Sig P232 vs P238???

[Rob7.62]

ok so heres the deal I'm turning in my app for CCW and I can have only 3 guns on my CCW license, so far they are full size Kimber Custom II, Ruger SR9C and either the Sig Sauer P232 SL or the P238 HD. The P232 is $610 and the P238 is $715. The P232 was the one I've been wanting for a while due to the fact it has a natural pointability and one of the best looking guns I've ever seen besides being fairly small and German made. The P238 on the other hand is extremely small and similar to a 1911. I need help deciding any insight or personal experience is much appreciated.

[dyson]

I really like the style of the 232, but the mag release sucks. Accurate tho and nice to have in a collection. No p938?

[dpop24]

Your idea is very good IMO, to go small - medium - large. The reason one would go with a .380 IMO is to keep the footprint small. The P238 is the right choice!

If you are going with a gun the size of the P232, might as well jump to a 9mm - P938 as mentioned would be a good choice.

[Suhleen]

Go with the P238. Much easier to conceal and I found it surprisingly accurate for such a small gun.

[cigardog]

I have a 238 on my CCW as my pocket carry/110 degree summer gun. Easy transition from my 1911.

I would be hesitant to carry a 232 and a 1911 - the differing mag releases might be hard to run in a stressful situation. Having commonality of controls is a benefit IMHO.

[Quiet]

In the .380ACP Walther PP (SIG P-232) vs .380ACP Colt Mustang (SIG P-238) fight, I prefer the Colt Mustang.
It's smaller, lighter and more concealable.

[Rob7.62]

Thanks for all the replies for got to mention I've already started dros on the p232 but was thinking of canceling and starting a new dros on the p238 only have to pay the difference and additional $30 dros fee and start my 10 days over. Never considered the p238 till after they said see you in ten days and I saw it before leaving the store LOL. Isn't the p938 not available in CA?

[GoatLovin]

Cheapest P238 in CA.

[Tiberius]

Second cheapest.

Check out Golden State Tactical. (Not affiliated with them, but noticed it today). Under $600, new Cal-compliant P238.

And to answer the OP's question, I'd vote P238. I think the 238 actually shoots better than the 232, besides being smaller and more concealable. You have to accept cocked and locked, but many do.

[Branden967]

P238 hands down. I havent compared the numbers but the 232 weighs much more.

[GoatLovin]

Second cheapest.

Check out Golden State Tactical. (Not affiliated with them, but noticed it today). Under $600, new Cal-compliant P238.

And to answer the OP's question, I'd vote P238. I think the 238 actually shoots better than the 232, besides being smaller and more concealable. You have to accept cocked and locked, but many do.

No tax on mine, plus a holster and 100 rounds of 380. Maybe not the cheapest, but the best deal. Especially for being off the roster.

[1CavScout]

Like was mentioned above consider one is a cocked and locked carry, while the other is DA / SA. I have a P230, which is pretty much the same gun as the P232. I looked at the P238 recently when I was looking for a pocket gun, but all my muscle memory is with DA / SA and striker fired guns. If you are carrying multiple types of platforms, hopefully you are training to sweep the trigger on your cocked and locked guns. Something to think about.

[MBG]

I own the P232 and the P938 and have shot the P238 a number of times. Both the 232 and 938 are on the permit. I owned the P232 first and have had it on my permit for 2+ years. I love it and it shoots beautifully. There's nothing to dislike ... except the size for concealed carry. The 232 is by no means a pocket carry. You can cram it into a pocket in pleated dress pants but the weight of it is impractical in a pocket. It needs to be on a belt. If that's your preferred carry method, there are a number of things to like about the gun.

Since it's DA/SA, it has a heavy trigger pull. Many hate that but for new permit holders carrying a gun with no safety, a heavy trigger pull isn't a bad thing. Just train on it. As for the mag release, it is a bit different but it is incredibly difficult to accidentally release or unseat the mag. And the accuracy of the 232 is quite impressive. Much better, in my opinion, than the 938 or 238.

All that being said, since adding the 938 to the permit, my beautiful, accurate, and classy 232 has stayed in my safe, snug and warm, as the 938 goes with me. And had I opted to stay in the .380ACP class, the 238 would be on me. It's easier to conceal and even the 938 fits in the pocket in most situations, if needed.

I needed more versatility in my carry options and the 938 gives that to me (the 238 even more so). But in the end, it comes down to preference. Both are quality guns that will do the job.

[nickel plate]

ok so heres the deal I'm turning in my app for CCW and I can have only 3 guns on my CCW license, so far they are full size Kimber Custom II, Ruger SR9C and either the Sig Sauer P232 SL or the P238 HD. The P232 is $610 and the P238 is $715. The P232 was the one I've been wanting for a while due to the fact it has a natural pointability and one of the best looking guns I've ever seen besides being fairly small and German made. The P238 on the other hand is extremely small and similar to a 1911. I need help deciding any insight or personal experience is much appreciated.

Looking at your photo, is that P238 an HD? I own a P238 HDW, the "W" stands for (Rose) "W"ood grips but the overall designation of the HD is because the frame and slide are machined from stainless steel.
A bit heavier than all of the other poly framed models but enjoyably so from the snappy light weighted recoil cast from the rest of the P238 poly framed family.

[Rob7.62]

Thank you all for the insight. I went in today and canceled my DROS on the P232 and started my DROS on the P238 HD. deep down I kinda knew it was the right choice but loved the look of the P232. The gun in the pic above isn't a HD just the best pic I could find to show the size difference between the two guns. The one I got is exactly like this one