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PPK - .32 vs .380 (Page 2 of 2)

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3/17/2026 11:28:08 AM EDT
[#1]
The people at the Governor's Gun Club couldn't fulfill my order for the Bersa Thunder .32, so I had to cancel it.

#@%$&*%#@$&!!!!!!!!!!
3/20/2026 3:09:40 PM EDT
[#2]
Quote History
Originally Posted By CaptainO:
The people at the Governor's Gun Club couldn't fulfill my order for the Bersa Thunder .32, so I had to cancel it.

#@%$&*%#@$&!!!!!!!!!!
View Quote
I have a 19 year old Thunder .380.  It works, but fit and finish are "meh" and the grips feel extremely cheap.  On the plus side, it's way more pleasant in .380 than my PPKs.  

That said, the mildest shooting .380s I have are a Beretta 80X and a Girsan homage to the Beretta 86.  The Girsan has a tip up barrel, double stack mags that are interchangeable with the 80X, and a railed dust cover.  This puts a little more mass up front.  It's got some sloppy finish work where they went overboard with the buffer and compound, but overall it's nice for a cheap .380. Finding a proper fitted kydex holster would be a challenge.

Hard to go wrong with the 80X though, and Beretta has announced .32 conversion barrels and mags for them.  As pleasant as they are in .380 I imagine they will be very nice to shoot in .32.
3/21/2026 5:59:30 PM EDT
[#3]
Just picked this one up today, 32 ACP.  Always wanted a PP and when they announced it was being discontinued I had to get one.





3/21/2026 9:13:06 PM EDT
[#4]
Quote History
Originally Posted By mbinky:
Just picked this one up today, 32 ACP.  Always wanted a PP and when they announced it was being discontinued I had to get one.

https://i.postimg.cc/YSZxHGb9/IMG-4470.avif

https://i.postimg.cc/26W78kK9/IMG-4471.avif

https://i.postimg.cc/hPDTN1cj/IMG-4467.jpg
View Quote


Loving it!
3/22/2026 7:21:52 AM EDT
[#5]
I like .32/7.65mm autos.  ExFil had a pre WWII Nazi marked Post Office PPK that was fun to shoot.  Been reloading the .32 since I got several cz50s and a Mauser 1934.  My Lee .32 dies are now also used to load .32 S&W Long and H&R Mag for my Ruger Single Six.
De Oppresso Liber
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22-26'
Afghanistan: 09,10,11,14,17,-21'
3/24/2026 12:21:35 AM EDT
[Last Edit: CaptainO][Edited] [#6]
I already have a Walther PP (Manhurin) in .32, a Zastava  M70 in .32, a Nickel-plated Tanfoglio Titan II in .32. I also have a Kel-Tec P32. So I wanted a soft, easy D/A Bersa in .32.


I'm certain you understand.
4/25/2026 9:18:25 PM EDT
[#7]
I inherited one in .380 and I can see where .32 would be a little nicer to shoot. They certainly spark conversations. Everyone gets the Bond theme.
4/25/2026 9:26:12 PM EDT
[#8]
I've had several over the years, all in .380. Interarms imports, S&W, US made Walther... They all end up drawing blood. They are a sexy gun, and I appreciate the lines and engineering from the '30's, but they are not practical at all. Especially now with guns like the Bodyguard 2.0 out.
4/27/2026 5:15:20 PM EDT
[#9]
.32 ACP is what the PP and PPK were designed around. The 380 in a blow back action can be surprising brisk. Besides, .32 PPK = Bond, James Bond.
5/2/2026 3:29:21 PM EDT
[#10]
I scored a real "Argentinian" (no external lock) Bersa Thunder .32. I paid $293.99 for it. It shoots better than the PPK and at 1/3 the cost, it was a "no-brainer".

Life is good.
5/2/2026 4:01:59 PM EDT
[Last Edit: meistermash][Edited] [#11]
I was going to order one of those Bersa aluminum framed guns but I blew a bunch of money at a gunshow.
Ohh they were 32's just not acp.
5/5/2026 11:24:11 PM EDT
[#12]
Fewer 32s, so I would start there as it would be easier to get a 380 down the road.
5/6/2026 8:39:45 AM EDT
[#13]
The .380 PPK and PPK/S are noticeably more brisk than the .32s, but really aren't that bad if you use a mag with the finger rest.  If you have really meaty hands the slide will bite you, but I wear XL gloves and still haven't been gotten slide bite from my .380.
5/16/2026 4:36:03 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote History
Originally Posted By sandboxmedic:
The .380 PPK and PPK/S are noticeably more brisk than the .32s, but really aren't that bad if you use a mag with the finger rest.  If you have really meaty hands the slide will bite you, but I wear XL gloves and still haven't been gotten slide bite from my .380.
View Quote


I don't have "meaty" hands. I love my CZ83 (in .380) and my PP as well as Bersa in 7.65 Browning (.32  ACP). The CZ 83 is a sweetheart. The Bersa's recoil is, as one YouTuber put it, "charming".

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PPK - .32 vs .380 (Page 2 of 2)