The 32 acp…love it or hate it.

I don't bother with HP in my 380's. If I carried a 32acp I wouldn't, either.

Much easier to just reload the mag with new warm FMJ every once in a while.

As far as I can tell, there's no real consensus on whether HP are worthwhile in those calibers anyway, so I just stick with FMJ.
 
Tallball said:
I don't bother with HP in my 380's. If I carried a 32acp I wouldn't, either.

Much easier to just reload the mag with new warm FMJ every once in a while.

As far as I can tell, there's no real consensus on whether HP are worthwhile in those calibers anyway, so I just stick with FMJ.
Click to expand...
I agree. Sub-calibers benefit more from fmj than hp ammo.
 
Hate is a strong word, meh is better.

A 32ACP, or other small pistol or revolver takes practice for consistent bullseye, target practice. Although a dime shape or snake's head might be too small. :rofl:

What humors me is the thought that most small pistols do not see regular practice, and seem like a waste in terms of confident use (actually hitting the target) when picked up.
 
Maneiak said:
The problem with your theory is that everyone is different, some people do not need to practice, and others will miss when the time comes no matter how much practice they had with the 32acp.
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well, it’s not a theory, practice does indeed make perfect or closer to it. i agree that too many people who buy a firearm don’t practice enough, and view it as a talisman, not a tool. picking up a firearm isn’t the same as picking up a golf club and hitting the white pill, but this difference of opinion does is better served by a new thread.

i rely on a keltec p32 as a deep ccw, because i do practice with it. i know how my p32 functions and its limits in my humble hands. i keep a minimum of 400 rounds of 32acp ammo in my stash at any one time. i shoot it and buy replacement ammo anytime i find it. in fact a reliable, consistent supply of decently-priced 32acp ammo is its biggest drawback.
 
Tallball said:
I don't bother with HP in my 380's. If I carried a 32acp I wouldn't, either.

Much easier to just reload the mag with new warm FMJ every once in a while.

As far as I can tell, there's no real consensus on whether HP are worthwhile in those calibers anyway, so I just stick with FMJ.
Click to expand...

Hollow points in a 380 are iffy when it comes to expansion. Barrel length has everything to do with it. For example, some hollow points will not open up out of a LCP but will out of a Bersa. I always use hollow points in my 380 for CC, if it fails to open up, I still have a blunt faced bullet that will do more damage then a jacketed round nose.
 
Like and use .32 acp. Some world class guns have been made in this long time used caliber. I carried a Seecamp for many years. Tiny yet very potent. The Walther PP is a classic. Perfect round for a great gun. I enjoyed a CZ 83, a very fun gun. My personal favorite may be the Sig P230. I'd carry that gun anytime.
 
Hikingman said:
Hate is a strong word, meh is better.

A 32ACP, or other small pistol or revolver takes practice for consistent bullseye, target practice. Although a dime shape or snake's head might be too small. :rofl:

What humors me is the thought that most small pistols do not see regular practice, and seem like a waste in terms of confident use (actually hitting the target) when picked up.
Click to expand...

That may be true for some but I know six or seven guys that bought one of the Beretta 81’s that were imported a few years back. Most had never owned a 32. All could hit various steel targets with ease due to the accurate fixed sights and the reduced recoil. I have over two dozen handguns in 32acp and most are boringly accurate and much easier on my old hands. I carry 380, 9mm, 38 special, and 327 magnum. I can only hope that these carry pieces were as easy to shoot as the many 32’s I’ve shot.
 
Maneiak said:
Do they make a 9mm in the same size as my LCP2? I really think felt recoil should be the least of your worries if you need to defend yourself, and the 380 is pretty mild and way more potent than a 32acp.
Click to expand...

The older I get, the more hand pain I get. Mostly work related due to decades of wrenching on machinery, but it's starting to affect my strength versus recoil. My last range outing with my Glock 36 one week ago told me I need to seriously look into replacing it with a 9mm.

Not to mention that my Ruger LCP Max is a nasty gun to practice with.

Maneiak said:
The problem with your theory is that everyone is different, some people do not need to practice, and others will miss when the time comes no matter how much practice they had with the 32acp.
Click to expand...

"Some people do not need to practice"

Due to my experience with myself and what I've seen with others, I'm going to have to disagree with that.

Now if they don't want to practice, that's entirely on them.
 
I don't believe I have ever shot a 32 ACP, 380 is the smallest carry pistol I use usually with shorts, baby Glock in 40 cal most every other times
 
I find a Seecamp LWS-32 to be useful, on occasion. Most micro-pistols just do not work for me, but the Seecamp, in spite of being tiny, is something that my hands can manage. There are pistols that are larger than the Seecamp, that I just cannot stabilize in my hand. The Seecamp just works, for me.

To be clear, I am not recommending that anyone adopt a sight-less pocket pistol, as a carry gun.
 
Rexster said:
I find a Seecamp LWS-32 to be useful, on occasion. Most micro-pistols just do not work for me, but the Seecamp, in spite of being tiny, is something that my hands can manage. There are pistols that are larger than the Seecamp, that I just cannot stabilize in my hand. The Seecamp just works, for me.

To be clear, I am not recommending that anyone adopt a sight-less pocket pistol, as a carry gun.
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Glad it worked for you. I got rid of mine. Was too much trouble. Settled on a KelTec P32 as my BUG. Not much bigger than the Seacamp.
 
CapnMac said:
You ought look at the Star and Llama versions, for something of an immediate answer.
But, I agree, it would be spiffy if TISAS built a Commander-size 1911 in 32acp. Or RIA on one of their Baby-Rocks.


I miss this one. Built in 1924. It was a sure shooting firearm.
View attachment 1147943
This one is equally dear, 1915 production. Finish is actually better than in the photo.
View attachment 1147944
Now, "worth a fortune" is very relative. The top one cost me US$225 in 1998, and I managed to get barely US$400 in 2010
The lower one I picked up in 2021 for US$757 (incl Tax), which is right at Fair Market Value for decent condition 1903s.
Click to expand...

One of the all time classic pocket pistols. I had two of them and could still kick myself for trading them away years ago. They went the way of many of the best guns when they became too expensive to manufacture the market hit the top of the price point it would support and the 1903 and 1908 Colts Hammerless pistols went out of production. I family friend sold me a Type II in good condition when I was 18 for $60. Young and stupid I traded it away for a new in the box nickel High Standard Sentinel. Smart move, right?Someone gave me a Type I about 20 years ago that they had disassembled and tried to re-blue with a wire brush and cold blue. I had that one restored including a brand new factory barrel from Numrich that cost 20 bucks. That gun looked exactly the way it did when it left the factory in Hartford. Sold it to a good friend and have regretted ever since.

The four 32 acp pistols I own today are all in excellent condition and highly desirable. I learned my lesson. These are staying right where they are. Although I regret not buying more than one of the Beretta model 81 pistols when they hit the market several years ago! Hand select 95%+ condition for $234.
 
Tallball said:
I don't bother with HP in my 380's. If I carried a 32acp I wouldn't, either.

Much easier to just reload the mag with new warm FMJ every once in a while.

As far as I can tell, there's no real consensus on whether HP are worthwhile in those calibers anyway, so I just stick with FMJ.
Click to expand...
It would be one thing to focus on there not being enough velocity, but there's also the issue of penetration after expansion. Whether it's. 25, 32, or 380 the velocity is suspect and penetration IF there's expansion it's generally not enough.

The solution is a non-expanding defense oriented projectile, which would be along the lines of the Lehigh Defense ammo or for .380 the Inceptor polymer/copper bullet.
 
"32 ACP is like anything else. You either love it or hate it, no real in between."

I don't hate any round...I do like a few more than most, but I've owned one of almost everything.

This discussion is timely for me. I had a KT P32 years ago. My buddy and his wife came to visit and we went shooting (her first time).
She was/is diminutive, probably 4'9" maybe 90 lbs and (now) 60 y.o.
She shot a .22 Ruger MkII reasonably well, but anything centerfire caused anxiety and poor results...also, no desire to continue.
Until I handed her the P32--it was magical. I gifted it to her.
Saw her recently and we went shooting again. She still loves the P32.
And now I'm thinking of buying another one....perhaps one day soon I'll be too feeble to handle anything more powerful. :)
 
1st rule of gunfighting: Always have a GUN !
2nd rule: Always have a gun!
3rd. Never take only a knife expecting a gunfight!
4. Always have a Knife!
5. The best gun to have in a gunfight is the one you’ve got!
Last: Shot placement, shot placement, shot placement!!!

The gun I’ve always got is my Keltec P32. But often times, it’s NOT the only Gun I have…
It just so happens I can hit bottle caps at 7yds with the .32. It’s enough gun! As long as I don’t need one!
 
I'm in the like it camp. However, I like .32s in general, especially .32 S&W Long and H&R Magnum. I have a burning desire for a S&W Hand Ejector in .32-20 as well.

The one .32 Auto I have is a Beretta 81, one of the batch that came in around 5 years ago. Very nice gun to shoot and I had my 18 y/o daughter shoot it a few weeks ago, and she did well with it. If I were ever to carry it for defense I'd load it with Euro-spec hardball.

One of these days I'll pick up a Keltec P32. I have a Ruger LCP in .380 and it's miserable to shoot because of the recoil. I've actually emailed Ruger and asked them to bring out the LCP or LCP II in .32 ACP. In the meantime I bought an LCP II Lite Rack in .22LR and will load it with Mini Mags or Stingers for when I need a mouse gun.
 
For discrete carry with minimal recoil the .32acp and. 32 Long are great calibers. If a bigger gun or more recoil is of no concern you can move up in caliber/power. However many people are finding or rediscovering the .32 caliber.

Rimfire is best left for training and varmints.
 
As the late [THR Member] Jeff Quinn said,..."nobody wants extra holes in their bodies", or something like that.
So, I love it!
 
Jim Watson said:
.32 ACP (and SWL) is almost an empty niche.
People settle for snappy .380s, .38 wadcutters, and .22s when a medium .32 would serve better.
Click to expand...


This. Exactly this.
I skipped .380 in my stash of cartridges for that reason.
If I want a 9mm, I want a "real" 9mm.
One day, if I never find a CZ83 in .32, I'll settle on a .380 but till then I stay with .32

.32 is perfect between .22 and .355/9MM.
 
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