What is the difference between these two Sigs? Is it mag capacity, caliber etc.? Aren't they both 32 or 380 calibers?

The first SIG P230 came out in 1996, then replaced by the P232. Mostly exterior cosmetic: slab grips vs palm swell grips (different fasteners), variations in slide serrations, fixed front sight vs dovetailed/pinned front sight (night sights option), all black finish, all stainless finish, two tone finish with alloy frame, metal magazine base plates vs polymer magazine base plates. Available in rare .32acp with a slide mounted thumb safety (Asian Police model) and common .380acp. Rumors of a .22 version but never confirmed that I recall.

More information/images available on the internet if you're still curious.

IIRC the P232 came out in 96. The P230 came out in 77 or 78

There was also a change in feedramp geometry to improve feeding reliability with hollowpoint ammo with the 232, though there was one update in this area to later models of the 230 also!

quote:

Originally posted by cherokee2u:
IIRC the P232 came out in 96. The P230 came out in 77 or 78

You're right, I misspoke. I should have caught that as my first P230 was issued to me in 1994.

The P230 was designed in 1977 and imported by SIGARMS into the USA in 1985. Not sure if SIG is still producing the P232(?). According to below it only shows being produced to 2015.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIG_Sauer_P230

that's correct the 23X is no longer produced.

Couldn't compete with all the plastic guns with no sex appeal. You know, an ugly little pice of tupperware is so much better made, so much better looking, and better handling that that gawd awful metal sig beauty that handles great, looks great, and shoots great. There's just no competition right there. A beautiful Italian woman is no where near as beautiful than a, what ? A block of black plastic. Yea, that's why, exactly.

Ooops, I made a mistake. German women are not like Italian women. Apologies to all German women, beautiful or otherwise.

I own a EC p230 made in Germany. That gun is really special compared to most other 380 acp guns. I think the 230 is better than the 232, there's just something clean and pure about the 230, you know, like German women. Apologies again to German women. Damn, I should quit doing that.

The early 230's had mags with slots on the side instead of witness holes. They did not have some of the safety features brought up in the 232. Some of the later years did have some of the upgrades. I have two 1995's that have the rebounding hammers. The 232's changed the slide serrations to wider and less in number. The early 232 had slanted seration while the later ones were upright. The stainless mags also changed to a plastic nameplate. Later 232 Stainless dropped the SL after the 232 on the slide. I do not think the 230 came in a two tone like the 232.

quote:

Originally posted by FenderBender:
that's correct the 23X is no longer produced.

The 239 is.

Thanks to all for the info.

Never owned or shot either, wasn't the 230 more prone to slide bite?

They sure did. But I've never had that problem with any gun because my hands on on the smaller side of the tracks, without a lot of meat on them. Just another reason for me loving that model.

For your reading pleasure...

A great P232 review comparing the two http://www.nramuseum.org/media...172/Nov-Dec%2098.pdf

A great P230 review

http://www.chuckhawks.com/sig_p230.htm

As was pointed out, the 230 was designed in the late 70s. It was imported initially by Hawes Firearms IIRC.