The .32 ACP / 7.65mm Browning Cartridge

…is probably the answer to the question: “What non-.22 cartridge is the most fun to shoot?”, and it’s most certainly true in my case.

The problem with the .32 ACP is that it’s an old cartridge:  it was very popular during the early 20th century (and is still among the most popular handgun cartridges ever), but was soon superseded by more powerful cartridges such as the 9mm Parabellum, .380 ACP (9mm Kurz) and of course the .45 ACP.

And justifiably so, because it’s really not a stopper, by any measure.  Of course, with proper bullet placement, your target is not going to feel well at all, but that’s pretty much true of the .22 LR as well.  (I’ll come back to the ammo later in this post.)

Still, of all the semi-automatic pistols I’ve ever fired (which is quite a few), those chambered for the .32 ACP were the most pleasant.  And the .32 ACP is also part of the question:  can any invention by John Moses Browning be that bad?  (Answer:  no.)  For that reason alone, the cartridge should not be easily tossed aside.

In the early 1900s, a whole bunch of gun companies offered a pistol thus chambered.  Here’s the doyen of them all, the FN / Colt / Browning 1903 (also commonly referred to as the “Pocket” model):

I’ve shot several of these, and all were exquisite guns to shoot.  One in particular, which had been expertly re-blued in Colt’s Royal Blue (non-original) finish, made me drool bigly, and offer the owner lots of money on the spot, but the bastard declined all offers with a supercilious sneer.  And I can’t say I blame him, either.  Collectors has a few in stock (such as the above example), and all go for about $1,500 to $2,000 depending on quality.

The next is probably the most popular of all, the Walther PPK:

I’ll come right out and say it:  the 7.65mm Browning (Euro nomenclature of the .32 ACP) version of this pistol is the best of them all to shoot, with gentle recoil and astounding accuracy.  I’ve actually done a side-by-side comparison of the PPK versions at the range, and while the .380 ACP/9mm Kurz version is okay, the 9mm Para too much — the .32 is the Goldilocks.  From a price perspective, I should say that the PPK carries the Walther Premium;  in decent condition, they can fetch anywhere from $1,200 to Stupid.

One pistol that needs mentioning is the Savage 1907:

Several things need to be said about the 1907.  The action is wonderfully reliable — the .45 ACP version performed well and was actually preferred by several of the testers against the Colt 1911 in the original U.S. Army tests — but the problem with the 1907 today is that most of them have been carried often, fired lots and not really looked after.  Consequently, they look like hell and need to be approached with caution.  The one I shot belonged to a good friend, and was in near-mint condition.  (Yes, he also told me to take a hike when I offered to buy it from him after a single mag’s worth of shooting.)

Another worthy of mention is “Eva Braun’s” pistol, the Ortgies:

Made after WWI, the Ortgies was very popular among serious target shooters in Germany, and won several national competitions.  (Hitler gave one to his squeeze, hence the nickname.  It’s still around.)  John Dillinger also carried one in his pocket, so you know it works.  When you can find one, a good shooter will run around $700 or so.

Finally, there are the modern .32 ACP pistols — i.e. ones still in current (or at least recent) production.  I’m going to come right out and say that I don’t care for most of them, for the simple reason that as a rule (Beretta 2032 Tomcat, Seecamp LWS, NAA, Kel-Tec P32 etc.) their barrels are too short (usually around 2″-2.5″), and to be honest, the .32 ACP needs a 3.75″ or longer barrel to get the most out of it, both in terms of accuracy and stopping power (such as it is).

The only modern .32 ACP pistol I’d consider is the SIG P230 (itself a near-clone of the PPK):

Confusingly, SIG uses the P230 nomenclature for its .380 ACP chambering as well, so if you’re shopping for one, check accordingly.  Of course, SIG doesn’t make the P230 .32 anymore because idiots, but expect to pay around $650 for one in decent shape.  Here’s one I’d get in a heartbeat, if I could find one in .32 ACP because it’s gorgeous:

(this one is in .380 ACP, judging by the ammo pictured)

Okay, and now we come to the really, really Bad Thing about the older .32 ACP pistols:  replacement / additional magazines.

Cliff Notes:  they don’t exist.
Corollary:  if they do exist, they go for Stupid Money.

The Walther PPK-original mags with the finger extensions are a classic example ($60+ coff coff), but at least Mec-Gar makes a decent substitute, for half that.  (The finger extensions are necessary, because unlike the Colt 1903, most .32 ACP automatics have short grips.)

And speaking of the 1903, replica magazines can set you back around $60.  (I don’t have the stomach to research what COLT OEM mags might cost.)

Finally, we come to the ammo.

Unsurprisingly (given the total number of guns made in this chambering), the .32 ACP is still popular, and just about everybody makes it, for a per-round cost of anywhere between 32 cents to 45 cents.  That’s quite spendy compared to its plinking competition (e.g. .22 LR at 7 cents), but I have to tell you that the fun factor more than makes up for it.  Mostly, the cheapest type is full metal jacket (FMJ), but I see that my Balkan buddies also make an affordable 71-grain hollowpoint (JHP) (~40 cents per pull vs. Winchester White Box at 66 cents, ugh).  If I were to consider carrying such a pistol (as a backup only), I’d load it with Hornady Critical Defense rounds.  Caveat:  I’ve only ever fired FMJ ammo through these pistols, and I don’t know if the JHP would have feeding problems;  but I doubt it.

Okay, here’s my final take on this topic.

With sufficient funds, I’d get the Colt 1903 in a heartbeat.  No question, no hesitation.

For about half the money, I’d get the SIG P230.  Also, without hesitation.

As for the cheaper or smaller guns:  I wouldn’t bother.

Your opinions may vary.