I have a birthday coming up this month, so my wife and I headed to the Nation's Gun Show at the Dulles Expo Center in Northern Virginia. I had a few candidates in mind -- CZ Scorpion Evo, Ruger Super Blackhawk .454 Casull, etc. Still not sold on the pistol caliber carbine (unless you go the SBR path) and no single action .454 Casull Rugers to be found.

Ended up with my wife buying me a SIG P226 Legion SAO. Apparently, I'm unable to resist the SIG goodness. The seller had three. All the triggers were good, but one was just a bit crisper, so I ended up with that one. Nothing fits my hand quite as well as the P226, particularly the Legion.

They also had a SIG P238 HD with the nickel PVD finish. The P238 is my favorite "micro-compact" .380 (to use SIG's latest description) to shoot. I believe this model has been discontinued by SIG, and I've seen it on clearance sale online. I prefer the nickel finish to the new models natural stainless finish.

We headed home with just the Legion, but the P238 was calling me, so I returned to pick it up at close to the lowest online price.

I'll be interested to see what difference the extra 5 ounces the stainless steel frame adds over the allow frame when I next head to the range. I set the SIG emblem black wood grips aside and installed Hogue G10's with the Chain Link texture (black/gray).

It is a real blessing to have a wife that understands the SIG addiction. On the other hand, I'm understanding of her David Yurman addiction.

Range report to follow.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MagnumU,

Happy birthday, indeed!

Well, she's definitely a keeper! Nice job on that SAO Legion. I need a freind who has one so I can try it. Dang it. You're Dulles not Dallas.

I have the 238 HD and prefer it over the alum frame 238. I believe you will see a fair difference in recoil. Be careful though as my wife is trying to make the 238 HD her own...

Definitely a keeper. She's trying to make my favorite SIG her own -- a P229 Sport in .357 SIG.

I'm hoping I'll be able to use the P238 HD's lower felt recoil to help new, recoil sensitive shooters move up from .22.

I like your signature line -- it reminds me of Depeche Mode's "Policy of Truth."

Congrats on the Legion...and your wife.

I'm not a believer in the mission statement of the HD 238 variant, but if it works for you I suppose congratulations is also in order there as well.

Wow great birthday gifts.

Congrats! I like your choices. I have similar – P226 SAO (X5 Comp) and a P238. I treated my X5 to a Robert Burke action job. Quite a wonderful trigger now.

Don't think I'd carry the P238 HD (I have a P238 SAS for that role), but I'm hoping it will be a good practice pistol for the range.

I was leaning to the Glock 42 for some time, but am coming back to the P238.

Sweet!

Just about the same thing happened to me a few years ago... but for the David Yurman thing.

Fine examples of craftsmanship in stainless steel. They look great together!

quote:

Originally posted by MagnumU:

They also had a SIG P238 HD with the nickel PVD finish.

I thought the HD was a stainless model?

The current HD is stainless, with "natural stainless finish." The discontinued one I picked up is stainless with a Nickel PVD finish.

^^^ Thanks, we need PIXS!

quote:

Originally posted by MagnumU:
Fine examples of craftsmanship in stainless steel. They look great together!

Thank you sir.

I have an all stainless P220 that goes with these, but I've yet to find matching grips that fit.

Excam_Man is right, here is a picture of my new P226 Legion, P238 HD Nickel, and for grins my P229 Sport.

Finally, since no picture is complete without a blade, a Gerber Commando II.

While it's not the best picture, comparing the one above to the one from .38supersig, shows the subtle bronze / gold tone that the Nickel PVD finish adds.

Did they make the P938 in that nickel finish??

I've never seen one. A quick internet search shows it was in the SIG catalog in 2015 and a lot of the discussion threads say they weren't seen in the wild. Unless I've missed something, there isn't a stainless frame P938 in SIG's current catalog.

Maybe a steel frame P938 couldn't compete with the compact 1911 based 9mm.

Happy Birthday to you

Congratulations on the new Legion

quote:

Originally posted by MagnumU:
Definitely a keeper. She's trying to make my favorite SIG her own -- a P229 Sport in .357 SIG.

I'm hoping I'll be able to use the P238 HD's lower felt recoil to help new, recoil sensitive shooters move up from .22.

I like your signature line -- it reminds me of Depeche Mode's "Policy of Truth."

The P229 Sport is one of my favorite SIGs as well. You might just have to go find another to buy.

The P229 platform and the 357SIG cartridge just go together

My Ex used to monopolize my P229 Sport Stock.
She is gone, but I still have the firearm

I keep an eye out for them at the local gun stores. Saw one in .40 S&W last year, but decided to pass on it. If .357 SIG conversion barrels that worked with the compensator had been available, I might have jumped at it.