SIG SAUER P230

The SIG-Sauer P230 is on par with the legendary Walther PPK in semiautomatic handguns. J.P Sauer of Germany tied up with SIG Arms of Switzerland to develop and introduce it sometime in 1977. This compact pistol was primarily meant for police issue as well as self-defense. It was in active law enforcement use until 1996, after which the marginally improved version called the P232 replaced it. It is imported by the US avatar of Swiss Arms SIGARMS at Tysons Corner, Virginia, which also handles imports of the P220. The fixed barrel, straight blowback SIG-Sauer P230 comes in two calibers - .380 ACP and .32 ACP. Both feature a patented firing pin lock safety and have triggers configured for double-action, single-action and double-action only operations. Incidentally, a 9x18-Police caliber version had been introduced in the early 90s. However, it was dropped from the manufacturing line because it was not found effective enough.

Both the .380 ACP and .32 ACP versions are 6.6 inches in overall length, 4.7 inches in height and 1.2 inches in width. Similarly, both calibers feature the same barrel length of 3.6 inches. In fact, most aspects such as rifling twist, rifling grooves, sight radius and trigger pull remain the same in both models. The differences lie in their weights and magazine capacities - the .380 ACP version weighs 16.2 ounces unloaded, with a stainless steel model weighing 20.8 ounces. The .32 ACP handgun weighs 16.4 ounces. The .380 ACP has a magazine capacity of seven rounds while the .32 holds eight rounds.

Among the SIG-Sauer P230 other notable features are the very popular manual de-cocking lever, situated behind the trigger on the frame's left-hand side. Many users show great predisposition for this format, which lends itself beautifully for ambidextrous firing. The P230 comes either with a blued aluminium alloy frame and a steel slide or as the heavier SL version, which has both the slide and the frame crafted in stainless steel. No matter which kind is used, the SIG-Sauer P230 has very little recoil and is eminently suited for convenient concealment and personal defense. It registers a high level; of accuracy under almost all conditions, and a wide cross-section of users reports consistent results with this classic handgun. This comes as no surprise, considering the fact that it is born of a German-Swiss collaboration - the best of both armament worlds, so to speak..

One of the latest and most significant news on the SIG-Sauer P230 front is a rumor that the Japanese Police have adopted a special edition of it for field work. They have apparently dropped all their old handguns such as the Walther PPK and FN Browning M1910 from the arsenal to make way for the SIG-Sauer P230 JP (obviously for Japanese Police), which is being manufactured by Minebea Corporation. These are supposed to be fully licensed adaptations, modeled after specially imported samples. There are significant differences, though - Minebea Corporation's SIG-Sauer P230 JP is reportedly chambered for 9 x 19 mm Parabellum rounds, and it is fitted with a magazine of 8+1 capacity. It is also said to feature a lanyard to prevent theft and loss.

There seems to be reliable evidence that this version of the SIG-Sauer P230 really exists and that it is actually in use in Japan. The country does face a terrorist threat (the infamous Tokyo subway bombings of 1996 are a case in point) and its police would benefit from being issued this highly effective handgun. Incidentally, Japan's gun laws are very different from those in the US, and getting a new handgun approved for law enforcement use is not something that happens easily. The choice of the SIG-Sauer P230 would be additional testimony to the handgun's timelessly appeal, advanced technological features and robust reputation on the personal firearms market. In fact, it is so popular that it has spawned innumerable air pistols modeled on it.