I'm thinking about carrying a 32 as a back up gun and I have been reading alot on this site and others about which gun and which type of ammunition to use. I have come away from this with two questions, Is the keltec P32 any good? and Round nose or hollow point for self defense?
32 acp
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I've hashed this over plenty several years ago and came to the conclusion that the P32 with 73gr FMJ is fine. I'm not a fan of JHP for the .32acp since if it does expand well, I might not get the penetration I need (it also increases the chances of rimlock for my P32).
For a back up pistol, the .32acp has a lot of potential, IMO.
For a back up pistol, the .32acp has a lot of potential, IMO.
The KelTec P32 was the first semi auto I bought. Got it last year to fit a very particular need. Never fired a semi before that...never held one. So I hired a pro and took many lessons. Have about 1000 rounds through it.
The gun is very accurate once you figure out the aim (sights are almost useless). For me its fun to shoot. My daughter bought one and carries it daily. She is amazing shooting it.
Fiocchi 73 grain works great. Prvi and Aguilla also work well.
For hollow point Corbon 60 grain is good.
The gun is very accurate once you figure out the aim (sights are almost useless). For me its fun to shoot. My daughter bought one and carries it daily. She is amazing shooting it.
Fiocchi 73 grain works great. Prvi and Aguilla also work well.
For hollow point Corbon 60 grain is good.
My P-32 runs well with Fiocchi 60gr HP, their 73gr FMJ (round nose), and Winchesters 73gr FMJ (flat point).
You may be surprised at what the various rounds actually do. Brass fetcher tested various rounds from a P-32, and it was actually the Fiocchi 60gr HP that penetrated the deepest (16"). The P-32 doesn't make quite enough velocity to make them expand, but the lighter weight of the pill still gets better velocity than most other 32acp loads ... so it gets almost 3" more penetration.
I have carried the Fiocchi 73gr FMJ in the past, but now I carry the Winchester. Penetration should be almost as good, but my hope is that the flat point will do a hair more damage.
http://www.brassfetcher.com/Various%20.32ACP%20%28Kel-Tec%20P32%29.html
You may be surprised at what the various rounds actually do. Brass fetcher tested various rounds from a P-32, and it was actually the Fiocchi 60gr HP that penetrated the deepest (16"). The P-32 doesn't make quite enough velocity to make them expand, but the lighter weight of the pill still gets better velocity than most other 32acp loads ... so it gets almost 3" more penetration.
I have carried the Fiocchi 73gr FMJ in the past, but now I carry the Winchester. Penetration should be almost as good, but my hope is that the flat point will do a hair more damage.
http://www.brassfetcher.com/Various%20.32ACP%20%28Kel-Tec%20P32%29.html
Backpack gun for two legged predators and smaller 4 legged ones (i.e. coyote) should be ok. The new manufacturer 2nd generation Kel Tec P-32 is reliable. Their 1st generation is also generally reliable, except the extractor can be weak. I have 3 of the KT P32s if that is any indication of whether they are any good.
I load Fiocchi FMJ in the mag and a Buffalo Bore in the chamber. Like someone else said, penetration is rather surprising from this little guy.
I have 3 of the P-32 My better 1/2 carries one and oldest daughter has one I keep 3rd around and carry when not packing my P3AT
I have them loaded with the corbon JHP I am not of the FBI 12" school. These go 8" and expanded every time. I will using up close and more than likely be face to face 8 " will reach the goodies in chest. The New Corbon DPX looks good also
http://www.goldenloki.com/ammo/gel/32acp/gel32acp.htm you choose.
I have them loaded with the corbon JHP I am not of the FBI 12" school. These go 8" and expanded every time. I will using up close and more than likely be face to face 8 " will reach the goodies in chest. The New Corbon DPX looks good also
http://www.goldenloki.com/ammo/gel/32acp/gel32acp.htm you choose.
Kel-Tec sells some type of adaptor for the magazine when shooting hollow points for more reliable feeding. I have one I bought used several years ago and it shoots just fine. I've only put about 100 rounds through it but it fired and cycled every time. I've only used Remington round nose and Winchester flat nose.
It's gun enough
Which means it up to you on how to learn how to employ your gun to maximize it's potential.
IE
Pull out small wallet sized gun and proceed to hand over lead instead of the expected wallet
NOT the gun you charge a machine-gun bunker with
UNLESS you are knocking at the back door with hot pizza's...
OH BTW, Bond carried a .25, as that was a 'gentlemans weapon' and it was suggested by a number of Ian Flemmings friends who had intelligence experience.
They work, but they are self defense rounds, meant for use at 'conversational' range.
Check out Mouseguns.com they have a number of great articles about how to use a pocket mouse, I bought mine (a P32 BTW, lighter and easier to shoot than others in the same size range) because I found it quite a bit easier to shoot ACCURATELY than a P2AT, I would rather hit with a .32 than miss with a .380
Which means it up to you on how to learn how to employ your gun to maximize it's potential.
IE
Pull out small wallet sized gun and proceed to hand over lead instead of the expected wallet
NOT the gun you charge a machine-gun bunker with
UNLESS you are knocking at the back door with hot pizza's...
OH BTW, Bond carried a .25, as that was a 'gentlemans weapon' and it was suggested by a number of Ian Flemmings friends who had intelligence experience.
They work, but they are self defense rounds, meant for use at 'conversational' range.
Check out Mouseguns.com they have a number of great articles about how to use a pocket mouse, I bought mine (a P32 BTW, lighter and easier to shoot than others in the same size range) because I found it quite a bit easier to shoot ACCURATELY than a P2AT, I would rather hit with a .32 than miss with a .380
bonds ppk was in 7.65mm sorry but thanks for playing
the beretta at the start of Dr. No was a 25acp I think
the beretta at the start of Dr. No was a 25acp I think
A few weeks ago because of a whim and a low price I bought a Kel Tec P32.
I also ordered ten boxes of Fiochhi fmj from Aim Surplus because it was 9mm cheap at $10.95 a box.
I took down the little pistol and cleaned up and relubed it and racked the slide back and forth around 200 times.
Wanting to shoot the little pistol badly I stopped off at a nearby Wal Mart and bought a box of Remington UMC 71 grain fmj for it and went to the range as my order of Fiocchi had not yet arrived.
What a gas!!
Not only did it run through the entire box of 50 rounds issue free but the low recoil and accuracy of the little pistol impressed me a great deal.
Having never owned a KT firearm I was not quite sure what to expect but this one is a real good one.
You too will probably be as happy with one.
I also ordered ten boxes of Fiochhi fmj from Aim Surplus because it was 9mm cheap at $10.95 a box.
I took down the little pistol and cleaned up and relubed it and racked the slide back and forth around 200 times.
Wanting to shoot the little pistol badly I stopped off at a nearby Wal Mart and bought a box of Remington UMC 71 grain fmj for it and went to the range as my order of Fiocchi had not yet arrived.
What a gas!!
Not only did it run through the entire box of 50 rounds issue free but the low recoil and accuracy of the little pistol impressed me a great deal.
Having never owned a KT firearm I was not quite sure what to expect but this one is a real good one.
You too will probably be as happy with one.
First off.....I own many CC pocket guns from .22 through 9mm, I find myself generally carrying a .32acp with S&B FMJ's most days.
As for Kel-Tec P32's? I own a 1st Gen from the 4th month of production and a 2nd Gen model....both have been flawless.
As for Bond and Fleming? Actually, Ian Fleming had "Intelligence experience" himself in WWII. Commander Fleming (codename 17F) was in the British Naval Intelligence Division during WWII. Fleming was issued a .25acp Baby Browning then. In book 6, James Bond sort of mirrors this when he tells M that he has carried the Beretta for 15 years and it served him faithfully all through the war (WWII).
And yes I agree....Read the books! In the original stories (books) you will find that from the first book (Casino Royale), Bond had 3 GUNS - a stripped-down Beretta 418 .25acp in a shoulder holster, a snub .38 Special revolver under his pillow and a .45 in the Bentley's glove-box. He didn't get the .32acp PPK until book #6...at which time he was also issued a .38 S&W Airweight revolver. He rarely shoots the .25 in the books, mostly grabs the bad guy's guns and shoots them...when he does shoot, which isn't nearly as often as in the movies. He was an agent/assassin, not on a SWAT team.
And, even though I generally dig the movie 'Bonds', I found that Daniel Craig most closely resembles and characterizes the books' James Bond....in which he is always described as looking like Hoagy Carmichael (amazing singer/songwriter, check him as Cricket in Bogey/Bacall's 'To Have And Have not').
Then again, Ian Fleming is the same guy who helped bring us 'The Man From Uncle' and wrote 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'.
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I carry a .32 as a primary arm often times. Many, many people own the Kel-Tec and similar guns in .32 ACP. Whether they carry them as a primary, or as a back up, they are being carried. Many folks have traded in their .32's for .380's, now that so many small .380's are available.
I would much rather have my Seecamp .32 than nothing, which I do as well. If I know I am headed to a gunfight, I am bringing the cops with me, along with something much more substantial than a pistol.
Only you can answer if you are comfortable with a .32. It is no doubt near the bottom of the power level for defense.
I would much rather have my Seecamp .32 than nothing, which I do as well. If I know I am headed to a gunfight, I am bringing the cops with me, along with something much more substantial than a pistol.
Only you can answer if you are comfortable with a .32. It is no doubt near the bottom of the power level for defense.
I would not feel undergunned with a .22 I've practiced with a lot, and I would not at all feel undergunned with a .32 as long as I knew it well.
I don't own one yet, but I plan on getting a p32 (once the money comes around). I can say that they are fun, and beat the heck out of a small blowback .32.
Ro1911, find a way to try one. If you like it, buy it, use it a lot, and if you're comfortable with it, make it your backup. You're very likely to not regret it. Also, read the books.
I don't own one yet, but I plan on getting a p32 (once the money comes around). I can say that they are fun, and beat the heck out of a small blowback .32.
Ro1911, find a way to try one. If you like it, buy it, use it a lot, and if you're comfortable with it, make it your backup. You're very likely to not regret it. Also, read the books.
a p32 is my everyday carry. I tried a lot of different things until I settled on it. It carries very easily. over on the Ktog BBS you will find that generally p32 carriers follow one of three types of ammo choices 1) FMJ usually Fiocchi or S&B in 71-73 gr. 2) A hollow point of some kind (generally Corbon) with a "flier wire" adjustment to the magazine due to the "rim lock" problem; or 3) the one in the pipe and maybe the first in the magazine being a HP and the rest being FMJ as in #1). You have to decide what you want, penetration or expansion, you can't really have both in the .32 (unless you go with #3, kind of).
take your pick. Any of those three have worked and lots of people carry that way. I myself am one of them. I have looked extensively at the Corbon Powerball (no rim lock problem due to the FMJ like profile) but have not laid my hands on a box and I am already comfortable with my ammo choice.
take your pick. Any of those three have worked and lots of people carry that way. I myself am one of them. I have looked extensively at the Corbon Powerball (no rim lock problem due to the FMJ like profile) but have not laid my hands on a box and I am already comfortable with my ammo choice.
I carry the P32 in my pocket 24/7. It does NOT like the cheap ammo. It will fire 100/100 with the Magtech JHP, but only about 65/100 with Winchester (Wal-Mart) ammo. In fact, because it was having trouble with the cheap stuff, I kind of busted the thing trying to figure out what was wrong. I sent it in to Kel-Tec and they put new parts on it. It STILL jammed often. That's when I tried expensive stuff and it has been perfect ever since.
Kel-Tec customer service is WONDERFUL and plan on buying pricey ammo.
Just curious, though... the Kel-Tec 3A-T, Ruger LCP, Taurus TCP, DB380, etc, are JUST as reliable (or better), JUST as small, and does 2X the damage. Why not go with a .380?
Kel-Tec customer service is WONDERFUL and plan on buying pricey ammo.
Just curious, though... the Kel-Tec 3A-T, Ruger LCP, Taurus TCP, DB380, etc, are JUST as reliable (or better), JUST as small, and does 2X the damage. Why not go with a .380?
I would rather have that 1 extra round in a 32ACP. If one can believe the ballistics from GoldenLoki.com, the .380 out of a P3AT is not that much more than a .32ACP. Probably has a lot to do with the extremely short barrel.
I shoot my Beretta 81 very well. It does not get carried because similar size guns come in bigger calibers, but I would be comfortable with it because I shoot it so well. I shoot my CZ 83 almost as well, and it holds 16 in the mag. Two or three .32 pills in the chest would deter most folks I believe. Both police trade in guns.
I love my wifes P32. I had 1 issue with it and it was a quick fix and its been 100% with all cheap ammo. It shoots soft and is a joy to carry. Its a point and shoot gun and that's it. She loves it and is all she will carry and shoot.
Thanks for all the info I just bought a p32 and the shop I went to had a mauser 1914 pocket pistol that the owner said he was trying to get out of and I got both and 200 rds of 32 ACP for $600 dollars + tax. I just shot both and I actually like the mauser more than the keltec both are super reliable but the mauser was shooting 4" groups at 25 yards and the keltec was more like 12".
anyone else like the old mauser 1914 32s?
anyone else like the old mauser 1914 32s?
I do not have one, but have held one and they feel really good in my hand. Neat old pistols. My "neat old" .32 is a FN Browning Model 1922
i have accumulated many 32's and the 1914 is a favorite. though not for carry.
a fun range session would have the p32, 1914, one of the walther M4's and perhaps a Colt 1903. i re-load the little buggers and that makes for more shooting than the premium charged for 32 locally would allow.
for carry i do S&B in winter and silvertips the rest of the year.
so 32 is a primary carry for me as my daughter left home this summer and relieved me of most of my 380s. most often i pocket carry with a 'holdster'.
a fun range session would have the p32, 1914, one of the walther M4's and perhaps a Colt 1903. i re-load the little buggers and that makes for more shooting than the premium charged for 32 locally would allow.
for carry i do S&B in winter and silvertips the rest of the year.
so 32 is a primary carry for me as my daughter left home this summer and relieved me of most of my 380s. most often i pocket carry with a 'holdster'.
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