Kel-Tec P32?
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Richard Simmons
Member
Wife and I both carried one for CCW. Long trigger pull but never had any issues.
Oscar Zulu
Member
I've got two. They work, very long trigger pulls, but they aren't going off till you are sure about it. Not too hard on the hands.
One shoots to sights, one shoots low. Reliable with ball.
Very thin and light.
.32 seems to be more effective than it should be.
OZ
One shoots to sights, one shoots low. Reliable with ball.
Very thin and light.
.32 seems to be more effective than it should be.
OZ
Sistema1927
US Veteran
My KT P32 is the pistol I carry when I can't carry a pistol.
Get one- you won’t regret it.
Had one for years now. End up sticking that in my pocket holster and heading out with it more often than any other carry gun. My LCP 380 is the next most frequent carry.
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Erich
Member
I had one (salesman's sample that I got new for $199 back when they were new tech) that worked well for most people but did not play well with my oddly hollow palms. Sold it (for $199) and instantly regretted that I didn't try a "Glock sock" type device to see it that would have made it perfectly reliable for me.
I still regret that, and it's probably 20 years passed since then.
(You know about rimlock, right? Ball only...but that's what you should be using with such a slow (from this barrel), light bullet anyhow.)
I still regret that, and it's probably 20 years passed since then.
(You know about rimlock, right? Ball only...but that's what you should be using with such a slow (from this barrel), light bullet anyhow.)
31FordA
Member
I bought my first P32 in 2000, carried it as a BUG / off duty gun. In over 20 years the P32 has been great. Reliable, accurate and easy to carry. I like the P32 so much that at one point I owned six of them, had them scattered all over the house. At this point I have three, my original 1st Gen from 2000, a 2nd Gen I bought in 2008, and my Dad’s P32. Dad really liked the P32, carried it everywhere. I still carry my P32 almost every day. I’ve always carried my P32 loaded with Silvertips.
What happened to all my other P32’s? I ended up selling them to friends who wanted one and couldn’t find one. My evangelizing for the P32 was maybe too effective for my own good. KelTec still makes the P32, but I haven’t seen one for sale in a while. If you can find one, buy it.
What happened to all my other P32’s? I ended up selling them to friends who wanted one and couldn’t find one. My evangelizing for the P32 was maybe too effective for my own good. KelTec still makes the P32, but I haven’t seen one for sale in a while. If you can find one, buy it.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
I had one for a few years (always STHP's) My best friend still has it.
Ivan
Ivan
I recently joined the tribe. It’s been my constant pocket gun ever since. So far all good and I’m kicking myself for not getting one sooner. Fun little fact is the P32 weighs less loaded than an empty LCP. I did add the grip sleeve and now it’s just right. Good news is there seems to have been a recent run of 32ACP and ammo isn’t too bad to acquire at a reasonable price.
I realize that this is not the best option for self defense but it certainly makes it easy to always have on you. Check out Lucky Gunners mouse gun series of tests.
I realize that this is not the best option for self defense but it certainly makes it easy to always have on you. Check out Lucky Gunners mouse gun series of tests.
once purchased, will likely prime with Fiocchi FMJ, which I carry in my LCP, as I will take penetration over expansion in such small calibers.
I got mine in 1999. I was attracted to the very light loaded weight, and extremely slim profile. It replaced a much larger and heavier Colt Pony Pocketlite for pocket carry. I always carried a factory 10-round magazine in an opposite pocket.
Being a locked-breach design, the recoil is very mild compared to blow-back .32 pistols of similar size. (None are as narrow or light, including the Seecamp LWS .32, which I have, but never liked that well.) The P32 has an excellent reputation for reliability. Mine has never had a stoppage.
Speer Gold Dot 60-grain ammunition was said to be the most effective, although Hornady Critical Defense may be superior these days. Mine is still loaded with Gold Dots.
The small size and light weight make it easy to always have with you, no matter what you are wearing. Get one.
Being a locked-breach design, the recoil is very mild compared to blow-back .32 pistols of similar size. (None are as narrow or light, including the Seecamp LWS .32, which I have, but never liked that well.) The P32 has an excellent reputation for reliability. Mine has never had a stoppage.
Speer Gold Dot 60-grain ammunition was said to be the most effective, although Hornady Critical Defense may be superior these days. Mine is still loaded with Gold Dots.
The small size and light weight make it easy to always have with you, no matter what you are wearing. Get one.
HardToHandle
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Have a P32 and love it.
Bought the larger P3AT, the .380. Didn’t love it.
.32 ACP is more enjoyable due to less recoil. That said, the .32 adds in some additional twists.
1) .32 ACP will rim lock in the magazine. I experienced this for the first time around 800 rounds downrange. Up until then, I had been careful loading and seating the cartridges. That prompted me to stop using hollow points and just stay with FMJ profile bullets, which are longer and less likely to shift in the magazine.
2) .32 ACP has been hit or miss for availability for long time. As well, lots of domestic ammo is loaded on the anemic side. Sellier & Bellot is reportedly loaded European style with more FPS. That is good for reliability too.
3) P32 needs regular cleaning in my experience, as mine is exceptionally tight. 20-30 rounds down range will gum it up. As well, the stupid extractor and front spring bushing are very easy to lose when disassembling. I bought spares after the third or fourth time dying to find one of the pieces on my basement floor.
Bought the larger P3AT, the .380. Didn’t love it.
.32 ACP is more enjoyable due to less recoil. That said, the .32 adds in some additional twists.
1) .32 ACP will rim lock in the magazine. I experienced this for the first time around 800 rounds downrange. Up until then, I had been careful loading and seating the cartridges. That prompted me to stop using hollow points and just stay with FMJ profile bullets, which are longer and less likely to shift in the magazine.
2) .32 ACP has been hit or miss for availability for long time. As well, lots of domestic ammo is loaded on the anemic side. Sellier & Bellot is reportedly loaded European style with more FPS. That is good for reliability too.
3) P32 needs regular cleaning in my experience, as mine is exceptionally tight. 20-30 rounds down range will gum it up. As well, the stupid extractor and front spring bushing are very easy to lose when disassembling. I bought spares after the third or fourth time dying to find one of the pieces on my basement floor.
Watch your grip!
The long trigger pull on this gun has been mentioned in several previous posts. Attempting to fire the P-32 with a normal grip can result in the trigger finger running into the thumb of the firing hand and blocking complete travel of the trigger. I expect this is more pronounced if you have medium to long fingers.
I have found that placing the thumb of the firing hand on top of the middle finger of the firing hand (rather than above it) leaves plenty of clearance for the trigger finger.
I have had my P-32 for many years, and have yet to have any function problems, once I began using the grip I just described.
The long trigger pull on this gun has been mentioned in several previous posts. Attempting to fire the P-32 with a normal grip can result in the trigger finger running into the thumb of the firing hand and blocking complete travel of the trigger. I expect this is more pronounced if you have medium to long fingers.
I have found that placing the thumb of the firing hand on top of the middle finger of the firing hand (rather than above it) leaves plenty of clearance for the trigger finger.
I have had my P-32 for many years, and have yet to have any function problems, once I began using the grip I just described.
I've carried mine for 20 plus years and shoot it weekly.Best part is you can buy any replacement part (not the serial numbered frame) online and shipped to your door.I trust it to go bang every time.Its consistent enough to put a magazine load in a 6" target at less that 20 feet. I have a couple of P3ATs as well...but the 32 always seems to be in my pocket.
Casual Smith Nut
Member
What he said…
It’s like carrying a deck of cards or pack of cigarettes. I don’t think there’s a smaller, more reliable, AND affordable offering out there in the market. Easily slips into a pocket. The trigger pull is long but not particularly heavy… just heavy enough for worry free pocket carry. Would be great to reload for as a pocket plinker if it didn’t throw the minuscule casings into La-La Land.
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