KelTec P32 Review : Our Favorite Pocket Pistol?

Pocket pistols are common fodder these days, but did you know the modern pistol came from KelTec in 1999 in the form of the P32? Does this classic hold up now that it’s the legal drinking age? We find out today in this KelTec P32 Review. 

KelTec P32 Background – The Origin of the Modern Pocket Pistol 

The P32 is far from the first pocket pistol. Guns like the Baby Browning and 1908 vest pocket, and even the original derringers claim that title. The P32 is the first modern pocket pistol. Its design would become what’s essentially the standard for all the pocket pistols to come. Look at the LCP, the S&W Bodyguard, and the Taurus TCP. They all follow the P32’s guidelines. 

The P32 is a double-action-only, hammer-fired gun with a polymer frame and a single-stack magazine. The barrel is less than three inches, and the gun can drop right inside your pocket. I could have said the exact same thing about the LCP, Bodyguard, and TCP. The main difference was that the P32 was not a .380 ACP, but a .32 ACP pistol. 

In 1999 the .32 ACP was about as obscure as the .380 ACP. At this time period, the .380 ACP had fallen out of favor, just like the .32 ACP. It really was the pocket pistol genre that brought the .380 ACP back. With that said, is the .380 ACP the right choice for a pocket pistol? Sure, it’s more powerful, but does it matter when you get to guns this small? You are just putting small holes in bad guys, and the .32 ACP can do that just as well as the .380 ACP. 

I think the .380 caught on because America likes bigger bullets, even when they don’t make sense. The extra energy a .380 imparts doesn’t matter. What does matter is the recoil a .380 generates from a pocket pistol. The .32 ACP can reach the required twelve inches through ballistic gel and imparts about half the recoil. 

With that in mind, the P32 arrives at an interesting conclusion. It’s small, lightweight, and pocket carriable. It has centerfire reliability and can make the depth requirement to hit, but it doesn’t have the hand-slapping recoil or muzzle rise of a .380 ACP pocket pistol. Is it a solid choice for deep concealment?

KelTec P32 Features

1 Frag Grip Texture

2 Last Round Slide Hold Open

3 DAO Trigger

Models and Variations of the KelTec P32

The P32 is available in black, gray, green, and tan frames. 

Digging Into The P32 –  Our Take

KelTec has been known to have spotty quality assurance. Most of the time, it seems like they release firearms before all the bugs are worked out, which leads to customers being beta testers. Luckily they do tend to fix these issues quickly. Since the P32 has been in production since 1999, it’s safe to say the bugs are worked out. 

I managed to get my hands on a large amount of 32 ACP ammo for a fairly low price. With this ammo in hand, I went to the range with my P32 and got started. I loaded magazine after magazine with seven rounds of 32 ACP and let them fly! Three hundred fifty-two rounds later, I had zero issues. That’s not a torture test, but for a small gun, that’s a fair bit of ammo. 

In that 352 rounds, I hadn’t had a single failure I could attribute to the gun. I had one issue near the end of my ammo where I loaded a fresh magazine and tugged it on the rear of the slide to release it. It didn’t go fully into battery, but a slight thumb press sent it home. 

The little P32 always goes bang, but how does it handle it? It’s surprisingly shootable. The gun never tries to wrestle its way out of my hands. The recoil isn’t painful or significant, and I could fire fast follow-up shots quite quickly. This gun is what led me down a .32 ACP rabbit hole, and realizing we made a mistake by bringing back the .380 ACP and not the .32 ACP. 

Ringing Steel 

This gun barely has sights, and it has a very short sight radius. What happens when these two are combined with a DAO trigger? Well, it means you have a gun that can be challenging to shoot. If you are willing to practice, then you can drive the gun well. The DAO trigger is about five pounds and really not bad as far as DAO triggers go. It’s a ton better than the S&W Bodyguard .380. 

At seven to 15 yards, I felt very comfortable taking headshots on an FBI Q target. I only have a single magazine, but I shot a modified El Pres drill without the reload and landed five of six rounds into the A-zone of an IPSC, with one in the C zone in seven seconds. For a teeny tiny gun, I was impressed. 

I went back to 25 yards, and I could still hit the torso of a man-sized target. I won’t say what zone because it was a bit of a pattern more than a group, but I did hit the target in the upper torso and chest area. 

Getting a Grip

The ergonomics are very simple. The gun has two controls, a magazine release, and a trigger. It’s not fancy by any means, but it works. The grip doesn’t fit your hand, but a pinky extension helps. The frag grip pattern provides a good grip on the gun. Hitting the magazine release is easy, and it’s a nice surprise the small gun has a slide lock when the last round is fired.

There is no slide release, so you have to slingshot the slide to get back into battery. It’s about as simple as an automatic firearm can get. It’s not as comfy as a CZ 75 or an M1911, but it’s workable.

The price is also tough to beat. The gun has an MSRP of $360, and it often sells for less than $300. In fact, I’ve seen them as low as $150 on some bigger deals. The gun is budget-friendly, and .32 ACP isn’t too tough to find, and it’s often around the same price as .380 ACP. That said, it’s still more expensive than 9mm. 

KelTec P32 Pros and Cons 

KelTec P32 Starter Pack

With any firearm, there are a few items that are always good to have on hand You need eye and ear protection and a good cleaning kit. We have articles dedicated to all three of these and the links are below.

• Gun Cleaning Kit: Our favorite gun cleaning kits.  
• Eye Protection: The best shooting glasses.
• Hearing Protection: High quality hearing protection.

Upgrades and Accessories for the KelTec P32

It is always nice, and important, to have extra magazines on hand. You also need to have a quality holster to carry your firearm. We have links below to each of these.

You may find yourself in an unusual shooting position where you cannot see your sights. With a laser sight this can help solve that problem.

Best Accessories For KeTec P32

Extra Magazine Kel-Tec P32 .32 ACP 7-Round Magazine		Blued steel construction High-tensile steel spring Injection-molded polymer follower Precision-machined witness holes Impact-resistant polymer floor plate	Check Price
Laser Sight Crimson Trace LG-430 Laserguard		Red Laser Sight Adjustable Sight Instinctive Activation Three Year Limited Warranty Fits Kel-Tec P-3AT And P-32 Gen 1 And 2 Pistols	Check Price
Holster DeSantis The Insider Leather IWB Holster		Must be worn with a belt Accommodates belts up to 1 3/4 inch wide	Check Price

Best Ammo for Your KelTec P32

32 Auto is not the most common ammo out there, but we found some good deals on both some range ammo for training and some self defense ammo for concealed carry purposes. 

Other Pocket Pistols of its Class to Check Out

We have reviewed several ultra compact pistols. Here are few others to check out. Click the titles to go to the full reviews for each gun.. 

How to Care for Your KelTec P32

There is no good excuse for having a dirty gun. KelTec has a good video that shows you how to take apart and clean your P32 then put it all back together.

Important Links and Manuals for Your KelTec P32

Check out the links below for the manufacturer’s website and operator’s manual for the P32.

• P32 by KelTec
• KelTec P32 User’s Manual