SIG 230 .380 advice needed

[gaucho1]

I just picked up a Colt DS at my FFLs shop.

He has a clean 230sig.

Priced at $300 on consignment.

I am not looking for a .380, but it is a slick appealing semi.

SIG guys, please advise.

Thank You
John

 

[ColbyBruce]

While I like Sig pistols, the P230/232 has never appealed to me. It is large, just a tad smaller than a Sig P239 and right about the same size as a S&W 3913. The weight is very close as well. It has the European style mag release, which is on the bottom of the grip frame. Sig refined the P230 and named it the P232. The most noticeable change was the slide serrations.

$300.00 would be a great price around here, but I have no use for such a thing. If you did not like it, it would probably move very fast, maybe even at a small profit.

 

[wetdog]

That would be a good price here also. If complete with box even better. They came with a spare mag.

 

[gaucho1]

I have mixed feelings.

Seems like a great price, but it is about the same size as
compact 9s.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Texas Star]

If I had a loose $300 and that's in nice condition, it would have a new home, fast. Esp. if it's stainless.

I don't own any SIGs, but my son and his wife have several, inc. a P-239 with a Hogue grip. They tend to be top heavy unless a loaded mag is in place, but some feel very good in the hand.

Like the Walther PP series, it has a fixed barrel and should be quite accurate. Snake head accurate, at reasonable ranges...

If one accepts .380 power, this is probably a sound gun. I bet it fits inside a waistband well, and the P-232 is supposed to be more reliable than the P-230, esp. with JHP ammo. I think I recall that they have a raised cant to the underside of the slide, like the Polish P-64. This probably helps to avoid slide bite on fleshy hands, a problem with the Walther equivalent.

If you get it, let us know how it works and how it shoots. It will be easier to shoot well than your snub Colt .38 and won't develop cylinder timing problems, for sure. But the .38 can use some ammo that will outclass anything sane to put in a .380.

You could sort of split the difference by carryng a Pistolet Makarova or Polish P-64 in 9mm Makarov.
But the ammo may be a little hard to find at times, and I'm not sure if foreign ammo is non-corrosive.

Short of the Beretta .380's, the P-232 may be the most reliable .380. German police studies of the 7.65mm Model PP found an average of one jam in 50 rounds. I don't find that acceptable, so prefer small .38 revolvers.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I phoned a friend to ask for photos of his P230 with his P239, S&W 908s & Shield, Walther PP pistols. He gave his P230 to his S-I-L. I can post some photos of a Walther PP, S&W 908, Beretta 84 and then a Shield and a 3913 or 3953 if you like. GOOGLE the Sig P230 dimensions and then the other guns I have mentioned to see how little difference there is between them.

If you have the spare cash, you might enjoy the Sig P230. If nothing else, it will give you some experience and trigger time with a different handgun.

 

[ColbyBruce]

S&W Shield and Walther PP.

S&W Shield and a S&W 3953.

S&W Shield on a Glock 32.

Beretta 70 and a Walther PP.

Walther PP on a S&W 908.

S&W 908, Walther PP, Beretta 84.

 

[Texas Star]

There are other factors here than size. The PP is a selective DA auto and the Shield is a striker-fired item. I'm not comfortable carrying striker-fired guns.

If I carried a Luger for sentimental reasons, I'd leave the chamber empty unless I was pretty sure that I needed it loaded. I won't comment on Glock, etc. But I won't buy or carry them.

 

[ColbyBruce]

Walther PP on a Beretta 84.

My son's S&W 36 SB on the Walther PP.

Another forum members guns. A S&W J frame on a S&W 3913.

 

[ColbyBruce]

The above photos just show a comparison of size and firepower. $300.00 is not a lot of money for a handgun now-a-days, especially a name brand. I doubt you can find a decent S&W 10 for that price. If it is calling your name, give it a try.

Here are my Sig P225's and P228.

One final size comparison. S&W 39-2 and a Sig P225.

 

[george minze]

My personal confession..After 40+years in law enforcement I never owned a Walther PPk/S Always wanted one but they were never authorized I bought one in blue this year,,,Dbl. action is like pulling teeth, single action is super and the 380 is a darned accurate little pistol..I'll admit the PPK series has sex appeal if that is the right word. I also bought a S&W Shield in 9mm it shots great, looks like a toy but shoots good..PPK-S looks great and single action shoots great, however I would not want to depend on it in a life and death situation, There is a certain pizzam to them,,I guess that Bond, James bond reputation,,,,In single action I would trust it and it would be better than a 32, especially using hard ball ammo....Better penetration and better ballistics IMO. The Shield is a little ugly but sort of like a dependable not so good looking wife will always be there and comes out a swinging every time so far.....a little blocky but not bad as a BUG..Accurate enough. Better looking than a Glock IMO......I yearn for guns I have sold or traded,,,First on that list is the H&K P7M8 and next the S&W 3953....I can be a dumb butt at times, or broke at times. If all heck broke loose my favorite would be my Actions by (T) BHP Belgium. However now long retired it is a little big as a BUG, but if needed I would feel as safe aS one in that situation could feel.......

 

[Dennis The B]

Just today, I bought a Sig P232. A week, or so ago, I found a Colt Government .380, made in 1998. I've been carrying the Colt on occasion, and it's a very light, well balanced pistol.

The stainless steel Sig, on the other hand, is quite a bit heavier at 22 oz. vs. the Pocketlite at 13 oz. The Sig's recoil is a bit more straight back vs. the Colt which tends to recoil a bit more around the wrist.

I ran about 100 rounds through the Sig, today, and about 50 through the Colt. Both were very pleasant to shoot.

 

[inspcalahan]

For $300 I'd grab that up very quickly. If down the road I decided to sell it, a few dollars will most definitely be made. (assuming very good condition/etc)

 

[Texas Star]

Just today, I bought a Sig P232. A week, or so ago, I found a Colt Government .380, made in 1998. I've been carrying the Colt on occasion, and it's a very light, well balanced pistol.

The stainless steel Sig, on the other hand, is quite a bit heavier at 22 oz. vs. the Pocketlite at 13 oz. The Sig's recoil is a bit more straight back vs. the Colt which tends to recoil a bit more around the wrist.

I ran about 100 rounds through the Sig, today, and about 50 through the Colt. Both were very pleasant to shoot.

Any jams at all?

 

[mbliss57]

Weactually my wife has the Sig P238. That's a small package 1911 style pistol she can shoot lights out. I have never fired a Sig 232. So I cannot compare.

 

[6nexus]

When you're carrying a Sig 232 IWB (and you are, unless you have large pockets) it's noticeably smaller than a Sig 239 or Glock 26. It's about the same size as a LC9 or PF9. Of course it's 380 as opposed to 9mm, but the 232 is much easier to shoot than the compact nines.
Also, if the gun is in nice shape $300 sounds like a good deal.

 

[gaucho1]

Wow, this turned into an interesting thread.

Looks like 6nexus has summed it up for me.

Thank you all for the detailed posts.

John

 

[Dennis The B]

Any jams at all?

The P232 ran about 100 rounds of all types; Fiocchi, Winchester, Federal, Remington, and PMC. Not a single jam, FTF, FTE. I purposely mixed the brands within the mags, just to see the performance. I wasn't disappointed. Now, I did give it a bath in Shooter's Choice grease before I loaded it the first time. I run everything in stainless very wet.

The Government .380 was used when it came to me. So, no real round count. I've run about 200 rounds through it, of all types. It's also been 100% reliable.

For my needs, I wouldn't consider the P232 a real "pocket gun". It's pretty meaty, even for a small framed semiautomatic. The Colt, however, seems like it fits the "pocket" criteria.

I also have a Beretta Model 70, in .32 ACP. It's my definition of a pocket gun.

 

[hangnoose]

WORTH IT?

YES I SUPPOSE. For a good condition Sig 300$ is a bargain for any EXCEPT the mosquito IMO. The only reason I might buy it would be to flip it, as the 230 is now discontinued YOU MAY get more $ for it. I'm a Sig guy but never considered them sleek or sexy EXCEPT for the p 230/232 & possibly the p239 & all stainless 220, in that order. If it were the p 232, I'd jump on it in a heartbeat, just because the lines are so different from the other Sigs, & reports of better feeding in the 232. Even though I feel the p239 9mm has it beat hands down for a CC/SD pistol at VERY little extra size & wt. I normally only buy what I would want to keep & use for myself & NOT to flip, but I suppose you could buy it for the 300$ & flip it for 400$ easy enough, but I wouldn't go thru the trouble.

 

[eveled]

Not looking for a .380? That sums it up for me. Why buy a gun you weren't looking for? The .380 is a niche cartridge, it made a lot of sense at one time, now that there are so many compact 9mm's out there the .380's are in some ways obsolete.

For me I'd rather carry a air light j-frame.