p238 not impressed feedback wanted

View · by **Amazi** on Tue Jun 04, 2013 4:21 am

Bought a brand new SIG p238 last week for my summer carry gun. Shot it twice now and I'm not impressed at all with it. First time it was raining and I was tired so never cared to see how well I did. Went out on Sunday and at about 10 yards with the p238 my hits were 3in lower then what I was aiming at. Standing or sitting no change really. So luckily I brought my xd subcompact 40, no issues with that. So I moved back to 20 yards p238 dropped down to 6 inches lower then center target, my xd no problems. I was shooting blazer aluminum cheap but never had issues before in my other guns. My boss said use sandbags, change ammo and have another shooter. Anything else before I make a call to sig and see wtf the deal is with it? My guess is its in the sights. I realize with the short barrel it won't be crazy accurate but that badly off something ain't right.

View · by **OldmanFCSA** on Tue Jun 04, 2013 4:40 am

Shooting hotter or heavier ammo will cause a higher point of impact.
Otherwise lowering front sight will cause a higher point of impact.
Older methods involved filing down front sight height and re-blueing. depends on type of sight.
Of course, if possible, raising rear sight will help.

I suggest a heavier bullet.

View · by **Currahee** on Tue Jun 04, 2013 5:49 am

Sigs use a different sight picture than many other guns.

Sig is number 3. "Combat Sight Picture". So if you were using either 1 or 2... you would shoot low.

I LOVE my Sigs and especially my P238.

View · by **JNW** on Tue Jun 04, 2013 7:13 am

Try it with the bullets you will actually be using in the gun for carry- I assume you will not be shooting Blazers for self defense.
Regards,
Jeff

View · by **JustPlainT** on Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:02 am

Currahee wrote:Sigs use a different sight picture than many other guns.

Sig is number 3. "Combat Sight Picture". So if you were using either 1 or 2... you would shoot low.

This.

Different handguns have different sight pictures which can change POI depending on how you hold vs how it was meant to be held. You need to experiment to know which sight picture is appropriate for your gun.

View · by **Amazi** on Tue Jun 04, 2013 2:56 pm

Thanks for the feedback everyone, I'll have to give it another go this weekend.

View · by **AR-15collector** on Tue Jun 04, 2013 3:29 pm

If not I'm in the market for a 238

View · by **Eric Marleau** on Tue Jun 04, 2013 4:38 pm

Sigs are made to shoot heavy loads which shoot higher than target loads.

Shooting as low as you are at closer range with a compact gun could be your fault and not the gun.

Pulling the trigger, a shooter will naturally pull the barrel down, and shooting low until you get used to it.

Your problem is not your Sig, but either the loads that you are shooting or you.

Eric

View · by **Currahee** on Tue Jun 04, 2013 6:26 pm

AR-15collector wrote:If not I'm in the market for a 238

I will also take it off your hands. One for me and one for wife. And who told you the probable issue??? 8-)

Look at the sight issue before cartridge issues... sorry folks.

View · by **justinvan** on Tue Jun 04, 2013 6:50 pm

Currahee wrote:Sigs use a different sight picture than many other guns.

Sig is number 3. "Combat Sight Picture". So if you were using either 1 or 2... you would shoot low.

I LOVE my Sigs and especially my P238.

That is a very good visual aid. Not everybody realizes that different guns are designed to use different sight pictures (I learned this after having similar issues). Hope it works out for the OP, most people I have talked to love the 238.

View · by **FJ540** on Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:07 pm

Sight picture was way off with target ammo vs high power JHP's with the 238 I had. I only sold it because it didn't fit my hand very well, and never seemed to stay in my pocket where I left it (needed a holster, and didn't get one - would always rotate to slide down).

View · by **Eric Marleau** on Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:27 pm

My newer P226 shot low using my light target reloads, and spot on with 230 gr hardball reloads. But I wanted to use my much cheaper bulk cast loads I installed an adjustable sight.
My West German P226 shoots the same way, but it is loaded with Personal Protection ammo which makes it great just the way it is.

Great posting on sight pictures by the way. Very important.

Eric

View · by **rukwikenuf** on Wed Jun 05, 2013 12:58 am

Eric Marleau wrote:My newer P226 shot low using my light target reloads, and spot on with 230 gr hardball reloads. But I wanted to use my much cheaper bulk cast loads I installed an adjustable sight.
My West German P226 shoots the same way, but it is loaded with Personal Protection ammo which makes it great just the way it is.

Great posting on sight pictures by the way. Very important.

Eric

230gr in a P226?!? damn, them's some BIG 9mm rounds

View · by **Amazi** on Wed Jun 05, 2013 3:58 am

AR-15collector wrote:If not I'm in the market for a 238

maybe if the price is right id sell it.

View · by **Amazi** on Wed Jun 05, 2013 4:08 am

Eric Marleau wrote:Sigs are made to shoot heavy loads which shoot higher than target loads.

Shooting as low as you are at closer range with a compact gun could be your fault and not the gun.

Pulling the trigger, a shooter will naturally pull the barrel down, and shooting low until you get used to it.

Your problem is not your Sig, but either the loads that you are shooting or you.

Eric

Its hard to say but the way guns are selling I'm sure there not exactly being made with a lot of care but who knows. Yeah I'll have to do some trial and error before I make the full blame on anything. The rounds were 12+ years old to factory load with the aluminum casing not exactly a good round. I got a lot of good info to go off to hopefully find what is going wrong.