KelTec has always done some wacky stuff. In two years, they’ve released two pistols that have internal magazines and are fed from stripper clips. They’ve influenced the industry a fair bit, whether people want to acknowledge it or not. One of their overlooked innovations was the P32.
My KelTec Gen 3 P32 Wishlist
The P32 premiered in 1999 and set the groundwork for years of pocket pistols. It evolved into the P3AT, which would inspire the LCP, the original Bodyguard, and many, many more .380 ACP pocket pistols. I hate .380 ACP pocket pistols, or at least most of them. I think KelTec got it right with the .32 ACP.
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The .32 ACP offers substantially less recoil than the .380 ACP. It’s easy to shoot, especially from a short-recoil gun like the P32. The .380s tend to find their way out of your hand and generally suck. Plus, I get a whole extra round with the .32 ACP.
The P32 is in its second generation and has remained there. While the P32 has a cult following, it’s typically rejected due to the .32 ACP chambering. The .32 ACP is expensive, and in America, it’s viewed as near useless, too weak, too small, etc. In reality, a 71- or 73-grain .32 ACP FMJ can meet the acceptable penetration standard.
With that in mind, the P32 could make a comeback. However, I think KelTec could produce a Gen 3 P32 and could create a real resurgence in the .32 ACP.
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The Gen 3 P32: My Vision
This is a theoretical article and a plea to KelTec. Don’t forget the P32. The second-gen P32 is a solid pistol, but with recent updates to magazine design and the slight pocket-pistol resurgence, we could see a viable .32 ACP pocket pistol.
First, we need to install a stack-and-a-half magazine design. Let’s increase the capacity from 7 to around 10 to 12 rounds in a flush-fitting magazine. Something as we see in the Bodyguard 2.0. It would make the famously thin gun a little wider, but be well worth the investment.
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Next, the DAO trigger on the P32 is okay, but if the P3AT can be striker-fired, why can’t the P32? This would lighten the trigger a bit and provide a slightly shorter pull. People don’t care for DAO triggers anymore.
We also need better sights. The P32 Gen 2 increased the sight height a bit and provided a better sight set than the original. However, I would like to see sights similar to the P3AT, the S&W BG 2.0, and the Ruger LCP 2. Slightly larger and easier to see.
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There is some hoopla about snagging from a pocket draw, but with modern pocket holsters, I don’t see that being a problem. Larger sights make it much faster to aim and help hit your shots. It takes a lot of guesswork out of the engagement.
Additional Features and Considerations
The above are my big three. Beyond that, you can get a little crazier. KelTec seems to like crazy anyway. If the gun uses a fixed magazine, we can cut some of the width and load it with stripper clips. I have extremely limited experience with the KelTec stripper clip system, but if that’s how KelTec does it and it works, I don’t have a problem with it.
Your likelihood of reloading seems quite rare, especially with a pocket pistol, so I don’t mind having a fixed magazine. I’d prefer a removable magazine for maintenance reasons, but I’ll give it up.
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I don’t necessarily think an optic is necessary. I use mine as a pocket pistol, so using an optic would be a bit counterintuitive to pocket carry. With that said, I wouldn’t mind it being an option. Some folks will carry these IWB, and optics aren’t a concern for IWB carry. An optic has a lot of benefits, but an optics-free model isn’t a deal breaker to me.
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I don’t need a rail, and think adding a Picatinny rail would unnecessarily widen the gun. I don’t need a light with this gun. The light recoiling .32 ACP makes it easy to shoot one-handed while using a handheld light.
Will It Happen?
Will a Gen 3 P32 happen? It seems unlikely, but KelTec did just bring back 10-round magazines for the P32. It’s not completely forgotten. Maybe, just maybe, a Gen 3 P32 is on the menu. KelTec does unusual things, so it’s not completely out of pocket
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