Recoil: .32ACP vs. .380ACP

S

Skorzeny

New member
I'm thinking about getting a Walther PP for my wife. I've found out that she generally does not like .380ACP-chambered guns, because of the snappy recoil (she'd rather shoot a .45 1911 than a blowback .380).

How does the .32 versions of similar guns fare in recoil to the .380 versions (for example, PP or CZ-83)?

Also, besides PP and CZ-83, who else makes "full-size" guns in .32 ACP?

Skorzeny
 
The action type and specific gun will make more difference than the caliber. I have the .32ACP Keltec P32, a locked breech design. This is the lightest gun I own, and it has much less felt recoil then most other larger and heavier .32ACP guns. I also have a Colt Mustang Pocketlite, which is a very light .380, also a locked breech design. Same comment applies when compared to other .380 pistols.
 
Skorzeny (I still love your handle!), I've owned a number of .32s over the years. I keep trading them for things with more stopping power, but I absolutely love the .32. Comparing the .32 pistols to the .380s in the same models, I have found the .32s to be inherently more accurate and unbelievably pleasant to shoot. There's enough of a push to let you know that you've loosed something of (some small) consequence, but not enough to hurt. Think standard .38 spl load in a 4" K-frame. The .32 and the blowback design are a match made in Heaven.

I think your thinking is right-on: your wife would be well served by a PP in .32 acp.
 
I second the suggestion of the KelTec P32. It is a little small to grip if your hands are large, but the recoil is very mild. The NAA guardian is also a mild recoiling pistol in 32 (haven't tried the .380 version yet), but the sights aren't my style.

Just a thought, but if your wife likes the recoil of the 45, get her a 45. They may be heavier, bigger and harder to grip, but it IS a 45! :)
 
Actually, my wife has enough guns she can shoot just fine. Her favorite are a Rossi M851 (SS, 4" barrel) in .38 Special and CZ-75B in 9mm Parabellum.

I just thought that she might enjoy shooting a PP (a relatively full-size gun) in .32 ACP at the range. She didn't like the CZ-83 in .380 ACP. The recoil was "too snappy" and it hurt her hand in the web.

I am not really considering a Keltec, because of its size and short barrel. So, the consensus seems to be that the .32 ACP in a blowback gun is still considerably softer in recoil than one in .380 ACP, is that right?

How does .32 ACP compare to .22 LR?

Skorzeny
 
If you want a great .380 shooter find a Colt Government .380 or a Colt Mustang .380 in stainless steel.

Real soft recoil and both have a grip that is big enough to hold on to.

I had a Beretta in a .32 blowback and a walther ppk in .32 blowback and both were considerably snappier than the colt in the locked breech design.
 
I'll second the locked breech

distinction. My Star (FI) .380 has a locked breech design and it has significantly less felt recoil than a blowback .380 or .32 in my opinion.
 
Man, this is subjective (and it's been a while), but I'd say a .32 PP recoil feels almost exactly halfway between a .22 PP (and those are sweeeeet though not cheap) and a .380 PP. It's been a long time since I've fired a .22 PP.

It certainly recoils more than a .22 fired out of, say, a j-frame revolver or a Ruger Std/MkI/MkII. But the .32 acp just doesn't recoil much at all. It really is a great round to shoot out of the PP-sized blowbacks.

I know a few women (and fellas even) who haven't liked the "snappy" recoil of the .380 blowbacks, particularly the smaller ones. I've never met anyone who's had a problem with the .32 acp in a blowback.
 
Aside from Colt, which no longer manufactures the locked breach .380 ACP guns, and STAR, which is now defunct, who makes locked breach .380 ACP pistols?

Skorzeny
 
I had a Walther PPKs .32 and got rid of it. I now have a Kel Tec P32 and will keep it a long time. The recoil of the Walther is like a snake biting the thumbweb but the Kel Tec is more like that of a larger gun, slower and less stinging.


The only 380 I ever shot was a Bernedelli about 20 years ago and with that weird thumb rest on the stock it slewed to the right, not a fair test of recoil.

BTW, the Walther is the devil to cock. Really hard to pull back the slide.
 
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