"Highly rated" by whom?
Way to go off topic. I don't feel like arguing about FMJ vs HP right now. But do tell, what ammo do you use to compare the power of the 32 to the 380?
"Highly rated" by whom?
"Highly rated" by whom? The selling industry and their magazine flacks?
If one is going to use a .32 or .380, I would not use hollow points. If they expand, they do not have nearly enough penetration. Expansion takes energy and also impedes penetration.
Look at the FBI Quantico Report on Wounding Ballistics (google it). It recommends a minimum of 12-14" penetration. Now look at Winchester's site on Ranger ammo penetration
http://www.winchester.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/flash-SWFs/law_bullit.swf
If a .380 expands, penetration is less than 8 inches. If it does not expand, they show 15" penetration. Why spend the money for premium ammo if expansion means inadequate penetration?
My .32 and .380 are loaded with FMJ. YMMV
Ken
My wife has a Taurus TCP732 that she loves and I like. I'm pondering getting a 738 for myself (or maybe a 732, just for common ammo). The trigger is smooth, not too heavy, and the gun is accurate. Made in USA helps.
If you pick and choose what ammo you are comparing you can come up with whatever numbers you want. However comparing the two highest rated self defense rounds:
Federal Hydra-Shok 32ACP 123 ft-lbs, 380ACP 200 ft-lbs
Speer Gold Dot 32ACP 123 ft-lbs, 380ACP 216 ft-lbs
That puts the 32ACP at between 62% and 57% of the 380ACP. Close enough to half for me.
In the tests he clearly states the tests are done with 2.7" barreled KelTec pistols.Not disputing the percentages, but those numbers seem to be out of longer barrels than LCP size mouse gun barrels.
http://www.goldenloki.com/ammo/gel/32acp/gel32acp.htm
http://www.goldenloki.com/ammo/gel/380acp/gel380acp.htm
The Seecamp is a fine piece of workmanship, but it is a blowback action which produces a great deal of felt recoil and not much fun to shoot.
Most of the current pocket pistols now are locked breach action that really reduces felt recoil a lot which makes them much more pleasant to shoot when compared to a locked breach action like the Seecamp, NAA Guardian and the Micro Desert Eagle.
Really! The Seecamp I shot was nowhere near as soft shooting as the P238!I agree that, all else being equal, blowback=more felt energy to the shooter.
That said, the seecamp has a delayed blowback design (with expansion of the case into the chamber absorbing *some* of the energy). I don't really find the seecamp to be any more punishing than, say, my Sig P238 was. Both are fun little guns; both tear up my trigger finger in short order if I stay at it too long.
Of course, the 380 is more powerful, but also a lot bigger when compared to the seecamp. In all, my choice is the seecamp-again, any bigger and may as well just go IWB. Frankly, a 3" J-frame with a Barami grip and someone's "FBI" load will beat either pocket gun for raw power; it just boils down to choices. More choices is always better, too, can't have enough carry guns.
OMMV.
In the tests he clearly states the tests are done with 2.7" barreled KelTec pistols.
More choices is always better, too, can't have enough carry guns.
Hmmmm..by that premise, I could carry a plastic cap gun and "probably" be A-OK under most any circumstances. It is possible that most home fires don't require the Fire Department to be called, and perhaps most auto accidents do not result in air bag deployment or an ambulance depolyed, but as someone once said...it's not the odds, it's the stakes."They" say that in most cases where a handgun is used for self defense, no shots are fired. If that's true, then most of the time, caliber doesn't matter although a big, bright shinny .45 would probably be more intimidating than the barely visible P32 ;-)
Yeah and 50 cal over 45 and shotgun over 50 cal and sub machinegun over shotgun and 20mm cannon over sub machinegun.32 over 22,380 over 32,9mm over 380,45 over 9mm.
Not sure about the .32 but I was looking at some .380 gel tests of a several different brands of ammo recently. While the JPH did come up short on penetration (~10 inches) the FMJ definitely over penetrated at 24+ inches (the tester ran out of gel and it ended up in the backing material). I was leaning towards using FMJ for .380 but this has me rethinking the choice.For me both are FMJ only proposals and as such I differ to the faster followup shots and extra rounds you get with a 32