The Best .32 ACPs On The Market

I have a genuine fondness for the .32 ACP cartridge. When we delve into the realm of “mouse gun” calibers, our options are typically limited to various .22 rimfires, the .25 ACP, the .380 ACP, and the .32 ACP. To me, the .32 ACP is the Goldilocks of these cartridges. It offers sufficient penetration to reach vital areas, even from short barrels. Crucially, it also lacks the harsh recoil often associated with .380 ACP when fired from micro-sized pistols. The little .32 ACP is truly the bee’s knees in my opinion, so let’s explore my favorite .32 ACPs.

Most of the .32 ACP firearms on this list are still in production and sold on the modern market. Some are not, but they are fairly common and easy to find if you’re willing to shop around. Sadly, .32 ACPs aren’t super popular today, but they seem to be gaining some traction. I personally own dozens of them. Some are obscure, some are old, but a few are exceptionally well-suited for concealed carry.

Beretta 30X

Beretta is one of the few major companies still producing .32 ACPs—in fact, they have two on this list. The Beretta 30X is the successor to the 3032, and it has successfully addressed most of the 3032’s issues. The 30X is 100% more durable than the 3032, so you don’t need to worry about cracked frames when firing higher-performance ammunition.

The 30X comes in various configurations, including models with threaded barrels. Attaching a suppressor to one of these is an absolute blast. The 30X performs like a charm, and its new, improved trigger is fantastic. It’s still pocket-sized, but Beretta did add some bulk to the gun that I find unwanted, and I hope they produce a thinner version in the future.

Seecamp LWS-32

The Seecamp LWS-32 was one of the first .32 ACPs to enter the modern micro, pocket-sized genre. The Seecamp LWS-32 is among the smallest handguns in terms of length and height. It’s a pure “belly gun” that notably lacks sights or any external controls. It’s incredibly smooth and easy to conceal. It holds a total of six rounds.

The LWS-32 utilizes a unique chamber-ring delayed blowback system that helps keep recoil controllable in such a small firearm. It’s a hammer-fired, double-action-only design, but the trigger is tough to beat for its category. The little Seecamp series is one of the longest-produced .32 ACPs on the market.

Walther PPK

The Walther PP series originally debuted in .32 ACP, but it gained immense popularity in the United States in its .380 ACP chambering. However, the .380 ACP often delivers intense and uncomfortable recoil in the straight blowback PPK series. Walther finally saw the light and brought back the PPK in its original, “one true caliber.” The modern production .32 ACP PPKs are an absolute delight.

With these, we get the smooth, stylish Walther that is compact and flat for concealed carry. It’s large enough to comfortably fit your hand, and it’s remarkably easy to shoot when chambered in .32 ACP. The PPK series in .32 ACP shoots straight, and you can fire it rapidly with minimal effort.

CZ 83

The CZ 83 is the first of our discontinued .32 ACPs and one of my personal favorites. I absolutely need to snag the next one I see. The CZ 83 is a subcompact semi-automatic pistol with a DA/SA (Double Action/Single Action) design that feeds from a fifteen-round magazine. It possesses that classic CZ quality of being gloriously underrated. The double-action trigger is admittedly poor, but the single-action is acceptable.

It’s the size profile and capacity that truly make the CZ 83 stand out. It’s a straight blowback design, but the recoil is minimal, and the gun is a “typewriter” when it comes to shooting—it barely moves, allowing a persistent shooter to place a lot of .32 ACP rounds precisely where they want them. Plus, among older .32 ACPs, this one actually has acceptable sights.

Beretta 80X Cheetah

The Cheetah series are some of my all-time favorite guns. As I type this, a Beretta 81 is poking my side. The Cheetah series embodies classic Beretta design with its exposed barrel, DA/SA mechanism, and a mix of double and single-stack magazine options. The 80X Cheetah initially hit the market as a .380 ACP, but Beretta has revived the .32 ACP option this year.

Of all the various .32 ACPs, the 80X Cheetah is the most modern. It features everything you could ever want from a contemporary firearm. It has a rail, it’s optics-ready, and it holds 12 rounds of .32 ACP. The 80X series are remarkably easy to shoot, providing a Glock 19-sized firearm in sub-calibers with hardly any recoil.

KelTec P32

The unassuming KelTec P32 is a gun I find myself returning to often. If you need a firearm that absolutely disappears into your pocket, this is it. At a mere 6.9 ounces, the P32 weighs nothing and is incredibly thin. It vanishes in your pocket and is perfectly suited for non-permissive carry environments. The Gen 2 model even has tiny sights, but at least they’re there.

Those sights make it surprisingly easy to shoot and accurate. The gun uses a Browning short recoil system, so even at 6.9 ounces, the P32 handles more like a rimfire. It has hardly any recoil, making it effortless to shoot. It barely bucks and is my all-time favorite pocket automatic, easily one of the best modern .32 ACPs available.

Southern Tactical VZ 61

Last but not least, let’s talk about the wonderfully impractical: the Southern Tactical VZ 61. Southern Tactical faithfully recreates the famed Skorpion, also known as the “Klob,” in a pistol format. The VZ 61 is easily converted into an SBR if you choose, or you can equip it with a brace. Plenty of aftermarket options exist online to make that happen. This massive handgun was always quite petite for a submachine gun.

The gun is a straight blowback design, but its weight and overall construction make it incredibly easy to handle. The sights are small, but adapters are available to mount a red dot if you wish. The Southern Tactical VZ 61 is a faithful recreation of the classic firearm and is an absolute ton of fun to shoot, even if it’s not the most “tactical” option. Of all the .32 ACPs on my list, this one might just be my favorite.

The .32 ACPs

There are many .32 ACPs available on the used market, but sadly, the new market offerings continue to dwindle. However, with Beretta introducing two new .32 ACPs and Walther bringing one back, perhaps the cartridge still has a little life left in it. I genuinely love the .32 ACP and hope to continue spreading the gospel of the “One True Caliber.”