Poll: .32 the caliber time has passed by?

[nehalemguy]

I purchased some of the Italian police surplus Berettas that were being sold for peanuts a couple years ago. The Model 81 has turned out to be one of my favorite pistols and now gets taken on more camping trips than nearly any other firearm I own. Fun and pleasant to shoot, very accurate, and very concealable if needed.

Now, if only ammo costs would ease up for .32 ACP.

 

[ditchtiger]

I have some steel conversion cartridges that allow me to shoot 32's from my Mosin's.

 

[ditchtiger]

 

[washagonian]

I purchased some of the Italian police surplus Berettas that were being sold for peanuts a couple years ago. The Model 81 has turned out to be one of my favorite pistols and now gets taken on more camping trips than nearly any other firearm I own. Fun and pleasant to shoot, very accurate, and very concealable if needed.

Now, if only ammo costs would ease up for .32 ACP.

View attachment 1923380

Wow, that single action Gardone target model is a rare bird.

Both pistols look beautiful - especially the 81, having been a LE surplus.

I bought a police surplus model 84BB (380 ACP). I found a Browning BDA barrel in 32 ACP and a couple of Beretta Model 81 mags (32 ACP) and all I need to do to convert my Model 84 to shoot 32 ACP is drop-in the barrel - that's it, nothing else (other than use the 32 ACP mags).

You're right about the cost of 32 ACP ammo. 32 ACP has averaged about $0.33 CPR between Feb. 2024 and July 2024. It cracks me up that during the same time period, 357 mag, 38 special and 45 ACP have cost the same, or even LESS during some weeks.

[Source: https://southerndefense.com/ammo-prices/]

TWYLALTR

Cheers.

 

[CountryGent]

It would be great if someone made 32acp without the semi-rim so you don't have to worry about rim lock in a magazine.

It has been done. The Chinese 7.62×17㎜ Type 64 Rimless is just that. The Type 64 and 67 pistols chambered in said.

 

[Nick Burkhardt]

It has been done. The Chinese 7.62×17㎜ Type 64 Rimless is just that. The Type 64 and 67 pistols chambered in said.

I need something that I can count on for my p32.

 

[Alexx1401]

Yesterday at the Flee Market at "Antique Power Land" a guy had a box of 100 .32 acp empties. Don't really know anything about the cartridge, but thought about buying them and getting dies, a gun and bullets for them.

There used to be a LOT of used pistols floating around in this caliber. It was a fairly common round over seas for a long time and a lot were imported. Bound to still be many floating around in great shape. Round is of course pricey factory as not enough is made. Easy of course to roll but can be tedious due to how small the cases are. Over the years had many of the steel frame ones that looked a lot like the old PPK. They used to be so cheap it was fun to play with. In a pistol that size they are a REALLY fun shooter as there is not much recoil.

 

[Alexx1401]

I need something that I can count on for my p32.

Have you ever had them lock up? I have heard this all my life but having burned through a box car of the ammo in different pistols I have yet to ever actually have it happen to me. If its happening with your KT do you have extra mags? If not it may be worth trying a different one.

 

[Nick Burkhardt]

Have you ever had them lock up? I have heard this all my life but having burned through a box car of the ammo in different pistols I have yet to ever actually have it happen to me. If its happening with your KT do you have extra mags? If not it may be worth trying a different one.

Yes, failure to feed due to rimlock. Now I load one less than capacity in my p32 mags to keep the cases from bunching up. My Sig P322 also experiences rimlock if you do not load the double stack mags carefully.

 

[CountryGent]

Have you ever had them lock up? I have heard this all my life but having burned through a box car of the ammo in different pistols I have yet to ever actually have it happen to me. If its happening with your KT do you have extra mags? If not it may be worth trying a different one.

Same. And I've shot a ton of .32 ACP over the decades, including in a P32. (I have experienced rim lock in a .22 WMR auto though.)

 

[Wombat of Doom]

The 327 has way more blast and recoil, but has good ballistic performance.

One great thing about revolvers clambered in 327...they can also fire 32 H&R Magnum, 32 S&W Long and short...a very versatile revolver.

I find 327 recoil on par with a 9mm. My wife can shoot 327 fine but prefers the h&r magnum. I routinely carry a 327, (and a 1903)

 

[Nick Burkhardt]

A .32 ACP case topped with a 125gr Sierra MatchKing.

 

[bcp]

Didn't see the newest one mentioned yet. NOT 30 caliber.

SAAMI Publishes 30 Super Carry Cartridge Specs

Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI) has published the cartridge and chamber drawings of the 30 Super Carry (30 S Carry) cartridge.

www.thefirearmblog.com

Specs to compare the other 32's here:

SAAMI Pistol Cartridge Catalog | The Ballistic Assistant

www.theballisticassistant.com

Bruce

 

[Wombat of Doom]

Have you ever had them lock up? I have heard this all my life but having burned through a box car of the ammo in different pistols I have yet to ever actually have it happen to me. If its happening with your KT do you have extra mags? If not it may be worth trying a different one.

I have when using a Beretta 84 magazine in an 81 that was insufficiently modified at the feed lips. Keep in mind, I was using a hammer and anvil to change feed lip angles, and I got good at it, but initially when I didn't have my angle right, I got rim lock. I suspect rim lock is a function of defective magazines based on my experience.

 

[L84Cabo]

In an auto pistol the 32 acp is almost always a better choice than the 380acp, in the Small Round Things I'm very found of the 32 H&R mag

Why is this? I've never owned either round and know very little about them.

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

Why is this? I've never owned either round and know very little about them.

The terminal ballistics are close enough to not make a difference, you normally get at least one extra round with the 32, in the same gun the extra recoil can make a huge difference in control and comfort and if you are shooting suppressed with a blowback action (like most of them are*) the 380 will almost always open the action before the bullet has left the bore so you will get a loud port pop, the 32's don't tend to do that.


*From what I have seen the new tiny S&W looks like it is not a blowback and uses the same action as the Shield, those should be very soft shooting!

 

[Ura-Ki]

A .32 is still a very viable cartridge, especially with reliable semi autos like the Walther PP and Beretta offerings, I especially love the Beretta 81 in this flavor, and suppressed, these are SERIOUS for a stealthy pistol. I have the parts to do a Mini 1911 compact in this chambering (.32 Colt), just need to find the time and a reamer to bring it to life, should be a scary fun little piece when done!

 

[Wombat of Doom]

A .32 is still a very viable cartridge, especially with reliable semi autos like the Walther PP and Beretta offerings, I especially love the Beretta 81 in this flavor, and suppressed, these are SERIOUS for a stealthy pistol. I have the parts to do a Mini 1911 compact in this chambering (.32 Colt), just need to find the time and a reamer to bring it to life, should be a scary fun little piece when done!

In lead we trust has the threaded 1903 barrels Allegheny Arms has the Beretta 81 threaded barrels.

 

[Mr Thomas]

My wife prefers a 32 Taurus revolver over the 22 magnum revolver. She feels it's a better self defense tool over the 22. She also likes it better than a 38 that she says is to snappy under recoil. I'm glad it goes with her every time she leaves the house. Truth be told she shoots her 32 better than I shoot my 357/38. It gives me peace of mind for her safety.
Mr Thomas

 

[ma96782]

7.65mm Semi-Autos (aka : .32 ACP) are the way to go......

View: https://youtu.be/tU98uP7pXA8?si=Pio7RwWdam6Ky1wW


Rrrrright.....it was good enough for him. LOL.

Aloha, Mark

PS....more info.

.32 ACP - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org