P238 ammo choices

[A X E]

Originally Posted by iGun

If anyone has tried the BB JHPs in their P238, please let me know how they work. As I reported earlier the BB FMJ are no good for my P238.

I bought a box of BB FMJ and Hardcast to try in my P238. I instantly started to get a few FTEs. I don't think the little Sig can handle the +P stuff as well. It ate everything else I put through it inclucing MagTech, PMC, WWB, Blazer aluminum, Independence, and some other stuff. It did have a few FTEs in the first few hundred rounds, but replacing the original guide rod spring (heavier) and the mags both form Sig cured that.

Out!

[ratrodfink]

I've been using Speer Gold Dots in my P238. No problems at all so far.

[ian01]

Hornady critical defense is shaped closer to ball ammo which should make it feed well- that's what I'm getting

[Intensional]

Originally Posted by ian01

Hornady critical defense is shaped closer to ball ammo which should make it feed well- that's what I'm getting

I shot 25 rounds of Hornady Critical Defense 90gr FTX through my P238 SAS the other day. It performed remarkably well. Zero failures of any kind, very light recoil that let me do quick follow up shots. I wish I had more of it, because it was more fun to shoot than my American Eagle FMJ.

[xxINFIDELxx]

I shot about 140 rounds the first time I took mine out. I had some Buffalo Bore HP, and FMJ +P rounds. All cycled great. I shot a box of each of those and about 2 boxes of 95g FMJ Fiocchi which also preformed well. I wanted to make sure the gun worked and it did well enough to make it my "always carry" gun when I don't see the need to have a larger weapon on me. I need a better holster I could only find a Uncle Mike's IWB size 1. Which works fine for now until I find a nicer one I like. The BB +P HP's are in it right now.

[cocked_and_locked]

check out dm bullard, i love my texas concealed carry

[Bald1]

I recently acquired mine which has shot everything I've tried save Herter's brass cased FMJ bought at Cabela's. The stuff would jam with the slide 1/8" out of battery. Looked like not all the brass was sized correctly. What I have shot includes Federal American Eagle FMJ, PMC FMJ, Remington Golden Saber, Federal Hydra-Shok, and Corbon JHP +P.

Ordered a RKBA leather pocket holster only for the P238, figuring if I want to go IWB, I'll go with a good belt, holster, and a commander sized 1911 or "chopped" BHP.

[mkhenry]

+1 on the Buffalo Bore 100 gr. Hardcast. Will break any bone it hits. I also like the Hornady Critical Defense.

[iGun]

Originally Posted by mkhenry

+1 on the Buffalo Bore 100 gr. Hardcast. Will break any bone it hits. I also like the Hornady Critical Defense.

++1 That's what's in my gun right now.

[sigs4me]

I use Fedral Hyra shok and WWB round nose. I alternate them back and forth when loading the magazine. I think it gives me the best of both worlds. Expansion with the hydro's and penitration with the WWB.

[1SHOT1HIT]

Wal-Mart's WWB Is fine and works pretty well ,,, If you can look past the extra mess they leave behind, They just seem to be some really dirty rounds to shoot. But they always go bang and they are pretty affordable to use for range time.


Hydra-Shocks and Federal Premium JHP's are what we've used for Personal protection and they seem to work pretty well also.

[1911 Mike]

I use the Buffalo Bore 100gr. hard cast! As stated before they will go threw about anything!!! Massad Ayoob states in his book, In The Gravest Extreme that the ".380 is equivalent in stopping power to the .38 Special round-nose bullet fired from a short barreled revolver. Either gun will improve dramatically when high-speed, expanding bullets are used. With that said the .38 Special gains superiority." Now that was said and printed in 1980 and since then bullets have made leaps and bounds. Many say that the .380 would be marginal, but I believe it is running neck and neck with a standard .38 round. When carrying my P238, .380, I feel the 100gr. HC round to be just perfect for getting threw and in deep enough for the terminal effects needed.

[BuckshotEsq]

For range ammo I prefer good old Federal Am. Eagle but have also used WWB. No malfunctions with either. At the moment I am carrying Hornady XTP hollow points - I was looking for Critical Defense but could only find the XTP locally.

I also just got a couple boxes of Federal Hydra-Shok for carry use once I am able to test them out and ensure they feed reliably in my P238. Not to go off on a tangent, but does anyone know what the difference is (if any) between the Hydra-Shok marketed to civilians (the ones that come in boxes of 20) and the "law enforcement" rounds that ship in boxes of 50?

[B-52 Driver]

I purchased a Sig P238 HD about six weeks ago. I also purchased an extra mag for it. The mag that came with the pistol was the new type 3 (glossy finish). The mag I purchased had a dull finish. I checked the dull mag out and I had a FTF about every third round. Sig has been having a tough time with their mags for this pistol. The new type 3 mags seem to have solved the problem. I originally got this Sig for my wife, but after shooting it and checking it out, my wife may have to get her own. As for range ammo, I use Georgia Arms - I have not had any malfunctions of any kind with this ammo and the type 3 mag. For carry purposes, I am using Wilson Combat ammo. I've also shot Hornady's Critical Defense, Winchester JHP Bonded, and Silvertip HP. I haven't had any issues with any of this ammo. I found this pistol has a soft recoil, and is very accurate. I may have to relent and get my wife one - she likes it also. I put some different grips on my Sig - here is a picture - http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/...8/DSC_9934.jpg

[shootersd]

In my p238 I have shoot all sorts of ball ammo: Fed American Egale, Sellier & Bellot, WWB, MagTech, Fiocchi, PMC... all flawlessly.

As far as defensive ammo goes, I tried whatever I had used in my LCP. Can't remember what it was but was the typical conned JHP shape. I noticed that it would catch the feed ramp slightly when racking the slide on first round. I had 1 or 2 FTF issues within 20 so I tried Pow'RBall defensive. If you compare the typical coned HP ammo with ball ammo, the HP are typically slightly longer because of the cone shape. The Pow'RBall is more the size/shape/length of range or ball ammo and Pow'RBall worked flawlessly. Now, my experience with the typical HP issues was during break in. Now way past break in I would like to try something with some more weight, Pow'RBall are only 70gr. Going to give Hornady Critical Defense 90gr a try soon. Any other similar experiences like mine? Any thoughts on defensive rounds regarding the extra length of typical coned (not rounded) JHPs?

[FB Si]

Hornady Critical Defense. No feeding problems whatsoever.

[killlain]

From what I've researched and watched on youtube, for the .380 hydroshock did not perform well, and neither did the rimington golden sabers.

The golden sabers are perfect .45, nearly perfect 9mm, but with .380 and its low velocity the denim gets stuck into the hole of the hp, clogging it up, thus causing it to act like a fmj with no separation whatsoever.

For HP, I would go with gold dot, or critical defense. People have suggested full metal jackets in winter for better penatration in heavy clothing, but I have yet to look into that.

[Southlake]

Love my P238. Not sure why the ammo is more $$$ than the 9mm though. There is a 380 discussion in the ammo can on best ammo. Delta Kilo has given some advice on 380 ammo. I respect his opinions. With that said:

LuckyGunner had a sale on the XTP load. I bought 10 boxes of 25 and have fired 4 boxes down range with excellent accuracy and zero failures. I think it's a happy medium between expansion & penetration. I also found a sale on Fiocchi ammo. Bought 10 boxes of 50 at 95 gr fmj and fired 6 boxes down range with 3 rnds. fte. Surprisingly the XTP cycles better so far. Interestingly, because the practice ammo is hotter than the SD ammo, i have faster follow-ups.

Ooops, I just saw this was a resurrected thread. Oh well, good info anyway.

[WaltherMitty]

Originally Posted by Electraclyde

No problem with Federal Hydra Shok 90gr JHP in mine. So far that is the only JHP I have been able to get. Will try others when I find them. (I do not buy ammo online or mail order. If the local area gunshops do not have them, I wait.)
For target practise, I use my reloads. E-Xtreme 100gr plated flat point over 3.0grs of Win 231. Do not have a cronograph, but felt/perceived recoil feels the same as the above Hydra-Shoks.

Late to the game on this but for the past two years I HAVE been buying ammo online, etc since my local gun shops are usually extremely high priced for the same ammo. Why do you choose not to buy online, if I may ask? If you've already answered this elsewhere, ignore my two-year late post. Thanks.

[Ran]

Originally Posted by cocked_and_locked

as a note on .380 performance. i was worried that it wouldnt have the power to go through winter clothes (i live in the far north) so i bought a pork shoulder put four layers of denim over the front and made a back stop of old clothing to catch any over penetrations. i fired 5 90. gr Hydra Shoks into the shoulder from 7 yards, all of the rounds went through the denim and about 9 inches, give or take, of pork and some clothing on the other side. all but one bullet fully expanded, one only got to about 75% of expansion. not a scientific test by any means but plenty to assure me that 380 would serve my self defense needs. Good 380 also seems to be as hot a round as military 9mm

Thanks for posting this info, C&L. I love my P238 for EDC. I carry a couple of other pistols, but really like the 238 for summer carry. Fun pistol to shoot as well. I haven't yet found any ammo it won't eat.

[skipperbrown]

Take a look at the last ammo report in the Am Rifleman (someone had a link to it this week). The Rem 102 gr golden sabers were right in there with most 9mm +p and .38 +p ammo as far as penetration and expansion. I am running Hornady TAP in my 238 and mostly WWB at the range. It's been perfect. It's a sweet little gun.

[winchester21]

The Speer Gold Dots worked best for me. Amazing accuracy for a pocket auto and zero function issues.

[parkerdt]

We've had issues in our P238 with the Wolf KYP4 Russina steel stuff.

RWS Sport FMJ and Hornady Critical Defense, no issues at all.

[wingnuut]

WINCHESTER SILVERTIPS always works and accurate

[MARINE1981]

Critical defense is pretty good but buffalo bore seems to be the ticket