'Best' 32ACP ?

[SamAdams]

Hello - a buddy of mine has a Walther PPK/S in 32ACP that he got from an uncle who passed away.
He says he'll never sell it since it has sentimental value.

He doesn't use it as a carry gun, but asked me what is currently 'the best' self defense ammunition for this pistol.
I have no idea, and aren't a fan of pistols less than 9mm or BUG revolvers less than 38 Special, so thought I'd ask this here.
Thanks.

[Chuck Haggard]

Quality FMJs


Maybe, just maybe, and I haven't confirmed this yet, DPX.

But FMJs for sure.

[Sigfan26]

I always stuck with FMJ.

[Chuck Haggard]

I don't know about nowadays, but back when the Geco .32 FMJ was very popular with folks who carried guns like PPKs. I noted that from a friend's Walther PP that ammo was accurate, reliable, and rather hot for a .32acp.

[SamAdams]

Thanks Chuck, I'll mention that to my friend.

[Chuck Haggard]

http://www.rareammo.com/Geco-32-ACP-73gr-FMJ-50-Rnds_p_2100.html

[VT1032]

nevermind, video was corbon regular jhp, not dpx.

[Gadfly]

I briefly owned and carried a KelTec p32... problem was, when carried clipped to my boot, the semi rimmed brass would bounce around in the mag and would lock together like legos. If I loaded it at the range and shot it, it ran like a champ. If I loaded it, carried it for a day, them pulled out to shoot at the range, rim lock after a round or two. Every...damn...time.... I ditched it and never looked back. I am done with that cartridge.

[Wheeler]

I briefly owned and carried a KelTec p32... problem was, when carried clipped to my boot, the semi rimmed brass would bounce around in the mag and would lock together like legos. If I loaded it at the range and shot it, it ran like a champ. If I loaded it, carried it for a day, them pulled out to shoot at the range, rim lock after a round or two. Every...damn...time.... I ditched it and never looked back. I am done with that cartridge.
That sounds like a problem with the gun rather than the ammo.

[Gadfly]

I would assume any .32 cal gun could be a candidate for rim lock. I know the KelTec is pretty much a turd. But I see the rim lock as a problem with the ammo.

I know this is not the subject of the post, just thought I would share the experience. Not trying to hijack the thread!

[Jim Watson]

Lacking Geco, I use Fiocchi.
Got to try some that has been in the Keltec for a while, though.

[RevolverRob]

Fiocchi has always run well in the various .32s I have had or run into over the years. My father has an almost obsessive love of .32 ACP. I keep hoping the DPX will pan out, so I can build him some weird .32 ACP "old man gun" for when he finally stops carrying his M&P9 (which I hope is never).

RE: Kel-Tec P32 reliability. Kel-Tec update the magazine some years ago (about a dozen now?) to include a spacer that is angled to prevent rim lock. In my experience the latest guns are 100% with full-power FMJ and Gold Dots, even when shaken, rattled, or rolled. I just don't trust the Gold Dot to penetrate deep enough.
-Rob

[ACP230]

I bought a bunch of RWS ball .32 some years ago.
It works well in several .32 ACP pistols including a Manurhin (Walther) PP.

[Gadfly]

My gun was purchased around 2000... So I guess I have the first gen magazine. I freely admit to dumping the gun around 2003..,

[Totem Polar]

No love for the silvertip? Seems to have a decent (relatively) track record, probably better than the .380 version, yes?

I dunno: sold the Seecamp a while back and wouldn't consider my own wartime PPK for anything other than safe queen status.

[Drifting Fate]

If I were to carry a .32, I would carry ball. When I had a Seecamp .32 (jewel of a pistol, but miserable to shoot), I carried Silvertips per the factory requirement, though I never thought it would make much difference between that and FMJ.

[Tamara]

My father has an almost obsessive love of .32 ACP.

That's just crazy. :D

[RevolverRob]

That's just crazy. :D

I thought of you when I wrote that line. He has or has had a Dryse, Cz24, Cz27, PPK, Sig P230, CZ70, and CZ72. I really want to find him an Savage 1907, a Colt 1903, a CZ83, and a Beretta 81 or 82. He loves old .32s more than I love .357s...and that is just...a lot.

[TGS]

For some reason I love the old 32s as well.

I never had rimlock problems with the Mauser 1914 or HSc....even carrying the later as a BUG until I figured it'd be a bad idea to have to shoot someone with a gun stamped with Swastikas. Those two were definitely my favorite early century pistols. Their quality was exceptional, and in no way eclipsed by modern pocket guns.

The Sauer 38H was pretty exceptional, as well. Bit bigger, though.

[Tamara]

I really want to find him an Savage 1907, a Colt 1903...

Savages are cool and you know I love 'em, but every American gun nut should have a 1903 or 1908 just because. :cool:

[Chuck Haggard]

Savages are cool and you know I love 'em, but every American gun nut should have a 1903 or 1908 just because. :cool:

Not sure there are enough of those to go around. Perhaps we need a club where people get visitation for several weeks at a time, then pass the gun off to the next guy/gal?

[Chuck Haggard]

No love for the silvertip? Seems to have a decent (relatively) track record, probably better than the .380 version, yes?

I dunno: sold the Seecamp a while back and wouldn't consider my own wartime PPK for anything other than safe queen status.

Any JHP from a .32 that expands will badly under penetrate. The Silvertip is one of those "legends" that needs to die.


Ref rimlock and such;

IMHO the Kel Tec was built with a really poor grip angle, and this contributes to rim lock issues, If the angle is more angled then the rounds stack up in the magazine differently so that this doesn't happen. The P32 is damn near 90%

I've noticed that European and other foreign .32 ammo has a bevel to the back of the rim, think a mini version of what you see on the back of a 7.62x54R or .303 British round. This allows a rim that is locked on the wrong side to make the jump over and feed anyway. Lots of US ammo has a thinner rim and no bevel, which is an oversight IMHO, and it leads to a hard rimlock that is tough to clear. .32s do have much more history in Europe as a serious use cartridge though, they simply have more experience with that round than we do.

[HCM]

I thought of you when I wrote that line. He has or has had a Dryse, Cz24, Cz27, PPK, Sig P230, CZ70, and CZ72. I really want to find him an Savage 1907, a Colt 1903, a CZ83, and a Beretta 81 or 82. He loves old .32s more than I love .357s...and that is just...a lot.

I had a SIG P230 in 32 ACP. It was a neat little gun but essentially a safe queen/plinker used expensive ammo. It had a lanyard loop as I believe the ones imported to the US were either surplus or contract over runs from a Japanese police contract.

If your dad is a 32 auto fan, you need to get him a P7K3.

[LSP972]

Savages are cool and you know I love 'em, but every American gun nut should have a 1903 or 1908 just because. :cool:

Indeed. I have been semi-looking for an '03 for some time, but the nice ones cost a kidney and/or your first-born...

.

[Mike U.]

First, hello. I'm a new member (born yesterday).

Have you looked at Buffalo Bore's .32 ACP? https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=313
I have an old .32 ACP, made by Tanfoglio, and, imported by Excam. It is a Model G. T. 32. This pistol shoots these Lead free, all Copper, Barnes bullets pretty well. I don't have a chronograph, so, I cannot attest to the stated velocity of 1150 FPS, but, they shoot pretty hot for a .32 ACP round. Hope this helps!

[abu fitna]

Couldnt help but comment when I saw the title of the thread. My view on the .32 ACP is perhaps not as negative as most (having carried one in a particular high risk environment as a last ditch backup / third gun to long gun and sidearm), but would only in my view be acceptable outside of the backup role if run from a Skorpion with controlled full auto (in a place where one was stuck with Soviet era weapons). Someone once told me to think of that combo as a shotgun - basically 00 performance - in a smaller package for confined spaces. We can argue the accuracy of this point (especially when one is considering terminal ballistics), but it stuck with me.

Very specialized use case indeed at this point, I should think. But I do love the elegance of the old examples....

[Chuck Haggard]

First, hello. I'm a new member (born yesterday).

Have you looked at Buffalo Bore's .32 ACP? https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=313
I have an old .32 ACP, made by Tanfoglio, and, imported by Excam. It is a Model G. T. 32. This pistol shoots these Lead free, all Copper, Barnes bullets pretty well. I don't have a chronograph, so, I cannot attest to the stated velocity of 1150 FPS, but, they shoot pretty hot for a .32 ACP round. Hope this helps!

Mike, the unknown with that ammo is it's terminal performance. All of the .32acp JHPs I have tested have over expanded and under penetrated. The Barnes bullet in .380 acts that way as well. I have seen no competent testing on the .32acp with the Barnes bullet, made by anybody.