New 32 & 25 ACP Handguns?

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If .30 SC takes off, that’s the only real hope for sub .380 auto loading pistols in the future. IMO.

Newly made .32 ACP auto pistols are clearly on the way out. No matter that locked breech .32 ACP pistols would be a fantastic option for my wife and daughters. Apparently the percentage of women that carry (and want something softer shooting than a locked breech .380 ACP) is so small that serving that market isn’t worth the effort. Same goes for men folk, it would appear.
 
This thread is making me want to shoot these Milfords.
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My wife wanted a Kel Tec .32, once upon a time, so, we bought one. Neither of us liked shooting the tiny thing. In my case, it wanted to squirm in my grasp, as I pulled the trigger. Just too small, and not sufficiently grip-able.
Curious, is the Keltec .32 the same size as their .380/LCP?
 
[QUOTE="sgt127, ] There’s just not enough demand for the pocket .32’s and .25’s for any major manufacturer to start on them now. [/QUOTE]

Why would anyone want a new one with so many high quality old school guns out there? I have a lot of 32s and 25s in the collection. My EDC was a PPK in 32 but now that I'm completely retired this one gets the most belt time.

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I carried a WALTHER PPK in 7.65m.m. or as we call it, .32ACP for several years as my off duty gun. It replaced the 5 shot .38 Special revolvers that I had been using. I choose it because I wanted to carry a semi-auto pistol as my service gun was a BERETTA 96. The PPK fit in my pocket without printing and proved completely reliable and was capable of decent accuracy. I replaced in with a GLOCK 42 in .380ACP, which was similar in size, but thinner and lighter. Also, it would not rust and had much better sights.

I have also carried a BERETTA .32ACP Tomcat on occasion and gave one to my wife. She has trouble retracting slides, so the tip-up barrel was perfect for her. I also like that feature, but I found that the Tomcat was a very reliable, easy to shoot gun, despite its small size. It is barely larger than most .25ACP pistols. Until S&W brought out their EZ pistol in .380ACP, I thought that I might end up going back to the Tomcat, when I got older and had problems retracting the slide.

I have a NAA .32ACP Guardian, which is all steel and as heavy as the Tomcat, but more compact. I thought it would make a great really deep concealment piece, but it is a hard pistol to shoot. A 50 round shooting session leaves my hand hurting because of the small size of the grip. The BERETTA was much better.
I tried a KEL TEC, but it jammed and I lost faith in it.

I have owned several other .32ACP pistols and would not hesitate to use them if that is all I had. I would practice the failure to stop drill my agency used for many years. I would also try to limit my shots to closer range than when I have a 9m.m.
I much prefer a 9m.m. loaded with FEDERAL HST or even a .40 S&W, but you do not always have the choice. Except for my SIG 365, I cannot pocket carry any of my 9m.m. pistols and the SIG 365 is not nearly as easy to shoot as my BERETTA, SIG or STOEGER.

Jim
 
lincen

I must say you have an awesome collection of pocket autos! Love all of the Berettas, the Star DKL Starfire, and the Baby Browning!
 
A late '50's CZ Model and a mid '80's Bertta 81 double stack. Both in .32 APC. When I wear long pants, which ain't often, I will occasionally pocket carry the CZ when walking the dogs to the creek. I attempted to use the Beretta as an EDC but couldn't find a decent holster plus with a full magazine it's a bit more heavy on the hip than I care for. Both are great shooters though.

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Why would anyone want a new one with so many high quality old school guns out there? I have a lot of 32s and 25s in the collection. My EDC was a PPK in 32 but now that I'm completely retired this one gets the most belt time.

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I hate you. (Not really). When those came out, I bought the .22 LR version. Utterly miserable. Totally unreliable. Traded it off. Should have bought a .25 when they were still available. But, I was kinda ticked off.

Fast forward 35-40 years, I bought the re introduced Seecamp .25. Great little gun.

Found this a few years ago. The Stainless .32’s are tough to find. All my Walthers are in the proper chambering. 7.65.

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I think a .25 has a place, as a surefire alternative to .22lr for those who need or want something very low recoil. I wish there were some modern .25s with all the advancements we have made in polymer, decent sights, etc. Taurus may make a couple… We also need some loads that are really optimized for the .25 and a very short barrel.

I know a lot of girlfriends/wives who honestly have no interest in guns but would happily shoot a .22, and would probably carry and learn how to shoot a .25 if that were a realistic option.

I think .32 is tougher… I love the round myself but it’s just so difficult to grab for carry when the .380 exists and is unquestionably better. I wish .32s were more popular for recreation. It’s about perfect for the range. Low recoil but the excitement of centerfire.
 
Curious, is the Keltec .32 the same size as their .380/LCP?

I bought a Kel-Tec .380, sight unseen, because some gun writer asserted that it was larger than the .32, and I wanted something larger than my wife’s Kel-Tec .32. Well, I did not use calipers, but just eyeballing, after I received it, the darned thing seemed to be exactly the same size, and it certainly squirmed in my grasp, just as badly, when I dry-fired it, so, I did not keep it. If anything, the .380 was just fractionally wider, across the grip width. A colleague offered the exact price I had paid for it, including the sales tax I had paid, so I did not lose anything. (This was when there was still a waiting list.)
 
Unlike some of its little brothers the 25 TPH is extremely reliable. It also turned out to be a pretty good investment. It's my only US made Walther although I would pick up a 32 Ranger if I saw one at a reasonable price.

As to the effectiveness of .25 as a defensive weapon, while I wouldn't want to use it in a gunfight it is very effective when used as intended. When stuck in an eye socket or junk aggressors they tend to stop their bad behavior. For all the talk of the rounds lack of power absolutely nobody wants to get shot with one
 
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I know a lot of girlfriends/wives who honestly have no interest in guns but would happily shoot a .22, and would probably carry and learn how to shoot a .25 if that were a realistic option.

You might really be onto something with that line of thought. I think even .38spl and .380 is a lil more snappy and loud than alot of people want to bother with, for the sake of your comment, women specifically. The .25 and .32 are very tame in terms of noise and recoil and I imagine if there were better options out there in those cartridges more women would carry and shoot, and shoot well. Anything decent in those cartridges are collectible and expensive and nobody wants to give their special lady a Lorcin or Dewy, Cheatham & Howe Saturday night special..... I'm just not convinced that the .25 is favorable over the .22lr but at least in the case of the .32 with better more potent loads, it could possibly make a comeback. Same with the S&W 642, if S&W made a series of Airweights in .32 cal they could be pretty popular too
 
I know many members enjoy their LCPs and similar sized 380 carry guns. Ruger introduced a 22lr version a few years ago withsome popularity.

Would you buy one of the small polymer pistols in 32 or 25 acp?

Nothing against the little Keltec 32 accept that I don't see them in gun shops.
Yes I would. .32 acp I think is the perfect round for micro handguns.
 
Yes I would. .32 acp I think is the perfect round for micro handguns.
Thanks for the response. The thread got off track a little, like many threads. I like seeing the old 32 & 25's, so it's ok.
The primary question was if members would buy a LCP of similar pocket gun if offered in a 32 or 25. I appreciate the comments about the new 30. I don't think I would buy one.
I would like a P32, but would only buy one for normal price.
 
Thanks for the response. The thread got off track a little, like many threads. I like seeing the old 32 & 25's, so it's ok.
The primary question was if members would buy a LCP of similar pocket gun if offered in a 32 or 25. I appreciate the comments about the new 30. I don't think I would buy one.
I would like a P32, but would only buy one for normal price.
Right. Honestly .380 is too much for a lot of people in micro polymer handguns. I don’t mind it, but many do. A .32 acp LCP, Bodyguard, or P32 is about right. I’d like a p32 as well but have only seen one once in person new for $299.
 
Thanks for the response. The thread got off track a little, like many threads. I like seeing the old 32 & 25's, so it's ok.
The primary question was if members would buy a LCP of similar pocket gun if offered in a 32 or 25. I appreciate the comments about the new 30. I don't think I would buy one.
I would like a P32, but would only buy one for normal price.

I certainly would buy an LCP or similar if it were in either 32 or 25. I did buy the one in 22lr. Also bought a Beretta Pico in hopes someone would make a 32acp barrel and kit for it………
 
The only advantage a 25ACP has over a 22 is the fact that it's a center fired round instead of a rim fire that's a bit less reliable.
I like my 25's & 32's a lot & change my focus when shooting them to work on head shots rather than COM.
I feel pretty confident that emptying 9 rounds of 25acp (Beretta Jetfire) into a bad guys face would discourage further aggression. I do carry them on occasion, sometimes as a BUG or sometimes alone depending on situation. I fully acknowledge & accept their ballistic shortcomings.
I understand a manufacturer not wanting to produce a pistol for calibers that aren't readily available.
 
I don't use 32acp for SD handguns, but I wouldn't feel unarmed with a P32 in my pocket. Way better than nothing.

I wouldn't feel unarmed with the Beretta 81 for HD, either. It's a very nice shooter and holds 12 or so rounds.

You don't want to be that guy who doesn't own a 25acp pistol. I got this old Star because I thought it was kind of cool. It's from the 50's, IIRC. It goes bang every time, but I can't hit anything with it.



 
The fact that lots and lots of half century to near century old 7.65 and 6.35 pistols get bought and often for prices higher than many modern micro pistols is an indication that there still is a market for such things. And all the design and much of the testing has been done for all those critters and any prior patents are likely simply history. Modern materials and CNC production methods should allow fairly rapid development and deployment as opposed to starting with a clean sheet.

We can see that with the proliferation of modern examples based on truly ancient designs like the 1911 and P35. We see sales of modern built PPKs and PPK/s. And in addition there are already a host of modern micro pistols that with only slight modification could transition to 32acp or even 25acp. If S&W offered the Bodyguard in 32acp or Remington offered an RM765 or Tisas present a copy of the 1903 I'd camp out front of the LGS to be first in line when the doors opened.
 
I don't use 32acp for SD handguns, but I wouldn't feel unarmed with a P32 in my pocket. Way better than nothing.

I wouldn't feel unarmed with the Beretta 81 for HD, either. It's a very nice shooter and holds 12 or so rounds.

You don't want to be that guy who doesn't own a 25acp pistol. I got this old Star because I thought it was kind of cool. It's from the 50's, IIRC. It goes bang every time, but I can't hit anything with it.



Nice, I have a beretta tomcat in .32 acp. I’d like a .25 acp just for the hell of it. Keyboard warriors be damned :neener:
 
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