Real Reason for 380 over a 32 cal.?

I carry a NAA Guardian in .32 during the summer when my .45 XDs is just too big to conceal. When I bought my Guardian they were not made in .380 yet. If I bought a Guardian today I would probably opt for the .380 but I have no interest in exchanging my .32 for an .380.

When I am purchasing large quantities of Heroin I prefer my full auto mini UZI with the snail drum... but other than that I am perfectly comfortable with my .32 Guardian.

I don't know that I'd sell a good working 32 just to buy a 380, although I kinda did in a round about way. I had a Seecamp 32 before we had concealed carry in Ks and sold it when CCW became legal because I figured I'd always be able to pack something bigger, but after a couple years I found myself throwing my Beretta Bobcat in the pocket of my gym shorts when walking the dogs and got myself a LCP.

When I was in the market for a pocket-pistol, I chose the Kel-Tec P32 over the P3-AT for three reasons: lighter/easier/softer shooting for faster and more well-placed follow-up shots, a last-shot slidelock, and an extra round in capacity.

In guns that small, I see little reason for the .380 over the .32 for me.

Were I just now entering that market, and couldn't find a gun in .32, I'd just go ahead and get the .380 version.

I see no reason to trade either one for the other (unless one just couldn't be shot or handled effectively.

Now, if your .32 is a gun you don't particularly like, and the .380 you're considering is one you actually do like, then the question changes somewhat.

It makes a slightly larger hole in things.

If your .32 is reliable and you can shoot it well, I don't see any compelling reason to move to a .380.

pwillie said:

Anyone with a reason why I should trade in my 32 for a 380?:banghead:

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Why the :banghead:?

In short, while the .380 might be a bit more effective, .32 is just fine. Stoke it with quality FMJ loads and learn to shoot it, and you should be well armed.

Buy the 60gr SJHP ammo from Fiocchi and you will not sell your .32. Get the stuff made in Italy, not the one made with the 60gr XTP bullet. The Italian ammo is loaded hot and it's accurate too. It's all I carry I'm my Kel-Tec P-32.

MikeInOr said:

When I am purchasing large quantities of Heroin I prefer my full auto mini UZI with the snail drum... but other than that I am perfectly comfortable with my .32 Guardian.

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You uh...buy heroin often?

The biggest advantage that I see with .380 is that ammo is more readily available and in many cases cheaper than .32.

Continued advancement in 380 ammunition, 32acp stagnant. No rimlock issues with 380. Better penetration with 380.

.380 is much more available, than quality .32, also there are more choices, of the types of ammo, with .380, and finally and maybe most importantly, it makes a bigger hole!

I have and load both . I like my mustang II . Easier to walk in and buy 380 ACP than 32 .
I have cases for both , but a lot easier to buy 380 bullets the 32 .
My nephews girl friends prefer the 25 ACP / or 380 ACP to the 32 enough so they bought a 25 and a 380 [ 1 380 and one 25 . ] It could be the non factory grips I have [ 1 hogue and 1 packamore ] magazines are easier to get for 380 . The 25 and 32 magazines have to be ordered .
If you reload and have the set up for 32 , don't bother . If you reload and are not set up for 32 and and plan on reloading , get a 380 [ bullets , dies and cases are easier to get ] . Don't sell the 32 , just buy a box of 32's .
I would buy 25 , 32 or 380 if good price , but I can and do reload them all .
Easiest to get is the 380 , then 32 and hardest is the 25 .

35 cal bullet is bigger, heavier than 30 cal bullet at similar velocities...

7+1 32 acp = 6+1 380 acp

At least that's my math . . .

Also . . . 17+1 9mm = 15+1 40SW

I've got a smattering of .32's. Seecamp and NAA Guardian in .32 have a nasty recoil. Smacks my trigger finger with every shot. No desire to own one in .380.

My Keltec .32 was more reliable than the .380 I just "had" to have when they came out. Bad move. The .32 was better.

I've got .32 PPK's I love shooting.

In a bigger gun, like a Sig P232 or Colt Govt .380. The .380 round is a great choice.

In my opinion, .380 is better in a locked breach gun. (The P232 is an exception).

Kiln said:

You uh...buy heroin often?

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The propensity for people to carry huge everyday carry pieces with massive capacity clips I figure everyone must be going to high level drug deals on a daily basis and expecting a shootout? I didn't want to feel left out!

I am actually quite surprised at the acceptance of the .32 in this thread!

I feel very comfortable carrying my .32 around town. I prefer my .45 XDs for hiking out in the woods mainly for other than human animals. I also figure that if an attacker is still coming at me after I empty my .32 into him it really doesn't matter because I am already dead. To my way of thinking it is the first shot that matters much more than the follow up shots. I have confidence that the vast majority of people are going to back down and run like he!! after catching any chunk of lead.

The only person I know that has ever shot anyone was jumped by 3 street punks while walking to work at 5:00am in the morning. He had a glock in his waste holster under his heavy winter coat and a .22 derringer in his coat pocket. All three punks scattered when one of them took a .22 slug in his thigh. The police didn't have any problem picking up the injured assailant at the emergency room who quikly flipped on his two skuzz-ball buddies. From everything I have read this is way more typical of self defence situations than the extended multiclip shootouts ala Hollywood.

I live in small town Oregon not down town Fallujah.

Onward Allusion said:

7+1 32 acp = 6+1 380 acp

At least that's my math . . .

Also . . . 17+1 9mm = 15+1 40SW

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Ummm.. That's really interesting. What does it mean?

Anyone with a reason why I should trade in my 32 for a 380?

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The reason I switched is that I believe that the current 380 pistols on the market are better than the 32's.
The little Sig P328 and the Glock 42 are such good shooters.

That being said, I don't think I will sell my 32 Tomcat any time soon. But I'm not going to be carrying it any time soon either.

Two reasons I won't exchange my .32 for .380 soon.

1. My KelTec P32 shoots poi/ poa at 7yds. Remarkably so. Also, it's never malfunctioned with a wide assortment of ammo to include 90gr Lee TL-SWC !!

2. I also have a Ruger Single-7 in .327Fed. It shoots the .32acp as well. Think reloadable .22lr.

Besides, the aforementioned mugging with one shot fired IS the most likely scenario for typical civilian use of firearm. 60yrs of observing human behavior and 25yrs of l.e. Experience tells me that the best defense firearm is the one you have in your hand when you NEED one. If you can hit with it where you aim it, and it goes bang on command, a .32 with 7-8rds is more than enough.
Unless, you're in down town Falluja! Then, you need good communications with the foward air controller!

What's the ammo price difference between the two calibers? what can you get for your gun? those would be what I'd base my decision on, ballistics would be the least of my concerns.

When looking for a pocket pistol the .380 offers a lot more ammo selection and it's cheaper. That didn't exist 4 years ago.

Reviews of newer .380's show some are simply better shooting guns. A pocket pistol is a matter of tradeoffs as it is, most reduce the cartridge to get the overall weight of the gun down and it's profile. I decided .380 was the lower floor on size and effectiveness.

I choose one biased for actual comfort in practice shooting it, not the maximum concealability, as it's a relative value in a CCW state that allows Open Carry. Not saying I'd be sloppy in carry - but with a lot of open belt carriers in town, concealed guns don't need to be extremely deep cover. And huge Iphones didn't hurt, either. The general walkabout shows a lot of folks with large bulky objects stuffed in their pockets, male or female.

I just don't see the need to step down another level of reduced performance to enjoy another ounce or two of lost weight. Ease of carry isn't everything. .380 is enjoying a development curve of ammo research and it's finally getting it's own attention as typical 9mm bullets don't work the same way at lower speeds. The 6.8 and 6.5 shooters in AR's are having the same improvements as designed for the application bullets come onto the market.

I also choose a softer shooting gun for two reasons, first, you can practice more with one, and second, you get back on target to shoot more quickly with less negative incentive to pull the trigger. "My XXX gun stings my hand and batters my trigger finger." isn't a positive in small pocket pistols. NOT shooting it because of that is a fail, too.

That's that to say there aren't .32s that can be pleasant to shoot, but the same is true of .380's - there are some which are much more suitable for range practice and which allow you to shoot boxes of practice ammo, rather than a mag or two at the end of a session shooting something else.

Train with what you will fight with. Overall there will be less issues and a higher proficiency. Success in using a self defense gun goes to having an adequate cartridge and second, adequate shot placement. It may be a matter of incremental differences and some shrug their shoulders saying it's not that big a deal, but a proficient .380 shooter is more likely to succeed than a casual .32 shooter.

We know this, but when it comes to assessing the risks we make choices to suit our comfort level and then rationalize them. If I walked into a mall shooting with Todd Jarrett and his .32 I wouldn't complain too much, but I don't see .32 shooters enhancing the cartridges reputation with arguments like "It's easier to carry." or "It fits in my jogging shorts." You could carry a .380 in a Kangaroo holster and be better off.

Choose the amount of ballistic power you see as your minimum and then a gun that supports practice. .380's have cheaper ammo and models that don't beat you on the range, with the small tradeoff of slightly more bulk. It's all a compromise.

MikeInOr said:

When I am purchasing large quantities of Heroin I prefer my full auto mini UZI with the snail drum... but other than that I am perfectly comfortable with my .32 Guardian.

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"You gotta carry weapons 'cause you always carry cash... "

In memory of Glen Fry.. Smuggler' s Blues... (true now as it was in 1987 even after billions in the war on drugs)

...but a proficient .380 shooter is more likely to succeed than a casual .32 shooter.

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... as could be a proficient .32 shooter over a casual .380 shooter.

Unfortunately, when it comes to the pocket-sized pistols in either caliber, there are likely far more owners who are "casual" shooters (if even that), than there are "proficient" ones.

Now, who would be more likely to succeed between "casual" shooters of each caliber? Or who, among two "proficient" shooters (one of each caliber) would be more likely to succeed? What if the .32 shooter was "more proficient" than the .380 shooter?

Kind of all relative, ain't it?

.380's have cheaper ammo and models that don't beat you on the range, with the small tradeoff of slightly more bulk.

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True. I can shoot my Bersa Thunder all day without being beaten or going broke. But, I can't quite fit it in all the places I could fit my P32, which I can also shoot all day without being beaten or going broke. (Open carry is not a lawful option here.) But, if I were to trade the Bersa for a P3-AT, I doubt, based on past experience, I could shoot it comfortably as much.

Now, all that being said, I do indeed carry a pistol that isn't comfortable to shoot "all day", and it's not a .32. It's a PF9, so I'm certainly not arguing one should choose the .32 over the .380. I'm simply saying that I personally don't feel a shooter carrying a .32 is significantly less-armed than a shooter of similar ability carrying a .380 of similar size.