32ACP Pocket Pistol Itch

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
I will say The Jimmenez is one heavy little ( Z Mak) pistol in 32 acp & out of the box it sucks but it just needs a bit of TLC gunsmithing it. For what I paid ( $142 of GB new) I won't complain.
It is my "leave the house in a hurry CC gun" and also when a CC gun would be noticeable like in summer!
I can 2" group it with my cast at 7 yds off hand with holster draw & I never had jamming issues in the 32 acp ( probable because it is the .380's frame!) I love the 32 acp & think it is a decent deterrent carry gun..... but I'm not going to out lay big bucks for an expensive 32 acp when an old Military pistol will outshoot them! I would say get yourself an old Ortgies Even if the barrel is worn it will shoot cast accurately at CC distances!
Anytime I need to carry into a known bad area I will have my 1911. The other 80 % I'm comfortable with my easy to conceal 32 acp
 
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9.3X62AL

Guest
Yes, between "Magnumitis" and "HighCapFever", the 32 ACP or the 32 S&W Long just don't get much love these days.......until people that actually USE and ENJOY them in the real world enter the discussion. Most of the threads on another cast bullet forum some of us are familiar with go on for pages and pages extolling the small calibers' positive qualities. A few of those threads have run pretty steadily for several years. So, there is PLENTY of interest out there, but like in many other ways the gunmakers ignore the real-world market and cater to the Mall Ninjas, posers, and gunrag oracles. MEGO.

I am about ready to find a Single-Six and have the 22 LR cylinder opened to 32 S&W Long. Yes, I know about the Single-Seven in 327 Federal......not interested, really. I have a S&W 16-4 x 6" already in 32 H&R Mag that does everything the 327 can do, and I detest scrubbing the lead/gunk rings out of long chamber/short case firing sequences. Total PITA.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Anybody ever have one of the really early Browning semiautos in .32 ACP, IIRC it was about 1900 or even 1898 or so when it
was put out by FN?

Slightly odd looking, different from the 1910 or 1922 designs. I have never even handled one, always wondered how it was designed,
since it was pretty much his first semiauto pistol design, and the whole field was virgin soil, he was inventing everything as he went.

Bill
 
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9.3X62AL

Guest
You might be thinking of the FN Model 1900, designed by John Browning. I have a somewhat similar-in design pistol in 32 ACP, in that its recoil spring and guide rod ride above the barrel in its own gallery--the Roth-Steyr Model 1908. Mine works, but requires fairly soft SP primers (Federal or Remington). It has ID markings like that given to police armory or militia depot arms, well-executed by (presumably) armory staff. Cool little pistol, actually--and Triple-K makes magazines for it. They work, too.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Yes, I think that is it. Since I have never even seen one, let alone handled one, I didn't know that
the spring was on top. Channel in the slide clearly delineates upper and lower sections, but was unaware
that the bbl was the lower one. Interesting.
Apparently huge numbers were sold in Beligium and France by FN back when Europe had some freedoms
left.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Handled a 1903 Browning in .32 ACP Friday night. Nice and thin, and flat, thumb safety was really stiff, like new-stiff,
and I wondered about the bottom hinged grip safety. Heavy little gun by today's standard,
but probably will last forever.

Bill
 

Dick West

Member
I had a 03 Browning. I had difficulty with getting accuracy because of the grip safety and the tiny grip. Depressing the safety pivoted the gun to the right in my fist.

I figured out a way to depress the safety with one of my left fingers, while carefully squeezing the trigger straight back--and the accuracy was really good at 25 feet with factory loads.

Of course it would be hard to get that goofy grip in a tactical situation. Without it, I wouldn't count on hitting anything beyond 10 feet.

I had hoped to reload it with cast as a .22 camp gun replacement but it didn't work out.

If you get one I'll send you my once-fired brass.
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
Most of the early 20th century 32 acp's were heavy little guns. Guess you can say they were made well;)
My 1914 mauser is a "chunk" but it feels real good in your hand. Don't enjoy carrying it unless it is in a military holster!
My 1917 Savage was lighter but plain strange feelingo_O
the Orgies well it is a flat, somewhat heavy but an easy pistol to aim shoot & carry Waist band carry you hardly know it.
The MAB D Well it is larger but still easy to carry.
Now that Darn little JA is just plain heavy as it is Zmac but It the rear back carry holster I made you don't notice it and it is fast to grab.
But toss it into your pocket and it feels like a boat anchor:D
 
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9.3X62AL

Guest
In perusing the Colt Custom Shop webpage, it appears they have re-makes of their 1903 Colt General Officer's Pistol available. I wouldn't mind landing one of those, though some sort of Berlin Airlift V.2.0 would be required to get it from the Free World into the PRK. FWIW, no pistol made by Colt is allowed in for citizen sale within Kalifornistan. Do svedanya, Rodina.......
 

Dick West

Member
The one i had was badly pitted on the right side. Otherwise, it was pristine. One assumption is that someone left it at the bottom of a footlocker and some water leaked in. Pretty much killed the value, but it was still a fun shooter.
 
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9.3X62AL

Guest
Understood, sir. I can appreciate fine finish and 100% condition as much as the next guy, but the core of the matter is how the arm fires and functions. I can forgive "A power of sins" visually if the working is good and the aim is true.
 

Ian

Notorious member
At least you have the choice, not everyone does depending on their state of residence.