Kel-Tec P32

KaleS · Post by **KaleS** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:27 am

What do you all think of the Kel-Tec P32 pocket pistol? I have been looking for something small that will fit in my pocket for day that I can not carry my 1911. Is a gun this small even worth carrying? Do you know of a larger caliber gun, that will hold a few shots that is "pocket size"?

rspeir · Post by **rspeir** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:53 am

Do you mean the Kel-Tec P32? I don't think Kahr makes a .32 caliber pistol. I have one and like it. I probably would have bought Kel-Tec's .380 if it had been available.

KaleS · Post by **KaleS** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:06 pm

rspeir wrote:Do you mean the Kel-Tec P32? I don't think Kahr makes a .32 caliber pistol. I have one and like it. I probably would have bought Kel-Tec's .380 if it had been available.

Do you think it packs enouggh punch? Even as a .380?

txinvestigator · Post by **txinvestigator** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:22 pm

KaleS wrote:
rspeir wrote:Do you mean the Kel-Tec P32? I don't think Kahr makes a .32 caliber pistol. I have one and like it. I probably would have bought Kel-Tec's .380 if it had been available.
Do you think it packs enouggh punch? Even as a .380?

Depends on its use.

With the availability of tiny9mm handguns now, you might be better served with one of those.

However, if you need really deep concealment, a .380 or even .32 might be right up your alley.

frankie_the_yankee · Post by **frankie_the_yankee** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:06 pm

I have a P32.

Power is minimal. It's OK if you simply can't conceal anything larger. But I never feel comfortable depending on it.

Don't try to shoot it out with Al Qaeda at the mall.

Feed reliability with hollowpoints is problematic. The overall length is shorter than FMJ rounds. So sometimes the semi-rimmed cases can get hung up on each other inside the magazine and lock up the gun. There is a fix for this (a "fly wire"?) that is discussed on the Kel-tec owners group forum.

ktog.org

On mine, the spring holding the transfer bar in place once slipped out of the little groove that retains it. This disabled the gun. Using instructions at ktog.org I was able to disassemble the gun and fix it myself.

I carry it in an Uncle Mike's pocket holster. Occassionally, the mag release gets tripped. (I might wear my pants too tight.) This could be a problem in a tense situation.

Anyway, that's my experience with it. I still carry it when I can't carry anything else.

rspeir · Post by **rspeir** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 2:05 pm

KaleS wrote:
rspeir wrote:Do you mean the Kel-Tec P32? I don't think Kahr makes a .32 caliber pistol. I have one and like it. I probably would have bought Kel-Tec's .380 if it had been available.
Do you think it packs enouggh punch? Even as a .380?

I'd prefer a larger caliber but you can carry it wearing just about anything.

dihappy · Post by **dihappy** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 3:41 pm

I know the Bersa CC .380 is a nice little gun, i have one.

The Corbon DPX in .380 is pretty darn good too.

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Bersa%20Thunder.htm

Found this:

A good comparison would be the Speer Gold Dot in 32 caliber, produces 123 lbs of energy.

The Speer Gold Dot in 380 caliber, produces 196 lbs of energy.

The 380 round weighs in at 90 gr and the 32 round weighs in at 60.

And there is the difference in diamiter too.

IMO that is a significant difference.

MegaWatt · Post by **MegaWatt** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:52 pm

Don't have a P32 but I have 2 Kel-Tec P11s and I just bought a PF9. I've had one of the P11s for 10 years and had zero problems with it. Kel-Tec makes a fair gun. They're not a Glock or Sig but they serve a purpose. The triggers aren't the best but I think the gun is worth the money.
.32 caliber is another story,,,,,,,,,, too small for my preference.

mr surveyor · Post by **mr surveyor** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:02 pm

the Kel-Tec P32 does have it's place. It is an excellent concealment pistol. Even though it is underpowered, as compared to the calibers "in the fours", and the .38 caliber derivitaves, it is still useful. The .32 is very easy to handle for multiple shots in the extremely light, small package presented by the P32. Yeah, most "macho men" on the gun forums will scoff at the idea of anything that's not a big as theirs, but I know a few women with P32's that you would not want to cross

Keep in mind the idea of "shot placement", and recovery for that second, and maybe third shot for someone that just can't handle a lot of recoil. The .32 cal does serve a purpose regardless of the gun.

As for the rim lock problem, I don't think it is just an inherent flaw that can be attributed to the KT P32. The semi-rimmed cartridge can cause rim lock in most any pistol with the same grip angle that can allow one cartridge to over-ride the rim of another below. This is caused by the overall length of the .32 cal JHP ammunition being slightly shorter in overall length than standard FMJ. This potentially allows some movement of the shorter OAL cartridges in the magazine, thus the chance of one round slipping forward past another letting the rim to over-ride than of the one below... locking the rounds in the magazine.

I believe that Kel-Tec makes a kit that will retrofit a P32 magazine to safely handle JHP's. The "Flyer Wire" modification was originated by a talented gun tinkerer that uses the handle "Flyer", and the modification information can be found both on KTOG as well as KTRange (for members).

Personally, I never modified my wife's P32 to reliably handle JHP's as I really do not see any advantage. From most of the ballistic tests I've seen, .32 cal JHP really doesn't have great expansion and loses some potential penetration (compared to FMJ) when impacting several layers of clothing. I keep FMJ's in the wife's P32. She CAN shoot it. I am happy

shipwreck · Post by **shipwreck** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:17 am

Yes, FMJ is preferanble in 32ACP. I carry Fiocchi 32 FMJ in mine. Best penetration of any 32 round out of that gun.

Go here for ballistic tests. Be aware that in THIS test - the WWB from wal-mart is not the same anymore. Now, the 32 FMJ WWB has a flat tip - so U could possibly get rim lock using it.

http://www.goldenloki.com/ammo/geltests.htm

PhilR. · Post by **PhilR.** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:26 am

KaleS wrote: Do you know of a larger caliber gun, that will hold a few shots that is "pocket size"?

Yes - a Kel-Tec P3AT, which is essentially the same size as the P32 but in .380. The advantage of .380 is that it is a more powerful round that is cheaper to buy, and often easier to find.

A smaller but more expensive alternative is the Seecamp .380. Slightly larger alternatives in a larger caliber are the Kahr PM9/40 and the J-frame S&W's in the lightweight versions.

PhilR.

KaleS · Post by **KaleS** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:04 am

Well I did it... I bought the Kel-Tec 380 last night. I wanted something for the days I can not wear my XD. Fits inmy pocket just perfectly. Thank you all for your insights.

mr surveyor · Post by **mr surveyor** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:09 am

congratulations... but, beware... owning KT's can be addictive

solaritx · Post by **solaritx** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:10 pm

I have had the little .32 Kel-Tec for many years. Use it when the clothing does not allow a J-frame to conceal. Consider it back-up or when I just can't carry anything bigger (read .45 <g>).

I got it before they made the .380

If I had the choice, I would have gone with the .380......but with that said, I carry my .32 a fair amount of the time.

Garry N

bullseye10x · Post by **bullseye10x** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 11:59 pm

I have a P32 and love it. The P3AT's (.380 cal) do offer a bit more power in an almost identical size, but also have a LOT more recoil. I actually prefer the .32 because I can shoot it both quickly and accurately at 3-5 yards. That's about the farthest I'd want to engage a target with such a small gun, but when you can't conceal anything bigger, it works just fine.

TexasCHLforum.com

Kel-Tec P32

Kel-Tec P32

Re: Kel-Tec P32

P32 owner here