6n67g7p.jpg

 

 

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj292/blacktara3572002/Sig3_zpsgadgk6hm.jpg

 

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj292/blacktara3572002/Sig4_zpsf5gmdvpi.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...