I recently picked up a really nice P239 SAS pistol on Gunbroker. I was the only person who bid on it and paid $405, quite a deal for a like new 239 in .40 S&W. Somewhat makes up for the times I've overpaid on other auctions...

The reason I am posting is because I have wanted to add a P245 to my collection for a while now. They seem to command a pretty serious price when they do become available. I have never handled one and have large hands, wear a size XL or sometimes even XXL gloves.

Can someone who has handled or owns both a P239 and P245 chime in on if they know which pistol has a longer grip? My hand barely fit the P239 and I don't want to buy a 245 if it doesn't have enough grip length. I'm mainly concerned with the length of the front grip strap.

As an aside, I purchased a set of Hogue G10 checkered grips which really transformed the handling of the P239 for me. First impressions after one range trip using the factory grips was that this pistol probably isn't for me. The Hogue grips are expensive but they made a big difference for me at least. Have a great weekend!

P245 is similar to the P239 in that regard. It’s pretty crowded for big paws.

If I think about when I am near mine and will take a more critical look to compare and get back to you.

As an aside the P239 in .40 is an amazing little pistol.

quote:

Originally posted by FormerActionGuy:

I don't want to buy a 245 if it doesn't have enough grip length. I'm mainly concerned with the length of the front grip strap.

I have a P245, one of my favorite SIGs. It has been my most frequently carried pistol for the past few years. I usually carry it off-body, in a Wilderness SafePacker. I do have several of the P245 / P220c magazines, but when the pistol is not in a belt holster ([i]i.e.[i] in the SafePacker or on the nightstand), it is loaded with an eight round full size P220 magazine, using an X-Grip adapter, so the grip length is about the same as that of a full size P220.

If you want to go this route, SIGforum member Greg Cote can probably supply you with the P220 magazines and X-Grip adapters.

I have long fingers and long hands. The length of pull on the P239 is too short for me. The length of pullbon the P245 is longer than the P239, and it fits my hand perfectly. If you're just a bit crunched on the P239 I imagine you'll be just fine on the P245.

I carry a P229 these days due to the higher capacity and the fact that it's in 9mm, but the P245/P220 Compact are probably the guns that fit my hand best. I sold my P239.

Thanks for the responses to all. Just to clarify - I don't have a problem with the length of pull on the 239, close enough to the P220 I carried for over 20 years. The length (height) of the grip was my main concern. Thanks 92fstech, sounds like the 245 should work for me then.

I just sold my S-I-L a 1998 German manufactured P245. Estate sale, came into the store.

First one I’ve seen in the wild for many years.

The length/height should be very similar. if anything, the P245 grip will be a little longer because of the pinky extensions on the front of the mag baseplates.

I have both, they're close, but the 245 is a bit bigger, it's just a 220 cut down.

The G10 grips transform the 245 even more than the 239.

Have both and in summer i carry the 239, Hogue chain link grips and a armory craft +1 mag adapter. it's gives it a little more room for purchase

quote:

Originally posted by FormerActionGuy:
I recently picked up a really nice P239 SAS pistol on Gunbroker. I was the only person who bid on it and paid $405, quite a deal for a like new 239 in .40 S&W. Somewhat makes up for the times I've overpaid on other auctions...

The reason I am posting is because I have wanted to add a P245 to my collection for a while now. They seem to command a pretty serious price when they do become available. I have never handled one and have large hands, wear a size XL or sometimes even XXL gloves.

Can someone who has handled or owns both a P239 and P245 chime in on if they know which pistol has a longer grip? My hand barely fit the P239 and I don't want to buy a 245 if it doesn't have enough grip length. I'm mainly concerned with the length of the front grip strap.

As an aside, I purchased a set of Hogue G10 checkered grips which really transformed the handling of the P239 for me. First impressions after one range trip using the factory grips was that this pistol probably isn't for me. The Hogue grips are expensive but they made a big difference for me at least. Have a great weekend!

Have both. 239 in .357. Carry the 245 most. Someone commented on the 6 round mag. Having carried a model 15 snub by for years. Perfectly happy with the 245.

Will try to take a pic tomorrow of them side by side to help out. Love my 239’s and my 245. Note mags are hard to get for the 245/220 compact (read expensive).

Believe it or not the P239 is a bit BIGGER than the P245. Who knew?


P239 on top of P245 below.

Dang Chris, you're right. Never would have thought that. Not that it's a significant amount, but the P239 just feels so much smaller.

One thing your pictures reminded me of is how square the P239 grip profile is. It appears that the Hogue grips address that a little bit, but in factory config it's kinda like a holding a one-by-two. None of my other P22X guns are like that, even the single-stacks (P220, P225, P245)...I'm not sure why they decided to do that with the P239.

No experience with a P245, but I bought a P239 .40 in 2007. It was my off duty carry for a couple years before I went to Glock because that’s what I was issued.

I put almost 4K rounds through that gun. Back then here on the forum, everyone was concerned about rails and using grease and a lot of folks here used the Hogue rubber finger grove grips to mitigate the flat front strap on the gun. I greased up my rails accordingly from Flork’s recommendations but after many rounds the rails were starting to show wear and the gun rattled like a baby’s toy if shaken. However it was still as accurate in my hands as it was when new.

I tried the Hogue rubber grips. Yes it fixed the flat front strap, but at the cost of the rubber grips catching on some of my cover garments. It also made accessing the slide lock/release difficult for me. They also made the grip circumference larger. I ditched them very quickly.

As the OP pointed out, he installed Hogue checked grips and likes the way they make the gun feel. I’ve posted similar results here before. The way those grips are molded/finished seem to minimize the flat front strap feel. I added a strip of skateboard tape to the front strap and with the Hogue G-10’s was one happy camper.

Like I said above, it was a .40 gun, but I had plus one mag extensions that I got from Top Gun Supply on some of my mags. They really didn’t add too much to the length but the extra round was nice.

OP, enjoy your P239. I kind of wish I’d have kept mine.

quote:

Dang Chris, you're right. Never would have thought that. Not that it's a significant amount, but the P239 just feels so much smaller.

Yeah I was really surprised. I always felt like they were “close” but felt like the P245 was certainly bigger. Like you said not significant but shockingly there is less room in that P245 grip.

That P239 was my first serious carry gun. I always found it to be a fantastic pistol with my only issue being it’s the ONLY SIG I will occasionally ride the slide lock on. As for the grips I only did those for fun many many years later. I wish I had done them out of the gate. They transform the gun and make it even better and look great too.

Thank you, Chris, for the photos that you posted. I am also surprised that the 245 grip is actually slightly shorter than the 239.
I guess I will have to pass on looking for a 245. Was really hoping to find one as I carried a P220 for quite a while but it's a bit bigger than I prefer to carry these days. Thanks to all and stay safe.

Former Action Guy

Have you considered a P220 Compact?
I know you stated that you carried the 220 for over 20 years, so maybe that is an option.

Great comparison pics, Chris. I always thought that they were radically different in size.

On a side note, the squared off front of the P239 grip always felt odd in my hand. I prefer the P225/P225A1 100x more...

The P245 is a great gun because, well... 45.

If you've got a P239 in .40, which by the way is a fantastic platform for that caliber, you're on your way to a superb set of options. Get a .357sig barrel and now you have two calibers with nothing more than a barrel swap.

Get a 9mm barrel, magazines and recoil spring and now you've got an inexpensive training caliber. Go one step further and get a threaded 9mm barrel, suppress it and enjoy the smile on your face when shooting that one.

As for the grip size, the P239 does feel a bit cramped for those of us with bigger hands. Find a Crimson Trace laser grip for it and it's a whole different world. Even if you don't need the laser option, the grip material, shape and size are about perfection for that gun. They are also less tacky than the large rubber Hogue's that are often used, so as a CCW gun, it won't grab your clothing as much.

Galloway makes a +1 extension for the P239. It doesn't add much, but every little bit helps.

https://gallowayprecision.com/...for-sig-p239-pistols