Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
In today's world we have an amazing selection of small pistols for self-defense. Many of them incorporate locked breach systems and are as small, if not smaller, than what was previously available in a simple blowback design.
HOWEVER, it wasn't that long ago when a 380 Auto was the largest cartridge that you could typically find in a true "pocket pistol".
Back in the days when the 380 Auto was the small pistol cartridge, one gun, the SIG P230, stood out from the pack.
Some people claimed the P230 was simply SIG's version of a Walther PPK. I'm not sure I agree with that.
Some folks said the P230 was overpriced. It wasn't cheap but it wasn't out of reach for most.
Some would say that the P230 was just another little pistol. I think it deserves a bit more credit.
In the late 1980's and early 1990's there just weren't that many DA/SA small pistols available. The Walther PPK was well established and clearly an excellent pistol. There were the Walther look-a-like pistols such as the Bersa, FEG, Springfield auto and few others. There were a few other designs such as the AMT 380 but that was about it if you wanted DA.
The SIG P230 was the other choice in a DA/SA pistol chambered in 380 Auto or 32 ACP.
The P230 had a grip that was a little fatter than the PPK and that made it easier to shoot and only slightly more difficult to conceal.
It had an excellent DA trigger and very good sights.
The heel type magazine release ensured that when you REALLY needed that ONE magazine to be securely locked in the gun - it would be there. This wasn't a gun that would likely ever be reloaded under stress.
The de-cocking lever meant that the gun could be rendered safe but pulling the trigger when a live round was chambered always resulted in a shot being fired. You couldn't inadvertently put the gun in a non firing mode.
The exterior contours were about as "snag proof" as you could get. Even the exposed hammer was almost entirely shrouded by the slide.
The gun was easy to field strip and clean.
The materials and workmanship were top notch.
On top of those features, you got a very reliable pistol that was extremely accurate.
The P230 was the Queen of its day.
HOWEVER, it wasn't that long ago when a 380 Auto was the largest cartridge that you could typically find in a true "pocket pistol".
Back in the days when the 380 Auto was the small pistol cartridge, one gun, the SIG P230, stood out from the pack.
Some people claimed the P230 was simply SIG's version of a Walther PPK. I'm not sure I agree with that.
Some folks said the P230 was overpriced. It wasn't cheap but it wasn't out of reach for most.
Some would say that the P230 was just another little pistol. I think it deserves a bit more credit.
In the late 1980's and early 1990's there just weren't that many DA/SA small pistols available. The Walther PPK was well established and clearly an excellent pistol. There were the Walther look-a-like pistols such as the Bersa, FEG, Springfield auto and few others. There were a few other designs such as the AMT 380 but that was about it if you wanted DA.
The SIG P230 was the other choice in a DA/SA pistol chambered in 380 Auto or 32 ACP.
The P230 had a grip that was a little fatter than the PPK and that made it easier to shoot and only slightly more difficult to conceal.
It had an excellent DA trigger and very good sights.
The heel type magazine release ensured that when you REALLY needed that ONE magazine to be securely locked in the gun - it would be there. This wasn't a gun that would likely ever be reloaded under stress.
The de-cocking lever meant that the gun could be rendered safe but pulling the trigger when a live round was chambered always resulted in a shot being fired. You couldn't inadvertently put the gun in a non firing mode.
The exterior contours were about as "snag proof" as you could get. Even the exposed hammer was almost entirely shrouded by the slide.
The gun was easy to field strip and clean.
The materials and workmanship were top notch.
On top of those features, you got a very reliable pistol that was extremely accurate.
The P230 was the Queen of its day.
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