What do you guys think about the SIG Sauer P232?

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heavyshooter

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I am looking for a CCW firearm that I will not leave at home during light clothing days. Because of this it can't be too big or heavy. It must be durable because I will carry it all the time and I do not intend to buy another for a long while. And, obviously, it must be reliable because I do not need an expensive, pretty rock. I have mentioned before that I was considering the NAA Guardian .380 and I am going through the obligatory Ruger LCP review as well (the recall is not a show stopper because it’s a Ruger). But I am a huge SIG Sauer fan and I was wondering how you guys would critique the SIG Sauer P232.

---HELP---
 
A great carry gun... very light, very thin, simple to operate, accurate and reliable. A world class gun that is easy to shoot well. There are also many holsters available for it. Used P230/232s can be found for very reasonable prices.
 
It's a good gun, but there are 9mm pistols that are smaller yet.
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Yeah, I thought about that as well. But I should mention that I am trying to stay away from polymer and I want the gun to be as narrow as possible (I have a Springfield XD40 subcompact and it has made me aware of these preferences). I want to bury it in an IWB holster and forget about it until I need it.

Also, I am evaluating the weapon exclusively for the sake of Self Defense. A shoot out is SIG P226. A home invasion is Mossberg 590. But what do you carry when you just want to get a bad guy off of you?

Heavy
 
The Sig P232 is a fine weapon.

The Khar K9 (not polymer P9) I think merits consideration. About the same size, but fires 9mm.
 
Sig p230/232 are great weapons just seems too big for the round now days. I think the Walters PPK might be better for conceal carry old design but still works. Of course the best weapon for what you want IMHO is a J-frame .38 sp. Really like large semi-auto but as I mention before I tend to have problems with them as I go to smaller ones.

Be Safe
 
I think that the Sig 232 is the most reliable .380 pistol that you can buy.

It's also very accurate and as safe to carry ready to fire as they come. It has a decocker that allows you to let the hammer down slowly and under your control to make the pistol ready to fire double action.

On top of those things it feels good, balances nicely in hand, and it also looks good... 232SIG.gif

If you're good with the caliber there's no better pistol.


BUT.. that about:
"But what do you carry when you just want to get a bad guy off of you?"
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is not good thinking. If you go waving a gun and threatening someone with it you'll find yourself charged with brandishing a firearm at large expense, maybe some time in slammer, and never lawfully carrying a firearm again.
 
Buy one. Matter of fact, if you want to save a little $$, get a used P230 or P232. You will still be alright. Most people don't shoot a .380 alot, so there's probably not alot of rounds through most used ones out there. Gunbroker.com usually has some of them.
 
I love my P230SL. It's very accurate, and very reliable. Plus, it's pretty sexy looking too. :D
 
For a .380 ACP carry gun its a bit large, I wish they would have made it a double stack. I've got a stainless P232 with the siglight night sights and I love it but I carry my P3AT instead almost all the time. At about 23 oz, its not much lighter or smaller than my XD45 compact. The one reason I keep it is because its so much fun to shoot, the trigger is great(though my bersa had a lighter DA pull).
 
BUT.. that about:
Quote:
"But what do you carry when you just want to get a bad guy off of you?"

is not good thinking. If you go waving a gun and threatening someone with it you'll find yourself charged with brandishing a firearm at large expense, maybe some time in slammer, and never lawfully carrying a firearm again.
Click to expand...


I am not referring to brandishing. Essentially I am asking if the .380 acp will inflict enough damage to end a life threatening assault and battery. If I unholster the weapon I intend to use it. I am wondering if it will effectively convince the BG that he has bitten off more than he can chew.
 
I love my P230SL. It's very accurate, and very reliable. Plus, it's pretty sexy looking too.
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Same here. Of all my pistols the SL230 is the most reliable. It is my house gun. A friend of mine bought a used Blue 230...swears buy it. Another friend just bought a used Blue 232...swears buy it. Carries it.
230 or 232 is a great choice.
 
23o/32

I have a s.s. sig 230, never faiedl to go bang, very controlable, accurate, may be a little large for a .380, but i've never been noticed due to its being so thin. Agreed, best .380 made and also sexiest! NEVER felt underarmed
 
Kevin,

Those are Hogue grips bought through Midway with my dealer discount. Hogue grips are one of the few things in Midway that their pricing make the discount worthwhile.

But....have a look here: http://marschalgrips.com/?merchant_return_link=Return+to+Merchant

I have a pair of these coming for one of my Makarovs, but they make them for several Sigs as well, including the 232. I would have ordered but their photos make the butt of the 232 look weird so I asked if another photo is available showing the gun from the flank directly before ordering them. Looks like nice work, and I love the rear checkering option. That's old world European practice as found on such guns as some year models of Mauser 1910-1914, and on some of the HSC. I have a prewar HSC that I'd love to dress up with some rear checkered fine wood grips.
(Thanks to Steven Camp for the reference to Marshalgrips)
 
FWIW:

I've always read the Sig P232 is the absolute best 380cal. pistol you can buy..

My problem is not with the quality, or reliability, or value, or whatever the Sig P232 offers as compared to the competition, but the size of the P232.

I live in S.Ga. and a great part of the year it's just too hot to comfortably conceal carry a pistol the size of the Sig P232.. IF I wanted to cc a pistol the size of a Sig P232 I'd carry my S&W 6906 (w/the S&W +2grip extender) and my capacity and caliber would be 15+1 of 9mm vs the Sigs 8+1 (just guessing) of 380cal.

100_9936_01.jpg

or:

A very thin, easy to conceal,single stack 9mm pistol would be the S&W 3913LS. You never hear a bad word about the 3913LS.

100_9811.jpg

But, all of the above pistols are just too large for daily, easy, cc, so that's why my choice is the Seecamp LWS380 in a rear pocket, (wallet style) holster.

If you don't care to spend the money for the pricey LWS380 (and the 15+ month wait) I think the Ruger LCP would be a fine choice.. The LCP is new and experiencing "teething issues", but Ruger will resolve those and the price is certainly right.

Absolutely nothing wrong with the fine Sig P232, it's just too darn big for daily cc..

Personal opinion, no offense to the Sig lovers out there. (I had a P239, it was excellent).

Best Wishes,

Jesse

100_8023-2.jpg
 
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I like the 232 a lot, its a sexy little gun, but when I was trying them out I ended up buying the 239 because it carried about the same (no polymer either).
If it's a 380 you want, the Kel-Tec and the Ruger are great alternatives that will be much smaller, slimmer, and lighter... and they run about half the price of the 232.
Nonetheless, I would not feel bad with a 232. They are sweet guns.
 
I had one and while it is a very nice gun, I felt it was barky because of it's straight blowback design and not significantly smaller than a Smith 3914 or SIG 239 in the more powerful 9mmPara caliber.
 
I am probably a bit obsessed with small compact CCW's and my bank account can testify to that :eek: Warm months the LCP is in a DeSantis Nemesis. I carry my 232 exclusively during the period of November - March in an OWB Mitch Rosen UPL. I do on occasion carry in a G&G Belly Band but only when I wear an untucked shirt. I have more compact carry pistols than I care to admit to but for five months and then some the 232 is my choice.
On all gun boards when you ask for advice or opinions regarding an interesting .380 pistol, you will always get the "caliber A is much better" and "you can get a X caliber in the same size gun" responses. The problem is this kind of thinking can go on and on right up until someone finally mentions the .600 Nitro Express revolver and then everyone turns their responses back to gun size and weight. Then we go full circle all the way down to a NAA Mini and we start the caliber war all over again. If you like the Sig 232, if it feels good in your hand, If you're confident in the .380 ACP to reasonably defend you and yours and if you can afford the price tag I say get it, shoot it, carry it and enjoy it ;)
 
I recently bought a 232 tone. It's as good as my 230 Stainless. It's all quality.
 
My carry weapon has been a SIG P232 for the last few years, a reliable, safe and reasonably accurate .380. However past 10 yards or heavy clothing it lacks performance and power. I have recently replaced it with a CZ PCR 9mm, as reliable as a SIG, I own 4 SIG's, way more accurate at ranges exceeding 10 yards, less recoil, faster followup shots on target and sexy as a pistol can get. I recommend having the SIG P232 for summer carry... there are smaller lighter pistols but they have limitations, excessive recoil is just one. My SIG's all have functioned without a single malfunction ever, my P226 has near 8,000 rounds thru it in .40 S&W. I really liked the P232 but felt under gunned and besides "I needed to buy another pistol". I will keep the P232 in my collection but my daily beater will be the CZ PCR.
 
I like my 232, living in the south it is real easy to carry c, however I am now looking for something more like a 9mm or 40 S&W for cc, I believe you need to have all the advantage you can get with an unexpected threat. We all know it is all about placement to stop a threat, however, I would rather be shot with 22 then a 45.
 
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