Pocket carry P32 vs P3AT

T

TxFlyFish

New member
Thinking about getting either P32 or P3AT both new current gen for pocket carry. How hard is it to shoot P3AT vs P32 in terms of recoil? In defensive situation I'll want more rounds on target and would like to know if the handling of the two guns offsets the caliber choice. I'll be looking into Hornady FTX 380 vs Lehigh cavitator 32 (both solid performers)
 
P32 is my all-the-time gun. Back pocket in jeans, front pocket in looser pants. Not a combat pistol, but a getaway tool.
 
I think Bill summed it up well. I too have a P3AT and a P-32. The P-32 is my always gun.

Wouldn't want to get in a shoot out with it, but it's my "get off me", and "bad breath" gun.
 
I have a P32 in my pocket as I type this response. It is a great little gun. I usually carry a Remington RM380 when I pocket carry. I switch to the P32 when sitting around the house or riding my bicycle or for going to the gym. It's only 6.6 oz. and won't drag the old gym shorts down.
 
Got both. Recoil on both (to me) is ok. Obviously the P32 is lighter but keep in mind, both are delayed recoil - locked breech. Recoil is somewhat tamed.

My P32 is almost always my BUG. The P3AT is my primary on rare occasions. I don't really see too much difference between the two cartridges. If I were to only carry one, I would opt for the P32. I would rather have one extra round.
 
I have a P32, and a Ruger LCP among others. I carry the LCP always, every day. I haven't carried the p32 since I got it last year. I find nothing at all objectionable about shooting my 380 LCP, and would rather have the somewhat better ballistics of that round than the one extra round of the 32 Kel Tec.
The P32 is kind of fun to shoot though, so I put it in my "little poppers" collection along with a Taurus PT22 Poly, Iver Johnson TP22, and NAA 22 short Mini Revolver.
 
As you can tell from the responses so far, felt recoil is very subjective. I have both guns as well, & I'm not particularly recoil sensitive; after about 50 rounds with the P3AT at the range, I'm ready to put it down. The P-32, I could shoot it all day long (but I can't afford the ammo).
 
There's not that much difference in ballistics if you use foreign manufacturers 32 acp Fiocchi 60gr 1/2 jacket chronoed 1000fps from my Seecamp, however with the 380 there are far more good choices. I'll also pile on the Ruger bandwagon and say get a second Gen LCP.
 
I have both and prefer the P32, have carried one for 15 yrs. I can't find a nice pocket holster for the TCP380 I have. I shoot the P32 better in any case.
 
Subjective recoil: I find a full size 1911 shooting 45 ACP "nicer" than my P32. For that reason I haven't been interested in the small polymer .380 pistols at all.
 
My P32 is a frequent carry companion.

Can you verify the reliability of the cavitator rounds in the P32? (maybe another thread)? Mine rimlocked frequently with HP ammo. FMJ rounds work fine, though. Rimlock happens in .32s more often with HP because those are shorter rounds. How does the Cavitator's length compare to .32 HP and FMJ.

Off the topic, I know, but hate for you to buy a preferred gun and "solid performer" ammo and they don't work well together.
 
The Lehigh cavitator are tested on the p32 specifically on their website. It has OAL of 0.945 which is borderline ok for rim lock...I think someone said 0.940 is cut off
 
I own them both. My hands are very large. Both triggers pinch my finger a bit. The 380 isn't any harder for me to shoot, and it makes a bigger hole, so that's the one I carry.
 
racedawg said:
Get a LCP more refined.less jams
Click to expand...

My LCP was a piece of junk Even 2 trips to Ruger, and they still couldn't get it to run right. My P32 has never missed a beat, and has over 500 rounds downrange. If anything, the P32 is more refined. It carries an extra round, locks open on an empty magazine, has a 10 round mag available, and follow up shots are controllable, and accurate. Try that with the LCP.
 
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