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Range Report Seecamp .32

R

robertrwalsh

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Well, I took my new .32 Seecamp out to the range today. Fired a total of 77 rounds thru it. Two Gold Dot HP, 50 shortened FMJ and 25 home rolled with a Sierra JHP. I had two failures to feed, both with the shortened FMJ. I kept 75 of the 77 rounds inside the #7 scoring ring at 7 yards, which I believe is adequate for the intended use of the weapon. If you don't grip it firmly you can get dinged slightly by the trigger guard. It was interesting, and fun, and I probably am not going to hurry to do it again.

(I also took out my prehistoric Target Masterpiece and put 96 rounds thru it, 48 158 gr RNL and 48 Berrys 158 Gr plated flat-nose. It actually liked the plated bullets better and shoots much better than I can hold. Some day I will have to try to find a pair of square shoulder stocks for it.)
 
Why do folks like the .25 and .32 for self defense use? They are so anemic for that purpose and there are so many other better choices available in more potent calibers??? Just don't get it! Don't get me wrong, I am not volunteering to stand in front of you guys that like em and let you shoot at me!!!
 
Marshal tom said:
Why do folks like the .25 and .32 for self defense use? They are so anemic for that purpose and there are so many other better choices available in more potent calibers??? Just don't get it! Don't get me wrong, I am not volunteering to stand in front of you guys that like em and let you shoot at me!!!
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I'd add 22 Long Rifle to that list, though all these calibers have killed a lot of folks over the years.

I personally carry a more powerful caliber, but I'm confident that a well placed shot with a .32 FMJ will ruin a bad guy's day.

.25 and .22 I'm less enthusiastic about, but I do wish I'd kept that beautiful Beretta Bobcat I had years ago.
 
sigp220.45 said:
Isn't the Seecamp only supposed to work with .32 Silvertips?

I personally also love the .32 ACP. I carry one most days - either a Beretta Model 81 or a Colt 1903.
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Win ST was the original spec, but now take most any HP.

I bought a 32 Seecamp, in 2002 I think, and have yet to fire it. Whats funny is when I got it home I played around with only it for several days and after that I picked up my .40 Chiefs Special and the CS felt like a Desert Eagle 44 mag. Weird.
 
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Marshal tom said:
Why do folks like the .25 and .32 for self defense use? They are so anemic for that purpose and there are so many other better choices available in more potent calibers??? Just don't get it! Don't get me wrong, I am not volunteering to stand in front of you guys that like em and let you shoot at me!!!
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The reason people bad mouth 32ACP, is they have very little or NO experience with the round! Especially in quality handguns!

As a kid, my father always carried a Colt 1908. He dispatched angry dogs. and even one night shot a moue off the curtain rod (Boy was mom mad!)

My first 32ACP was a nazi police Walther PPk. I did a number of penetration tests with American FMJ, German FMJ and Winchester STHP. The American FMJ is a little light but the other two are just fine for warm and cool weather clothing, perhaps better than American 380 FMJ!

But it always comes down to personal preference.

Ivan
 
Marshal tom said:
Why do folks like the .25 and .32 for self defense use? They are so anemic for that purpose and there are so many other better choices available in more potent calibers??? Just don't get it! Don't get me wrong, I am not volunteering to stand in front of you guys that like em and let you shoot at me!!!
Click to expand...

Why any .32 cal?
My Beretta 81 .32 acp is the only semi-auto I shoot decently. 10 rounds center mass.
Ruger LCR .327 Fed Mag, 6 rounds most center mass. .32 H&R mag 6 rounds center mass.
J frame Smith .38 or .357 5 rounds maybe 2 center mass.

Basic odds favor the .32.

Yes, I love shooting the bigger calibers but in a K or N frame.
.38, .357, 45 acp. 45LC, 41 mag
Smaller frames, no thanks.
 
Marshal tom said:
Why do folks like the .25 and .32 for self defense use? They are so anemic for that purpose and there are so many other better choices available in more potent calibers??? Just don't get it! Don't get me wrong, I am not volunteering to stand in front of you guys that like em and let you shoot at me!!!
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That’s why . . .
 
sigp220.45 said:
Isn't the Seecamp only supposed to work with .32 Silvertips?
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As stated above, the 60 grain Winchester Silvertip and Seecamp .32 were made for each other, but other ammo manufacturers have begun making similar cartridges. My Milford, CT Seecamp .32 only likes the Winchester 60 grain Silvertip and Hornady Custom 60 grain XTP loads. The MAGTECH Guardian Gold 65 grain JHP do not feed reliably in it, yet work fine in my Walther PP and my son’s Seecamp, a Southwyck, CT made gun.
 

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I'm not sure I want to put 77 rounds of ANY caliber, in one session, through a handgun that small.

Those Seecamps were designed as a deep cover "get off me" persuader. Or, a Sunday go to meetin' gun.

I remember shortly after they came out, the wait list was something like 18 months.
 
I agree about the sentiment on .25acp, but not so the .32s . If going smaller than 9x19 or .38spl , I would rather have a .32acp than a .380 . Take that however you as to bashing .380, and liking .32acp on purpose .
 
I think John Browning hit some magical formula when he created the little .32 ACP.

I’m not a Marshall and Sanow fan, but their findings usually ranked the .32 auto pretty high.

More recently Greg Ellifritz’s take on stopping power put the mighty .32 at the top of the heap, at least according to his chart below.

It sure is an easy round to shoot, especially out of a decent sized gun like my Beretta or Colt, or a PPK. Maybe that and it’s deep penetrating FMJ bullet make it more effective than it looks on paper.
 

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If I got it right I have attached a photo of both the Seecamp and the Target Masterpiece mentioned. Hard to imagine two more differently intended pistols. As mentioned in an earlier post I got the Seecamp with three extra magazines with extensions (about $85 each right now) original box and all paperwork for $425. It appeared to be unfired. The magazines were still in heat sealed bags. Paperwork all clean, as was the box. I think I got lucky there.
 

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knowledge gained?

Why anyone would want to fire 70+ rounds of ammunition, not recommended by the gun maker, in a gun, does not make sense to me?

The gun maker's specification for the gun's ammunition is very plain, specific, and readily available.

I am sure that there is something that I'm missing here, but, I've had good results following manufacture's instructions, in the past. If an endurance test of one's hands, or of a belly gun, is the purpose of this test, I suppose it means something to the tester, but , it's results were lost on me.

Chubbo
 
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