February 03, 2021, 01:23 PM
SummersAtTheLake.32 ACP Guardian
Got the urge for something different and never had a mouse gun so I did a little research and jumped in.
Picked up a lightly used .32 ACP Guardian and it came in yesterday. The Guardians and Seecamps are billed as the smallest semi auto handguns in the world (unless something custom built) and this Guardian is tiny. Holds 6 rounds in the mag and this one is a pretty nice looking little handgun.
It came with 2 sets of grips and 200 rounds of .32 and then I picked up a Sneaky Pete holster.
I ordered a Seecamp .32 also and it should be in soon.
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IMG_7673 (800x600)February 03, 2021, 02:12 PM
RogueJSKquote:
Originally posted by SummersAtTheLake:
The Guardians and Seecamps are billed as the smallest semi auto handguns in the world (unless something custom built)
There are several semiauto handguns of the same size or even a little smaller. They're just in an smaller caliber: .25 ACP.
FN M1905/Colt 1908 Vest Pocket, FN Baby Browning, Beretta Jetfire, etc.
For comparison, here's a FN Baby Browning next to a NAA Guardian:
February 03, 2021, 02:25 PM
PASigI had a NAA .380 Guardian back in 2007 when I first got into handguns, was the second gun I bought. It was way too heavy to be a legit pocket pistol and not pleasant to shoot.
A few years later I had an opportunity to buy the gun that was the inspiration for the NAA's; the Seecamp .32
I also found that while it pocketed quite nicely, it painfully pounded the web of my hand when shooting it. I ended up getting rid of both.
February 03, 2021, 04:16 PM
92fstechNot sure if the guardian is similar to the seecamp in this respect, but a co-worker has one and we have yet to be able to shoot it because it is very ammo picky.
To combat the issue of rimlock with the semi-rimmed .32 ACP cartridge, the magazines are designed to accommodate a very specific OAL. The only .32 ammo we could find locally was ball ammo, and it wouldn't fit in the mags. Apparently there are a few types of JHP ammo that it's specifically designed around. I couldn't find any locally...and now of course there's none anywhere, so we still haven't shot the gun. When things get back to normal, I may get some .32 ACP dies and load up something custom so she can at least go shoot it.
February 03, 2021, 04:22 PM
94hokieMy 12 or so year old Seecamp 32 feeds Winchester white box, Hornady Critical Defense, Speer Gold Dot and Winchester Silver Tips just fine. Love my older Seecamp, I know once manufacturing switched there were some early issues but hopefully those are in the past.
February 03, 2021, 04:45 PM
cee_Kamp^^^^^ 92fstech,
.32 ACP Winchester White Box.
Truncated cone flat point. Short enough OAL for .32 ACP magazines designed for JHP ammo. (but NOT round nose FMJ ball ammo due to OAL)
It works in my Seecamp reasonably well. Still an occasional malfunction though.
But still better than not shooting a newly acquired firearm.
Speer Gold Dot is the "choice" for serious social encounters in my Seecamp.
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USPSA Chief Range Officer February 03, 2021, 06:06 PM
92fstechquote:
Originally posted by cee_Kamp:
^^^^^ 92fstech,
.32 ACP Winchester White Box.
Truncated cone flat point. Short enough OAL for .32 ACP magazines designed for JHP ammo. (but NOT round nose FMJ ball ammo due to OAL)
It works in my Seecamp reasonably well. Still an occasional malfunction though.
But still better than not shooting a newly acquired firearm.
Speer Gold Dot is the "choice" for serious social encounters in my Seecamp.
Sadly, she's had if for years and never shot it! It's a beautiful little gun. It has its quirks (with her being a newer shooter, I don't love the fact that the mag has to be inserted to rack the slide, as it flies in the face of everything I've taught her about how to safely clear a weapon), but the quality of manufacturing is obvious.
I'll see if I can track some of those WWB flat points down. Do you know if they made different mags designed to work with longer ball ammo? She has a box of that...and these days it might be easier to find a mag than the ammo.
February 03, 2021, 06:13 PM
SigSentryMy .380 is safely tucked away. It's not very often I feel like holding onto a lit firecracker
. Interesting design as it doesn't utilize an ejector.
Pre-Kahr Arms
February 03, 2021, 07:59 PM
PASigquote:
Originally posted by 92fstech:
Not sure if the guardian is similar to the seecamp in this respect, but a co-worker has one and we have yet to be able to shoot it because it is very ammo picky.
To combat the issue of rimlock with the semi-rimmed .32 ACP cartridge, the magazines are designed to accommodate a very specific OAL. The only .32 ammo we could find locally was ball ammo, and it wouldn't fit in the mags. Apparently there are a few types of JHP ammo that it's specifically designed around. I couldn't find any locally...and now of course there's none anywhere, so we still haven't shot the gun. When things get back to normal, I may get some .32 ACP dies and load up something custom so she can at least go shoot it.
The Seecamp was designed for the Silvertip .32 JHP
February 03, 2021, 09:13 PM
SigFanSummersAtTheLake, I can relate to the itch for a mouse gun. About a year or so ago I finally bought a Beretta Tomcat .32 ACP. It’s a chunky little monkey, though! Shoots pretty well, though, but I did get a little slide cut on my thumb because I was choking up on it too high for it’s size.
92fstech — your co-worker might benefit from the tip-up barrel on the Tomcat.
Regards From Sunny Tucson,
SigFan
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February 04, 2021, 09:06 AM
SummersAtTheLakequote:
Originally posted by SigFan:
SummersAtTheLake, I can relate to the itch for a mouse gun. About a year or so ago I finally bought a Beretta Tomcat .32 ACP. It’s a chunky little monkey, though! Shoots pretty well, though, but I did get a little slide cut on my thumb because I was choking up on it too high for it’s size.
92fstech — your co-worker might benefit from the tip-up barrel on the Tomcat.
I woke up one morning recently and said to myself...."myself a new handgun sounds fun and let's do something"
Started with Keltec's, Ruger LCP, and Beretta's and then stumbled onto Guardians. I was torn between the Guardian and Seecamp and solved that by buying both. Bud's has new Seecamps in .32 for $447.00 and .380's for $505.00 shipped.
Seecamp has a good forum with lots of good info...looks like Guardians will run most ammo but Seecamps are pretty picky and that is the biggest concern I had with the Seecamp....neither one will get a lot of range time
February 04, 2021, 03:42 PM
lymanquote:
Originally posted by cee_Kamp:
^^^^^ 92fstech,
.32 ACP Winchester White Box.
Truncated cone flat point. Short enough OAL for .32 ACP magazines designed for JHP ammo. (but NOT round nose FMJ ball ammo due to OAL)
It works in my Seecamp reasonably well. Still an occasional malfunction though.
But still better than not shooting a newly acquired firearm.
Speer Gold Dot is the "choice" for serious social encounters in my Seecamp.
I lucked into Seecamp back in the mid 90's, and carry it often
it has never failed, but I only carry it with Silvertips (I have several boxes tucked away)
I also had a gent give me a case gauge for the Seecamp,
simple C shaped piece of metal cut tot he correct length to make sure the ammo fits,
I've handled a few guardians, and they are nicely made, but slightly heavier and bigger than the Seecamp,
https://www.chesterfieldarmament.com/
February 04, 2021, 03:59 PM
T.WebbI like mouse guns, but they seem to spend way more time in the safe than they do on me since the 365's came around.
I "had" the Seecamp, and still have a Beretta in .22, a P3AT Keltec, and the big boy of the 3, a Rohrbaugh R9 Stealth.
************************************************
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February 04, 2021, 07:54 PM
monoblokMy .380 Guardian is an excellent tool for numbing virtually all of the nerves in my shooting hand. Of course it's an entirely different situation once that numbness wears off. I've thought about having that little 'pointy crest' at the top of the backstrap rounded off, which is my main gripe with the amount of "WHAMMO" that this gun imparts on my poor shooting hand. Otherwise it's been a surprisingly reliable gun.
-MG
February 06, 2021, 11:40 AM
divilI would love to have a Guardian in .25NAA just for the sheer oddity of it. The uncertain availability of finding the ammo has always been the proverbial bucket of ice water that cools me off from that collector fantasy.
February 06, 2021, 12:09 PM
bald1My first "mouse gun" was this AMT 380 Backup II I picked up in 1997. It was NOT fun to shoot. And I had trouble reaching and operating the safety without having to cant the little demon in my hand. That said, unlike many others' experiences, the sucker actually always fired.
It 2010 it was traded in on another firearm.
Today the closest I have to a mouse gun is my trusty Sig P238.
As an aside I once owned a Kel-Tec P11 too which also was very reliable but with an atrocious trigger despite fluffing and buffing.
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February 06, 2021, 12:58 PM
P250UA5quote:
Originally posted by bald1:.
Today the closest I have to a mouse gun is my trusty Sig P238.
As an aside I once owned a Kel-Tec P11 too which also was very reliable but with an atrocious trigger despite fluffing and buffing.
P11 owner here. Its my pocket carry option
The trigger is definitely quite heavy, and the flex in the plastic trigger doesn't help. Upgrading to an aluminum trigger made it a lot better to shoot.
The Enemy's gate is down. February 06, 2021, 07:46 PM
MagnumUIn it's day the Seecamp had the best combination of concealability and performance. I ended up selling my Seecamp and NAA and use the Ruger LCP as my small pocket gun.
I'm still a fan of of the .32 ACP cartridge, using it now in a Tomcat and PPK, and also .32 revolvers.
February 06, 2021, 08:17 PM
92fstechquote:
92fstech — your co-worker might benefit from the tip-up barrel on the Tomcat.
True, but she already has the seecamp. I don't remember the whole story about how she got it, but iirc there's some sentimental attachment as well. It really is a nice little gun...just a bit more complicated logistically and mechanicaly than some.
February 06, 2021, 08:48 PM
amd6547I’m a big fan of the KelTec P32. Thin, light, yet with the benefit of locking action vs blowback. Plus, it accommodates regular ball ammo.
Mine is loaded with hot S&B FMJ, which it shoots very well. I’ve also shot some Hornady 32 XTP’s in it, which it seemed to like.
I’ve used a few different pocket pistols over the years. For my uses, the P32 is the best yet. Literally a pistol you can drop in a pocket and forget about.
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