Sunday, July 27, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
The 239 that we are examining today is from their SAS (SIG Anti-Snag) line. This is an attractive two-toned pistol with a very nice set of wood grips. The 239 SAS is definitely designed to be a carry pistol as all of the sharp edges have been rounded off, hence the Anti-Snag moniker, and this model is also Double Action Only (DAO). The pistol also has the short reset trigger for faster follow-up shots and, my favorite, night sights.
Here are the P239’s stats:
Overall Width: 1.20"
Barrel Length: 3.6"
Sight Radius: 5.7"
Sights: SIGLITE® Night Sights
Weight w/ Mag: 27.5 oz / 29.7 oz
Mag Capacity: 8 Rounds
Grips: Custom Shop Wood Grips
Perhaps SIG felt that they needed something new to compete with Smith’s 3913 but, for whatever the reason, in usual SIG fashion they did not rush to market and waited until they had something worthy of being a part of the SIG line-up. So, seven years after the S&W 3913 hit the market SIG brought out the P239 and to my eyes it looks more like a Smith & Wesson semi-auto pistol than it does a classic SIG. The timing of the 239’s introduction was a coincidental and ironic marketing coup. In 1996 the American shooter was encumbered by the Clinton Crime Bill which ridiculously mandated a magazine capacity of no more than 10 rounds (remember how crime just plummeted…neither do I). This was a boon for smaller pistols like the 239 for a couple of reasons. For starters no one wanted to buy a full size pistol that normally held between 15 and 19 rounds but was now regulated to only 10. Most people felt that if it only held 10 rounds you might as well give the height and length a more proportional fit. The second phenomenon that occurred came as more and more states seemingly rebelled against the liberal anti-gun manifesto and passed concealed carry legislation allowing their law abiding citizens to exercise their constitutional right to bear arms for their own protection and people who had never carried before were much more comfortable in doing so with a smaller pistol.
The shooting advantage to the 239 is famous reputation for SIG reliability and accuracy. So, let’s look at the targets:
16 rounds at 31 Feet
16 rounds at 50 Feet
30 rounds at 75 Feet
5 rounds of Buffalo Bore 115 grain +P JHP
Although I do not find the grip to be comfortable for me, the 239 is extremely reliable and and accurate and that provides enough comfort to make up for the displeasing (to me) grip.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
· Caliber: 9mm
· Rounds: 8+1
· Barrel: 3"
· Weight: 24 oz.
· Length: 6.4"
· Height: 4.75"
· Hammer: Spurless
· Sights: Night Sights
· Receiver: Alloy
· Finish: Duo-Tone
The sights on the PDA are very sturdy and provide an excellent sight picture. I am extremely happy that night sights are included in this package as I feel that they are indispensable for a defensive pistol that might be fired in low light scenarios.
Despite the short sight radius on this 3 inch barreled pistol it provides excellent accuracy part of which might be due to the fact that the barrel is marked “Match”. I do not know if there are any industry standards for giving a barrel a “Match” designation (I asked this question on The High Road Forum and the consensus of opinion by a very well educated group of respondents was that there was no generally accepted industry standard) or what makes this Para Ordnance barrel different from any other; however I know that I like this pistol quite a bit.
21 feet
31 feet
75 feet
All defensive ammo fired from a range of 21 feet:
Magtech Guardian Gold 114 grain Jacketed Hollow Point + P ammo
Remington Golden Sabre 124 grain Jacked Hollow Point + P ammo
Corbon 115 grain Jacked Hollow Point + P ammo
The Para Ordnance PDA is everything I hoped it be. It is the most expensive pistol in the quartet being reviewed, but function and accuracy is great...and what else do you ask for?
Sunday, July 13, 2008
In this quad report we will look at four excellent carrying 9mm pistols, the Walther PPS, Para Ordnance PDA, SIG P239, and the Smith & Wesson CS9.
I would not shoot it, it would not be fun.
I would not take it if it was free,
I would not take it it’s not for me.
I do not care if it doesn’t jam,
I do not want it, Sam I Am.
Well a couple of weeks ago another dealer pushed a newer model at me that had a two-tone finish, (black steel slide, and blue/grey polymer frame) that appeared more ascetically pleasing to me. The polymer texture felt better than what was on the “first edition” models (although I would doubt if there was too much of a difference in their chemical make-up). The pistol is supplied with two backstrap options and when I first picked it up I did not like the ergonomic feel; it had the straight backstrap attached and the shorter 6 round magazine. The salesperson put the arched backstrap on and slid in the 7 round magazine with the finger extension on it. Now my whole hand could grip the pistol and the arched backstrap made it a natural pointer for me. Back home to the safe I went to find something that was out of rotation and prime fodder for a trade and back to the gun shop I went the next day.
Length: 6.3"
I personally find that my trigger finger works the best for me as I do not need to change my grips to activate the lever and drop the mag. Using my thumb would require me to shift the grip in my hand.
This pistol also has a loaded chamber and cocking indicator which is a red post at the rear face of the slide which is visible when the pistol is loaded and cocked.
I have fired 400 rounds of Mag Tech and Remington UMC 115 grain FMJ ammo and 50 rounds of defensive hollowpoint ammunition; the PPS has been absolutely reliable with no failures to feed or failures to eject.
Let’s go to the targets:
All targets were fired upon with Mag Tech or Remington 115 grain FMJ ammo unless otherwise noted.
Two from 21 feet:
Two from 31 feet
50 Feet
75 Feet --And this seemed to be a stretch for both the pistol and my abilities.
Speer 124 Grain Gold Dot Hollow Point ammo fired at 21 feet.
Speer 115 Grain Gold Dot Hollow Point ammo fired at 21 feet.
Buffalo Bore 115 grain +P+ JHP ammo fired at 21 feet.
Hornady 124 grain JHP/XTP ammo fired at 21 feet.
The MSRP on the PPS is $699 which seems a little pricey for a polymer pistol, but probably has something to do with the position of the dollar against the German Deutschmark. Nonetheless, I like this pistol. If Walther can have Daniel Craig brandish one in the next James Bond film, the PPS will become hard to find.
Average Joe is a proud contributor to the Shot Show Podcasts which can be found at http://theshotshow.us.tf/.
Saturday, July 12, 2008

Average Joe has joined The Shot Show Podcast as a contributor of handgun reviews. Doc Wesson, who produces the show, has invited me to be a part of his broadcasts every other episode to provide my perspective on the handguns that I have reviewed.
Please stop by, download, and take a listen to the program that Doc puts together. Doc reports on gun related news and offers his commentary, along with with interviewing different guests of interest. This is a very professional produced Podcast and I am honored to contribute to it.
The Podcast can be found at: http://theshotshow.us.tf/