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Posted: 8/5/2012 4:50:33 PM EDT
Hey guys i saw one of these the other day and it looked pretty great for a CCW. Do any f you guys carry this? I realize its .32 acp but still anybody?
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If you want a small gun, why not the P3AT?
Same size, slightly bigger bullet. |
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Legalize Freedom!
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yeah i have looked at those too. Whats the price difference in the two? The p32 was $150 used still had all blueing and parts looked good.
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I'd rather have a knife.
Sold my P32 and never looked back. |
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30 miles a week, upper body, dieting and reading incessantly sucks. Nobody is going to pay to do that shit. -sylvan
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Yeah i would really like a glock 19 thats deffinitley my dream gun. But im not made of money sadly lol
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I carry one occasionally when Deep, deep cover is required. Same size as my old Jennings .22. It'll shoot Cor-bons just fine, giving it plenty of close up punch. I'll hang on to it and use it in the place of the older .22 where that level of concealability is required.
Would I buy another one? Not entirely sure. The PF 9 is so close in size that it's almost a wash, and say what you will about the .32 (and I do like the .32), you cannot pretend it's a 9. |
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You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.
— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German poet, novelist, playwright, scientist and philosopher (1749-1832) |
Easy to carry and much easier to shoot well than the. 380. Not a huge difference in performance between the calibers.
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Trusting your life to the benevolence of an armed criminal is not a strategy, it is stupid!
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I've carried mine as a back up for years. It has never given me any problems. I shoot Fiocchi 60gr HP out of it and have never had a FTF or FTE. Do I expect it to do much good beyond 15 feet; nope. But up close and personal I think it will deter someone from continuing their detrimental activities toward me. I carried it with the factory 10 round mag and never had any problems with concealing it.
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Sic Semper Tyrannis
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Just make sure the first shot is a good one, because they jam often. I've put over 700 rounds through mine, and I don't think it has made it through an entire magazine without jamming. Of course for only $150, even I would be tempted to buy a second one to have for parts.z
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"In Texas , even the vegetables are made of meat" -- Lyle McDonald
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Originally Posted By zoom:
Just make sure the first shot is a good one, because they jam often. I've put over 700 rounds through mine, and I don't think it has made it through an entire magazine without jamming. Of course for only $150, even I would be tempted to buy a second one to have for parts.z I bought the p32 for $150 so far about 150 rounds and so far not one jam or FTF. I think the sound of the gun being fired would scare me (its very loud for those who havent shot one) |
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Originally Posted By zoom:
Just make sure the first shot is a good one, because they jam often. I've put over 700 rounds through mine, and I don't think it has made it through an entire magazine without jamming. Of course for only $150, even I would be tempted to buy a second one to have for parts.z Send yours in to Cocoa for rebuild. I'm guessing yours is a Gen1? My gen2 that I paid $160otd for nearly unused, has been flawless. The previous owner traded it because his friends convinced him he needed a .380. He had shot one mag through it. I now have about 200 rds including a mixed bag of 100 that had been sitting in my workshop for over 12 years. |
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Trusting your life to the benevolence of an armed criminal is not a strategy, it is stupid!
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Originally Posted By zoom:
Just make sure the first shot is a good one, because they jam often. I've put over 700 rounds through mine, and I don't think it has made it through an entire magazine without jamming. Of course for only $150, even I would be tempted to buy a second one to have for parts.z Are you using JHP or FMJ's? The shorter rounds stack up and the rim hangs on the next round. I have never had a problem with mine since I've learned this. The first two rounds can be JHP, one in the chamber and one in the mag, the rest should be FMJ for reliability. |
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I have a P-32 Gen 1 that I bought early on when they came out. I like it as a pocket pistol when wearing shorts in the summer. I harbor no illusions about .32 ACP as a fight stopper and think this little pistol fits into the category of the old vest pistol or purse pistol for use as a last ditch weapon - a "get off of me" weapon. Its been reliable.
I am not as accurate with it because of the short length and long trigger pull so its not a head shot across the room sort of weapon. Strictly close range. Main thing is good ammo and not using hollowpoints unless you do the mag modifications per the Keltec website. That will make it safer to use hollowpoints but I think with the limited power of the round you are better off with FMJ ammo or maybe even the Buffaloe Bore heavy .32 ACP ammo they make. You can't make it a .380 or 9mm so don't try. Practice with it and realize its what it is - a close in, pocket sized defensive weapon. Will it stop a fight? Probably, possibly. But there is a reason most service sidearms are 9mm and up. But I carry it fairly often and hope I never need it. |
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"Man cannot possess anything as long as he fears death. But to him
who does not fear it, everything belongs." Leo Tolstoy |
Originally Posted By gitnsige:
Originally Posted By zoom:
Just make sure the first shot is a good one, because they jam often. I've put over 700 rounds through mine, and I don't think it has made it through an entire magazine without jamming. Of course for only $150, even I would be tempted to buy a second one to have for parts.z Are you using JHP or FMJ's? The shorter rounds stack up and the rim hangs on the next round. I have never had a problem with mine since I've learned this. The first two rounds can be JHP, one in the chamber and one in the mag, the rest should be FMJ for reliability. I got rid of mine because of this. I learned that FMJ's were longer and wouldn't do it, but never trusted it. Other than rimlock it was 100% reliable. |
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One of these days Smith and Wesson 3rd generation pistols will be back in style and I will be king of the gun forums!
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Originally Posted By owlless: Originally Posted By gitnsige: Originally Posted By zoom: Just make sure the first shot is a good one, because they jam often. I've put over 700 rounds through mine, and I don't think it has made it through an entire magazine without jamming. Of course for only $150, even I would be tempted to buy a second one to have for parts.z Are you using JHP or FMJ's? The shorter rounds stack up and the rim hangs on the next round. I have never had a problem with mine since I've learned this. The first two rounds can be JHP, one in the chamber and one in the mag, the rest should be FMJ for reliability. I got rid of mine because of this. I learned that FMJ's were longer and wouldn't do it, but never trusted it. Other than rimlock it was 100% reliable. KT offers a spacer specifically to prevent rimlock and/or mags with the spacer already in place. (Or at least they used to, haven't looked for one in years.) |
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I am a CHRISTIAN, a CONSERVATIVE, and a REPUBLICAN... in exactly that order, and completely without apology.
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I have a P32 with the Crimson Trace grip on it and it gets carried sometimes. It's about like carrying a pack of cigarettes.
I acutally bought the .32 over .380 because you get slightly more ammo capacity, last shot hold open on the slide and a little better controllability/hitability. After doing a "fluff and buff" (just smoothing the mating surfaces of the gun with 600 grit sandpaper) it has functioned 100%. I carry FMJ bullets in it for 15 - 18" of penetration. For .32 it suprisingly has a bit of wallop when I've shot things with it. |
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Bought mine used here on the EE. Never failed to function even full of pocket lint. Every 2-3 weeks,I pull it out in the back yard and fire the one original mag and then the spare 10 round mag.
Boringly reliable. At the range, I concentrate on the throat/mouth/nose area of the target and can reasonably make good hits at 15 feet or so. Its not a large calibre but its in my pocket any time I am awake. |
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Trusting your life to the benevolence of an armed criminal is not a strategy, it is stupid!
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I have carried one for several years. I like it better than the P3AT due to the extra round in the magazine and the better shooting qualities. I shoot only FMJ in my P32, HP seems kind of pointless. The better penetration of FMJ is needed with such a low powered cartridge. Mine is accurate at 15 to 25 feet, which is pretty much your fighting range with these pocket pistols. I have never had a jam or misfeed, but I think that is as much due to my use of FMJ only, as anything else. I recommend it, most concealable pistol I own. Great for pocket carry, even in jeans or shorts. This is important in a hot weather state like SC.
As far as lethality, a local attorney used one recently to stop an armed robbery. He left one perp dead, the other wounded. Not bad for a pistol some deride as "worse than a knife". |
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"Drop a grenade in that pool!" For when you are under a deadline and need to be really sure...
"Banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies." Thomas Jefferson 1802 |
I bought one when they were first released. I never had a problem with it, but sold it when the need for deep concealment was no longer a concern. Several years later, I got a great deal on another and picked it up as a backup to my G19. Then, I ended up getting back into a situation where deep concealment was extremely important, so it became my primary carry gun. Now, I don't need to worry about deep concealment as much, so it gets rotated out with my S&W 638, depending on my attire and how well the 638 hides.
I harbor no illusions about the marginal effectiveness of the .32 ACP round. However, when I carry it, I am literally in a position where it is my P32 or a pocket knife. I can't risk someone seeing the bulge in my pocket of a holster, and the P32 blends well. I prefer the P32 over the P3At for the same reasons others have already mentioned: one extra round and the last-round-slide-lock, not to mention the 1 oz less weight and the 0.1 inch thinner profile. Oh, and the .32 doesn't have the same felt recoil as the .380. |
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Ne Desit Virtus! Let Valor Not Fail!
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For those worried about the .32acp stopping power, again I remind you to carry European ammo. Fiochi, SB and Geco all clock in about 200 fps faster than the feeble American crap that our lawyers demand. ( the fear is that someone will use it in one of those old top break revolvers chambered for .32 short). For most of the 20th century the .32acp was the standard police round of western Europe.
It is not equal to a standard service caliber, but I can't imagine many people or situations where a fight would continue after a well placed hit or three. |
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Trusting your life to the benevolence of an armed criminal is not a strategy, it is stupid!
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I carry one all summer. Never had any issues with the gun so far.
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I purchased one with a hard chromed slide off of Gunbroker when the second generation pistols was the rage; it was my first CCW.
I don't carry it now, I've moved on to a 9mm, but I still have the pistol. I've only put a couple hundred rounds through it, but it has functioned flawlessly. Enjoy your new pistol. |
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Today, my P32 went to its new home. My elderly mother called last night and complained that, with her arthritis, she could no longer hold the Rossi .38 that's been by her bedside for the past thirty years. Just too heavy.
You guys who already have P32s know the answer to that, right? Put the 10 rounder in the well and brought it over. Cleared the chamber and let her pull the trigger a couple of times to determine that it was well within her means. Battery of arms was simple enough, as she's got more years of experience with guns than most of us have years. Hopefully, I'll get her out to the range when it warms up, but meanwhile, rather than a 4 shot (fixed firing pin, so no round under the hammer) .38 that's a struggle even to hold, she's got 11 CorBon .32s that she can still deploy in a package that she can grip and control. EDC means different things to different people. |
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with the poor performance of these rounds especially in HP ammo i have never found a reason to run anything but ball ammo. these rounds seldom reach adequate penetration depth and hp's make that worse. JMHO but in these 32/380 guns with extremely short bbl's it just doesn't pay off to run anything but ball ammo. yea i know a few companies make ammo specifically for them. they still perform poorly comparatively.
i have a p3at and it's been a great pistol. |
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The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in
defense. The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental. |
Originally Posted By Combat_Jack:
I'd rather have a knife. Sold my P32 and never looked back. ??????????????? |
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Operation Fast & Furious: People died, Holder lied
PA, USA
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Originally Posted By TheOTHERmaninblack: Today, my P32 went to its new home. My elderly mother called last night and complained that, with her arthritis, she could no longer hold the Rossi .38 that's been by her bedside for the past thirty years. Just too heavy. You guys who already have P32s know the answer to that, right? Put the 10 rounder in the well and brought it over. Cleared the chamber and let her pull the trigger a couple of times to determine that it was well within her means. Battery of arms was simple enough, as she's got more years of experience with guns than most of us have years. Hopefully, I'll get her out to the range when it warms up, but meanwhile, rather than a 4 shot (fixed firing pin, so no round under the hammer) .38 that's a struggle even to hold, she's got 11 CorBon .32s that she can still deploy in a package that she can grip and control. EDC means different things to different people. Better to have a gun that she can run well. If that's a P32, more power to her. Do you think she benefit from having a laser on the P32? |
Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty. - Ronald Reagan
The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem. - Milton Friedman |
Originally Posted By MOLOT:
Originally Posted By Combat_Jack:
I'd rather have a knife. Sold my P32 and never looked back. ??????????????? Mine isn't a P32 but an old Armi Galesi 32ACP, at 7+ feet MUCH BETTER than a knife. |
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Originally Posted By dirksterG30: Originally Posted By TheOTHERmaninblack: Today, my P32 went to its new home. My elderly mother called last night and complained that, with her arthritis, she could no longer hold the Rossi .38 that's been by her bedside for the past thirty years. Just too heavy. You guys who already have P32s know the answer to that, right? Put the 10 rounder in the well and brought it over. Cleared the chamber and let her pull the trigger a couple of times to determine that it was well within her means. Battery of arms was simple enough, as she's got more years of experience with guns than most of us have years. Hopefully, I'll get her out to the range when it warms up, but meanwhile, rather than a 4 shot (fixed firing pin, so no round under the hammer) .38 that's a struggle even to hold, she's got 11 CorBon .32s that she can still deploy in a package that she can grip and control. EDC means different things to different people. Better to have a gun that she can run well. If that's a P32, more power to her. Do you think she benefit from having a laser on the P32? I gave it some thought, but anything she's likely to encounter is going to be a home invasion, where the range will be about spitting distance. At that range, based on my memories of her past shooting (she grew up with guns) she ought to be able to point shoot ten rounds into a saucer sized area. Unless, of course, she V-strings them because of the recoil those Corbons cause. Should still do the trick, though |
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My wife is very petite and carries the P32 with Crimson Trace Laser. It was the only thing she could actually hide on her body. Neither her no I cared for a purse solution. She uses Buffalo Bore with plenty of punch. She loves 1911s and Glocks, but might as well try hiding a shoebox as either of those.
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One more thing, we did have to send a new P32 back to Kel Tec due to light primer strikes. After a few short weeks, what we received back has performed flawless for over 600 rounds. Buyers, please do not hesitate to send a gun back. What you will get back will be smooth and reliable. Kel Tec customer service = A+
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I have not tried the Buffalo Bore ammo. Usually carry Fiocchi FMJ in it because its the what I figure is the hottest, most affordable ammo I can find around here.
I have a Gen 1 P-32 that has been dependable. I might have to pick up a box of Buffalo Bore and give it a try. I find myself carrying the P-32 more during the hot months and just ordered a JSHolster's pocket holster for it. I never felt comfortable with the pocket clip and have an old Uncle Mike's No.1 I have used a long time. Just don't like it but have made it work. A friend carries his P-3AT in a JSHolster pocket holster and it looks like a wallet in his front pocket in tighter jeans and is un-noticeable in khakis or loose shorts. On him at least - he is lighter framed than me so we'll see how it works with my shape. |
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"Man cannot possess anything as long as he fears death. But to him
who does not fear it, everything belongs." Leo Tolstoy |
Buffalo Bore .32 ACP +P Ammo - 75 gr. Hardcast F.N. (1150fps/ M.E. 220 ft. lbs.)
Makes the little gun bark pretty loud. |
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I am NOT a big Kel-Tec guy but I shot a P-32 a couple months ago and immediately trade a crappy 380 for it.
The P-32 I have appears fairly beat up and not very pretty but I have put several mags through it with Car Bon, Blazer 71 gr. and one other load and haven't had a single issue. It is a helluva a lot more accurate than I ever would have imagined. Overall....I am VERY impressed with my P-32 and whether I'm carrying my 9mm or my 40, the P-32 is always in my computer bag or in my back pocket.....love that little gun! |
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I have a P32 that goes everywhere I do. I have been reliably running FMJs' in it with no problems, but I may look into the Buffalo bore bullets. A little more punch from this gun would be welcome.
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Audemus jura nostra defendere !!
Banning gun shows to reduce violent crime will work about as well as banning car shows to reduce drunk driving... |
Has anyone here ever read or ran any tests with the Corbon DPX rounds? I'd be interested in trying them.
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Here is a link to their web page describing the .32 load.
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=132 |
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Originally Posted By nmoldguns:
Here is a link to their web page describing the .32 load. https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=132 Sweet. |
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Audemus jura nostra defendere !!
Banning gun shows to reduce violent crime will work about as well as banning car shows to reduce drunk driving... |
We had departmental qualification on Friday. This year, our abbreviated course for backup/off duty weapons was eliminated. The new rule is if you carry it, you shoot the full course with it out to 20 yards. I scored 100% with the P32.
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Trusting your life to the benevolence of an armed criminal is not a strategy, it is stupid!
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BB ammo is not supporting the keltecs IIRC. there have been a lot of reports of damaged guns from that ammo. they were never designed to handle those pressures.
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The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in
defense. The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental. |
Just my 2 cents . . .
Several new students in our classes have tried the PA3AT and the P-32. Just about everyone likes the 32 -- not the 380 so much. Must students can do very well with their shot placement with the 32. Nuff said . . . . |
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I've had a P32 for over 10 years. I carried it daily for about 7 years. It's been a great, reliable little pistol.
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They tend to be easier to "limp wrist" because they are so light, and there's not much to hold onto. Many of the malfunctions people experience with them is due to this. The other is ammo.
I picked up a used one to play with, and it took a couple hundred rounds to figure out what the best way to hold it was and what ammo to use. Fiocchi works great in mine. Rem, Win, and Magtec all choked a few. The Rem was the worst. All of it FMJ. As noted above, FMJ's probably the best round for defense in .32ACP. While "deathgrip" is generally frowned upon in marksmanship classes, the tighter you hold the gun, the better. Stiff arm the thing and it will generally run quite well. Once I figured out the best way to hold it, and the best ammo to use, it runs great. It's not going to replace any primary CCW anytime soon, but for "vest pocket" use, it will work. |
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Wow this thread is still going. But it runs flawlessly haven't had a single malfunction on it.
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I've been thinking about getting one for pocket or bellyband carry when I don't wear a belt (jogging, gym, etc). First pistol I ever bought was a P3AT and I didn't like it, sold it after about a year. The P32 seems to have less recoil from what I've heard here, and I like that you can get 10rd mags for it. Reliability would be my biggest concern, and finding .32ACP, which is still less rare than .380 these days.
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I carry one. I load the mags with hp, fmj, hp..ect. Its easier for me to fire it using my middle finger instead of my index finger due to the long trigger pull.
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Originally Posted By thedreamer123:
Wow this thread is still going. But it runs flawlessly haven't had a single malfunction on it. View Quote I carry mine daily, but do not shoot it very often. Just shoot it l last week for the first time in nearly a year. The eight rounds in it, which had developed a nice bronzey patina, all fired no problems. The first shot produced a small cloud of lint. When it was new I did my own version of the fluff and buff on it. In addition to deburing the internals I smoothed the trigger face and inside of the trigger guard. Both of which had noticeable, and uncomfortable, mold flash on them. I lube it with a thin coat of SuperLube synthetic/Teflon grease. I shoot and carry only S&B FMJ. EDIT: Fixed kindle auto correct. EDIT2: I carry both a P32 (BUG) and a knife without issue. And over loading the .32 Auto won't make it anything more then it is. One thing I have been curious about is a P3AT chamber in the .32NAA. Seems like it might be worth something. |
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Evidently, you can reduce the trigger pull weight, and decrease the recoil ( when the part is in stock ) - http://gallowayprecision.com/kel-tec-performance/p3at-performance-parts/
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