Seecamp vs. Kel-Tec P32

[alamo]

I don't know about that, I've read plenty of stories about Guardians going back to the factory and reports of excellent NAA customer service just like KT. I don't know how many Guardians have been produced but KT has now made 100,000 P-32s in just 3 years. With that many out there, there will be more reports of some needing service.

I had a Seecamp that was unreliable & had many problems. Not knocking it though, it is a great gun but not all are 100% just like any other. I think some people think the P-32 is "cheap" because it is mostly polymer and doesn't feel as "solid" as an all steel Guardian or Seecamp. I've got 2 Autauga .32s which are great little guns as well.

 

[guy sajer]

I guess it's a matter of interpretation . 10,000 rounds is a whole lot of rounds from a belly gun whether it be a Smith Chief .38 or a 10oz .32 pistol .

I see that you are in Indiana cratz2 . I'm in Ohio just north of Dayton . Please feel free to stop in our gun shop ( I'm sincere on this) and drop my Seecamp in your front pocket . You will be surprised . It disappears .


Mitch

www.oldeenglishoutfitters.com

 

[GeorgeH]

I own 3 Seecamps. One 25ACP and two 32ACP. I also own a Guardian 380 and a Guardian 32.

The Seecamp's are a jewel. They have no life expectancy. The 380 will need new recoil springs after 1000 and the gun will wear out, but it will take more than 3,000 rounds to do it.

Overall, I think the NAA products are superior. I carry the G380 every day in a Ron Graham rear pocket holster.

As to Seecamps and ammo. If your Seecamp has a SN in excess of 30,500 then it can use virtually everything except FMJ or Federal hollowpoints. If the SN is under 30,500 then it is recommended that you feed it Silvertips.

 

[mini14jac]

When I heard about the Seecamp years ago, I wanted one.
Couldn't find one.
Then, I saw a used one for $500.
No thanks.

I got a Guardian. Lousy trigger, too heavy, reliability problems, ammo sensitive.
Gone.

Now we've got two P32s.
I don't carry mine as often, since I got a PM9, but if I'm just tooling around in my Speedos, sandals, and black socks, then I'm packing my P32.

 

[Oleg Volk]

Just bought my third P32. First two gifted to close friends. Third one proved 100% reliable (only put about 90 rounds through it so far tough), fit and finish are better than earlier examples and accuracy is decent (3" at 10m). Nice backup.

 

[yzguy]

Lots of peoople posting about P32s breaking. You just don't hear many stories about Guardians and Seecamps breaking.

I have not gone looking for stories of Guardians and Seecamps breaking, but have still heard them. True I have heard more from the P-32's but that is probably due to the fact that I visit the http:\\www.ktog.com board a lot and not a Guardian or Seecamp board, and also probably because (I'm pretty sure) that there are more P-32's out there than the other 2, so the % of failures is the important part not just the number...

 

[BHP9]

I have a .32 seecamp and it functions with both silvertips and with reloads using hornady hollow points and red dot powder. I will have to check the serial no. today. The weapon has never failed to fire or feed or eject. It is first class old fashion high quality all the way. True, it is a bit heavier than a plastic pistol but it bothers me not a wit.

Although I do not like double action only pistols and it may seem strange to all that I chose to buy and carry this weapon, it was chosen for quality, reliability and rust resistance and safety of carry. Since it fullfills all those functions I give it a big thumbs up.

 

[Joe Demko]

P-32 was a waste of money. Couple trips back to KT. Additonal money to get the chromed barrel and slide, which were supposedly going to correct some of the reliablility issues (but didn't). It was cheap to start, but the additional expenditures have made it considerably less of a "bargain." I'd have been better served to spend the money on ammo for one of my other guns. My P-32 isn't the only one, either. I have 1st hand experience with 2 more that were junk as well.

 

[Blackhawk]

Golgo,

Not to worry.

I'll buy all your junk Kel Tecs for junk prices.

I've never heard anybody claim that the $20 hard chrome option had anything to do with reliability. Who told you that?

 

[cratz2]

Thanks for the offer, Mitch, but I'll pass for now. Would like to stop by your shop sometime though. Knowing your predeliction to 1911s, I'm sure your shop would be right up my alley, if my alley was in Ohio... And I certainly didn't mean it as a slight against the Seecamp - more of a weight comparison. Without regards to which 32 is prefered, the P32 is still MUCH lighter than the very finely built Seecamp or Guardian.

As with Oleg, I've bought two others as gifts for family once they saw mine and felt compelled to put 200 rounds through each of them. In 600 rounds of ball ammo in my own P32 and the 200 each through the other two, I've never had a failure of any kind. I've also put roughly 50 rounds each of Gold Dots and Silvertips with no failures.

My major complaint with the P32 is the plastic trigger. I would much prefer a metal trigger and that would probably go a long way to improving its preceived quality with 'gun snobs' such as myself.

And for the record, I wonder how many people have actually put 10,000 rounds through their Seecamp. Anyone that puts 10,000 rounds through a very small handgun in a few years is involved enough in guns to easily and willingly replace a gun with 10,000 rounds through it.

 

[Big Al]

My vote goes for the P32.

 

[tatters]

I chose the P-32 when I wanted a tiny gun. My trigger bar disconnected, and I sent it back to KelTec. They fixed it in a flash.

One of my customers bought consecutive serial numbered Seecamps and waited 2 years to get them.