Last week, I expressed my love-hate for newer, polymer guns, specifically the FMK 9C1 G2. This week, I’m giving you my love-hate of non-polymer guns. Some of this applies to steel or aluminum-framed handguns. But my example gun here is the retired but still excellent SIG Sauer P239. It’s mostly a love story, to be sure. But there are always improvements to be made, even with a classic such as the P239.
Love: Reliability
Whether a gun is made from plastic or metal doesn’t necessarily factor directly into its reliability, but there’s something about metal that communicates longevity, durability, and therefore reliability. Sure, there are unreliable metal guns (just like there are unreliable plastic guns). But this aluminum-framed P239 is one of the most reliable pistols I’ve ever had the opportunity to own, carry, and fire. Like most of its Sig Sauer counterparts, it has never failed me. The steel mags, aluminum frame, and steel barrel and slide all work in perfect harmony. The design and engineering is impeccable, finely tuned, and can only be described as smooth — which is especially amazing for a firearm you could beat on with a hammer and still have function just fine.
Love: Accuracy
Similar to reliability, whether a gun is made from plastic or metal doesn’t necessarily factor directly into its accuracy, but there’s something about metal that contributes — or at least doesn’t adversely affect — accuracy. The P239 is a little heavier (more on that below) which contributes to just a bit less movement when aiming and a bit more recoil absorption when firing — both of which can aid in accuracy. And for sure the shooter has to do his or her part in knowing how to draw, aim, and fire this gun. But the gun’s balance, it’s ultra-smooth trigger stroke, clear sights, and heft all help to make the most of every shot.
Love: Functionality (DA/SA with Decocker)
Double-action, single-action with a decocker is a complex fire control system. Yes, it can be mastered with practice, practice, practice, but generally the simpler, the better. Just the same, because the P239 (and other similarly-equipped Sig Sauer pistols) is so well-designed and so well-engineered, all the complexity becomes a joy to use. Racking the slide on this gun feels great. And then lowering the hammer using the decocker is an exercise in confidence. In fact, if you haven’t decocked a Sig Sauer pistol using the decocker, you’re missing not only one of the gun’s best features but also one of the best engineered handgun features ever created. It’s that good. Other decockers on other non-Sig guns release the hammer with an unnerving snap. Beyond the decocker, firing a DA/SA handgun means the first round requires a longer stroke than subsequent shots. And, with the P239 — in either DA or SA mode — the trigger stroke can only be described as butter-smooth. Actually, when firing this gun, all the mechanical goings-on sort of fade into the background while rounds launch toward your target in a symphony of engineering excellence. No surprise: All of these features contribute to the gun’s inherent reliability and accuracy, too.
Hate: Weight
This gun feels heavier than it actually is. And I don’t really hate the weight (approx. 27 oz., unloaded); I would, however, rather the gun was lighter. But not at the expense of any of the aforementioned attributes. With the right gun belt and holster, carrying the P239 is great and worth the extra weight. And there are dozens of holster and belt combinations to help handle this aluminum and steel workhorse. Ironically, the P239 is a relatively low-capacity handgun (7+1 when chambered in .40, as this one is), so there’s not a lot of weight from on-board ammunition. But the slide is thick and and the stocks are thin; together these contribute to my impression that the gun is heavy.
One of the ways I tried to alleviate the heavier feel of the P239 was to replace the plastic stocks with a pebble-grained Hogue rubber grip — one that wrapped around the front strap, providing finger grooves. So equipped, you could lock your hand around the P239 stocks like a vice. Every bit of hand-to-grip contact increased the purchase significantly. And there was no loss of concealability, say, from covering garments getting hung up on the rubber. It’s been the only upgrade to improve this metal masterpiece out of the factory box.
What are some of your love-hate issues with non-polymer guns?
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I recently bought a 239 SAS with the short reset trigger and thin trigger blade, night sights. It has never failed to perk, extract, or eject. The DA pull is dead smooth, while the SA pull on my older pistol is crisp with a short-audible reset. The factory night sights are still bright and shot dead on after I pushed the rear sight to the left a smidge. Like others have said, the slimness of the piece makes it easy to wear despite the “mind-numbing” 29 oz the pistol weighs. After years packing a 1911, no one should complain about the weight. It is the most comfortable pistol I have ever worn. Pity the company hasn’t figured this out.
I love my partner…. Sig P-239, but forced into applying a reset trigger …. Why? Such a Long pull ..Then now? a world of difference on the smooth squeeze!
“I Roger Thant”! In closing…”Mark a great review!
Respectfully and all the best.
Joseph Hack
I can’t believe that everyone overlooked the 9# trigger pull (I’m guessing) and requiring a pull long enough to nearly hit the frame before release. Then, the trigger requires nearly full release before resetting. Further, the SRT improvement (Short Reset Trigger is a $150 improvement, plus the postage of $30 each way for the gunsmith makes a $500 gun purchased in the 90s a $750 gun that I just can’t justify. In short, it’s a gun that I can’t afford to get rid of !
I have a p239 DAK . There is something strange. When I lock back the slide and manually drop a round in the chamber then drop the slide it will not close. It stops short about a quarter of an inch. Every thing functions perfect otherwise, from the magazine both shooting and manually cycling rounds. Anyone else experience this?
Thing to hate… used magazines $60 -$80. New magazines $110.
I owned one many years ago in 9mm. It functioned well but the side rattle/wobble was ridiculous. It caused me to sell it. Now SIG has the 225A1 but that is bigger yet and just as heavy for an eight round mag capacity. Maybe they should come out with a lighter weight, metal framed, DA/SA in the same size of the p232 and they might have a hit.
Edit above ;Maybe they should come out with a lighter weight, metal framed, DA/SA in the same size of the p232 in 9mm and they might have a hit.
I have the 239,Two Tone,in .40 S&W. I love this Gun.I have never had a problem .I replaced the Grip with the Hogue Grip that is in this Article.What a different that makesI just wish Sig wold make some high capacity Magazine for it. I have a Glock 27 that I can slip a 22 Round Factory Mag in. I easy don’t get why they retired the 239.I hope I don’t have a problem getting Magazines for it. Great Gun!
I carried the P239 in 357Sig as a Federal Air Marshal after retiring my P229. I can say unequivocally and even after firing over 5000 rounds thru it, it never once malfunctioned, even with our training mags that were seldom cleaned and constantly abused. Accuracy was on par with the 229, my qaul scores were actually improved by a few points. Concealability was a plus under summer wear due to its slim frame, and with the proper belt and holster, weight was never an issue. My teammates often ribbed me about its round count compared to the 229, to which I often replied, accuracy is fatal…🇺🇸
I have the 9mm version with the extended magazine, which makes it a 10+1 which isn’t a slouch, but it does lend itself to be a weighty gun compared to the newer models out there. I still like my P239, since it is reliable enough to trust my life with it. And that it has tritium night sights to help out when it is dark out there. And like you.. what brought me to the P239 is the trigger. If it isn’t smooth with no takeup, then you won’t like shooting it, and the SIG is that good.
Little things I learned about it.. the SIG likes grease on the rails over oil. Replace the springs every 10K rounds, and replace the barrel every 20K rounds.