Kel Tec P32 - Would You Trust Your Life To It?

[Siaharok]

Hi all,

Caliber issues aside, would you trust your life to a P32? Is it reliable enough to count on in a pinch? Would you buy one for your wife?

I have a P32 that I carry when I can't conceal my S&W 642. To give you some background, I bought the 642 after my Kel Tec PF9 failed on the range. I had to send the PF9 back to Kel Tec, and the experience freaked me out. I had always been a pistol guy, but I quickly found myself carrying a revolver for 2 reasons: 1) concealability, and 2) reliability.

Now I need a super-concealable gun for my wife. She just got her permit, and she needs a carry gun. She has shot the P32, and she likes it. Size-wise, it's hard to beat, and she needs something that small.

My P32 has been fairly reliable so far, but it has had a few FTFeeds with hollow points. I stopped using those, and I've had 200+ trouble-free rounds. But it just doesn't inspire the same confidence as my Glock or a 642.

Should I buy another P32 for my wife? Any other suggestions that are a) reliable, and b) equally concealable? I'm open to other pistols like the LCP, but if it's all the same, I'd prefer to stick with the P32 because I've got a ton of ammo and a bunch of holsters for it already.

Thanks in advance.

 

[toivo]

I would use only FMJ in a P-32. In fact, I do.

I'm sure many people would make a ballistic argument against "betting your life" on a P-32. But it sounds like you're asking about reliable function. I've never had any kind of malfunction with mine. Well -- not totally true. I once had the slide not lock open on an empty magazine, but that's not a deal-breaker.

I think a P-32 with a hard-chrome slide would be just the thing for your wife.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

I do, at times. Since the P32 is my "always" gun, it is in my back pocket, even when my primary is absent. Then it becomes primary and I'm betting my life on it.

Mine has been ultra-reliable, with Geco ball, though.

 

[Dr_B]

Under the right circumstances, yes. If I had a choice of something larger, I wouldn't carry the .32. I think around the town I live in a .32 might be enough for most self-defense situations.

 

[Siaharok]

Thanks for the replies.

For the record, please leave caliber discussions aside. I'm only interested in discussing the reliability of the P32, or other similar pocket pistols.

Tolvo, why a hard-chrome slide? What's the difference?

Stevie-Ray, what's Geco ball, and where do I buy it?

 

[bigfatdave]

My P32 runs wonderfully, when it is clean and with ammo of the proper length. I've had more trouble with shorter ammo in the extended magazines, so I relegated them to range use only just to be safe, but the flush-fit mags run quite well with most loads, I have found that the euro loads (S&B, Fiocchi, etc) are a bit hotter and run great for the first 100 rounds or so.

As a "get off me" or "shoot&scoot" gun, it is a winner, I don't think anyone would consider it a gun to get into a fight with, but it works great to get out of one! The same applies to high-volume shooting, it won't run forever, but it will surely empty as many magazines as you'd ever carry before it gets crudded up and starts to have feed/extraction problems.

(a note on the dirty p32, I've run a LOT of ammo through mine, and it took a few weeks' worth of pocket lint AND ~110 rounds of cheap Wolf HP ammo to start getting feed/extraction problems ... don't blame the gun for my worst-case testing)

 

[mongo4567]

I have and would trust a P32 for carry. My Seecamp 32 was a regular deep carry, till the P32 came along. I switched to it mainly due to the weight. Then the KT P3AT came along; about the same size/weight with more power...now a friend has the P32. I would feel plenty comfortable with the P32 for its purpose, but would recommend that you look at the P3AT.

 

[toivo]

Tolvo, why a hard-chrome slide? What's the difference?

It's the most durable and low-maintenance of the finish options. I'd rate them (1) hard chrome, (2) parkerized, (3) blued. I have the parkerized, and I don't have any rust issues, but if I were buying a new one (I bought mine used), I would probably go for the hard chrome. It's not a whole lot more expensive.

 

[451 Detonics]

For the record I quit carrying a 32 because of the caliber however I had complete faith in my P-32 to work when I did carry it as a BUG. It ran flawlessly through several thousand rounds of practice and carry ammo. If you want a good round that is both effective as a HP and as reliable as ball use the CorBon/Glaser PowR Ball.

http://www.shopcorbon.com/Glaser-PowRBall/32-Auto-55gr-PowRBall/PB3255-20/600/Product

 

[Zerodefect]

No.

My P32 was unreliable and had terrible accuracy. Stiff trigger and nonexistant sights really hurt it. max range was about 5 yards. Hitting a man sized target at 10 yards was a chore. It also rusts easy.

That POS rots in the bottom of my safe. At best I'll practice refinishing it, other than that it serves no purpose.

I replaced it with a Kahr p380 that is far more accurate and reliable. I can hit a sheet of notebook paper at 10 yards with the Kahr very easy.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Would You Trust Your Life To It?

Yes, I pocket carried it for some time until the P3AT came out.

Although I've moved on to such as the Ruger LCP and LC9, I wouldn't hesitate to carry the P32 if I had to.

Should I buy another P32 for my wife? Any other suggestions that are a) reliable, and b) equally concealable?

I've had good luck with the Ruger LCP. (I have 3) I pocket carry it much of the time.

If your wife could handle the larger LC9, it's a good choice. I have over 1,400 rounds through mine without one gun caused malfunction (a couple bad rounds).

 

[franco45]

I have owned two. I bought both used. No problems with either one. My nephew now owns the first one and a friend owns the second. I bought the second one to replace the pos DB380 that I owned. I now carry a Kahr CM9 but will be picking up my third P32 from my FFL today for a "cut the grass, run to the store" gun.

 

[skoro]

Would you buy one for your wife?

I bought one for my daughter, who lives in a large northern city with big crime problems. The P32 is tiny, light, easy to use and very easy to conceal. I've run about 100 rounds through it to check functioning without a single failure of any kind. I feel better knowing that she's armed.

 

[W.E.G.]

A .32 auto can be deadly.

It may not be deadly ENOUGH for some situations.

That's your call.

 

[sarge83]

Mine has functioned flawlessly. Still I did the fluff'n buff thing to it and I carry it 75% of the time.

 

[Onward Allusion]

Siaharok

Kel Tec P32 - Would You Trust Your Life To It?

In a pinch, yes but I would rather have my 5946. The P32's are reliable but they are not range guns, so I can't really claim it's flawless after 10,000 rounds. They have been flawless after hundreds of rounds, however. I like the P32 over the LCP because of the +1 round.

There are pros & cons for every handgun. The pros for the P32 are that...
- slim & light and easy to take with/conceal
- decent capacity for tiny mouse gun
- reliable
- little/no recoil

Cons:
- marginal defense round at best

 

[CDW4ME]

I would feel comfortable carrying a pistol that had fired 200 consecutive rounds without fail of the carry ammunition.

As requested, I'll leave caliber out, but let's look at KE

I had a P32
Hydra-Shok 65 gr. @ 804 fps = 93# KE
Silvertip 60 gr. @ 839 fps = 94# KE

By going to up to the 380 we increase KE by 50%

P3AT
Hydra-Shok 90 gr. @ 845 fps = 143# KE
Gold Dot 90 gr. @ 841 fps = 141# KE

S&W 442 (Mag-NA-Ported)
Silvertip 110 gr. @ 821 fps = 165# KE

Kel-Tec PF9
Hydra-Shok 124 gr. @ 1,013 fps = 282# KE

The 32 is lethal, sure it will kill a person; however, lethal capability and incapacitating ability are not always found together.

If you are being attacked and are able to shoot the aggressor, but the well placed round doesn't stop agressors actions, it's not not much help when he dies 15 minutes later; yes, shot was lethal but it failed to stop you from being injured or dead too.

Is 93# of KE (leaving caliber out ) enough to stop criminal from completing stab attempt with knife on intended victim?

 

[gpr]

hi zero...if you want to make some room in your safe....i'll give you a $100 for your pos keltec...gary

 

[bigfatdave]

That POS rots in the bottom of my safe. At best I'll practice refinishing it, other than that it serves no purpose.

If you're in Ohio, I'll take that POS off your hands for one wallet-sized portrait of Ben Franklin

 

[WvHiker]

reservations

I don't know. I have the very similar P3AT and it likes to jam. I keep it clean and lubed, but at least once every range session (only 30-50 rounds through this gun per trip, mind you) it jams at least once. It only has maybe 200 or so rounds through it, so maybe it will improve with time. Right now though I have some reservations about it being my carry gun. It's a shame too; it's so small and light that it's super easy to carry. All that being said, if the P32 in question could get through a few range trips without incident I think I could happily put it in my pocket and head out the door.

 

[PcolaDawg]

I bought a P32 for my wife as it is the highest caliber she was comfortable shooting. Also, my dad (getting close to 80) carries a P32 all of the time.

So far, we haven't encountered any reliability problems. I heard that they may have some issues with hollow points, so I don't put any hollow points in my wife's gun, just to be safe. I'd rather have a target round that actually leaves the gun, than a hollow point ftf.

 

[bigfatdave]

Good FMJ ammo is better than "target ammo"

And I really like the P32 as a pocket gun, but if you're going to limit yourself to .32acp, wouldn't a CZ83 be easier to run that a miniature like the P32?
Little bitty guns are lousy for training purposes and make overly challenging first guns, much like a lightweight snubby revolver, they just aren't easy to shoot.

 

[MICHAEL T]

My wife has carried a P-32 for a few years. I bought her a Lady Rose P-32 when they came out and #1 daughter has her older P-32 . I have P-32 and P-3AT Never had trouble from any of these pistols. I carried my P-32 for 6 months in pocket no holster fired 1 mag on first of month reloaded and carried I started this test with the slide rails lite coat of grease not oil. At end of the 6 months fired last mag and tore down for inspection. What a mess unburnt powder dried up grease lint every where . Yet this pistol not one time jammed or failed in any way. Yes I would carry and do carry a P-32 I have Corbon HP in mine.

Today I put a PF-9 on layaway will pick up 1st of June. . I don't have a small 9mm.

 

[gunsablazin]

Not me

I had a kel tec .32 and sold it. It was reliable with FMJ ammo, and that's what I carried in it. I sold it only because I'm not sold on the .32 as a fight stopper. I would still rather have one than nothing, but there are better choices, especially if you can put up with just a wee bit more recoil and weight. The latest micro 9mm's would deserve a look as well as the venerable airweight snubby.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Stevie-Ray, what's Geco ball, and where do I buy it?

Geco is one of the names Dynamit-Nobel uses, another is RWS. Ball, of course, is simply full-metal case. Most gun shops carry Geco because it's fairly cheap. I like it because it's HOT.