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.32 s/s pocket pistols

gundummygundummy Member Posts: 254 ✭
edited February 2002 in Ask the Experts
Ran accross a NAA guardian in .32 acp this weekend. Picked it up and found that it felt pretty good considering it's small size. I am a fairly big guy with big hands, but this little pistol really did not feel too bad. Felt better than the p32 and well built in s/s. Well I started to look at other similar guns like the Seecamp and the Autauga MKII. All three are about the same size, but I am leaning towards the MKII, not only because it cost a little less, but it seemed to me like it's built a little better.Can anyone familiar with these three similar guns give any feedbacks on their functions and reliability. Pros and cons. Nothing against the p32, but these s/s pocket pistols just felt better. Thanks again, GD
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Comments

  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    "Its funny that when we shop for a carry gun we always look for the smallest and easiest to carry, but when we actually get into a firefight we want the biggest..." -Hammock
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  • grease_monkeygrease_monkey Member Posts: 108 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Check out the Beretta Tomcat, I got one recently and it is a nice gun, well made and accurate.
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  • gundummygundummy Member Posts: 254 ✭
    edited November -1
    That's very true Lee, but spring is coming up soon and my clothing will change, so just wanted the minimum because trying to conceal my Sig P220 .45ACP gets a little hard with just a t-shirt. I know that even a .32ACP is not even a minimum to some, but even for my size, I would not want to get hit by it.The tomcat is very nice, but I wanted something a little smaller. These s/s semi's I listed are even smaller than the Kel-tec p32. GD
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  • KhegglieKhegglie Member Posts: 330 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    NAA also makes a .380 which is just a little lager/heavier.
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  • oz652oz652 Member Posts: 31 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The American Rifleman did an article, August 1998. I had these exact questions my self adding that I would be using mine in a ocean marine environment, after further research; the Beretta trigger pull pinched upon ignition (I have big hands), the Autauga is defunct (I don't buy products from company's that make a product a few years and close their doors, the Seecamp was out of my price range. I don't like plastic guns (they are in my opinion not something I would feel safe shooting ten years from now) so the Kel-tec is out. I got my Guardian 3 weeks before the safe handgun act was put into place (pistols must have a manual safety). NO REGRETS. It fires the fmj 71 gr Blazer perfectly; along with the Winchester silver tips. FYI the article said some negative things about all manufactures but a lot about the MKll.By the way...Stir,stirstirstir
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  • salzosalzo Member Posts: 6,396 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    What is the "safe handgun act". Is that a federal law?
    Happiness is a warm gun
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  • gruntledgruntled Member Posts: 8,218 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Check out NAA's web site. They have a discussion page & they have allowed a very wide range of comments about all of their guns.Note that there have been changes in the guns & the later serial #s have been improved. The serial #s begin with letters & you should avoid the AA #s at least & the higher the letter the better. (I have an AA& I am temped to send it in for the free upgrades, it's just the shipping costs that stop me.)[This message has been edited by gruntled (edited 02-13-2002).]
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  • erictheredericthered Member Posts: 244 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I love the KAHR MK 9 or 40. They are accurate, dependable and small enough to conceal. I carry mine in a side pocket in my lab shirt. With tritium night sights. Half of every day is nighttime. Turned over the MK 9 to my wife when I got the 40.Best gun I've tested in 5-6 years. Eric
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  • oz652oz652 Member Posts: 31 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I am sorry it's actually "UNSAFE HANDGUNS ACT" which is now a law in the Kaliphornia state. CHAPTER 1.3. Too many tests tell, you will have to read. http://caag.state.ca.us/firearms/dwcl/12125.htm Anyways, section 12126.12126. As used in this chapter, "unsafe handgun" means any pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 12001, for which any of the following is true: (a) For a revolver: (1) It does not have a safety device that, either automatically in the case of a double-action firing mechanism, or by manual operation in the case of a single-action firing mechanism, causes the hammer to retract to a point where the firing pin does not rest upon the primer of the cartridge. (2) It does not meet the firing requirement for handguns pursuant to Section 12127. (3) It does not meet the drop safety requirement for handguns pursuant to Section 12128. (b) For a pistol: (1) It does not have a positive manually operated safety device, as determined by standards relating to imported guns promulgated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. (2) It does not meet the firing requirement for handguns pursuant to Section 12127. (3) It does not meet the drop safety requirement for handguns pursuant to Section 12128. For pistols, the first requirement eliminated a lot of nice gun from our stores. It was dramatic enough for Seecamp to make a special "CA Edition"
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  • JudgeColtJudgeColt Member Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Interesting thread. In my promotion of the Kel-Tec P32, I have covered these issues before. The NAA .32 is a fairly nice pistol that was designed and marketed as an alternative to the Seecamp. As stated, they have been improved over the years. To me, the biggest knock on the Guardian and Seecamp is that they are blowback and heavy (12 to 13 ounces empty) for their size, whereas the Kel-Tec P32 is a locked breech and very light (6.5 ounces empty). The .380 Guardian is HUGE, as big as, and heavier (18 ounces!) than, a Kel-Tec P11 (14 ounces empty), which holds 11 rounds of 9x19 in a locked-breech pistol. Unfortunately, Kel-Tec no longer makes any stainless pistols, but it does offer hard chrome slides, which should be fairly good for "sweaty" carry. The Tomcat is very large and heavy compared to the other .32 pistols, but I do like the tip-up barrel and availability of stainless construction.As far as an aversion to polymer frames, an obscure pistol called the Glock 17 has pretty well eliminated any concern about polymer frames. My plastic Glock 17 bought in 1985 is still shooting fine. Gun writer Chuck Taylor claims a huge round count through his Glock 17 of the same vintage. (What is he up to now, 170,000 plus?) To me, a polymer frame is a virtue in a carry gun. My Glock 17 is now 17 years old (!), and my Kel-Tec P11 is 7 years old. Neither exhibits any weakness in the polymer frame. I have a Seecamp and have not carried it since I got my Kel-Tec P32. While the P32 is slightly bigger in length and height, it is much thinner and much lighter, holds more rounds and is locked breech. No contest, especially when you factor in the cost. (I do have an extra NIB Seecamp that I would sell under current market if you want to go that way.)The mention of the Kahr used to put me on my "too heavy" and "too few rounds" soapbox, but the new Micro polymer frame announced at the SHOT Show has finally done away with the weight issue, leaving only the magazine capacity issue. The Micro is slightly thinner than the Kel-Tec P11 and about the same weight now, so I may have to try one. For a .32, go with the Kel-Tec P32. You will be glad you did.
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  • niklasalniklasal Member Posts: 776 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hey Judge Colt, You bouth your G17 in 1985? I thought they weren't in business until 1995. Typo maybe?Hey, do you feel the same about Keltec P11's?
    NIKLASAL@hotmail.com
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