P238 extended safety install w/ pics

[rcasady]

hi folks , i been looking for a better safety for my sig 238 and i think i got what i want . i loved the idea of the ambi safety offered by a fella online , but the price is no where in my range for a small part , (almost half the cost of the gun ! ) besides that , i do not really need an ambi anyway since im a righty , BUT i just never loved the stock safety , i find just a tad hard to manipulate in a stressful situation , it operates 100% but i find myself not as confident as i should in the event it needs to be drawn and clicked off quickly .
after a few searches i sound a colt mustang .380 extended safety from Cylinder-Slide online so i gave it a shot
http://www.cylinder-slide.com/index.php ... ef=Coltsft" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; i got the blue for 35.50



*first off this is not a direct plug in play part * , it needs the slightest bit of either filing or gentle dremeling

here we go


first we break her down , slide off , grips off .



next remove stock safety , this is simple but does involve a spring loaded detent that can and will fly away forever if your not careful
first you want to hold your thumb or finger over the whole safety while you turn your safety clockwise . once its facing about 10 o'clock the spring will pop out and hopefully hit your finger and stay put .
once the detent is out continue spinning and remove the lever from the gun .


heres the comparison


now , here's where the amature gunsmithing comes to play , for the love of god , if your not educated or skilled or confident then dont get into this

here you'll see the small ledge on the safety shaft the dremel tip is pointing at , this is what holds the lever in the receiver . ( notice the sig stock safety has two ledges , one on each end .. take this how you will but i am confident and happy with the performance of the single ledge .

the Cylinder and Slide safety ledge is ever soo larger that it will not fit the relief in the receiver without some help . aka file or dremel .....very very little testing fit repeatedly . also you may notice that the distance of the ledge from the lever face is slighty wider leaving a tad more play side to side once installed . this is where i took a steel punch to the modified ledge and pushed /bent it in a hair . and also dremel out smaller detent hole (off position hole ) so it would pass nice and smooth and fit tight ... im talking fine tuning a shave here and there testing again and again for a great fit.
now i install in the reverse order of removal using a blade to hold the detent down while i spin the lever counter clockwise over the spring loaded detent .

here it is



so thats that .
im very happy , ive tested the function and im sold so far , maybe a few hundred more rounds tonight just to pass a personal test , but i think were good to go , the safety is not all to much larger but just enough to notice a great difference , just what i wanted . after a good lube and working it its as smooth if not better than before .
thought id share .

[Medic218]

[johncanfield]

That's very nice - good job! The P238 safety is a little on the small side now that you pointed it out and more surface area would be a big plus. The size of the stock lever is in proportion aesthetically with the size of the gun, but after looking at mine, bigger would be a little better. I think the larger lever would work with my IWB holster.

How would Sig treat an after-market safety in regard to warranty?

[snatchel]

That's very nice - good job! The P238 safety is a little on the small side now that you pointed it out and more surface area would be a big plus. The size of the stock lever is in proportion aesthetically with the size of the gun, but after looking at mine, bigger would be a little better. I think the larger lever would work with my IWB holster.

How would Sig treat an after-market safety in regard to warranty?

Good question--but you can bet your bottom that i'd hold onto the original lever and install should I ever send the little guy back to Sig for any maintenance.

[rcasady]

definetly keeping my stock safety just in case , there was absolutely no modification done to the gun so their shouldnt be any problems , and as far as my holster , i use a kholser /crossbreed type and the leather took the same spot the original safety took , i assume the dent in the leather should wear in a lil deeper now though

[68Charger]

I'm speechless. That is beautiful work, sir. Does it stick out more than the slidestop itself? Sir, you deserve a beer. Just one. We all seen what happens when you have 2.

[cougartex]

Great job.

[Seabear]

Good job! I'll point that out to a buddy of mine that carries one of those.

[rcasady]

I'm speechless. That is beautiful work, sir. Does it stick out more than the slidestop itself? Sir, you deserve a beer. Just one. We all seen what happens when you have 2.

it does stick out about 1/8 " farther than the slidestop , much easier to drag my thumb across and positively click it off , ive had my thumb slip right over the stock safety with sweaty hands or not soo perfect grip