I love these little guns. I carry one everywhere usually as a backup weapon. I've never had any problems with it feeding any sort of ammo. I've only tried one brand of hollowpoints though it. After a lot of practice I can now consistently hit a man sized target at 25 yards. Most people I let shoot it couldn't hit a broad side of a barn though. You definitely have to get used to the sites, or should I say lack of sites.
Kel-Tec P-32, range report
- Thread starter MedWheeler
- Start date
- Status
Good question.
PF= power factor and it is a calculation that can be used to compare recoil in same size same weight pistols. PF = bullet weight x speed / 1,000
In my signature you can see that the 357 SIG has less felt recoil than the 40 using the same make ammunition in same size subcompact Glocks.
You can apply this to your 32.
Silvertip 60 gr. @ 839 fps = 94# KE = PF 50
Hydra-Shok 65 gr. @ 804 fps = 93# KE = PF 52
Whereas the Kel-Tec P3AT:
Gold Dot 90 gr. @ 841 fps = 141# KE = PF 76
Hydra-Shok 90 gr. @ 845 fps = 143# KE = PF 76
The extra energy of the 380 comes with extra felt recoil.
Snowdog
Member
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2002
- Messages
- 4,606
Many folks that carry the P32 usually skip the JHP stuff as we're well aware the .32acp will offer wonderful penetration or acceptable expansion, but seldom both.
I use Fiocchi 73gr as I bought a bunch cheap, but S&B is great stuff (and what I used to carry before running out).
According to various sites, Fiocchi 73gr FMJ typically achieves 850 fps from the P32 (roughly 120 ft. lbs) and S&B usually chronographs from a P32 somewhere between 900 and 950 fps, depending on the source (130 ft. lbs - 145 ft. lbs, respectively). I personally haven't run either over a chronograph that I can remember, but being a full metal jacket, I would think the little P32 has a pretty good chance of putting a couple slugs through the brain-case of most any assailant at close enough range. For me, this requires plenty of practice of drawing and firing 2 shots at a pie plat about 7 yards as quickly as possible. If I manage to do as well in life as I do in practice, I expect the P32 to provide adequate protection. There's always an additional 6 rounds if needed.
Cor-Bon did (or perhaps still does) produce a .32acp 60gr JHP that many folks seemed to like from the P32. If I recall correctly, it was expected to spit those little pills out at 1000 FPS from the P32 short barrel.
Of course, if center of mass is the target and JHP is the fodder, you'd gain a bit from the .380acp I would think.
I use Fiocchi 73gr as I bought a bunch cheap, but S&B is great stuff (and what I used to carry before running out).
According to various sites, Fiocchi 73gr FMJ typically achieves 850 fps from the P32 (roughly 120 ft. lbs) and S&B usually chronographs from a P32 somewhere between 900 and 950 fps, depending on the source (130 ft. lbs - 145 ft. lbs, respectively). I personally haven't run either over a chronograph that I can remember, but being a full metal jacket, I would think the little P32 has a pretty good chance of putting a couple slugs through the brain-case of most any assailant at close enough range. For me, this requires plenty of practice of drawing and firing 2 shots at a pie plat about 7 yards as quickly as possible. If I manage to do as well in life as I do in practice, I expect the P32 to provide adequate protection. There's always an additional 6 rounds if needed.
Cor-Bon did (or perhaps still does) produce a .32acp 60gr JHP that many folks seemed to like from the P32. If I recall correctly, it was expected to spit those little pills out at 1000 FPS from the P32 short barrel.
Of course, if center of mass is the target and JHP is the fodder, you'd gain a bit from the .380acp I would think.
jimk0512
Member
Mine has almost the same issue (usually does not lock open after shooting the last round). It started doing that after about 500 rounds. Kel-Tec has sent me new parts, which have not corrected the issue. It will stay locked open when I pull the slide back and push up on the magazine to "set" it. I've kept the P-32 and now have over 1500 rounds down range. I figure, what the heck, it is accurate and empties the entire magazine without fail, so I keep using it for CCW. I think neither the Ruger LCP nor the Kel-Tec P-3AT lock open after shooting the last round, so I figure I'm not losing anything that most folks have anyway.
bigfatdave
Member
you guys with lock-open problems ... could the magazine be riding too low and not letting the follower engage the internal lobe of the slide latch?
toivo
Member
Count me in -- I suspect that magazine-catch wear is the culprit.
Stevie-Ray
Member
That's what I use mine for. It's my "always" gun, even when I throw my clothes on quickly and have to run outside for whatever, the P32 is in my back pocket. First rule of a gunfight...... Normally though, it's BUG to my primary Kimber UCDP. I generally use Geco ball, as it's pretty hot, but WWB will work in a pinch.
MedWheeler
Member
Just an update to my own thread.. I did buy and install the rimlock bar from Kel-Tec into the standard 7-round magazine. There is now absolutely no wiggle-room for those WWB FMJ-FN rounds in there, but I have not yet been to the range since I installed it. I did also order and receive a second magazine in case I want the option of loading the gun with either short-profile or "standard-length" ammunition. I also bought the finger-rest extension, but didn't like the fit when it was installed, and promptly removed it. I think I was just excited about accessories for this gun, forgetting its position as "secondary" carry piece, one that does not need these accessories.
bigfatdave
Member
you DO need more than 2 magazines, though.
toivo
Member
+1. Give a thought at least one of the ten-rounders, too. Some people have reported problems, but the one I have has been 100% reliable.
bigfatdave
Member
I still don't quite trust my 10x mags, I can induce rimlock so much more easily in them with the extra play.
At leasy only use them with longer ammo or a flyer wire, shorter rounds AND rattle room AND vertical space make for problems.
Oh, and how much was the adapter from KT? I was just looking for one on their site last night and didn't find it, I would have tossed in a few of them while I was ordering PMR-30 buffers, but had no luck finding any.
Also ... could you snap a few pictures of the installed wire?
At leasy only use them with longer ammo or a flyer wire, shorter rounds AND rattle room AND vertical space make for problems.
Oh, and how much was the adapter from KT? I was just looking for one on their site last night and didn't find it, I would have tossed in a few of them while I was ordering PMR-30 buffers, but had no luck finding any.
Also ... could you snap a few pictures of the installed wire?
Last edited:
toivo
Member
Kel-Tec makes an adapter for the 10-rounders too. The adapters aren't on the website, but I e-mailed KT a few weeks ago, and they said they still have them in stock; you just have to order them over the phone.
I am not quite sure what I and another shooting friend of mine find so appealing about that little .32 but we do.
In fact just yesterday I saw one on GunBroker for $219.00 with free shipping.
And I have seen them a time or two locally for $229.00.
Pennies really.
I have some weekend overtime projects coming up over the next few months and might finally get off my can and just buy one of the little whippersnappers.
Obviously some people are buying these little pistols as Taurus has just introduced a .32 that is likely based on their TCP 738 .380.
In fact just yesterday I saw one on GunBroker for $219.00 with free shipping.
And I have seen them a time or two locally for $229.00.
Pennies really.
I have some weekend overtime projects coming up over the next few months and might finally get off my can and just buy one of the little whippersnappers.
Obviously some people are buying these little pistols as Taurus has just introduced a .32 that is likely based on their TCP 738 .380.
MedWheeler
Member
Dave, you have to call Kel-Tec to ask for the adaptors. They're not on the online store, but they are there. For the standard magazine, they're nine dollars and some change. I did not check into the one for the ten-rounder.
MedWheeler
Member
Uh, why? If I get into a situation that 15 rounds and my own smarts won't get me out of, seven more ain't gonna do it (and neither would fifteen of 9mm.)
toivo
Member
Because you need a reload and a spare. Let's say you have two magazines, and one malfunctions at the range. Then you're going to be stuck without a reload magazine.
Last edited:
Snowdog
Member
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2002
- Messages
- 4,606
I don't bother with extra mags with this pistol either. Fortunately for me, the 7 round mag mine came with is reliable.
My P32 is a face pistol and something I need to have get the job done within the first few rounds. If I run out of ammunition and have the time and the magazines with me to reload, it would pretty much mean I'm using it in a method I had not intended.
As some people here are fond of saying, mine P32 is a "get the hell off me" pistol, much as one would consider with a derringer.
More power to those who supply their P32 with extra magazines to make it more combat-suitable, but I'll pass on the spare mags with this particular pistol.
My P32 is a face pistol and something I need to have get the job done within the first few rounds. If I run out of ammunition and have the time and the magazines with me to reload, it would pretty much mean I'm using it in a method I had not intended.
As some people here are fond of saying, mine P32 is a "get the hell off me" pistol, much as one would consider with a derringer.
More power to those who supply their P32 with extra magazines to make it more combat-suitable, but I'll pass on the spare mags with this particular pistol.
MedWheeler
Member
In which case, I's simply carry another gun. As I've said, this is not my primary carry gun. More than 90 percent of the time it is actually carried, it is with another gun (PF9.) And that gun is carried more than 95 percent of the time I am armed, which is pretty much all my waking hours. The P32 is carried alone so rarely that I would not miss it if I had to set it aside for a week or two to replace one or more failed magazines.
Last edited:
toivo
Member
Yeah, I can see your point. You don't need a back-up for your back-up, in other words. Makes sense.
Last edited:
jmresistance
Member
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2011
- Messages
- 71
I love my Kel-Tec P-32! I'm looking into getting an XD-9 for primary carry, but I've carried the KT for months and will continue to use it as a BUG. I've only put about 175 rounds through it, but no problems so far. Feeds perfectly fine with at least three different brands of ammo: Winchestor, Remington, and Privi Partizan.
I just bought one of these last week. I don't even CCW, I just wanted to try something new and see what Kel-Tecs were all about.
Very much impressed with mine! I was expecting "belly gun" accuracy, but I found I was keeping everything in the 9 ring on a B27 out past 10 yards! Gun was very reliable through it's first 100 rounds. It failed to strip a round from the magazine only once (weird) but solved with a rack. .32 Auto was very pleasant, IMO. Makes me wonder what the P-3AT would be like.
I bought a 10 rounder when I bought the gun, but I found that this changed the handling dynamics of the pistol dramatically. I found it difficult to get a comfortable handle on it without the possibility of pinching my finger between the grip and mag extension. Then despite all that precaution I ended up pinching the meat on the inside of my trigger finger between the trigger and frame, lol. I was much more comfortable and accurate with the regular 7 rounders.
Overall I am extremely happy and now taking a closer look at other Kel-Tec products.
Very much impressed with mine! I was expecting "belly gun" accuracy, but I found I was keeping everything in the 9 ring on a B27 out past 10 yards! Gun was very reliable through it's first 100 rounds. It failed to strip a round from the magazine only once (weird) but solved with a rack. .32 Auto was very pleasant, IMO. Makes me wonder what the P-3AT would be like.
I bought a 10 rounder when I bought the gun, but I found that this changed the handling dynamics of the pistol dramatically. I found it difficult to get a comfortable handle on it without the possibility of pinching my finger between the grip and mag extension. Then despite all that precaution I ended up pinching the meat on the inside of my trigger finger between the trigger and frame, lol. I was much more comfortable and accurate with the regular 7 rounders.
Overall I am extremely happy and now taking a closer look at other Kel-Tec products.
- Status
