One of the hottest guns on the floor at SHOT Show 2012 was the Sig Sauer P938,  a brand new pistol modeled after Sig’s wildly popular P238, but chambered in 9mm.

Designed for the concealed carry market, the P938 is very similar to the P238.  So similar, in fact, it’s difficult to tell the difference between the two at first glance (click on image above). It’s only about a quarter of an inch longer than the P238, so it retains it’s ease of concealment, and as you can see from the image of the two backstraps, the only noticeable difference in this area is the more aggressive checkering (to assist with recoil control of the larger caliber).  If you’ve been considering purchasing the P238, but have hesitated because you would like to carry something more powerful than the .380 ACP, the Sig P938 may fit your needs perfectly.

I haven’t had a chance to shoot the P938 (yet),  but I was able to get my hands on it during SHOT Show.  The ambidextrous safety was stiff enough that I wouldn’t worry about it disengaging accidentally while carrying, but I was able to thumb it on and off without a great deal of effort (which is not the case with many of the pocket pistols I’ve tried).  The trigger broke cleanly, and while listed on the Sig Sauer website as a 5lb pull, it felt just a bit heavier to me.  I didn’t notice a difference in the grip between the P938 and the P238, and despite feeling slightly awkward to hold (like any other pocket pistol), it didn’t feel like it was going to fall out of my hand.  When the extended seven round magazine was inserted (sold separately, it ships with a six round mag), I found that the extended mag made it more comfortable to grip the P938.

Sig Sauer is planning on initially offering the P938  in four different flavors – Blackwood (MSRP $809), Equinox (MSRP $823), Rosewood (MSRP $795), and my favorite, Extreme (Shown at left, MSRP – $823).  The Extreme includes all the bells and whistles of the other models, including SIGLITE Night Sights, and features Hogue G-10 Extreme Grips.  Not only are they super cool looking, they provide a solid, aggressive grip without being ouchy or pinchy (to put it in technical terms).

Using the street price vs. MSRP of the P238 as a measure, you can expect the P938 to sell for around $100 less than MSRP.  While this places the P938 at the upper end of pricing for pocket pistols, keep in mind that you are getting an all-metal, mini 1911 with night sights.  I’m looking forward to making one of these go bang, and when I do, I’ll be sure to tell you all about it.