The 32 acp…love it or hate it.

[CDW4ME]

My "better than nothing" pistol is a LCP 380 that I carry if wearing gym shorts holstered in pocket; caveat, I also have a Glock 26 in Smartcarry when I do that.
I owned a P32 in the past, doing well to get 115# KE from the short barrel and basically forget at least 12'' penetration with consistent expansion.
With the LCP KE is paltry like about 173# but at least there are loads that can penetrate at least 12'' and expand from the LCP like the Hydra Shok Deep.
32 acp - I don't love it, hate it, carry it, or own it.
32 acp is like football, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, I see people mention it sometimes but I otherwise ignore it.

 

[Tallball]

It's a fun cartridge to shoot. It's not one that I keep around for SD, but when I can't shoot an LCP anymore, the P32 might start looking good.

Those Beretta 81's were a steal. It's so much fun to shoot. Really doesn't need a locked breech. Recoil is insignificant.

I like the Colt 1903, too. It's such an elegant and well-balanced pistol. The sights are tiny, but it's still a fun range toy.

I think the PT132's were LE pistols from somewhere. Don't recall just now. Mine has a DAO trigger that's not so great, but it's still a fun medium-sized pistol.

The CZ83's in 32 are rare. Grats to those who have them. Those are excellent pistols. The Stars look nice, too.

If you want a longer barrel and better sights, you want a Beretta Model 100.

 

[chicharrones]

My "better than nothing" pistol is a LCP 380 that I carry if wearing gym shorts holstered in pocket; caveat, I also have a Glock 26 in Smartcarry when I do that.
I owned a P32 in the past, doing well to get 115# KE from the short barrel and basically forget at least 12'' penetration with consistent expansion.
With the LCP KE is paltry like about 173# but at least there are loads that can penetrate at least 12'' and expand from the LCP like the Hydra Shok Deep.
32 acp - I don't love it, hate it, carry it, or own it.
32 acp is like football, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, I see people mention it sometimes but I otherwise ignore it.

You don't ignore it, otherwise you wouldn't pop in this thread to tell us that you do.

Now back to our regularly scheduled baseball game.

 

[ctdair1]

Love my Seecamp in .32 acp

 

[Gork10]

Love it. My Colt 1903 pocket hammerless is one of my favorites pistols.

 

[Coyote3855]

I have a 1903. Don't carry it, have better options. Sold all the other .32s in the collection.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I have read that the .32 ACP Winchester Silvertip Hollowpoint performed better than standard .380 ACP FMJ in actual shootings.
Comparing .32 ACP FMJ to .380 ACP FMJ, my hunch is the .380 would have an edge over the .32.

(BTW, I briefly had a .32 Walther PP about half a century ago when it was just another ho-hum military surplus pistol in an anemic obsolete caliber. Kicking myself for letting it get away.)

 

[jstert]

the keltec p32 is an excellent choice for a pocket ccw. 32acp offers low recoil to consistently put rounds on target, where i find a similarly sized 380acp pistol to be uncomfortable to shoot and thus inaccurate.

 

[CDW4ME]

You don't ignore it, otherwise you wouldn't pop in this thread to tell us that you do.

Now back to our regularly scheduled baseball game.

 

[JERRY]

I love the. 32acp. My Walther PP and Beretta m81 are among my absolute favorites.
I wish I could get laser grips for them.

 

[KevininPa]

Now that I have a Zastava M70, I'm enjoying the round. It's my occasional plinker, carry around the my rural neighborhood gun. The .32 still has it's uses.

 

[swoter]

Beretta Tomcat in Desantis pocket holster everyday.

 

[Steel Hayes]

I’ve been known to carry my little Zastava from time to time.
The .32acp is such an easy shooting round.

 

[film495]

some day it will feed my collection of old pistols, which I don't currently own

 

[GooseGestapo]

Paint me in the .32 LIKE corner.
I rather “backed into” it in the later 90’s. I bought a TomCat as a backup to my issue Glock M22.
Found out quickly it was a good bit more accurate than the plastic fantastic. I became enthralled with the little gun and little cartridge. Bought bullet molds, dies and found that it uses precious little of either!

A 78gr RN lead bullet from a coffee can of range scrap lead and left over dregs from a “empty” Bullseye can loaded up 400+ rounds of ammo!
I think of it as a “reloadable .22rf”. Only with a bit more “punch”.

My .30SC is just “mo better”. Extremely accurate, profoundly reliable and adequately powerful make it a splendid ccw. The “EZ” operation and grip safety are frosting on the cake. It even uses the .32acp dies and .30 cal plinking molds (Lee .311” 100RN, 93gr RN .311”, 90gr .312” molds, 113gr RFN GC molds. I bought a NOE 100gr SWC 5-cav to feed it and .32 revolvers…

However it does have an appetite for LongShot and Acc#7.

 

[lincen]

One reason the 32’s are neat to collect is the variety of designs. Below starting at the top and from left to right there is a Star SI, Llama Especial, and Ortgies. Middle row: Astra, Harrington & Richardson, and Pieper Bayard.
Bottom row: Sauer & Sohn, CZ27, and an FEG.

The FEG is the newest of this lot and is different from most FEG’s. It has an all steel frame, grip shape like the Walther PP, and a shorter barrel than most 32’s made by FEG.

 

[tactikel]

.32 acp wouldn’t be around for over 115 years if it didn’t fill a niche. Many present day loads penetrate greater than 12” from a 3” barrel.
A KelTec P-32 weighs 6.6 ounces and is smaller than my cell phone. It makes a great backup gun, or a deep concealment CCW. Properly understood the .32 is a valuable tool.

 

[orionengnr]

I'm in the "don't get it" camp.
Had a KT P-32 for a bit, but...meh.
Maybe in another 10/15/20 years when my wrists deteriorate further, we'll see.
Until then, nah. I have too many other cartridges to load for.
But whatever floats your boat.

 

[Steven_Seagull]

Recently been carrying a .32 ACP gun more than anything lately. It's what I have on hand most and can shoot well. It's almost twice the weight of a .22LR.

Beretta 81 or a P32 for deeper/smaller carry. I keep a Silvertip in the pipe and load S&B 73gr FMJ for the rest.

The .32 ACP is nothing to sneeze at, considering it is of no doubt many men have been killed by the .32 since it's inception. Between the world wars, European police, and civilian Carry. It has its place.

 

[Riomouse911]

I’m not much for the .32 ACP, but the .32 H&R and .327 Federal are very cool revolver rounds, IMHO.

Stay safe.

 

[gobsauce]

.32 ACP is like anything else. You either love it or hate it, no real in between.

I only have one .32, a Zastava M-70.

I would love to get one of them old top break six irons, maybe someday.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a Kel-Tec P32 for when deep cover is necessary and I like the gun.

I didn't see the CZ-27 mentioned in this thread.
Here is one made during the war, it's not quite as finished as the prewar pistols.





My uncle gave it to me, he got it when over in Europe fighting during WWII.
It came with 1 original mag and the original holster!

 

[Speedo66]

I don’t have enough experience with the round to love it or hate it.

The only .32 I had was an inexpensive Spanish version, shot it a few times, then it slamfired.

So, hated the gun, the cartridge itself seems to be in the “meh” category, surpassed by the .380 in similar sized guns.

 

[Maneiak]

If you already own a 32, and like it, why not. But when you can get a 380 in the same size package, why would you buy a 32?

 

[JERRY]

If you already own a 32, and like it, why not. But when you can get a 380 in the same size package, why would you buy a 32?

Felt recoil.

I mean if you already own a 380 and like it why not but when you can get a 9 mm in the same size package why would you buy a 380? Then why not a 45 instead of a 9 mm et cetera et cetera.