Question about my Sig P238 .380

[gino_cocci]

I know very little about this topic so appreciate your insight......

Is there anything that I can do to "beef up" the internals of my Sig P238 (barrel upgrade, spring, etc) so that it can "handle" the Buffalo Bore 100g cast ammo that I frequently practice & carry with? Not sure if this is even possible or recommended?

And if so........ Any local Gunsmiths in my area of Southern Orange County (San Clemente, Mission Viejo, Irvine or that general area) that can be recommended?

Thank you!

[AreWeFree]

I don't believe there is a SAAMI standard for .380 +p and I didn't see any reference to +p in the 238 user manual.

With that said, I wouldn't worry about it. Just make sure you clean out the lead fouling and replace the recoil spring sooner than normal. I most certainly wouldn't change a thing or have a gun smith do anything, not that there's anything to change anyway.

Contact Sig or google for the maintenance schedule. On full size pistols it's generally about 5,000 rounds before replacing recoil spring, on your 238 it's likely half that, and if you're only shooting +p I'd measure the spring length on a new recoil spring and replace the existing one when it gets shorter from wearing out. (probably 1,000 rounds)

Also, just for reference, standard PMC bronze is about 850fps, and the buffalo bore velocity with your pistol is below.

90gr standard 3. Colt Mustang Pocket Lite-2.75 inch barrel---970 fps
100gr +p 3. Colt Mustang Pocket Lite-2.75 inch barrel---1072 fps

Edit: Sig sells their own brand of ammo now, and their defensive branded .380 is listed as 970fps at the muzzle. Their standard FMJ is listed as 910 fps. Most likely tested with a longer barrel to inflate velocity, so take 3-5% off and it's likely close to actual velocity from your pistol.

[copecom77]

I've shot about 50 rds of ".380 +P" through my P238 just to make sure it runs through it well and another 150 of standard target ammo just for practice. It fed and ejected everything with ease and was quite accurate. The +P ammo was from Underwood - 1200fps. It was pretty potent stuff and not anything I'd want to regularly feed through it but it is what I carry for SD.

[AreWeFree]

I've shot about 50 rds of ".380 +P" through my P238 just to make sure it runs through it well and another 150 of standard target ammo just for practice. It fed and ejected everything with ease and was quite accurate. The +P ammo was from Underwood - 1200fps. It was pretty potent stuff and not anything I'd want to regularly feed through it but it is what I carry for SD.

Real world velocity will always vary from "Advertised" velocity. Nice thing about buffalo bore is they also report some real world velocities:
(The Sig 238 is a Sig branded Colt Mustang.)

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=127

"1. BDA-3.75 inch barrel--- 1160 fps
2. Walther PPK-3.5 inch barrel-----1149 fps
3. Colt Mustang Pocket Lite-2.75 inch barrel---1072 fps
4. Keltec---1061 fps"

[copecom77]

Real world velocity will always vary from "Advertised" velocity. Nice thing about buffalo bore is they also report some real world velocities:
(The Sig 238 is a Sig branded Colt Mustang.)

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=127

"1. BDA-3.75 inch barrel--- 1160 fps
2. Walther PPK-3.5 inch barrel-----1149 fps
3. Colt Mustang Pocket Lite-2.75 inch barrel---1072 fps
4. Keltec---1061 fps"

The Underwood stuff came out to an average of 1148fps from the 1200fps advertised. Good enough for me

[AreWeFree]

The Underwood stuff came out to an average of 1148fps from the 1200fps advertised. Good enough for me

Is that what you chrono'd at?

[bigbob76]

If I wanted to shoot a lot of serious ammo through a small pistol like that I would probably buy two of them. After I was thoroughly convinced that they both fed and functioned reliably with the warmer rounds I would only shoot one of them for practice. Keeping the the carry piece in the best shape possible would be important to me. I would not want it to fail when I needed it. No matter how closely you inspect the shooter for abnormal wear or cracks you don't always see a warning sign before something breaks. I don't use hollowpoints in a pocket pistol. I certainly wouldn't expect them to expand in a short barrel and you need as much penetration as you can get.