.32ACP is the cartridge--but what weapon?

T

Teufelhunden

New member
Looking for a wife-gun where greater concealability is the issue. I figure .32 ACP is enough for the type of confrontation she's likely to be in (arm's distance).

It's not that she's not competant is the bigger calibers--she shoots quite well with my Ruger P-94 in .40, but once the weapon size starts shrinking in the bigger calibers, she starts losing control of it; my Taurus PT-140, for example, is too light and kicks too much for her to get comfortable with.

I handled a NAA Guardian and a Beretta Bobcat today, and found them to both be pleasantly heavy for their size. Does anyone have any experience with either of these weapons, or does anyone have another recommendation for a .32 cal weapon?

-Teuf
 
I'd highly recommend the Guardian over any small Beretta auto- they're jam-o-matics. Definatley wouldn't trust my life with one.
 
Well...

I have a Guardian, Seecamp, and P-32. I feel the Seecamp is the very best and prices are a little better right now. The Guardian and the P-32 are perfectly reliable also, but I like the Guardian better. It's built like a little tank. It is heavier than the P-32, but I've taken that out of the equation by carrying the Guardian in an RJ Hedley back pocket holster which, for me, is just like carrying an extra wallet. I don't even notice the extra weight.

KR
 
Keltec p32

Half the weight of the guardian and half the price. Feels like a cap gun. I backed away 3 times, then bought one and since have no regrets. Light, conceals well, no reliability issues thru 500 rounds! Great mouse gun, anywhere any time. Recoil negligible. Good shootin',
dog
 
Teuf,

Nice to see you here. As for the question, depends. How concealable do you need it to be? One of those ex-military CZ .32s could work, or a PPK (true PPK, not PPK/S). If smaller, I do have a P32, works fine, and as they said, feels like a cap pistol. I do feel, the Guardian would require some kind of holster as it is much heavier than the P32.

If all she needs is a PPK size pistol, I do suggest a PPK (even with it's lousy DA pull), if smaller, Guardian or P32 (I think the Guardian now comes in .380, FYI).

Deaf
 
It's kinda big for a .32 nowadays, but in the last year or so I've seen quite a few SIG P230's in this caliber. I don't think they're regular imports, though. Anyway, for pure reliability as well as good ergonomics, it's hard to beat a SIG. YMMV.
 
I find that the Seecamp, NAA, and Autauga .32s are nasty little kickers. Yes, I have shot them all.
The Keltec P32 with locked breech is more comfortable to shoot in spite of its lighter weight. But you might have more trouble finding one that works reliably. Mine took some "fluff and buff". Some are fine, some are not.

A PPK is a hard kicking gun in .380. The .32 would be more manageable but the tough DA remains.
The P230 is more manageable, Beretta better yet.

Actually, my Kahr K9 is at least as comfortable to shoot as any of the lighter calibers, if she doesn't mind the weight, all of 24 oz.

But what you handle and think about it doesn't matter. And me even less. Get with all your friends, go to rental ranges, whatever it takes to let her see, handle, and shoot some different guns. SHE has to decide.
 
Jim's right about one thing alright!

Let HER decide! Stand back and let HER PICK.
If you don't, you'll be buying two and maybe THREE different pistols. (And feeling like a horse's "patoot" besides.) I KNOW where of I speak.

KR
 
Another vote for the P-32

(1) good price
(2) locked breech kicks less than blowback
(3) high capacity/size ratio
(4) chromed finish is virtually rustproof
(5) extremely light
(6) extremely thin
(7) excellent customer service

I've had mine for a good while now and have no probs out of it. Only about 8 FTFs, which were ammo related (apologies to Magtech but it's the only stuff I've put though my spitwad that didn't go off - hard primers, I think).

I contemplated a true "mouse" pocket gun for a long time before settling on the P-32. My fiancee likes hers, as well.

-AL-
 
The Guardian is a great .32 for the money. You will get a stovepipe jam on the last round because the gun doesn't have an ejector, no big deal. I've put about four brands of ammo through mine and all have functioned. My wife has only shot about 2 mags in two years because she doesn't like the recoil of the Guardian, but she will shoot 9mm and .45 all day.
 
Gee, Ewok_guy, thanks for letting me know now!

I've foolishly been carrying one or another Beretta Jam-o-matic every day for nine years. :eek: I could've been killed!

;)

Seriously, most early Tomcats had issues; newer "widebodies" (especially the stainless guns) seem to be much more trouble-free. You still can't dry fire them, though.

As far as Beretta's single action Jetfire, calling it a jam-o-matic is just flat wrong. It's probably the most reliable pocket-size auto on the planet. Search on the word "Jetfire" here at TFL and you'll find a continuous track record of praise and cult-like loyalty enjoyed by few other guns this side of the P7 or SIG P210. I can only remember one thread off-hand where someone had problems with a Jetfire in the years I've been posting here.

jetcat.jpg
 
32 pocket autos

Reliability is the number one factor to consider. I have had several 22, 25, 380 and 32s and lets face it the 32 is better than the 22 or 25 and is much better than a knife and really a "better shoot or I'm gonna die" kinda carry piece. When I am in a safer area I feel very comfortable with it. If I am going into a housing project at night I might feel a little under gunned. Having said that, size and weight for this type of carry gun is the second factor. Too big or too heavy and she won't carry it and when/if she needs it, it will be in the dash or under the seat. Sometimes clothing has limitations on what we can carry too. although fantasic options do exsist where they didn't 5 years ago. Personally I don't want to hang a belt pack on my hip when I am running into a convience store and revolvers buldge in pants pockets and can snag if the hammer is not bobbed.
I have a p94 Ruger with laser that is a wonderfully designed piece and while I would feel much better in the projects with it, I don't go in the projects and if I did I would take it. It is just a little big for stuffing or carrying all day where I live.
Most of the autos mentioned here will work. I have heard of the Berettas jamming, but never have I seen it and really can't believe that Beretta would allow it. Seecamp is over priced but a nice piece. I don't like the fact that it is designed for only one kind of ammo. The NAA Guardian's suggested retail price is $408.00. It looks like a nice pistol too and I have no experience with it. All I can say is that they are all much heavier than they need to be.
I bought a Grendal 380 about 15 years ago. Now talk about ahead of it's time. There was this other new gun called Glock that had a synthetic frame too. The P 12 was cheap to build, pretty reliable but it had a 25 pound trigger pull. No way you can be accurate. Business went down the tubes. The gun only weighed 10 ounces though. It held 12 rounds of 380! That's a lot of power in a pp. I heard that the person who designed the Grendal had gone with a new design and company and couldn't wait to see this Kel Tec and I have to say the P 32 is an amazing carry piece. The thing is 3/4" thick and you litterally can for forget you have a piece in your pocket at 6.6 ozs. It weighs less than most loaded mags. I wear XXL glove size and I can shoot it easily. Mine is very reliable so far and the trigger action is very nice at 5 lbs. Only jam I had on the first mag, first round and the top round was sitting in the mag funny. Operator error. The rest was perfect. Really a about the perfect concealment gun. I paid about $218 for mine in parkerized finish. They use Mecgar quality mags and while a little different than the flasher and pretty NAA and Seecamps I really don' t want anyone to see this thing flash.
Having said this, I also would let my wife pick out her own piece. But show her the Kel Tec P32 first. For the same weight as the NAA 13.5 oz. or Tomcat at 16.9 oz you can get a Kel Tec P11 9mm that only weighs 14 oz. From what I understand if you have a problem with the Kel Tec you can just send it back to them and they will basically do a complete "fluff and buff" (action and trigger job) for you. They have waistband clips, chains to hang them around your neck and other mag options. Really hard to beat and P32 owners seem to really love them all over. I Haven't heard much bad about them.....they even come in different colors! She will love it.:cool:
 
I bought a NAA Guardian. My friend Spectre bought the Kel-tec P-32 serial # 00128.


Out of the box with surplus Nato ammo and with Winchester Silvertips the Guardian was a jam-o-matic...almost every single round it would fail to feed. The P-32 ate everything and asked for more. I was irate, especially since my NAA Guardian was significantly more expensive. I polished the feedramp of my Guardian which improved things greatly but it stills malfunctions more than the P-32. In fact, I don't remember the P-32 EVER having a failure to feed or a stovepipe.

I'm often in a position where the only possible carry is a mouse gun. The P-32 with a front pocket holster by Andrews Leather which is molded to fit your thigh is much more concealable, as well as light to carry.
 
I own three Seecamps, 1 25 ACP and 2 32 ACP (1 pre and 1 post CNC machining/Pine Tree Castings). I also own a customized Guardian 380, and recently purchased a Guardian 32. My G380, was one of the first (SN under 55) and it has performed flawlessly. While the Seecamp is more finely finished, I like the Guardians best. They are built like tanks, capable of firing anything out there, and backed by the finest customer service setup I have ever run accross.
 
Not wanting to step on a bunion, or anything, BUT:


"I figure .32 ACP is enough for the type of confrontation she's likely to be in (arm's distance). "

I always wondered why we don't feel safe unless carrying a real gun, but we are perfectly willing to let the little woman, carry something that requires a much greater skill level to employ effectivly.

Do we really think the threat level, and necessity, will be less for her? If anything, my wife deserves at least the level of performance I think I need. She is trained for that too.

Of course that is just my opinion...........
 
SIG 230/232 with .380 MAGSAFE ammo..Read HANDGUNS- MAY 2002...MagSafe defender( page 46). I'm sold that this seems to be a great carry weapon when using the right ammo. I'll be trying it at my range's SIG days this weekend.If it shoots as good as the article says ,my wife will have a new present..Maybe she won't care for it that much..:D
 
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