.32 acp

[KevininPa]

I have a Saved Search on Gunbroker for .32 acp under pistols. Now granted, many of them don't get bid on. Mainly because they are older ones that don't fit our idea of grip comfort or aesthetics(sp) like the French Unique that looks like it can take a two-handed grip. Or popular models that grossly over priced. But decently priced military and police surplus always have bids. Beretta 80 series and the CZ82/83(my later years Grail gun) always sell. I was tracking a CZ that went from a penny start to $900! Girsan makes a tip up .32 acp. Importer won't bring it in afraid that it won't sell. With an aging populace, some with impending hand issues(myself), why aren't American manufacturers and importers picking up on this .32 Renaissance? Thanks for your time.

 

[chicharrones]

I have a Saved Search on Gunbroker for .32 acp under pistols. Now granted, many of them don't get bid on. Mainly because they are older ones that don't fit our idea of grip comfort or aesthetics(sp) like the French Unique that looks like it can take a two-handed grip. Or popular models that grossly over priced. But decently priced military and police surplus always have bids. Beretta 80 series and the CZ82/83(my later years Grail gun) always sell. I was tracking a CZ that went from a penny start to $900! Girsan makes a tip up .32 acp. Importer won't bring it in afraid that it won't sell. With an aging populace, some with impending hand issues(myself), why aren't American manufacturers and importers picking up on this .32 Renaissance? Thanks for your time.

Best I can tell, any .32 renaissance in the USA has been only with revolvers, not with autoloaders.

 

[KevininPa]

Best I can tell, any .32 renaissance in the USA has been only with revolvers, not with autoloaders.

Yes, I've seen that as well. Another of my Saved Searches is .32 long under revolvers. But check out pistols, you'll see what I saw. BTW, I have another search for Taurus 732 inspired by your love of yours! Every now and then one pops up. Naturally, after I just finish buying something else! Lol!

 

[chicharrones]

Yes, I've seen that as well. Another of my Saved Searches is .32 long under revolvers. But check out pistols, you'll see what I saw. BTW, I have another search for Taurus 732 inspired by your love of yours! Every now and then one pops up. Naturally, after I just finish buying something else! Lol!

That TCP732 is a telling example. I bought mine on a close out sale back in early 2012 as the last of the last. Taurus had been offering the TCP738 and TCP732 at the same time. But the .380 outlasted the .32.

The only place I see where that is reversed is at KelTec where the P3AT is no longer offered, but the P32 still is (so far).

 

[chicharrones]

Another memory. Back in the 2000s when I got my first .32 ACP, a NAA Guardian, I could find .32 ACP ammo on gun store shelves. Now, not so much.

 

[KevininPa]

Another memory. Back in the 2000s when I got my first .32 ACP, a NAA Guardian, I could find .32 ACP ammo on gun store shelves. Now, not so much.

I had one of those Guardians. Snappy little bugger. It went down the road. Have a P32 that I love! Replaced my NAA Black Widow for anywhere carry.

 

[chicharrones]

Looking at current production .32 ACP pistols, it looks like they are still based on 20th century models. If I really wanted a new .32 ACP for fun, I'd get the Walther PPK as shown in this thread. It's pricey, but it's such a legendary movie gun.

 

[red rick]

I just bought this Friday . But I didn’t buy it to carry , more as a novelty and 007 . It was an expensive toy $948 dollars OTD .

 

[red rick]

And don’t even ask about the cost and availability for ammunition locally .

 

[KevininPa]

And don’t even ask about the cost and availability for ammunition locally .

That's why I feed my .32s from online sales. My favorite funshop ammo in anything other than .22, 9, and 5.56 is expensive.

 

[CDW4ME]

I have a Saved Search on Gunbroker for .32 acp under pistols. Now granted, many of them don't get bid on. Mainly because they are older ones that don't fit our idea of grip comfort or aesthetics(sp) like the French Unique that looks like it can take a two-handed grip. Or popular models that grossly over priced. But decently priced military and police surplus always have bids. Beretta 80 series and the CZ82/83(my later years Grail gun) always sell. I was tracking a CZ that went from a penny start to $900! Girsan makes a tip up .32 acp. Importer won't bring it in afraid that it won't sell. With an aging populace, some with impending hand issues(myself), why aren't American manufacturers and importers picking up on this .32 Renaissance? Thanks for your time.

The average (typical) gun buyer is probably not looking on Gunbroker.
Many 32 acp don't get bid on - Could be because because 32 is not as desirable as other calibers to most people.
Lack of US manufacturers making or introducing models in 32 seems to support the prior hypothesis rather than a "renaissance"

 

[Nasty Canasta]

I like 32ACP & reload so I have no issues with shooting them semi-regularly & always have an eye out for a new mouse gun to add. They’re a lot of fun & don’t take up much room. Here’s a photo from the last 32 day at the range-

 

[Ethan Verity]

I just made another online order for 250 more rounds of Fiocchi 73gr Range Dynamics FMJ ammo for my NAA Guardian. My total cost (with shipping) came out to $160. I would say 64 cents a shot isn't cheap, but also not painfully expensive for what it is. Now, compare this to my local Dunhams, which has a poor selection of 32ACP and is selling WWB FMJ 32ACP for $51 a box! Over a dollar a pop, for FMJ! If you can order ammo online in your state, it's the way to go for 32ACP.

 

[red rick]

At Midway I paid .66 per round , $33 / 50 with free shipping on $99 dollars . IMO $30 dollar ammo isn’t cheap especially for using a tiny pinch of powder and bullets weighing less than 75 grains .

 

[Speedo66]

I don’t know what their shipping charges are, but AIM Surplus has .32acp ball for $18.95 a box, and hollow point for a few bucks more.

AimSurplus, LLC

AimSurplus, LLC

 

[Zygodactyl]

32 acp is dirt cheap to reload:
1000 plated bullets 91.00
1000 primers Ginex 60.00
powder for 1000rds 12.57
total 163.57 = 8.18 a box.

1lb of 231 $40.00 good for 3181 rounds or 1.2 cents a round

 

[red rick]

I plan on reloading for it , but I needed some brass , dies and bullets . I like to run some good factory ammo first in a new pistol to get a control round to compare to .

 

[Outpost75]

Fiocchi 73- grain FMJ ball is a good affordable reference standard. High quality brass to reload. A good carry load too. I got 887 fps from from my 1944 wartime 3.4" Beretta M1935

 

[red rick]

I bought this for brass and as a control round to compare . The Norma was only $22 dollars . I pulled a bullet from each . The Norma didn’t have a cannelure , but had a tight crimp . The Fiocchi had a cannelure and was easier to pull .

 

[Outpost75]

On the Norma check the box to determine the country of origin. Much Norma ammo being imported is no longer produced in Sweden, but in other countries. Hungary, Switzerland, Czech Republic, etc. Not to say that any of it is bad, but only to state it is not all the same.

I would pull down a sample round to determine if bullets are sealed or cemented in case and if primer lacquer has been applied. This does not matter for range training and practice ammo, but affects ballistic uniformity and storage life if you plan to stash it away for more than a few years.

I have a bunch of the Hungarian Norma 9mm I use for training and practice ammo and it has been fine. Brass is good for reloading if that is your pleasure, but 9mm is cheap and plentiful enough that I don't reload it. Not cost effective with cost of powder, primers and bullets these days. I DO reload .32 ACP and cast my own bullets for that caliber.

 

[TTv2]

32 acp is dirt cheap to reload:
1000 plated bullets 91.00
1000 primers Ginex 60.00
powder for 1000rds 12.57
total 163.57 = 8.18 a box.

1lb of 231 $40.00 good for 3181 rounds or 1.2 cents a round

Only pain is the cases disappear unless you're shooting indoors.

 

[Nasty Canasta]

I loathe indoor ranges & when I shoot 25ACP or 32ACP I just put a tarp or an old king size sheet out to catch the brass.

 

[Monac]

Reddit has a subforum called The One True Caliber. ( https://www.reddit.com/r/TheOneTrueCaliber/ ). It's about 32 ACP. It doesn't get a lot of traffic, but the thought is there.

It was obviously NOT started by Jeff Cooper.

 

[Pistolay]

Best I can tell, any .32 renaissance in the USA has been only with revolvers, not with autoloaders.

Not so. In 2024, Walther brought back the PPK and PPK/S in .32 ACP. They also announced the return of the PP, although it hasn't started shipping yet. Beretta also released the 30X in 2024 as a replacement for the 3032, which is still available. In 2025, Bersa has brought back the Thunder in .32 ACP, and Beretta has announced the re-release of the 80X.

In addition to all of that, the NAA Guardian .32 ACP, which has essentially been unobtanium for quite some time is now readily available, and the KelTec P32, which has only been produced in the occasional batch for the past several years has been continuously available for the past year. And of course, the Seecamp is still around.

There's a lot going in in .32, and I think there will be more. Personally, I'm waiting for Ruger to release the LCP in that caliber.

 

[jstert]

i occasionally carried a naa guardian 32acp pistol. it is well made by an excellent maker, but not much fun to shoot. then i got a keltec p32, problem solved, carried alot.

did i read somewhere that ruger “borrowed” the keltec p32 design for its lcp? if so, ruger should at least offer the lcp in 32acp. a ruger sr22 is my favorite semiauto pistol of any caliber, one chambered in 32acp (sr32) would be super.