Does anyone carry a .32 Cal.

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XD Shooter

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Specifically a Beretta, Tomcat but I am curious to any make & model. Why wouldn't carry a .32 if you don't, and why do you carry a .32 if you do.
Thanks in advance.
 
I owned a North American Arms Guardian .32 ACP until two years ago to be my "drop in my pocket while I stop by the Kroger supermarket" gun. It was flawless but heavy for it's cartridge. Carried it in my back pocket at work every day, too. Loaded it with FMJ to get the deepest penetration possible.

I made an even trade for a Smith and Wesson 442 and never considered owning a .32 again. I'd rather have five rounds of .38 Spl in my pocket than seven rounds of .32 ACP.

The Tomcat is a good pistol but has it's power limitations, or so I believed. Hence the swith to the 442.
 
I also have a NAA Guardian. I load mine with Silvertips but want to try out FMJ to see how it shoots. It's the gun I carry when I'm not carrying. ;)
 
I have been known to drop a .32 Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless revolver into my pocket just like grandpa did. Although this particular one was made in 1905, and therefore is a century old, it is tight, accurate, and works fine. If I should buy one of the extra-lightweight snubbies now on the market it will be in .32 H&R Magnum.

When it comes to pocket guns I prefer revolvers, because if you have to, you can shoot through the pocket without having to draw it.

Of course this choice of sidearms goes against most conventional thinking, but I was never very conventional anyway.
 
I have been known to drop a .32 Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless revolver into my poc

I thought I was the only one. I picked up one in a trade, barrel was cut, but mechanically sound. It had a hole drilled in the top rib, probably hung around someones neck on a string. I carry it a lot.
Bob
 
No, by far you aren't the only one. It's just that the practice isn't often mentioned on a firearms forum. The very ideas is simply ... well ... incorrect. I consider this to be fortunate. :uhoh:
 
It had a hole drilled in the top rib, probably hung around someones neck on a string.
Click to expand...

I found a .32 Safety Hammerless 1st Model which had a lanyard loop in the butt and long, heavy, waxed string-like lanyard. The FFL thought it was a factory modification because of the condition and the lack of a serial number on the butt. The serial number was in the other standard locations and the butt did not show signs that anything had even been imprinted there. It also came with a period/model correct green box. I was not interested (also was too broke) so I passed it on the a Safety Hammerless collector in Washington state. We are hoping that something will turn up in a history letter from Roy Jinks about this feature.
 
I carry a Kel-Tec P-32 as a back-up almost every day. Occasionally it is my only gun (when no other carry option is available). .32 is definitely better than nothing. The Kel-Tec is so thin and light it's easy to forget it's there.
 
FPrice:

>> Is that the revolver or.....you??? <<

You is a'look'n for trouble there boy !!! I did mention grandpa ... :evil: :)

swampsniper

I have read that during the 1890's and early 1900's it was a relatively common trick among gamblers to hang a small revolver upside-down/muzzle up under the left shoulder pit, and cover it with a vest. In drawing the gun, the butt (that was facing backwards) would be grabbed, and the gun jerked free, breaking the string in the process. If your revolver were an original conversion its value as a western collectable would be considerably increased.
 
I also carry a Kel-Tec P-32 constantly, in my hip pocket with a "pocket slipper" laser. More powerful than the NAA Mini revolver or Walther TPH I used to carry as my "always" gun.

Mine came out before the P-3AT, but it's 100% reliable, and I'm not sure that 7 rds of .380 is more effective than 8 rds of .32.

My "serious social occasions" piece is a Taurus PT-145 loaded with 230-gr Hydra-Shoks, but I'd trust the P-32 to do what it was intended to do, and I can carry it when it would be impossible to carry the larger and heavier weapon.
 
Every now and then I carry a Colt 1903 PM made in 1913 for ccw. Thin and reliable with hardball and loads 9 rounds. Most of the time though it is a range and woods pistol.


:evil:
 
Once in a great while I carry a Colt 1903 made in 1918. I just think its a really cool gun.
 
NAA Guardian in .32 gets carried when it's not practical to carry something else.

I usually have it loaded with silvertips.

I like the gun but I think I might go for a keltec if I had it to do over.

The reason is that the keltec is so much lighter. Of course, giving up that weight will make it a little more "interesting" to shoot.

I use a pocket holster from KC Custom Gunleather or Uncle Mikes.
 
32's

I too am among those who pack a Kal Tec full of 32 ACP Silver Tips when it's impractical to carry something bigger.
 
I carried a .32 Tomcat for CCW for years but was never really comfortable w/the .32 rd (insufficient penetration). I now carry a 9x18 Makarov for CCW but would snap up a Tomcat in .380 if they ever make one.
Tomac
 
FPrice:

>> I don't have to look for trouble. He has a direct line to my life. <<

Ya' just have to learn to keep your ... ah ... welll ... head down ... :what: :D

PS: I have seen one other .32 Safety Hammerless with a lanyard loop. I'm sure it was done at the factory, but I'm not sure why. I do know that some people carried these guns in full-flap holsters, and maybe someone wanted some additional security. They also might have used it to hang the gun up somewhere - on themselves or otherwise.
 
Well, I THOUGHT I was going to do so.

I bought a KT P32 when the first ones were introduced. That first one had "some issues," and I just never got around to sending it to the factory. A friend needed to sell his a couple of years back and I got it. It was totally reliable and I liked it a lot, for what it is - - Last ditch pocket piece. My wife took a liking to it and so I lost it. :scrutiny:

I later picked up a new P3AT in a trade. The bride didn't like the snappier recoil and preferred to maintain custody of the .32. She shoots it quite well, too, and still carries it whenever it's inconvenient to carry her (ex-MY) Officers ACP.

Best,
Johnny
 
I carry a Kel-Tec P32 as a shove in my pants pocket gun.

I use it mainly to shoot raccoons who get into the outbuildings and it works just fine and kills the raccoons, one skunk, and one coyote dead, dead, dead.

As for penetration, .32 fmj will actually outpenetrate .380 fmj and I have been loading Silvertip hollowpoints in my gun since I don't like putting extra holes in the walls of the buildings.

I have no issues using full metal jacket ammo for defense, especially in the winter.
.32 acp ball will get through heavy clothes and tickle somebodies innards and most of the time that is all it takes to vent the sap and wind right out of an adversary.

Is it my first and primary choice as a defense cartridge, nope, but I don't feel naked when I have my Kel-Tec in my pocket.

Having a gun, any gun, when one needs a gun, is far better than not having any gun and needing a gun.
 
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