Ted Willliams Rides Again!

[NVcurmudgeon]

With the Princess entertaining a childhood girlfriend this weekend, I had to hit the trail. I went to a gun and knife show which happened to be held this weekend. The show was not the biggest, in fact I had thoroughly looked all the guns over in about half an hour. This was possible by avoiding the tables of knives, jewelry, hides, and framed photographs. There was one interesting pistol offered, a Savage .32 ACP for only $195. Decided I didn't need it. Finally, at a table in a dark corner, there was a Sears Ted Williams gun case in pretty good shape. Genuine black vinyl, sheepskin lined, with a sturdy leather handle and carrying strap. I never have enough gun cases and the price was in the can't refuse area. Now I have a genuine Teddy Ballgame guncase and believe it is zooty enough to be an artifact of the sixties. It is certainly well-made, and cheaper than a brand new Chicom import.

[9.3X62AL]

Never enough good gun cases at my place, either.

Those Savage 32 ACP's are very good pistols, and the $195 price was about right for the 1907 series, and pretty low for the scarcer 1917 (flared butt profile). I might not have been able to pass by that critter if I were 450 miles further north today.

[grumble]

Al, we need to proselytize the 32 ACP a bit. IMO, it's one of the funnest rounds out there. Easy and cheap reloading, too. The worst thing about the round is finding the expended brass in the grass.

If folks come across the inexpensive CZ-50 pistols, they're worth scarfing up; well made and fairly accurate little guns. I have one dedicated as a "suitcase gun," inexpensive enough that I don't worry about it too much if my truck or motel room gets broken into.

I also have a couple Walther PPs that are real beauties.

As a self-defense round, I suppose it leaves a lot to be desired, but would always be better than a slingshot. The small size of the pistols makes up for the lack of "giddyup" for casual carry, and it sure would beat the more popular 22 rimfire carried in similar situations.

Somewhere on my to-do list will be to make a suitable rifle for the cartridge. A fun little popgun. Should be a good way to introduce the grandkids to shooting.

[StarMetal]

I love my 32 acp in a Walther PP. They talk about the 380 as a defense round, but I will tell you that the 32 isn't much behind it and in all reality, I think it's just as good. It does have more penetration then the 380. I heard that the CIA liked it for that reason....the actual statement I heard was they said: ...and it penetrates and bounces around off the ribcage once inside. The PP is a very accurate little devil too. I've taken a couple groundhogs with mine and the Lyman 74 gr cast which weighs closer to 80 grs.

Joe

[grumble]

I agree about the uselessness of the 380. I gave mine to my daughter because she thought it was "cute." I probably shouldn't admit it, but she could shoot it better than I could, too. <G>

[StarMetal]

Grumble,

My one friend has an Astra Constable...man does that thing shoot really good. We both couldn't believe when we took it out after he bought it at a gunshow.
I still don't care for the caliber though. I would like to see a PP with longer barrel set up for target work with adjustable sight. I know, as they are, that they are very accurate. I also have a PP in 22 rimfire, now that's an amazing little pistol. It's no handicap in the accuracy department either and such a joy to carry. I was fortunate enough to get both these pistols in virtually unused condition.

Joe

[grumble]

I'm keeping my eye out for a PP in 22 rimfire. I'd like to have one, too. The ones I've seen have been overpriced, but the dang things just don't seem to get any cheaper.

[45 2.1]

In Savage pistols, you forgot the 1915. There used to be a NEI bullet tailor made for the 32, it was a 60 gr. round flat nose. Very lethal when pushed out of the PP.

[StarMetal]

Here's a picture of the bullet I use in my 32acp Walther PP.

Joe

[Scrounger]

I'm keeping my eye out for a PP in 22 rimfire. I'd like to have one, too. The ones I've seen have been overpriced, but the dang things just don't seem to get any cheaper.

Can't help with that, but AimSurplus has the Walther PP .32s at a decent price...

[grumble]

Thanks, Scrounger! Century also has the PPs in 32 ACP for a pretty reasonable price. The 22s seem to be harder to come by.

[9.3X62AL]

The 32 ACP is a VERY FINE small game round, and gives up very little to the 380 ACP. The 32 is MUCH more accurate overall than the 380, also.

I have a Walther PP in 32, and sold a PP in 22 LR some time ago. Kinda sorry to let it go, but needed the money at the time. I also had a Walther TPH in 22 LR, and it was every bit as accurate as the PP had been. Kinda amazing, really.

The other 32 ACP is a Steyr Model 1908, which is about as funky a pistol as can be imagined. It requires Remington SP primers to provide ignition--the hammer impulse strength is counter-acted by the recoil spring arrangement, so soft primers are the order of the day. I launch Lyman #313249's at about 650 FPS from it, and they will stay inside the 8-ring of a B-27 at 15 yards.

The PP is another matter entirely. If feeds EVERYTHING--cast, HP, flat point, you name it. The same Lyman #313249 at 800 FPS is superbly accurate, and whacks jacks and cottontails decisively. Speer 60 grain Gold Dots really jack them up, too--don't expect to have table fare when you hit a critter with one of those at 900-950 FPS.

The PP wasn't exactly authorized for duty carry--and I didn't exactly give a darn at the times I needed a deep-concealment or back-up pistol. It went along during some very interesting times during my dope cop days, and came quite close to being fired in anger on one occasion. I took a bit of heat for that event, but the incident prompted the Powers That Be to authorize several 380 ACP models for similar venues.

I could not find any 380 that was as accurate or as reliable as the PP in 32 ACP. The SIG-Sauer P-230/232 is quite reliable, but abrades the crap out of my shooting hand. The American-made Walther 380's are only reliable with FMJ's in my experience. The Beretta 84 is a very good pistol--but is the same size as many 9mm platforms. I did have a Beretta 81 in 32 ACP for a time--a right nice 32!

Fact is--most 380 pistols were originally designed for the 32 ACP. These pocket guns run better in 32 than 380, in my experience. If someone were to insist on a 380 over a compact 9mm Para, I would steer them in the direction of the 9 x 18 Makarov--a SUPERB service pocket pistol.

You won't EVER see me sell any of my 32 ACP's. I sold that Beretta 81, and regret it right smartly. I would dearly love to get a SIG P-232 in 32 ACP, but they are not imported. Same story on the CZ-83's, dammit.

[308w]

Deputy Al, On the Sig 232 in 32 acp. Some are in the country, An aquaintance of mine here in Florida picked up one within the last month or so.
I never got the chance to shoot it and it had a horrible double action trigger pull, He did not keep it long, traded it off after getting a walther ppk-s in 380.
Joey S aka 308

[NVcurmudgeon]

I'll never mock .380 or .32 ACP, or for that matter, .22LR. Until I get my Springfield Ultra Compact 9mm certified onto my CCW, I have a choice of a full size Colt .45 or a S&W M34 Kit Gun. Now that it's hot out the Kit Gun is my frequent companion, I'm sure it will exhibiti more stopping power than a 135 lb. geezers fists. remember Cooper's first rule, "Have a gun."

[StarMetal]

Bill

I agree with what you posted, but so many gun experts state that you're better off without any gun then rather make an assailent more angry with using a 25 acp?

Joe

[Buckshot]

...........Deputy Al, Larry's sister GAVE him on of those old Colt automatics in 32 ACP. I don't recall the model number. We fired it a few times. It was like brand new. A M1907? I think it was one that was issued to general officers in the army.

.............Buckshot

[9.3X62AL]

Buckshot et al--

The Colt 32 ACP was likely a Model 1903, and they were literally artwork. VERY fine pistols. Another John Browning example, and a very similar variant was produced by FN.

Remington made some as well, Model 51's--I had one briefly, and they too were works of art.

SIG-Sauer has made a lot of the P-232's in 32 ACP, including a bunch for the Japanese National Police. I'm sure some make their way into the States, but not in appreciable numbers unfortunately.