Hey all, does anyone have experience with the Sig p232 and the Walther Ppk/s? I am trying tio decide between the 2 guns for conceal carry. I know that there are better options but I have my mind and my heart set on these 2 pistols.

There are much better choices.

I own a PPK and enjoy it as a classic firearm. I prefer it to the p232 for purely aesthetic reasons. The P232 is a better gun in nearly every respect.

The SIG is a much better pistol and more peasant to shoot in my experience. Vastly preferable decocker as well.

Both are great but keep in mind that the SIG P232 is no longer made. You'll either have to buy a used one, or if you're lucky to find one NIB that is old stock, you will pay a premium. Finding spare mags might be an issue with this model.

The PPK and PPK/S are still being made and easy to locate. They are not cheap however.

In 380 ACP, I'd take either of these pistols over most others in that caliber on the market simply because they are all metal guns. I just prefer them over polymer framed ones.

I owned both. The Walther was hit or miss as far as reliability was concerned. I also had a TPH that was nonfunctional. The Sig was reliable, accurate but its magazine release takes some getting used to. And magazine availability is a factor. Everything considered, I would go with the Sig every time.

If you want small go with the PPK (not the PPK/S). If you want something a bit bigger the the Beretta 85.

to answer your actual question between those two (PPK/S or P232) I would want a Manurhin manufactured PPK/S or a Ranger manufactured blue steel PPK/S as second choice.

quote:

The Walther was hit or miss as far as reliability was concerned.

100% agree. I owned a Walther PPK/S many years ago and while it looked great, it was not reliable.

I've owned a few P230/P232's over the years and every one of them was reliable. I currently have a blued P230 in my safe that I'm very happy with. There are more practical options out there but something about it just feels right.

So my vote is for the P232 and its not because I'm a Sig fanboy, its because it is a more reliable pistol.

Anecdotal, but the Sig has a much better reputation for reliability than the Walther. Pretty does zero good if it won't get off more than two consecutive shots.

I retired the Sig to the safe for occasional range shooting because, as others pointed out, it is no longer made, so there are serviceability considerations.

The PPK/s that I carry is a S&W model, which got a bad reputation for quality and can therefore be found for much less than other options. I knew I was gambling when I got mine, but I was very lucky--never had a malfunction, which is rare for any PPK. I carry it about half a dozen times a year, in a shoulder holster.

I think the Sig trigger is slightly better for double action. The PPK/s is slightly better for single action. But most of that is subjective preference.

For me, the tradeoffs with these pistols are in the manual of arms, specifically the decker/safety and mag release. The PPK/s decock lever is a rough action, and I've always found it regretful that it can't be decock-only. The location and design also annoys racking the slide--worse than Berettas or other frame-mounted safeties--which is already difficult since this is a blowback design.

I find the P230 decock lever to be absolutely superior to the PPK/s, but it isn't like other Sig decockers--different angle, different travel distance, different feel of the decock force. It's not bad, just don't expect familiarity from using other Sigs.

The PPK/s mag release is good for me. I wouldn't change anything about it. The heel release on the P232 is not great. I don't altogether mind heel mag releases, such as on the P38, but I find the design of the P232 mag release frustrating. Mags drop freely from the PPK/s, but not from the Sig.

The PPK models coming out of Walther/Ft.Smith Arkansas these days have a number improvements carried over from when S&W was making them briefly. These new models IMHO, are better shooters than the original design. Dead nuts accuracy in SA & the safety/decocker gets much smoother with use. I’ve owned both the P230 & P232. The new PPK is .5 shorter in length and both .25 shorter in height over the Sig. They are very good but I Like the new Walthers even more.

Keep in mind that if you’re looking to EDC or use as 380 as a backup, there are better choices available such as the Glock 42, S&W Bodyguard 380 as well as Kahr CW & P series 380’s.

If you are dead set on ONLY these two, the P232

But as others have said, there’s far better choices out there for .380’s now.

My recommendations:

Kahr CW380
Glock 42
P365-380

I have an Interarms .380 PPK/S. It’s quite reliable with ball, but not with the JHPs available 30 years ago (the last time I shot it). Its DA trigger pull is 17 lbs.

I will say this for it: nice to look at and hold. And it has the only LCI that I actually like: the BG can’t see it, but I can. And in the dark I can sense it with my thumb without shifting my grip.

I realise that you’re jonesing for a PPK/S or P232, but my SIG P238 is so much better. Yeah, I’m a SAO guy…

I have an Interarms PPK/s and two P230s. My PPKs is reliable with Federal Hyro-shock and Remington Golden Saber HPs but as others have said the DA trigger is super heavy. The 230s have been reliable and have a way better trigger. Both platforms are prone to slide bite with a high hand grip. I haven’t shot my Walther in probably 20 years, but have taken one of the 230s to the range in the past few years. I would choose the Sig if you’re dead set on either one of these guns.

quote:

Originally posted by CQB60:
The PPK models coming out of Walther/Ft.Smith Arkansas these days have a number improvements carried over from when S&W was making them briefly. These new models IMHO, are better shooters than the original design. Dead nuts accuracy in SA & the safety/decocker gets much smoother with use. I’ve owned both the P230 & P232. The new PPK is .5 shorter in length and both .25 shorter in height over the Sig. They are very good but I Like the new Walthers even more.

Keep in mind that if you’re looking to EDC or use as 380 as a backup, there are better choices available such as the Glock 42, S&W Bodyguard 380 as well as Kahr CW & P series 380’s.

This. The PPK has had a long history and it's been manufacturered by several different entities. Some paid more attention to detail than others.

The current guns being sold out of Fort Smith seem to function well. You generally don't hear horror stories of finickiness and reliability issues anymore.

That being said, they are still heavy for size with low capacity, a heavy DA pull, miniscule sights and recoil that many find uncomfortable.


They are iconic guns but a lot has been learned about ergonomics and shootabilty since the PP series was designed.

The P232 is unquestionably better.

But there are unquestionably better choices. The only positive the P232 has above options like the P365 or small Glock is the fixed barrel. But that fixed barrel means direct blowback and excessive recoil for a .380.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

My recommendations:

Kahr CW380
Glock 42
P365-380

I'll add

Shield 380 or bodyguard
LCP max or security 380

I have owned several Walthers PP series pistols, the newest being made in the mid 70's. I liked two of them, a .380 PP and a .32 PPKs. All the others had feed issues (.380). I also had bleed issues. The beavertail would beat the web of my hand and I'd be bleeding after about 10 rounds. The .32 didn't have this problem but I always felt that it was an underpowered round.
The Sig was designed to be a 9mm Ultra that's why it seems overbuilt. Walther's answer was the PP Super, also a 9mm ultra.
My 365 recoils much less than the PPK with no feed issues and cheaper ammo.

I've owned both and the 230/232 is much better. I've had Bersa pistols that were better than Walther Ppk/s.

I have also owned both. I had the 230 and 232 and both shot great. 100% reliable. I have owned many Walthers both the PPK and the PPK/S from 4 different eras including 2 from the present day era. I had a stainless and black PPK current production. Beautiful well made pistols, very accurate, BUT none were 100% reliable including the present production version (although they were way better than the older couple i owned), and my shooting hand looked like i stuck it into a razor blade filled waste bin after 100 rounds.
If you want a .380 to carry as others have said there are way better options now, if you want a nice looking, metal pistol to play around with but not necessarily shoot the crap out of or carry often then either the SIG or Walther fits the bill.

Thanks all. The feedback is just what I need to make this decision. I'm still a little torn but think I'm going to get the Sig p232 for now. Try it out and go from there.