Sig Sauer P238 Semi-auto Centerfire Pistols

In fairy tales, the ugly duckling turns into a beautiful swan. Nothing is going to improve the looks of the Sig Sauer P238, but the knowledge that it just might save your life makes it a beauty queen. This tiny pistol, weighing just 15 ounces is the ideal concealed carry choice for petite women. It can easily be carried in a purse, a belt holster, in a pocket or on a thigh holster.

The P238 is chambered in .380 ACP so recoil will be minimum even with the light weight. The magazine isn’t spacious, just six rounds, but in a tight situation, only one round can mean all the difference.

Small though it is, it carries the Sig Sauer tradition of quality craftsmanship, durability and reliability. If you’re in the market for a subcompact, the Sig Sauer P238 is worth taking a look at. It packs a punch in a small package.

The first feature is the tiny footprint of this pistol. It’s just 5.5 inches long and half of that is barrel at 2.7 inches. Finished in stainless steel it is lightweight thanks to many aluminum components. Grips can be customized with gray polymer as the standard, but rosewood creates a nice contrast in color to the overall gray.

It reminds many of the Springfield 1911 in shape, but definitely not in size, you might think of it as the kid brother to the legendary 1911. That’s not where the similarities end, the action and feel is similar to the 1911 as well. If you can palm a basketball, you can hide this pistol in your open hand. While that’s good for concealment, your fingers will drop under the grip and you’ll have to twist your trigger finger substantially to get it into firing position.

If you have smaller hands, all these problems disappear and you’ll find an easy to hold, easy to handle pistol with minimum recoil. The P238 isn’t for larger men but designed for smaller women for personal protection. You won’t win any target shooting contests with a P238, but it could save your life in an attack.

So, you have one of these “Mini 1911” pistols, what do you do with it and how can you use it? You can’t impress someone who hasn’t held this pistol enough about how small it is. Think of a large cell phone or wallet and you’re getting an idea. The P238 has a hammer, but it’s rounded so it won’t snag on something inside a purse or hang on the edge of a pocket. Yes, it’s small enough to easily fit in a pocket and you won’t notice it.

The pistol isn’t the only small thing about it, the .380 ACP cartridge is miniscule as well. If you stand a .380 ACP on its end it will be just about the same height as a quarter. It has a little more than half of the energy of a .38 Special at 50 yards, but you won’t be shooting anything at 50 yards. The P238 is a pistol designed for “intimate” distances, meaning just a few feet away.

The often heard adage than any gun is better than no gun when you need one applies to the P238. It’s handy, nearly invisible and when you need it, it will deliver.