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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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If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man but deteriorate the cat. -Mark Twain

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 · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 3:14 am Post subject:

Second the motion on the S&B. It's worth a try.
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Maine. Where the Moose is King of the Road (by default).

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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"... laws were most numerous when the commonwealth was most corrupt." -- Tacitus

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

Don · Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 11:14 pm Post subject: Ca32 update

Good news, the Winchester ammo doesn't keyhole. The flat nose design makes it tough to get the first round chambered but once it goes the rest follow without a hitch. Now I only fired one clip through it so before I get too excited I'll fire some more rounds through it before I say all is well.

Don

Don · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:01 am Post subject: ca32 update

Well, the search must go on. The Winchester ammo was very accurate and did not keyhole but the flatnose bullets are just not working. With a full clip I cant get the first round racked into the chamber. If I only put 5 rounds in the clip I can rack the first one successfully but then I get failure to eject issues. So the search goes on. I really wish the Obama panic was over and ammo of all sorts was more available. My job in finding the right ammo for this pistol would be much easier.

Don

martin08 · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:44 am Post subject:

See if you can find some Sellier and Bellot, Don. It is round nose and seems to have execllent consistency in all my guns that fire it.
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Maine. Where the Moose is King of the Road (by default).

Don · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:01 am Post subject: CA32 update

Last night I decided to see if the Magtech ammo that wouldn't rack in my pistol initially would rack now. Wouldn't ya know it does. Well, this afternoon I thought I'd make sure it wasn't a fluke so down to the cellar I went. I put six rounds in the clip, put it in the pistol and pulled the slide back, let it go and bang, the gun went off. After I got over the initial shock I went upstairs to check on my son. He was fine so I went down stairs to find where that bullet went. I found it buried in the timbers of my foundation sill. Having done no serious harm to life or property I took a deep breath and thanked the Lord who yet again was looking out for me. Is this pistol too dangerous to use now or is it just a matter of replacing a part. That incident made me very leary of that gun. Did I not pull the slide back far enough causing a slam fire? I emptied the gun and tried to replicate the incident with no ammo in it but was unable to. I need reassurance or an unequivocal "GET RID OF THAT GUN' from you all.

Thanks,

Don

Don · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:25 am Post subject: CA32 update

Since I know someone will ask, no my finger was not on the trigger. I always rest my finger on the trigger gaurd when racking any auto pistol.

Don

FergusonTO35 · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:36 am Post subject:

I'm not familiar enough with the Davis/Cobra design to talk about your specific pistol but I did have an AD last year while doing the same to a JA-22. I found the empty shell and it had no firing pin mark so I can only assume it was due to impact detonation. Primers are impact sensitive by design, therefore you should be as cautious as you can be when cycling live ammo in any gun.
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If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man but deteriorate the cat. -Mark Twain