In the market for a quality carry pistol small like the Kimber Solo (9mm) or the Sig 238 (.380). Both pointed good for me in the store and both fit nicely in my front jeans pocket undetected. Price is close enough it doesn't matter to me.
Anyone have experience with either of these 2 pistols. Looking for Good and bad feedback, as well as if ammo is more available from one to the other. How much advantage is there with the 9 vs. the .380? Thanks ken
I like to shoot my Sig 238 and it is fairly accurate but don't like it for
concealed carry. Have to pull hammer back or carry with it back and safety on.
Solo's are picky on ammo. Bought two guns yesterday that I really like; a Kahr
P380 which is very comparable to the Sig in size and quality, and the new Glock
42. Paid 450.00 (cash/no sales tax) for the Glock (new in the box) and I love it.
The first thing you should decide is the cartridge. The 9mm will provide more power and a wider range of bullet weights and types. I'm sure for similar size pistols, most would recommend the 9mm.
Sig has the P938 which is very similar to the P238 except it is 9mm. There is a big difference in action types you have to consider. The Solo is a double action only and the Sigs are single action. I wouldn't recommend carrying a single action cocked and locked in your pocket so, you'll have to decide on speed vs safety. The DAO pistols might be your best choice and there are other good choices to compare to the Solo such as the Ruger and Kahr (P9 or CM9)
I forgot to mention, I have a Kahr CW9 and it is a great value and has worked well with all ammo types. A friend has one too and has had similar results
I forgot to mention, I have a Kahr CW9 and it is a great value and has worked well with all ammo types. A friend has one too and has had similar results
I forgot to mention that I have the Kahr CW9 and it works very well on all ammo types, is easy to carry and a good value. The P9 is more money and has more features. Springfield Armory also offers a small single stack 9mm.
I have the Sig P238. It is a high quality gun that you would expect from a Sig. I have shot several hundred rounds with zero problems. If I had it to do over again, I would buy the Sig P938 (9mm) which was not available when I purchased the P238. the P938 is almost the same size, price, and feel of the P238.
I sold a Kahr P380 to purchase the Sig because of jamming problems with the Kahr.
I have a solo and think it will be a great carry gun. It is striker fire so you won't have to worry about carrying g it cocked and locked. The only downfall to the solo is ammo selection. You must shoot only the recommended ammo on Kimbers website. It will not function reliably with standard 115 grain ball ammo. I had a lot of FTFs. Not one issue with 124 grain federal premium home defense hollow points. The ammo is expensive but the gun is not a plinker.
I looked at these two guns, plus the Colt Mustang.
I ended up buying the Colt. Just felt better in my hand.
One thing I didn't like at first was the front sight was impossible to pick up bringing the gun up from the low ready position. Some fluorescent orange jig head paint solved that problem.
I carry it very comfortably in a DeSantis Nemesis front pocket holster.
I can keep a three shot burst from the low ready position in the 8 ring at 20 feet so I don't think the .380's lack of power compared to the 9mm is an issue.
It is loaded with Cor-Bon JHP's. They are on the hot end for .380's, and function flawlessly in the gun.
I have seen a bunch of malfunctions on our indoor range with both of the guns you mention. Failures-to-fire on the Solo, failures-to-extract on the Sig. I would never consider either one of them for carry. I still pack my Glock 19. Always works.
If the Glock is not your cup of tea or you want a smaller gun, I would also think about the Shield. They work. If the 40 is too snappy for you, get the 9X19 version.
Don't forget the Kimber Solo also has that totally-unnecessary "dummy switch" (safety). This gun is oriented towards people who aren't totally comfortable carrying "hot," or grew up hunting in a field with a shotgun with the safety on, and think a switch makes you safer. (Problem is, pheasants don't shoot back). It's a "halfway house" toward going all the way to something you just pull and shoot, but I think they messed up what could have been a perfectly good defense gun if not for that.
I owned one of the first batch of Solos that came out and lots of feeding problems. I know they had delays after first batch so they probably got it corrected by now. It was a neat and accurate little 9mm. good luck jim w.
A vote for 938 bought one a few months ago great sig quality with zero issues. A quality product I think Mike's got one down at the dollar ask him.
TNCoach
I should have mentioned in my post that most problems with small autos are user related. Improper grip will make these guns STOP.
Folks who know how to hold and shoot them do not have many problems. Go watch in a busy range and you will quickly see that the majority of folks simply do not know how to properly grip and shoot their handgun. Many folks cannot make an auto run.
The smaller the gun, the more critical the grip and technique is. Even with good technique, will you have the proper grip on your carry arm if drawn and used in a panic, or if you are injured?
If you have doubts about this, and I do as an Armed Citizen, I suggest carrying an arm with a good reputation for always working.
If you carry a petite gun with a reputation for reliability issues, and it stops when you REALLY need it, you were warned.
I really like the Sig 238. It is very comfortable on my hip, and does not get in the way. Never had it jam or miss feed a wide variety of ammo, it runs on all the ammo I have tried. It is also a very accurate little gun, I was very surprised at how well the Sig shoots. I recommend a quality holster without a thumb break. The thumb break would depress the safety throughout the day. So I went with a strapless holster, and never had that issue again. I really like the Sig, either the 238 or the 938, you are gonna have a great CCW.
I have the Colt Mustang with over a 1000 rounds thru it with zero issues. Completely agree with the comment that the front sight is near impossible to pick up rapidly without something to highlight it. That would be the only complaint I have with it. Smoothest firing .380 I have ever shot and extremely easy to reacquire for second shot.
I have a Shield in .40. So far no issues and one item I play with is a multitude of gun gripping holds as you never know what might happen and how much you have left if hit.
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