.32 acp or .32 mag which is better for self defense?

[Mrserenity]

Which is better for self defense .32 acp or .32 mag.  I have a Guardian .32 acp.  At first I was thinking of buying a .32 mag revolver.  Which is better?

[Ron T.]

The .32 Magnum is considerably more powerful than the .32 ACP.  However, a revolver (.32 Magnum) is a lot larger and less concealable than a good many of the smaller, semi-automatic .32 ACPs such as Kel-Tec's P-32.

Another (and a better) choice would be the 10 oz. Kel-Tec P3AT .380 (aka "9mm short") semi-automatic pistol that could just as well be called the "9X17" since the cartridge case is 17mm long.  It is barely any larger or heavier than the popular & diminutive P-32 Kel-Tec from which the P3AT was designed.

With +P ammo (factory approved for use in the P3AT), the small self-defense 9mm (.355 caliber) pistol has a muzzle energy of 221 ft/lbs vs. a .38 Special (.357 caliber) using a 158 grain lead bullet which has 235 ft/lbs of muzzle energy... literally a "push" in the ballistics world.  

However, while most snub-nosed .38 Special revolvers have only a 5 shot capacity, the Kel-Tec P3AT's magazine holds 6 hollow points plus one round in the chamber... a 40% increase in available self-defense ammo.

Knowledgable handgunners agree that the .380 ACP or 9mm Corto (aka "short") is the smallest acceptabled self-defense round... considerably more powerful than the .32 ACP (aka "7.65mm")


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

[Bikenut]

Mrserenity......

I've been following your inquiries in this forum concerning the viability of the .32 caliber for self defense with some interest. I'd like to give my thoughts on the matter for your consideration. This will be a bit long and involved but please bear with me.....

To begin...... a hollow point bullet that penetrates well is better than FMJ for a couple of reasons.... it expands and does maximum damage and there is less danger of overpenetration perhaps injuring someone in the line of fire.... I know, we are supposed to watch out for that but in real life when the manure hits the fan things happen so fast anything is possible.

Which brings me to the .32 caliber. Hollow point .32's just don't penetrate very deeply simply because they do not have a whole lot of powder behind the bullet. Not that they won't do the job, they will, but there are better choices out there and I'll get to that in a moment.

A .32 usually is a small enough gun to conceal easily and that is a great point in it's favor as even a little gun is better than a sharp stick. I have a KEL-TEC P32 that is small enough to hide in a shirt pocket and depending on mode of dress that gun makes sense to carry opposed to not carrying at all. For exceptionally sparse modes of dress I have an NAA .22 derringer, again because even a little gun is better than nothing.

Yet there are also a few 9mm Luger caliber guns that, while not as small as the P32, are still very concealable. KEL-TEC's P11 9mm comes to mind as does Glock's 26 and there are others in the same general size package. To my mind the 9mm Luger with hollow point ammo is the smallest caliber that packs sufficient punch to penetrate well and expand causing maximum damage while not overpowering the shooter with recoil making follow up shots managable.

It has been my experience so far that there isn't just one gun or caliber that fits all concealed carry circumstances. But there is one rule of thumb I've come to understand. I need to carry the largest caliber that I can shoot reliably and accurately multiple times and that will allow the gun to be carried concealed according to how I am dressed that day. This understanding has led me to end up buying several different guns in different calibers to suit my mode of dress. I always choose the largest caliber that conceals the best.

I'm aware that many people, myself included, don't have a bunch of spendable income laying around to buy lots of guns with.... yet, when faced with not being able to conceal a larger gun and having to go unarmed I had to ask myself.... how much is my life worth?

I didn't go into the myriad ways a larger gun can be carried concealed yet not actually "on" the person's body simply because I'd rather not have a gun in a container of any kind that might be snatched away, set down and momentarily forgotten, or set down where someone could grab it and run. I'd much rather have a smaller gun acutally on my person where I can control it.

Please don't misunderstand... I'm not cutting down your choice of gun or caliber as I'm sure there were very good reasons that influenced your decision for the .32...... I'm only trying to give you some food for thought.

I hope I've not offended you by straying way far away from your original question in this discussion....

[Greeenriver]

The 32H&R Mag is quite a bit better than the 32ACP round, the difference is that the 32acp is usualy in a small, flat semi-auto pistol, and the 32H&R is always(to my knoweldge) in a revolver.  If you have room to conciel the Ruger Baby Vaquiero in 32mag, you have room to hide a 1911 45acp.

However, in the small revolvers, the Taurris 32mag is the same size as a 5 shto 38spec, however it holds 6 rounds, and is a very good stopper when loaded with defensive rounds from any major manfacturer.

Greeenriver(The 32mag is better than the 32acp, but there are many better rounds if you have the option.)

[Savage]

The 32 mag, hands down! However, at the risk of being redundant, the 32 mag revolvers are as large as some of the more serious guns in larger chamberings.
Savage

[twodollarpistol]

I must agree with Mr Bikenut. He has given good insight and sound wisdom. I also carry at all times, regardless of whatever else I am carrying, A Kel-Tec P32. As already stated, not the best, but better than nothing. I carry mine with the first two rounds being Speer Gold dot hollow points. These wont penetrate very deeply but when a bullet stops inside the target, 100% of the energy has been transferred to that target causing as much initial shock as possible. I then follow up with ball ammo for penetration and deep organ damage. Of course I have never had to prove this in practical terms, thank God, but it sure sounds good in theory, dont it?
 Back to your original question, of course as has already been pointed out, the .32 mag is the more powerful and potentially lethal round, but the choices of small, easily concealed weapons is very limited.

[strider72]

Carry a P32 myself. Loaded with CCI Gold Dots 7+1 plus extra 7rd mag. What FMJ do you carry in your P32, twodollarpistol? I like S&B ball but the primers are harder than my P32 likes.

[twodollarpistol]

Carry a P32 myself. Loaded with CCI Gold Dots 7+1 plus extra 7rd mag. What FMJ do you carry in your P32, twodollarpistol? I like S&B ball but the primers are harder than my P32 likes.

I only recently started carrying this way. I have normally carried all Gold Dot 60 grainers but now I also use Fiocchi 73gr ball. I have heard good things about the S&B but I have also heard about the hard primers as well. Havent tried them yet. The Fiocchi have worked well for me . No failures of any type and accuracy is acceptable for a point and shoot belly gun. I actually got the idea to load this way from someones post on Greybeard and it made sense to me. Hope I never have to put it to the test.

[strider72]

I hope I never have to fire in self-defense either. I would prefer a Glock 18 or a FN P90 to use also,but unfortunately,is easier to carry a P32.