Sig P239 - opinions and experiences?

[MattyD380]

I shoot the P226 and P229 noticeably better than any of my other pistols, but I'm fairly underwhelmed with my P239 so far. Mine is a 1996 gun that was unfired, but appears to have been used for dry fire. I replaced the thin trigger with a standard one, and put in a new recoil spring.

For me it seems as sensitive to trigger finger placement as a Glock, and I found myself pulling shots to the left. I also had issues with riding the slide stop lever, something that rarely happens with the double-stack guns. At one point I had depressed it just far enough that it barely engaged, and when I removed the magazine that disturbance was enough to allow the slide to slam forward.

I had one malfunction, a failure to eject that occurred at I believe round 176, on the last round of the magazine. I was expecting slide lock anyway so I didn't immediately perform a malfunction drill, but as the gun recoiled I could actually feel the slide short-stroke. Ammo was Speer Lawman 147 gr. FMJ.

On the plus side, the gun is very concealable, and pretty soft-shooting for a smaller pistol. It just takes a lot more concentration for me to get accurate hits than it does with the double-stack SIGs.

Handguns are so subjective. Personally, the P239 has always been one of my best shooting Sigs. Strangely, I pull shots left with my P226--P239 puts them right in the bullseye. All day every day. I've had a P228, a P225/P6 and I shoot my P239 better than all of them.

I think a lot of it has to do with hand size/grip size. I have small hands, so I can get a lot of hand around the P239, and a lot of finger on the trigger. Helps me control the shots. I will say I do have Nill grips on mine... which feel just about perfect for me. Though I still shot the gun very well with the stock grips.

Only malf I ever had with a P239 was a FTE with 115gr reman right after putting a brand new recoil spring in. No surprises there. That was also a 1996 model (first year, for the 239 I think). I currently have a 2006 model (SBU serial) which has been flawless.

[FrankinCA]

P239 fan here. I have two: one when they first became available and the other purchased in 2014. Shoots like a larger pistol and conceals well.

[Flintsky]

I just realized that this thread started in 2012.....

I've been using classic Sigs since the early 2000s when I starting working for an agency that uses them exclusively. I went through and carried literally every model we are allowed to use in .380, 9mm, .40, and .45. I am skilled in all of them, but ultimately I settled on the P226 9mm and P239 9mm. The combo compliments one another very well, and I can shoot the P239 just as well as I can shoot the P226. The P239 is unique in that it has big gun features, handles like a big gun, but retains small gun size. If you are a dedicated Sig shooter, then you have already modified your grip to keep from riding the slide release lever. The P239 is a little easier to trip due to the tendency to ride the gun higher with its short grip, and the thin grip makes it easier bring your thumbs around further. I know some guys who have trimmed up their slide release lever to keep from tripping it, but I never needed to do this.

[MattyD380]

P239 fan here. I have two: one when they first became available and the other purchased in 2014. Shoots like a larger pistol and conceals well.

Just curious--do you notice any subjective differences in feel or quality between the two?

[MGW]

Just curious--do you notice any subjective differences in feel or quality between the two?

I know you didn't ask me but I use to own and early 239 and still own a fairly recent build 239. I didn't notice a lot of difference in the two. The newer one is more accurate and POI is to the sights. The older one had a higher, but unknown, round count. Accuracy was not bad just not as good as the newer one. It impacted several inches low at 15 yards. Tried different Sig 8/8 sights and it was still low. Both had SRT's installed and the triggers were very nice.

The only real difference I was able to find it the newer 239 is slightly thicker over all. It fits a little tighter in my JM Custom holster.

[MattyD380]

I know you didn't ask me but I use to own and early 239 and still own a fairly recent build 239. I didn't notice a lot of difference in the two. The newer one is more accurate and POI is to the sights. The older one had a higher, but unknown, round count. Accuracy was not bad just not as good as the newer one. It impacted several inches low at 15 yards. Tried different Sig 8/8 sights and it was still low. Both had SRT's installed and the triggers were very nice.

The only real difference I was able to find it the newer 239 is slightly thicker over all. It fits a little tighter in my JM Custom holster.

That's interesting that you mention the newer one being thicker. I noticed that as well. I had a 96 and I currently have a 2006 (ballpark)--the 2006 struck me as being thicker, but I figured it was just because it had been a while since I'd seen a P239. Guess not.

One thing about my early one... the frame/slide fit was super tight. So tight, that the bottom of the locking insert was peening the feed ramp every time I reassembled the gun. I never had a failure because of that, and the gun shot great. But that's why I ultimately sold it.

I found the 2006 model on a lark in a gun shop. Checked for the same issue, didn't notice it. Bought it on the spot. Overall, the slide/frame fit is looser on the 2006... but I think that's preferable to being super tight. And I'd say the newer might be slightly more accurate.

[FrankinCA]

Just curious--do you notice any subjective differences in feel or quality between the two?

Hi Matty, no real difference. The new one does rattle a little and my older Sig has a smoother trigger, but that's due to dry firing. Function, reliability, POA is the same.

[LockedBreech]

Welp, I found a very-good condition DAK with police agency markings for dirty cheap, so there goes the 2017 no-gun-buy thing. Gonna try and do me a back-to-DA/SA project later this year.

So I got my P229R DAK today. I cannot recommend Recoil Gun Works highly enough (I have no relationship with them). I paid $439 for a nearly new condition P229 with Trijicon HD night sights and an absolutely awesome police slide marking.

I am posting this because I want to talk about the DAK trigger. After all my reading over the years and based on the market price of DAK pistols, I assumed it was going to be the worst trigger ever, and..it's not. At all. It feels exactly like a revolver trigger. You just have to let it cycle fully instead of trying to reset it. What am I missing?

[Sero Sed Serio]

I am posting this because I want to talk about the DAK trigger. After all my reading over the years and based on the market price of DAK pistols, I assumed it was going to be the worst trigger ever, and..it's not. At all. It feels exactly like a revolver trigger. You just have to let it cycle fully instead of trying to reset it. What am I missing?

You're not missing anything. The DAK has very distinct advantages and disadvantages: it is a great trigger for people management (far better than the LEM IMO due to the lack of a wall at the end), one-handed shooting, and shooting a DA-type pistol at long distances. It absolutely sucks at shooting fast splits. I think this issue is somewhat mitigated in the 40/357 guns because, while the trigger is a bit slower to reset, it also spends a little more time in recoil.

I'm very happy with my P226 357 DAK, and will be picking up a 9mm version as well.

[ca survivor]

Factory or MecGar.

MecGar is the magazine maker for, Sig, H&K, Beretta and may more that I can't think of.