Sigsauer P238 Owner's Manual
Reliability. FiRst time, eveRy time.
P238
Handling & saFety
instRuctions
tm
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS
AND WARNINGS IN THIS
MANUAL CAREFULLY BEFORE
USING THIS FIREARM; DO NOT
DISCARD THIS MANUAL.
This instruction manual should always
accompany this firearm and be transferred
with it upon ownership, or when the firearm
is loaned or presented to another person.
FOR PRODUCT SERVICE ON THIS
MODEL, PLEASE CALL (603)772-2302
sig sauer, iNC. • 18 iNdustrial drive,
exeter, New HampsHire 03833 usa
OWNERS MANUAL
1
State-By-State Warnings
Certain states require, by law, that their own specified warning
notices, in larger-than-normal type be conspicuously included by the
manufacturer, distributor, or retail dealer with firearms sold in that state.
SIG SAUER sells its products in compliance with applicable laws and
regulations. Because our products may be sold in these states, we
include the following:
CALIFORNIA:
WARNING
“Children are attracted to
and can operate firearms
that can cause severe
injuries or death. Prevent
child access by always
keeping guns locked away
and unloaded when not in
use. If you keep a loaded
firearm where a child obtains
and improperly uses it, you
may be fined or sent to
prison.”
ADVERTENCIA
“A los niños atraen las amas
de fuego y las pueden hacer
funcionar. Ellos pueden
causarse lesions graves y la
muerte. Evite que los niños
tengan accesso a las armas
de fuego guardándolas
siepre con llave y
descargadas cuando no las
esté utilizando. Si usted tiene
una arma de fuego cargada
en un lugar en que un niño
tiene accesso a ella y la
usa indebidamente, le
pueden dar una multa o
enviarlo a la carcel.”
CONNECTICUT:
“UNLAWFUL STORAGE OF A LOADED FIREARM MAY
RESULT IN IMPRISONMENT OR FINE.”
FLORIDA:
“IT IS UNLAWFUL, AND PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT
AND FINE, FOR ANY ADULT TO STORE OR LEAVE A
FIREARM IN ANY PLACE WITHIN THE REACH OR EASY
ACCESS OF A MINOR UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE OR
TO KNOWINGLY SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER
OWNERSHIP OR POSSESSION OF A FIREARM TO A
MINOR OR A PERSON OF UNSOUND MIND.”
P238 Handling & Safety Instructions VER 09.06.10
1
MAINE:
“ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A CHILD IS A CRIME.
IF YOU LEAVE A FIREARM AND AMMUNITION WITHIN
EASY ACCESS OF A CHILD, YOU MAY BE SUBJECT
TO FINE, IMPRISONMENT OR BOTH. KEEP FIREARMS
AND AMMUNITION SEPARATE. KEEP FIREARMS AND
AMMUNITION LOCKED UP. USE TRIGGER LOCKS.”
MARYLAND:
“WARNING: Children can operate firearms which may
cause death or serious injury. It is a crime to store or leave
a loaded firearm in any location where an individual knew or
should have known that an unsupervised minor would gain
access to the firearm. Store your firearm responsibly!”
MASSACHUSETTS:
“WARNING FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS ATTORNEY
GENERAL: This handgun is not equipped with a device
that fully blocks use by unauthorized users. More than
200,000 firearms like this one are stolen from their owners
every year in the United States. In addition, there are more
than a thousand suicides each year by younger children
and teenagers who get access to firearms. Hundreds more
die from accidental discharge. It is likely that many more
children sustain serious wounds, or inflict such wounds
accidentally on others. In order to limit the chance of such
misuse, it is imperative that you keep this weapon locked in
a secure place and take other steps necessary to limit the
possibility of theft or accident. Failure to take reasonable
preventative steps may result in innocent lives being lost,
and in some circumstances may result in your liability for
these deaths.”
“IT IS UNLAWFUL TO STORE OR KEEP A FIREARM,
RIFLE, SHOTGUN OR MACHINE GUN IN ANY PLACE
UNLESS THAT WEAPON IS EQUIPPED WITH A TAMPER
RESISTANT SAFETY DEVICE OR IS STORED OR KEPT IN
A SECURELY LOCKED CONTAINER.”
P238 Handling & Safety Instructions VER 09.06.10
2
NEW JERSEY:
“IT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO LEAVE A LOADED
FIREARM WITHIN EASY ACCESS OF A MINOR.”
NEW YORK CITY, NY:
“THE USE OF A LOCKING DEVICE OR SAFETY LOCK
IS ONLY ONE ASPECT OF RESPONSIBLE FIREARMS
STORAGE. FOR INCREASED SAFETY, FIREARMS
SHOULD BE STORED UNLOADED AND LOCKED IN A
LOCATION THAT IS BOTH SEPARATE FROM THEIR
AMMUNITION AND INACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN AND
OTHER UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS.”
NORTH CAROLINA:
Any person who resides in the same premises as a minor,
owns or possesses a firearm, and stores or leaves the
firearm (i) in a condition that the firearm can be discharged
and (ii) in a manner that the person knew or should have
known that an unsupervised minor would be able to gain
access to the firearm, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor
if a minor gains access to the firearm without the lawful
permission of the minor’s parents or a person having
charge of the minor and the minor:
(1) Possesses it in violation of G.S. 14-269.2(b)
(2) Exhibits it in a public place in a careless, angry, or
threatening manner;
(3) Causes personal injury or death with it not in self
defense; or
(4) Uses it in the commission of a crime.
TEXAS:
“IT IS UNLAWFUL TO STORE, TRANSPORT, OR ABANDON
AN UNSECURED FIREARM IN A PLACE WHERE CHILDREN
ARE LIKELY TO BE AND CAN OBTAIN ACCESS TO THE
FIREARM.”
P238 Handling & Safety Instructions VER 09.06.10
3
WISCONSIN:
“IF YOU LEAVE A LOADED FIREARM WITHIN THE REACH
OR EASY ACCESS OF A CHILD YOU MAY BE FINED OR
IMPRISONED OR BOTH IF THE CHILD IMPROPERLY
DISCHARGES, POSSESSES, OR EXHIBITS THE FIREARM.”
Please check with your licensed retailer, state police, or
local police for additional warnings, which may be required
by local law or regulation. Such regulations change
constantly, and local authorities are in the best position to
advise you on such legal matters.
WARNING - LOCKING DEVICES
This firearm was originally sold with a keyoperated locking device. While it can help
provide secure storage for your unloaded
firearm, any locking device can fail. All guns
are designed to fire if they are loaded and
the trigger is pulled. Therefore, never install
the locking device inside the trigger guard or
in any way that makes it possible to pull the
trigger! Do not leave the keys in the lock.
The ultimate responsibility for secure storage
of any firearm must depend upon its owner
and his or her individual circumstances.
Firearms should be stored unloaded, in
a secure location, separate from their
ammunition.
NEVER INSTALL THE
LOCKING DEVICE INSIDE THE
TRIGGER GUARD
To maximize effectiveness and reduce the chances of
malfunction or damage to a firearm, ALWAYS refer to the
locking device’s manufacturer directions for installation and
removal of the device.
P238 Handling & Safety Instructions VER 09.06.10
4
FIREARMS SAFETY IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
This owner’s manual is designed to assist you in
learning how to use and care for your SIG SAUER® pistol
properly.
Only when you are certain that you fully understand this
manual and can properly carry out its instructions, should
you practice loading and firing your firearm with live
ammunition. Having a gun in your possession is a full-time
job; you cannot guess and you cannot forget. You must
know how to use your firearm safely.
If you have any doubts about your ability to handle or use
this firearm safely, you should seek supervised instruction.
The Sig Sauer Academy™ provides all levels of firearms
safety and skill training, from beginner to expert.
For more information contact:
www.sigsaueracademy.com • (603) 679-2003
Main campus: Epping, New Hampshire
Satellite Facilities: Range 82, Midland, VA
NRA Whittington Center, Raton, NM
SAFETY MUST BE THE FIRST AND CONSTANT
CONSIDERATION OF EVERY PERSON WHO HANDLES
FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION.
For more information about safety, responsible firearms
ownership, and shooting sports, contact:
National Rifle Association (NRA) of America
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA 22030-7400 • 1-800-672-3888
www.nra.com
P238 Handling & Safety Instructions VER 09.06.10
5
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Topic Page
State-By-State Warnings 1
Locking Device 4
Warnings of Great Importance 8
1.0 Safety Rules 9
1.1 Protect Your Eyes and Ears 9
2.0 Mechanical Characteristics and Weapon Theory 10
2.1 Weapon Description 10
2.1.1 General 10
2.1.2 Principal Features 10
2.1.3 What You Should Know About the
Single Action Only Trigger System 11
2.2 Main Parts 13
3.0 Ammunition 14
4.0 Handling 18
4.1 Preparation Instructions 18
4.2 Loading the Magazine 18
4.3 Loading the Pistol (Ready to Fire) 19
4.4 Reloading During Shooting 20
5.0 Firing 22
5.1 Clearing a Jam 23
5.2 Firing the Pistol 24
6.0 Unloading the Pistol 26
6.1 Unloading the Pistol (Magazine not Empty) 26
6.2 Unloading the Pistol (Magazine Empty, Slide Open) 27
6.3 Lowering the Hammer (storage) 28
P238 Handling & Safety Instructions VER 09.06.10
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Topic Page
7.0 Procedures in Case of Malfunction 30
7.1 Troubleshooting Guide 31
7.2 Minimize Malfunctions 32
8.0 Maintenance 33
8.1 Pistol Disassembly 33
8.2 Magazine Disassembly 36
8.3 Cleaning the Pistol 37
8.4 Pistol Assembly 38
8.5 Magazine Assembly 40
8.6 Function Verification 41
9.0 Sights 45
9.1 General Information 45
9.2 Windage(Left/Right) Adjustment 45
9.3 Elevation (Up/Down) Adjustment 46
10.0 Transportation and Storage 47
11.0 Service and Parts Policy 48
11.1 Parts Policy 48
11.2 Service Policy 49
11.3 Shipping Firearms for Repair 49
11.4 Ordering Parts 51
13.0 Parts List 52
13.1 Specifications 53
The Basic Rules of Safe Firearms Handling 54
Warranty Information 55
P238 Handling & Safety Instructions VER 09.06.10
7
WARNINGS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE
ARE FOUND WITHIN THIS MANUAL
SELECT FOR FULL WARNING
Locking Devices 4
Alterations 8
Safety 12
Ammunition 14
Lodged Bullet 16
Ammunition 17
Lead Exposure 17
Loaded Pistol 21
Trigger 22
Malfunction 22
Dropped Pistol 23
Unloading 25, 29
Jam 30
Maintenance 33, 41
Inspection 44
Alterations 44
Sight Adjustment 46
Storage 47
Parts Purchasers 48
Shipping 51
Handling 23
OTHER CAUTIONS AND WARNINGS APPEAR
THROUGHOUT THE MANUAL
FIREARMS ARE DANGEROUS WEAPONS
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS
IN THIS MANUAL THOROUGHLY AND
CAREFULLY BEFORE USING.
WARNING - ALTERATION
This product was designed to function
properly in its original condition.
Alterations can make it unsafe. Do not
alter any part or add or substitute any
parts or accessories not manufactured
by SIG SAUER Inc.
DO NOT ALTER ANY GUN
P238 Handling & Safety Instructions VER 09.06.10
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1.0 Safety Rules
The safety warnings in this manual are important. By
understanding the dangers inherent in the use of any
firearm, and by taking the precautions described herein,
you can experience complete safety in the use of your
pistol. Failure to heed any of these warnings may result in
serious injury to you or others, as well as severe damage to
the firearm or other property.
PISTOLS are classified as FIREARMS and are sold by SIG
SAUER with the specific understanding that we shall not be
responsible in any manner whatsoever for malfunctioning of
the firearm, physical injury or property damage resulting in
whole or in part from:
• criminal or negligent discharge;
• improper or careless handling;
• unauthorized modifications; defective, improper, hand-loaded,
• or reloaded ammunition;
• corrosion;
• neglect; or
• other influences beyond our direct and immediate control.
This limitation applies regardless of whether liability
is asserted on the basis of contract, negligence, or
strict liability (including any failure to warn). Under no
circumstance shall SIG SAUER, Inc. be liable for incidental
or consequential damages, such as loss of use of property,
commercial loss, and loss of earnings or profits.
1.1 Protect Your Eyes and Ears
Always wear safety glasses that meet the requirements of
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z87.1 and ear
plugs or “earmuff” type protectors whenever you are
shooting. Always make certain that persons close to you
are similarly protected. Unprotected eyes may be injured by
powder, gas, carbon residue, lubricant, metallic particles,
or similar debris that may emanate occasionally from any
firearm in normal use. Without ear protection, repeated
exposure to shooting noise may lead to cumulative,
permanent hearing loss.
P238 Handling & Safety Instructions VER 09.06.10
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2.0 Mechanical Characteristics and Weapon Theory
2.1 Weapon Description
2.1.1. General
The SIG SAUER pistol is a modern handgun incorporating
the latest technical advances in weapon design for military,
law enforcement and sporting use. They are mechanically
locked, short recoil operated pistols with semi-automatic
reloading. Firing takes place with each pull of the trigger
until the magazine is empty. The slide remains open after
the last round has been fired from the magazine.
2.1.2 Principal Features
The single action only trigger, in combination with the thumb
safety, ensures safe carrying of the weapon and provides
instant readiness when needed.
The automatic firing pin safety blocks the firing pin unless
the trigger is pulled.
The hammer safety intercept notch prevents the hammer
from contacting the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled.
The disconnector prevents the hammer from falling when
the slide is out of battery (not fully closed).
The pistol can only be disassembled from the “slide open”
position.
Distinctive high contrast sights and excellent ergonomics,
ensure rapid target acquisition and engagement, even under
poor lighting conditions.
Extremely compact dimensions and lightweight materials,
combined with the powerful .380ACP cartridge, provide
an excellent platform for concealed carry or personal
protection.
The closed design of the pistol prevents dirt and other
debris from entering the pistol, ensuring proper function in
harsh environmental conditions.
P238 Handling & Safety Instructions VER 09.06.10
10
2.1.3 What You Should Know About the Single Action
Only Trigger System
The P238 is a Single Action Only (SAO) pistol. This pistol
incorporates many of the same safety features found in
other SIG Sauer pistols, including the firing pin safety,
hammer safety intercept notch, and disconnector. The
P238 features an integrated thumb safety, located above
and to the rear of the left-hand grip.
The thumb safety blocks hammer movement and can be
engaged with the hammer cocked (ready to fire) or hammer
forward.
SAFETY ON
SAFETY OFF
Move the thumb safety fully
upward to engage. The
thumb safety is ON (SAFE)
when fully up.
Move the thumb safety fully
down to disengage. The
thumb safety is OFF (FIRE)
when fully down. When the
thumb safety is down, the
hammer is free to fall when
the trigger is pulled
You can cycle the slide when the thumb safety is engaged
with the hammer cocked. When the thumb safety is
engaged with the hammer forward, slide movement is
blocked.
P238 Handling & Safety Instructions VER 09.06.10
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WARNING – SAFETY
• With the pistol loaded, the thumb safety must be ON
(UP) until ready to fire. Failure to engage the thumb
safety can lead to accidental discharge, causing
injury, death or damage to property.
• After each discharge, the pistol is in the cocked and
ready to fire condition. When shooting is complete,
you must engage the thumb safety or unload the
pistol.
• Never disengage the thumb safety when pulling the
trigger – the firearm will discharge when the thumb
safety is moved into the OFF (FIRE) position when the
trigger is depressed.
• Never lower the hammer by pulling the trigger and
attempting to ease the hammer forward manually.
Manually lowering the hammer is dangerous and
prevents full application of the pistol’s safety features.
Accidental discharge could result, causing injury,
death or damage to property.
P238 Handling & Safety Instructions VER 09.06.10
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2.2 Main Parts
23 64522
3
2
1
1 - Frame
2 - Slide stop
3 - Thumb safety
4 - Barrel
5 - Slide
6 - Hammer
10
8 40 28 27
10 - Trigger
22 - Front sight
23 - Rear sight
27 - Grip plate
28 - Grip screw
40 - Magazine
8 - Magazine catch
Note: Refer to section 13 for a detailed parts list and diagram.
P238 Handling & Safety Instructions VER 09.06.10
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3.0 Ammunition
1. Use only high-quality, original, factory-manufactured
ammunition. Do not use cartridges that are dirty, wet,
corroded, bent, or damaged. Do not oil cartridges. Do not
spray aerosol-type lubricants, preservatives, or cleaners
directly onto cartridges or where excess spray may flow
into contact with cartridges. Lubricant or other foreign
matter on cartridges can cause potentially dangerous
ammunition malfunctions. Only use ammunition of the
caliber for which your firearm is chambered. The proper
caliber is permanently engraved on your firearm; never
attempt to use ammunition of any other caliber.
2. The use of reloaded, “remanufactured” hand-loaded,
or other non-standard ammunition voids all warranties.
Reloading is a science and improperly loaded ammunition
can be extremely dangerous. Severe damage to the
firearm and serious injury to the shooter or to others
may result. Always use ammunition that complies with
the industry performance standards established by
the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’
Institute, Inc. (SAAMI) of the United States or ammunition
manufactured to military specifications.
WARNING – AMMUNITION
(CARTRIDGE) NOTICE
SIG SAUER SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE OR INJURY
WHATSOEVER OCCURRING IN CONNECTION
WITH, OR AS A RESULT OF, THE USE IN ANY SIG
SAUER FIREARM OF FAULTY, NON-STANDARD,
“REMANUFACTURED” HAND-LOADED (RELOADED)
AMMUNITION, OR CARTRIDGES OTHER THAN
THOSE FOR WHICH THE FIREARM WAS ORIGINALLY
CHAMBERED.
P238 Handling & Safety Instructions VER 09.06.10
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3. Firearms may be severely damaged and serious injury to
the shooter or to others may result from any condition
causing excessive pressure inside the chamber or barrel
during firing. Excessive pressure can be caused by
obstructions in the barrel, propellant powder overloads,
the use of incorrect cartridges, or defectively assembled
cartridges. In addition, the use of a dirty, corroded, or
damaged cartridge can lead to a burst cartridge case and
consequent damage to the firearm and personal injury
from the sudden escape of high-pressure propellant gas
within the firearm’s mechanism.
4. Immediately stop shooting and check the barrel for a
possible obstruction whenever:
• You have difficulty in, or feel unusual resistance in,
chambering a cartridge
• A cartridge misfires (does not go off)
• The mechanism fails to extract a fired cartridge case
• Unburned grains of propellant powder are discovered
spilled in the mechanism
• A shot sounds weak or abnormal. In such cases it
is possible that a bullet is lodged partway down the
barrel. Firing a subsequent bullet into the obstructed
barrel can wreck the firearm and cause serious injury
to the shooter or to bystanders
5. Bullets can become lodged in the barrel:
• If the cartridge has been improperly loaded without
propellant powder, or if the powder fails to ignite
(ignition of the cartridge primer alone will push the
bullet out of the cartridge case, but usually does
not generate sufficient energy to expel the bullet
completely from the barrel).
• If the bullet is not properly seated in the cartridge case.
When such a cartridge is extracted from the chamber
without being fired, the bullet may be left behind in the
bore at the point where the rifling begins. Subsequent
chambering of another cartridge may push the first
bullet further into the bore.
P238 Handling & Safety Instructions VER 09.06.10
15
6. If there is any reason to suspect that a bullet is
obstructing the barrel, immediately unload the firearm
and look through the bore. It is not sufficient to merely
look in the chamber. A bullet may be lodged some
distance down the barrel where it cannot easily be seen.
WARNING – LODGED BULLET
IF A BULLET IS IN THE BORE, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
SHOOT IT OUT BY USING ANOTHER CARTRIDGE OR BY
BLOWING IT OUT WITH A BLANK OR ONE FROM WHICH
THE BULLET HAS BEEN REMOVED. SUCH TECHNIQUES
CAN GENERATE EXCESSIVE PRESSURE, DAMAGE THE
FIREARM, AND CAUSE SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY.
If the bullet can be removed with a cleaning rod, clean
any unburned powder grains from the bore, chamber,
and mechanism before resuming shooting. If the bullet
cannot be dislodged by tapping it with a cleaning rod,
send the firearm to SIG SAUER.
7. Dirt, corrosion, or other foreign matter on a cartridge
can impede complete chambering and may cause the
cartridge case to burst upon firing. The same is true of
cartridges that are damaged or deformed.
8. Do not oil cartridges, and be sure to wipe the chamber
clean of any oil or preservative before commencing to
shoot. Oil interferes with the friction between cartridge
case and chamber wall that is necessary for safe
functioning, and subjects the firearm to stress similar to
that imposed by excessive pressure.
9. Use lubricants sparingly on the moving parts of your
firearm. Avoid excessive spraying of any aerosol gun care
product, especially where it may get on ammunition. All
lubricants and aerosol spray lubricants, in particular, can
penetrate cartridge primers and cause misfires. Some highly
penetrative lubricants can also migrate inside cartridge cases
and cause deterioration of the propellant powder; on firing,
the powder may not ignite. If only the primer ignites, there is
danger that the bullet may become lodged in the barrel.
P238 Handling & Safety Instructions VER 09.06.10
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WARNING - AMMUNITION
Death, serious injury, and damage
can result from the use of wrong
ammunition, bore obstructions, powder
overloads, or incorrect cartridge
components. Always wear shooting
glasses and hearing protectors.
IMPROPER AMMUNITION DESTROYS GUNS
WARNING - LEAD EXPOSURE
Discharging firearms in poorly
ventilated areas, cleaning firearms,
or handling ammunition may result
in exposure to lead and other
substances known to the state of
California to cause birth defects,
reproductive harm, and other serious
physical injury. Maintain adequate
ventilation at all times. Wash hands
thoroughly after exposure.
SHOOTING OR CLEANING GUNS
MAY EXPOSE YOU TO LEAD
P238 Handling & Safety Instructions VER 09.06.10
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