Range Report: SIG P232 (.380)

I'm not a big fan of .380s, or double actions, but the little SIG was one of the few guns at the range that I hadn't shot, so I tried it reluctantly. I was pleasantly surprised at what a great shooter it is.

The P232 has one of the best double action mechanisms I've ever used. When decocked, the hammer is still partially cocked, which makes the first shot lighter and shorter than most DAs.

	SIG P232
Capacity	7+1
Weight Empty	16.2 oz.
Barrel	3.6"
Sight Radius	4.7"
Length	6.6"
Height	4.7"
Width	1.2"
Origin	W. Germany

After the first shot, double action autoloaders cock the hammer, making for a trigger pull that's lighter, but not necessarily shorter. Often, the second trigger pull is just as long, but the first stage of travel is extemely light because the trigger has no resistance. With the P232, the trigger doesn't return to the fully forward position after the first shot, so there's no takeup in the single-action trigger pull.

These two features make the 232 very easy to fire quickly and accurately. The sights are big enough to get a good sight picture, and feature a red front blade. The grip was just big enough to get a good purchase, and had rubber stocks that provided a secure grip that easily tamed the modest recoil.

The magazine release is on the bottom of the handle, which makes it a two-handed affair that's a little slow to operate. The gun I shot was stainless steel for ease of maintenance. Other finish options are blued, two-toned, and Nitrox.

If you're in the market for a .380, the SIG P232 would be an excellent choice. If you can handle the recoil of the more-powerful 9 mm, the Kel-Tec P11 and Glock 26 are about the same size. I'll post reviews of both guns next week.

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Posted by Les Jones

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