The LCP was a major hit when it was first introduced. It was basically a direct improved copy of the KelTec P38T. There has been increased interest in the 32 ACP for personal protection. KelTec's little P32 started ad a sub $200 piece so small that it could be pocket carried by anyone. Today you can't find them and if you do the prieces have more than doubled. With the advances in bullet technology, the 32 can be a viable self defence round. I think that Ruger could make another home run if they would bring out an improved P32. Keeping in mind that it has to maintain its tiny size and maybe increase the capacity a bit at an attractive price point. It could become the ultimate ladies concealed gun of choice as well as for guys in hotter climates where concealment can be an issue. The LC32 should be considered to be added to the Ruger stable.
32 ACP Deep Concealment
- Thread starter stanman
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Rat76
Blackhawk
First off, its P3AT not P38T. Secondly, you can't improve on perfection. ;)
Given the same size gun I would take a 380 over a 32. Better ballistics, bigger heavier bullet.
GunnyGene
Hawkeye
A Leroy Brown gun. :LOL:
rammerjammer
Blackhawk
I wonder just how big a market there is for 32 ACP guns? It's not exactly a crowded market but I question how much profit Ruger could make or lose on introducing a 32 semi auto?
For pocketable guns I prefer 380 ACP.
For pocketable guns I prefer 380 ACP.
DGW1949
Hawkeye
Back when I was a Deputy Sheriff down in Liberty County Texas, I interviewed an attempted rape victim who had shot her attacker four times with her .32 Colt during the attack before he decided to get off of her and leave. And by "leave" I'm saying that despite being shot four times at contact distance, he was still able to get up and run away.....That right there purty-much ended any thought I might have ever had relative to ever using any kind of .32 for any kind of serious business...but hey, if the next guy wants to chance it, that's up to him.
DGW
DGW
The market must be big enough for Beretta, Seecamp, Taurus, Walther, & NAA to still be making them.
I think Walther just reintroduced the PPK in .32acp.
Must be money in it.
I would opt for .32acp (even .25acp) over .22lr, .380 over all of them.
I've had a North American Arms .32 acp Guardian for about 25 years. It has been in the back of the safe for about 20 of those years.
Recoil is brutal, beats the hand up pretty good. Microscopic sights are beyond worthless, stiff trigger (DAO) makes it near impossible to try to hit what you are thinking you are aiming at. I'd give it up in a heartbeat.
Dan
Recoil is brutal, beats the hand up pretty good. Microscopic sights are beyond worthless, stiff trigger (DAO) makes it near impossible to try to hit what you are thinking you are aiming at. I'd give it up in a heartbeat.
Dan
32 H&R Magnum and 30 Super Carry are pretty decent.
I would agree that 32 ACP is a bit anemic. You can buy 32 ACP hollow points but the velocity isn't enough to have them mushroom.
I would agree that 32 ACP is a bit anemic. You can buy 32 ACP hollow points but the velocity isn't enough to have them mushroom.
I strongly doubt the statement that there has been increased interest in .32acp. But show me the facts. Reseach sales of ammo and guns and please backup your opinion.
I like the 32 ACP, and I really thought the 30 Super Carry would be more popular. 32 ACP has worked pretty well for a long time. An LCP or LCPMax in 32ACP would be cool, but a small double stack in 30 Super would be pretty interesting.
Barrel length is more important in the 32ACP than others because you really need the velocity. a 78 grain slug at 900 to 1000 fps has just got to be attention grabbing in my opinion...
Barrel length is more important in the 32ACP than others because you really need the velocity. a 78 grain slug at 900 to 1000 fps has just got to be attention grabbing in my opinion...
I have no dog in this fight, but the NAA .32 Guardian and Seecamps are more arguments against heavy steel, trigger + one-finger grip, tiny pistols rather than an argument against the .32ACP. Your cited shooting characteristics make the point perfectly.
The LCP/LCP2/LCP Max/CW380 are all at least trigger + two-finger grip guns for most people. I prefer trigger + three-finger models, like my EDC P365 & P365-380, both w/12rnd extended magazines whose curved butt contour both fits my hands perfectly and conceals better than the more squared-off X/XL grip models.
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These videos might count for the increased interest question.
Again, I have no brief for the .32ACP nor any dog in this fight, but the best recent discussion on the subject of .32ACP as well as the .32 revolver rounds is by Chris Baker of LuckyGunner.com (with which I have no association), one of the best all-around even-handed, sane, and interesting you-tubers out there.
That said, he's partial to carrying .32 Federal Magnum snubbies loaded with .32 H&R Magnum rounds to get similar ballistics with one more round than the .38 Spl. models offer, along with better recoil characteristics that he documents with extremely thoughtful timed-shooting and ballistic gel testing and commentary:
Again, I have no association with LuckyGunner, though I used to live about 1/2 mile from their office in Knoxville and I've bought ammo from them online exactly once with excellent service.
Off-topic, but if you've ever been tempted by the .44 Magnum, here's the best video on it's history and the current state of play for the cartridge and the guns chambered for it I've seen, updated for 2025:
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I wondered if a you tube article was responsible for this post. But the guy on the video said what I believe is true. "2nd half of last century .32acp declined. Currently near to nothing."
.32acp is not dead but is a dying caliber in this country. Why, the guy provides a good argument why. No offense to those who own and shoot them, I still doubt there is an "increased interest". I have owned dying and dead calibers including the .32acp. If its what you want, go for it.
.32acp is not dead but is a dying caliber in this country. Why, the guy provides a good argument why. No offense to those who own and shoot them, I still doubt there is an "increased interest". I have owned dying and dead calibers including the .32acp. If its what you want, go for it.
My grandpa had a .32 Colt automatic that he carried in his coat pocket. He never had to use it that I know of but he felt perfectly safe when he had it on him.
When he died it grew feet with a lot of other things.
When he died it grew feet with a lot of other things.
Again, not a partisan for .32ACP, but I'd make three points:
1. If .32 was running at a 0.15% interest level, and more recently moved up to a 0.30% level, that would be a doubling of interest level. Is it significant? Not really, but an increase is an increase. Whatever anyone decides, Chris Baker makes a very good case for why someone _might_ consider the .32 in place of the .380 for certain limited applications. He reports very good reliability and shootability out of his particular, relatively high round-count, Keltec P32 as a jogging shorts gun, FWIW.
2. More significantly, the .380 was an orphaned stepchild just above the .32 in interest for a very long time until the boom in concealed carry and the consequent interest in small, easily concealed pocket pistols. The development of ballistically improved .32ACP rounds could make it a natural progression in caliber choice in small guns, given that many folks have since found that their small .380 blowbacks are pretty unpleasant to shoot. I find my 7+1 .380 PPK/S somewhat less pleasant to shoot than my 9mm P365 12-rounder. James Reeves may gush about the Beretta 80's-series revival 80X blowback .380 (a fine gun in its own right), but the locked breech P365-380 and Bodyguard 2.0 are easier to shoot well (well, the 2.0 maybe not quite as much - I own both) and are much more compact to boot. .32ACP may be becoming the "new .380" for more and more people, or it may end up spiraling down into near-oblivion again. I don't think which is clear yet.
(Update: I recently noticed that Beretta (along the lines of Walther below) has released a .32ACP 80X Cheetah.)
3. Walther had what they considered some good reason to have brought back the PPK/S & PP in .32ACP a decade after they dropped them from the line. I suspect it was increased interest in the softer-shooting and ballistically-improved round, given the experience of many with their blowback .380's.
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DGW1949
Hawkeye
I've heard it said that the .380 was an attempt to get the .32ACP up off it's knees. I've also heard it said that even with it's best loads, a single torso hit from a .380 is only going to stop an assailant 50% of the time....Just going from the results I've seen from more serious cartridges, I wouldn't argue with either statement....And yeah, I'm aware of the arguments which center around quick multiple hits being the answer for small calibers. I reckon that's fine and dandy, so long as you're not having to engage multiple targets, or worse, getting shot yourself while trying to place those multiple hits....All in all, I guess it depends how important it is that one doesn't have to dress around his gun, or carry too much weight, or use a real gunbelt and holster...'cause Lord knows we don't want anyone to be uncomfortable these days..LOL.
DGW
DGW
An interesting test would be to see gel block and shooting tests using SD ammo in .32acp vs .380 handguns, say the Kel tecs to get a good comparison.
Chris Baker at luckygunner.com has done that in both calibers, among others, on their website.
X-pilot
Bearcat
I used to own a Rhorbaugh R-9, a 9mm micro pistol, which came with a recoil spring that was supposed to be replaced after 100 rounds. They should have included a replaceable hand that could be screwed into your arm below the elbow. It was sort of like trying to hold a grenade together 8 seconds after pulling the pin.
soufpaw
Bearcat
soufpaw
Bearcat
Surprised that no mention of the Beretta Tomcat......I bought one many many years ago when they first came out. Probably 20 years. I have always always used Hornady 60 grain hollow points. 100% reliable. 100% ejection. 1000 fps. Barrel tilts up to put the final round in after installing the clip. Double or single action. My only complaint over the years is the right hand only safety. Naturally i am left handed. In the front jeans pocket you can't even tell it's there. It's there in my pocket when i feel necessary. Better than going unarmed when you know better.
Soufpaw
Soufpaw
Can’t beat the LCP.
I had an HK4 with a .32 barrel. ( it came with a .22LR, .25, .32, and 380 barrel setup. The .32 was easy to shoot, but after the box was empty, I never shot that caliber again.
I never should have sold that gun…
I never should have sold that gun…
SavannahSteve
Bearcat
I have a 24 year old first generation Kel-Tec P32 that has been my most carried handgun. Fully loaded with 8 rounds, it weighs less than 10 oz and is a whole lot more fun to shoot and easier to put on target than heavy recoiling 380 or 9-mm in a plastic micro pistol.
The 32 ACP is a great little cartridge and with European FMJ ammunition is more a than adequate penetrator. Domestic stuff runs slower (SAAMI vs. CIP standards). I don't know about the newer Berettas, but the hot Euro stuff will crack an older Tomcat frame. There used to be a warning in the manual not to use anything above a certain energy level, (something like 150 ft lbs?) In a good steel frame gun a hardcast 77 gr FP can very safely be pushed to 1000fps and is very effective on jack rabbits and is not hard on the gun. I have a 1903 Colt and a 1964 Walther PP. I have better carry guns but certainly don't feel unarmed with either in a pocket. That 1903 always worked for Bogart in the movies didn't it?
I'd buy a LCP32 just for grins if nothing else
I'd buy a LCP32 just for grins if nothing else
Sometimes I have to go to a very unfriendly 2nd Amendment city where the building rule is no firearms. I have a CHP so I'm legal to carry as it is not a government building. The area around the building, like most Democrat run cities, is not really safe. I insist on carrying and also want to be sure I am not discovered carrying. Have a Colt 1903 stuck an under the armpit pocket in a heavy nylon ti-shirt. It's undetectable under my sport coat. I keep the button of my short at the right level unbuttoned so if needed I can reach in and grab the colt. If a life threatening incident would happen it most likely would be at a close range and if so popping 6 rounds of 32 ACP into someone's head at 5-15 feet. It gives me comfort.
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I had a year long job assignment in Hawaii and bought a KelTec 32 auto for that project. With the draconian gun laws of the rock I wanted a very concealable gun, that was reliable and that I wouldn’t miss when I left because I was worried that declaring it upon departure would turn into a complete $hit$how!
My first couple days of being with the local populace of the area I was living and watching one enormous islander open the heavy wooden door of an establishment with two Aussie Sailors, I decided to learn to integrate rather than aggravate because the 32 would be akin to shooting a griz in the butt with a pellet gun! Haven’t carried anything smaller than a 380 since and not a fan of the 380!
My first couple days of being with the local populace of the area I was living and watching one enormous islander open the heavy wooden door of an establishment with two Aussie Sailors, I decided to learn to integrate rather than aggravate because the 32 would be akin to shooting a griz in the butt with a pellet gun! Haven’t carried anything smaller than a 380 since and not a fan of the 380!
Having owned both the Kel-Tec P32 and P3AT (.380 auto), I'll offer a few comments.
1) Which gun suits you best depends on your anatomy, as well as ballistics. I have fairly large hands, which may be why I did NOT like the Kel-Tec .380 - it's a small gun that didn't fit me, and the recoil was literally painful. I liked the P32 a lot more; it didn't fit my hands any better, but the smaller cartridge made it easy to shoot effectively.
2) The general consensus regarding .32 ammo over at the Kel-Tec forum can be summarized as: expanding ammo might not offer enough penetration, so stick with European FMJ (which is often loaded to higher pressures and velocities than American-made .32 ammo).
3) Ruger offers a pocket .22; a Ruger .32 based on their .380 would be a better defensive weapon (and IMHO would likely sell well enough to be worth producing, simply because most folks will buy a Ruger product before a KT product).
4) I don't expect a company that doesn't chamber anything for .40 S&W to start producing any models in .32 auto, .30 Super Carry, etc. But maybe they'll surprise us by announcing the new, improved .328 Ruger Auto Mag, with production set at 400 guns per year & Hornady producing the .328 RAM ammo...
:)
1) Which gun suits you best depends on your anatomy, as well as ballistics. I have fairly large hands, which may be why I did NOT like the Kel-Tec .380 - it's a small gun that didn't fit me, and the recoil was literally painful. I liked the P32 a lot more; it didn't fit my hands any better, but the smaller cartridge made it easy to shoot effectively.
2) The general consensus regarding .32 ammo over at the Kel-Tec forum can be summarized as: expanding ammo might not offer enough penetration, so stick with European FMJ (which is often loaded to higher pressures and velocities than American-made .32 ammo).
3) Ruger offers a pocket .22; a Ruger .32 based on their .380 would be a better defensive weapon (and IMHO would likely sell well enough to be worth producing, simply because most folks will buy a Ruger product before a KT product).
4) I don't expect a company that doesn't chamber anything for .40 S&W to start producing any models in .32 auto, .30 Super Carry, etc. But maybe they'll surprise us by announcing the new, improved .328 Ruger Auto Mag, with production set at 400 guns per year & Hornady producing the .328 RAM ammo...
:)
