Tag Archives: 9x18mm ultra

The Ultra SIG

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Here is a super rare bird, a Sig Sauer P230 model as issued to the Swiss Polizei Zürich, complete with markings. In 9mm Ultra.

zurich-police-swiss-issue-sig-p230-9x18mm-ultra

Note the issued plain thumb break holster and single spare mag holder

Note the issued plain thumb break holster and single spare Leatherman-style mag holder

The P230 was designed in 1977 as a Double Action/Single Action (DA/SA) competitor to the classic Walther PP/PPK/PPKs for police use in Central and Western Europe. As such it was chambered in standard Euro cop rounds 7.65×17mmSR Browning (.32ACP), 9mm Kurz (.380ACP), 7.65x22mm and the ubiquitous 9x18mm Ultra (not to be confused with 9x18mm Makarov, which does not interchange).

Originally developed in the 1936 for use by the Luftwaffe, the Ultra wasn’t adopted until the 1970s and just Walther (PP Super), Beneilli (B76), Mauser (HSc-80) and Sig (the above model) have produced guns that are chambered for it.

The round is not spectacular, but does provide a bit more umpf than the .380 while being a tad milder on the wrist than a full on 9mm Parabellum, which many European countries restrict to military use only.