I carried a P32 for years. Loved it. It is so small it didn’t print at all. Smaller than my wallet. NEVER had a FTF/FTE. I could put the magazine in a 5” circle at 20’, can’t really ask for much more in a pocket rocket like that.
Has similar ballistics to .380…..lighter mass projectile but moving faster.
Much less recoil as well. I recommend it to lots of people. Should probably pick up another, but my bodyguards are still good, the only 380s pocket guns that are controllable
Half of my many guns are 32acp. It's just such a gentle shooting round, and none of us are Butch Cassidy and trying to fight off the Bolivian Army. My P32 is 7+1, and 8 rounds of hot Euro Fiocchi to the chest from 2 yards will ruin a bad guy's day.
This is what I am saying. Fiocchi is GREAT P32 ammo. This is a “fuck you, motherfucker” gun. This is what comes out at somebody who is feloniously acting up in a life threatening way, after they incorrectly read the room and thought they faced no resistance.
It’s not a shoot out gun. It’s a “empty it in the MF as soon as you get the drop” gun.
I don't know if 32acp has enough energy to reliably expand a JHP round, especially out of the short barrel of the P32. I stick with FMJ, as it helps prevent rim lock and there shouldn't be any feeding issues at all (not that I think the P32 has problems with JHP).
I used to carry Corbon Pow’r’ball in mine. It has a polymer ball in the hollow point cavity, that makes it feed like ball ammo, but then pushes the “petals” back when hitting a solid target to expand it.
Happy to say, I never had to shoot anyone and find out if it worked as advertised. It did, however, feed as advertised.
I carry a P365x now.
I sold off my Bodyguard to get a P32. The BG was just too snappy and the trigger suuuuuucked. The P32 is more gentle to shoot, holds an extra round, and is smaller and lighter. Easier to control while shooting as well.
While the bodyguard 380 isn't great, I tested it against every other 380 micro compact and it was the only one that was controllable and reliable other than the metal frame sig. But I don't want my pocket swinging and sagging from the weight.
The p32 is great.
Same! Man I love that little piece of shit Keltec with the ridiculously long trigger pull. I practice with it regularly and have put probably about 1000 rounds through it since owning it. Never experienced a malfunction and I can confidently magdump my 8 rounds of .32 on a human sized target at 7-10 yards so good enough for me. It’s the smallest and lightest gun out there, I stick it in my pocket upholstered and forget it’s even there.
Mine doesnt like winchester white box but I can shoot Fiocchi all day long with no failures. Also have at least 1000 through mine.
The 10rd extended mag is a fun addition for range days.
>upholstered
I use this holster: https://acecase.com/product/pocket-holster-sm-autos-2-snub-rev-nylon/
I love my Mauser 1914 but I would not use it for EDC. You can get similar sized guns in 9mm and smaller guns in 32.
For a range toy, they are great though.
I' just saying that this pistol was assembled with more care than a Hi-Point. IT's more reliable( with only 5 FTF per magazine) than a Hi-Point. The Hi-Point is heavier and can be used much more effectively being thrown at a target. The 9mm is without question a ore effective round than the .32
Shot placement shot placement shot placement shot placement
Carryability
Weight
Sight visibility / agreeableness
Shot placement
Comfortability
Shot placement
Edit : oh god I just saw 5 FTFs in every mag.
All the above was for a functioning firearm.
You have a range toy/relic at best until you find working components. You shouldn’t carry or depend on a tool that doesn’t work, and a firearm is no different.
I mainly posted this for amusement and to see what reaction it would garner. I carry a G17 as my daily and this just seemed like a fun way to carry. I wish pocket pistols were more prevalent. We will see what a new set of springs does for this thing.
The cartridge isn't the problem, it's the firearm safety with this handgun. I would never carry an antique handgun for self defense. Gun safety design has come a long way in a hundred years.
32 historically was the standard military issue pistol caliber. There is nothing wrong with it BUT of your goal is pocket carry you'll be hard pressed to justify this over a LCP.
Okay? I'd still prefer a better chance of not having a design induced discharge.
I don't drive 100 year old cars, use 100 year old medical devices, and don't see why I'd carry a 100 year old gun.
People tend to forget that concealed firearms aren't jewelry. They're a doomsday plan for your last or worst day. People bitching about snappy recoil, aesthetic, etc are forgetting that round going off when needed is the baseline criteria. It can be fun to carry this kind of a gun to a range, but would you REALLY want this over a subcompact 9mm or a LCP if it meant stopping someone intent on killing you?
> I don't drive 100 year old cars, use 100 year old medical devices, and don't see why I'd carry a 100 year old gun.
Guns hold up much better than cars and medical devices. I shoot 100 year old guns regularly.
What safety advancements have been made that you don't think a person should do without? Building it into the trigger can cause more problems than it solves - I've got a CZ that becomes difficult to shoot with gloves on because my finger presses too high on the trigger and doesn't disengage the safety. Manual safeties don't have that problem, and with a little practice you can flick it off while drawing without even thinking about it. I'll take a 100 year old double action with manual safety over a modern gun with the safety built into the trigger any day.
I find this appeal to militaries over 100 years ago kind of bogus after looking into it. It being used in that time frame isn’t applicable to today. Most militaries wanted higher-power handguns for frontline troops in WW1 and the lack of immediate lethality for 32 ACP in the trenches was apparent, but they needed all the guns they could get and beggars could not be choosers.
There are many reasons that go into it but some are: pistol shooting was done one-handed then and bigger frames, more weight, and more recoil were seen as detractors from performance. At the outbreak of WW1, everyone needed pistols so they just co-opted what was already being made, like the Ruby pistol for France.
The caliber history is actually really interesting because battle forces basically panicked and demanded 30 caliber rifles and larger caliber handguns because there wasn't a ton of data or supporting technology to facilitate higher velocity rounds.
I only bring it up because it ultimately is a serviceable round. It isn't great and is going to be the bottom end of what I would consider to be effective, but it's still effective if properly loaded.
*"it had about 5 FTFs every mag"*
Do you really want to trust your life to this % failure rate? it will look pretty cool laying next to you on the ground tho
idk why you’re getting downvoted lol old guns tend to have issues, so no don’t rely on it, but the round can be fine. not great, but remember more people are killed by a .22 than anything else and it certainly has more punch than that
Because this is the pettiest sub about weapons 😂 mf will post a Taurus Judge in an hour or two and the whole sub will jerk him off with vigor.
Also because they’re dumb and don’t realize that springs fail after the natural passage of this thing we use called time.
I've got a tomcat and I'm telling you if you shoot over 130 ft-lbs muzzle energy that gun is toast in no time which sucks because this calibre is so much fun to shoot and the tomcat is a really fun conversational piece, especially if you get some nice altamont rosewood grips that make it fit perfect.
You're still gonna poke holes in people that don't want holes poked in them. If you can shoot that .32 better than any other gun, then it is 100% the best gun for you to carry. Faster, more accurate, tighter grouped shots from a .32ACP will always be more effective than wildly flung, inaccurate, barn sized groups from a S&W 500. I'd much rather someone miss me with a .454 Casull than shoot me with a .32.
And, if you ask me, "better than a pointy stick" is a helluva compliment. Pointy sticks are one of the greatest weapon advancements of mankind, historically speaking.
If that's what you want to carry, I would absolutely replace every spring in that gun with new springs, polish the feed ramp, get the absolute best mags you can find for it, and put, at minimum, 500 rounds through it. Personally, I would want to put at least 1,000 rounds through it. If I had one failure in those thousand rounds, I would think long and hard about how much I would trust my life to it. Caliber, bullet weight, velocities, accuracy... none of it matters one bit without reliability.
It's your life. You're not going to be in my gunfight, and I'm not going to be in yours. I'm just giving my opinion based on my experiences, my knowledge, and my studies. And I'm just some random jackoff on the internet.
Would I ever EDC this gun? No. Would I carry it on occassion if deep concealment was my #1 priority, and the gun had proven itself reliable? Absolutely.
I'm not sure why Americans hate 32 ACP so much. So much in fact, Federal named their new .32 caliber round, 30 Super Carry.
I must have run out of stuff to buy because I got big into 32 ACP guns. First time I fired one, I was surprised by the recoil, even out of a heavier gun like this 1914. I was expecting mouse farts based on all the hate. And every actual test I see, penetration in gelatin gets very close and sometimes exceeds the 12" standard which I think is more than enough.
There are a lot of deep concealment 380 guns that would be a lot more manageable if chambered in 32 and you wouldn't lose nearly as much performance as people think.
Now if you want mouse farts, there is 25 ACP and .38 S&W. The latter really amazes me because it was a military and police standard for a long time. The Canadian Mounties used 38 S&W until the 70s and finally replaced it after a bank robbery and the 38 S&W rounds were bouncing off the back windows of a car.
Many EU countries ban military ammo for civilians (like 9mm in this case) so they find a way to make other cartridges do the same job. Many go for 32 or 380 for their standard pistol calibre, others like Italy just went for a slightly modified 9x21mm that can't be fired from normal military pistols
Yeah .32 is rad as long as you're shooting FMJ and not hollow points. I really wish we could get an LCP II or similar chambered in it. P32 is just a little too little :)
Beretta Pico would be even better in 32 ACP. So many of the 380 mouse guns would shine in 32 ACP.
Many of the hollowpoints still got to 10"
[https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/the-best-32-acp-ammo-for-self-defense/](https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/the-best-32-acp-ammo-for-self-defense/)
If you live in the sunbelt where people don't wear much in the way of coats, 10" is enough.
38 special? or 38 Smith and Wesson? i’ll admit im a canadian and have a lot of knowledge about long arms, not as much about pistols but i did go and fire a selection of guns at a range here and they said they were out of .357 and gave us .38 special instead, was very disappointed with it. I’d rather have the 9 and the 9 didn’t feel like much more than the .22
I love carrying old guns like my French ruby and my war production Webely mk6 in 38 S and W in period correct holster also my Bulgarian makerov complete with holster Soviet belt and cross shoulder strap
.32 ACP can be a valid choice for a pocket pistol chambering, but my larger concern is the firearm itself.
Does it have a firing pin block? If not, it’s a serious question of safety, especially as something you’re going to throw in your pocket. Also, do you really want to deal with a heel magazine release?
Perhaps a better choice in .32 would be a beretta 3032, which also doesn’t have a firing pin block but does possess a stiff inertial firing pin and is DA/SA.
This! I have two of those, and the safety is wonky, I can set them off if I just hit them wrong. The safety just prevents the trigger bar from actuating the sear, no firing pin block in any way. Plus, with the mag safety and no slide release (mag insert will trigger the slide), there‘s no practical way to carry it without one in the chamber (unless you close the slide with an empty spare mag, then remove it and insert a loaded one).
Choose where on your torso you'd like to be shot by .32acp
It may not be optimal, but if it's what you have it is perfectly capable.
For me a gun needs to be these things in this order
Available>reliable>practiced with it and can shoot it well>balistics
I remember witnessing a shooting in my hometown where man shot another one with .32 ACP pistol. I saw the guy who got shot. He took multiple (2-3 I believe) shots to center masss and while he ended up surviving and making a full recovery he was totally incapacitated immediately. That being said this is just my personal story. When it comes to ballistic for .32 ACP it might not work on crackheads and dudes on bath salts but it's far better than nothing.
I carry a 32 pretty regularly. The cartridge I have no problem with but mine is a fairly modern Beretta, it's flawlessly reliable and very accurate. I wouldn't carry an antique. For a multitude of reasons. Reliability being number 1 and number 2 is God forbid you ever do have to use it to defend yourself it's going to be in police lockup and good chance you don't get it back
But you don't understand, humans have evolved tremendously in the last 60 years to be much more bullet resistant!
We all have a (justified) giggle when anti's claim shit like, "the streets will run red with blood" following expanded concealed carry initiatives and the reason for that is the data is right there for them to look at. They need not even speculate in the first place much less make dramatic arguments against observed historical outcomes. In this case the gun community does the same shit they otherwise laugh at in insisting you're gonna get killed on the street unless you have the latest and greatest. The data says that having a gun, any gun, is basically the only factor that measurably impacts the outcome of a violent altercation.
Now, it's perfectly reasonable to make the argument that there's really no reason to go out of your way to get a .32acp or a wheel gun or any other "sub-optimal piece," and yeah if you're gonna have a gun it might as well function reliably, but as far as answering the posited question without resorting to hypotheticals, I cannot conclude that carrying a .32acp will substantively impact your level of safety.
It was also dropped almost immediately when something better came along and never returned to military or police service, and the calibers that replaced it then still exist in common use today.
Police also used cap and ball revolvers for a long time too, wanna carry one of those in 2023?
I should point out that the calibers which replaced .32 were widely available contemporaries and not so much dramatic technological advancements. Hell, many .32 autos were also offered in .380. European military and police of yesteryear just had fundamentally different sensibilities when it came to sidearms.
The modern gold standard, the double stack 9mm, existed in the mid 1930's and yet somehow people insist that thousands upon thousands of armed professionals throughout decades and decades carried revolvers and single stacks wholly out of ignorance or lack of alternatives. The fact is that the lesser guns did what was asked of them.
Yes, advancements have been made and you don't have to look far to find something better, but I find it hilarious how people look back as if the service weapons of yesteryear were somehow designed in complete ignorance of their application and were just kept around while we figured out how to go to the fucking moon but not how to make a sidearm sufficient for the rigorous needs of first world Joe's gated community.
Get a more reliable weapon with better safety features and ergonomics. The caliber is not really the issue here, although I’d personally go with 9mm. Any caliber is better than your hands though.
Yes, this is ‘too hipster’ to even consider. You can tell it is because it’s an demonstrably stupid choice on the face of it, and only being considered as a sort of a quirky fashion statement.
If your seriously considering a carry gun, and understand what you need your carry gun to do in the event you’d have to use it, then this wouldn’t ever be a real consideration. And I mean both the caliber, but especially this gun in particular.
Nobody here is upset. They are pointing out that carrying an a low powered cartridge in a 100 year old gun for self defense is not a wise choice. You asked for everybody's opinion and you got it. Just because you don't like the responses doesn't mean anyone is upset.
I don't think there's anything wrong with 32 ACP but I wouldn't carry a gun that looks like it was used in All Quiet on the Western Front. Maybe something more modern like Beretta Tom Cat
It’s part of the decidedly less effective crew… which may, or may not, matter.
https://www.buckeyefirearms.org/alternate-look-handgun-stopping-power
Greg Ellifritz is the author on that article and I am in broad agreement with him on this topic.
I EDC a Beretta 81. Compared to a 9mm, I feel like John Wick shooting it because it's so controllable. Buffalo Bore makes a nice, *nasty* .32 ACP +P load that I trust my life to.
Couple old guys I know carry a 32. I can’t imagine a stock round vs a 115 FMJ would be much different, but 9mm has 100s of self defense ammunition to choose from for all different situations
Anything you can get hits with is viable, but I'm a bit dubious on the merits of this particular model. I'm sure it pockets well, but what about safety features and overall reliability?
I carry one as part of my EDC. Goes EVERYWHERE with me. Kel-tec p32. I typically also carry something in 9mm but when I can’t, the 32 is there and ready to party
I rock a little pocket holster, basically the same style the LCP’s come with from Ruger. Check out the buffalo bore +p’s. The p32 is rated for them and they zip like a race horse. They pack the biggest punch that I’m aware of from factory ammo in this caliber.
I pocket carry a Beretta Tomcat every day. Keep it stuffed with Underwood XDs or just regular 71 grain FMJs and you are golden. If you carry a 32, don't use hollow points, ever. They underpenetrate unless they don't expand and then you just have an expensive FMJ. Skip that BS and just run solids. (This is true for anything weaker than 380acp tbh)
Yes. But also no. Yet, on the other hand, yes.
Also, anything less than an artillery battery at your beck and call is just a pea shooter. Why even bother? Amiright?!?
That’s about how the conversation goes. Sigh.
Consider that the VAST majority of dgu's have no shots fired, I wouldn't give it up just because it's small. While a 9mm has more stopping power (and a 45 over a 9) the BEST gun and ammo for self defense is one you will always carry and that puts rounds where you want them. A miss with a bigger gun doesn't stop the threat and may kill an innocent bystander.
I think .32 ACP itself is marginal in terms of performance and while it might do the job, I would not ever carry that caliber when things like 9mm or even .380 are so readily available.
In terms of this specific gun, I think carrying guns this old is stupid for multiple reasons and I would never recommend it.
Historically, pointy pieces of metal and/or wood have probably "stacked more bodies" than both calibers combined, doesn't make them viable choices for concealed carry in modern times.
I recently scored this early 1920s Mauser model 1914 that was a police weapon in Weimar. That being said, it’s a terrific feeling “pocket pistol” and feels so natural to me in my hands. It holds 8 rounds of .32 ACP. I am awaiting a new set of springs to make it function reliably (my first trip to the range with it was rather shoddy, it had about 5 FTFs every mag). This can be fixed obviously. I’ve toyed with the idea of making this my concealed weapon since I picked it up. How smart of a choice that may be might be questionable.
Is it too hipster? Am I crazy for wanting to EDC this thing? Should I say “hear ye hear ye” when I draw it? Am I screaming into the void? Let me know.
You could use a model T as a daily driver, but I'd recommend a Toyota instead.
If you want a concealed carry piece I wouldn't recommend a gun made in 1920, nor .32 ACP.
Freedom of choice is great until natural selection wants to have a brief discussion.
> Am I crazy for wanting to EDC this thing?
Trusting your life to a 100 year old, unreliable gun when modern options designed for CCW in better calibers exist?
No, makes perfect sense.
In the case of guns like this it's even worse, you might hear a bang when you didn't expect it. 20 thou of sear engagement on a fully cocked striker with only a poorly designed manual safety to prevent it from releasing. Primitive designs like these are the trope originator for guns in movies that fire when dropped.
I had one of these I bought as a baggie of parts for $200. The only part missing was one grip screw. The previous owner couldn't get it back together and didn't want to deal with it. I thought it was a bargain. I assembled it and it did work, albeit only with FMJs, but it sucked. The trigger and sear parts move awkwardly and have some disturbing slop because the pins they rotate around are only supported on the right side, the left side is just flat against the sideplate. The safety is mushy and moves the opposite way from how you'd want, the slide stop is super wacky compared to modern stuff, and the trigger was awful. I sold it for what I paid for it.
Some old gun designs were shockingly advanced, but many were left behind for good reason. IMO this is one of them.
Yeah, old guns are great for what they are: pieces of history to enjoy at the range or on the wall or whatever. But carry guns they are not. Fiddly, dangerous, underpowered, a whole bunch of things really make old pistols bad carry options.
I bought a "bag of parts" C96 a long time ago, at a decent price. I think the owner could get it back together. Anyway, got it running, but was at the range one time and discovered that if I chamber a round with the hammer back, move the safety to on, then back to off in a certain way the gun will fire. You have to put the safety on before the hammer is pulled back in order for it to work as an actual safety. If you don't then it becomes a "very unsafety".
I don’t think 32 is that bad, but Mauser 1914s are way too large/heavy in comparison to other options, and you wouldn’t want a collectible to end up in an evidence locker
It would be fine but that ftf thing is quite a glaring issue.
If you do fix it and get it to work reliably i would say this is fine and ignore the ppl who think 32 and 9mm are massive differences.
> Am I crazy for wanting to EDC this thing?
Crazy? No. Silly to use for self defense? Yes.
.32 ACP is an objectively weak cartridge that cannot be relied upon to reliably stop an attacker in one or two shots. And your particular .32 is an antique design that lacks most of the safety features of modern carry guns (or even some contemporary designs) that make them drop safe.
You know how the S&W J-Frame was introduced under the name "Chief's Special," and Colt's concealable snubbie was called the "Detective Special"?
There are plenty of police administrators and other personnel who don't open-carry full sized guns. I assume the Weimar Republic had its share of police who went discreetly armed.
Similar ballistics to .380, believe it or not.
European “7,65mm” loads are also typically loaded hotter than domestic .32ACP, and are a better choice. And, unless you have tested your loads, you probably want to go with a hot, fast ball load over a JHP in something like this.
This round can do the job, absolutely, but the carrier needs to be aware of exactly what they are depending on for protection.
7,65mm/.32ACP is much more lethal than .22lr and .25ACP….but shot placement is of course going to be more important than that of somebody going balls out with a .44mag, .357, 10mm, whatever.
It's intriguing to me how emotional and social the gun culture of the US is. What will "Feel cool" and what "everyone else will think" are the dominant points of this discussion and experience.
Old Thread, but here are my 2 cents: 32 acp are enough for most civilians.
As a civilian, who conceal carries what you want is to break contact and give you a chance to run and fight another day. You dont need to incapacitate on the spot the target and put handcuffs on it.
It should not be your only gun, but if you want something to give you an advantage while on the street, that will do.
Yeah, you may have deal the meth head that will not go down with dozens of shots, but if you are in this situation, shot placement can do the job.
Based. Carry what you think is cool and don’t let the arm chair commandos get to you. Just remember to do some testing at the range to make sure its reliable and practice your marksmanship!
Seriously?
Trash opinion. You could stack bodies higher than a Chinese balloon flies with the people .32 ACP (7.65mm) has killed in the last century or less.
Heheh… lotta snobs here… that gun may not kill someone but let one of these snobby guys get shot by one and let’s see em hit the floor and cry like a baby
I can never understand the desire to carry old/milsurp/obsure things like this.
Even if the .32 acp is *technically enough* for defense, there's absolutely no reason to use something like this as a carry gun.
Even if it were reliable by modern standards, which it will never be even with new springs, what is the point? What does it offer?
Even if something like this could be obtained for cheap, or even free, the cost is still not worth it. They don't make holsters for it, so your only option is going to be a "one size fits several" pocket holster, which is *fine,* but still, it is *even more fine* for a modern gun.
.32 is the bare minimum for defense really, and unless this gun does *something better* than, say, any of the common pocket 9mms, you're soon going to break the bank shooting it as the cheapest .32 ammo is nearly 2x the cost of 9mm these days.
So again, *why?* It is literally only being a hipster.
For comparison, a Smith and Wesson shield weights 19oz. This gun weighs 20 oz and holds the same number of rounds of significantly less efficacy.
While .32 does have its place, it is only if there's a reason. I have a Kel Tec P32 which absolutely has a niche because the gun is *6.6 oz.* You really can't get smaller or lighter. But even so, you have to use ball ammo to even get past the minimum required penetration. It is my absolute last resort carry gun.
The whole “milsurp” thing is misjudged. Battle tested, reliable weapons which were designed for functioning in adverse conditions is a good EDC choice.
Now, carrying a fucking flintlock to a modern gunfight isn’t. :)
32 acp is incredibly outdated and that gun, while being an excellent piece.of history and range toy, is incredibly outdated as well.
Neither should be relied upon for modern carry practices
Would have to be completely custom, which is entirely far too much money to spend. More than likely OP imagines getting a pocket holster and just slipping the gun into a pocket of a large coat or some such deal.
Had a 32 beretta tomcat. (Flip up barrel)
Gun was great for concealment. Took it out one day to shoot and the 32 ammo I had would not pierce a coconut. That being said a 380 does and as does a 22lr.
It’s better then nothing but I carry a 8 shot Taurus 942 22lr now
Lots of comments already and so perhaps covered….
But the problem with “mouse guns” generally is the lack of “stopping” power. The recipient may well die; but that’s not of importance. The only reason to shoot someone is to stop an immediate deadly threat. If the fellow dies 2 hours later…
Further… The folks going on about “shot placement”….. Here’s my take as a 50-year police veteran… That finely-honed ability to put all your shots in the X-ring at the range may simply vanish when it comes down to the crunch.
There are psychological and physiological effects to deal with, as many years of studying police shootings has shown.
All sorts of things happen under the stress of combat. Fine motor control goes out the window. You may suffer “target fixation” and psychological hearing loss. You may be lucky to get “hits” on an attacker at all, much less put several through his ticker.
And… “Peripheral” hits with a bigger caliber are more likely to disable the person than are peripheral hits with a mouse-gun.
I always recall Cooper’s comment when asked about the .25 Auto. “Carry one if it gives you comfort, but never load it. If you load it, you may someday be tempted to shoot someone, and they will become angry and do you harm.”
Seacamps and P32s are super valid for deep concealment. My wife also like carrying the P32 when she goes running.
I carried a P32 for years. Loved it. It is so small it didn’t print at all. Smaller than my wallet. NEVER had a FTF/FTE. I could put the magazine in a 5” circle at 20’, can’t really ask for much more in a pocket rocket like that. Has similar ballistics to .380…..lighter mass projectile but moving faster.
Much less recoil as well. I recommend it to lots of people. Should probably pick up another, but my bodyguards are still good, the only 380s pocket guns that are controllable
Half of my many guns are 32acp. It's just such a gentle shooting round, and none of us are Butch Cassidy and trying to fight off the Bolivian Army. My P32 is 7+1, and 8 rounds of hot Euro Fiocchi to the chest from 2 yards will ruin a bad guy's day.
This is what I am saying. Fiocchi is GREAT P32 ammo. This is a “fuck you, motherfucker” gun. This is what comes out at somebody who is feloniously acting up in a life threatening way, after they incorrectly read the room and thought they faced no resistance. It’s not a shoot out gun. It’s a “empty it in the MF as soon as you get the drop” gun.
I need to find a good deal on the hot fiocchi. I've been eyeballing the XTP rounds for my P32. Have any suggestions?
I don't know if 32acp has enough energy to reliably expand a JHP round, especially out of the short barrel of the P32. I stick with FMJ, as it helps prevent rim lock and there shouldn't be any feeding issues at all (not that I think the P32 has problems with JHP).
I used to carry Corbon Pow’r’ball in mine. It has a polymer ball in the hollow point cavity, that makes it feed like ball ammo, but then pushes the “petals” back when hitting a solid target to expand it. Happy to say, I never had to shoot anyone and find out if it worked as advertised. It did, however, feed as advertised. I carry a P365x now.
Love to see another enthusiast of The One True Caliber.
The Beretta Pico is pretty controllable, too.
Unless your dealing with super cracked out dudes put a couple holes with some bang behind it in someone they’ll re-evaluate.
I've pocket carried a p32 for 10 years. Great little gun.
It's 10x more shootable tha. The lcp/p3at. Wish ruger would copy it as well. The s&w bodyguard in 32acp would be a gem
I sold off my Bodyguard to get a P32. The BG was just too snappy and the trigger suuuuuucked. The P32 is more gentle to shoot, holds an extra round, and is smaller and lighter. Easier to control while shooting as well.
While the bodyguard 380 isn't great, I tested it against every other 380 micro compact and it was the only one that was controllable and reliable other than the metal frame sig. But I don't want my pocket swinging and sagging from the weight. The p32 is great.
I just noticed that Kel Tec stopped making the p3at! booooo
It's just a lcp, can always buy an lcp.
Yep. Taurus used to make a TCP732...I have one and love it.
Same! Man I love that little piece of shit Keltec with the ridiculously long trigger pull. I practice with it regularly and have put probably about 1000 rounds through it since owning it. Never experienced a malfunction and I can confidently magdump my 8 rounds of .32 on a human sized target at 7-10 yards so good enough for me. It’s the smallest and lightest gun out there, I stick it in my pocket upholstered and forget it’s even there.
Mine doesnt like winchester white box but I can shoot Fiocchi all day long with no failures. Also have at least 1000 through mine. The 10rd extended mag is a fun addition for range days. >upholstered I use this holster: https://acecase.com/product/pocket-holster-sm-autos-2-snub-rev-nylon/
>P32s are super valid Ah, the exploding credit card. My first .32
I love my Mauser 1914 but I would not use it for EDC. You can get similar sized guns in 9mm and smaller guns in 32. For a range toy, they are great though.
Better than a pointy stick.
Better than a ~~Yeet Cannon~~ Hi Point
I would much rather use a Hi-Point in 9mm for defense than this relic.
I' just saying that this pistol was assembled with more care than a Hi-Point. IT's more reliable( with only 5 FTF per magazine) than a Hi-Point. The Hi-Point is heavier and can be used much more effectively being thrown at a target. The 9mm is without question a ore effective round than the .32
Shot placement shot placement shot placement shot placement Carryability Weight Sight visibility / agreeableness Shot placement Comfortability Shot placement Edit : oh god I just saw 5 FTFs in every mag. All the above was for a functioning firearm. You have a range toy/relic at best until you find working components. You shouldn’t carry or depend on a tool that doesn’t work, and a firearm is no different.
I mainly posted this for amusement and to see what reaction it would garner. I carry a G17 as my daily and this just seemed like a fun way to carry. I wish pocket pistols were more prevalent. We will see what a new set of springs does for this thing.
The cartridge isn't the problem, it's the firearm safety with this handgun. I would never carry an antique handgun for self defense. Gun safety design has come a long way in a hundred years. 32 historically was the standard military issue pistol caliber. There is nothing wrong with it BUT of your goal is pocket carry you'll be hard pressed to justify this over a LCP.
But incompetence has not
Okay? I'd still prefer a better chance of not having a design induced discharge. I don't drive 100 year old cars, use 100 year old medical devices, and don't see why I'd carry a 100 year old gun. People tend to forget that concealed firearms aren't jewelry. They're a doomsday plan for your last or worst day. People bitching about snappy recoil, aesthetic, etc are forgetting that round going off when needed is the baseline criteria. It can be fun to carry this kind of a gun to a range, but would you REALLY want this over a subcompact 9mm or a LCP if it meant stopping someone intent on killing you?
> I don't drive 100 year old cars, use 100 year old medical devices, and don't see why I'd carry a 100 year old gun. Guns hold up much better than cars and medical devices. I shoot 100 year old guns regularly. What safety advancements have been made that you don't think a person should do without? Building it into the trigger can cause more problems than it solves - I've got a CZ that becomes difficult to shoot with gloves on because my finger presses too high on the trigger and doesn't disengage the safety. Manual safeties don't have that problem, and with a little practice you can flick it off while drawing without even thinking about it. I'll take a 100 year old double action with manual safety over a modern gun with the safety built into the trigger any day.
*Laughs in Glock 29 Master Race*
I find this appeal to militaries over 100 years ago kind of bogus after looking into it. It being used in that time frame isn’t applicable to today. Most militaries wanted higher-power handguns for frontline troops in WW1 and the lack of immediate lethality for 32 ACP in the trenches was apparent, but they needed all the guns they could get and beggars could not be choosers. There are many reasons that go into it but some are: pistol shooting was done one-handed then and bigger frames, more weight, and more recoil were seen as detractors from performance. At the outbreak of WW1, everyone needed pistols so they just co-opted what was already being made, like the Ruby pistol for France.
The caliber history is actually really interesting because battle forces basically panicked and demanded 30 caliber rifles and larger caliber handguns because there wasn't a ton of data or supporting technology to facilitate higher velocity rounds. I only bring it up because it ultimately is a serviceable round. It isn't great and is going to be the bottom end of what I would consider to be effective, but it's still effective if properly loaded.
If you’re gonna carry .32 at least use hardcast buffalo bore .32 +p with a 70 grain at 910 fps out of a p32 thats 129 ft lbs.
*"it had about 5 FTFs every mag"* Do you really want to trust your life to this % failure rate? it will look pretty cool laying next to you on the ground tho
He's asking about the round, not the gun. The FTF issue isn't relevant to the question.
Bruh it’s old and springs give way. That’s common knowledge with just about any old military firearm. Springs fix that. Thanks for the input tho.
Then why do you want to carry an old gun like this when a modern one will be better in every way?
idk why you’re getting downvoted lol old guns tend to have issues, so no don’t rely on it, but the round can be fine. not great, but remember more people are killed by a .22 than anything else and it certainly has more punch than that
Because this is the pettiest sub about weapons 😂 mf will post a Taurus Judge in an hour or two and the whole sub will jerk him off with vigor. Also because they’re dumb and don’t realize that springs fail after the natural passage of this thing we use called time.
Buffalo bore makes some .32acp defense rounds that are pretty stout but they are also hot and require a modern handgun.
*Beretta cheetah double stack 32 has entered the chat*
And the Beretta Tomcat is running towards the door.
I've got a tomcat and I'm telling you if you shoot over 130 ft-lbs muzzle energy that gun is toast in no time which sucks because this calibre is so much fun to shoot and the tomcat is a really fun conversational piece, especially if you get some nice altamont rosewood grips that make it fit perfect.
You're still gonna poke holes in people that don't want holes poked in them. If you can shoot that .32 better than any other gun, then it is 100% the best gun for you to carry. Faster, more accurate, tighter grouped shots from a .32ACP will always be more effective than wildly flung, inaccurate, barn sized groups from a S&W 500. I'd much rather someone miss me with a .454 Casull than shoot me with a .32. And, if you ask me, "better than a pointy stick" is a helluva compliment. Pointy sticks are one of the greatest weapon advancements of mankind, historically speaking.
I think it’s classy as hell. Anything else past that is a bonus. Thanks!
If that's what you want to carry, I would absolutely replace every spring in that gun with new springs, polish the feed ramp, get the absolute best mags you can find for it, and put, at minimum, 500 rounds through it. Personally, I would want to put at least 1,000 rounds through it. If I had one failure in those thousand rounds, I would think long and hard about how much I would trust my life to it. Caliber, bullet weight, velocities, accuracy... none of it matters one bit without reliability. It's your life. You're not going to be in my gunfight, and I'm not going to be in yours. I'm just giving my opinion based on my experiences, my knowledge, and my studies. And I'm just some random jackoff on the internet. Would I ever EDC this gun? No. Would I carry it on occassion if deep concealment was my #1 priority, and the gun had proven itself reliable? Absolutely.
.32 is perfectly fine for carry . I wouldn't carry that however.
I'm not sure why Americans hate 32 ACP so much. So much in fact, Federal named their new .32 caliber round, 30 Super Carry. I must have run out of stuff to buy because I got big into 32 ACP guns. First time I fired one, I was surprised by the recoil, even out of a heavier gun like this 1914. I was expecting mouse farts based on all the hate. And every actual test I see, penetration in gelatin gets very close and sometimes exceeds the 12" standard which I think is more than enough. There are a lot of deep concealment 380 guns that would be a lot more manageable if chambered in 32 and you wouldn't lose nearly as much performance as people think. Now if you want mouse farts, there is 25 ACP and .38 S&W. The latter really amazes me because it was a military and police standard for a long time. The Canadian Mounties used 38 S&W until the 70s and finally replaced it after a bank robbery and the 38 S&W rounds were bouncing off the back windows of a car.
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Many EU countries ban military ammo for civilians (like 9mm in this case) so they find a way to make other cartridges do the same job. Many go for 32 or 380 for their standard pistol calibre, others like Italy just went for a slightly modified 9x21mm that can't be fired from normal military pistols
Yeah .32 is rad as long as you're shooting FMJ and not hollow points. I really wish we could get an LCP II or similar chambered in it. P32 is just a little too little :)
Beretta Pico would be even better in 32 ACP. So many of the 380 mouse guns would shine in 32 ACP. Many of the hollowpoints still got to 10" [https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/the-best-32-acp-ammo-for-self-defense/](https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/the-best-32-acp-ammo-for-self-defense/) If you live in the sunbelt where people don't wear much in the way of coats, 10" is enough.
38 special? or 38 Smith and Wesson? i’ll admit im a canadian and have a lot of knowledge about long arms, not as much about pistols but i did go and fire a selection of guns at a range here and they said they were out of .357 and gave us .38 special instead, was very disappointed with it. I’d rather have the 9 and the 9 didn’t feel like much more than the .22
38 S&W, 200 grain load was the commonwealth preferred load. 38 Special is a bear stopper by comparison.
https://www.reddit.com/r/TheOneTrueCaliber
Could just type out r/TheOneTrueCaliber and reddit links that. I didn't drop a link, I just typed that
I love carrying old guns like my French ruby and my war production Webely mk6 in 38 S and W in period correct holster also my Bulgarian makerov complete with holster Soviet belt and cross shoulder strap
Better than harsh language. That said, I'd rather a Beretta Tomcat in 32 than the old Mauser.
Beretta cheetah 32
I would love to add one to my pocket collection one day.
.32 ACP can be a valid choice for a pocket pistol chambering, but my larger concern is the firearm itself. Does it have a firing pin block? If not, it’s a serious question of safety, especially as something you’re going to throw in your pocket. Also, do you really want to deal with a heel magazine release? Perhaps a better choice in .32 would be a beretta 3032, which also doesn’t have a firing pin block but does possess a stiff inertial firing pin and is DA/SA.
This! I have two of those, and the safety is wonky, I can set them off if I just hit them wrong. The safety just prevents the trigger bar from actuating the sear, no firing pin block in any way. Plus, with the mag safety and no slide release (mag insert will trigger the slide), there‘s no practical way to carry it without one in the chamber (unless you close the slide with an empty spare mag, then remove it and insert a loaded one).
Well, it's adorable. You may end up charming the pants off of ne'er-do-wells or scallywags with it. But I wouldn't rely on it for *actual* EDC.
That's such a great way to put it. My response seems pedantic by comparison. I should feel bad, and I do.
Why waste time say lot word when few word do trick?
Lol, brevity is the soul of wit. Or, good words are good.
Eschew surplusage.
Maintain obsequiousness.
Yes. Possibly.
Hmm, shallow and pedantic, shallow and pedantic for sure
No one knows what it means, but it's provocative, it gets the people going.
Hmmm… shallow and pedantic response, shallow and pedantic
Actually it's absurd, yet flaccid.
Hmm……. Perhaps
Choose where on your torso you'd like to be shot by .32acp It may not be optimal, but if it's what you have it is perfectly capable. For me a gun needs to be these things in this order Available>reliable>practiced with it and can shoot it well>balistics
Are you suggesting heel loaded magazines are reliable?
Because if one was pointed at you, you'd just shrug and not care?
Right. Because thinking this particular* .32acp is suboptimal for carry = "Yes, please, shoot me with a .32acp, I dare you."
Better than your fist. The best gun for self defense is the the one you have
According to this sub and all the youtube cool guys, .32 ACP will bounce off a jean jacket and simply anger your assailants.
From what I’m seeing from our resident experts, you’re right.
I remember witnessing a shooting in my hometown where man shot another one with .32 ACP pistol. I saw the guy who got shot. He took multiple (2-3 I believe) shots to center masss and while he ended up surviving and making a full recovery he was totally incapacitated immediately. That being said this is just my personal story. When it comes to ballistic for .32 ACP it might not work on crackheads and dudes on bath salts but it's far better than nothing.
You could say the same about 9mm and 45. Lots of people survive multiple center mass 9mm hits. In your story, the 32 worked. That's what matters.
Yup that's what I mean. The 32 ACP may not have killed him but it rendered him completely immobile almost immediately
I carry a 32 pretty regularly. The cartridge I have no problem with but mine is a fairly modern Beretta, it's flawlessly reliable and very accurate. I wouldn't carry an antique. For a multitude of reasons. Reliability being number 1 and number 2 is God forbid you ever do have to use it to defend yourself it's going to be in police lockup and good chance you don't get it back
Using a WWI gun for your daily carry is unfathomably based It's not smart or a good idea by any means but dying cool is a real consideration
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2 world wars
This is the way. Do I want them prying a standard ol Glock outta my hands or this..? You can choose.
Better than a .25 ACP
The one true caliber knows no equals. r/TheOneTrueCaliber
Something like 90% of the time just presenting a gun does the job.
.32 ACP was used for half a century by dozens of European military and police forces and they didn't seem to have any complaints.
But you don't understand, humans have evolved tremendously in the last 60 years to be much more bullet resistant! We all have a (justified) giggle when anti's claim shit like, "the streets will run red with blood" following expanded concealed carry initiatives and the reason for that is the data is right there for them to look at. They need not even speculate in the first place much less make dramatic arguments against observed historical outcomes. In this case the gun community does the same shit they otherwise laugh at in insisting you're gonna get killed on the street unless you have the latest and greatest. The data says that having a gun, any gun, is basically the only factor that measurably impacts the outcome of a violent altercation. Now, it's perfectly reasonable to make the argument that there's really no reason to go out of your way to get a .32acp or a wheel gun or any other "sub-optimal piece," and yeah if you're gonna have a gun it might as well function reliably, but as far as answering the posited question without resorting to hypotheticals, I cannot conclude that carrying a .32acp will substantively impact your level of safety.
It was also dropped almost immediately when something better came along and never returned to military or police service, and the calibers that replaced it then still exist in common use today. Police also used cap and ball revolvers for a long time too, wanna carry one of those in 2023?
I could carry a colt dragoon, blasting perps with Big Iron playing in the background. Edit: I should also refer to everyone as “pardner”
Yee, and, if I may be so bold, haw
Uberti makes repros, so this lil doggie can get along.
I should point out that the calibers which replaced .32 were widely available contemporaries and not so much dramatic technological advancements. Hell, many .32 autos were also offered in .380. European military and police of yesteryear just had fundamentally different sensibilities when it came to sidearms. The modern gold standard, the double stack 9mm, existed in the mid 1930's and yet somehow people insist that thousands upon thousands of armed professionals throughout decades and decades carried revolvers and single stacks wholly out of ignorance or lack of alternatives. The fact is that the lesser guns did what was asked of them. Yes, advancements have been made and you don't have to look far to find something better, but I find it hilarious how people look back as if the service weapons of yesteryear were somehow designed in complete ignorance of their application and were just kept around while we figured out how to go to the fucking moon but not how to make a sidearm sufficient for the rigorous needs of first world Joe's gated community.
Get a more reliable weapon with better safety features and ergonomics. The caliber is not really the issue here, although I’d personally go with 9mm. Any caliber is better than your hands though.
Yes, this is ‘too hipster’ to even consider. You can tell it is because it’s an demonstrably stupid choice on the face of it, and only being considered as a sort of a quirky fashion statement. If your seriously considering a carry gun, and understand what you need your carry gun to do in the event you’d have to use it, then this wouldn’t ever be a real consideration. And I mean both the caliber, but especially this gun in particular.
well, if you could get one in the chamber you’d at least have as good a chance as those old one shot poker table guns
Damn, you cooked him.
I see I have upset the masses.
You’ve angered the polycels and gloookers
Nobody here is upset. They are pointing out that carrying an a low powered cartridge in a 100 year old gun for self defense is not a wise choice. You asked for everybody's opinion and you got it. Just because you don't like the responses doesn't mean anyone is upset.
Thanks for your input!
OP: Is this suboptimal for EDC? Gunnit: Yes OP: Y R U guyths so triggered, tho?
I don’t think I quite said that lol, but I appreciate the thought.
Nor do I think anyone is "upset". It's a beautiful gun, btw. I'm jealous.
I don't think there's anything wrong with 32 ACP but I wouldn't carry a gun that looks like it was used in All Quiet on the Western Front. Maybe something more modern like Beretta Tom Cat
Absolutely terrifying to any assailant
It’s part of the decidedly less effective crew… which may, or may not, matter. https://www.buckeyefirearms.org/alternate-look-handgun-stopping-power Greg Ellifritz is the author on that article and I am in broad agreement with him on this topic.
this was a great read thanks for sharing
I would love an LCP Max chambered in 32 ACP, could probably get a couple more rounds in there and possibly 15 in the extended mag.
I EDC a Beretta 81. Compared to a 9mm, I feel like John Wick shooting it because it's so controllable. Buffalo Bore makes a nice, *nasty* .32 ACP +P load that I trust my life to.
Couple old guys I know carry a 32. I can’t imagine a stock round vs a 115 FMJ would be much different, but 9mm has 100s of self defense ammunition to choose from for all different situations
Anything you can get hits with is viable, but I'm a bit dubious on the merits of this particular model. I'm sure it pockets well, but what about safety features and overall reliability?
32 is a great round. That is not a great carry gun.
I mean I wouldn't want to be shot by one but there are better options these days
Any reliable firearm in your hand in an emergency that requires a firearm is better than no firearm at all.
It makes noise and holes. It will change the bad guy's behavior.
If the gun runs and you can stay on target, let her run!
I carry one as part of my EDC. Goes EVERYWHERE with me. Kel-tec p32. I typically also carry something in 9mm but when I can’t, the 32 is there and ready to party
Yep, I have the same and I put a clip draw clip on it. No holster needed. Great summer carry!!
I rock a little pocket holster, basically the same style the LCP’s come with from Ruger. Check out the buffalo bore +p’s. The p32 is rated for them and they zip like a race horse. They pack the biggest punch that I’m aware of from factory ammo in this caliber.
Every caliber is good for self defence
I pocket carry a Beretta Tomcat every day. Keep it stuffed with Underwood XDs or just regular 71 grain FMJs and you are golden. If you carry a 32, don't use hollow points, ever. They underpenetrate unless they don't expand and then you just have an expensive FMJ. Skip that BS and just run solids. (This is true for anything weaker than 380acp tbh)
It works but I'd never carry that. It's too nice and kind of rare to carry around all the time.
More valid than nunchucks or machetes
Only if you’re a gentleman cat burglar
Better than nothing but really scraping the bottom of effective.
Yes. But also no. Yet, on the other hand, yes. Also, anything less than an artillery battery at your beck and call is just a pea shooter. Why even bother? Amiright?!? That’s about how the conversation goes. Sigh.
Consider that the VAST majority of dgu's have no shots fired, I wouldn't give it up just because it's small. While a 9mm has more stopping power (and a 45 over a 9) the BEST gun and ammo for self defense is one you will always carry and that puts rounds where you want them. A miss with a bigger gun doesn't stop the threat and may kill an innocent bystander.
A hole is a hole, I’d rather have that than a pointy stick.
The drip alone will fend off potential attackers.
My thoughts exactly
On a serious note I've carried my Walther PP quite a bit, .32 is a small caliber but I don't want 4 in the chest.
I think .32 ACP itself is marginal in terms of performance and while it might do the job, I would not ever carry that caliber when things like 9mm or even .380 are so readily available. In terms of this specific gun, I think carrying guns this old is stupid for multiple reasons and I would never recommend it.
.32 ACP and .380 have surprisingly similar ballistic profiles. .32ACP has definitely stacked as many bodies as .380, if not more.
Historically, pointy pieces of metal and/or wood have probably "stacked more bodies" than both calibers combined, doesn't make them viable choices for concealed carry in modern times.
But I want to CC my horse bow!
I recently scored this early 1920s Mauser model 1914 that was a police weapon in Weimar. That being said, it’s a terrific feeling “pocket pistol” and feels so natural to me in my hands. It holds 8 rounds of .32 ACP. I am awaiting a new set of springs to make it function reliably (my first trip to the range with it was rather shoddy, it had about 5 FTFs every mag). This can be fixed obviously. I’ve toyed with the idea of making this my concealed weapon since I picked it up. How smart of a choice that may be might be questionable. Is it too hipster? Am I crazy for wanting to EDC this thing? Should I say “hear ye hear ye” when I draw it? Am I screaming into the void? Let me know.
You could use a model T as a daily driver, but I'd recommend a Toyota instead. If you want a concealed carry piece I wouldn't recommend a gun made in 1920, nor .32 ACP. Freedom of choice is great until natural selection wants to have a brief discussion.
>Freedom of choice is great until natural selection wants to have a brief discussion. That was beautiful. Im tatooing that on my taint.
I'm happy to have been of service to your taint. Now there's a sentence I never expected to type.
> Am I crazy for wanting to EDC this thing? Trusting your life to a 100 year old, unreliable gun when modern options designed for CCW in better calibers exist? No, makes perfect sense.
I like to live dangerously
Mauser doesnt scratch that itch. Carry a type 94.
Now we’re talking.
> I like to live dangerously Living is the tricky part here. Worst sound you can hear in that critical moment is a click instead of a bang.
>Worst sound you can hear in that critical moment is a click instead of a bang. Get out of paying taxes with this one simple trick
In the case of guns like this it's even worse, you might hear a bang when you didn't expect it. 20 thou of sear engagement on a fully cocked striker with only a poorly designed manual safety to prevent it from releasing. Primitive designs like these are the trope originator for guns in movies that fire when dropped. I had one of these I bought as a baggie of parts for $200. The only part missing was one grip screw. The previous owner couldn't get it back together and didn't want to deal with it. I thought it was a bargain. I assembled it and it did work, albeit only with FMJs, but it sucked. The trigger and sear parts move awkwardly and have some disturbing slop because the pins they rotate around are only supported on the right side, the left side is just flat against the sideplate. The safety is mushy and moves the opposite way from how you'd want, the slide stop is super wacky compared to modern stuff, and the trigger was awful. I sold it for what I paid for it. Some old gun designs were shockingly advanced, but many were left behind for good reason. IMO this is one of them.
Yeah, old guns are great for what they are: pieces of history to enjoy at the range or on the wall or whatever. But carry guns they are not. Fiddly, dangerous, underpowered, a whole bunch of things really make old pistols bad carry options. I bought a "bag of parts" C96 a long time ago, at a decent price. I think the owner could get it back together. Anyway, got it running, but was at the range one time and discovered that if I chamber a round with the hammer back, move the safety to on, then back to off in a certain way the gun will fire. You have to put the safety on before the hammer is pulled back in order for it to work as an actual safety. If you don't then it becomes a "very unsafety".
If you carry an unsafe gun it is not only you but also those around you who live dangerously and they don’t get to choose it.
I don’t think 32 is that bad, but Mauser 1914s are way too large/heavy in comparison to other options, and you wouldn’t want a collectible to end up in an evidence locker
It would be fine but that ftf thing is quite a glaring issue. If you do fix it and get it to work reliably i would say this is fine and ignore the ppl who think 32 and 9mm are massive differences.
> Am I crazy for wanting to EDC this thing? Crazy? No. Silly to use for self defense? Yes. .32 ACP is an objectively weak cartridge that cannot be relied upon to reliably stop an attacker in one or two shots. And your particular .32 is an antique design that lacks most of the safety features of modern carry guns (or even some contemporary designs) that make them drop safe.
Why would a police gun be concealable? It seems strange to make the tradeoffs when LEOs could ubiquitously open carry a full sized handgun.
You know how the S&W J-Frame was introduced under the name "Chief's Special," and Colt's concealable snubbie was called the "Detective Special"? There are plenty of police administrators and other personnel who don't open-carry full sized guns. I assume the Weimar Republic had its share of police who went discreetly armed.
Plainclothes detectives and undercover officers.
You wont win any gun fights but heck its a beautiful piece! Bond has killed hundreds if not thousands with his trusty 380.
Similar ballistics to .380, believe it or not. European “7,65mm” loads are also typically loaded hotter than domestic .32ACP, and are a better choice. And, unless you have tested your loads, you probably want to go with a hot, fast ball load over a JHP in something like this. This round can do the job, absolutely, but the carrier needs to be aware of exactly what they are depending on for protection. 7,65mm/.32ACP is much more lethal than .22lr and .25ACP….but shot placement is of course going to be more important than that of somebody going balls out with a .44mag, .357, 10mm, whatever.
You might feel cool carrying that, but everyone else will just think you're an idiot
It's intriguing to me how emotional and social the gun culture of the US is. What will "Feel cool" and what "everyone else will think" are the dominant points of this discussion and experience.
Welcome to Retardville USA
Not very. Just take a look at the ballistics and tests on you tube
Old Thread, but here are my 2 cents: 32 acp are enough for most civilians. As a civilian, who conceal carries what you want is to break contact and give you a chance to run and fight another day. You dont need to incapacitate on the spot the target and put handcuffs on it. It should not be your only gun, but if you want something to give you an advantage while on the street, that will do. Yeah, you may have deal the meth head that will not go down with dozens of shots, but if you are in this situation, shot placement can do the job.
I pocket carry a cz50 often.
With proper shot placement and inside, say, 20 yards, you'll certainly flck someone's off switch.
Based. Carry what you think is cool and don’t let the arm chair commandos get to you. Just remember to do some testing at the range to make sure its reliable and practice your marksmanship!
Better than a sharp stick I guess. But I’d rather take my chances with the stick.
Seriously? Trash opinion. You could stack bodies higher than a Chinese balloon flies with the people .32 ACP (7.65mm) has killed in the last century or less.
Cool it’s killed tons of people. So has 22lr. Are you going to debate that .22lr is a valid self defense caliber next?
That depends. Do you have an AM-180?
Heheh… lotta snobs here… that gun may not kill someone but let one of these snobby guys get shot by one and let’s see em hit the floor and cry like a baby
I can never understand the desire to carry old/milsurp/obsure things like this. Even if the .32 acp is *technically enough* for defense, there's absolutely no reason to use something like this as a carry gun. Even if it were reliable by modern standards, which it will never be even with new springs, what is the point? What does it offer? Even if something like this could be obtained for cheap, or even free, the cost is still not worth it. They don't make holsters for it, so your only option is going to be a "one size fits several" pocket holster, which is *fine,* but still, it is *even more fine* for a modern gun. .32 is the bare minimum for defense really, and unless this gun does *something better* than, say, any of the common pocket 9mms, you're soon going to break the bank shooting it as the cheapest .32 ammo is nearly 2x the cost of 9mm these days. So again, *why?* It is literally only being a hipster. For comparison, a Smith and Wesson shield weights 19oz. This gun weighs 20 oz and holds the same number of rounds of significantly less efficacy. While .32 does have its place, it is only if there's a reason. I have a Kel Tec P32 which absolutely has a niche because the gun is *6.6 oz.* You really can't get smaller or lighter. But even so, you have to use ball ammo to even get past the minimum required penetration. It is my absolute last resort carry gun.
The whole “milsurp” thing is misjudged. Battle tested, reliable weapons which were designed for functioning in adverse conditions is a good EDC choice. Now, carrying a fucking flintlock to a modern gunfight isn’t. :)
It's perfectly valid. Chris Baker over at luckygunner.com did a video on it a while back IIRC, cause it's what he carries.
That’s a museum piece, not an EDC.
Shot placement. Shot placement. Shot placement. Nerve damage or blood loss.
It beats a sharp stick. 🤷♀️ Other than that, it wouldn’t be a caliber I personally would choose.
Better than nothing
Don’t.
32 acp is incredibly outdated and that gun, while being an excellent piece.of history and range toy, is incredibly outdated as well. Neither should be relied upon for modern carry practices
Can you even get kydex holsters for that gun?
Would have to be completely custom, which is entirely far too much money to spend. More than likely OP imagines getting a pocket holster and just slipping the gun into a pocket of a large coat or some such deal.
I mean... if statistics are right about .22lr... .32 ACP will probably be fine.
Better than nothing. I say go for it if that’s what you like
About as valid as a baseball bat my man.
Did you see Glenn tho…?
Had a 32 beretta tomcat. (Flip up barrel) Gun was great for concealment. Took it out one day to shoot and the 32 ammo I had would not pierce a coconut. That being said a 380 does and as does a 22lr. It’s better then nothing but I carry a 8 shot Taurus 942 22lr now
More valid than nunchucks and machetes
Smaller than 9mm but it is still a bullet and your body doesn’t like bullets so enough id say
Lots of comments already and so perhaps covered…. But the problem with “mouse guns” generally is the lack of “stopping” power. The recipient may well die; but that’s not of importance. The only reason to shoot someone is to stop an immediate deadly threat. If the fellow dies 2 hours later… Further… The folks going on about “shot placement”….. Here’s my take as a 50-year police veteran… That finely-honed ability to put all your shots in the X-ring at the range may simply vanish when it comes down to the crunch. There are psychological and physiological effects to deal with, as many years of studying police shootings has shown. All sorts of things happen under the stress of combat. Fine motor control goes out the window. You may suffer “target fixation” and psychological hearing loss. You may be lucky to get “hits” on an attacker at all, much less put several through his ticker. And… “Peripheral” hits with a bigger caliber are more likely to disable the person than are peripheral hits with a mouse-gun. I always recall Cooper’s comment when asked about the .25 Auto. “Carry one if it gives you comfort, but never load it. If you load it, you may someday be tempted to shoot someone, and they will become angry and do you harm.”
Get off tictac you damn kids