(GunReports.com) — Nigel, a Gun Tests reader, wrote in to “Firing Line” about trouble he had had with a SIG Sauer P232 380 ACP. “My choice was based on the following factors,” he wrote, “1) All-steel construction; 2) Swiss-German engineering heritage; 3) Expectation of excellent customer service from a renowned manufacturer; 4) Only other non-plastic 380 ACP on the California DoJ Roster of Handguns (I already had the Bersa).”
He said, “To cut a long story short, the P232’s takedown lever had 15 to 20 degrees of free-play after its first range outing, and its performance was erratic with all the premium ammo brands I tried. When I went to clean the pistol, slide removal was impossible. After two rounds of RMA and repair, Sig exchanged my gun for a new P232. In October 2012 Sig reluctantly refunded my purchase, though they made it sound like they were doing me a huge favor! But I think they were as happy as I was not to have to deal with each other any more.”
To help Nigel find other 380s that he might like, the Gun Tests staff assembled a 380 ACP Value Guide of previously tested 380 ACP pistols from the magazine’s archives and listed them on GunReports.com.
Current subscribers can click the links to read the original stories.
“380 Pocket Pistols With Factory-Fitted Lasers Followup: S&W Bodyguard 380,” September 2013
S&W Bodyguard 380 No. 109380 380 ACP, $419. See article for grade.
Subscribers Click here“Old Against New Pocket Pistol Duel: Mauser HSc vs. Ruger LCP,” July 2013
Mauser HSc 380 ACP, $400. Grade C
Ruger LCP 380 ACP, $379. Grade B+
Subscribers Click here“Ruger LC380 ACP Pistol: Downsized ‘Nine’ That Works,” June 2013
Ruger LC380 No. 3219 380 Auto, $450. Grade A-
Subscribers Click here“S&W Bodyguards: Revolver Or Semiauto for Self Defense?” June 2013
S&W Bodyguard No. 109380 380 ACP, $419. Grade B
Subscribers Click here“Two High-Capacity 380 ACPs: Beretta and CZ Square Off,” April 2013
Beretta Model 84 380 ACP, about $600. Grade A-
CZ Model 83 380 ACP, about $550. Grade A-
Subscribers Click here“Pocket Pistols with Factory Lasers: Walther, SIG, and Ruger,” February 2013
Walther PK380 With Laser No. WAP40010 380 ACP, $489. Grade B
Ruger LCP-LM No. 3718 380 ACP, $443. Grade B+
SIG Sauer P238 Tactical Laser No. 238-380-TL 380 ACP, $829. Grade B-
Subscribers Click here“Pocket-Sized 380 ACP Pistols: S&W, Taurus, and Diamondback,” January 2011
Diamondback DB380 380 Auto, $430. Grade D
Taurus 738B 380 Auto, $336. Grade A-
Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 No. 109380 380 Auto, $575. Grade A-
Subscribers Click here“Gauging 380 ACP Loads: FMJ May Be the Only Way to Go,” October 2010
Speer Gold Dot 90-gr. No. 23606, $17.99/20. Grade A (Best Buy)
Subscribers Click here“380 Pocket Pistols: CZ USA, Sig Sauer, Walther Shoot It Out,” June 2010
CZ USA CZ 83 No. 91302 380 ACP, $522. Grade A
Sig Sauer P232 No. 232-380-SSS 380 ACP, $900. Grade B
Walther PK380 No. WAP40001 380 ACP, $393. Grade B-
Sig Sauer P238 No. 238-380-TSS 380 ACP, $643. Grade A-
Subscribers Click here“380 ACP Pistols: Ruger’s New LCP Wins Against PPK, Taurus,” June 2008
Ruger LCP 380 ACP, $330. Grade A-
Walther USA PPK VAH38002 380 ACP, $573. Grade C
Taurus PT138BP-12 1-138031P-12 380 ACP, $419. Grade D
Subscribers Click here“Special Report — Two Tiny 380S: LCP VS. Kel-Tec,” June 2008
Kel-Tec P3AT 380 ACP, $324. Grade A-
Ruger LCP No. 3701 380 ACP, $330. Grade B+
Subscribers Click here“380 Autoloaders: FireStorm Beats Walther PPK, Hi-Point CF,” February 2008
Hi-Point Model CF 380, $135. Grade C+
Bersa FireStorm 380 ACP, $307. Grade A
Walther PPK 380, $556. Grade B+
Subscribers Click here“A Trio of Pocket 380 ACPs: Steer Clear of NAA’s Guardian,” April 2006
North American Arms Guardian 380 ACP, $449. Don’t Buy.
Walther PPK 380 ACP, $543. Don’t Buy.
Beretta 85 FS Cheetah 380 ACP, $575. Conditional Buy.
Subscribers Click here“Pocket Pistols: Kel-Tec’s 380 And 32 ACPs Versus NAA,” March 2004
Kel-Tec P3AT .380 ACP, $345. Our Pick
Subscribers Click here“Pocket Pistol Pair-Off: We Test A Set of 380 Surplus Handguns,” April 2003
Iver Johnson Pony .380 Auto, about $250. Don’t Buy
Firearms International .380 Auto, about $300. Conditional Buy
Colt Mustang Pocketlite .380 Auto, about $500. Buy It
Colt Mustang .380 Auto, about $500. Conditional Buy
Subscribers Click here
