choice of .380 - The Firearms Forum

guns4life · 01-30-2010, 05:41 PM

sig 232 or 238 going to buy a .380 and its gnna be a sig just cant decide which need some help

rglbegl · 01-30-2010, 05:48 PM

This should have been a poll

I like the look of the 238, but living in Cali, I am not allowed to own one

21bravo · 01-30-2010, 05:55 PM

Well G4L.. if it HAS to be a SIG, and there is nothing wrong with SIG so dont misunderstand.. I would go with the P238. ..when ya look at them together.. They are the same make.. they are the same caliber.. so.... compair looks.... IMHO the P238 is more appealing to the eye than the 232

...just my taxed $0.02

gdmoody · 01-30-2010, 11:54 PM

I would choose the P238. I fell in love with them when I first saw them. Hoping that will be my next gun purchase. I just have a little bit of a problem with paying over $500 for a .380!

CampingJosh · 01-31-2010, 01:58 PM

The P238 is single action only (it's just like the old Colt Mustang). It's also a bit smaller than the P232. The P232 is DA/SA, but it is sized more like the Bersa Thunder .380.

If it's for carry, then the P238 is the better choice. If you can comfortably carry something the size of the P232, then you should look at the P239 in 9mm or .40.

But you may have trouble finding a P238 on the shelf somewhere. They're pretty scarce around me.

old semperfi · 01-31-2010, 06:56 PM

with premium ammo so costly ,i would not buy a 380 at all,20 rounds of decent ammo can cost thirty dollars or so.9mm is much cheaper and more available,also a larger range of bullets available.i have chked for a friend of mine for bulk 380s and most places are on back order.your choice old semperfi

Terry_P · 01-31-2010, 09:08 PM

Why a 380? Just curious.

6x6pinz · 01-31-2010, 09:27 PM

I preferred the P230 (older version of the 232) to the p238. I still want to add the 238 to my collection but I want to see a little history on them first.

bambihunter · 02-04-2010, 04:30 PM

I love the small size and weight of my Kel-tec P3AT. It is honestly on me ALL the time I am out of the house. It is what I wear to work. It looks like a wallet in the front pocket of my kakhi work pants.

Back to your topic, the only reason to have a .380 is for the small size, so, I'd get the smaller of the two mentioned which is the 238. Once the size of the gun goes up, you just as well fire the 9mm or other bigger or more econmical rounds as mentioned.

guns4life · 02-04-2010, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry_P

Why a 380? Just curious.

after much research with a few other people around less danger of it exiting the intended bad guy or offender and injurying an innocent person especially with self defense loads

Oneida Steve · 02-04-2010, 06:43 PM

I have a Colt Mustang and I love it. I'd buy the Sig that is most like the Mustang.

Nothing wrong with .380 in a lightweight gun like the Mustang.

drhabeeb · 02-09-2010, 05:42 PM

If you want the easier of the two to carry get the p238. If you want the one that RELIABLY fires EVERY time get the p232.

trex1310 · 02-17-2010, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drhabeeb

If you want the easier of the two to carry get the p238. If you want the one that RELIABLY fires EVERY time get the p232.

What's wrong with the reliability of the P238? I have one and have had no
problems with it yet.

mncarpenter · 02-17-2010, 03:58 PM

look at a CZ Rami in 9mm-very nice and choice of cocked and locked or hammer down

Old Guy · 02-20-2010, 09:56 AM

If I am spending that much money I am buying a 40 or 45 caliber gun. If you are simply hung up on the Sig which is a good gun, then the 238 I think would be a better choice. If I am looking at a 380, I would look at Ruger, Bersa, Taurus, and several other options simply due to price/value. Also keep in mind that 380 is some of the most expensive and hard to find ammo.

carver · 02-20-2010, 11:16 AM

guns4life, first off buy what ever you want! But I am courious as to why you want a small .380. This is a bare minimun caliber for SD, and the most you will get is 8 rds. Yes, it's true that this caliber is less likely to over penetrate than some of the others, but you pay for that with a caliber of bullet that has very little stopping power. If I were to purchase a .380, and I do own one, it would be a gun that gave me enough rounds to make a difference.

01-30-2010, 05:41 PM	#1
guns4life V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: south carolina Posts: 281	choice of .380 sig 232 or 238 going to buy a .380 and its gnna be a sig just cant decide which need some help __________________ If ever a time should come when vain and aspiring men shall posses the highest seats in goverment our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin SAMUEL ADAMS 1776 -->

01-30-2010, 05:48 PM	#2
rglbegl Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Dana point CA Posts: 531	Re: choice of .380 This should have been a poll I like the look of the 238, but living in Cali, I am not allowed to own one

01-30-2010, 05:55 PM	#3
21bravo Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: wilkes county, nc Posts: 790	Re: choice of .380 Well G4L.. if it HAS to be a SIG, and there is nothing wrong with SIG so dont misunderstand.. I would go with the P238. ..when ya look at them together.. They are the same make.. they are the same caliber.. so.... compair looks.... IMHO the P238 is more appealing to the eye than the 232 ...just my taxed $0.02 __________________ "BIG MOMMA BRAVO" If everything seems to be going well, you obviously do not know what the hell is going on --"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crime." - Thomas Jefferson

01-30-2010, 11:54 PM	#4
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,343	Re: choice of .380 I would choose the P238. I fell in love with them when I first saw them. Hoping that will be my next gun purchase. I just have a little bit of a problem with paying over $500 for a .380! __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

01-31-2010, 01:58 PM	#5
CampingJosh TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 4,789	Re: choice of .380 The P238 is single action only (it's just like the old Colt Mustang). It's also a bit smaller than the P232. The P232 is DA/SA, but it is sized more like the Bersa Thunder .380. If it's for carry, then the P238 is the better choice. If you can comfortably carry something the size of the P232, then you should look at the P239 in 9mm or .40. But you may have trouble finding a P238 on the shelf somewhere. They're pretty scarce around me. __________________ Nothing posted on TheFirearmsForum.com constitutes legal, accounting, gunsmithing, or other professional advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with qualified professionals for real advice. Your life is lived at your own risk. Don't blame me for the dumb things you do.

01-31-2010, 06:56 PM	#6
old semperfi Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: i live in southern indiana,old country boy at heart Posts: 1,506	Re: choice of .380 with premium ammo so costly ,i would not buy a 380 at all,20 rounds of decent ammo can cost thirty dollars or so.9mm is much cheaper and more available,also a larger range of bullets available.i have chked for a friend of mine for bulk 380s and most places are on back order.your choice old semperfi

01-31-2010, 09:08 PM	#7
Terry_P Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NH Posts: 2,513	Re: choice of .380 Why a 380? Just curious. __________________ NRA and NAHC Life "Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of their arms." -Aristotle

01-31-2010, 09:27 PM	#8
6x6pinz V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mesa, Az Posts: 382	Re: choice of .380 I preferred the P230 (older version of the 232) to the p238. I still want to add the 238 to my collection but I want to see a little history on them first. __________________ friends don't let friends carry glocks

02-04-2010, 04:30 PM	#9
bambihunter V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 197	Re: choice of .380 I love the small size and weight of my Kel-tec P3AT. It is honestly on me ALL the time I am out of the house. It is what I wear to work. It looks like a wallet in the front pocket of my kakhi work pants. Back to your topic, the only reason to have a .380 is for the small size, so, I'd get the smaller of the two mentioned which is the 238. Once the size of the gun goes up, you just as well fire the 9mm or other bigger or more econmical rounds as mentioned.

02-04-2010, 06:43 PM	#11
Oneida Steve Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,028	Re: choice of .380 I have a Colt Mustang and I love it. I'd buy the Sig that is most like the Mustang. Nothing wrong with .380 in a lightweight gun like the Mustang.

02-09-2010, 05:42 PM	#12
drhabeeb Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 3	Re: choice of .380 If you want the easier of the two to carry get the p238. If you want the one that RELIABLY fires EVERY time get the p232.

02-17-2010, 03:58 PM	#14
mncarpenter V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Minnesota Contributor Posts: 479	Re: choice of .380 look at a CZ Rami in 9mm-very nice and choice of cocked and locked or hammer down __________________ *"No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women."- Ronald Reagan* *"Remember to have your democrats neutered or spayed" -Ann Coulter*

02-20-2010, 09:56 AM	#15
Old Guy V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Beaufort County, NC Contributor Posts: 343	Re: choice of .380 If I am spending that much money I am buying a 40 or 45 caliber gun. If you are simply hung up on the Sig which is a good gun, then the 238 I think would be a better choice. If I am looking at a 380, I would look at Ruger, Bersa, Taurus, and several other options simply due to price/value. Also keep in mind that 380 is some of the most expensive and hard to find ammo. __________________ Old Guy ___________ NRA Life Member GOA Life Member

02-20-2010, 11:16 AM	#16
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,280	Re: choice of .380 guns4life, first off buy what ever you want! But I am courious as to why you want a small .380. This is a bare minimun caliber for SD, and the most you will get is 8 rds. Yes, it's true that this caliber is less likely to over penetrate than some of the others, but you pay for that with a caliber of bullet that has very little stopping power. If I were to purchase a .380, and I do own one, it would be a gun that gave me enough rounds to make a difference. __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.