What will become of the P32?

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Once the P-3AT is readily available, what will become of the P-32?

The P-32 is essentially the same size and weight, but with one additional round of a signficantly less powerful caliber.

Lets face it -- there is not much of a niche for the P-32 to fill, unless the 3AT is a lot more unpleasant to shoot.

I think a lot of people will want to sell/trade their P-32 to make froom for the 3AT and will find that the market for this gun will be non-existant. Might as well plan on using it for a "spare."
 
What will become of it? Simple. Many who own them now will continue to own them and use a variety of reasons to justify ownership in regard to self defense as they always have. The new .380s will be labelled with having substantial more kick, being difficult or painful to shoot, control issues, and there will no doubt be some reliability issues with the new guns that will probably need to get ironed out. Somewhere along the way, there will become a slight rift in the .380 shooters and the .32 shooters and the .32 will slowly gain the reputation as being more of a lady's gun as it is of the smaller calibers. Male owners of the .32 will continue the mantra of the lethality of the .32 and how they still feel very well protected by it as they always have. Conversely, there will probably be some people who find the .380 version too heavy to carry fully loaded and either will go with the guns not fully loaded or will go to the P32.

I don't think the .380 is going to kill the market for the P32.
 
I'd still prefer the P32 since it has a last shot hold open, and the new 380 doesn't. The extra round is nice too.
 
Once the "bugs" get worked out...

..I'll buy a K-T .380 and I'll keep my perfect P-32. That's what "collecting" is all about. I'll just buy one and dress it up similar to the .32 and have RJ Hedley make a holster for me. This time though, I think I'll try his front pocket model. It looks pretty nice and a new .380 will give me the opportunity to try one out. At least wih RJ's holsters, I won't have to hide my purchase in "The Drawer". I know I'll like it. You may think so already, but you'd be SURE I was "demented" if you looked into "The Drawer Of Unused Holsters" that seemed like a good idea at the time.:D
One thing though. The .380 round sure ought to have less feeding problems with that little rim. Here, the pistol's not even out yet and I'm talking myself into buying one! :p

KR
 
Having just bought my wife a P32, we went to the range last Saturday. I'll post a more detailed range report later, but the main 2 points are:

-- The P32 was 100%
-- My bride, who hasn't shot since her military service 22 years ago is deadly with it.

I've added the +1 mag extension to all her mags, so she's carrying 8 +1 in the pipe, and is VERY competent with that setup.

WHEN I get my P-3AT, if she likes it, I'll get her one.
I can't see messing with the current combination, though.

Mousegun and marginal round or no, I would rather be ANYWHERE than on the wrong end of her sights with a P32. :what:
 
Given that the .32 has approximately the stopping power of a paper wad, whilst the .380 is capable of picking a man up and spinning him around at 300 yards, I'd say it is painfully obvious that the P32 is destined for the ash heap of history.
 
Double Naught Spy,

I agree with everything you said except:

There will probably be some people who find the .380 version too heavy to carry fully loaded and either will go with the guns not fully loaded or will go to the P32.
Click to expand...

I doubt that. Considering it's 9.9 oz. fully loaded compared to the P32's 9.4 oz.

Heck a miniGlock is 27 oz. fully loaded.
 
Matt,

I had breezed over some of the language in the update, thinking it was referring to there being no external slide release--like the P-32. But, upon closer inspection I think you are right -- the 3AT will not lock open on an empty mag.

Although that is not a huge problem -- I certainly prefere having a slide lock. There is no better empty gun indicator if you lose count!

Golgo,

I get your not so subtle point, but I think most people will consider the .380 to be a significantly better round -- especially since hollowpoints and other rounds with a short oal can be used without fear of rimlock.

7+1 rounds of .32 or 6+1 rounds of .380? I take the .380.
 
When the new .380 does come out, it oughta be a really good time to find deals on "slightly used" P32's... Because even though NONE of you will admit it, SOME of you will be dumping those mouse guns to buy a rat gun :D
 
It's hard to make the call right now.

I remember when NAA went from their .32 to .380. You don't hear very much about folks ditching the .32 in favor of the .380.

Of course the Kel Tec may be different. It will be a kicker for sure.

I'm interested to see how they come out. If it's a success then I may get one instead of a PM9.

Good Shooting
RED
 
I'll keep mine, but thanks for the advice.

I recall that the P11 came out a little before the mini-Glocks did. There was a great stampede to buy them, and when the mini-Glocks finally came out as competition... People still bought P11s.

My P32 is a last resort, close and personal weapon. It will remain so.

If I ever plan on "upgunning" from my P32, it certainly won't be for a .380. I'd go straight to 9mm. Perhaps thr Rohrbaugh when it finally comes out.
 
Meant to be silly or not I can see it happening that way. People, right or wrong, tend to always defend and talkup the guns that they own. A P-32 owner will say it's better because of the extra round and less kick. A P-3at owner will say his is better because it's more powerful and won't rimlock. A person likes to feel that they have made the best choice and wants others to feel that way too. It's human nature.
 
Four words-

CAN'T WAIT 'TIL MAY

We really need to keep from hyping this up - that way we won't get the initial, mandatory "gotta have it" gouge the way we did with the P32.

I was lucky enough for Oleg to find me a deal-and-a-half on a chromed P32, back when the blued ones were going for 275$ around here.
 
I'll be keeping my P-32 for a while.... P-3AT may be in my future, but I don't see it happening soon. I've spent too much time on mine (still not saying that given a choice I would pick the P-32 over the P-3AT, just that I like my P-32)
 
Since Kel-Tec has the fortitude not to submit their products to the California Attorney General for abuse, those of us in California will likely be keeping our P32s.

Maybe you could collect them in other states and send them to us? ;)
 
My P-32's not going anywhere. Maybe it won't see as much daylight or get as much pocket time, but it's a keeper.

Maybe it'll be necessary to check serial numbers to tell them apart when saddling up, but that'll be the worst of it.... :D
 
I will keep mine but only because I doubt anyone would buy it now that the .380 is out. Maybe I will give it to my wife. I doubt the .380 will be availiable for at least a year so it has some pocket time left.

Poor P-32.:( I'll miss ya little buddy.:(
 
Double Naught Spy :

.32 shooters and the .32 will slowly gain the reputation as being more of a lady's gun

This is good news! That means maybe my 9mm will no longer be a lady's gun! The veil of shame(a pretty, frilled one) will be lifted!

I also have a P32, as does my wife. If we upgrade the pocket pistols, it will be to a Rohrbaugh 9mm.

Weimadog
 
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