Brand New Kel-Tec P32, what do I need to know?

[Scorpius]

Just got home from the store with my new P32, having cured the "Bug bite".  Just finished stripping it down, cleaning it, and putting it back together, which was so stupidly easy I already have it memorized from the one time I did it.  The design is simplicity itself.  Anyway, to my question:  are there any major/minor glitches or problems I might encounter, other than the 50 round break-in period?  I've read a bunch of reviews online, and it seems like a winner, but still, just to be sure......?

[jgalar]

You may want to check out or read through the kel-tec owner's group forums at http://www.ktog.org/

[greenjeans]

I have the .380, not the .32, but should be the same or close to it. I always polish the feed ramp on any pistol before taking it out the first time. My .380 has had one stove pipe since I have had it, with American ammo in the blue and red box. Also have had trouble with other cals. of this ammo. Just a caution, also, when disassembling and cleaning, at least on mine, the guide rod holder at the front of the slide will fall out and is a pain to find it is so small. Also, the ejector comes out very easily.

[dgkenned1]

ditto on greenjeans comment on the ejector of the p-32 (that goes for the p-3at also). during a routine cleaning after i'd had it a short time; after reassembly i cycled the slide once to chamber and once to eject and was shocked when it didn't eject. i must have disassembled and assembled it  three times befor i noticed the empty ejecter slot in the frame. i found it on the floor by my right foot. thought i broke something.
thanks,
dave.

[Ron T.]

It's unfortunate you got the .32 ACP since the .380 (Model P3AT) is almost exactly the SAME SIZE & WEIGHT... and considerably more powerful which translates into a better "one-shot-stopper".

And you can get +P .380 ammo that has "ok'd" by Kal-Tec (on page 3 in their P3AT instruction booklet) for their P3AT which brings the muzzle energy up to .38 Special levels... (221 ft/lbs for the .380 vs. 235 ft/lbs for the 158 grain lead bullet .38 Special)... considerably better than the specifications for the little P-32 Kel-Tec.

But I guess that's what makes "hoss races", eh?    :-)


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

[Scorpius]

The weapon is so light that I felt more comfortable with the .32.  I figured that the .380 would just about make my hands bleed shooting.  And I know, it's a defensive gun, I wouldn't *need* to shoot that often, but I like to .  I bought it as backup anyway, going to be getting rid of my Bersa .380 and picking up a Kahr P9 in a couple months for primary carry.  Appreciate your thoughts, though.  If you know anything about the P9, let me know?  Thanks.

Scorpius

[perklo]

The biggest issue with the P32 is a little demon called "rimlock". Being a semi-rimmed case, the .32 can sometimes have the rim of a upper round in a mag slip over the one below it and it will bind your gun up in a manner that you can't clear in a gunfight - IF YOU USE HOLLOWPOINTS...

Hollowpoints all have an overall case length shorter than full metal jacket ammo. Almost all FMJ .32 rounds are so long that there isn't enough room in the mag for enough movement to produce a rimlock.

Many "fixes" like spacers in the back of the P32 mag have been fielded by KelTec fans, but to condense this post by about 3 LONG pages, there is no advantage to using hollowpoints in a .32, full metal jacket from a .32 won't over penetrate, and using the right FMJ brings reliabilty back to nearly 100%.

Stay away from euro-milspec .32 ammo like Seller  & Belliot, they use HARD military primers and you will have misfires. The .32 was considered a military caliber for years in Europe, and they still load the ammo for hard hammer hitting pistols like Walther PP's.

One KTOG member did a BUNCH of chrono and gelatin tests and one of the top three .32 FMJ's for accuracy, velocity and reliability was the Brazilian MagTech brand FMJ. I use them and have never had a rimlock or misfire from them.



Here is a link to his results:
http://www.goldenloki.com/ammo/gel/32acp/gel32acp.htm

I hope this info helps - perklo

[Scorpius]

Thanks for the info, I'd seen that before, especially about the rimlock issue, but I only use FMJ in the P32, mostly because it's such a low powered round, the risk of overpenetration is slight.  Plus, I always prefer 100% reliability.

[Dave in WV]

Check out this site. I did this mod and it works great!
http://www.1bad69.com/keltec/flyerwire.htm