Let's settle this once and for all.

[Keith]

Killing Power is based entirely on the amount of Centrifugal Energy imparted to the bullet by rifling in the barrel. The faster the bullet spins, the more tissue will be displaced and the easier it is for the bullet to expand.
This can be reduced to the simple mathematical formula: R (rotational velocity) times RvBv (rotational velocity plus bullet velocity) equals KP (killing power).
All of this was worked out by Dr. Poindexter Wong of Wong-Way Barrel Sales who is now offering his new after market barrels with the patented hyper-rifling (Quik-Kill) barrel system for a variety of common handguns. I just bought five of them and the enclosed literature assures me that I can kill as much as 71% quicker with any of my handguns!

Ok... I just made all of that up...

C'mon guys! It's all about internal damage. A relatively small, but very fast bullet (like a 125 gr .357), can do a lot of damage. So can a relatively large, but slow bullet from .45. Carry the gun you shoot best in any credible caliber and quit looking for some magic formula.

 

[Jim K]

So, let me see. If I am carrying a .32, and I encounter a nasty guy being very nasty and I put one bullet in his left eye and one in his right, and one between them, he won't be hurt at all because someone did a scientific survey that says so. I think I get it, now.

Jim

 

[Preacherman]

The penetration factor is pretty important in any defensive round. It's not as extreme as the Facklerites would have one believe, but neither is expansion as supremely important as Marshall & Sanow would have us believe. The truth lies somewhere in the middle.

First and most important, we have to get hits in the right place, which means center-of-mass, affecting vital organs, or central nervous system (CNS) - brain stem or spine.

Secondly, we have to do damage to what we hit. This means something that will at least leave a hole, break bone, etc. A light, fast bullet may expand so much in the first few inches that it will stop before getting deep enough to do this. A classic example: if a BG has his arm across his chest for some reason, will your carry load shoot through that arm (including the arm bone), penetrate the chest, and go through the heart? If not, you need a heavier, less expansive bullet.

Thirdly, one-shot stops are NOT the norm for handguns: there's just too little power available. A relatively low-powered rifle (e.g. the good old .30-30) will have three to four times more energy on impact than a .45 ACP! With so little impact energy to play with, we're probably going to need more than one shot anyway, unless we get lucky and shut down the CNS with one hit.

I wouldn't carry a .32 (ACP or Magnum) simply because I'm not convinced that it can do an adequate job on penetration through heavy bone and obstacles. I use the .38 Special +P LSWCHP load, which has been getting the job done for decades, given good bullet placement. On the other hand, I do prefer something more powerful, and will normally be carrying a Glock 23 with Remington Golden Saber 165gr. JHP's... the .38 is for backup!

 

[chaim]

I've followed this thread a bit and it is actually a bit humorous. "Which is better" based solely on power?

Ok, depending upon which theory of power you go w/ the .32mag is better because it has the same FPE as the typical standard .38spl (but not +P) plus an extra round, if you just go for FPE they are about equal (again if +P isn't in the equation), for others the .38 is better for all kinds of reasons based on the theory for judging handgun power they prefer. Then some other people throw .357mag into the mix because that is what they prefer because it is even more powerful and both the .32mag and .38spl are underpowered (especially in a snub).

Well, it is enough to make your head spin, and frankly I think many people are missing some of the best arguements available that can point to the .32mag.

First, we all seem to agree that the snub is a very viable handgun design, at least within its limitations. It can carry a pretty powerful round in a pretty small package. It can be easily concealed, even put in a pocket (though it is one of the largest packages that can be carried that way). It is simple and reliable.

It is also hard for most people to be accurate with it without a lot of practice and it can be very hard to control for quick follow up shots.

I used to own a Taurus 605. It was a great gun but I sold it anyway. Why, because it was far too small and light for realistic defensive use or anything near pleasant range use of .357mag and it was heavy enough that I didn't want to be limited to .38spl out of it (the 85 is several oz. lighter). Heck, even shooting .38+P it was at the limit of what I'd consider realistic defensive ammo and I wouldn't want to shoot more than a box or two at a time.

You add to that the fact that today many, if not most, people want to go with the lighter materials- aluminum at minimum.

In an under 15-17oz gun even with regular strength .38s it would take a while to return your sights on target. Also, in a gun you need to practice with a lot to get good it wouldn't be very pleasant to spend much time at the range with it.

Here is where the real arguement for the .32mag comes in. It is in the same league as the .38spl (whether it is better or just as powerful or whatever doesn't matter, it is in the same general arena anyway) and it is generally considered to have a mild recoil. This allows for quick follow up shots and more pleasant practice (which in turn could lead to more practice). As a pleasant added benefit the guns so chambered have 6 instead of 5 rounds.

The disadvantages? Cost, availability (in many areas) and for those who don't trust small bores it is a decidedly smaller bullet.

My choice? When the new Taurus 9mm snubs come out I plan to buy one. Recoil similar to .38 or .38+P with .357mag power (.357mag out of a 2" barrel power anyway). That coupled with a second snub chambered in .22lr for most snub practice and I should be well served. However, I wouldn't feel at all disadvantaged with either the .32mag or .38 snubs out there and I plan to own both (though I will now avoid .357mag snubs). In fact, if I move to a carry state before the 9mm snubs are generally available I'll probably get the .32mag (since I plan to be up and running with reloading within a few weeks).

 

[denfoote]

I'm sitting here perusing these responses with my newly acquired .38 snub at my side, wondering if I'm just whistling "dixie" for even considering continuing carrying this weapon. Then, I realize that I have never encountered a hob goblin, chupacabra, big foot, monster space alien, alligator, or drug crazed loser!!!! The possibility of me meeting up with a bad guy wearing thick heavy coats and such, in a place where it is 100+ degrees for more than half the year is pretty remote also. For the places where I regularly go, I figure it will indeed do the job if called upon to do so.

Now, trips out into the desert are another matter. Then it will be the Glock 29 AND the 30-30 or SKS!!! You meet a lot of strange critters out in the back woods of Arizona!!!!

Oh, and Tamara,

• "It's the end of the world as we know it.
  
  It's the end of the world as we know it.
  
  It's the end of the world as we know it...
  
  and I feel fine."