.32 Acp

[usnavymasterchief]

I'm told that THR is dedicated to educating firearm lovers on various aspects of their passion. Every so often I get a need to demonstrate my ignorance to my fellow handgunners, so here goes:
Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the ACP, as in .32 ACP, stand for Automatic Colt Pistol? Why then do so many semi autos chambered for .32ACP have feed problems?
I believe it is the only auto pistol cartridge that has a rimmed shell casing which when in JHP form can cause rim lock in most Kel-Tecs, Seecamps and other fine .32ACP pistols. Why then don't manufacturers of these neat handguns offer optional magazines specifically designed for JHP's for those who prefer JHP over FMJ? Or better yet, why don't ammo manufacturers design and build their product so that .32ACP JHP's have the same LOA as .32ACP FMJ's? Wouldn't that forever solve the rim lock problem?
Given that it is a rimmed cartridge why are there no modern revos made in .32ACP? Seems to me that it would make a fairly decent small CCW revo for those who don't care for bottom feeders. The .32ACP seems to work well in short barreled guns so it should be a natural for a snubby revo.
See what happens when you get old and have so much time on your hands. You get to dream up dumb questions like these. But I'll wager that you folks out there will have the answers.

 

[mete]

Yes it's auto colt pistol, no it's not rimmed but semirimmed. But if you think it's appropriate for saving your life you're in a dream world, even if you use jhp. 380 is substantially better but 9mm is better yet.

 

[Mike Irwin]

As mete says, it's semi-rimmed.

But it's not the only Browning-designed ACP cartridge to be semi-rimmed...

The .25, the .380, and the .38 ACP/.38 Super are also semi-rimmed.

 

[Gary A]

On the revolver point, I always hoped that North American Arms would make a version of their mini chambered for .32 acp. I would have been single-action and bigger than their .22s but still small and would have been a nice 4 or 5 shot "derringer" as opposed to a 2 shot Davis. Alas, once NAA began production and marketing of the .32 Guardian the chances of a .32 revolver diminished. I still would like one.

 

[C.R.Sam]

Have played with partner's Kel Tec .32, all sorts of ammo, and no feed problems. Lucky ?

Myownself works around the potential problem by using Smith, early, I frame in .32 S&W Long. Punchier cartridge, gun is much smaller than a J frame and holds 6 rounds.

Sam.

"Don't tick off the crusty ol man with a wheelgun, he might dot your eyes."

 

[Marko Kloos]

But if you think it's appropriate for saving your life you're in a dream world, even if you use jhp.

Never underestimate the lethality of a cartridge. If they could, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife would tell you about the lack of killing power of the .32ACP FMJ.

Plenty of people carry guns in .32, because you can squeeze the cartridge into very small frames suitable for backup and pocket carry. I'd rather have a .32 in my pocket when I cannot carry anything bigger (like at work), than not have a gun at all. I'm pretty sure that I don't live in a dream world.

 

[22luvr]

Living in a "dream world?" Hmmm.....

I think not carrying any gun, even when it is very legal to do so, is really-really living in a dream world. A .32 in the hand is worth two .45's left at home!

There are places many of us go where deep concealment cannot be compromised. We've all heard the disparaging comments about mousegun stopping power. Thanks for the well-meaning advice.

Don't worry; it's called "assumption of risk."

 

[RON in PA]

Supossedly this was JMB's favorite cartridge. I have often wondered why the Europeans considered it ok for self-defense and police work until recently. Maybe it's more lethal than we Americans would like to think.

Question: Do you think that the JHP versions of the 32 ACP are that more effective than the FMJ? Isn't it better to have penetration in a mouse caliber?

Re: Rimlock, If you are having problems take the extra time and effort and load the mag so the rim is always in front of the rim of the cartridge below it. Just like loading an Enfield rifle.

380 is rimless.

 

[mete]

My comments about the 32 are directed to the many new to carrying . The ones who know little about guns. The problems of 22/32/25 have been know for many years. One of the first serious studies of stopping power was made by J Hatcher "Textbook of Pistols and Revolvers" His comments are still valid today in fact he was shot with a 32 and hardly inconvenienced.

 

[Deepdiver]

Hey Chief! I can't answer your "why don't?" questions, but I can tell you that I have fired my CZ70 into enough different materials to know that I would not want to be shot by one - FMJ's or not.

I normally carry a 45 or a snubnosed 38, but the CZ70 occasionally ends up being the pick of the day.

It may not have the stopping power of a 45, but 2-3 well placed shots would be one helluva distraction to a BG with malicious intent.

 

[Mike Irwin]

"380 is rimless."

Not according to Cartridges of the World.

Case head diameter - .373

Rim diameter -- .374

.001 rim!


Yeah, you're right. .380 is rimless. The 9mm Browning Long in semi-rimmed.


"I have often wondered why the Europeans considered it ok for self-defense and police work until recently."

I really think it's more because the Europeans don't have the depth and breadth of handgun usage experience that we in the United States had/have, or even those in Britain had.

Britain and the United States both adopted heavy-caliber military revolvers, I think in large part because of our colonial experiences in dealing with natives that tended not to fall down when shot repeatedly with smaller calibers.

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

I would bet that my Seecamp will never have a rim-lock problem. I also doubt that my NAA Guardian will ever rimlock either. However, I use the longer Fiocchi 73gr FMJ's in my P-32. I have fired several Gold Dot hollow points from my P-32 without problems however, from the posts I've read, I chose the longer Fiocchis.
Hey, I like them anyway so why chance a rim-lock?
By the way~My Seecamp and Guardian are not loaded with hollow points. .32ACP RBCD's all the way! (Right Jeff? )

KR

 

[tbeb]

I once owned a .32 ACP Walther PP. I never experienced any rimlock with FMJ, or Win./Corbon/Speer hollowpoints.

A .32 ACP may be a decent snub revolver caliber for self defense. We do have a .32 magnum though. I would choose a .38 special over either.

Manufacturers of semi-auto pistols should build them to be reliable with FMJ's and hollowpoints. A short break-period is all that should be necessary. Some semi-auto's need custom work or at least one trip back to the factory. That's why I'm awful picky when it comes to buying one.

 

[TheeBadOne]

Real World use of the .32 Silvertip has shown it to be as effective as the .380 auto. I don't know how the other newer .32 hollowpoints stack up.

 

[RandyB]

My .32 kel-tec feed flawlessly (so far...) Do I trust it to end an attacker? Nope, but it beats having nothing and it just might get me to a better weapon or get me out of harms way, or slow BG down, etc.

 

[Sunray]

"Why then do so many semi autos chambered for .32ACP have feed problems?" Because it gets put into pistols of inferior quality. Try it in a Walther and see how it feeds. There are so many junk pistols chambered in .32 ACP it has gotten a reputation for not feeding.

 

[Dain Bramage]

Don't forget, stopping power and lethality, especially in pre-antibiotic days, are two different things.

Franz Ferdinand supposedly lived long enough to urge his wife to "live for the children", speaking after being shot in the throat (!).

Your results on PCP-laced, knife-wielders may vary.

 

[coldshot03/04]

Never had a problem with the 32acp nor the 380acp.

I know a little old lady that stopped a 200+ lb attacker in his tracks with a 22short to the chest.

 

[Gordon]

AS long as we are here, can I use .32 ACP in my model 31 32S&W long revolver? Why NOT?

 

[firestar]

People lump the .32acp with the .22 and the .25 too often. I think the .32acp is much more powerful a cartridge than the other two. It is no 9mm but it is surely better than a .22lr or a .25acp. The .32 is a little powerhouse. At close range out of a short bbl, it still has enough power to penetrate quite a few wood planks.

I have tested the .32acp and the .22lr side by side and not only does the .32 throw a bullet that is almost twice the weight and much larger caliber (relatively) but it also penetrates at LEAST twice as deep in wood. My tests are not scientific, I did them to know how the .32 would compare to the .22lr that I am very familier with.

I have no doubts that a .22lr will kill a man if shot in the right place so I can only assume that the .32 is just as good or better. I carry a .22lr now but I have had several .32acp pistols.

I never had a rimlock problem in any .32 I have had, I think the problem is blown out of proportion. It would be better if it were rimless but that is not a deterent for me. The real problem with the semi-rimmed cartridge may be that it is less reliable out of small pistols. The .22lr seems to have the same problem but to a greater extant.

Hollow points in a .32acp may be a waste of time. I doubt that a .32 has enough power to go in and out of a torso so why limit the penetration anymore?

 

[C.R.Sam]

Gordon....
It might work in your individual gun.
Couple of mine too big in the rear to properly headspace the auto ctg, and the one that does won't properly extract consistantly.

Just not quite enough rim.

Sam

 

[Hypnogator]

Everyone disparages the .32 ACP as a "mouse" cartridge, but nobody wants to get shot with one. Including bad guys.

 

[mtnbkr]

Regarding rimlock, I had it happen once, while at the range. After dropping the mag and trying to "unlock" the round, I put the mag back into the gun, jammed the slide forward with the palm of my hand and resumed shooting. In my mind, it's an easier failure to recover from than a stovepipe, FTE, etc.

Chris

 

[yzguy]

I would not reccomend that method of clearing a rim locked round.... it will probably dammage the rim and could lead to an unchamberable (is that a word ?? ) round you are tring to push in.... (same goes for the next round in the mag)

 

[rolltide]

The 32ACP has nearly identical One Shot Stop numbers as the 380 and the 38 special from a snubnose revolver. It is in the 22/25 class in size and in the 380/38 class in performance. A triple tap from a 32 is likely to stop almost anyone except the most wasted PCP user, but nothing except a Central Nervous System shot is going to stop the most wasted PCP user because they are not going to feel anything. One shot stops for 32 Silvertips is 67% and OSS for 32 FMJ is 50%. I carry the silvertips.

The Seecamps, NAA, and apparently the Walthers are designed specifically to feed reliably with either hollow points or FMJ. I have never had a rimlock on my NAA 32 Guardian. I carry it everyday.