How good a gun is the KelTec P32?

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bestseller92

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There's an ad for the Kel Tec P32 in the new American Rifleman and it's just so damned cute! (I know, I know....)

The next two guns on my "to buy" list are a Marlin XL7 or XS7 in .30/06 or .308 (whichever comes available first) and a Ruger LCP.

I do have a strange liking for the .32 ACP caliber, though, and after I get those two guns I wouldn't mind getting a P32, just to "have". It's inexpensive enough so that that is practical. I won't, however, have a "junk" gun, one that's totally unreliable or total crap.

So, with that in mind, I'd appreciate any input from folks who've owned or at least used P32's (I've posted this on a couple other boards and gotten positive reviews so far).

How good (or bad) a gun is it?
 
I've got one.

With this laser http://www.shooterssupply.com/html/armalaser_for_kel-tec_p3at__p3.html

This laser is easier to use than a crimson trace because there is no button to depress, when your finger brushes the inside of the trigger guard it turns on. My buddy has a P32 with the crimson trace, he says it's difficult to press the button.

I've put several hundred rounds through it at the range with no problems and the laser, for me anyways, is an absolute must after about 5-6 yards.

A good "always" gun. It is very small.
 
Thanks for the input. I know it might seem strange that I want to get a P32 after I get an LCP, but it's a gun I just want because I want.

No one said things had to make sense :).
 
If you want one get it they ok pretty good. I carried one for a long time got my wife one then went back to a snub nose a few years ago. The wife still carry her's and have shot I would guess over 2000 rounds and it always work fine for her. You do need to be careful about rimlock which can happen with this pistol as it can with most .32's. We take care of that with a hp in the pipe and hard balls in the Magazine.

be safe
 
Mine has been VERY reliable with winchester silvertips. I have the older version though with the smaller extractor.
 
I bought a P-32 after I bought an LCP. I like both and I carry both a lot (esp. when it's warm out as it often is in the South). Before ammo got so scarce I shot both a lot too. Lately, not so much. The LCP still sees some range time since I reload .380. The P-32 hasn't been in awhile since I don't reload .32. Neither will shoot through 4 gang-bangers lined up in a line but I guess that's the chance I'm taking. :)
 
I have an older one with internal extractor. After a trip back to the factory, it became reasonably reliable. Neither .32 nor .380 is what you'd call a barnburner. Tiny and light as it is, the .32 sits in the cabinet and hasn't even been fired in a couple years. Instead I carry a .38 snub. It offers a better track record for reliability and a better cartridge. Of course if you want the .32 just to have it, glitches while you play with it at the range don't really matter.
 
I either have incredibly bad luck, or Kel-Tecs are crap. I had a P-32, two P3ATs and a P-11. None worked acceptably as delivered.
Kel-Tec Customer Service was great--they sent me packages of parts free of charge, time after time.
I learned to do a Fluff & Buff....all too well.
I bought magazines, ammo, and so on and so forth.

In the end, none of them ever functioned reliably enough that I would carry them. All are long gone now.

Make your own decision. But do yourself a favor and shoot a P3AT (or an LCP) back to back with the P-32 and evaluate the relative power of each.

To me (and most people) the .380 is marginal, and the .32 (relatively) is a snap cap. There is no way I would trust my life to a .32.

YMMV.
 
I've shot and carried my P32 for years. When I take it to the range I fire all my carry ammo through it and it always goes bang. Yes, it's a compromise, but I'm happy.
 
My P3AT gets shot pretty regularly, with no problems whatsoever, even with WWB.

+1 on the P32 being a bit inadequate. I traded mine the minute I found the right deal on the P3AT. I'd much rather have my .40 with me at all times, but things don't always work that way, and the Kel Tec fits that bill nicely.
 
Mine has been 100% reliable, it's around 500 rounds. Even full of pocket lint or sawdust.

By the way, if you make alot of sawdust pocket carry isn't for you. :rolleyes:
 
Have 3 of the P-32's and 1 P3AT I been pocketing the 32 more since 380 ammo shortage Wife has another and so does my oldest daughter They like my 380 KT have been 100% reliable I say best little pocket 32 for the money I wanted a seecamp but why pay over 400 when a P-32 does same job for about 260 in my area. With a lifetime warranty

How many of y'all use it primarily as a back up gun?
Click to expand...
I carry as a primary and as a BUG Around my area little crime so main gun lots of the time If I go to Lexington or Louisville its a BUG
 
Bought one years ago. It did not function from round number one. With both magazines, every other bullet would nose-dive into the feed ramp and jam. Dealer couldn't diagnose the problem, so they sent it back to the factory. They replaced the frame and it has functioned well ever since. Its a great controllable little gun.
 
Love my 1st gen. Around a thousand rounds of at least seven different makes through it with no hiccups.

I did have one rimlock and it was with Ball ammo! I have the rim lock wire mag mod (http://www.ktog.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1216788375) for use with HPs.

Carry it alot, either alone or backup to a Glock 19. I believe in "mag dump" technique if I ever have to use it for real. (Dump entire mag into bad guy as fast as possible or until he goes to ground, reload for next guy, repeat as necessary. I carry two spare mags, a ten and a seven rounder. Ball in the gun, one spare with Ball and one with Winchester Silvertips)
 
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Mine is one of the most reliable semiautomatic pistols I have owned or shot.
I've fired it extensively and find it quite accurate and easy to shoot instinctively at close range.
DSC00287_800x579.jpg
Regards,
Greg
 
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