Colt mustang vs sig 230
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J2FLAN
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Well, Sig hasn`t made the 230 for years, so if that is your choice, it would probably be a used one.
The 232 has taken it`s place. I have the 232 and have carried it for over 6yrs. it is easy to carry, shoot, accurate and reliable. How the COLT compares, I can`t say, the Sig would be my choice, only because I like the one I have.
PS My signature is said, "tongue in cheek"
The 232 has taken it`s place. I have the 232 and have carried it for over 6yrs. it is easy to carry, shoot, accurate and reliable. How the COLT compares, I can`t say, the Sig would be my choice, only because I like the one I have.
PS My signature is said, "tongue in cheek"
Tomac
Member
Check out the Sig P238, nearly identical to the Mustang. My wife's P238 is 100% w/Mustang mags.
Tomac
Tomac
GarySTL
Member
Same here. I have several mustang magazines I use with my P238. Great little gun.
Snowdog
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I'll echo Tomac and GarySTL here and strongly suggest looking into the P238 since they're all in the same price range.
I find the P238 recoil characteristics much more "mellow", for the lack of a better word, than the P232. The recoil is hardly snappy as the P238 is a locked breech as opposed to a blow back, making a world of difference in both recoil and ease of retracting the slide.
If you're considering both a Mustang AND a P230 as a future purchase, you'd do yourself a favor by looking into the P238 as it's much more similar to the Mustang than the P230 is.
As for magazine options for the P238, I have had excellent luck with Metalform magazines. I haven't had one yet that failed to meet expectations. I've heard from others that Promag is a much more dicey proposition.
I find the P238 recoil characteristics much more "mellow", for the lack of a better word, than the P232. The recoil is hardly snappy as the P238 is a locked breech as opposed to a blow back, making a world of difference in both recoil and ease of retracting the slide.
If you're considering both a Mustang AND a P230 as a future purchase, you'd do yourself a favor by looking into the P238 as it's much more similar to the Mustang than the P230 is.
As for magazine options for the P238, I have had excellent luck with Metalform magazines. I haven't had one yet that failed to meet expectations. I've heard from others that Promag is a much more dicey proposition.
Snowdog
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I'll tell you what I did to circumvent the "shortage" of variety that my location seems to suffer from as well. I shopped around local pawn shops for FFL holders willing to receive delivered firearms for a fee.
$20 was the best price I found, but that and S&H is the price of having the option of purchasing what you really want.
Then, if you haven't done so already, create an account for whichever online auction site you're partial to (or all the credible ones that you can find). I heavily lean towards Gunbroker as I almost always find exactly what I want within a week, if not immediately.
Afterwards, simply bid or opt Buy-It-Now for your dream pistol/rifle/shotgun, pay for it (usually via credit card or if a non-commercial seller, by money order), call them for their fax number that you will relay to your FFL dealer and then wait for the call to pick up your new toy, usually between a couple days to a couple weeks in my experience.
Again, you'll have to pay shipping and an FFL fee in most cases and some merchants will apply a 3% charge on credit cards (not applicable if another form of payment is used), though this will be clearly stated in the auction's terms of payment.
In addition, you will also likely be bidding against others for the same item, so you might occasion end up paying close to MSRP. That said, sometimes the Buy-it-now price will be rather agreeable and well below MSRP, so it goes either way.
For me, I refuse to place myself in a position where I am forced to pick through whatever is left. I'd much rather pay a premium to get exactly what I want. That said, a little bit of patience will keep you from paying through the nose. If someone asking a ridiculous sum for what you want, pass on it an move on.
I end up taking the above route far more often then purchasing from a LGS during panic frenzies such as the one we're experiencing now. I haven't yet been deprived of any firearm I want, so the method works wonderfully if you're willing to pay a little more.
$20 was the best price I found, but that and S&H is the price of having the option of purchasing what you really want.
Then, if you haven't done so already, create an account for whichever online auction site you're partial to (or all the credible ones that you can find). I heavily lean towards Gunbroker as I almost always find exactly what I want within a week, if not immediately.
Afterwards, simply bid or opt Buy-It-Now for your dream pistol/rifle/shotgun, pay for it (usually via credit card or if a non-commercial seller, by money order), call them for their fax number that you will relay to your FFL dealer and then wait for the call to pick up your new toy, usually between a couple days to a couple weeks in my experience.
Again, you'll have to pay shipping and an FFL fee in most cases and some merchants will apply a 3% charge on credit cards (not applicable if another form of payment is used), though this will be clearly stated in the auction's terms of payment.
In addition, you will also likely be bidding against others for the same item, so you might occasion end up paying close to MSRP. That said, sometimes the Buy-it-now price will be rather agreeable and well below MSRP, so it goes either way.
For me, I refuse to place myself in a position where I am forced to pick through whatever is left. I'd much rather pay a premium to get exactly what I want. That said, a little bit of patience will keep you from paying through the nose. If someone asking a ridiculous sum for what you want, pass on it an move on.
I end up taking the above route far more often then purchasing from a LGS during panic frenzies such as the one we're experiencing now. I haven't yet been deprived of any firearm I want, so the method works wonderfully if you're willing to pay a little more.
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rskent
Member
I was looking at the Mustang when I ran across my baby Sig. Its a 238 SAS. I am a big Colt fan, but I think Sig out Colted Colt on this one.
It doesn't look quite as cool but its hard to argue with sights that you can see. If Colt comes out with night sights on the Mustang I will take
another look. As for now I will keep my little baby Sig. A very sweet little shooter.
It doesn't look quite as cool but its hard to argue with sights that you can see. If Colt comes out with night sights on the Mustang I will take
another look. As for now I will keep my little baby Sig. A very sweet little shooter.
I may be able to offer some insight here. I have owned two SIG P230, a SIG 232SL, and a SIG P238. I first owned a SIG P230 in the mid Eighties. It was a fine gun and I regrettably sold it. Then, about five years back I acquired a SIG P232SL, the all stainless model. It was a darn fine gun but I found it to be a bit heavy and as much as I like stainless finishes it seemed a bit flashy for its intended purpose. I sold it last year and recently picked up an early Eighties P230 with the alloy frame, a gun pretty much identical to my first P230 except it has the earliest style slide serrations.
When the P238 came out I bought an early model. When the gun worked it was a joy to shoot and was extremely accurate, surprisingly so. Unfortunately that wasn't often enough. I no longer own the gun. As the bugs seem to have been worked out for a good while now if I were looking for another 380 it would be in the running.
As to the 230/232, they are very nearly the same gun. When the 230 was discontinued in favor of the 232 there were some changes, but nothing I consider to be that dramatic. Outward and obvious changes were the sights, Von Stavenhagen on the 230 and three dot on the 232 with the front sight drift adjustable. Slide serrations were changed three times with an overlap of the second type between the 230 and 232. I found the second type to be a bit to aggressive capable of removing skin. The grips also changed from the 230 to 232. My 230 wears 232 grips. I prefer the palm swell of the 232 grips. Internally there was a change to the firing pin safety (not sure of the specifics here). I have also heard some say that the production of the P230 was more old style and that the production of the 232 is more "streamlined" with the use of some MIM parts. Possibly the biggest change from the 230 to the 232 was the use of a rebounding hammer with the 232. It really is a great trigger that edges out the 230, which is still no slouch. All 230/232 are all German produced guns.
The aspect of the P230/232 that make it a great gun in my opinion is it's reliability, accuracy (scary accurate with a fixed barrel) wonderful construction, and its looks which to me are about as good as it gets. Between the 230 and 232 I have a preference for the 230, but part of that might be nostalgia. I do prefer the alloy frame to the stainless. It's snappier (for me still not at all unpleasant to shoot) but the weight savings is upwards of a third of the gun over the 232SL. I recently picked my P230 up on Gunbroker for $369 which was a heck of a lot less than P232 (especially the stainless SL) were going for.
Between the P238 and the P230/232, not having experience with the Colt and only limited experience with the P238, I would go with the P230/232. So take that opinion for what it is worth. While the heel mag release on the 230/232 may be an issue to some it isn't for me. I prefer the decocker of the 230/232. I would not carry the 238 locked and cocked. My experience with the P230/232 (edge to the 230) has only been most positive, a gun that I consider to be a classic and a work of gun art.
When the P238 came out I bought an early model. When the gun worked it was a joy to shoot and was extremely accurate, surprisingly so. Unfortunately that wasn't often enough. I no longer own the gun. As the bugs seem to have been worked out for a good while now if I were looking for another 380 it would be in the running.
As to the 230/232, they are very nearly the same gun. When the 230 was discontinued in favor of the 232 there were some changes, but nothing I consider to be that dramatic. Outward and obvious changes were the sights, Von Stavenhagen on the 230 and three dot on the 232 with the front sight drift adjustable. Slide serrations were changed three times with an overlap of the second type between the 230 and 232. I found the second type to be a bit to aggressive capable of removing skin. The grips also changed from the 230 to 232. My 230 wears 232 grips. I prefer the palm swell of the 232 grips. Internally there was a change to the firing pin safety (not sure of the specifics here). I have also heard some say that the production of the P230 was more old style and that the production of the 232 is more "streamlined" with the use of some MIM parts. Possibly the biggest change from the 230 to the 232 was the use of a rebounding hammer with the 232. It really is a great trigger that edges out the 230, which is still no slouch. All 230/232 are all German produced guns.
The aspect of the P230/232 that make it a great gun in my opinion is it's reliability, accuracy (scary accurate with a fixed barrel) wonderful construction, and its looks which to me are about as good as it gets. Between the 230 and 232 I have a preference for the 230, but part of that might be nostalgia. I do prefer the alloy frame to the stainless. It's snappier (for me still not at all unpleasant to shoot) but the weight savings is upwards of a third of the gun over the 232SL. I recently picked my P230 up on Gunbroker for $369 which was a heck of a lot less than P232 (especially the stainless SL) were going for.
Between the P238 and the P230/232, not having experience with the Colt and only limited experience with the P238, I would go with the P230/232. So take that opinion for what it is worth. While the heel mag release on the 230/232 may be an issue to some it isn't for me. I prefer the decocker of the 230/232. I would not carry the 238 locked and cocked. My experience with the P230/232 (edge to the 230) has only been most positive, a gun that I consider to be a classic and a work of gun art.
safebustr
Member
I agree with Storm, I also own the 230 stainless and a 238, they both shoot like a dream and I would be hard pressed to get rid of either. The 238 recoil does seem lighter and of course it is smaller and easier to conceal. The 230 is a super slick gun and I have carried it in a Galco superslide with no problems hiding it under a sweat shirt or light jacket.
Get them both, heck you will like them.
Get them both, heck you will like them.
If you're lucky enough to find EITHER of those two guns, buy 'em. Heck, buy a P238 as well as those are almost non-existent at the moment. Never owned a Mustang, but have fired a friends new P232 and it's a dream compared to a PPK/S I once had which had major FTF issues.
I think your chances of finding a new P232 are much better than finding a Mustang, but you never know. Can't go wrong with either of them.
I think your chances of finding a new P232 are much better than finding a Mustang, but you never know. Can't go wrong with either of them.
bannockburn
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I own both a Colt Mustang and SIG P-238 and have shot a friends SIG P-230 on quite a few different occasions. For concealed carry I prefer the smaller, lighter, and more concealable SAO Mustang/P-238 to the DA/SA P-230.
1KPerDay
Member
I have a P230 with alloy frame and the 238 is more pleasant to shoot, IMO. The 230 is sexier, though. 
Colt Mustang
I have a Colt Mustang and it will shoot the guide legs off my chronograph on a regular basis. It always shoots the guide legs off, no matter where I try to aim it. I did manage to shoot the chronograph and put it out of it's misery with a .357 magnum, but that was not my first choice.
The Mustang is a fun little gun, if you keep it away from a chronograph, or anything else you value, for that matter. Accuracy is not a strong point with these pistols. Or did I mention that ? Neal39
I have a Colt Mustang and it will shoot the guide legs off my chronograph on a regular basis. It always shoots the guide legs off, no matter where I try to aim it. I did manage to shoot the chronograph and put it out of it's misery with a .357 magnum, but that was not my first choice.
The Mustang is a fun little gun, if you keep it away from a chronograph, or anything else you value, for that matter. Accuracy is not a strong point with these pistols. Or did I mention that ? Neal39
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