.380 vs .32acp

ZeroDefect you are right about the sights on the P32. The sights on the P3AT and the LCP are useless also in a bad confontation. That's why I would only consider those a point and shoot bugs. Now at the range you can use them and that's about it. Even the laser on my BodyGuard 380 is useless because of the buttons location. Now in my opinion the LCP with the Crimson Trace is the best setup just grab and point.

I got rid of my P32. It's sights were useless. Couldn't hit anything further than 5 yards away. And rimlock is a problem.

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Yes, the P32's sights are not the best for the range. But they're pretty much like gutter sights; you'll know where the bullet goes at close ranges after enough trigger time.

I don't use the sights for the P32, I simply point and shoot. Honestly, if this pistol didn't even have sights (which it hardly does now), I would shoot it just as well. For me, the P32 is very much a "surprise!" melee range type pistol.

Earlier post said P32 having rimlock issues. Geez I hpe your not running hollowpoints out of a P32. The ONLY round I would shoot out of a P32 is a FMJ or Buffalo Bore hardcast plus P. You can shoot plus p. But just a few and nothing else.

SpaceExplorer31 said:

Earlier post said P32 having rimlock issues. Geez I hpe your not running hollowpoints out of a P32. The ONLY round I would shoot out of a P32 is a FMJ or Buffalo Bore hardcast plus P. You can shoot plus p. But just a few and nothing else.

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32 cal jhp are not a problem in the P32 if you use the KT magazine spacers.

.380 is one of those calibers...

That oddly enough, I never carry. (Another is .40)

Nothing wrong with it, but many .380s are blowback, so they recoil as bad for me as locked 9mms. There's often little size difference between 9s and .380s. So if I can carry a .380, I can carry a 9.

In contrast, ifthe only thing I can conceal is a teeny gun, I reach for my Seecamp .32. No sights at all, and .32 is stout enough (on my end) out of that gun that I wouldn't want the .380 version.

Part of that is MA law. The Seecamp is the ONLY .32 ACP pistol sold here. The .380s here used to be only the Walter PPK, SIG P232 or Beretta 84FS--all big guns for .380; but in the last year we've also had access to the Walther PK380, Smith Bodyguard .380 and SIG P238...but nothing else. Not even Seecamp's .380.

I could run out and buy a Bodyguard .380, I guess. They're kinda cool...but I'm not sure when I'd need something bigger than my Seecamp, but smaller than a small 9, for CCW.

Earlier post said P32 having rimlock issues. Geez I hpe your not running hollowpoints out of a P32. The ONLY round I would shoot out of a P32 is a FMJ or Buffalo Bore hardcast plus P. You can shoot plus p. But just a few and nothing else.

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yeah, .32ACP= FMJ/hardball only, imo
there is just not enough steam to drive a hollow point deep enough, at least not out of a mousegun barrel.

I much prefer .380, and it should be right near max SAAMI pressure.
I like my TCP because its pretty small and shoots nice, however,
I bought a P32 because its so darn light and small, I can just clip it in the waistband of my shorts and go out for a run.

I will not speak on the FMJ/JHP issue.
I will only say that having owned a P32 and a P380 and firing them back-to-back, I was appallled at the relative recoil between the two.

Newton's Third came immediately to mind, and I decided, right then and there, that I would never trust my life to the .32 caliber.

Do your own research, but remember that Newton's Laws are immutable. You may ignore them, but you can not overturn them.

wnycollector,

I carry a Beretta 1935 .32 also, nice li'l auto! I got mine out of a pawn 1 1/2 yrs. ago, new Wolff springs, some clean up work and some work on the rails, just smoothing them out with Flitz, superb piece. Runs like a Singer sewing machine.

I carry a Beretta 1935 .32 also, nice li'l auto! I got mine out of a pawn 1 1/2 yrs. ago, new Wolff springs, some clean up work and some work on the rails, just smoothing them out with Flitz, superb piece. Runs like a Singer sewing machine.

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Photos would be greatly enjoyed.

That is the most awesome cyborg lookin' P-32 I've seen.

rvehock said:

I carry a P-32 with a +1 mag extension which gives me a 9 round capacity (8+1), I use 73gr Fiocchi FMJ:

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My wife took my P-32 Next 2 P-32's I bought my daugthers have . I still have my P3AT and PF-9 Why , son still over seas or he will want one of those. Life hard when have wife and Kids that also like pistols.

Get the P-32 if she likes it. All the above are relieable

Fiocchi 7.65 (.32 ACP) FMJ

380 ACP is a better caliber choice in terms of power than 32 ACP. 380 ACP is only a bit less powerful than 38 Special.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.380_ACP

380 ACP is a better caliber choice in terms of power than 32 ACP. 380 ACP is only a bit less powerful than 38 Special.

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And .32 is only a bit less than .380.

The way I look at it, the only thing I can count on for one shot stopping power is a 12 gauge. All pistols require specific shot placement to be effective. Sure a .44 mag is better than a .25, but it still comes down to a heart or brain shot to stop a fight before I get hurt. So my thinking is that the best way to accomplish this is to always carry a firearm that I can consistently hit a small area with every single time. To me the caliber is secondary to being able to use it effectively, and have it comfortable enough to carry it every single time you go out of the house.

PRM said:

Fiocchi 7.65 (.32 ACP) FMJ

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I do like using Fiocchi and S&B .32 ACP FMJ out of my Guardian. If one is to go by GoldenLoki's gel tests, those two FMJ brands do pretty well for a .32 ACP.

http://www.goldenloki.com/ammo/gel/32acp/gel32acp.htm

Fiocchi 7.65 (.32 ACP) FMJ

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"Walther PPK. 7.65 ml., with a delivery like a brick through a plate glass window. Takes a Brausch silencer with very little reduction in muzzle velocity. The American CIA swear by them." -Major Boothroyd to 007

Yea, I'm a big fan of Fiocchi ammo. Hadn't had any malfunctions what-so-ever with it. Its also a little hotter than most. Couldn't resist putting the pic on this thread.

.32acp for me thank you. My experience with like a PPK is it runs better in .32acp.

As far as the P32, I like the extra round (or ten round mag), lighter recoil, quicker followup shots, better skull penetration (maybe??) yadda, yadda.

.32 acp is outclassed by the .380 in every category. i wouldnt go lower then a 9mm, cuz less then that is a 50/50 crap shoot.

a .32 acp or .380 wont bring down a pissed off 300 pound monster from ripping ur head off so i wouldnt trust my life with the .32 or .380 .

32 acp is outclassed by the .380 in every category

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Really ~ I've never found that a true statement. Over the last 35 years I have owned several .380s and four separate .32s.

1. My NAA Guardian in .32 has been a great little pocket gun. Function has been great and for those times when concealment is the main consideration, it has its place.

2. I've owned a total of 5 PP series pistols over the last 30+ years. Three were sold some years back when money got tight. The two I still own are a Manurhin PP in .32 ACP and an Interarms SS PPK/S in .32 ACP. Here is my experience:

Two were .380s. One was an Interarms PPK/S and the other a Manurhin PP. Both were good shooters. Recoil was snappy. Both of these guns would have an occasional hiccup. Usually a failure to eject, maybe once out of every 100 rounds. That was not a real deal breaker ~ but did stay in the back of my mind.
I did buy both of these guns new and the malfunctions all occurred in the first 500 rounds.

The three .32s have been two Manurhin PPs and the Interarms PPK/S. None of my .32s have ever malfunctioned. The round count of the two I currently own is around a couple of thousand. I have shot, Federal Hydra Shoks HP, Federal FMJ, Remington FMJ, Fiocchi FMJ and Prvi Partisan FMJ all with no problems. The Manurhin is my current off duty/backup EDC.

I like the .32 in the PP series for several reasons. Being totally reliable is a big plus. The lighter recoil makes for fast follow up shots. They are extremely accurate. Last, the nine shot (8+1) capability is a pretty respectable package in a small pocket gun.

For me I'll take the .32 any day.

a .32 acp or .380 wont bring down a pissed off 300 pound monster from ripping ur head off so i wouldnt trust my life with the .32 or .380 .
Today 02:53 AM

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Opinion or EXPERIENCE? My experience has been totally opposite. I've been a law enforcement officer since 1977 and during that time I have seen people killed with just about every caliber on the US market including .22s, .25s, 32s, .380s... and larger. Shot placement is the most critical factor in stopping an assailant when deadly force is needed. Followed by multiple shots as long as the threat exist. I will agree that bigger is better, but no hand gun round is a magic man stopper.

Guess I've also been lucky ~ 99.9% of the people I've dealt with were not 300lb monsters trying to rip my head off.

My Kahr P380 is amazing as far as accuracy at 10 yards. I had the opportunity to fire 200 rounds at a private range recently and all the rounds went into the black bulls eye consistently even with multiple targets to shoot at.
The Kahr P380 by the way is that comfortable to shoot. You can fire that little handgun all day without wrist pain.
Hides, carries very well.
10 yards, 10 feet- that's basically your engagement range if ever that happens which probably won't but could.
I'm so confident with the accuarcy and performance that I would engage a head shot if I had to. Where the weapon is aimed is where the rounds will impact.

Like I said earlier either is just gonna be a hole punch and I like my odds of getting a hole punched in the right location with my 32.

Manta77 said:

I never thought this thread would gain so much steam. Just my 2 cents: the P32 is a great choice for pocket carry. I already had a .32 NAA and I didn't feel like changing calibers for another carry weapon. Sure, the .380 is faster and larger, but I do agree with a few of the earlier posts as far as follow up shots go. I have shot a Magnum Research Micro Desert Eagle in .380 and it was not pleasant at all. I am not very sensitive to recoil, but it was a handful. The P32 is a joy to shoot...I just wish the ammo was cheaper. Living in Florida, there is no reason not to have your P32 with you at all times. We only get to carry our 1911s etc. a couple times a year comfortably when the climate permits.

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The Desert Eagle Micro is a blowback action and comparing it to locked breech action 380 is an apples and oranges comparison. I have a Micro and yes it does kick like a mule but a P3AT and all other locked breech 380 pocket pistols have much less felt recoil.

I owned a P32 and was surprised to find that the P3AT was no more of a problem to shoot than the P32.

The P3AT has a different recoil feel it is less snappy than the P32 though a little heavier.

Now try shooting a P238 and it makes the rest of the pocket pistols feel like magnums.

I just wish the ammo was cheaper - Manta77

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I've had great success with this ammo. Already bought 1200 and will order more.
Easy delivery and a top shelf dealer. Any cheaper and you will br shooting a .22 unless you reload.

Prvi Partizan 32 Auto 71 gr FMJ

PPU32F Prvi Partizan Ammunition 32 ACP 71 Grain FMJ $10.50 /50 or $120.00/600

Brass Cased, Boxer Primed, Non Corrosive, Current Production

1=50 rounds per box, 12 boxes per sealed pack (600 rounds), 5 sealed packs per case (3000 rounds)

Qty sold as 1 = 50 round box, order in increments of 12 if you preffer the sealed packs.