The Glock 32 is a bit of an oddity, but a gun you can rely on.
Most shooters know all about Glock pistol reliability. We know all the various types of Glock models on the market today. Everyone knows about guns like the Glock 17, the 20, the 26, or the 43. However, the gunmaker produces a lot of handguns in unique chamberings. Ones that fit more of a niche audience than others.
Case in point is the Glock 32 chambered in .357 Sig. Not many people use this caliber these days, but it is a proven self-defense round in the hands of both law enforcement and private citizens.
In truth, the Glock 32 may be one of the reliable semi-auto pistols that Glock currently offers. Let us dive into the specifics of this gun, and the shooters who might want to consider it as their concealed carry gun of choice.
Specs of the Glock 32.
Glock - G32 Gen 3
We will start things off by just doing a quick run-through of the specs of this semi-automatic polymer gun and what makes it different from the Glock 31, which is also chambered in .357 Sig. The main difference is in the size. The Glock is much more compact. In truth, the gun is almost a clone in size to the Glock 19. It has a 4.02-inch barrel length, and a weight of 30.34 ounces fully loaded.
The dimensions are near identical to the 19 too. It has an overall length of 7.36 inches, and a one-inch slide width. That slim profile makes it easy to carry with a quality inside the waistband (IWB) holster. The Glock 31 has a longer barrel, slide, and is about three ounces heavier. These specs are identical for the Glock 32 Gen 4, and the older Gen 3 models. We have not seen a Gen 5 version of the Glock G32 yet, and it is unlikely we will anytime soon. For reasons we will get into more later.
Another big difference between the Gen 3 and 4 models is the grip and ergonomics. The Gen 4 models have more texture on the grip that some people prefer over the older model. The Gen 4 models also come with a modular back strap design so you can adjust the fit of your sidearm to perfectly fit the size and shape of your hand. The magazine catch is also larger on the Gen 4 models, making it easier to operate.
Is the Glock 32 a good gun?
The answer to this question is a resounding yes. While it may be something of an obscure caliber to many shooters, the .357 Sig has been trusted by both law enforcement and the secret service in the past as a gun with a lot of stopping power. The round was introduced back in 1994 by Sig Sauer. It uses a necked-down 10mm Auto as a parent case. The whole idea was they wanted to mimic the performance of a .357 Magnum, but with a more efficiently sized round. That necked down case also helps it to cycle a little more efficiently than some other rounds.
The .357 Sig is a screamer of a round. Expect muzzle velocities of 1,300 to 1,500 feet per second using 125-grain ammo. That means this gun shoots much faster than the powerful and popular Glock 23 chambered in .40 S&W or the Glock 21 chambered in .45 ACP. The cool thing about the 32 is that it also does not skimp on capacity. It comes with 13-round magazines standard and can fit longer ones if the user needs it.
There are a few downsides to consider though. For one, we do not recommend this as a first handgun. First because the .357 Sig round has a reputation for being extremely loud. Perhaps more than some shooters would like. Because this is a powerful gun, the recoil does take some getting used to. We have heard from some users that replacing the guide rod, and recoil spring with aftermarket parts helps to tame the recoil a bit. Take that as you will.
You might also consider an aftermarket trigger. As most shooters already know, this brand has a reputation for a mushy trigger pull. Some people want something that feels crisper. There are plenty of options out there if you want to go that route.
Other than those quirks, the Glock 32 is praised by most owners as being an excellent carry gun. The safe action style means it is ready for action in a self-defense scenario. And the .357 Sig is proven in this regard. In December of 2019, Jack Wilson stopped a mass shooting before it could happen in Texas when he dropped a gunman with a single shot from a .357 Sig. If you want something lighter for concealed carry, consider the Glock 33, which is Glock's subcompact option for a gun in .357 Sig.
Who is the Glock 32 for?
This is a harder question to answer. Because of the chambering, the Glock 32 is without a doubt, a niche gun. One of the big downsides to .357 Sig is in ammo pricing and availability. In some places, you might have a hard time finding this round over more popular offerings like .40 S&W or 9mm Luger. This is probably not the one to get if you are planning on doing a lot of shooting. We have not tried it, but we have also heard this round is difficult to hand reload. It is worth considering the ammo factor before adding this gun to your wishlist. That niche nature of this gun is the main reason we do not expect Glock to release a Gen 5 version anytime soon.
As we have already mentioned, this Glock is probably best for a more advanced shooter because of the handling aspect. Former military and law enforcement might be more of a target audience for this firearm than the casual shooter looking for a his or her first carry gun.
The ideal target audience for the Glock 32 is probably the shooter who loves the Glock 19, but wants a gun that can fire a hotter and faster round for more stopping power. If you are already used to handling the 19, the 32 is probably going to feel right at home in your hands.
Other than that, the Glock 32 is for anyone who likes a handgun with a fast, powerful round in a Glock-styled platform. As with most of the guns they make, it is hard to go wrong with a Glock for any scenario.
For more outdoor content from Travis Smola, be sure to follow him on Twitter and check out his Geocaching and Outdoors with Travis YouTube channels.
NEXT: THE 5 BEST HOME DEFENSE SHOTGUNS
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