Best .32 ACP?

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keelbolts

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This one will either stir up some discussion or be killed right off w/ a reference to an earlier thread...

I've been jonesing for a .32 ACP range-toy pistol. I have a KelTec for those times when my 1911 is too inconvenient to carry, but that's not for fun. I often go to the range just to see how close I can get the holes on my target so I'm thinking a medium or larger, all steel (for ease of cleaning & lighter recoil) handgun is what I'm looking for, though I'm open to any well supported suggestion.

The one thing it has to be is capable of outshooting me. I come away from a typical range day (10 or 20 groups of 5 rounds each for each gun I take, 7 yards offhand) with groups ranging from a smallest of .5"-.75" and averages of 1"-1.5". There are guys there who are faster and some who are better, but with my middle-aged eyes causing hair to grow on my front sights, that's about the best I'm likely to do these days.

I'm not picky about brand and my max is about $500. I have a CZ & a Beratta in .380 that I enjoy playing with and I was bidding on a CZ in .32, but that one left me well behind when it went over $600. Remember, this is a range-toy not my carry gun and, at what I'm making these days, $600 for a toy is more than I can justify. I still need to buy dies, brass, bullets, & powder for whatever I get. I've done enough research to come down with a good case of information overload. I could use some help from a knowlegable group of shooters. That would be you.
 
I rather enjoyed a Browning 1922 for a bit. An older one that must have been hanging around FN when the Nazis took over for it had Waffen Ampt stamps and wood grips. My only problem was the little bitty sights. Later FN 1922 Brownings had larger and adjustable sights, though I do not think they looked as nice.

I rather like Star S model series guns and though my experience has been with .380s I certainly would not turn my nose up at a clean .32 ACP.

I have to wonder where all those Spanish "Ruby" pistols that everyone had from my youth have gone...... honestly their chief attraction was they were cheap.

-kBob
 
My all time favorite .32ACP shooter was a genuine Walther PP that was made at the Neu Ulm factory. It was a great shooter,...and I carried it for years. I gave in to lust,...and traded her out for a sleek and slinky looking Italian .... A Beretta 84 in .380_... Which was later traded as well.....they were both good trades,....but in looking back,...i sure wish I'd have kept both......:-(
 
A fun, medium to large 32? If I had my choice, the VZ 61 Skorpion would be it!
 
My favorites are the Walther PP and PPK/S. My Beretta 82 is also a sweet shooter. A classic is the Beretta 1935. My Kel is a fine gun for its intended purpose.
 
Walther PP, Beretta Cheetah, or the best of them all (but spendy now) the Colt 1903 model M in .32acp All of these likely exceed the OP $500 limit. If yer looking for all steel and a range type gun with excellent accuracy and all you asked for it might be tough at less than $500 depending on condition of a used gun.

VooDoo
 
If you just want a range gun to put .32 ACP bullets down range pick up a CZ 50 or CZ70 { the CZ 70 might be the best bet, it is a upgraded CZ50)} They are inexpensive, and as is the norm for most small double action pistols has a hard trigger pull in trigger action but more than acceptable in single action. Parts are still available and is a decent gun. Most holsters that will fit a PPK will fit the CZ' in fact it is listed as a unauthorized PP clone.
 
Keebolts, There is only one answer to your question, & thunder got it right, a Walther PP in 32 is the best & most accurate of any 32 . I have shot the PPK's since the 1950's & still love them. I got a Manurhin (Walther) PP on gunbroker recently & it was honestly new in the box with papers for $435 + shipping. It was buy it now & I don't think it had been on 5 minutes.

I saw another one the other day nearly as nice that went for about $450. I would say get a PPK in 32, but they are out of sight price wise. Maybe from $1200 to $2500 for a German (Manurhin) one. Manurhin made all the post war PP & PPK's up until about 1980.

There are the S&W PPK's in 32 but they are up because they stopped making them.The S&W in 32 has not had the trouble that their 380's have had. Interarms made some 32 PPK & PPK/S 's but they are over $600.

I tried to post a picture but something is different here than the Walther site where you just use the yellow mountain & right click & paste. What did I do wrong?
 
Keep you eyes open for a Sig P230 in .32acp. I'm not sure what they go for now, but I paid a good bit less than $500 for mine. It is a blast to shoot, accurate and well made and it's rare enough to be a good conversation piece at the range too.

FEG made some PP clones in .32, that may be a good buy.

Older Berettas, 70 or 80 series should be available in that range.

Walther PP always a good addition to the collection.
 
Gene1,
It would be hard not to be aware of the venerable PPK, but I haven't given it a good deal of thought as I've heard so much about how uncomfortable they are to shoot. Just a couple of weeks ago, while I was at my local gunsmith's shop, he was melting the rear of the grip area of a PPK for an owner with a sore hand.

Having said that, as somebody who has been shooting PPKs for 60 years, tell me about shooting a PPK. Am I going to enjoy running a 100 rounds thru it in a single session?
 
i'm keeping my Colt 1903 but my Walther m4 and Mauser 1914 are up for grabs.

i'll post here in the 'for sale' after i get my wife's camera...

i like it here,
i x like gb'er... the questions i've been asked are contrary to that old saying

there is no such thing as.... well, there is!!
 
I have one of the CZ-83 .32 acp and consider it the pinnacle of .32 acp handguns.
The money is well spent for a top of the line handgun in the caliber, however, they are seriously outclassed as a CCW handgun by similar larger caliber packages.

Most .32 pistols are falling into the class of "Collectible" now and the prices appear to be rising with each passing year.

I have one of those Kel-Tec P32 pistols as well and have often thought Kel-Tec might do well bringing out a larger version of the gun as an affordable pleasure shooting pistol...
 
Colt 1903 or Walther PP, PPK, or PPK/S.

Many of the early 1900s 32 ACPs would be great to have and fun to shoot.
 
Another vote for the Walther PP series. In 32, they are reliable, accurate, fun, point well, and have a pleasantly mild recoil. The prices are creeping up, but still quite findable at $400 to $500 for police surplus guns with carry wear, but lightly shot. I have one of every gun in the PP lineage except the TPH and like them so much I'm working on filling in the caliber variations as well.
 
I would recommend a PPK or a PPK clone that can be had very cheap right now from the old communist block countries as surplus. I think they can be had for about $200.00 to $300.00. Heck for that price I went and ordered one and a new reduced power spring kit from Wolfe springs. When it arrived I tore it down scrubbed it clean and reassembled it with the new springs. It is a fun gun to shoot and with the right ammo could be used as a last resort personal protection gun. The recoil on this gun is almost non existent. There are only two drawbacks to this pistol. #1 the sights are on the small side for us with older eyes and #2 It's really hard to find every piece of brass that the gun ejects because they are so small. lol
 
Savage 1905 or 1927 or even an Ortiges if you can find one are that accurate out to 50 feet.
 
In my limited experience, the .32 (7,65) Walther PP is hard to beat for accuracy and trigger pull, but like most pocket pistols, the sights leave a lot to be desired.

Jim
 
a long while back I had a Beretta model 90 "Roma" 7.65mm, didn't know what I had and let it go. the only gun close to its styling seems to be the sig 230. id really like to have a sig 230 in .32acp.
 
My Walther PP is an excellent shooter, and after shooting my CZ82 9X18 I'd bet $$$ that an 83 in 32 would be a little tack driver too.
 
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