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Don · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:19 pm Post subject: Update on the ca32

Well I took the cobra 32 out to the range today and put about 70 rounds through it. The good news is that there wasn't one hickup in terms of feeding and ejecting. Bad news, it still keyholes like an SOB. Funny, most magazine fulls keyhole all but one or two rounds and then I'll get one magazine full that only keyholes one or two out of the six. Go figure. I am pleased about its reliability and would carry it despite the keyhole issue. A sideways bullet is going to hurt just as bad. May not penetrate as well but it will still be discouraging to a perp. In fairness I've only been able to run Privi ammo through it and some other brand may not keyhole but the ammo supply is still tight and I havn't had a chance to run other brands through it. I'll update again if I get the chance to try another brand of ammo.

Don

FergusonTO35 · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:04 am Post subject:

Glad to hear of the progress. Its unfortunate that Cobra still allows this glaring defect when their guns are otherwise quite good.
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356 · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:01 am Post subject:

Don, I had issues with keyholes with my Kel-Tec P32 when using the same brand (Privi) ammo you are using. I picked the ammo at a gun show because it was cheap--but the results were disappointing. I ended up trading the last 30 rounds of .32 for the same number of .380 (which at the time was cheaper than .32). So my experience with it was short--just 20 rounds--which was enough for me to say "enough!"

So, here is my theory--I believe the measurements are just enough different at the freebore point (where case/bullet meet) than other ammo that did not keyhole. I personally think the issue is that the bullet is not biting the rifling. For the price-point, both S&B and FIOCHHI have been reliable. I have also used some Remington .32's that was "old as the hills" but worked well.

Some guys shooting .32 are also experiencing issues with some SD (Self Defence) Personal Protection Rounds, so if you plan to use the pistol for SD, make sure the ammo you carry works well. So far, all SD rounds have worked just fine in my Kel-Tec. (I should note that my friends and I often trade rounds of various ammo to see what works and what doesn't).

I should also ask the obvious--does the barrel have a lead or cooper buildup? If so, soak for 15 minutes in Hoops (or whatever your favorite bore cleaner is) and scrub, scrub, scrub.

I hope your fix is that simple, since the pistol seems reliable.
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Don · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 3:10 am Post subject: Ca32 update

The pistol keyholed straight from the box and I haven't noticed any copper build up. I'll make a point of trying another brand of ammo. Too bad, the Privi feeds very reliably.

Don

martin08 · Moderator Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 3102 Location: Maine

Second the motion on the S&B. It's worth a try.
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diehard · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:18 pm Post subject:

Don, if you can find some, I may be able to load some hard-cast bullets for you. I have the dies. Save your brass.

Actually, your .32 dies might work for you as well.

I think hard-cast (with a reasonably low bhn) would obdurate enough to shoot straight. They might not expand well at .32ACP velocities though.
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Flowmaster · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 4:12 pm Post subject:

you're not the only cobra owner to have a gun keyhole right out of the box. i had a cobra CA380 which keyholed from day one. very very faint rifling, but i thought i'd still shoot it. well after shooting there were scratches in the barrel that were just straight lines, not spirals.
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jeffchance · Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 6:32 am Post subject:

If ammo doesn't help it, sounds like a trip to the factory is due for it.
JEFF
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Don · Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 4:33 am Post subject: CA32 update

I'm sure hoping its an ammo issue. I've been round the block with Cobra over the keyholing issue I had with their derringer. Cost me over $60 to send it to them and they swore their rifling was up to specs. They did try to make me happy but I don't want to go through that jazz with them again. I honestly don't know how any gunsmith can look at the rifling in their barrels and say it is enough? I have a box of winchester ammo coming my way, when I get a chance to shoot it I'll give an update.

Don