P32 slide crack

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blue32

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Something to keep an eye on if you shoot a Kel-Tec P32 with any regularity.
My slide cracked opposite of the ejection port. Looks like there was another fracture forward of that area. This occurred while shooting. On the other hand I don't feel so bad about not being able to keep it on paper most of the time today. Load was RCBS 32-77-RN over 2.2 gr. W231. I wasn't keeping an exact round count on this pistol but I know it was less than 3,000. Gen 2, Serial CTL prefix. Chamber and barrel appear fine. I suppose it was metal fatigue.

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<<Edit: Changed 'frame' to 'slide'.>>
 

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Wow, I've never seen a slide crack on a P32 before. I guess any firearm can fail. That's certainly something we should keep our eyes on.
Thanks for the head's-up!
 
Thanks for the post. Any idea what FPS the 77 grn was? Good no one was hurt and those cost under 200. I haven’t heard of frame cracks on p32 either.
 
They'll send you a slide, I bet. Kel-Tec has always helped me out with any problems I've had with their products. Even when the problem was my fault, like when I lost the guide rod due to removing it improperly.
 
Edit: slide crack. I can't find my chrono notes but I believe I had them right at 850 fps from that gun, 930 fps from a Colt 1903.
 
Edit: slide crack. I can't find my chrono notes but I believe I had them right at 850 fps from that gun, 930 fps from a Colt 1903.
That’s not too hot. Let us know what kel tec says if you send it in. They are a a pocket gun that’s actually a joy to shoot despite the size.
 
I think I have mine about 10 years not and I do shoot it. I have not heard of the slide cracking either. Unfortunately I have no idea how many rounds through mine.
 
I once had an FEG pistol's extractor explode. FEG uses good metal, and manufacturing, the part itself was well finished. The failure was at around 300 rounds, and I suspect it was from a forging void. Its possible this KelTec had a defect beyond the manufacturers control, so I wouldn't worry to much.
 
I had a Beretta TomCat do that. Also an Excam BTA-90 in 9mm.
Typically it’s due to either a metallurgical or heat treating problem.
Beretta sent me a new gun, Excam replaced the slide, and did a marvelous trigger job.

I suggest that your load is a bit warm. I use 1.9 gr with the Lyman 78gr RN
analog to your bullet. Runs about 775fps.

Kel-Tec will likely repair your pistol, but I’d not mention shooting reloads. My Beretta cracked shooting the HOT Fiocchi 60gr JHP’s and 73gr FMJ. The FMJ’s run 855fps from the TomCat, about 800from the Kel-Tec. I’ve probably only shot it 1,000rds, but 95%+ reloads.
BTW, it really likes the Lee 90gr SWC-TL over 1.6gr of Bullseye.

I carry it with 60gr XTP’s over 2.7gr of #231. In pocket holster, almost daily. It’s astonishingly accurate. POI/POA @ 7yds. Bottle cap size groups.
I sold the “new” Beretta unfired.
 
I got to tell you, I used to think that modern metals were the closest thing to perfection, but I am learning, while on average they are much better than they have ever been, metal makers still ship defective products.

Kobe Steel is a particularly bad example.I referenced several articles on the decades old fraud at Kobe Steel.

Remington: Partial summer shutdown at their plants

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017...r-company-faked-data-decades-had-fraud-manual

Incidentally I thought customers would walk from Kobe Steel, but look at the five year average, and you see that people forget. https://www.google.com/search?q=TYO...gAAAA&tbm=fin#scso=_O44oXaCMHYG8tAb1kqS4Bw2:0

I cannot imagine buying from a Corporation whose criminal activities went back decades, had an in-house manual on how to cheat, but people do. The personalities of psychopaths do not change when caught, they pretend to reform, but actually, they don't. They also consider those who believe their crying and pleading and "we have learned so much!" as easily manipulated fools.

I also referenced in the above article a Rem 700, made in 2015, that cracked a lug after 4000 rounds and the steel had lots of "bubbles".

Manufacturer's have forgotten the term "buyer beware" and have outsourced their Quality Control functions to vendors. Who then ship non conforming materials to the suckers who don't know better, and are militantly stupid because of cost cutting.

The most likely cause of your slide cracking is bad materials or defective heat treatment. See how the vendor treats you. Remington walked away from the Rem 700 that broke.
 
Less than 3000 rds. That’s less than 60 boxes of target ammo. That’s less than $1800 in cheap ammo through a less than $200 gun.

For that quantity of shooting, I would pick a “better” gun but at the price point and the generally positive performance of the model (and most things keltec) consider me impressed. When they send you a mail back kit so that they can check your gun out for further damage let us know. I suspect that hey will want to check multiple things rather than simply replace the slide... but when they make it right for you I will be even more impressed. I want a p32 but I want white or orange... harder to lose.
 
I submitted a request to Kel Tec for service via their website submission form. I'll keep the thread updated as to status.

To answer some questions:
I've never changed the RSA. It was pretty stiff when I first began reloading 32 auto and had to use 2.3 gr of W231 under a 71 gr. FMJ to ensure reliable cycling. I began using Rim Rock's cast 78 gr. RN over 2.2 gr. and had no problems. I duplicated the load with the RCBS bullet sized to .312". COAL used was .940" with the RCBS.
I've looked through my original manual dated Rev: 07/05 and did not see any mention of round count expectancy. There is an oft mentioned 6,000 round life expectancy on the KTOG website with links, but I couldn't find any that were still active.

As others have mentioned, yes, this is a fun gun to shoot. I routinely take it to 25 yards and more. While I primarily use it as an always-on home gun, it's become more of a fun blaster to me.
 
It is a fun gun to shoot for me.

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Call k/t as they will repair it or replace it on their dime. Three thousand rounds is a lot of ammo for a pocket pistol as we all know.
 
How often did you change the recoil spring?

That is a great question. These small gun have to have recoil springs changed out of a frequent schedule. I bought one about two months ago and the first thing I did was upgrade the recoil spring and buy spares for regular maintenance. I know Keltec has a life time warranty, and also you can order a slide for $77.00. (one of the things I like about this gun. Spare parts are cheap and you can even get a whole Grip assemble for $35.00 complete with all the springs etc.
 
They'll send you a slide, I bet. Kel-Tec has always helped me out with any problems I've had with their products

A few years ago, I noticed the magazine was hanging out the bottom of my early manufacture P32 a bit more than I remember it doing when purchased new several years prior. It didn't affect function, but it did look different.
I discovered it was the metal magazine wearing down the magazine release every time a mag was ejected.
I sent an email to Keltec asking for a price for the part (a new mag catch) and my address for a shipping quote. No response.

I had forgotten about it until I received a small padded envelope in my mail box a week later containing three (!) new mag catches, no charge. Granted, they are all plastic and likely cost very little to manufacture, however I was impressed by this and I still am.

Whenever I eject a magazine, I first press up on the magazine to take the pressure of the mag catch to prevent the problem from reoccurring.

From that one experience, I believe Keltec will stand by their product.
 
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Edit: slide crack. I can't find my chrono notes but I believe I had them right at 850 fps from that gun, 930 fps from a Colt 1903.


Did you happen to compare your 32 acp velocities against the velocity of factory loads? I don't reload 32acp but when I worked up my load for .380 I staggered my test loads in the magazine with factory loads in my LCP, Bersa and 1911-380. I really didn't care what the velocity for my 380 load was, I was more concerned that it was lower and very close to factory loads of the same weight... my thinking being that if a load that performs like a factory load in all my guns it should be safe for my little LCP. I specifically tested my 380 acp load in my longer barreled 1911-380 figuring that a bit of pressure difference will show up more with the longer barrel travel time in the longer barrel.

Because of the small case capacity of the .380 a little extra powder can have a dramatic effect on the pressure which I hope would be revealed in the velocity. With the even smaller capacity of the .32 acp a little too much powder will have an even larger effect on pressure. Likewise a little variance in bullet seating depth will also have a big effect in pressure. Even the geomentry of a different bullet of the same weight can affect pressure when dealing with such small cases.

Do you use a powder measure to charge your 32 cases or do you weigh each charge?

I notice you use cast bullets... do you see any signs of lead buildup in your P32 barrel?
 
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