Author Topic: Lightly used SIG-Sauer P239 in .40 S&W  (Read 5183 times)

Offline Erich

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Lightly used SIG-Sauer P239 in .40 S&W
« on: February 18, 2007, 04:58:12 PM »
Well, I haven't been shooting my King Cobra much lately (I shoot the 65 so much more; prefer my gunsmith Sam Damewood's trigger to Colt's), and I haven't carried it in over a year (6" tube is too much for me). So, I traded it off.



Picked up a lightly used SIG-Sauer P239 in .40 with two extra mags. I've always liked the slimline 239s, but it took me a while to warm up to the American-made slide. Recently, I decided that the NH stainless billet slide is probably better than the Euro folded sheetmetal slide (I suspect this is why the P239s are able to be so trim), and it appears that they P239s are holding up better than, say, the P225s ever did. So, I figured it's time to pick one up.

The one I got was used and apparently never cleaned. I stripped it in the store and noted that the blueing had not even started to wear on the rails - I doubt 100 rounds had been fired through the gun. However, it was filthy, and it was dry. I bought a couple of boxes of PMC 165-grain FMJs for the range and headed out.

Life wasn't so good. I shot the Chrony. Again. :-[ This time I'm definitely going to need to buy some new rods and shades. Oh well. Oh, and I learned something though. I took the GPS unit and found that the Albuquerque City Range, which I've always guesstimated at about 5300 feet above sea level, is actually about 5950 feet above sea level. That might explain some of the zippier velocities I've recorded with relatively anemic handloads. Or not.

And the gun was having problems going into battery. I wondered if it was the short, truncated cone bullet of the PMC load. Then I remembered how filthy the gun was. I stripped it on the bench, and decided that the problem was that it was bone dry. I squoze a little Tetra grease onto the appropriate parts, and it started to run like a Bernina sewing machine. Nary a problem after that. I was pleased with the groups it produced as well as with the milder-than-expected recoil. The trigger is a crisp SIGarms trigger - not exciting, but heartening. The feel of the gun in my hand is not as friendly as that of the SIG-Sauer P232 that I picked up a couple of months ago, but the pistol itself is more accurate - and it sure can cook!  ;D

Here are a couple of shots of the gun on a 10-yard target. The velocity I was getting from the 3.5" barrel with the 165-grainers was just a touch over 950 fps. I was talking on the phone with a friend from online when I took the pics, so forgive me if they're less than artistic.




This morning I flipped the mag release to the RH side (since I'm a southpaw, the LH mag releases of my IWB semiautos sometimes inadvertantly get popped when I brush up against stuff - the switch should preclude this from happening) - thanks to the gents on the SigForum for the tips. It's a nice little gun.






Offline tracker

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Re: Lightly used SIG-Sauer P239 in .40 S&W
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2007, 05:29:52 PM »
Erich,
Are you saying that the 225 did not hold up well because
of the Euro folded sheet metal? What were the durability
problems encountered?

Offline Reinz

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Re: Lightly used SIG-Sauer P239 in .40 S&W
« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2007, 02:27:02 PM »
Nice!  I've been wanting one for years, but some other gun always comes along first.  Actually, the 239 I want has not been at my disposal  to buy - 2 tone, 9mm, nite sights.  Everytime I find dealers with 239s one of my criteria is missing.

I too want to know the deal on the 225s, for I just recently picked one up myself.  I'm not emotionally involved with it, so you won't  hurt my feelings.

Reinz
NRA- LIFE  TSRA- LIFE  SASS-LIFE

Offline ROKTMAN

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Re: Lightly used SIG-Sauer P239 in .40 S&W
« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2007, 04:39:05 PM »
Nice addition.I always liked he Sigs.Owned a few but not any at the present.

One45

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Re: Lightly used SIG-Sauer P239 in .40 S&W
« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2007, 06:24:52 PM »
I'm not married to my P6, but would also like to hear if
there are problems I'm not aware of.  This thing is a tack driver.   :o  

Offline tracker

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Re: Lightly used SIG-Sauer P239 in .40 S&W
« Reply #5 on: February 19, 2007, 10:26:58 PM »
What's a P6?

Offline Hk-Itch

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Re: Lightly used SIG-Sauer P239 in .40 S&W
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2007, 11:16:12 PM »
Quote
What's a P6?


A P225 that was general issue to the German Police.  Great gun; excellent grips, good trigger,accurate and reliable.  Quite a cult following....

Nice P239 Erich, I've always liked the Sig single stacks!
« Last Edit: February 19, 2007, 11:18:30 PM by Hk-Itch »

Offline theirishguard

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Re: Lightly used SIG-Sauer P239 in .40 S&W
« Reply #7 on: February 20, 2007, 10:44:50 AM »
Erich, nice pistol, but how did you lay it on that rock? ???
Your pictures were great and really show a nice group.
Where is the range?    Tom
Tom Watson, DVC , Quis Separabit ,  Who dares wins, Utrinque Paratus

Offline 75scout

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Re: Lightly used SIG-Sauer P239 in .40 S&W
« Reply #8 on: February 20, 2007, 09:27:02 PM »
Sigs are by far my favorite semi-auto handguns.  I currently have a 220R that I really love.  I haven't found a centerfire auto that I like more.  I'm sure I will love the Rohrbaugh just as much, as soon as I can save up enough money.

Offline Erich

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Re: Lightly used SIG-Sauer P239 in .40 S&W
« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2007, 10:10:08 PM »
You know, I'm no engineer. I'm just reporting what a SIGArms sales guy told me about why the P239 is able to be smaller than the P225 and shoot more feisty cartridges.  :)  I've always liked the P225, myself - when I worked in the gun store, the guys who bought P225s only bought that one gun . . . and a lot of ammo.  ;)

Tom, I just have good balance! :D (The rock is rough and "gripped" it. The King Cobra picture was taken at an angle, too, which makes it look more severe than it really was.)
« Last Edit: February 26, 2007, 09:44:24 PM by Erich »

Offline Laserlips

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Re: Lightly used SIG-Sauer P239 in .40 S&W
« Reply #10 on: February 25, 2007, 02:43:33 PM »
Now:

Replace the original grips with Hogues..  Tremendous improvement.

Better yet:

Replace the factory grips with a set of Crimson Trace Lasergrips..

Fantastic!



Best Wishes,

J. Pomeroy
"Laus Deo"

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened"

Offline Erich

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Re: Lightly used SIG-Sauer P239 in .40 S&W
« Reply #11 on: February 26, 2007, 09:41:54 PM »
I had CT stocks on my P228 - great for trigger control! I'm not a fan of the fingergroove on the Hogues, but their wood stocks look very nice.  :)

Anyway, here's some more chrono data:

Sunday, 25 Feb 07 Albuquerque City Range (it's on the West Mesa, Tom), c. 5950' above sea level, 44° F

Winchester USA 165-gr FMJ: Average 969.2 fps/ES 13.58 fps/SD 5.74 fps

Speer 165-gr GDHP: M 1002 fps/ES 23.89/SD 9.79

Cor-Bon 165-gr JHP: M 1012 fps/ES 28.96/SD 11.89

Winchester USA 180-gr JHP: M 965.0 fps/ES 20.09/SD 7.87

Handload 165 gr FMJ with Unique (Max book load!  :o): M 1022 fps/ES 39.98/SD 16.34

Handload 165 gr FMJ with AA#7 (Max book load!  :o): M 1099 fps/ES 49.08/SD 19.46



I found that I could get five shots into an inch at 10 yards offhand with either handload if I paid attention. Three of the shots were always in a .5" hole, leading me to believe that the gun could have done a lot better if benched. These handloads were somewhat feisty, particularly the AA#7 load.

I felt that both the Speer and Cor-Bon 165-grain hollowpoint loads jumped a lot more than the other factory loads. I was downright shocked to see how relatively fast the inexpensive Winchester USA 180-grain "Personal Defense" 180-grain JHP load came from the 3.6" barrel of my P239.

I was frankly amazed by the consistency of the factory loads. Based on its consistency, speed, and upon the fact that the 180-grainers felt more pleasant and that they were almost as fast as the 165-grainers (which were much jumpier), I've decided to carry the 180-grain load. This is a real shocker for me, since I thought for sure I was going to carry 165-grainers.
« Last Edit: February 26, 2007, 09:42:55 PM by Erich »

Offline theirishguard

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Re: Lightly used SIG-Sauer P239 in .40 S&W
« Reply #12 on: February 27, 2007, 10:14:33 AM »
Erich, good range report. Now if it was warmer would the groups be smaller? ;D  Less shake from the cool weather. Tom
Tom Watson, DVC , Quis Separabit ,  Who dares wins, Utrinque Paratus