SIG P230

45Smashemflat · #1 03-15-2025, 06:10 PM

I’ve got a hankering for a SIG P230 to add to the carry rotation. I’m looking for any experienced opinions on this one. Sorta thinking I want an older one marked W Germany, just because. I don’t have a slim 380 for when a larger revolver might not fit the wardrobe.

Thoughts?

nutsforsmiths · #2 03-15-2025, 08:57 PM

I owned one of these back in the early 2000s. Sold it off for something else. It was the best shooting 380 I ever owned. Wish I still had it.

I think magazines can be expensive and parts might be hard to find.

ColbyBruce · #3 03-15-2025, 08:57 PM

I have owned a Sig P230 and an Sig P232. I preferred the P230, which I gave to my favorite son. To me, the P232 felt heavier and did not point as well. Sig discontinued these two models long ago and parts may be an issue. Magazines are scarce and often $100.00 or more. Holster choices may be limited. This is a fairly large gun, nearly the size of an Sig P239 or S&W 3913. The .380 a.c.p. is considered marginal for self defense whereas the same size gun can be had in a better caliber.

dben002 · #4 03-15-2025, 09:25 PM

Caliber unrelated but I sold my Sig 930 4 days after purchase.
To small for me...thumbs got in the way of the slide...was hard to hold and fire.....The 230 must be really small.......

nyeti · #5 03-15-2025, 09:29 PM

They are one of my favorite guns and I own a bunch. I carried them as back up guns for most of my LE career. I have found they are one of the most reliable .380’s, and FAR more reliable than the Walther PPKs. They were originally designed to be a uniform service gun for German Police, and that is reflected in how well they function. The heel magazine release is a benefit for both concealment and to ensure the magazines stay in the gun when deep concealed. These were popular with many units including the British SAS for concealed use and US Secret Service. One of the ones I owned in the past was carried by one of President George W Bush’s close protection agents as a back up.
They can be a bit snappy in recoil that is typical of blowback guns, but they are easy to shoot well and point naturally. I like the Stainless for stand alone primary carry and the alloy frame guns for ankle carry or as a second gun. As mentioned magazines have gotten expensive. I still carry a stainless steel one often as a date night/formal wear gun. The P232’s have replaceable sights but I prefer the quality of the older W. German P230’s.

Baxter6551 · #6 03-15-2025, 10:14 PM

I have an Sig P232. I echo the comments of the above posters. It carries extremely well in a Kramer OWB belt scabbard. I fortunately picked up several spare mags back when. The Hoque rubber grips are a big improvement in the feel and shoot ability in my opinion as they do in the P239 also. My 232 does not like the Sig flat nose FMJ ammo. Shoots all defensive ammo and regular FMJ just fine.
When we were carrying the original generation of Sig P226 they issued the P230 to the undercover detectives. They moved to P239 for Detectives and administrators later. The Sig P239 in .357 Sig was my retirement gun and I added a used 239 DAK 9mm later.

ColbyBruce · #7 03-15-2025, 10:42 PM

HK P7 PSP, Glock 43, Walther PP, and S&W 3913

jframejoey · #8 03-16-2025, 01:11 AM

One of my favorite guns. I have a blued p230 and still have 3 of the 6 P230SLs I've bought.

Brian Parrish · #9 03-16-2025, 02:19 AM

I carried mine in the small of the back, IWB under a sport coat for four years.
I moved to it from a Colt Mustang.
I learned to draw from concealment and fire all 8 shots at 8 yards in under three seconds. This "Bill Drill" or "mag dump" tactic is the great strength of the gun. 380 ACP in a straight blowback design. Anyone who does not know exactly what is meant by blowback, should please read up on it before you buy this.

The base mounted magazine release took some practice. I use the support hand to do all administrative functions on all pistols and never loosen or move the firing grip. My left hand does not seem to care which gun I am using. Even so, do not consider this mag release type to be fast.

I do not know any advantage to the West German earlier gun over any others. I got the stainless, but the finish on the blue guns is excellent.
I do not know what changes were made in the P232. For my purposes it was the same in every respect except the 232 grips are ugly. If I had one of them, I would not want the other.

My mother shot her Bersa 380 very well. After she passed away, then my Dad carried it in a shoulder holster. He was very satisfied with it. I think the quality difference between the Bersa and Sig is dramatic and obvious.
The PPK fights the same way, fills the same role, but again the Sig fit and finish is superior.

I have now a Smith 3913NL, loaded with Hornady Critical Defense Lite, the ones with the pink tip. It carries and shoots very reminiscent of my old P230 because that round converts the 9mm into a 380 for the ladies. (What in the Sam Hill?)

I paid a little over $500 in 1987, IIRC, which translates to $1,400 today.
I used a Bianchi suede IWB clip holster which was modified to fit by a shoe repair shop.

Kind Regards!
BrianD

45Smashemflat · #10 03-16-2025, 08:25 AM

Great info folks. Thanks!

Imissedagain · #11 03-16-2025, 08:51 AM

When it came time to buy, I bought the P239 in 9mm
and two PPKs 380s, all new.
The P239 has night sights.
The P239 is a sweet shooting accurate but ugly gun.

Compare the P239 to the P230, size wise.
PPKs 380 and P239 in pic.

.455_Hunter · #12 03-16-2025, 12:25 PM

They are outstanding guns!

The only reason that I currently don't own one is that being a lefty, the placement of the controls do not work with the geometry of my left hand.

LVSteve · #13 03-16-2025, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dben002

Caliber unrelated but I sold my Sig 930 4 days after purchase.
To small for me...thumbs got in the way of the slide...was hard to hold and fire.....The 230 must be really small.......

Are you thinking of the Sig 938 and 238? I think they are the same size, just different calibers. Both are small and can only really be used with a thumbs down grip. The Sig 238 has very light recoil as it uses a locked breech action where the Sig 230/232 are straight blowback guns.

Ameshawki · #14 03-16-2025, 06:09 PM

I have a 230 and a 232. Nice pistols, decent accuracy, completely reliable. Point instinctively for me. The 230 is the all steel model, the 232 has an alloy frame. Handling isn’t dramatically different between the two. They fit Bersa Thunder holsters very well. Mags are pricey and not easy to find. Parts like the same but I don’t anticipate needing any.

45Smashemflat · #15 04-13-2025, 12:49 AM

Blind squirrel, nut, etc…