sig sucks (p238 story)

[ironsights]

so i bought a sig p238 and it took much longer to get than i had been told, and when i did get it it was the wrong one and i either had to wait longer or take this one. so i paid a little more and got the pistol. First trip to range it failed to fire, failed to eject and the slide locked back with ammo still in the magazine. I sent it back and they got it back to me pretty fast but when i racked the slide the takedown pin/ slide release fell out and then the slide fell off! Awesome! I sent it back again. I got it back and they had put new grips on and an upgraded extractor. i went to the range and after a few rounds i noticed the grip screw was falling out. upon further inspection i noticed that the frame was stripped. I called sig and they said to send it back and they would most likely have to replace it. I got an email saying that they were going to order me a new one so i called to see how long it would be. They told me a few weeks to a few months so im upset at this point and i tell the guy that this was bad and they need to do more to keep me as a customer. He says he'll get someone for me and after 20 min. on hold they just hung up on me. They sent me a new gun minus the upgraded extractor and without my grips. they also sent one of the old crappy mags that has rust on it instead of my third gen mag i returned it with. I was treated poor at best on the phone and told that the fact of the matter is is that things break, i was told all about how diswashers break and such ...basically talked to like a child. I informed the gentleman that when my diswasher breaks i wash dishes in the sink. when my gun does not work i cant defend myself properly.

i have wasted over 200 dollars worth of ammo plus 2 range trips for my wife and myself each, plus three round trips to the UPS hub to drop this thing off and i had to go and and do paperwork again! Sig never gave me an extra mag or anything extra for that matter! this was expensive and time consuming and im just supposed to lie down and take it. I remember when sig was a good company that made a decent product but that is not the case anymore.

[G26ster]

I have a Sig P238 SAS, and it's my first Sig. While it has been flawless thru 300+ rounds, there are enough stories like yours out there. I think this model as hurt Sig's reputation. One of the reasons I am partial to Springfield 1911s is their warranty service (other than i think they are fine guns). Customer Service IS and important component to any weapon I buy. One of the problems I believe with the P238 is the fact that they bought the Colt Mustang (patent I suppose) and tried to "tweak it." They didn't do a very good job. Right now, a poll on the Sig Forum site shows 75% happy with the P238, and 25% unhappy. 25% is just too high IMHO.

[Oldgringo]

You reckon they're still mad about the way that WW II thinghy worked out for 'em?

FWIW, I think my Sig P230 SL is just the 'berries'. It's my church, funeral, Bar Mitzvah and other dress-up carry piece.

[WildBill]

For the most part Sig designs and manufactures superior firearms. My P239 is built like a brick [and sometimes feels like one], but it is extremely well made. It is accurate and reliable. But, if a company is in business long enough, it produces an Edsel. The Sig P238 may be it.

I have no first hand experience with the Sig P238 other than handling one in a gun store a few months ago. I thought it was "cute", but I got over it. Other than looking like a mini 1911, I see no advantage over the Sig P230.

[Salty1]

I have sold a lot of P238's and not a single customer has informed me of a single problem, they are one of our top sellers. If they had I would have personally contacted Sig, shipped the gun and made sure the repair was done properly. Every company puts out a "lemon" once in a while, sorry to hear that you were on the receiving end of one, hopefully it will run as a Sig should and the sour taste will diminish with time, they truly are one of the best pocket 380's.

[gwashorn]

Well, the rental P238 we tried the other night was good. The one we bought we have only tested fired it today for function test. Worked just fine. Not to take it out for a 200 round break in before it becomes a carry weapon. But I have read stories like this. Must say the Springfield warranty is good. I have had great luck with Beretta as well. Had Tomcat 3032 that after 10 years failed. Sent it back and when I asked how much for repair they said it is already on its way back, no charge. Fully rebuilt with full test report and another 1 year warranty. Shoot, can't ask better than that.
Hope yours works out OK.
Gary

[philip964]

I have had no problems with my P238, except when I tried a second magazine that did not come with the gun. Supposedly it was a SIG magazine, but it had small differences from the one that came with the gun. I had failure to fire problems, ejection problems, etc. I returned the magazine. Now my issues are back to zero.

It seems if you check the web there are two kinds of P238 owners, those with no problems and those with the problems described in the OP.

I like the gun it shoots very accurately and it has enough heft to make the recoil non-existent.

SIG's customer service for people who are having problems seems to make the matter much worse.

[kahrfreak]

I own a Sig P226 that has been flawless for me.

I post this only because the topic subject is rather broad, and it would appear that not all Sigs suck.

[baldeagle]

While I think your story is indicative of a larger problem at Sig, my P226 (made in 1988) has worked well for me. I've shot a few hundred rounds through it with only one problem - Speer Gold Dots consistently jammed in the breech using the original magazine (but not in the two additional magazines that I've purchased.) I've liked the P226 so much that I just purchased a P239 from one of the forum members. I do believe Sig has a customer service problem. I experienced it when I sent my P226 to them to have it serviced and put night sights on it. (Which reminds me. I need to write that letter.) I believe that's what you ran into with the treatment you received on the phone. If Sig doesn't fix it soon, they're going to lose a lot more customers.

[threoh8]

You reckon they're still mad about the way that WW II thinghy worked out for 'em?

I thought the Swiss came out of the war OK.

[ironsights]

update on this one.....finally was able to talk to Scott Therrin at sig. Hes a good guy and has always taken care of me it's just hard sometimes to get ahold of him. He said send my grips mags and upgraded extractor. I'll repair the gun myself and take it to the range as soon as i get the new parts and then update again! cross your fingers!

[tetralaw]

Hope it works out. I just got rid of a P238. I had some hiccups in the first 100rds but after that it worked flawless. I traded it for a PM9 LNIB, first 100 rds were flawless.
I did like the P238, esp. since I also have a Kimber Pro for CC. Both were carried cocked and locked. Now I've got some rearranging/retraining to do.

Good luck with the Sig, handy little guns.

[ironsights]

roger that tetralaw. I'm a huge fan of carrying locked and cocked. ready to go,!
i wish that i could carry full size in the summer time but i can not. my full size pistol is in a drawer next to me but not on me. i need this tiny pistol to get me to my full size pistol . my full sized pistol will get me to my rifle. i need everything to work.

[cajunautoxer]

I wouldn't buy anything that Sig has made in the US. Their firearms have gone to crap. Granted I do have a SAO Sig 220 that's stamped "First Production Run" on it. I called them and it suppose to be the first one's made in the US factory. It's a queen safe so I'm not worried about that one. My carry weapons usually have at least 1k rounds shot without a hiccup before I'll use them.

[Rex B]

I bought my P238 from an individual who had bought a lemon. Two trips to Sig for repairs.
After the 2nd trip back, he offered it (real cheap) without testing it. Caveat emptor, full disclosure.
I took a chance on it, and it hasn't failed but once, and that was because it was full of pocket lint and dry - shame on me - though it looked good on the exterior. Once cleaned and lubed it ran like a watch.