KelTec P32 - Maybe worth a Look

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GeoJelly

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I hesitate to post this because KelTec, and KelTec's, aren't well thought of - but it's my first one and I'm impressed. I picked this up used from a retired gent so I'm only into it for $175. Understand, up front, that these are cheaply made, especially the frame, and the realistic service life is prolly around 700-800 rounds, if that much. I read a lot of reviews though, and people seem to like them. So, I went out on a limb and picked it up. I have to say I am very impressed ... given how much they cost and how cheap they look. The group was fired from a leaning rest at 15-feet - and there's five HP's and 10 Aguila FMJ's in it. The DAO is surprisingly good and I shot the KelTec much better than my long-since sold Bodyguard .380. Recoil and muzzle blast are pretty light, needless to say. I'm going to put 50 more rounds thru it and put it into hideaway duty. I've ordered the (almost mandatory) steel recoil spring guide from Midway since the factory version prolly cost 5-cents. And two Pearce extension mag plates, which, interestingly, appear to also fit Beretta 3032 mags. Speaking of mags, forgot to mention, the mags are made by MecGar and very well made except for the 10-cent KelTec butt plates. Back to the hesitancy to post about this - S&W has given up on this part of the market, I guess. The BG .380 is reliable (for me, anyway) but the trigger pull makes them almost as useless as a paperweight. The KT is much smaller and lighter than any Airweight - albeit with a much less effective round. At the price - I'm very happy with it.

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Edited to add: Forgot to mention, the seller sold me the P32 which his wife never used - he's keeping his! (I found out by having the nerve to ask if he had any ammo to go with it ... :( )
 
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Nice shooting! I like my P32 very much.

If you like that, the Keltec PF9 is just a P32 on steroids. Same trigger, not much larger, but even cheaper.

I took my PF9 to the range a couple a weeks back and ran a couple of hundred rounds thru it and it was flawless.

I like Keltecs. I think they are clever guns for being so cheap. I'm hoping they introduce a improvement to the P11 soon.
 
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I just bought a parkerized P32 off the intranetz.

I have read it’s considered KelTec’s best pistol and has a loyal fanbase. Hoping mine is good to go. I wanted a nice light pocket gun and the P32 has really nice features. The .32 round, while not large, has killed many many people and is without a doubt at least a step up from a .22 or .25. 8 of them to an attacker should prove effective enough to break contact and run.
 
P32

I installed the steel guide rod as the factory rod was curved pretty bad.
I have had a few over the years and never a jam.
Cant speak for any other keltec as i only had the P32s.
Shoots any brand ammo i have tried.
Even the extended mag works every time.
Perfect for always having it in my pocket.
8 or 9 ounces empty.
 
I've owned two and never had a problem. Replaced them with a P3AT but I can't say I specifically like it better than the 32. If I'm pocket carrying its the P3AT and if I'm belt carrying it's usually a M&P 40C. I'm not totally convenience there is that much real difference between 32 ACP and 380. Given the size I found the 32 easier to shoot well than the 380.
 
While Kel-Tec are regarded as a "cheaply" made firearm and they may be, I have found the company to have great customer service. I bought a very early P3AT used with no idea of it's history at a very good price. I shot the daylights out of it and one day something in the trigger linkage let go and I had a limp trigger. I contacted Kel-Tec and advised them of the problem, specifically told them I bought the gun used and was at least the second owner, they had me send it in for service (my cost). I worked in a shop that was a UPS shipper so I got around the outrageous overnight shipping requirement. They completely replaced the whole frame and returned it to me at no cost. I don't know what more you could ask.
 
I have purchased exactly two (2) Kel-Tec guns.

A 1st generation P-32, that had to go back to the KT mothership for warranty repair. It is now almost 20 years old, and runs great.

A KS7 bullpup shotgun, that had to go back to the KT mothership for warrranty repair. So far, so good, but it has only been a few months.

See a pattern there?

KT guns, at least in my experience, run great after you serve as the QC manager, discover the flaws, and get them to fix them. If you don't want to be the QC manager for KT, then don't buy their guns.
 
Might also check out the SCCY postols in 9mm and .380. The SCCY DAO design is very similar to the KelTec. I bought an older used SCCY about 4 months ago (a CPX-1 in 9mm) for $150 (with 2 10-round mags) and after firing about 300 rounds so far, it has performed flawlessly using both mixed factory ammunition headstamps and lead bullet reloads. I don't particularly like the DAO operation (shared with the KelTec) but you eventually get used to it and it is undeniably very safe. I am seriously considering getting the CPX-3 in .380 if I find one on sale somewhere. But it is definitely not a target pistol. With a little practice, you probably can keep most shots on the paper at 15 yards, and I guess that is good enough for a PD pistol where it would probably be used at distances somewhat less than 15 yards.
 
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I've been singing the kel-Tec p32 praises for years and get told I must not know what I'm talking about because I like plastic mouse guns.

Once again. The p32 is the only gun on the market that one can throw into jogging shorts and truley forget it's there while on a 10 mile run. When I bought mine from a private seller I asked why he was getting rid of his, he produced another p32 from his pocket and said he's got several.
 
I haven't disasembled mine yet - waiting for the steel recoil spring rod to arrive. Since I'm still a babe in the woods on these little things - do you all (who've taken yours apart) think the hammer block safety (/drop safety) on these little buggers is substantial enough to not worry about a drop with a loaded chamber? DWalt - I have also thought about a SCCY - but we only have one actual LGS in this immediate area - and that one place does not stock them ... :( Model1989 - I wouldn't even thought of a KelTec until the good doc mentioned he was thinking about trading his. Then, I did some research and found that they are a hidden, albeit unpolished, gem!! And, full disclosure, I traded him for an NAA Mini .22M that I had paid $175 for. I told him that it was a key-holer - but the build quality is so much better than the KT that he didn't hesitate at all. I still have a 1-5/8 inch .22M but the trigger on it makes a BG .380 seem like a Python trigger in comparison.

Swiped a CPX-3 photo from the internetz ... I like the looks!!

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At least with the SCCY, the hammer is completely protected from impact and I cannot see how one could get an unintentional discharge by dropping it. I think the KelTec hammer design is about the same.
 
Another vote for the SCCY. I shot a CPX-2 belonging to my wife's buddy and it plain works. Treat the trigger like a DAO revolver and you are good to go. I found the grip comfortable and it soaks up recoil very well. Our friend has hand strength issues and could really do with the 380 for the easier racking.

Haven't fired a KT P32, but for ultra concealment they are ideal. If the trigger works like the Mk1.5 LCP, then it would be good enough for me.
 
Have one and when you can’t carry anything larger it is easy and has never failed to go bang in many years. Not fancy but no plastic guns look very impressive in my opinion.
 
GeoJelly said:
I haven't disasembled mine yet - waiting for the steel recoil spring rod to arrive. Since I'm still a babe in the woods on these little things - do you all (who've taken yours apart) think the hammer block safety (/drop safety) on these little buggers is substantial enough to not worry about a drop with a loaded chamber? DWalt - I have also thought about a SCCY - but we only have one actual LGS in this immediate area - and that one place does not stock them ... :( Model1989 - I wouldn't even thought of a KelTec until the good doc mentioned he was thinking about trading his. Then, I did some research and found that they are a hidden, albeit unpolished, gem!! And, full disclosure, I traded him for an NAA Mini .22M that I had paid $175 for. I told him that it was a key-holer - but the build quality is so much better than the KT that he didn't hesitate at all. I still have a 1-5/8 inch .22M but the trigger on it makes a BG .380 seem like a Python trigger in comparison.
Click to expand...

From Wiki:

The pistol meets SAAMI guidelines, and will not fire if dropped. The P-32 has passed extensive SAAMI drop-testing at the H. P. White labs, as well as drop tests to military specifications. The trigger must physically be pulled for the gun to fire.[9]
Click to expand...
 
I have found my Kel-Tec PMR 30 to be a great little gun. I like that I can holster it and wear it outside while working all weekend and clean the dirt and dust off with a toothbrush afterwards. It has never failed to dump all 30 rounds when I ask it to.

I may have to look into the PF9 & PF32, since I just bought dies and bullets for a recently acquired 32 mag. What weight bullet do they seem to like best? I doubt I'll buy much factory stuff.
 
I have owned a P3AT for over 15 years, I carry it as a back up and very rarely when anything larger would “Print”.

I keep it cleaned and lubed, and it goes bang.

Once a month I fire three magazines of ammo thru it at 8 inch steel plates from 3 to 7 yards, and it makes them ring.

I would feel just as well armed with the 32 version, which is more enjoyable to practice with.
 
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I have one of the older versions of the P32 (different extractor than the current version) and though I don't remember the actual year I purchased it new, it had to be over twenty years ago.

This gun has been and remains a flawless performer with astounding accuracy for such a small gun. I believe my experience is anything but unique; most P32 owners I've talked to have also been quite happy with theirs.

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