P232 recoil vs J-frame

[Bob79]

I'm looking at a P232 with the alloy frame, and would like to know how it compares to an AIRLITE J-frame .38 in the recoil dept.

I have a 342 which is a great gun, but even with standard pressure factory 130 grain ammo is snaps pretty hard. Can anyone who has shot, or own both comment on they compare as far as recoil?

Thanks!

 

[AK103K]

I have P230's and 642's and a 60. The P230 is much more pleasant to shoot, and especially for an extended time, and its also easier to shoot well with.

I practice with ammo loaded to the power level of what I carry in all of them. I've usually had enough of the J frames after a 50 round box.

 

[38snapcaps]

I had a P232 for a total of two months. Fired over 500 rnds thru it. Sold it.
Here's why:

At the time I was also shooting a 1911 and one morning I woke up with my right hand feeling numb all the way back to the wrist. Really concerned me and I blamed the .45 even tho the recoil felt to be less. So after I healed up I took the Colt out and blasted thru two boxes of ammo at a steady pace. If the 1911 was hurting me I'd find out with a session like that!
That evening and the next day-nothing.

Took the Sig out and didn't even get thru the first box when the pain and numbness started coming back. I found the blow-back of that .380 to be quite punishing, more so than I realized. I had bought the Sig because I had owned and carried a Bersa for two years and never had a problem. I figured a 232 would be a super quality Bersa and better in every way. Wrong.

To give you an idea of my discomfort threshold-I have a Kahr CW9 which I can shoot all day and enjoy every pull of the trigger. I look forward to taking it to the range. My Airweight 642 is not fun after the second cylinder load, I can barely get thru a 50 rnd box. I do NOT like to have to practice with it.
The Bersa, which I no longer have, fell right in the middle of these two.

If you want that style of .380, my advice is to save yourself alot of money and buy a Bersa.

 

[usp9]

I can shoot my P232 all day. Can't say that about a small revolver. It's the reasonI don't carry a revolver. I rate the P232 easier to shoot than a small .38, maybe because I get a much better grip on the P232.

 

[Bob79]

Well it seems the P232 is easier on the recoil than a lightweight J-frame in 38 spl. Keep the info coming!

 

[Rumble]

I'll chime in to say that I find the p232 to be much more pleasant to shoot than my j-frame. I am done with the j-frame after a box; I can shoot several boxes of .380 without worry. I'm also more accurate with the p232, but that's just a practice thing.

 

[Guitargod1985]

I have a P232. I also have a Taurus 605, which is 26 ounces rather than an airweight's 16 oz. However, I find the recoil impulse to be similar in the two guns, but the j frame is slightly worse. It's harder to shoot with as well.

I'm not surprised to hear people say that the airweights are less pleasant to shoot.

 

[2nd 41]

I have a 230 from 1986. It is my house gun. Most reliable pistol I have.
It is more of a shooting pleasure than my S&W Mod 37 is. The S&W is like a baby cannon. The Sig has a nice powerful but not overwhelming punch.

 

[Bob79]

Thanks guys, I have decided to go ahead and buy the P232 I've found. Its a two-tone model, excellent shape, barely used, with all original items, and two mags. Its also DAO, which I prefer since all my other guns are DAO semis, or revolvers. It's costing me $500 shipped, which is an OK price, but the DAO is hard to find.

I handled one in a local shop this morning, and it felt great. I was suprised at how light it felt, and it's super slick and slim. I didn't really like the feel or palm swell of the stock grips, and I'm a Hogue fan, so I bought I set of the rubber Hogues they had for $20. Using a ruler and eye-balling it, the Hogues are just a hair under 1 1/8" so I think they are slimmer than the stock hard plastic ones.

If I like the gun, I'll probably look at getting a Crossbreed IWB holster, and maybe an action job. I do have a Uncle Mike's generic fit holster that will probably work in the mean time. Plus there is always my J-frames.