Which 32 acp?

What do you want to do it?

For a concealed carry pocket pistol I really like the Kel Tec 32. It's not a plinking pistol though.

For range shooting a midsized is the way to go. I bought my wife a surplus Beretta Model 81 and it's really fun. They're not as common as they were last year, but they can still be found.

Historically interesting-there are a bunch to pick from. I like the walther PP as it has a lot of history both as a police tool and as a military issue sidearm. Prewar or wartime pistols are not cheap, postwar West Germany and French pistols are more affordable. The old colts are pretty slick too, but pricey.

Shooters- Can’t really beat the PP or the Beretta 81. Both are plenty accurate, are big enough to grip comfortably, and are heavy enough to absorb recoil making for a fun day at the range. Berettas are selling at a discount now since surplus pistols have recently been imported.

Carry- there’s not a whole lot of good options. Keltec is probably the best option that’s easily available. Taurus TCP32 was a thing but it didn’t get a whole lot of units made before it was stopped. I think the Ruger LCP May have had a few made as well. The issue with most 32 pocket guns is that they are either poorly made (Jennings, Lorcin), are hard to find (tcp, lcp) are built into a .380 frame as an afterthought, or are so small that they are hard to shoot but they still weigh a ton. The Keltec is a clear winner as a carry gun. Put it on a necklace, put it in your shirt pocket....

I have been a big fan of the Kel-Tec .32 from the time they hit. I got my first one when you had to get on a waiting list to get one. As soon as I took it back to shoot it I was soon out to get back on the list for another. When they started making .380's the same size and weight the .32 is still quite popular with people who just can't handle the .380's recoil.
Have an old Beretta Tomcat in .32 also. Heavy little sucker for it's size but that makes it fun and easy to shoot.

Manuhrin made Walther PP is one of the sweetest 32ACP pistols out there

https://www.genitron.com/Handgun/Taurus/Pistol/Millennium-Pro-PT-132/32-Auto/Variant-1
I wish I picked up one of these when they were available. They didn’t make them long.

George P said:

Manuhrin made Walther PP is one of the sweetest 32ACP pistols out there

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He's right!!

I'm a big fan of the 32acp and have quite a few. In somewhat favorite order as range/fun guns or even for carry:

Colt Type 1 1903
Colt Type 3 1903
Beretta Model 70 New Puma
Bernardelli Striker Fired FN 1910 Look-alike
Beretta 1935
Walther Model 4 (the port is actually on the PORT side)
JP Sauer 38h
Mauser HSc
Mauser 1914
Bernardelli hammer fired Model 60
CZ 50/70
Savage 1907
Ortgies
Beretta 81
Walther PP or PPK or PPK/s
Beretta Tomcat

dodo bird

I bought one of those but in .380 for my wife. It was pretty decent for it's size and capacity but she didn't care all that much for it so I sold it at a gun show. Should have held on to it as it made for a nice gun for beginners to transition to from .22 pistols.

p32 & p365



https://www.genitron.com/Handgun/Kel-Tek/Pistol/P-32/32-Auto/Variant-1

https://www.genitron.com/Handgun/SIG-SAUER/Pistol/P365/9-mm/Variant-1

bannockburn said:

dodo bird

I bought one of those but in .380 for my wife. It was pretty decent for it's size and capacity but she didn't care all that much for it so I sold it at a gun show. Should have held on to it as it made for a nice gun for beginners to transition to from .22 pistols.

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They have gone up in price. I also wish I purchased the Taurus 327 federal mag when I saw them at gun shows for less than $200. Now those ain’t cheap even before the Wuhan flu.

dodo bird
You are absolutely correct.

https://www.genitron.com/Handgun/Taurus/Pistol/Millennium-Pro-PT-132/32-Auto/Variant-1
I wish I picked up one of these when they were available. They didn’t make them long.

I have passed on the Taurus version twice on the used market thinking that Taurus would have another run and that would solve supply side pricing but they never did and they are pricey when you see them now. My bad because I have since learned Taurus does model switches and short runs all the time and/or they switch model numbers/characteristics on some of their new offerings for no apparent reason.

A bit heavier and quite a bit more expensive Seecamp LWS 32. I was a bit leery due to the cost originally, but after owning one (now I currently have 2 of them) I really enjoy shooting and unequivocally trust them for EDC. At least when I believe .32 acp would do in certain perceived circumstances or just as a BUG.

CZ 70, "poor man's PPK", but it pockets very nicely. 7 shot mag. Solid safety, DA/SA, nice hammer. Should run you about 240$.

Keltec is indeed the bomb for pocket pistols and surprisingly reliable and accurate. Good customer service too if needed, which if you shoot it alot it will need maintenance. The PP Walther's are real nice as are the Beretta 70 New Puma, if you can find one . The Beretta 81 are cheap and plentiful and very nice as a plinker or smallish carry gun. They are your best bet overall. The .32 is an acceptable defense round if well placed, it does not glance off skulls like smaller calibers or older slower velocity ones were known to do. They actually we're a favorite for assassin's uses up until quite recently . I have slaughtered some live stock with it using a Walther PP and it works well on the common type behind the ear head shot.

I agree with many of the suggestions above. I think for a fun gun, the used Beretta 81's that have hit the market are hard to beat. I am also a fan of the Kel-Tec 32, as suggested by Alex Clayton above. I am NOT a fan of the Zastava Model 70, which are cheap again, because it is just a clunky, makeshift design that is sturdy but not attractive (to me, anyway).

WisBorn said:

Is the recoil enough lighter with the 32 in similar sized pistols than the 380 to make it a good choice for my wife?

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Yes, assuming same frame composition (ie weight - steel v. steel) as well as size.

CZ made the CZ 83 in .32 ACP for a short while and if you can find one, it’s a fine gun; it is now generally found in 380 AUTO. I saw one on Gunbroker but it’s pretty pricey at $900 (Buy Now).

WisBorn said:

...make it a good choice for my wife? ...

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Keep in mind that .32 ACP pistols are mostly blow-back actions with slides that are a real bitch to manipulate. Be sure to try before you buy. A "tip-up" pistol such as the Beretta 3032 solves the slide problem, but it's so tiny that you start getting into the recoil problem again. They are cute and attractive to the ladies, though. I saw a quite elderly lady shooting one at the range some time last year.

George P said:

Manuhrin made Walther PP is one of the sweetest 32ACP pistols out there

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Agreed, but sadly the Manuhrin pistols are postwar and have less historical value. Same design, but a more modern iteration. Kinda like a freshly rebuilt and fully modernized classic car. Yeah it’s technically still a 70 Chevelle but it doesn’t drive like one. I would prefer one of each, one wartime pistol (or shortly prewar even better as a rearming era pistol was certainly used in early war mischief) as a historical piece, and a Manurhin as a shooter showing what the pistol was really intended to be before it became a rushed manufacturing job.

George P:
If most people looking at Manurhin handguns (Walther PP etc) realized that they were manufactured in France, would they still buy them?

Dibbs: the very low prices for CZ 50s and 70s might mostly be because of the DA trigger's stacking? A few years ago the large gun store in Memphis had either model.

I owned one and it was built as good as any prewar German one. The guns Manuhrin turned out were of the highest quality - their revolvers command premium prices.