Does anyone shoot 32 ACP?

[Beatnik]

Couple questions about this round....

First, is felt recoil generally less than, say, 9 Luger? I know that sounds stupid on the surface, but I want to know because 32 ACP is generally only in simple blowback weapons and felt recoil is going to be a lot higher than it could be.

Second, does anyone know of a readily available locked breech 32, or are they all vest pocket pistols these days designed to be shot once or twice in a panic, and are thus not comfortable to shoot?

I'd really like to get a fun shooter which I could offer to women who come with me to the range and isn't a 22. I got to shoot a PPK in 380 last week, and it was not fun, and I don't know how a similarly sized 32 would compare. Nobody rents 32's around here, so I'm looking for input before potentially buying one.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Lonestar]

The only currently made Locked breech .32acp I know of is the Kel Tec P32 and the Taurus Mil Pro in .32. I know the CZ83 has not alot of recoil, but I'm not sure if it is a blowback or not. The CZ83 is pretty big for a .32.

The .32acp has a lighter recoil than the .380. the Kel Tecs are perfect examples. From personal experience the P32 is a lot more pleasant to shoot that the P3at and both guns are very similar in size, design and weight. The PP or ppk in .32 will probably be a little easier on you than the .380 ppk.

 

[Whirlwind06]

Kel-tec .32

Kel-tec .32 is a locked breach pistol. As light as it is it is a pleasure to shoot. Get a 10 round mag for it to give your lady friends more grip.

 

[Bergerboy]

Have you considered a .32 S&W long/H&R Mag revolver? These can be had for fairly cheap nowadays, kick even less than the little pocket pistols you are looking at, and ammo isn't THAT bad This is what I've gotten a few girls started into guns with, and true noobies seem to prefer revolvers anyways.

 

[ugaarguy]

Beatnik, I'd look at larger than pocket pistols in .32 and .380 ACP to fill the gap between 22 LR and 9x19. Pistols like CZ-82 in 9x18 (9mm Makarov, similar to .380), or CZ-83 in .380 or the harder to find .32, as well as the Beretta 84 Cheetah in .380 or 81 Cheetah in .32, and the Browning BDA in .380 would be good choices.

Going outside of autos a medium frame service revolver in .38 special, like a S&W model 10, is also a mild shooting centerfire. The other advantage to a revolver is grips that entirely change the feel, so it can be tailored to best fit a shooter's hand.

http://www.beretta.com/index.aspx?m=74&idc=2&ids=23
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Handguns.html

 

[Beatnik]

Huh, didn't know about the KelTec. But I have two problems with it: First, I'm a guy who wants a safety. Second, I'd like my pinky finger to be on the weapon.

I thought about wheelguns too, but this is something I may want to carry as well. I'll check out the 32 Long, but I don't remember seeing any J frames for it.

Thanks for the responses!

 

[Chuck Dye]

While not a locked breech action, the Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless is a very shootable pistol. The grip is big enough to accommodate all, well three and a half, of my big, fat, fingers. It does need better sights and extra magazines can be a chore to find. The biggest issues I have with mine are the cost of ammo and prying it from the hands of the honorary nephew whom it fits about as my 1911 fits me.

 

[osteodoc08]

My father has an old Walther PP in 7.65 Browning I love the pistol for what it is, a safe queen most of the time. We take it out and shoot it occasionally. Never had a problem with it and it is fairly accurate to boot. It's just that ammo is so darned expensive for it.

 

[Beatnik]

Well, 7.65 Browning is the exact same thing as 32 ACP, and Cabelas has Seiller & Bellot for under $10. It's cheaper than their 9 Luger.
(edit: got that wrong, it's actually a dollar more.)

Companies like Wolf don't seem to make it, so you can't get crazy cheap ammo, but I wouldn't classify it as really expensive.

 

[Cosmoline]

Fiocchi and some other Euro factories make lots of .32 ACP. It's not only cheap, it's hotter than US made .32 ACP. I really like shooting .32 out of a steel Walther PP or other medium frame European police pistol. Recoil is minimal, and accuracy excellent. You can really cap them off fast.

 

[usp9]

I'm not sure I agree there's all that great a difference in recoil effect between any of the various designs. many factors influence recoil. That said, the aforementioned CZ83 in .32 is one of the mildest recoiling guns I've ever fired. Feels more like a .22. The CZ 83 is a good size, a full grip, and has some weight, accounting for the light recoil. Unfortunately this would probably be a hard gun to find and test.

The Kel tec fits the bill for locked breech, but not many consider it a range gun due to their small size and weight.

A used Walther, a Sig P230 in .32 or some of the S. American makers may be an inexpensive way to try a .32. Check out http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Czech_CZ-83_.32acp_Pistol.html for a used CZ 83 in .32

 

[doncameron]

save some money......try a VZOR-50 or VZOR-70 in .32 acp.
about the same size as a walther pp, sweet shooting firearm!

 

[kokapelli]

If you look around, you should be able to find a 1903 colt in 32 cal.

It's a blowback, feels like your shooting a 22 cal.

These are really great guns and once you hold one, you want to give it back.

They are ultra thin and all steel.
-

 

[ugaarguy]

32 ACP CZ-83

There are 32 ACP CZ-83 available from aim surplus for $240 right now. Link is in my earlier post this thread.

 

[sm]

Beretta Tomcat.

Ladies and gents enjoyed shooting this gun. The one we used was the "Alleycat" with the XO sights.

 

[MICHAEL T]

My wife loves her KelTec 32 only pistol I have ever got her to carry and shoot. Heck she has even learned to field strip and clean. Put a Bersa finger rest on mag and will fit hand better or buy the other factory 10 round mag.
Don't need safety It has a long trigger pull. Also slide lock on empty. Really a fun gun I won't do more that 50 out of my 380KT but a 100 is easy in the 32.

 

[JERRY]

the Walther PP/PPK series guns in .32acp do not kick bad like their .380acp counter parts.

 

[Lonestar]

The Taurus PT132 and the CZ83 are full size and have safeties. The tomcat is small and its a blowback, but it also has a safety. The larger Beretta Cheetah in .32 is a better option.

 

[Kymasabe]

hey Beatnik, I have the Kel-Tec P32 and it's a great gun. Doesn't need a safety. If you're gonna carry and are afraid fo an accidental discharge, just don't load the chamber.
Anyway...the other gun that someone mentioned is a .32H&R mag revolver. S&W stopped making them last year but you can still find a 431PD and 432PD running around her and there. Some 432PD's came with Crimson Trace laser grips too. I think Taurus still makes a .32H&R mag revolver.

 

[banddr2]

A Walther PP or PPK/S in .32 is very comfortable to shoot, and they are very accurate. In .380 these pistols do sting the hand a bit, but originally they were not designed for the 380. You can find German PP police trade ins for about $300. They are all steel and heavy enough that there is very little recoil. I target shoot with mine out to 25 yards, they are very accurate.

The Kel Tecs are not anywhere close to a pleasure to shoot, they sting quite a bit, and Sea Camps are even worse. Also, I have seen Sig Sauer P232 in .32. I have never shot one, but I am sure it would be among the best shooting 32 around.

I wouldn't be afraid to use one of these larger 32's for self defence, I am more accurate with a 32 than with the bigger rounds, and it is shot placement that counts the most.

 

[DogBonz]

my father does

he has an acient Browning 32 that he shoots quite often. its a great little piece.

 

[Srigs]

I have and use a Kel-tec P32 for carry purpose. It is actually a pleasure to shoot and accurate for a 3" barrel. It is my always gun.

 

[Waywatcher]

My P32 was more pleasant to shoot than my Glock 19.

 

[raghorn]

+1 for the P32.

Sure it's small for a guy with big mitts, but it's reliable, accurate and not unpleasant to shoot. I carry it as a back-up in a Desantis Nemesis, it'll go just about anywhere.

 

[Onmilo]

I own several .32 acp handguns and the Colt 1903 and the Browning 1922 are far and away the most comfortable pistols to shoot.
The Walther PPs are second.

Locked breech and all the Kel-Tec is still a handful with serious, full power, loads and it is also much louder than any of my other pistols too.
The Kel-Tec is not a pleasure shooting pistol and was never designed to be one.
They are made as close range personal defense pistols.

Suprisingly the CZ-83 in .32 acp has perceived recoil that is more severe than my Glock 26 9mm.
I have shot CZ-82s in 9mm Makarov and they are even worse, much more perceived recoil than the Glock 26.
My shooting buddy thinks my .32 CZ-83 recoils more than his Ruger P-95.

I have had the good fortune and luck to shoot and repair more than a hundred different types,brands, and calibers of handguns.

If you want a comfortable to shoot defense handgun that can do double duty as a pleasure shooting pistol in a pinch and do so economically, the Glock 26 9mm is a worthy handgun to take a good hard look at.
Oh and the Model 26 isn't much louder than the Kel-Tec P32 or P3AT, something noteworthy to consider when you realize defense shootings don't allow any time to stick in your ear plugs or slap on your muffs.