Why CURRENTLY buy a 25 or 32?

[GunLvrNLearner]

In the past i understand it,but TODAY with pocket sized 380's by Kel-Tec,Ruger and others...why buy a 25 or 32?

They are weaker than a 380 and the ammo costs more and is not as easy to find.


When i would look for a Keltec 380 every gun shop out of it would be out would try to push the 32 on me which frustrated me,eventually i found LCP and love it

 

[Cocked & Locked]

because they look cool?

 

[GunLvrNLearner]

Do not get me wrong if a 25 or 32 is pointed at me,i am getting the hell out of there....just dont see why get either with where 380's are today

 

[Chipperman]

1. Because they are cool
2. Historical interest
3. Because you live in MA, and cannot get any of the small .380 or 9mm pistols.

 

[theotherwaldo]

'Cause I want one of everything!

 

[weisse52]

Not all buying decisions are made based on "knock-down" power, or how much the ammo costs.
Some like to collect these pistols, some just find them fun to shoot.

Some just want one of everything!

Sometimes why we buy anything does not always make sense, and it should not have too!

 

[GunLvrNLearner]

The answers so far to me make PERFECT sense, i guess my mindset was from a SD standpoint and overlooked other reasons

 

[WolfMansDad]

Sometimes .32 gives better penetration than .380.

 

[Prepster]

Why? Because there's no sweeter feeling than having a Baby Browning in your back pocket. It just feels right.

 

[Loomis]

Next time you are in a gun shop, ask to hold both a 32 keltec AND a 380 keltec at the same time. You will see there is a definite difference in size.

Some people want the smallest handgun possible even if it means they sacrifice on ammo a little.

 

[makarovnik]

They don't cause nerve damage or try to jump out of your hand when you shoot them.

 

[glockdriver]

mouse guns

There was a story I remember reading a few years back when a gentleman was accosted by 2 street sharks with the intent of doing him great bodily harm and relieving him of his money.
His carry piece was under a heavy winter coat so a 5 shot NAA revolver came out of the coat pocket.
Results one down the other caught later with a bullet wound

Moral: any gun is better than none

 

[Loomis]

I read a similar story awhile back about two thugs forced their way into the house of an elderly man. He had a 22 NAA mini revolver in his pants pocket. He shot them both and they ran away.

 

[MrAnteater]

For some people the recoil of a KT .380 in such a light frame is too hard to grip and control the recoil.

I gave my dad a KT P3AT and he kept limp wristing. He couldn't hold it well enough for the recoil. I then gave him a KT P32 and he shot the .32 much easier.

There is little difference between a .32 and .380 out of short barrel guns. The .32 is perfectly adequate for SD.

 

[Owen Meany]

Cocked & Locked, very minty-looking 1908!

GunLvr.... said:

In the past i understand it,but TODAY with pocket sized 380's by Kel-Tec,Ruger and others...why buy a 25 or 32?

They are weaker than a 380 and the ammo costs more and is not as easy to find.

Well, as nearly everybody has said by now, for those of us whose interest in firearms extends beyond their utility as self-defense tools, there are excellent reasons for buying .25s and .32s.

My own reason happens to be that I am fascinated with the small pocket pistols manufactured in the early part of the last century. They are, in many cases, very finely made (I collect the less finely made ones as well) and ingeniously designed.

Quite simply, they epitomize what I like about firearms in general: that is to say, they involve the interface of many intricately formed parts and the forces acting on them, all of which is undertaken towards the achievment of a clearly defined goal, and they do this in the smallest package possible, which makes the mechanics more interesting to me than those of larger pistols.

Also, at the same time, they all have their own little history (though of course most of the time we can't know what that is) - places they've been, major historical events they may have been used in, lives of every possible distinction or ignominy that they may have intersected in the course of their decades of use, and, yes, people who may have been shot with these same little guns. But then again, the whole historical aspect applies equally to all kinds of guns, not just .25s and .32s, so I guess that doesn't really address the topic here.

Chipperman said:

1. Because they are cool
2. Historical interest
3. Because you live in MA, and cannot get any of the small .380 or 9mm pistols.

I was going to mention Chipperman's reason #3 as well.

Chipperman, that is a very nice Colt 1908 (and Seecamp) you have there as well. I have the same combination, except my Colt is somewhat older at 16xxxx.

 

[VARifleman]

Well, speaking of .32 ACP handguns, not just pocket handguns, .32 ACP is the smallest of the centerfire calibers allowed for bullseye, and is the caliber for international rapidfire.

 

[benderx4]

Personally, now that I've shot a number of these smaller autos, I think the .32 is the perfect caliber for a weapon this size and weight. The .22/.25 is too small, and the .380/9mm is too big. Sorta like the 3 bears, the middle one is just right!

BTW, of the three calibers that the Larry Seecamp Company makes, 25,32, and 380, the owner himself carries a Seecamp LWS32. That tells me something.

 

[jocko]

both would be my last choice with the 25 being at the very lowest of the lowest. Especialy with the 380 which IMO is about as low as you should go for a decent defense handgun and many will even say the 380 is just not enough. But certainly those little oldie 25 and 32 made 40years ago, eak in quality by todays standards and would be super to have in ones collection, but I would never carry either caliber. FWIW IMHO

Bender, I don't think seecamp makes the 25 anymore, other than that it doesn't tell me much of anything. Nothing against his quality of guns either, as they are super quality guns but his 380 would be the weapon of my choice for what he sells, although I like the 380 lcp due to its lite weight..

 

[Technosavant]

Because a metal framed .32 is a whole lot easier to shoot well than a plastic .380 that is slightly thinner and a fair amount lighter. Nothing against the P3AT, LCP, and similar, but I prefer my little Beretta.

 

[searcher451]

My two most recent purchases were in .25 caliber: a Beretta Jetfire (a nice little pocket gun) and a Walther Model 5 (which fills a hole in a collection). I'm delighted to have them both and am currently on the lookout for a Walther TP in the same lackluster caliber.

 

[bgeddes]

My .380 pocket gun (LCP) is way too much for the wife. I am thinking the .32 ACP would be a nice compromise of power vs. shootable. I focus on practicality vs. collectability.

I have read arguing points that certain .22 LR rounds are better for SD than a .32ACP. Sounds fishy, so the research will follow.

 

[heavyshooter]

"I read a similar story awhile back about two thugs forced their way into the house of an elderly man. He had a 22 NAA mini revolver in his pants pocket. He shot them both and they ran away." -- Loomis


This happened in Dallas about 6 or 7 months ago. The home owner was in his late 70's and he lives alone so he puts the NAA in his pocket to answer the door. When he answered the door the two men in their twenties (siblings) rushed in and stabbed him in the head repeatedly. He shot one of them but the sound made both of them run. They were caught because the wounded brother had to go to the hospital.

 

[R.W.Dale]

because the current crop of tiny pocket pistols are much more shootable when chambered for 32acp

Plus there's really NO difference in performance between 32 and 380 neither will reliably penetrate or expand with JHP's and with ball the little 32 penetrates more offers higher mag capacity, is offered smaller platforms and allows for faster follow up shots.

Ask yourself this, which is more powerful one 380 round or two 32's

 

[ldp4570]

.25's and .32's

The older classics are just that. From the Walther model 8 to the Colt and Browning 1903 and 1910 respectively. The Mauser 1910, and 1914 to the Savage 1907 to 1914. The Frommer, the Walther PP and PPK. Even the little Colt 1906, and Browning version and their Baby Browning. These guns oozed class, and are still today top quality firearms, and there are others.

One of the finest .32ACP handguns made was the Saur 38H, and the Mauser HSc during WWII. Most of which would serve anyone well today as a SD gun.

 

[Tomac]

I find the combination of the Beretta Inox Tomcat's size/weight & .32 recoil to be optimal for me for close-in accurate rapid fire (YMMV).
Tomac