Asking, just because I can.....32acp

[Cardboard_killer]

shot placement x 3. I've been looking for a kel tec to carry in my pocket, but haven't seen one yet at a reasonable price.

 

[kwh]

If the .32 a.c.p. expands, it will not penetrate deeply enough.
Check out the Lehigh Defense 32 auto 50 gr. Xtreme Cavitator.
Copper bullet ,normal pressure, good penetration on gel tests , feeds well, causes extra wound cavitation due to unique shape of bullet.
Minimal recoil in my Kel_tec 32.
My Daughter uses the Lehigh bullet in her short barrel carry Kahr CW380.

 

[kwh]

Walther makes the PK 380. Easy to rack slide. Larger in size so recoil is manageable. DA/SA with thumb safety like the Berettas.
I believe Ruger now also makes a .380 based on their small 9 mm frame.
Favorite .380 carry loads are either Lehigh or XTP bullets.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

The Europeans load 32 ACP much hotter that SAMMI specs allow. I had a 2 pound coffee can of RWS 32 FMJ's. They were about 100 fps faster than Winchester FMJ, and about the same feel as Winchester STHP.

I too have a early Tomcat 3032. It is the smoothest Berretta I have ever handled (My dad's wife has a 3032 SS model and the action feels like running two sheets of 60 grit sandpaper across each other!)

I only carry the Tomcat as #2 gun or even #3 gun! (usually in ankle holster) But all I carry in it is STHP! I bought a spare mag, but never took it out of the wrapper.

Ivan

 

[murphydog]

It's such a low pressure and light recoiling round, I'm surprised that it cracked the original frames.

.32 ACP (SAAMI spec) is 20,500 psi - more than the dreaded .38 Special + P (18,500) and almost at .32 H & R Magnum (21,000). Plenty of force to get the slide moving quickly against the frame.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Jessie, Dave- they are harder to find but you might want to have your wife/daughter look at the 332's in .32 H&R mag. They can practice with .32 longs and carry the H&R mags. The trigger on my 332ti is very nice and with longs a pretty soft shooter. There are some good defense loads in H&R.

Hi Jim:

Thanks for the recommendation. I have a 432PD in .32 H&R Magnum, and I would love to arm my daughter with that, but I absolutely hate off-body carry, and am encouraging my daughter to carry the piece on her person, and not in a purse, backpack, etc. As stated earlier, she's a little person, and the Tomcat is actually probably going to cause issues for her to carry on her person.

Regards,

Dave

 

[jimmyj]

I'll look into that too.
I have a 642 and 442 but I don't think she'll like the recoil enough to practice.

If you reload, start her with a small charge of Bullseye with a 148gr wad cutter.

 

[LVSteve]

The Sig 290RS in 380 is a really easy gun to rack, as is the P250 subcompact in 380.

I've never actually handled one, but I understand the KelTec P32 is easy to rack and is a locked breech design with minimal recoil.

 

[Cardboard_killer]

I heard that there were problems with the Walther CCP, but if they've ironed them out, that should be an easy gun to rack.

However, proper technique can have the weakest racking the slide. One fo my coworkers, a 72 year old woman with diabetes owned and racked a Glock 22, and shot it pretty well, too!

 

[mcmaniac]

My wife has a Ladysmith that I got her for Christmas that she shoots pretty well and likes to carry. She carried a Sig p238 for a while, but ended up liking the revolver better after practicing with a 19-3 w/ a 6" barrel.
She feels more sure of herself with the revolver, and confidence in what you carry is really important. Plus, she likes to train with it using .38 special, and will use it more more than any other weapon we have, so that counts for a lot.
If you like Beretta, check out the Cheetah in .380. My wife tried that and did OK with it.

 

[Frank46]

I have one of the French made under license from Walther Manhurin PP in 32acp. First off have heard all the stories about American 32acp being under powered. Had a box of Federal FMJ and a couple boxes of Italian Fiocchi FMJ and decided to see what if any difference there was between the two different brands. First went the Federal FMJ, no problems with how that little pistol operated. Then the Fiocchi which was the same bullet weight. Slightly more felt recoil but the pistol ran well with it. Not much of a comparison but outside of slightly more felt recoil not much of a difference. Love that little PP. Definitely need a holster to go with it. Being over weight especially around the waist you could not tell if I was carrying or not. Great little autos. But you do need to watch how you grip it as the slide can bite you if not careful. Frank

 

[rwsmith]

Consider teaching her......

Jessie:

I would love to arm my daughter with something more powerful - the .32H&R Magnum comes to mind immediately - but I realize that as she is a small statured person, she'd never carry anything much larger than the Tomcat. I'd love to have her carry my .32ACP Seecamp, but she lacks the hand and upper body strength to cycle the slide. I've toted the Seecamp for years. It's not a fun pistol to shoot, and I cannot imagine trying to shoot one in .380ACP. When I first acquired the Seecamp many, many years ago, the WW-Silvertips were the only rounds recommended by the factory. I know from experience that I can hit the target reliably with Silvertips, and as I am old and kind of reluctant to change, have just stayed with the Silvertips even though other ammo is now approved by the factory: L.W. Seecamp Co. - Ammo Recommendations

Good luck,

Dave

Consider teaching her the "Left hand acroos and hold the slide and the right hand pushes the frame" technique for cycling. Makes hard slides much easier to handle.

 

[31FordA]

I've had a KelTec P32 for 17 years, have always carried Silvertips in it. I picked the Silvertips because it had always been the load recommended for the Seecamp, and it had a good reputation. They've always run flawlessly in my P32, but then again just about everything has run flawlessly in my P32. The P32 serves as a back up gun, or back up to my back up gun.

I think any decent .32 load would be acceptable in the Tomcat. The important thing is a load that runs reliably, no .32's are likely to provide the mythical one shot stop. I've always figured that the 8 rounds of .32 in my KelTec should be enough to at least discourage the threat.

 

[policerevolvercollector]

I have a Kel Tec P32 that feeds any type of round that I've tried. The key here is shot placement. This takes PRACTICE.

As stated above, NEVER expect a one shot stop.

This drill has been part of our qualifications for as long as I can remember.

Mozambique Drill - Wikipedia

At 7 yards (preferably further !) you should be able to do this without even thinking about it with any handgun that you carry to defend yourself or others.

Drill Of The Month: Failure To Stop - Bing video

Best,
Charles

 

[Jessie]

Excellent drill for that round and most other handgun rounds, actually.