Affiliate disclosure: This SIG P238 review contains affiliate links. If you buy through our links then we can receive a small commission that helps keep the lights on. You don’t pay anything more.
- Treat every gun as loaded
- Point the muzzle in a safe direction
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot
- Know your target and what’s beyond
Table of Contents
How we tested: Every pick here is ranked against our testing methodology. Minimum round counts, accuracy and reliability protocols, the failures that disqualify a gun.
Review: SIG P238, a Pocket .380 That Shoots Like a Tiny 1911
Our Rating: 8/10
- MSRP: $719.99 (SIG Sauer, Two-Tone)
- Street Price: $699.99 to $772.99 (use our live pricing for the best up to date deal)
- Caliber: .380 ACP
- Action: Single action only, exposed hammer, manual safety
- Barrel Length: 2.7 in., carbon steel
- Overall Length: 5.5 in.
- Height: 3.9 in.
- Width: 1.1 in.
- Weight: 14.9 oz. with magazine
- Capacity: 6+1 and 7+1 (one of each magazine in the box)
- Sights: XRAY3 day/night sights
- Frame: Alloy, with a stainless steel slide
Pros
- Crisp single action pocket gun trigger
- Soft recoil for a gun this small
- All metal with real night sights
Cons
- Expensive for a .380
- Cocked and locked takes practice
- Practice ammo costs more than 9mm
Quick Take
The SIG P238 is a .380 pocket pistol built like a shrunken 1911: all metal, single action only, with an exposed hammer and a thumb safety you sweep off as you draw. It’s 5.5 inches long and weighs 14.9 ounces with a magazine. Where most pocket .380s have long, heavy double action triggers, the P238 has a short, crisp single action pull, and that’s the reason people pay $700 for it.
We put 750 rounds through a P238 Two-Tone. It was accurate, comfortable to shoot for a gun this small, and reliable with good ammo. The trade-offs are the price, which is roughly double a polymer .380, and the manual of arms: you carry it cocked and locked, and you have to train that thumb safety until it’s automatic.
The detail most P238 reviews miss: SIG’s own P238 page now shows just three models, the Two-Tone, the Emperor Scorpion and the Titanium Rainbow, with a California version of the Two-Tone. The lineup has been shrinking, and on the street nearly every new P238 sits at $749.99.
Best For: Shooters who want the smallest gun with a real single action trigger, and anyone who finds 9mm too sharp in a pocket gun. Not for buyers on a budget or anyone who won’t practice with a manual safety.
What the P238 Is
SIG introduced the P238 in 2009. Its layout traces back through Colt’s small .380 pistols of the 1980s and 1990s, the Mustang family, to John Browning’s 1911: a single action hammer, a thumb safety on the frame and a short barrel that locks to the slide. Unlike a full-size 1911, it has no grip safety.
SIG’s P238 Two-Tone page lists the model as 238-380-TXR3: a stainless slide on a black anodized alloy frame, rosewood HOGUE grips, XRAY3 day/night sights, a curved single action only trigger and one 6 round and one 7 round steel magazine. The 9mm version is the P938, and our SIG P238 vs P938 comparison covers which to buy.
P238 Size and Specs
Every number below comes from SIG’s P238 Two-Tone spec table.
| Spec | P238 Two-Tone |
| Caliber | .380 ACP |
| Length | 5.5 in. |
| Height | 3.9 in. |
| Width | 1.1 in. |
| Weight | 14.9 oz. with magazine |
| Barrel | 2.7 in., carbon steel |
| Sight radius | 3.8 in. |
| Trigger | Curved, single action only |
| Magazines | One 6 round, one 7 round |
| MSRP | $719.99 |
Who Should NOT Buy This Gun
- Buyers on a budget: A polymer .380 or a budget pocket 9mm costs less than half as much.
- Anyone who won’t train the safety: It’s carried cocked and locked. A missed safety under stress is a dead trigger.
- Shooters who want 9mm: The P938 is only 0.4 inch longer and shoots a cheaper cartridge.
- People who shoot a lot: .380 practice ammo costs more per round than 9mm.
How the P238 Compares
SIG P938 ($656 to $771)
The P938 is the same idea in 9mm, a little longer and a little heavier. It shoots a cheaper, more powerful cartridge and recoils harder. If 9mm recoil in a gun this size doesn’t bother you, it’s the better buy. See our P238 vs P938 page for the full breakdown.
Kimber Micro 380 ($620 to $1,146)
The Kimber Micro 380 is the P238’s direct rival: another all-metal, single action .380 with a thumb safety and a 1911 layout. It runs from about the same price as the P238 to well over $1,000 for the decorated models. Pick on grips, sights and how it fits your hand, because the two guns are very close.
Polymer .380s
Guns like the Ruger LCP MAX and the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 are lighter, hold more rounds and cost far less. Their long double action or striker triggers are harder to shoot well. If you want the lightest gun, not the nicest one, see our best .380 for concealed carry.
How We Tested It
Our test gun was a P238 Two-Tone with the factory 6 and 7 round magazines. We shot it on three range days in September and October 2026, 750 rounds total, from 3 to 15 yards, and carried it in a pocket holster and an inside-the-waistband holster for two weeks.
Phase 1: Break-In
We had one failure to feed in the first 50 rounds, with a 90 grain hollow point on the first round from a full 7 round magazine. Nothing after that. The trigger broke at 6.1 pounds on our gauge with almost no creep, and it reset short and clean.
Phase 2: Reliability
Rounds 51 through 750 ran without a stoppage, including 150 rounds of defensive hollow points. Keep it lubricated. A small, all-metal gun with tight tolerances runs best wet.
Phase 3: Accuracy
At 7 yards, standing, five-shot groups ran 1.9 to 2.8 inches. At 15 yards they opened to about 3.5 inches. The single action trigger is the whole story here: it’s far easier to shoot the P238 well than a double action pocket gun.
Ammunition Log
| Ammunition | Rounds | 7 yd group | Notes |
| Blazer Brass 95 gr FMJ | 400 | 2.6 in. | Smooth, no issues |
| Federal American Eagle 95 gr FMJ | 200 | 2.4 in. | Smooth, no issues |
| Hornady Critical Defense 90 gr FTX | 100 | 2.2 in. | One early failure to feed |
| Federal HST 99 gr | 50 | 1.9 in. | Best accuracy |
What This Means for You
Buy a box of your carry load and run it through the gun before you trust it. Once it’s broken in, the P238 is reliable and easy to shoot accurately for its size.
Carrying It Cocked and Locked
The P238 is designed to be carried with a round chambered, the hammer back and the safety on, exactly like a 1911. Your thumb sweeps the safety down as the gun comes up, and back up before the gun goes back in the holster.
That’s a skill, not a feature. Practice it dry, ten minutes a day for a few weeks, before you carry. Our manual safety guide covers the training, and for pocket carry, the holster has to cover the trigger and hold the safety on. See our best pocket holsters.
Performance Results
Reliability (9/10)
One early failure to feed, then 700 clean rounds.
Accuracy (9/10)
About 2 inches at 7 yards. The trigger makes it easy.
Concealment (9/10)
At 5.5 inches and 14.9 ounces it disappears in a pocket.
Value (5/10)
You pay about $750 for a .380. The trigger and the metal frame are where that money goes.
Technical Deep Dive
Single Action Only
Single action means the trigger does one job: it releases a hammer that’s already cocked. That’s why the pull is short and light compared with a double action pocket gun, where the trigger has to cock the hammer too. The trade-off is that you need a manual safety, because a short, light trigger on a cocked gun needs something between it and a pocket.
The Early Safety Recall
Early in its life, SIG recalled a range of P238s to replace the manual safety lever. If you’re buying a used early gun, check the serial number with SIG customer service. Current production isn’t affected.
| Component | Specification | Benefit |
| Action | Single action only, exposed hammer | Short, crisp trigger |
| Safety | Frame mounted thumb safety | 1911 style cocked and locked carry |
| Frame | Alloy, black anodized | Light but all metal |
| Slide | Stainless steel | Corrosion resistant for pocket carry |
| Sights | XRAY3 day/night | Visible in low light |
Upgrades Worth Making
- A pocket holster that covers the trigger: Non-negotiable with a cocked gun.
- Spare magazines: Carry the 6 round flush in the gun and the 7 round as the spare.
- Good carry ammo: Pick a load your gun feeds 100% of the time. See our best .380 self-defense ammo.
Common Problems and Fixes
- Early failures to feed: Run 200 rounds and keep it lubricated.
- Safety bumped off in a pocket: Use a holster that covers the safety area, and check it when you holster.
- Slide hard to rack: Pinch the rear serrations firmly, and rack with the safety off and the hammer back.
Final Verdict
The SIG P238 is the best-shooting pocket .380 we’ve tested. The single action trigger, the all-metal build and the night sights make it easy to shoot well, and it carries like a much smaller gun. It ran 750 rounds after one early hiccup.
It costs about twice what a polymer .380 does, and .380 practice ammo costs more than 9mm. If you’re comfortable with 9mm recoil, the P938 is the smarter buy. If you want the softest-shooting, nicest pocket gun with a real trigger, buy the P238 near the $699.99 low.
Final Score: 8/10. A tiny 1911 that you’ll actually carry.
Specs and MSRP from SIG Sauer. Prices from our live price check across 200+ retailers on October 28, 2026.
FAQ: SIG P238
Is the SIG P238 a good gun?
Yes. Ours ran 750 rounds with one failure to feed early, and its single action trigger makes it one of the easiest pocket .380s to shoot accurately. It's expensive for a .380.
How much does a SIG P238 cost?
SIG lists the P238 Two-Tone at $719.99. Street prices ran $699.99 to $772.99 at the retailers we track when we checked.
Is the SIG P238 discontinued?
No. SIG's P238 page shows the Two-Tone, Emperor Scorpion and Titanium Rainbow, plus a California version of the Two-Tone.
How big is the SIG P238?
SIG lists the Two-Tone at 5.5 inches long, 3.9 inches tall and 1.1 inches wide, with a 2.7 inch barrel and a weight of 14.9 ounces with a magazine.
Is the P238 single action only?
Yes. It's single action only with an exposed hammer and a thumb safety, and it's designed to be carried cocked and locked like a 1911.
How many rounds does the P238 hold?
The Two-Tone ships with a 6 round and a 7 round magazine, so it holds 6+1 or 7+1.
Is the P238 good for pocket carry?
Yes, in a pocket holster that covers the trigger and the safety. It's 5.5 inches long and weighs 14.9 ounces with a magazine.
SIG P238 vs P938: which should I buy?
Buy the P938 if you're fine with 9mm recoil, because it's only 0.4 inch longer and 9mm ammo costs less. Buy the P238 if you want the softer-shooting gun.
3,959+ Gun & Ammo Deals
Updated daily from 200+ top retailers. Filter by category, caliber, action type, and price.
Related Guides