Seecamp LWS 380

WisBorn

WisBorn

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I was doing a little research on the LWS 32. My LGS has a like new one currently for sale and I was looking at recommend ammo for them. I also have been reading @Old_Grouch thread and trying to decide whether I can or can't live without a 32🤔.

While exploring information about the 32. I came across a little information about the LWS in 380. It has me wondering if it would be a better choice.

Any members have one?
Is the LWS a good choice?
 
1KPerDay said:
The .380 Seecamp was designed to work around Winchester silvertip IIRC.
Click to expand...

The ,32 was designed around the Silvertip. The magazine is shorter front to back than other .32s to avoid the need for a filler to prevent hollow point rounds from moving forward which can result in rim-lock.
By all accounts the .32 will function with anything that fits in the magazine; i.e any 60-65ish grain hollow point. Most ball ammo is too long to go in the magazine.
I suspect they initially chose the Silvertip because at the time is was the only commonly available .32 hollow point on the market.
 
I've had a .32 Seecamp since about 2012.

I rarely carry it anymore.

A .22 LR LCP II has taken over the Seecamp's place when I want to pocket carry a small pistol. I pretty much carry the LCP II everyday in my back pocket as a BUG.
 
Old_Grouch said:
The ,32 was designed around the Silvertip. The magazine is shorter front to back than other .32s to avoid the need for a filler to prevent hollow point rounds from moving forward which can result in rim-lock.
By all accounts the .32 will function with anything that fits in the magazine; i.e any 60-65ish grain hollow point. Most ball ammo is too long to go in the magazine.
I suspect they initially chose the Silvertip because at the time is was the only commonly available .32 hollow point on the market.
Click to expand...
The magazines really arent "shorter", at least none of mine are/were, they have a spacer that's attached to the floorplate that limits the rounds to Silver Tip length. If you cut the spacer off, or use a floorplate that doesn't have the spacer leg that goes up the back, it will accept standard ball type 32's.
 
trackskippy said:
The magazines really arent "shorter", at least none of mine are/were, they have a spacer that's attached to the floorplate that limits the rounds to Silver Tip length. If you cut the spacer off, or use a floorplate that doesn't have the spacer leg that goes up the back, it will accept standard ball type 32's.
Click to expand...
Does it run okay on .32 ball, and can you switch back to HPs? BTW, it would seem that ball is a better choice in .32.
Moon
 
halfmoonclip said:
Does it run okay on .32 ball,
Click to expand...
Most .32 ball is too long to fit in the magazine.
the .32 ACP is a semi-rimmed case. Rim lock can happen if there is enough room for the rounds to move fore and aft the second (or subsequent) rounds can jump forward resulting in the rim being forward of that of the round above so the top round can't slide over the one below.
If the internal dimension of a magazine is short enough to prevent hollow pints from moving forward the longer hardball rounds won't fit. I read somewhere that Winchester(?) makes a FMJ with a truncated cone or ogive that will fit but I haven't looked into it.
 
What stops the shorter rounds from moving is the spacer. It makes the mag dimensions right for the Silver Tip and eliminates the chance of rim lock. It also precludes the use of ball length ammo. Remove that, and ball rounds will go right in and cycle.

Its simple to prove, just take the spacer out reassemble the mag without it, put the floorplate back on, just be careful as it wont lock, but it will stay on as long as you don't inadvertently push it off. Load it with ball ammo and cycle it through the gun.

That "L" shaped piece there on the left is the spacer/floorplate.

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00-DboCy8WJYzQR_q_dc-F5BNyntOLdWDP5ZdA7LI-ODz_86V78uResMJ4BTHtTqKbdldMTLfbtJ__wYVBQ_4iTow



ETA: I meant to mention it when I posted that, if you take your mags apart, even just to clean them, they can be kind of fiddly, and a PITA to get back together properly, because of that spacer.

You need to get the spacer "behind" the tail on the follower. If you dont, it wont let the follower go down. You have to at first, pull the nose of it up, so the tail kicks into the mag a little, and then slide the spacer and spring up at the same time until you feel it bump into the follower, and then push the nose down, so the spacer can go by. If you look, you can see the top of the spacer if you got it right. If you didn't, you wont, and the follower wont go down, so its not like you'll miss it.
 
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WisBorn said:
I was doing a little research on the LWS 32. My LGS has a like new one currently for sale and I was looking at recommend ammo for them. I also have been reading @Old_Grouch thread and trying to decide whether I can or can't live without a 32🤔.

While exploring information about the 32. I came across a little information about the LWS in 380. It has me wondering if it would be a better choice.

Any members have one?
Is the LWS a good choice?
Click to expand...

No the 380 is a beast to shoot!!
If you want one get the 32 ACP. Problem is finding ammo. This List on the website is out of date. Speer GD were the best but they can not be found, Win ST are no longer
I sold my LWS 32. Excellent gun but replaced it with a pocket 380

PMC Bronze would be my choice
 
JERRY said:
Try ammoseek. Its still made and if anyone is selling it they'll show you where
Click to expand...
It;s not available and has not been for a long time.
And just so you know, not every dealer is on Ammoseek.
When I bought my LWS32 back in 2007 it was not available!
 
I bought my last couple of boxes of 32 WST back around 06 at a local shop here. He was going out of business and only had a couple and they were like $15 a box. I took what he had. I currently have one left.

I haven't seen any in person since, and the last time I priced them when they were still somewhat readily available a number of years back, I think they were going for over $50 a box. Wasnt going to bother with them at that price and started looking for alternatives, and found the PMC's.
 
LOL. They must be individually hand polishing them to a brilliant sheen at that price. :)
 
1KPerDay said:
Cor Bon still available? Looks like pretty much the only choice that did reasonably well in this test anyway

www.luckygunner.com

The Best 32 ACP Ammo for Self-Defense - Lucky Gunner

A scientific look at your best 32 ACP ammo for self-defense. We test various loads in gelatin to see what you should expect from your pocket pistol with 32 Auto.
www.luckygunner.com
Click to expand...
Someone once said that corbon .32acp didn't work reliably in their LWS32.
 
I have a Seecamp LWS-32 in 32 ACP for many years now and carry it quite frequently during the Summer when the uniform of the day are shorts and a tee-shirt. Fits very easily in a side pocket and in it's holster looks like a wallet. I fire a magazine in the Spring and Fall to check functioning and then give it a good cleaning and lube job. Never had a problem with it in the 20 some years I've owned it. Just make sure you are using the proper recommended ammo in it.
 
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