P232 vs P238

[bluesman001]

My other half is interested in getting one of these as CCL and personal protection.  What are ya'lls thoughts pro or con for each?  Does one trump the other.  She has small hands, so that is no issue.  Thanks fellas!

[Texas_Bryan]

My other half is interested in getting one of these as CCL and personal protection.  What are ya'lls thoughts pro or con for each?  Does one trump the other.  She has small hands, so that is no issue.  Thanks fellas!

Ok, I've a bit of secondary information on the P232.  I was going to buy a surplus one, but the old man told me about some issue that the LEO's were having with them, minor for the most part and due to a lack of familiarity with the platform.

One.  Slide bite, the Rangers were getting bit a lot, I assume because they didn't take the time to really adjust themselves to the gun.  If the wife does have the hands for it, shouldn't be that much of an issue.

Two.  Magazine release, its a bottom press release where you have to strip the mag out, rather than a drop free.  Not a typical set up, but not a deal killer either with some practice.

Those two things said, they are both Sigs, so therefore both awesome.  Personally I'd go for the P232, because most pistol experience I've got are with DA/SA Sigs with a decocker, so that system is very familiar to me.  And personally, I'd rather carry a DA than a SAO with a safety.  If you guys are big Sig fans I'm sure you'll feel the same.

[LittleRed]

The biggest functional difference is Single Action Only (SAO) vs Traditional Double Action/Single Action (DA/SA).

Personally, I prefer DA/SA or Double Action Only (DAO) for personal protection. The 232 is DA/SA and the 238 is SAO like a 1911, so the most recommended way to carry is "cocked and locked". This requires one to disengage the safety before firing. If the person is wiling to put in a lot of practice there is nothing wrong with that. It's just more complicated, which I tend to not like in a weapon my life might depend on.

The 232 can be carry with one in the chamber and safety off. To fire—pull the trigger. Simple.

I would not start off anyone beginning to carry with 1911, "cocked and locked-"style pistol, but that is just me.

Beyond the actions, the 232 has a slightly longer barrel and sight radius and the capacity for one more round—all good things.

I looked at the 232 for a long time before I decided on a S&W j frame, 5-shot revolver (the 238 wasn't out yet). I had quite a few reasons, but the fact that .380 is expensive (about twice as much as .38 or 9mm from the prices I am seeing locally), meant practice was going to be expensive.

And practice—especially in smaller framed guns—is going to be far more of a decision maker than which one of the pistols you choose.

[CJS3]

I have 232, and slide bite is the only problem I ever had with it.


It happened once, and never again after that.

[tombogan03884]

There's no real difference in the calibers considering the guns are intended for arms reach distance. There "may" be a better selection of bullets for the 380 but that doesn't count for much since both are fairly underpowered your best off sticking with ball anyway. One difference, the one that made up my mind, was that during the Obama powered rush on concealable pistols there was no 380 to be found, .32 was still plentiful though.

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