Your go to semi and a ?

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Tropical Z

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Currently, i use a Kel-Tec P32 in my bedroom because it fits where i need it to fit.Heres my issue.
1.I dont leave a round in the chamber and when i take the gun out to shoot it or examine it i like to dry fire it when i put it back in its resting place.Unfortunately Kel-Tec says not to dry fire their guns.I dry fire it after making sure the chamber is empty and then insert its loaded mag.I guess i could get a .32acp snapcap and leave it in the chamber after dry firing,but i would prefer not to do that as i would want to feed it from the mag to insure no future malfunction if i need the gun quickly.Im thinking i should just do the old "slide a pencil in the barrel eraser first" trick and dry fire and remove.I just need to figure out how far to insert the pencil to absorb the firing pin energy without causing possible damage.Is this a viable plan?
 
You are going to have a ND if you dryfire with the ammunition in the vicinity of where you dryfire, it is not if it is WHEN. With the loaded magazine in the pistol you are certain to have a ND sooner or later.

Get the ammo well clear of your practice area.

The ONLY way to safely dryfire a gun that the manufacturer forbids dryfiring in is to use a snapcap. No two ways about it, you need the snapcap.
 
When manufacturers say "don't dry fire" a particular firearm they usually have a good reason. I suspect in this case dry firing can damage the firing pin or striker. I suggest that you contact the maker and ask them, "exactly why shouldn't this pistol be dry fired?" After receiving an answer you could go from there.

As a rule, I don't dry fire any firearm unless something, a snap-cap or empty cartridge case - is in the chamber. This would be especially true of anything used as a defensive weapon. If you continue to dry fire your little gun as you are, it may not work when you need it.
 
Is your intent to have the hammer spring released completely? I think you are concerned over nothing. Modern springs will retain strength for years, and in a cocked position it is only extended half way. If this is your concern, maybe make a call to Kel tec and buy some main springs and change it out every year?

Is your concern to make it harder to chamber a round for children because of having the hammer down? Secure your pistol better, or seperate gun and ammo!

I do have a P32, and I did have a hammer spring break. A telephone call to kel tec and I had one in 48 hours with no charge. Mine fractured where the bend started at the lower end of the spring. If yours breaks you will know immediately. It will rattle when you pick it up (the hammer will flop around).

If you are going to do this, I suggest either an empty casing under the hammer, or a snap cap. The reason for not dry firing is the thin area in the middle of the firing pin. When you fire on an empty chamber the pin flies forward, and is stopped in the center, with the weight of the forward half of the pin pulling against the weakest portion of the pin. The pin is designed to push, not to be pulled.

P.S. I love my P32:D
 
If i use a snap cap by manually placing it in the chamber and dry fire the gun,leaving the snap cap in it-will it properly extract the snap cap and chamber a live round when i need it to?
 
Don't dry fire it.

(I guess) If you had to use it, it would be across the room so why do you need to practice dry firing.

You probably have your own good reason for having an empty chamber but I wouldn't have a defense gun that isn't ready to fire.

Lastly, I like the Kel Tec 32. I've got the 32, 380 amd 9mm/40cal but they aren't the best "house guns". (the 380 is my pocket gun)

Think about waking up at 2am with someone in the house, maybe armed with a 9mm or 45 and you have a 32. You might even stop him with that 32 but he may have 32 holes and you have 45 holes.

Isn't there some way you can put to use a bigger gun house gun?;)
 
I quiver every time I pull a trigger on an empty firearm. I was trained that all guns are loaded. If you choose to use that method, I do not think it will damage the firing pin, as long as there is sufficient pressure on the pencil to absorb the firing pin energy. IF I was to use that method, I think I would cut a pencil to a length that I would instantly know if there was a round in the chamber, maybe 1/8 inch protruding from muzzle? and when I fired it, I would have it against the dresser or bed frame, instead of having my finger in front of the muzzle. I do not think the weight of the pencil itself will provide enough resistance.

I think kel tec engineers considered spring life when they designed this pistol to be at an "eternal half cock" condition. What is your concern about?
 
The pencil idea is a questionable method. I agree with others who say keep it ready to shoot and get the dry fire thing out of your head, or you will have an ND eventually. Do your dry firing as a special deal where you sit down and deliberately clear the gun and get the ammo away from this area, and use snap caps:D ......tom
ps....let us know what KT says.....
 
This is a discussion about nothing. I talked to a keltec tech a long time and he said they dry fire them all day long and not to worry about it. A pencil (eraser end) is a way of determining if the firing pin goes through the hole. The pencil will jump a few inches or feet something a snap cap won't do. After reassembling a gun one time it looked and functioned normal except the firing pin wouldn't dent the primer. Sometimes I use a pencil eraser end to test. It's one thing for the safety to work and the hammer works and it feeds but I like to check the "bang" if it's been disassembled and it will be awhile before I can get to the range.
 
My concern is leaving it cocked.
Click to expand...
I don't own a P32, but I do own a P11.

Isn't the P32 of the same action design as the P11, just a lil' smaller?

And isn't the trigger DAO?

Why would you need to decock the gun? It should already be decocked. No Kel-Tec I've ever known needs to be decocked.

esheato...
 
The P11 is a true double action. The P32 is not, it has the hammer left at half cock. You can pull the trigger on the P11 again without working the slide. With the P32 you have to rack the slide before the hammer will operate a second time.
 
My P-32 is SN 12xxx and it's been loaded and cocked for years. I don't think I'd worry about decocking one of them.

I know the factory used to say not to dry fire them. I'd get up and go look at the manual, but I'm comfortable.

John
 
The P11 is a true double action. The P32 is not, it has the hammer left at half cock. You can pull the trigger on the P11 again without working the slide. With the P32 you have to rack the slide before the hammer will operate a second time.
Click to expand...

Ahh...I learn something everyday.

Ignore my post then. ;)

Thanks for the info.

esheato...
 
Tropical,
My wife's P32 is carried in her purse in a Uncle Mike's #1 pocket holster with a fully charged mag AND a round in the chamber. I'm not sure what you are asking, but to dry fire a Kel-Tec, you need to load a snap cap. As touching the live round in the chamber issue, as long as you keep yer friggin finger off the trigger, you should have no problem!!
Question. Why don't you use your beloved Hi-Point for this?? :rolleyes:
Certainly, the 9mm would provide you with the added "omph" when it would be so desparately needed??? :confused:
 
My Hi-Point would clearly be the superior weapon for home defense but its just too big for where i need it to be.Im just gonna leave the P32 at half-cock.Ill still call Kel-Tec and see what they say.
 
Why not get a Glock? Sounds like it has the same manual of arms, and you can dry-fire it withought damaging the gun.

It has the added plus of being a more reliable gun that your life may depend on.

I would not fart around with pencils and my hands infront of the barrel, with any gun.
 
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