.32 ACP Target Pistols?

[TruthTellers]

I'm a .32 guy, I love .32 revolvers and I've been wanting to get a FULL SIZE .32 ACP semi auto for the range. Not a pocket pistol, not a repro of the Colt 1903 with a nub for a front sight, no I want something with a 4 inch or longer barrel and good sights.

So far all I can find is the Beretta Cheetah. I had (and still do to some extent) an interest in the old Savage .32's, but because of their age mags are hard to come by. The Walther PP has the barrel length I'd like, but they are way to expensive for me.

Is there anything else out there I'm not aware of in .32 ACP that's not purpose built for conceal carry?

[scoobysnacker]

The FEG AP pistol that Century currently is pushing is a close copy of the Walther PP. I believe it's got a 3.9" barrel.

I have a PA 63, same basic gun but in 9mm Makarov. Following the contours of the gun, it's actually a tad longer than a true Makarov. It handles and holds very well, but is not comfortable to shoot that hot a rd through (aluminum frame doesn't absorb the recoil, which goes into your thumb).
I would expect .32 acp would be extremely pleasant to shoot through it.

There seems to be a ton of them out there right now, under $250.

[David R]

Walther makes a true 32 cal target pistol.

David

[FlyFish]

Can the Walther be had in .32 ACP? I have the GSP-C Expert in .32 S&W Long, and I thought that was all they chambered it for. I didn't see any listing for .32 ACP for the GSP-C on their web site, nor for the SSP or X-esse models.

Pardini makes a .32 ACP conversion kit for their HP target pistol, though it doesn't appear to be listed on their US web site, only on the international site.

Either way, bring a fat wallet as these pistols are in the $2K range, which rapidly grows to $3K with custom grips, dot sights, and a few extra magazines.

[David R]

All I said is 32 cal. Those match guns are above my pay grade. I have seen folks shooting them.

Great for timed and rapid fire.

Davif

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[reteach]

I have become a big fan of .32's, also. Not sure what your criteria are, but my CZ 83 in .32 ACP is a very accurate shooter. The rear sight can be drifted for windage. They're discontinued, but if you find one it will probably not break the bank

[darkgael]

Great for timed and rapid fire.
True. They do get iffy on the long line, though.

[carguychris]

There's the Beretta 100, although its grip is pretty small compared to most centerfire auto pistols, the Beretta 81FS included. The 100 is basically a 70 with a long barrel, fatter grips, and screw-adjustable rear sight added to make it lawfully importable under the ATF import points test.

Pic here: https://thefiringline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6441647&postcount=75

A similar post-GCA oddity is the Browning 1971, but this pistol—like its ancestors, the 1910 and 1922—has a barrel that is not rigidly locked to the frame. This often yields less-than-stellar accuracy.

FWIW both of these pistols tend to be hard-to-find and expensive due to collector interest. This is somewhat ironic, because the reason for their relative rarity is that many shooters regarded them as abominations, and they consequently sold poorly and were discontinued quickly.

[lifesizepotato]

I guess you could look for a Benelli B77 or HK P7K3. Not going to be cheap but they are highly accurate and definitely not just little mouse guns.

https://i.imgur.com/6z02bGIl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Vzt5Rpyl.jpg

[TruthTellers]

There's the Beretta 100, although its grip is pretty small compared to most centerfire auto pistols, the Beretta 81FS included. The 100 is basically a 70 with a long barrel, fatter grips, and screw-adjustable rear sight added to make it lawfully importable under the ATF import points test.

Pic here: https://thefiringline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6441647&postcount=75

A similar post-GCA oddity is the Browning 1971, but this pistol—like its ancestors, the 1910 and 1922—has a barrel that is not rigidly locked to the frame. This often yields less-than-stellar accuracy.

FWIW both of these pistols tend to be hard-to-find and expensive due to collector interest. This is somewhat ironic, because the reason for their relative rarity is that many shooters regarded them as abominations, and they consequently sold poorly and were discontinued quickly.
This is pretty much along the lines of what I'm looking for. The .32 Long wadcutter target pistols that cost 2 grand are too much for me and I don't think they can shoot .32 ACP.

[carguychris]

^^^ Lifesizepotato had some interesting recommendations as well, although those guns make the ones I listed seem downright commonplace. :)

[Ricklin]

Can't help but agree with the previous poster with regard to the PA-63.

Best really inexpensive pistol I own. It amply demonstrates that mouse gun recoil can be an issue. I paid less than a hundred for it like 30 years ago. It was one of the very earliest and the importer claimed they came from the infamous STASI.
Wish there were a way to confirm that claim...

Point of the post. I know very few that would call the 9mm Mak a hard recoiling cartridge, however the web of my right paw would disagree when fired from a stock PA 63 better grips would help, a lot.

[tallball]

Yeah, the Beretta Model 100. It has a 6" barrel and nice adjustable sights. It took me a while to find one, but I didn't have to pay a whole lot. It was less than $400, IIRC. It's a very good shooter, much better than I am.

[TruthTellers]

The Feg wouldn't interest me like the Beretta 100 does, mags will be much easier to get.

The Benelli is right up my alley, definitely not a concealed carry pistol or combat pistol, but price and rarity turns me off.

[volkstrm]

Yes. Try the P63 in 32acp.

[vmr357]

CZ 83's aren't back pistols. You can find them in .32 from time to time. If you go looking for magazines for a .32 acp, be sure you don't end up with a .380 instead. It will look like it will work, but you'll only get one shot and then a jam.

[saleen322]

We have 3 pistols in 32 S&W Long; Benelli MP3S, 95, and a FAS 603. I got a flyer that Pardini USA was offering the HP in 32 ACP but I never seen an actual example. The 32 S&W Long does well through 50 yards but you have to more picky with loads than with a 38 or 45. My match load was right around 2-2.25" @ 50 yards from the rest.

[T. O'Heir]

"...Walther makes a true 32 cal target pistol..." Not in .32 ACP. And neither does anyone else. .32 calibre target pistols are in .32 S&W Long.
"...that cost 2 grand..." Walthers, et al, cost that kind of money 30 years ago. Still the same kind of money now though. And you can get a .22 LR slide.
"...mags will be much easier to get..." You really only need 2 for bullseye shooting.

[HighValleyRanch]

Here is the new .32 acp made by Pardini:
https://www.pardiniguns.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=872
2600.00

Recently, there was a discussion on the Bulleye-L forum about .32 acp and how to adapt a powder funnel for .32 acp on a dillon loader that one interested in target .32 acp might be interested in:
http://www.bullseyeforum.net/t9784-dillon-powder-funnel-for-32acp?_branch_match_id=515511054562275322

[Jim Watson]

I read somewhere of fine accuracy with Hornady XTP in those.

I wonder where the dividing line is. Doubt anybody shoots a Luger or SIG 9mm in ISSF any more. Would it pay to develop a .380 target pistol? Bigger hole, fairly light recoil.

It is theoretically possible to get a Chapuis Manurhin .32 S&W Long.

[HighValleyRanch]

What I've notice is that often the .32 shooters would get greats scores on the .22 and .32 centerfire portions but falter majorly in the .45 course of the 2700 matches. I believed that the transition from the grip angles and relaxed hold of the softer recoiling European target pistols to the 1911 grip firmer more upright hold might have been part of the problem.

[ppswed]

One option that hasn't been mentioned before is the FN 1910/22 which is available in .32 ACP and is quite common at least in Europe.
There is also a target version with adjustable sights available called the model 1971.

[tallball]

I just picked up a Browning FN Model 1971 yesterday. It was just a smidge over $300. It's an interesting and unusual pistol. Mine is in 380acp. Were they also available in 32acp?

[Mike38]

Look for a good used Benelli MP95 Atlanta in .32 wadcutter (.32 S&W Long). I bought one about a year ago for $700. At 25 yards it will shoot ~ 2 inch groups from a bench rest with factory ammo. Reloads for .32 wadcutter are tedious work, but can shoot even better with the right combination of components. I'm currently trying to work up an accurate 50 yard load. I'm getting there. Someday soon.

[Model12Win]

Try the Hungarian .32 Makarovs that can be found for sale out now.

[dakota.potts]

I just picked this CZ 27 up on Gunbroker for $135. Fixed 3.9" barrel. No target sights though. I'm anticipating it to be a great target gun for fun at the range but I doubt it's going to be a bullseye gun or anything.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/783756881

I've also got an FN 1900 and hopefully a CZ 70 coming. Looks like I started collecting .32 pistols all of a sudden.

[dakota.potts]

Also, these are based on the Walther PP and are for sale very reasonably right now. This one is $230. MAC reviewed it very favorably as a target shooting gun, but again it's going to depend on whether your definition of target shooting equals "fun to shoot at paper" or "super tiny competition groups"

https://www.classicfirearms.com/czech-made-cz-70-pistol-32-acp-semi-auto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujk3Axn-uS4

[Model12Win]

From a full size, the .32 has a better thump factor than some care to admit.

[Mike Irwin]

Sad truth is that the .32 ACP just never made much inroads into full size handguns, which stinks because I love the .32s, revolvers and autos.

I've seen a couple of French M1935s converted from .32 Longue to .32 ACP to get around the issue of limited ammo in the 1980s, but other than that...

In another thread here some time ago I mentioned that I'd love a Ruger LC chambered in .32 Auto.

[rickmelear]

Great lil caliber,shame it didn’t catch on with the bullseye crowd, or better yet the pocket carry crew. Far easier to shoot than the .380 and packs the same mouse gun wallop

[kenny53]

http://www.ballistics101.com/32_acp.php

I think a 32 acp would be fun. With the numbers it produces I doubt it would be EDC but a fun range gun.

[Hdonly]

I picked up my one and only .32. Ortgies made in the 1920's. It is a good shooter, I am just afraid to shoot it much. I would hate to break anything. I think I will start collecting pieces and parts that I see sometimes. Many were imported into the US. It can be broken down without any tools. No screws in it.

https://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=108134&stc=1&d=1535636029

[Model12Win]

Sad truth is that the .32 ACP just never made much inroads into full size handguns, which stinks because I love the .32s, revolvers and autos.

I've seen a couple of French M1935s converted from .32 Longue to .32 ACP to get around the issue of limited ammo in the 1980s, but other than that...

In another thread here some time ago I mentioned that I'd love a Ruger LC chambered in .32 Auto.
Quite a few Euro police and mils that used mid sized guns like the CZ-27 et al.

[Mike Irwin]

"Quite a few Euro police and mils that used mid sized guns like the CZ-27 et al."

You're correct. I should have said "in the United States" but didn't.

The market offerings for the .32 were a LOT more varied in Europe than they were were in the United States.

Worse, most interest in the .32 ACP seemed to peter out post WW II. Savage, Remington, Colt, and H&R all dropped the .32 ACP from production and, IIRC, it wasn't until sometime in the 1970s or 1980s that the .32 ACP started showing up in American guns again.

I have a CZ-70, and that definitely qualifies as a mid sized gun.

I've been lazily scouting around for a Beretta Cheeta 12 shot for the past couple of years, but haven't found one at a reasonable price.

[HighValleyRanch]

I think that the sig p230 in .32 would be the ultimate .32 target pistol.
(Besides the new Pardini .32acp)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwL5BfgP0V0

[dakota.potts]

I thought it worth nothing that I came across one of these on Gunbroker the other day and had not heard of them. My reading online tells me that it's a modified Model 70 that was designed after import requirements in 1968, to allow them to be imported to the states. The Beretta Model 100 has an extra long barrel and adjustable rear sight.

They're definitely not cheap though.

https://www.legacy-collectibles.com/mint-beretta-mod-100.html

[smee78]

I enjoy my Beretta 81, provides a big gun feel with out being stupidly over built for the 32 round.

[darkgael]

Pardini HP .32 ACP