Failure to chamber a Sig P238

[azwe]

Just bought this bad boy at a show and I'm having problems with it. Haven't shot it yet but chambering the first round is very difficult. I try to rack the slide back but it gets stuck. The only way I can get it properly loaded is to rack it back then forward with my hand. If I don't push the rack forward then the first round won't chamber.

Is that a common problem or should I send this gun in for maintenance? It's brand new.

[68Charger]

Did you properly clean it and lube it beforehand? What kind of mags?

[Redneck_Buddha]

Once you've done this, you should be good to go:

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[Salty1]

The 238 needs a good cleaning before anything as mentioned, Sig provides a small tube of gun grease for a reason, use it on the grooves on the slide and where it attaches to the frame. All it needs is to look wet, not caked on. Once you do that you will be amazed at the difference and once it breaks in the slide becomes very easy to rack, even for people with weak hands, good luck and enjoy.....

[johncanfield]

Yes, the slide should rack very easily. No worries, give it a cleaning and lightly oil. The P238 is a very fun gun to shoot but you will find the short sight radius a challenge, you need to cover the bullseye with the three-dot sights.

You didn't say when yours was made - there are three generations of magazines, be sure yours look the left-most example in the below picture. Also, be sure your recoil spring is made from flat stock - that's the latest version.

Talon Training has some good IWB holsters either with or without trigger guard lasers.

Left mag is the latest generation

[68Charger]

My p238 doesn't have a flat spring. I haven't had any problems evn using a wide variety of ammo including some +p. I should call sig and have them ship me one though..

[blackgold]

We just picked up a P238 for my GF monday. I've cleaned it well (twice). We have not shot it yet but I've cycled some ammo through it smoothly. It has a flat spring in it though. I'm expecting a smoother breakin than my P938..
Good luck with it,
Brian

[Rex B]

I have one original mag and several Colt Mustang mags. They all work fine

[azwe]

Nothing is working except unloading the magazine to 4 rounds. It works perfectly when the mag has 1-4 but 5 and 6 jam up.

[azwe]

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[DocV]

Nothing is working except unloading the magazine to 4 rounds. It works perfectly when the mag has 1-4 but 5 and 6 jam up.

Hmmm.... Try loading up a magazine to full capacity then let it sit for a couple of days. BTW, I bought some Colt Pocketlight mags from CDNN. They work just fine.

[johncanfield]

So.. do you have the gen 3 magazine?

[azwe]

Gen 3 mags, both of them.

[7075-T7]

Are you trying to close the slide after the magazine is inserted with the slide open, or cycle the slide when the magazine is inserted with the slide closed?

[azwe]

I've tried it both ways. I actually did a test last night and wrote down what happened.

Slide closed, mag full: failed 8 out of 10 tries
Slide closed, mag with 4: failed 1 out of 10 tries
Slide open, mag full: failed 10 out of 10 tries
Slide open mag with 4: failed 2 out of 10 tries