Shot a P-32 today... Want one bad...

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goon

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My experience with the P3AT was not really all that positive. I am not an expert handgunner but I have shot thousands of rounds in the past few years out of various 9mm's, .45 ACP's, .357's, .38 Specials, and a 45 Colt. I have had few problems with any of them but that P3AT was the most unpleasant gun to shoot that I have ever fired.

Whole different story with the P-32. I shot a friend's today and I found it to be an utterly enjoyable gun to shoot. Mild recoiling and controllable and pretty accurate for what it was. I was able to make consistent hits on milk jugs at about 10 yards alternating back and forth between them just about as fast as I could aim and fire. This was after only a few rounds of practice.
After I finished cursing him (because I can't really afford another gun), I thanked him.
Now I gotta get one.
 
Everytime I look at one, it just doesn't impress me. I wouldn't feel confident that I had a "real" weapon that could hit anything anyways or worked when I needed it to.
 
I love the P32 also. Although, I didn't find the P3AT that bad to shoot. My GP100 and my 357mag handloads are more unpleasant IMO...
 
Get a P32 for practice and a P3AT to carry in case you actually need to use it you'll be thankful for the extra power, but it won't be cheaper practice.

As a range only gun both are terrible due to poor sights and ammo costs. generally .32 ammo costs more than .380 ammo which in turn is $1+ a box more than 9mm ammo.

--wally.
 
Hmm - I certainly wouldn't consider my P3AT more comfortable to shoot than my GP100, even with the hottest of .357 handloads. In fact, it's probably the gun I like least to shoot. But it's just so easy to carry, and it's actually reasonable accurate and reliable. It's a tool in the most basic sense of the term.
 
I've never understood the complaints about the comfort of the P32/P3AT. The recoil is sharp, but it isn't painful to me. OTOH, my 180gr@1250fps 357mag load is painful to shoot after 20 rounds or so (4" barrel, Hogue wood grips). It's fun for long distance shooting, but still not as easy to shoot as the P32/P3AT IMO.

Just illustrates the anatomical differences between people I suppose.

Chris
 
I shot about 25 or so rounds through a P3AT before and that was enough. I don't know what it was about it but it just wouldn't work right in my hand. The recoil itself wasn't so bad but I just couldn't seem to control it with my hand. The gun would sort of try to turn to the side with every shot. You would think that I would have had the same trouble with the P-32 but I don't. IIRC, it is actually just a hare smaller but the lesser recoil really improves the shootability for me. The 380 is a little more powerful and more power really isn't ever a bad thing but I wouldn't feel comfortable trying to defend myself with a gun that I just plain can't shoot.
I wouldn't have a problem with using a P-32 at the across the tabletop type distance that it was made for and even a little farther than that after I had some practice with it. The .32 is a lesser round but I am thinking that a few of them in the chest would be a pretty good way to explain to someone that you weren't going to just let them kill you.

As they say, any gun is better than no gun at all.
 
I will be flamed for this, but the .32 is plenty.
I wouldn't raid a crack house with it, but taking your wife to dinner downtown at night, you are protected.

Up to 9 rounds can be carried in the P32 (don't use the 10rd mags except for range work--not reliable).

In the event you have to pull it out, the introduction of a gun is highly likely to stop the aggressor.
If it doesn't, plan to aim COM and shoot to lockback.

Regards,
FM
 
P-32?

I've several hundred rounds through my P-32 - Corbon, WW hardball and my carry load of the 65 gr Fed Hydra-Shoks - NO PROBLEMS whatsoever. No FTF/FTE rimlock, misc jams - nothing. I sure can't say that about some of my other pistols (even my G19).

Its also extremely fun to practice with - and accurate out to 7yds. For close in work, REAL accurate (I daubed some yello modelling paint on my front and rear sights to improve quick aquisition of site picture). The only downside is the ammo price does kinda suck versus .380 (by $ 2 per box) and even worse versus 9mm (by almost $ 7). But it is easy to burn 100-150 rounds through a range practice session without your hand screaming at you.


I suspect you give up very little going with the .32ACP over the .380ACP in barrels of similiar length (short) from the 32/3AT. Didn't John Browning carry a .32ACP as his SD piece inn his later years?

Yeah, I wouldn't want to face down 3-5 determined opponents in a shootout. But for ease of carrying in a low threat environment its REAL tough to beat!
 
KelTec P32

I almost bought a P32, but got the P3AT instead. I have put a little over 1000 rounds through it with no problems. I liked the little KelTec so much that I bought a second P3AT. I have put about 800 rounds though the second one without any problems. The only ammo that I find unpleasent to shoot is the Spanish Santa Barbara. For me the P3AT is very accurate and reliable. It is the best "always" carry gun I have found. However, if I couldn't have a P3AT or felt it's recoil was too much, I'd carry the P32.

Best regards.
 
I have a Kel-Tec P32, no problems in several hundred rounds fired other than one rimlock and that was the fault of my own carelessness when loading a magazine.
I like the .32 acp over the .380 mainly because of the slide lock.
My training dictates shooting the gun dry and speed reloading if the bad guy doesn't immediately fall down and little calibers won't guarantee first shot fall down.
If two magazines don't get the job done my training dictates that I exit stage left as fast as my little feetsies can move me.
 
32ACP + extra magazine = You Should Be Carrying A Bigger Gun Instead!

The same can be said of the .380.
Even of the .45 ACP and .357.

I would rather have a 12 gauge pump or my AK than any handgun if I knew I was going to a fight, but I can't carry them around with me all the time.
 
The same can be said of the .380.
Even of the .45 ACP and .357.
Click to expand...

Won't disagree.!

Don't see much point to carry an extra handgun mag, would be better off with a bigger gun for the same total weight and volume. Police have different needs than CHL holders.

I always carry the biggest gun I can hide and almost never carry an extra mag.

Self-defense reloads is pretty much hollywood fantasy for citizens -- if TSHTF, one handgun or the eqiv weight in extra mags for the rifle or rounds for the shotgun? Tough choice, better discused in another forum.

If you can tolerate the extra ammo costs more than the extra recoil, makes sense to me to have a P32 for practice and a P3AT to carry. I ended up this way as I quickly bought a P32 to replace the .25ACP that had been my better than nothing gun, and the P32 was replaced by the P3AT as soon as I saw one.

--wally.
 
P-3AT: sort of a P32 on steroids....

I put 1,000 rounds through my P32 with flawless function. I traded it in on a P-3AT and found recoil to be brisk but not unpleasant.

Two things helped both accuracy and handling: the Bersa pinkie extension and my home-made "handall." (bicycle tubing) That checkering can get rough after a few rounds.

Finally a gun that goes anywhere in anything I wear.
 
I/we have several P-32s & P-3ATs. I recommend installing a NAA finger extension on an extra magazine to see if improves control and makes range time more fun. Oh, the wife thinks they are cute and wants one to match every purse :)
p32pbwnaa.gif
 
The pinkie extension might help alot. Does it fit as it is or do you have to modify it?
I did put a P-32 on hold the other day and I am going to officially put it on layaway this week.

I will also agree that it is best to carry the biggest gun that you can reasonably conceal. I have tried to make a couple J-frames my "little gun" but I could never conceal them right. I have found that for some reason they don't even carry as well for me as my SIG. I can't see having that problem with a P-32.
 
Nah ya dont gotta modify it..

Jframe problems?? Blame the cylinder...When clothes shopping for a pair of pants so ya can conceal pocket holster with a J-frame in it, keep repeating the following..."OLD NAYY AND DOCKERS ARE MY FRIEND" say that over and over again.. :neener:
 
".32ACP + extra magazine = You Should Be Carrying A Bigger Gun Instead!"

Uh, well, with the belt clip and the extra mag slid right into the front change pocket where it fits perfectly, carry does not get much more habitual, concealed and convienent then this. Even with an extra mag, my P.32 is a lot lighter and slimmer then much else out there.
 

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Wilson, Wilson. "chunky"? "Slim, stylish"? I know, from following the KTOG forum in the past, that you prefer the NAA extension. But "retro"? Some of us P32'ers like the feel of the Bersas; and a few of us- me included- find "chunky" to be, well, kind of all right! Maybe because that's my shape?

Chuck
 
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