kel tec P-32

[markp]

Here are my questions for P-32 Owners.

1 Is the P-32  mild to shoot in general or especally compared to the p-3at which the wife finds uncomfortable
2 does the slide lock back on the p-32
3 does it fit well in the nemisis holster..........I know it is slightly  thinner  than the p3at
4 Are you able to find ammo and is it more expensive or about the same as 380 ?

Any thing else you have to say good or bad about the p-32 is also of interest.

Thanks

[Bigeasy]

Recoil is not heavy, in the traditional sense, but it is sharp and snappy, due to the extreme light weight of the pistol.  The moulded in checkering is sharp on my hand, and the inside of the trigger guard hits my trigger finger when I fire it, though I do have extremely large mitts.  I don't notice any real difference between it and my Ruger LCP in .380.  If anything, the Ruger might be a little more pleasant without that sharp checkering.  Power for size ratio wise, there is not much else around that packs the punch these pistols do.  I have a Freedom Arms mini .22 mag revolver with a 1 inch barrel that might come close.  Even if you miss with it, the muzzle blast and flash burn will be effective...  These days, .32 and .380 ammo is where you find it, and over priced.  I think about $18 a box for FMJ 32's and 380's last time I bought it.  Usually I just carry in my pocket with these guns, though I imagine a pocket holster would work well given their extreme thinness.  Your wife might find a slightly heavier snub nose revolver with a decent rubber grip more plesent to fire, and easier to hit with.  Even with light weight bullets at standard velocities, the 38 spl hits harder then any 32 acp.

Larry

[Spirithawk]

Here in Missouri, when I bought my P32, .380 ammo was scarce as hens teeth. Every place I called had the .380 Kel Tec but almost nobody had the P32 as a result. I was told many times that the P32 was being sold as fast as they could get them in. That and the fact that many don't like the recoil of the .380 was making them hard to sell. My son carries a P32 as a backup weapon and in shooting his I actually fell in love with it. Though quite small I had no trouble holding on to it one bit. i'd say I have average sized hands. You do have to hold it tight for good accuracy and to insure reliable feeding of cartridges. I also found it surprisingly accurate. I'd let my wife hold as many hanguns as possible in your price range and, figuring in recoil, go with the one she feels most comfortable holding on to. Keeping in mind that if she doesn't really feel comfortable with it and like it she probably will end up not carrying it.

[markp]

Thanks Bigeasyand Spirithawk.

I can t spend money as freely  as I once could so I look to get as much info these days as I can.

Kel Tec has done well to have created a design that other companies  choose to copie.

Take Care

[Graybeard]

I find the recoil from mine to be extremely mild. I shoot ONLY Winchester 60 JHP Silver Tips in  mine. I've never fired one of the heavier FMJ rounds in it so perhaps that accounts for the lighter recoil I perceive. Perceived recoil is a very personal thing really but I don't find it snappy or sharp in my gun with the Silver Tip loads I use. It is also very accurate and shoots to my point of aim. It has quite honestly amazed me in that regard.

My hand size is large for gloves and I think I recall measures 10" around as you measure for glove size.

I'd say it is the mildest recoiling gun I've owned bar none. The Winchester load I use is or at least was the highest rated for stopping power in the .32 ACP. It fits the pocket holster I have just fine tho I honestly don't recall the brand of it.

[markp]

Thanks Graybeard

[SDS-GEN]

Recoil is very mild with mine, however after firing 35+ rounds I start to feel it in my trigger finger.  It is from the inside of the trigger gaurd slapping into my finger during recoil.

[Waldo Pepper]

I been looking into one of these 32ACP KT but leery because of no safety and light (5#) trigger, however it is rather long like a revolver. Currently have thought about carrying my S&W 61 Escort, and with the CCI 22 LR 40gr JHP that has 1650 fps rated, but the rim-fire reliability raises its ugly head every now and then. But even if the CCI ammo only puts out 1200 fps from a 2" barrel pocket gun. The old S&W 61-3 was about 30 to 35 years too soon, but it's a true pocket pistol because of the manual safety. I'm thinking I am going to make it my pocket back-up, and save $250 for ammo that's $6 for 50 rounds.

 

[canon6]

Waldo Pepper, I must respectfully disagree. The KelTec P32 ,has the  best safety known to man. Keep your trigger finger ,off of the trigger.Until you want to shoot.The same safety that has serves S&W, Colt,Webley, Char Arms, and numerous others for close to 170 years. None of these revolvers had to have a safety until Congress decided we are to stupid, and need safetys on revolvers and DAO semi -automatics.
Doug

[Waldo Pepper]

Waldo Pepper, I must respectfully disagree. The KelTec P32 ,has the  best safety known to man. Keep your trigger finger ,off of the trigger.Until you want to shoot.The same safety that has serves S&W, Colt,Webley, Char Arms, and numerous others for close to 170 years. None of these revolvers had to have a safety until Congress decided we are to stupid, and need safetys on revolvers and DAO semi -automatics.
Doug

I glad you disagree, be damn duel world other wise.

With 25 years of military training I know for a fact that if you do not train constantly your training will fail you when you least expect and most need it. If I carry a P32 every day and every day train myself on proper removal from the pocket the odds of a screw up is nil, but how many do that and how many train under stress where a training failure can have negative results on your career, your free time and your paycheck .

You would be surprised how common it is for people who train regular at the range with their gun to totally loose all training for a few moments when too much distraction is faced by that individual. Seen this more times then I can count.

Also like I said the KT does have the same safety that a revolver has with its longer and heavier trigger pull, unlike a Glock which has very short trigger travel and much lighter trigger pull. My Glocks all have optional manual safeties installed for that reason.

[HPBTmatch]

1 Is the P-32  mild to shoot in general or especally compared to the p-3at which the wife finds uncomfortable
- Recoil is subjective, but I find it extremely mild.  Like Bigeasy, I have big mits, and find it a bit too small for my hands.  Also, due to that the front triggerguard wears out my trigger finger.
2 does the slide lock back on the p-32
- Yes
3 does it fit well in the nemisis holster..........I know it is slightly  thinner  than the p3at
- I can't answer you on that particular holster.  What I did was make a custom pocket holster for it out of an old leather welding glove.  Seems to work like a champ.
4 Are you able to find ammo and is it more expensive or about the same as 380 ?
- I buy most of my plinking ammo for it at walmart.  Hit and miss on availability and seems overpriced for what it is....ah well...

Any thing else you have to say good or bad about the p-32 is also of interest.
- The P-32 was a complete impulse purchase for me.  It's a tiny little bugger, and while it's not my favorite plinker it defniately fills a niche. The only mod I've done to it was use an exacto knife to remove excess plastic from around the mold joints.

Hope this helps,
-Match