Friday, December 6, 2013

SIG SAUER P938 SPORT


stock image from palmettostatearmory.com


Sig Sauer P938 Sport

    The first thing I thought when I saw the Sig Sauer P938 is “That looks a lot like a miniature 1911.” Well, that turned out to be an accurate assessment. This gun may be as close to a miniature 1911 as I’ve ever come across and is definitely a joy to shoot.

This gun is patterned after the Colt Mustang, but it is calibered in the more potent 9MM caliber.
Size Perspective LEFT: Shooter's Beretta 92FS RIGHT: SIG Sauer P938

Overall - First and foremost, the extended magazine made the gun into a more “user friendly” firearm. No one likes their pinky finger hanging off the bottom of the frame. Second, (and just as important) the night sights on this gun made target acquisition intuitive and simple. As a reminder, we tested the P938 Sport. SIG produces several different models in the 938 line, and we chose to fire what seems to be the most popular of the line, the Sport.

Ergonomics –The P938 Sport comes standard with the magazine extension and the Hogue grip. This grip is one that “grips” you back when you grab it. There is no slipping or sliding with these grips. The gun’s safety is ambidextrous and easily manipulated. The magazine release is on the left side of the frame in the traditional location. If you are used to the grip angle of a 1911 then this gun will be right at home in your hands.

TW firing the SIG P938 Sport

Trigger- The smooth single action trigger pull of this gun really lent to its overall accuracy. The clean and crisp trigger break was very reminiscent of the classic 1911. The Sig has a short trigger break with an equally short reset. Split time between shots could easily be in the realm of higher end competitive guns with just a little practice. If you are accustomed to single action triggers the P938 will be as much a joy for you as it was for us. The accompanying photos show the ease of achieving tight groups.

Sights- The Sigs fiber optic/night sights were a joy to use and made sight acquisition very easy. The front green fiber optic tube really contrasted nicely with the target. When bringing the gun to bear on the target the shooters eye immediately finds the front sight. Then it’s just a simple matter of basic sight alignment and placing the front sight where you want the bullet to impact. If you do your part with the trigger press the gun will reward you with really tight groups that will build your confidence.

Recoil/ Control- The recoil on a gun this size should be unpleasant, but that’s not the case with the Sig P938 Sport. The 115 grn Federal ammo was stout but nowhere near uncomfortable. The Hogue grips lend a lot to this fact. Grips that do not move around tend not to “bite” the shooter and the “living” rubber of the Hogue absorb a significant amount of recoil while evenly distributing the rest of the energy to the shooter’s hand.



Category- The Sig is one of those rare guns that transcends the expectations of the user. When you first handle the gun you may think it’s only intended for concealment in a pocket or even an inside the waist band holster. Assuming this to be a small gun with only limited accuracy would be a mistake. Once you take the time to put the P938 through your own test, we are confident you will realize this is a small gun capable of really big things. The P938 shoots like a full size duty gun but hides as easily as the latest “pocket rocket”.

The most noticeable thing for CG and I was the trigger on the P938. CG is a combat veteran who normally carries a striker fired double-action-only gun. Acclimating to the single action, fast-breaking trigger of the P938 required a little more concentration on his part. I, on the other hand, am more accustomed to single action triggers and found the P938 a refreshing break from the popular DAO pull on the majority of today’s small defensive pistols. If you have had a long relationship with 1911s then you will find the P938 feels like a trusted old friend. Yet when you slip it in a pocket or soft leather holster the diminutive size will open your eyes to the wonders of this new little giant.