Howdy,
I tried a search but couldn't find difinitive info. I just acquired a couple electroless nickel (I think) mags for the P230, P230SL, or possibly P232 (though I think the 232 had nylon baseplates, correct?).

Anyway, one is zipperback with witness holes and one is zig-zag/dovetail with longer viewing slots. Both have silver, metal "stainless" finger-rest baseplates. Both attract magnets both on the mag body and baseplates. Am I correct in my assumption that all "stainless" P230/P230SL magazines aren't actually made from stainless steel, but rather were nickel coated? Is this the case for P232 "stainless" magazines also?

TIA for info

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 1KPerDay,

FWIW...I have several new in the package 230/232 mags that are "silver" the packages don't say nickel or stainless steel. Some have "silver" base plates and some are black. Sorry for the no help but the factory packaging does not indicate nickel or stainless.

Why would the factory nickel plate the mags for a stainless pistol? If they are nickel, it's aftermarket.

This is of only limited help. I have probably a dozen of these magazines and none of them are nickel plated. Now in the world of sig I have learned to never doubt what may exist, because I have been wrong 100% of the time. YMMV.

Yes, factory OEM "stainless" magazines are in fact nickel. That's just how they're done, they look similar enough and many people can't tell the difference, but if you've seen enough of them it becomes obvious.

Here's a pic of my P230SL with 2 OEM magazines, you can clearly see the yellowish rose tint of the nickel plating on the finish of the magazine compared to the whiter slide/frame of the gun that are actually stainless steel.



Here's my P232 SL. They switched out the metal base plates to plastic but once again, that warmer yellowish tint is a giveaway that the magazine body is nickel, not stainless steel:


Fun fact, inspect your hammer, slide catch, magazine releases and various other small parts closely, you'll see that those parts are actually hard chrome plated carbon steel. Chrome looks colder and you can even see it in the pic above. Take a closer look at your gun and see how many you can pick out.

This isn't unusual, carbon steel is far easier and cheaper to work with. For parts intended to withstand repeated impacts (such as the hammer) or needs to hold an edge, stainless steel is a poor choice due to its susceptibility to cumulative fatigue, so often times carbon steel is retained even on "stainless steel" guns.

Hope this helps and puts you at ease.

quote:

Originally posted by darkest2000:
Yes, factory OEM "stainless" magazines are in fact nickel.
<snip>

Are you sure about that? Nickel is quite expensive. I’m reasonably sure that SS is a satisfactory material for mags. I have SIG-supplied SS mags for my P-238.

I’ve been wrong before.

Thanks for the good photos in any case.

quote:

Originally posted by darkest2000:
Yes, factory OEM "stainless" magazines are in fact nickel. That's just how they're done, they look similar enough and many people can't tell the difference, but if you've seen enough of them it becomes obvious.

Thank you.

quote:

Originally posted by darkest2000:
Yes, factory OEM "stainless" magazines are in fact nickel. That's just how they're done, they look similar enough and many people can't tell the difference, but if you've seen enough of them it becomes obvious.

Here's a pic of my P230SL with 2 OEM magazines, you can clearly see the yellowish rose tint of the nickel plating on the finish of the magazine compared to the whiter slide/frame of the gun that are actually stainless steel.
<snip)

A nickel plated mag is not a nickel mag.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:

quote:

Originally posted by darkest2000:
Yes, factory OEM "stainless" magazines are in fact nickel.
<snip>

Are you sure about that? Nickel is quite expensive. I’m reasonably sure that SS is a satisfactory material for mags. I have SIG-supplied SS mags for my P-238.

I’ve been wrong before.

Thanks for the good photos in any case.

I should clarify that my statements are geared towards the P230/P232 and the Classic SIG pistols at large.

The SIG USA stuff is a whole other ball game and may very well have actual true stainless steel mags.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
A nickel plated mag is not a nickel mag.

Generally when something is described as "Nickel" it's referring to the finish, which is a plating. The magazines are constructed from steel, and the base is cast aluminum on the P230.

There are about five or six styles of factory magazines

quote:

Originally posted by PGT:
There are about five or six styles of factory magazines

Please expound on the different compositions/finish for the 230/232 mags.

Sure. Here's my stash...some SIG/Sauer/Hammerli, some Sigarms, some Sig Sauer, P230, P230SL, P232, etc. Also, 32acp versions (which are identical that I can tell save the marking on the bag)

* nickel plated steel with cast alloy nickel bases
* black with cast alloy bases
* black with plastic bases
* black with stamped steel bases
* chromed or stainless with black plastic

Thank you and the OP has it's answer.

So, they are all steel body with different finishes.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
So, they are all steel body with different finishes.

I can check. The silver ones in the bubble packs feel like stainless vs. chromed carbon steel.

quote:

Originally posted by PGT:
Sure. Here's my stash.

Dang! You could buy a house with that stuff LOL

Thanks for the info! If you wouldn't mind, when you get a chance, see if a magnet sticks to your "cast alloy nickel bases". It does on mine, as noted above.

I still think mine are stainless, but I'll try a further assessment based on all this. But wouldn't you think a mag labeled 380ACP SS 7rd as is seen in the PGT photo be a SS mag?

Save your 230/232 mags.

Purchase a couple MecGar Bersa Thunder 8rd 380 mags.
Dis-assemble the mag.
Grind & de-bur a notch for the Euro heel latch in the aft bottom end of the mag body.

The MG base plate will set 3/16" below flush in the frame/mag well but function perfectly, to include activating the slide catch lever.