Opinions on the Sig Sauer P232 .380

[sigp220.45]

A local guy has a Sig Sauer P232 all stainless .380 sitting in the display case, marked $349. It is a dead pawn, so he probably has $100 tied up in it.

I don't really need a .380, but I like Sigs and it might make a neat gun for my wife.

Anyone here have one? Likes and dislikes?

 

[S. Hammer]

I had it's predecessor the P230SL. Nice gun but in today's market it's big and heavy for a .380. The blue ones have aluminum frames, the stainless are all steel. They are accurate. For a while we were even issued stainless P230's as investigators. Wasn't real comfortable with just a .380 as a duty gun in Fla.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

I have one and it's a nice gun, very reliable and accurate. That's probably a good price on one as well.
380 isn't much as caliber goes but it's better than a 25 or 32 and much better than nothing at all.

 

[LoadedRound]

Joni's right

If it's in good shape that's a great price. I'm not a huge .380 fan, but that's one of the very best. I have a stainless PPKs....well just because.

If it blows your skirt up, buy it. I would.

 

[Pete99004]

If it's in good shape that is a good price - I own a P232 Two Tone (SS slide w/alloy frame) very accurate - 20oz loaded (all SS will be heavier) It's a little bit large with all these 4.5" over all lite weight pocket style .380's on the market now but it's very comfortable to shoot, draws nicely and points easily, it's very natural and it's easy to clean. Bottom release for the mags is not my favorite location but don't have any issues with it.

All in all, I'm very happy with mine. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Erich]

My least favorite SIG-Sauer . . . and the only traditional double action semiauto with which I ever developed light strike issues. I like the heel mag release in a pocket gun. Big for what it is (I've owned several 9x19s that were smaller); good sights for that kind of gun and good trigger for that kind of gun as well. That is a good price. I think my Ruger LCP (which is much smaller and lighter) is easier to control (locked breech vs. blowback).

I'd rather have a P232 than a Walther PPK any day of the week, tho.

 

[JoseyWales2]

I dislike immensely the mag release at the bottom of the grip. If that doesn't bother you, and the condition is good, get it because the price is too good to pass up.

 

[NFrameFred]

Tempted by but have passed on several. Hand gun rounds are stop-gap measures anyway as far as self defense and the .380 is on the low end of the spectrum in my mind . . . but the main reason is the same one that has made me hold off on a Beretta Cheetah, as well . . . cannot bring myself to buy a .380 that is twice the size gun for the cartridge as it should be since I can get many 9mm's that are smaller. Personal preferences . . . . YMMV

 

[Rule3]

A local guy has a Sig Sauer P232 all stainless .380 sitting in the display case, marked $349. It is a dead pawn, so he probably has $100 tied up in it.

I don't really need a .380, but I like Sigs and it might make a neat gun for my wife.

Anyone here have one? Likes and dislikes?

Sigs are one of my favorite guns. I have the P 230, same gun a little different sights and such. All stainless.

It's an excellent gun, accurate and just nice to look at. I like shooting .380's I was on a kick for a while.

What others have said though is true. It's too big for a pocket gun so if you have to holster it there are bigger and better for that. Kinda like a PPK. These days they are too big and heavy. I take my Ruger LCP everywhere, not the Sig.

For the price I would buy it just because

 

[Maximumbob54]

I read a good review years ago on the Interarms Walther PPK vs. the Sig P230 vs. the Bersa Thunder .380 and was pretty impressed that the Sig outdid the PPK in most categories. The more interesting thing was that the Bersa was only graded slightly less than the Sig and much higher than the PPK. I tried to read up on the P230 vs. the P232 and came up with they changed how they are made to make them cost less to make somehow. I can't say I found anything trying to convince that the P230 was superior to the P232 just some cost saving manufacturing difference that I don't remember. But at that used price tag with maybe even some room to negotiate I would snap it up in a hurry. It is going to be all things already commented on about being an outdated design that is bulky for a .380 when 9mm's come smaller these days, the all steel frame is going to be that much heavier than an alloy frame, and the 9mm makes a better defense cartridge than the .380… BUT, it's still a heck of a gun at a heck of a price. I can take my Bersa to the range and actually enjoy shooting it while the LCP I rented was just painful to shoot. Given the choice between carrying my 3913 or my Bersa I would carry the 9mm over a .380 but the .380 still goes bang and pokes into a BG to hurt a whole bunch. I won't make a caliber debate. I just say the P232 is a great gun and at that price I would sucker into it in a heart beat.

 

[Rule3]

Here be the Sig 230SL.

If I was going holster and carry a 380, It would be this one. Hard to find these little gems. DA only and double stacked. Both are tack drivers.

 

[Jeb21]

Great price for a great gun. I would buy it and enjoy. In my experience is it more reliable/accurate than a Walther. While is may be a bit too big for a BUG it will make a nice concealment piece.

 

[sigp220.45]

Thanks for all the good input.

I stopped in today to put it on layaway, and it had a nice new tag reading $495. The owner said he had checked the Blue Book and realized it was a "a thousand dollar gun", so he thought he'd better up the price.

So there it sits.

 

[Rule3]

A brand new stainless with night sites is $612.00 from Buds delivered so it's not a thousand dollar gun.

The blued version (which are lighter) with out night sites are even less. $505.

 

[Erich]

I suspect you will be happier in the long haul, amigo.



("Thousand-dollar gun", sheesh . . . )

 

[Rule3]

Your thread got me inspired so I took mine to the range today (also to test some 95 gr LRN bullets in it)

I forgot what a tack diver that little gun is. It so nice to shoot and make one ragged hole.

Now if someone will help me find my spent brass in the .380 black hole.

 

[S&W-Keeper]

I have the 230, very accurate, if you have big hands don't grip it to high it bites.Ask me how I know.