Striking Out in .380 ACP

Time flies. SIG Sauer’s 2009 introduction of the P238 .380 ACP was a sure response to the burgeoning US concealed carry market. Concealed carry permits were becoming “shall-issue” in multiple states. All of this has continued apace up through 2025, with manufacturers continuing to produce new models. With that said, SIG Sauer is also keeping things going by improving on its popular P238, with the Emperor Scorpion.

The SIG Sauer P238 Emperor Scorpion

Nowadays, “compact” handguns feature 15+ rounds of 9MM. Makes you wonder how the P238 with a six-round magazine of .380 ACP holds on, doesn’t it? The answer is that true micro-compact dimensions allow unpretentious carry and punch above their weight class.

I was an early advocate of the P238. Yes, I wandered away from the P238 at times with different firearms strapped on my ankle or in my pocket. However, I have found my way back to the P238 in the form of the Emperor Scorpion model.

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All civilian concealed carry practitioners want to carry the most potent handgun while maintaining discretion. Unfortunately, constraints caused by weather, clothing, or social environment infringe on this.

One of the reasons I am so fond of the cooler months, besides the beginning of hunting season, is the ability to layer clothes in a way that allows the return to larger frame weapons without detriment to practical concealment. Don’t worry, the P238 Emperor Scorpion stays in my front pants pocket as well.

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Little Stinger

With the P238 Emperor Scorpion, SIG has developed a micro-compact 1911-style all-metal handgun chambered in .380 ACP. It features dimensions that lend it to pocket, ankle, or other deep cover methods of concealed carry.

The P238 Emperor Scorpion is a single-action semi-automatic measuring 5.5 inches in length and 3.9 inches in height, and weighs 14.9 ounces empty. The 2.7-inch barrel is put on target with excellent SIGLite Day/Night Sights. An alloy beavertail-style frame is mated to a stainless steel slide. Both frame and slide are coyote-colored Cerakoted.

SIG has outfitted the Emperor Scorpion with G10 grips from Hogue. Ambidextrous safety levers are found on either side of the frame. With the P238, the safety levers can be manipulated without hindering the slide’s movement. This enables the safety to stay engaged when chambering or unloading the P238.

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The flush fitting magazine holds six .380 ACP cartridges, giving it a total capacity of seven with a round chambered and magazine topped off. A 7-round magazine is also included that features a pinky extension baseplate.

SIG’s reputation for quality products will immediately attract attention in comparison to other compact .380 ACP handguns on the market. Somehow, SIG duplicated the ergonomics and natural pointability of the 1911 in the small P238 Emperor Scorpion package.

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The P238 is blessed with a set of sights that instill confidence that it is capable of accurate fire past bad breath distances.

Many forums and discussion boards allude to the similarity between the SIG P238 and the Colt Mustang, which was discontinued some time ago. I am fortunate to have handled a Colt Mustang owned by my late father. I consider the SIG to offer better handling, sights, and trigger compared to the Colt predecessor.

The All-Metal Construction of the Emperor Scorpion

Many will find the SIG’s all-metal construction preferable to the multitude of polymer-framed .380s on the market. The kissing cousin similarity the P238 shares with larger 1911 models will further sway others to consider the SIG P238 as a concealed carry weapon of choice. Never underestimate the 1911’s charisma on the American shooter.

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Before returning to the P238 fold with the Emperor Scorpion, I experimented with various small polymer semi-automatics for daily carry as well as lightweight snub-nosed 5-shot revolvers. The slim profile semi-automatics were appreciated for their carryability. However, they did not instill the most confidence in terms of accurate fire past a few feet.

The SIG P238 Emperor Scorpion has brought me back around to the ergonomic attributes of the automatic versus the revolver. Likewise, I appreciate the increase in firepower due to its seven-round capacity compared to the “snubby” five rounds. Not to mention the ease of carrying a reload in the form of a magazine versus a speed loader.

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My primary method of carry for the Emperor Scorpion is in a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster. Many detractors will point to the risk of carrying a single-action semi-automatic “cocked and locked” in your pocket, ankle, belly band, or any other holster. I am not about to decide what the best way is to carry the P238 for other users.

Peace of mind and confidence in this matter are based on individual preferences. For me, there is no other way of carrying a 1911-style handgun, no matter the size. I suggest that no matter the carry method employed, practice and familiarization are what are most important.

Other modes of carry consist of a Galco “Stow-N-Go” IWB and a DeSantis “Insider” IWB.

Feel The Sting of .380 ACP

Loads tested with the SIG P238 Emperor Scorpion included SIG’s own 90-grain Elite V-Crown and 100-grain FMJ, Black Hills 90-grain JHP, 100-grain FMJ, and 60-grain HoneyBadger loads.

Range evaluation consisted of establishing reliability first, then getting into practical accuracy and handling. Several magazines’ worth of ammunition was spent engaging plate racks and steel targets. A few hundred rounds were fired.

.380 ACP pistols have a reputation for being finicky with their ammunition diet. The SIG P238 Emperor Scorpion handled all the ammunition listed without issue.

.380 ACP ammunition has greatly benefited from recent advances in bullet and propellant technology. The SIG 90-grain Elite V-Crown .380 ACP is a great example of this. SIG utilizes propellants that minimize muzzle flash while maximizing velocity.

The V-Crown bullet is the result of much research into what a bullet designed for personal defense should consist of. Bullet profile ensures reliable feeding and proper expansion, no matter the medium the V-Crown passes through upon striking its intended target.

The Black Hills Ammunition 60-grain HoneyBadger load is another premium defense .380 ACP option. The HoneyBadger is a solid copper, non-deforming, non-fragmenting projectile with wide, sharp flutes. It is designed to penetrate through barriers that can cause other hollow points to fail.

Testing has proven that the fluted solid copper round penetrates deeper and generates greater wound channel width. This is important in a self-defense pistol round.

The P238 Emperor Scorpion in Hand

The P238’s SIG LITE Day/Night Sights are a huge improvement compared to revolver and semi-automatic crude rear notch and front ramp sights. The single-action trigger on the P238 Emperor Scorpion measured 7 lbs. This combination of great sights and better-than-average trigger produces a sub-compact weapon that can run plate racks at 10 yards with monotony.

Everyone agrees that a trigger set up properly is a great aid to accurate shooting. My theory is that the P238 single-action trigger further enhances this phenomenon. Think about any sub-compact handgun and the inherent lack of proper grip due to reduced frame size while trying to pull a trigger set at over 10 lbs. with long travel. The aim is surely impacted.

After reliability was verified, I began manipulating the P238 Emperor Scorpion from pocket or IWB holsters. More of a flash sight picture was utilized along with a one-handed firing grip. I found this to be a more realistic way of analyzing what the P238 Emperor Scorpion brings to the table for users considering it for concealed carry for personal defense.

The single-action trigger combined with a semblance of 1911 handling produced superior accuracy in terms of personal defense, compared to polymer semis or snubby revolvers.

The P238 Emperor Scorpion does not have a grip safety. This is a positive, in my opinion. It’s nice not to worry about getting a proper grip when pulling from your pocket and firing with one hand.

I found it best with the flush-fitting 6-round magazine to let the pinky finger hook around/under the grip. The 7-round magazine comes with a pinky extension, alleviating the need for this.

The SIG P238 Emperor Scorpion’s ergonomic design produced minimal felt recoil. This resulted in ease of getting multiple shots off quickly, even with the handgun’s lightweight and dwarfish footprint.

A Scorpion for Defense? Not Just Any Scorpion, an Emperor Scorpion

The SIG P238 Emperor Scorpion will find its way into several roles as a personal defense handgun. With 1911 aficionados, the SIG P238 Emperor Scorpion will definitely find a niche as a backup gun.

Others will find the handy nature of the P238 makes it indispensable. They won’t be able to leave the house without it, even when a larger weapon is carried. Many will find it their primary carry weapon by default. Especially in summer months or under social conditions where the discovery of a concealed carry weapon is unthinkable.

The reliability and accuracy of the P238 Emperor Scorpion evaluated here make it hard to find a better option. The .380 ACP cartridge has benefited as much as the 9MM in terms of bullet development, increasing its terminal capabilities. We fired a few hundred rounds each of JHP and FMJ profile bullets during range tests, and the P238 Emperor Scorpion handled both with equal aplomb.

Ultimately, the weapon with you is more important than the full-sized 10MM at home because you do not feel like dressing around your handgun on any given day. The SIG P238 Emperor Scorpion is a good balance of size to firepower for the practitioner of concealed carry.

SIG Sauer P238 Emperor Scorpion Specs

Performance

The accuracy test protocol consisted of three five-shot groups with each ammunition type; Group sizes were averaged. Velocity figures were obtained by averaging five rounds fired over the Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph.