Years back, I had a KelTec P32, the sub-tiny plastic-frame 32 Auto, meant for deep concealment. 

I don’t think the current sample would be here now except for a video I saw from Matt Oller, Sheriff of Audrain County, MO. It was the last video he had posted on YouTube – and I hope he’s doing well. An earlier version of the gun on his video was his undercover gun back when he worked narcotics in the early 2000s. It got passed along to the next officer into the unit as he was leaving. Perhaps trying to relive his younger days – I know the feeling – he found his current sample and was shooting it. It seemed I should revisit the concept, as I’m doing with this gun.

The occasion of this shooting excursion was the addition of Federal Hydra-Shok Deep 68gr. ammo in 32 ACP, as well as some Magtech ammo offerings; the recent used KelTec P32 sample arrived in time for the test.

The current sample is a used gun with a gray frame and some corrosion on slide and barrel. It’d clearly seen some carry, not sure how much use. There were two magazines, one with the flat floorplate and the other with the finger grip extension floorplate – that magazine was marked in yellow for some reason. The yellow-marked magazine didn’t lock the slide open when first checked; when fired, it functioned as expected. The KelTec factory carry clip was installed on the gun when it arrived. 

I didn’t remove it.

As for the gun, if you’re not aware of it, it’s a hammer-fired, “double-action only” design; that means that rolling the trigger through draws the hammer back to full extension then releases it to fire the gun. You don’t “catch the link,” but let the trigger return like on a DA revolver to restart the process.

That DA trigger takes the worry out of being close while allowing easy enough use to make good hits out farther than it makes sense to.

Magtech FMJ ammo stayed inside the 9-ring of a B-8 at fifteen yards; the hollowpoint offering landed above the bull. All the Magtech ammo functioned in the sample P32.

From my first go-around with the KelTec P32, I noted: “ … the P-32 is a polymer “grip,” aluminum frame pistol with steel slide and barrel. It’s a locked breech pistol, not the straight blowback often seen in guns chambered for anemic cartridges. Weighing in at just over 6 ½ ounces, it’s a good thing that the P-32 is a locked breech, delayed blowback design … In spite of the light weight, the P-32 has a robust capacity of seven in the magazine plus one chambered. With a barrel just over 2 ½”, the width is a scant .82” at the widest point.” 

For this expedition, I shot the gun handheld, two handed, checking for accuracy and zero at fifteen yards. The Garmin Xero Pro C1 was used to check projectile velocities. 

I had six loads to check. Using the B-8 repair center for each load (I doubled-up Winchester loads on a single target), I held on the base of the 9-ring, with the bull acting as a “halo” over the top of the gun. 

Here are the results

The gun worked with all the types of ball ammo and with the jacketed hollowpoint ammo as well – not like my first experience with the P32. Perhaps I didn’t run that gun enough. 

These are light bullets and penetration is critical – after ignition reliability, functional reliability and hitting to the sights. As to the hollow points, I don’t have any idea what the penetration is like. That’s for the “jello” crowd to sort out. 

As to zero, all loads stayed on the B-8 repair center at fifteen yards. There are those who’d say that’s a standard too high for the tiny sights and nearly no gripping surface. They may be right, but the three ball loads all stayed close into the neighborhood at that distance; being closer in a fight, it’d be good knowing that the rounds will go where you intend them to be. 

As to the accuracy, what did you expect? The previous gun, back in the old days, was fired from ten yards, standing, two handed with support. This time I was seated behind the table holding the Garmin Chronograph, firing two hands without support – but from fifteen yards. The earlier gun posted groups of 2 ½” with some ammo (about like the Silvertip load this time – but from fifteen yards). 

HydraShok Deep shot well, but the shooter placed hits on the west-side of the target. All the rounds tested functioned in the used KelTec pistol.

I doubt I’m a better shot now, but I’d have to say that 3-4” at fifteen yards with no pressure is pretty good from this small a gun – understanding that it’s meant for extreme deep concealment. It more than “beats nothing.” 

The Federal HydraShok Deep is quite accurate – this is a sub-7-ounce pistol, with little to hang onto. The bullet is under the 71-grain standard weight for ball, but not by much and the speed is right up there, faster than the lighter Silvertip.

As to carry ammo, any of the ball rounds would work. Winchester has the flat-point FMJ bullet and I like that feature. As to carrying ball ammo, it’s risky in most handgun calibers because more time and attention is given to premium defense ammo. In the 32, I’m not sure that’s quite the factor – but reliability is. The previous P32 was reliable with ball and some hollowpoints, but not all. 

It’s a decision each user will have to make.

— Rich Grassi