32 acp conversion into 22lr

[The Burnside Ninja]

Hey Gents... I was wondering if you knew which manufacturers had a 22lr conversion kit for a 32acp. My Sweetheart is only comfortable with the 22lr, however, I hope to wing her up to a 32acp someday. Now, I understand that it's better to have her shoot something that she's comfortable with, than to have her too uncomfortable to fire an uncomfortable weapon when it counts.

So, I'd love to find a pistol that's a 32 acp, but is convertable into a 22 lr... just for the availability for a slightly higher caliber.

 

[Hypnogator]

H&K used to make a 4-caliber pistol, IIRC: .22LR, .25ACP, .32ACP and .380ACP.

You might be able to find one used. Haven't heard of them for quite some years.

 

[gazpacho]

The Firestorm FS22 is a 22lr version of the Firestorm and Bersa 32acp and 380 acp pistols. Cost per pistol is about $275.

That would be a good 2 gun set that would meet your needs.

However, may I suggest a S&W Model 10 3" firing a standard pressure round? The Federal 110gr PD Hydra-Shok is a low recoil SD round.

 

[MachIVshooter]

So, I'd love to find a pistol that's a 32 acp, but is convertable into a 22 lr... just for the availability for a slightly higher caliber

I'm not aware of any convertible .32/.22 units, but there are a host of .22 LR conversion kits for 1911's, Glocks and CZ-75's.

You can get an EAA Witness in 9mm for about $350 new (less if you shop around) and then a .22 LR conversion kit for about $200.

For the Record, .32 ACP is not much of a step up from .22 LR. .22 LR will develop around 90 ft/lbs from most handguns; .32 ACP is about 130 ft/lbs.
As .32 caliber handguns go, the .32 H&R mag is about the only one that qualifies as a satisfactory defensive round, developing close to 300 ft/lbs with good loads. I carry my SP101 .32 mag when clothing prohibits carry of my Witness Compact 10mm.

 

[Geronimo45]

HK 4. Here's one with .32 and .22
http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976461755.htm

 

[meinbruder]

RE--32 acp conversion into 22lr

Hi Burnside

I have an HK4 in .32acp and a couple of years ago bought a .22lr conversion for it. It was bought as a BUG and was soon relegated to the TOY category when the price of .32acp was felt when the budget began to shrink. The .22lr conversion changed that but after a few hundred rounds the action felt a little odd and a field strip showed some odd plastic bits after the slide came off the frame.

It has a plastic shock buffer built into the design. The Buffer had hardened with age and a sudden increase of use shattered it. It took a year of searching to find a new one and it might NOT be a good idea to buy one for your GF. I don’t know how long the new buffer is going to be good for or if the source can be relied on in the future.

Having said that. The HK4 is a very sweet little gun with a full size grip. Its principle claim of fame is that it will shoot to the same point of aim with all four calibers it can be converted to. (Hypnogator, you memory is correct.) I can personally vouch for the fact that .22lr and .32acp don’t feel any different when fired and the point of impact is whatever I wanted to hit out to about fifty yards. (okay, scare the #e!! out of.)

My money was spent before I learned of the fault. Here is your warning, caveat emptor. Here is a link for more info. http://hkp7.com/hk4/index.htm Be sure to read and investigate the notes at the bottom of the page before buying one. If you still want one, let me know. I just might sell it to you.
Mike

 

[Trebor]

I don't know of any .32 guns that come with .22 kits. I can think of a couple things that might work.

The first would be to do find a PPK in .22. There aren't that many out there, but if you look you could probably find one. Then you could get a companion .32 PPK to go with it. I'm not really a big fan of the PPK, but it's closest to what you asked for.

Personally, I'd get a 9mm, like a CZ-75 or a 1911 in 9mm, and then buy a .22 conversion kit for that. Get her used to the base gun using the .22 kit and then try some standard pressure 9mm loads. She'll probably do better then either of you think.

You could also get a .22 revolver and then work her up to a similiar .38 revolver.

Really though, the best answer is to get her some decent training. You'd be amazed what some good instruction can do for her ability and her confidence. The NRA Basic Pistol class is a good place to start. Shooting is MUCH easier when you use the correct technique and have a good instructor showing you the techniques and watching you to make sure you understand what it is you are trying to do and are performing the techniques correctly.