Kel-Tec P32 for Carry?

If it works for you I see no problem. As long as you can reasonably hit the target with it. If I carry a 32 it's with fmj.

Venom007 said:

from most reports reliability is excellent

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You need further and other reports. Get a .38 snub.

When I first got my permit, I carried one for a while and shot the heck out of it. It was accurate enough, never malfunctioned, and was certainly easy to carry. The first time you disassemble it, do it in a cardboard box so the recoil spring assembly doesn't take flight. Kel-Tec was nice enough to send me a new one at no cost when I lost mine.

I got one used for around $120. It's been completely reliable. I don't personally carry 32acp for SD, but if the OP is fine with the caliber, my example of exactly one is a good little pistol.

I used to carry the "big brother" P3AT in 380acp. It was also reliable. The P32 is a tiny bit smaller, but the size difference isn't significant, IMHO.

Here is my P32:

I've had my P-32 since they were introduced. Never a malfunction and plenty of rounds through it. If and when carried it's been as a backup 90% of the time.

I’ve had mine for years and have never had a problem with it. Well, I did one time load a magazine in a hurry, didn’t pay attention to what I was doing and wound up with a case of rim-lock with the .32 ACP round. But like I said, that was my fault, not the guns. I should also point out that my P32 is only carried as a backup piece to a larger gun. I’m just not sold on the .32 ACP as a defensive round enough to make it a primary carry piece.

I bought one new in 2011, and am very happy with it. I also had one case of rimlock, before I knew what rimlock was. It was caused by less-than-cautious use of WWB "white box" flat-nosed FMJ ammunition. Using full-length FMJ eliminates the risk of rimlock.

Mine is carried now as a BUG when I'm off my EMS job, and carried alone when traveling to and from said job. In the latter, it's carried with Kel-Tec's 10-round magazine in place; that magazine all but transforms it into a different gun.

Last-shot slidelock is another advantage of the P32.

Oh, and I own three .38 snub revolvers (five if you count those with barrels of between two and three inches in length.) I still trust the P32 enough to pocket it over one of them more often than not.

Mine is the gun that I carry when I can't carry a gun.

Venom007 said:

Benefits over a P3AT or Ruger LCP are decreased recoil for faster follow ups and one extra round of ammo onboard.

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Ruger makes a seven round magazine for the LCP, so same eight round capacity with one in the chamber if that's a deciding factor.

The P32 is an excellent gun for the role it was designed to fill.

Try some hard cast in it. FMJ as a second choice.

There are some people around who are severely afflicted with really bad cases of Caliber Denigration Disorder. Ignore them.

32 ACP is a fine caliber with the right ammo and gun for its current role - tiny pistols.

No one is advocating its return as a duty round for military or police or its use as a primary defensive round when something bigger can be had...

A Beretta 32 on my ankle and a knife in my pocket while wearing a suit is better than trying to hide something bigger IWB and being seen and making things horribly awkward for everyone and maybe even being asked to leave the place I’m meeting people.

They're good little pistols, but unless the recoil of the P3AT bothers you, I'd suggest taking the step up in power. The weight difference is an ounce and a half, .380 cannot have rim lock, and the greatly increased power of the .380 (relative, of course) more than makes up for the capacity being reduced by one round.

I had a P32, but never really carried it. I carried a P3AT for a decade. Then the Diamondback DB9 came out and replaced the P3AT as my pocket/deep concealment gun. Even with it's limitations (no ammo over 124 gr, no +P), it's still a big step up over .380 in a gun that's virtually the same size with same capacity. But the DB9 is a handful.

I carry my P32 every day. I have several pocket guns but my P32 is one of two guns that work well in my dress pants or jeans at work sitting at a desk behind a computer all day. The other is a NAA 22mag... I prefer the P32. I work in a secure environment and feel relatively safe when working... but I do like being able to carry without advertising the fact with a big pocket bulge.

Trips into town to the grocery store or other I usually grab my DB9 or LCP... but these are too big of a bulge in my work clothes for every day carry. My P32 is noticeable slimmer and lighter than my LCP. I have no problem controlling my LCP or my DB9... the DB9 is my hardest kicking hand gun though. I choose the P32 based soley on on its size, weight and concealabily.

I bought my P32 new for ~$200. I racked the slide a few hundred times before going to the range the first time. I have never had a jam of any kind using several different types of ammo. I like the extended magazine for trips to the range. The extra length of the extended magazine gives me a much better grip on the gun and I can shoot many more magazines through it before my hand tires.

The P32 gets my recommendation!

While I've never held a P32 in my hand, based on specs and pictures it doesn't look like it's that much smaller than an LCP or P3AT. Not enough to make a difference in my pocket at least. While I'm not going to pick on the .32 ACP (I sometimes carry a .22 NAA) I'd rather have 7 shots of .380 over 8 shots of .32 in essentially the same sized package.

Nope.
I have a couple of 380's that are relics from when I was limited by work attire, would not go smaller than 380 then.
I do not go smaller than 9mm now (retired): mowing yard, jogging, take dog on walk, I'll have a Kahr PM9 minimum.
No, I do not live in a "bad" area - rural area on 20 acres, cows across road, nearest neighbor 200 yards.
"Just in case" / "Trip to the store" (whatever) if forced to draw pistol in self defense, I'd prefer to bet my life on 9mm or larger.

bassjam said:

While I've never held a P32 in my hand, based on specs and pictures it doesn't look like it's that much smaller than an LCP or P3AT. Not enough to make a difference in my pocket at least. While I'm not going to pick on the .32 ACP (I sometimes carry a .22 NAA) I'd rather have 7 shots of .380 over 8 shots of .32 in essentially the same sized package.

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I agree the specs make it look like the P32 isn't that much smaller than an LCP... when you put each in your pocket you notice a very big difference! If the difference was un-noticeable I would opt for an LCP in .380 over a P32 in .32acp. I own both guns, I like both guns, I carry both guns (on different occasions), both guns have been 100% reliable for me and I have no qualms about recommending either gun.

Venom007 said:

I'm not wanting to start a caliber war here, all. If you prefer 9mm or .50 BMG etc. that is really great, but I am more interested in those who have actually fired or owned a P32 and who can comment on its reliability and shooting characteristics. Thanks!

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Unfortunately that is not the way the Internet works! LOL!!!! ... what you really need is a 12 gauge with slugs! ...just get a SBR stamp from the feds then chop the barrel down. LOL!!!

Go for it and get a P32... I really doubt you will be disappointed. I did a lot of reading before I purchased my P32 and I could find very few actual owners that had anything negative to say about the P32. I would recommend buying new (they aren't that expensive) and rack the slide a few hundred times... this kind of starts to "break it in". The Foichi (sp?) ammo has a good reputation and works just fine in my P32. I have yet to find any of the .32acp ney sayers that will volunteer to stand in front of me while I am shooting my P32 to prove to me how ineffective .32 acp actually is.

I have one of the older models and think accuracy at the seven yards and in that most justifiable uses of deadly force take place at is OK. If I knew for certain was going to "need" a handgun today , yes a larger caliber might be nice.....on the other hand carrying the KT P32 on the 99.999 percent of the days I will not need to us a defensive handgun is a lot easier and there for much more likely I will be carrying A gun.

Same same issue ONCE, HP ammo in old style magazine and I had rim lock once.....still a two shot .32 beats not having a gun (I got off the round in the chamber and top round and then nothing while emptying my carry loads.) I went to FMJ and have not had the issue. Call me old fashioned but I do not have any issue with the idea of carrying one HP up the snout and a mag of FMJ to follow it up.

I replaced the Beretta 21A .22LR I carried for a deep cover every day carry for several years with the P32. Still carry other stuff, like I just got back from filling the mower/generator gas cans and have a Taurus 85 with Crimson trace grips and full of Silver tips in my Overalls front right pocket. Last weekend I did the "Marsupial Floridian" carry of a Colt Series 70 Mark IV in and old Hafner leather belly pouch (and yet no one pointed at the pouch and screamed he has a gun!) Still the P32 is what I usually have on me.

Does the .32 ACP have the stopping power of a .357 rippin'snorter Hollowpoint or .45 ACP small Mack Truck Hollow point? Of course not! On the other hand it can cause serious ( as in terminal) sinus issues and heart burn and I am far more likely to have it when I need it than the gun that again I would like if I knew what was coming five minutes from now.

BTW the few times I did think I knew something bad was coming in the next five minutes, the gun I had up for first use was not a handgun.

I do want to learn how badly the ten round KT mag messes with conceal ability or drawing from the pocket of my dress trousers, jeans or "over hauls". I just miss picking one up before they sell out at the local gunshop every time and am reluctant to buy on line or by mail.

-kBob

Sistema1927 said:

Mine is the gun that I carry when I can't carry a gun.

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I don’t care who you are, that’s funny,

I’ve owned and carried the Kel Tec P32, and have no complaints. I also owned & carried the Ruger LCP and I now daily carry the Kel Tec P3AT. For me personally, .380acp is the lowest powered round I trust. Each has to make that decision themselves.

With that said, the P32 is just a little smaller (thinner and lighter) than the P3AT & LCP. That little difference feels substantial for pocket carry. It was the easiest pocket carry I’ve ever had. It was also a sweet shooter although mine shot a little low. The .32acp is much lower recoil than the .380acp in the same size firearm.

Kel Tec handguns are minimalistic, though. I own several still, and have owned several more. Some need “fluff & buff”, and in my experience all need to be clean and lubed to be reliable. I don’t recommend them for a new gun owner for that reason. But with care & maintenance I’ve found them to be reliable.

I carried one from the time it was legal to carry here until earlier this year. It probably was carried more than any other gun. I replaced it with a Glock 42 . I can hit a 9 inch paper plate at 25 yards 95%of the time with a p32 . I usually switch to something bigger when going out. (G29) Most of the time. around the house there are more fire power available but I still like something on my person
The Keltec P32 is still being carried, I gave it to a friend on our church security team, that needs to wear dress clothes often

Venom007 said:

actually fired or owned a P32 and who can comment on its reliability and shooting characteristics

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Okay, I can still play.

I had a P32 - it worked - here are my 5 shot chrono averages for it:
Winchester Silvertip 60 gr. 839 fps / 94# KE
Federal Hydra-Shok 65 gr. 804 fps / 93# KE

For comparison sake, my P3AT 380:
Gold Dot 90 gr. 841 fps / 141# KE
Federal Hydra-Shok 90 gr. 845 fps / 143# KE

And what is my "bet my life" minimum, PM9:
Winchester Ranger T 124 +P @ 1,139 fps / 357# KE
Corbon 115 +P JHP @ 1,264 fps / 408# KE

When size was the deciding factor I use to carry a P32 with the in waistband pants clip, it carried well, reasonably comfortable, and the belt stoped any kinda of printing. It isn't carried a lot now I have changed to a pocket holster carried P-11I like the 10 rounds of 9m/m for the small pistols. I find it easier to draw from pocket rather than having to use a finger on the muzzle through the slacks to pull the grip above the paints to draw pistol. The 9 kicks a lot more but is controllable and still capable of a fast double tap.

My only bad thing to say about it is that it doesn't have real sights, just a "sight channel". DO NOT try to shoot WWB through it.That is really bad 32acp ammo. I bought several boxes of it and ended up shooting most of it through revolvers. If you put 200 rounds or so through it to test it out and are careful about what ammo you shoot through it (nothing too short), it should be quite reliable and effective for its caliber.