.32 ACP drifting away?

I pocket carry a P32 almost all the time. The exception is when I'm mountain biking; then I usually carry a small 9MM -- Glock 26 or Beretta Nano -- in a fanny pack holster.

I was thinking about another P32 just as a spare, but if the Pico is available as a dedicated .32 (not a .380 that you have to buy an accessory barrel for), then I would consider getting one.

I like .32s because they're easy to shoot well. In addition to the Kel-Tec, I have a CZ-83 in .32, a Bersa Thunder in .32, and a Colt Pocket Hammerless in .32.

I just like the little cartridges.

I have a CZ-83 in .32

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I have a CZ82 in 9mm Mak, and love it. I would love to see how the .32 shoots through the '83--it's got to feel like a pellet gun with its heft behind it.

The penetration test results I've seen leave me quite unimpressed with the .32 ACP. I have yet to find a factory load that will penetrate 12 inches in ballistic gelatin with any expansion at all, although some handloads are reported to work, and there's a Fiocchi load that gets close and actually expands some too. FMJ will get the required penetration, of course, but no expansion.

The .380 ACP is usually considered to be pretty marginal when it comes to penetration with expansion. The .32 ACP is less powerful than the .380 ACP. It's just not enough gun for me.

Has the Seecamp lost its luster? Does anyone carry a .32 when. 380s are readily available in the same sized weapon?

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I still hold my old, used and abused Seecamp in high regard. Is there a better pocket gun on the market? Whereas the .380 is a more potent round, I don't think the difference is worth changing to another gun. The recoil is probably pretty violent, being a one finger grip gun and all. I'll stick with my .32, thank you.

I have a CZ82 in 9mm Mak, and love it. I would love to see how the .32 shoots through the '83--it's got to feel like a pellet gun with its heft behind it.

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The .32 CZ83 is really pleasant to shoot. Not as light as a .22. but certainly easy on the hand. It's a real favorite with youngsters, as it is a "real" gun, but easy on recoil and not too large or heavy. Big difference between the .32 and the 9mm CZ83.

2 1903's, seacamp, and a keltec. tough decision on which one to carry. love the 32's. always use silver tips.

I have a CZ82 in 9mm Mak, and love it. I would love to see how the .32 shoots through the '83--it's got to feel like a pellet gun with its heft behind it.

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Yes -- I have both the .32 and the 9mm Mak, and there is a big difference. The .32s aren't easy to find -- I just lucked out. I was browsing Bud's one day, and there it was. I jumped on it. Fun gun.

I bought a Beretta 1953 .32 auto from a pawn 4 years ago, actually a 7.65 cartridge. I had new springs put into it, oiled it up, shoots like a champ, never a FTF, or FTE since I got it. Always with me in the house. It came with the military style holster from foreign service.

"Any gun will do if you will do" Front Sight Academy, Pahrump, NV.

I still carry a .32ACP

I normally use a pocket carry and the gun I use depends on the clothes. For looser fitting cargo pants, I go with a SIG 232 in .380. It is large enough to shoot as accurately as my 9m.m. pistols and is very easy to shoot, do the perfect fit of the grip to my hand, excellent sights and smooth trigger. I actually enjoy shooting it just for fun.

With tighter clothes, I go down in size. I have a WALTHER PPK in .32ACP and it is just a bit smaller than the SIG with much slimmer grips. I expected it to bite my hand and be hard to shoot. Surprise, it shoot very well and has been 100 % reliable. I think the hand biting problem is related to the size of the shooter's hand. I have average size hands and have not been bitten.
The sights are usuable, but second rate compared to the SIG. It is the same situation as far as the trigger, the safety and the takedown procedure. None are bad, just not as good as more modern designs.
On the other hand, it is reliable, accurate enough and quite concealable. A good combination.

For an even smaller carry, I have a BERETTA Tomcat and NORTH AMERICAN ARMS Guardian, both .32ACP. They are harder to shoot, especially the Guardian, which bangs my trigger finger and a much shorter range proposition that the PPK.

I still find the .32ACP useful. The smaller the gun, the more useful it is.

It can also be fun, if you can pick up some cheap ball ammo. I have a BERETTA model 82 and COLT 1903 in .32ACP. These large for caliber pistols are a lot of fun to shoot as the recoil is almost at the same level as a .22lr.

Jim

Anyone have Marshall and Sanow numbers on .32ACP vs .380 ACP? I think some folks might find them interesting.

I think shooting .32ACP in a chamber adaptor in a .308 rifle is a hoot.

Wish I had a buddies old Browning 1922 he sold without offering to me first, I think I shot it more than he did anyway.

First center fire handgun I ever shot was a Walther PP in "7.65mm"

-kBob

F-111 John said:

Don't forget about the North American Arms Guardian in .32 ACP.

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Got one, it is decommisioned in the back of the safe. Brutal to shoot with reliability problems (including ejected magazines on a regular basis), no slide lock and expensive ammo, I'd rather carry my Airweight.

Dan

Not as long as they keep making kel tec and other small pistols.

My Beretta Tomcat .32 cal is a great little gun. Depends on the pants or shorts all I need is a pocket holster and I am good to go. It will fit in anything. I have 7 mags, so I can carry anything I want. Gold Dots in one, FMJ, what ever I want to load up.

Other guns may fit other needs, but a Colt 1911 is not always possible to carry. I am older now and do not want to carry a .45 super. The old wrists can not take what they used to....

Someone once said carry 2 .32's do not stop to reload when you have shot both out, RUN.

I carry a keltec P32 everyday. I carried a PF9 for a short while, but it was way too big and heavy to carry comfortably in my cargo pocket. Tried a .380 keltec too since it's almost identical in size/weight and more powerful, but the recoil was so nasty I got rid of it. Unless keltec starts making a CC gun in .25acp, it's doubtful I'll ever carry anything other than a P32 since the only guns that are really lighter/smaller are NAA mini revolvers, and after shooting one in .22lr that my dad has, they're not something I'd be comfortable carrying.

.32acp use to be extremely popular in Europe with police, and some military. There's all kinds of old school pistols chambered for it, but looking at how few new guns are being chambered for it, and with a lot of people gravitating towards the most powerful compact guns they can get in 9mm/.40/.45, I definitely think .32acp is slowly dying. The fact that the ammo is so expensive and most .32acp guns are more for defense than plinking isn't helping it's popularity either.

I guess the .32 H&R Magnum doesn't count.

P32 is my EDC. I don't think the cartridge is going away anytime soon. It is a lot more popular in Europe, as well. I really like the cartridge because follow-ups are much faster. For me, I need to reacquire my sight with .380. Besides, I like having that one extra round. Personally, the only way I'd switch from the P32 is if KT came out with a similarly sized double stack 25ACP ala 15+1.

I don't know. All the one- up- manship of the gun companies and their marketing departments has led to a wave of biggest bullet/ smallest package contenders. Personally, I like my guns controllable. I've got nothing against big bullets, I just think they should be launched from big guns. Thus, when I want a full sized gun, I'm apt to reach for a .45. When I want a lightweight compact, I'll likely grab a 9MM, or .38 Super. And if it's a pocket pistol I need, it's a .32 I'll grab. There may be others like me out there.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

Onward Allusion said:

P32 is my EDC. I don't think the cartridge is going away anytime soon. It is a lot more popular in Europe, as well. I really like the cartridge because follow-ups are much faster. For me, I need to reacquire my sight with .380. Besides, I like having that one extra round. Personally, the only way I'd switch from the P32 is if KT came out with a similarly sized double stack 25ACP ala 15+1.

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I read an article in a hunting magazing about someone who took a standard .25 and modded it to use it for rabbit hunting. He got an extended magazine of, if I recall correctly, 35 shots. Custom made I'm sure. Then he replaced the barrel with a 14'' or so length barrel. Power was increased a lot, 25 ACP wise at least. It was said no bunny under 75 yards was safe. Even when running away lol

That isn't any different than a .22 Short out of a 24" barrel of the old Remington's. My father would take my Papa's Rem. .22 bolt gun that held like 30 shorts squirrel hunting. He'd shoot, and you'd hear the bullet hit the squirrel's head before you would hear the gun.

I carry or carried a .32 H&R Magnum J-Frame as the EDC until I bought my Bersa .380. I as well like my guns controllable. Same as Mat, not doormat does.
This is why I bought a .380 in an all metal frame auto pistol. Yes, I could have bought a small 9mm or .45, but I just could not shoot 3 or 4 rounds rapid fire as accurately as I could with the .380 ACP. A mag dump of 9 rounds with the .380 at 7 yards is about a 4" group.

I know from experience that my .32 H&R Magnum will get 9 to 10 inches of penetration with a 100 grain XTP moving at 1070 fps from a 2" barrel. I am okay with that. I know from experience if I use a Magtech S&W long 95 grain HP I get about 8 inches of penetration, but the revolver is much more controllable with the S&W Longs over shooting the .32 H&R Magnum. In actuality that isn't bad to control for me, but it barks a little, and groups open up a little more when shooting quickly.

I like .32 ACP, .380 ACP, and .32 revolver rounds. They have been around a long time, and I for one am not going to debate how lethal a bullet is. I think we are all grown here, and know that bullets are lethal.

I hope the .32 ACP doesn't go anywhere because my wife wants a Beretta in .32 ACP, and she now carries the J-Frame I mentioned with the .32 S&W Long HP's I mentioned.

Sometimes the big boys come with me on trips. The Rossi M720 gets out of the house sometimes, and on any extended family trip there is a double stack something in the car with a couple "mouse guns" on the adults.

I have 11 guns that use the .32 acp.

I have 11 guns that use the .32 acp.

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You're my new hero!

All I can say is if it's worth shooting, it's usually worth using a round that has a good chance of doing the most damage possible, "with humans". The 32 may be "passible" by some standards, but if I had to shoot to protect my life or that of another, I want to use the most potent round that I can carry.
If you can carry a 32 then you can carry a 38 or a 9mm. It's just that simple. I don't want to shoot at a moving target, and have it shoot back after I hit it square in the center mass more than 2 to 4 times. It's hard enough to hit something when you are both moving, let alone hit it several times, and if there are 2 or 3 assailants I doubt I am going to hit them all 3 or 4 times with a 32, before being hit several times myself.
That's my practical side talking, I carry a 45 all the time. But that's just me.
I met a guy in NY who had been hit six times with a 45 and survived, "he took off his shirt and showed me". After that I never carried a light round again, Lucky for him, it was an army ball type ammo, from South America.
They all went clean through missing vital organs. He was unique in his experience, but it happened to that rapper 50 cents also, I believe it was a 9mm. he was hit 5 or more times with. These are handgun bullets, sometimes we forget, unless you hit the heart or head, with any handgun non hollow point, you will find the person will continue, sometimes not even realizing they have been hit.
That's my only reason, the diameter of the hole and my ability to place the bullet on the target, hopefully close or onto a vital organ to stop the threat.