Best ammo for a Kel-Tec P32?

[TheYoungGuy]

I've got an old schoolmate that has owned a Kel-Tec P32 for a few years just for home protection, but has recently decided to get her CHL.

I've never paid too much attention to her little P32 until we decided to shoot together last week. I realized that she doesn't have anything other than .32 plinking ammo for her gun. I explained to her that if she intends for that gun to do any good, she needs hollow-points.

I'm right, aren't I? Either way, if anyone (preferably a daily carrier of a .32 or something similar) could recommend some ammunition, I'd really appreciate it.

[deadeyearcher]

I am currently carrying Hydra-Shoks, but there is a potential for rim-lock. It has never happened to me when I have loaded the magazine but the possibility is there. there are two options, a "Flyer Wire" or a rim-lock preventer.
http://www.1bad69.com/keltec/rimlock.htm
http://www.1bad69.com/keltec/flyerwire.htm
http://www.ktog.org/ -- Has a lot of information on Kel-Tec

[Rex B]

I am currently carrying Winchester Silvertips in mine, based on the minority consensus of responses to similar queries.

But there is a very good argument for using only FMJ hardball ammo.
In a low-power round like the .32, penetration may be more important than expansion.
In fact, tests have shown most .32 hollow-point rounds do not expand enough to make a difference. Plus, in the Keltec P32, there is the possiblity of rimlock because the hollow-points are usually shorter, allowing them to move back and forth in the magazine and possibly hooking rims of adjacent cases.

A possible solution may be to alternate cartridge types, which is probably what I'll do. Testing is indicated.

Another possibility is the Corbon PowerBall ammo, if they make it in .32.
It has the shape and size of ball amo, but the tip is plastic. And it's a +P round. I carry those in my .380 Keltec.

[HankB]

Lightweight .30 caliber bullets at relatively low velocity aren't going to be "stoppers" no matter what you do to them. If anything, I'd opt for FMJ ammo as it might give me a little better penetration for the headshots I might have to rely on.

100% reliability would be far, FAR more important than the (probably imaginary) improvement in stopping power a JHP would provide.

Though they're better than bare hands, pistols in this category only have a place because sometimes, due to dress or a need for deep concealment, one can't carry a real gun.

Another possibility is the Corbon PowerBall ammo, if they make it in .32. It has the shape and size of ball amo, but the tip is plastic. And it's a +P round.

That might be stressing the KelTec. A former colleague blew up a KelTec P32 a few years ago with a handload he claimed was " . . . just a little hotter . . . " than CorBon.

[TheYoungGuy]

Though they're better than bare hands, pistols in this category only have a place because sometimes, due to dress or a need for deep concealment, one can't carry a real gun.

I hear what you're saying, Hank. It's not like she's hiding the P32 in her garters, so she could handle something bigger. I wish I could steer her in a different direction, but cest la vie, right?

[Rex B]

KelTec's offical line is that the P32 (and their other pistols) are rated for occasional use of +P. As long as you don't pump several hundred rounds through it it should be OK. And they are lifetime guaranteed.

[HankB]

. . . It's not like she's hiding the P32 in her garters, so she could handle something bigger. . . .

I can think of several ways to reply, but I don't want to take this away from being a "family friendly" forum.

[PatrickS]

I alternate JHP and FMJ in my P3-AT rather than guess
one way or another on that (IMO yet inconclusive) debate.

Best case scenario has both JHP and FMJ equally effective
(and effective enough to resolve the situation satisfactorily).
Most likely scenario has one more effective than the other,
and depending on the situation, shot placement, etc. it may be
either, or even a mixture, but at least half would do a sufficient
job. Worst case scenario, well, I guess it's better than throwing
rocks...

Now, that's for a .380 ... maybe that .32 should have a 2:1
ratio of FMJ to JHP

[OverEasy]

My 2 cents:

After reading all the stuff on KTOG.org over the years, here is the decision I made. I carry one Speer GoldDot HP in the chamber and one on the top of the magazine. The rest of the mag is loaded with Sellier & Bellot FMJ.

First two shots are HP and the rest is FMJ with no "rimlock" problems.

I picked the S & B FMJ because it has the highest muzzel energy (bullet wt. x velocity)

My wife and I both have P 32s for BUGs.

FYI:
Ammo brand / Muzzel energy
Hyra-Shok jhp / 98
Speer GD / 83
Agulia fmj / 129
Fiocchi fmj / 155
Dynamit Nobel / 160
Sellier & Bellot / 178
Probably the the Speer GDs are a waste of time and I should just load the S & B FMJ all the way.

Regards, OE

[Rex B]

That sounds like a good plan. I'll take another look at mine.