Looking for an accurate 32 ACP.

kidneyboy said:
Unfortunately that is a wadcutter gun.
Click to expand...

Except when it isn't

Pardini HP, Cal. 32 ACP, 5" Barrel for NRA Bullseye $2,899.00​

Pardini HP, Cal. 32 ACP, 5" Barrel for NRA Bullseye | Pardini USA

www.pardiniguns.com

The .32 ACP XTP is thought to hold up better at 50 yards than a .32 S&W Long wadcutter meant for 25 metres.


Some of the pocket .32s are relatively accurate. In many countries of Europe, you had to show participation in target shooting to get a license for a pistol. Little or no (authorized) CCW. So there were matches held for pocket and "vest pocket" pistols.

Henry Stebbins mentioned a guy who made 6" barrels for the Colt Pocket Hammerless before WWII, and included better sights. It had a strange heavy profile where it protruded from the slide.
 
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barnett said:
If the PPK in .32 is as accurate as the PPK IN .380, that would be one suggestion. My .380 PPK is a very accurate pistol.
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Very close to my suggestion. Not a PPK but a PP. they are a slightly larger platform with a little more heft. The one I had was hard on brass, but it was a serious shooter. The extra grip size is definitely a big plus for accurate shooting, and added weight seems to be a plus for guns at this size bracket because the weight soaks up small involuntary muscle movements that might lead to fliers with a lighter more nimble gun.
 
Jim Watson said:
Except when it isn't

Pardini HP, Cal. 32 ACP, 5" Barrel for NRA Bullseye $2,899.00​

Pardini HP, Cal. 32 ACP, 5" Barrel for NRA Bullseye | Pardini USA

www.pardiniguns.com

The .32 ACP XTP is thought to hold up better at 50 yards than a .32 S&W Long wadcutter meant for 25 metres.


Some of the pocket .32s are relatively accurate. In many countries of Europe, you had to show participation in target shooting to get a license for a pistol. Little or no (authorized) CCW. So there were matches held for pocket and "vest pocket" pistols.

Henry Stebbins mentioned a guy who made 6" barrels for the Colt Pocket Hammerless before WWII, and included better sights. It had a strange heavy profile where it protruded from the slide.
Click to expand...
Well bust my britches!
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
I think part of your limitation will be ammo selection. As far as I know, nobody makes .32 ACP Match.

While I'm perfectly happy with the accuracy of my Colt 1903, that's really about quite close-range shooting. The small grip and sights limit things at longer ranges.

My inclination would be to investigate the .32 S&W Long target auto rabbit hole, which requires fairly deep pockets. At least Lapua and others make .32 S&W Long match wadcutter ammo.
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I had, emphasis on “HAD”, a Beretta Tomcat circa 1995-2002. I loved it to death! It according to Beretta, had 4 cracks! Not just the one I noticed before I sent it back. They sent me a new Inox (stainless)) that was traded NIB towards a S&W Model 617 (I still have)….
The little Beretta was a TACK DRIVER with either Speer60gr GoldDots or Hornady 60gr XTP’s. It shot to point-of-aim and easily bested my issue Glock Gen II M22. I could shoot a clean score on the NRA 25yd 48 shot service gun match. Could have shot a semiautomatic record if .32’s were allowed….
Especially accurate were my Lyman 78gr RN cast, at .311” over 2.0gr of Bullseye. I typically carried it as a backup when weather or situations permitted or was called for. It always generated a lot of attention when I shot it at qualification. Fist sized groups at 7 and 15yds mostly in the X-ring got folks attention! (12shots in 20seconds with a mandatory reload).
The little.32’s can be capable of very good accuracy.
My Ruger Single-7 shoots .32acp very accurately. Not especially picky either, though it prefers .312” or larger bullets.
My Taurus M76 .32H&R shoots excellent groups, but allows a .32acp to fall into the chamber. Go figure!
 
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Have a look at my avatar.
That’s a S&W .30 Super Carry Sheild EZ with 100gr Federal HydraShoks. 10shot group fired at 25yds from sand bags, 2-handed. 1st 5 landed inside 1.25” just under POA. I adjusted my sight picture and last two went into the 1” black square. It’s now my favorite .32 auto.
Bought a second that’s never been out of the plastic shipping sleeve, for when they go extinct as predicted…
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
My inclination would be to investigate the .32 S&W Long target auto rabbit hole, which requires fairly deep pockets. At least Lapua and others make .32 S&W Long match wadcutter ammo.
Click to expand...
If the OP is looking for accuracy above all, this is the answer. The guys who shoot these tend to load their own, both for savings and load tuning.
Even .38 Wadcutters aren't often on a gunstore shelf.
Moon
 
GooseGestapo said:
Have a look at my avatar.
That’s a S&W .30 Super Carry Sheild EZ with 100gr Federal HydraShoks. 10shot group fired at 25yds from sand bags, 2-handed. 1st 5 landed inside 1.25” just under POA. I adjusted my sight picture and last two went into the 1” black square. It’s now my favorite .32 auto.
Bought a second that’s never been out of the plastic shipping sleeve, for when they go extinct as predicted…
Click to expand...
It's only one pistol, but in your opinion do you think the .30 Super is inherently an accurate cartridge kind of like .32 S&W Long?

That'd be exciting if it is, but we need more than just the Shield to get the most out of the .30's potential accuracy.
 
TTv2 said:
It's only one pistol, but in your opinion do you think the .30 Super is inherently an accurate cartridge kind of like .32 S&W Long?

That'd be exciting if it is, but we need more than just the Shield to get the most out of the .30's potential accuracy.
Click to expand...

Nighthawk.
www.nighthawkcustom.com

30 Super Carry Pistol | Nighthawk Custom

The 30 Super Carry round brings the power of the 9mm with the concealability of 380 Auto. This round boasts ballistics equivalent to 9mm while offering increased capacity. Carrying the same energy as 9mm at the muzzle, the 30 Super Carry offers 1.9x expan
www.nighthawkcustom.com www.nighthawkcustom.com
 
Jim Watson said:
Nighthawk.
www.nighthawkcustom.com

30 Super Carry Pistol | Nighthawk Custom

The 30 Super Carry round brings the power of the 9mm with the concealability of 380 Auto. This round boasts ballistics equivalent to 9mm while offering increased capacity. Carrying the same energy as 9mm at the muzzle, the 30 Super Carry offers 1.9x expan
www.nighthawkcustom.com www.nighthawkcustom.com
Click to expand...
Ouch, my ass hurts just thinking about the hit my wallet would take.

I'm talking about something more affordable, like IDK, a Glock, or better yet, the Walther CCP M2+ as that has a fixed barrel.
 
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WestKentucky said:
Very close to my suggestion. Not a PPK but a PP. they are a slightly larger platform with a little more heft. The one I had was hard on brass, but it was a serious shooter. The extra grip size is definitely a big plus for accurate shooting, and added weight seems to be a plus for guns at this size bracket because the weight soaks up small involuntary muscle movements that might lead to fliers with a lighter more nimble gun.
Click to expand...
Have Manurhin PP that is very accurate for what it is.
 
TTv2 said:
It's only one pistol, but in your opinion do you think the .30 Super is inherently an accurate cartridge kind of like .32 S&W Long?

That'd be exciting if it is, but we need more than just the Shield to get the most out of the .30's potential accuracy.
Click to expand...
Yes. The ammo has incredibly low sd’s. Particularly the premium CCI and Federal.
My Shield barrel fit to the slide is incredibly close. Practically a press fit o get the barrel to mate into the slide. Smith is EDM machining the rifling, so it’s exceptionally smooth.
 
If you’re just looking for a decent shooter, that won’t disappoint, find a used Beretta 81. I’ve got two former Police/Military 8x.
One is a 12 shot.32acp, the other is a 8 shot single stack .380.
I’m fond of both. Both needed the sights drifted to the right as they were shooting about 4-5” right at 25yds. Erects bores run a little large, so expect.311-.314” bullets to shoot better.
My favorite loads are a Lyman cast RN 78gr mold #311252 (iirc). I size to .311” with SPG lube (lately powder coat) over 2.0gr of Bullseye. Hot rodding them is counterproductive. Proper functioning is key. A few European cases from way back when may cause some chambering issues due to excessive tight necks.

With the .380 it’s the Lee 90gr RFN tumble lube mold (6-cavity!). It rains good bullets which I also powder coat. I use 3.2gr of HP38. Thy too are accurate and will do anything you’re likely to want a .380 for…

Speer hasn’t sold any 60gr Gold Dots in eons. Nor the 115gr GD.
HOWEVER, I was able to snag some over runs of Federal Hydroshoks from RMR. I bought 500; approximately 420 were 65gr HS, 80 were 60gr.
The 65’s are awesome in the .30 super over 6.6gr of LongShot fo about 1,350fps. I’m hoping to put one in an armadillo!
 
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I have a CZ Model 50 that had been rid hard and put up wet to dry more often then it should. The original return spring had rusted against the barrel leaving a spiral pattern that's still visible. But with new minor parts (mostly springs) it's now a delight to shoot and surprisingly accurate. The inside of the barrel was in better shape than the outside and rifling still good with no signs of pitting.

From the top: Beretta model 70, Bernardelli 60 (both SA), Walther Manurhin PP and the CZ 50 (DA/SA);

4small.jpg
 
Some very interesting 32 autos! Never fired a 32 until 2022 when I bought a 1969 Walther PPK/S that came with alligator box and even an old box of Federal ammo. Not a target gun by any means but for a pocket pistol I was quite pleased. Shown is a 10 shot target at 7 yds shot standing with two hand hold.
1 PPKs 32.jpg
 
Not this.

index.php


There was a gentleman over on the Colt forum named Ei8ht who just recently passed, and he had a large collection of target Colt 1903's that I just love the look of. I heard that some of his collection will be listed on Gunbroker, so you might keep your eye out there. Here is one of his guns.

362229-r-1-jpg.115056

www.coltforum.com

1903 Hammerless Target Barrel Pistol's

www.coltforum.com www.coltforum.com
 
I know of a guy at the range originally from one of the Slavic countries that used to compete. He uses a very nice Pardini, in both 32ACP and 45 ACP. He did mention finding brass and bullets is problematic, not sure if he uses specific types. He's always hunting for Bullseye powder.
 
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