Looking for an accurate 32 ACP.

[bangswitch]

I've looked at a couple of 1903s.
They do interest me if I found a good deal though.

Read up on them, there are five different types, with some significant differences, such as a bushingless barrel and magazine disconnect changes. Finding a nice one might cost you a bit, too, but they are very nice pistols and shoot very well. Look up "Colt Model M". Mine is a Type V from 1944.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Read up on them, there are five different types, with some significant differences, such as a bushingless barrel and magazine disconnect changes. Finding a nice one might cost you a bit, too, but they are very nice pistols and shoot very well. Look up "Colt Model M". Mine is a Type V from 1944.
View attachment 1188610

Is there a more elegant pistol than an '03? They show up in noir films, Bonnie Parker had one.
Found mine in a local shop; eventually figured out that it had belonged to a late friend of my Dad's. He'd only shot it New Years Eve, with blackpowder blanks, and the barrel had gone to hell. Found a replacement barrel at a gunshow, and an extra magazine from that run that Colt commissioned, and a fresh recoil spring from Numrich. Great pistol, shoots straight, runs well, invisible sights.
Mine isn't quite as minty as this one.
Moon

 

[TTv2]

If Colt made a 1903 with real sights, it would be on my list to get. The sights is the biggest detraction from the 1903.

 

[Jim Watson]

It has been done, I had good sights put on a Gov’t ,380 for IDPA BUG.
Don‘t muck up a nice one, work on a worn or already refinished gun.

 

[bangswitch]

If Colt made a 1903 with real sights, it would be on my list to get. The sights is the biggest detraction from the 1903.

It doesn't need better sights; it was designed to be used at close enough distances that it really doesn't need a sight at all. Mine belonged to my stepdad. He was a courier during WWII and it was issued to him for concealed carry when he worked in civvies. I've owned it for 24 years, since he passed.

 

[ontarget]

UPDATE:
I found a very clean Beretta 81.
Picked it up today, hope to shoot it on Sunday.
Range report and pics to follow!

 

[halfmoonclip]

If a non traditional pistol is ok, the Vz 61 Skorpion may be the best option for a target shooting .32. Could probably find a mount and put a red dot on it.

Now there is a really novel way to get a magazine-in-front-of-the-grip .32auto. The original sights are nothing to write home about; drilling it for an optic is an idea.
Mine is an SBR, and I replaced the factory open sights with a homebrew aperture.
Moon

 

[Tallball]

If I could only have one 32acp pistol, it would probably be a Beretta 81.

Nice choice. They are fun and easy shooters.

 

[TTv2]

If I could only have one 32acp pistol, it would probably be a Beretta 81.

Nice choice. They are fun and easy shooters.

If I had to choose only one, I would probably go with the Zastava. It points more naturally than the Beretta and feels like the perfect size for a non mousegun .32 pistol. The Beretta is a bit too chunky, but definitely feels smoother.

Being smoother and better fit isn't the end all, be all for a pistol tho.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Thirty-twos are just a treat. There are a lot of interesting older European firearms in that caliber, and frequently of little interest to anyone but enthusiasts. That also can makes them scarce; Walther imported/manufactured far more .380s than .32s. If there are .32 and .380 versions, the .32s are far more pleasant to shoot.
It's also an easy caliber to reload; I had a few stumbles initially (crimping, IIRC). Reloading is a good idea, as factory rounds are often an online proposition. Bullets are cheap and available, and the round is miserly of powder.
Moon

 

[ontarget]

If I had to choose only one, I would probably go with the Zastava. It points more naturally than the Beretta and feels like the perfect size for a non mousegun .32 pistol. The Beretta is a bit too chunky, but definitely feels smoother.

Being smoother and better fit isn't the end all, be all for a pistol tho.

I now have both soooo....
I'll let you know!
I am a big fan of the M9 with its fatter grip and the M81 is similar albeit smaller so I think it will suit me just fine.
The Zastava is very thin but feels good as well.

 

[Rule3]

CZ 82

 

[wesmonster]

Well done OP, I have one if those surplus prison guard Beretta 81s and I was shocked just how new mine was, besides some holster wear on the trigger guard it was as tight as my brand new 92 INOX. A pristine bore.
I also have a police trade in Walther PP in .32, the beretta beats it slightly in accuracy but for me that's due to the beretta's trigger and wider grip. And probably a better bore. When you're talking 50 to 100 year old guns condition is as important as original build quality.

 

[ontarget]

I got it out to the range and put 100 rounds through it.
No problem keeping them in the black but I was hoping to see better groups.
I have an idea though that the problem is more an ammo issue than the gun.
I was shooting Norma FMJs and it sounded like the cheapest bulk 22lr you can get.
Bang, bang, pop, poof, bang.....
Very inconsistent. I thought one was even a squib, but it did exit the barrel.
I will have to find some different ammo before jump to any conclusions.
I was planning to shoot my new 81 next to my Zastava M70, but strangely I couldn't get the M70 to fire....at all!
Super light primer strikes, as in barely visible.
Anyone got any ideas?
It worked just fine the last time I had it out.
I'm going to give it a deep cleaning and see what happens. It was packed with Cosmoline when I got it, and I scrubbed the hell out of it but could have missed some in the hammer module. Wouldn't take much to slow that hammer down enough to cause a light strike with that type of firing pin (inertia type?).

 

[swoter]

If anyone is interested, AIM Surplus has Beretta 81s back in stock.

 

[JERRY]

I don't know what the M81 is going for now but this is my most accurate 32acp.

 

[ontarget]

I tried the pencil down the barrel firing pin test on my M70. Only lifted the pencil an inch or less.
So, I stripped it down, pulled the firing pin, and sure enough, still sticky with Cosmoline. Scrubbed it up, cleaned out the FP channel, lubed it with RemOil, and it launched that pencil 2 feet straight up.
After the retest I hosed the hammer module out with Brake cleaner, and relubed that too. Should be GTG now!

Note to self:
When you think you got all of the Cosmo out of your surplus pistol, strip it and clean it again, cause you didn't get it all.
LOL.

 

[cfullgraf]

A while back I was bitten by the 32 bug. For both revolver and autos.
I currently have a Ruger Single Six in 32 Mag, a Smith and Wesson 32 HE, a Taurus 741 in 32 Mag, and a Zastava M70 in 32 Auto.
I enjoy the 32s alot, so I was thinking about another 32 auto.
My question is, are there any 32 autos that are known to be accurate, or that can be tuned to be accurate?
I will be handloading for it so I can tune a load if necessary. And this will never be a carry gun, just for targets.
Thanks for any suggestions.
If you have one, pics are appreciated too.

Well, you have to define what is "accurate".

Lots of post on target pistols, which will provide small groups in competition settings. But these pistols are not suitable for defense roles.

My Colt 1903 or WWII Walther PP provide adequate grouping at short ranges to be a reasonable self defense gun. But the sights are rudimentary at best.

I have a mid-1980 vintage Colt Mustang (380 ACP) that can ring an 8" steel target at 50 yards with regularity. But it requires careful site placement to hit the gong reliably.

 

[Hugger-4641]

It ain't gonna win any competitions, but my F.E.G. shoots very well. You need good eyes for the small sights,
Basically a PPK clone.

 

[ontarget]

Got the 32 ACPs out again today. Tried the M70 first. It shoots again, so that's good. Had a couple of hiccups but I'm sure they are mag related. I have another mag for it but didn't bring it out since this was more of a function test anyway after the last trips complete failure to fire.

Now, the Beretta 81.
Tried some different ammo and wow, what a difference. I had to stop and check the target because I couldn't see a group developing. With Aguila it was easily shooting 12 rounds into an inch at 10 yards and right on POA.
Then I tried some PPU hollow points (same OAL as the FMJs so no problem with rim lock) that also grouped very well but slightly left of POA.
I'm mighty happy with this Beretta.

Stopped by a small LGS in my travels last week and picked up all of the 32 ACP components they had. Got 150 FMJs and 100 LRNs. Also got 153 148gn DEWCs for my K38.
Been a good week I guess!

 

[wesmonster]

For .32acp Fiocchi is my first choice, feels a bit warmer to me and I've read a thread elsewhere that out of a p-32 Fiocchi crono'd faster than a lot of other budget fmj loads. Although I've also had good luck with S&B and Magtec as well.
Some guns just have a preference, my p-32 shoots Magtec closer to POA than any other brand but it doesn't group the tightest, so with those tiny fixed sights it's still my first choice for putting holes in paper.

 

[whatnickname]

I have two Berettas, Tom Cat and a model 81, a Walther PP and a Manurhin ( Walther PP Clone ). These guns were basically intended to be used at bad breath distances. They are accurate and well made for their intended purpose. But, accuracy with most 32 acp pistols in this class is a relative thing. Nothing wrong with the 32 acp. But if you want guilt-edged target accuracy, you best get ready to shell out $2,800 for a Pardini.

Now all of that said, if I had a vote, I would have Ruger bring out a 32 MKIV upper to fit their MKIV 22 pistol. All it would take is maybe a different bolt, upper and magazine. If that didn’t work then re-design the MKIV to shoot 32 acp exclusively. The darn things would sell like nobody’s business. What I wouldn’t give for one of those in 32 acp!

 

[Walkalong]

For my .32 autos I would set this target out at 40 yards and it was fairly easy keeping the rounds on target with the CZ, the Taurus, or the Beretta.

Not quite as easy with the FN M-1922