.32 stopped lion attack

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regal

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I can't remember where but I remember reading an NRA bulletin where a .32 was used to stop an escaped lion. I have always carried a .32, I would rather have the extra rounds with better follow up shot speed and don't think a 380 is of much benefit over a .32.

That said the Ruger LCP looks nice, much better fit and finish than my P-32. I would just have a hard time trading the incredible capacity. I can't think of another truly pocketable handgun that carries as much fire power as an 11 round P-32.
 
Um, I'll take the slightly larger Kahr PM9 with 7 rounds of full house +p 9mm ammo. And two spare magazines in the other pocket. ;)

That said, I have two P3ATs that are great pocket pistols, too.
 
The Kel Tec P-32.

p32_01.jpg
 
Go to you tube, look up "Lion charge" and tell me you'd be happy with that pea shooter.
 
A .22 has killed plenty of animals and people as well, but I'm sure you'd be more comfortable with something bigger, eh?

I guess the point is that it depends on a lot of stuff, and that if you place the shot just right from the right distance away, you would be ok - but we can never control the situation completely (otherwise no one would ever get in those situations!) so we try to give ourselves as much of an advantage as possible.
 
The point was just because it CAN be done, doesn't mean it should be done.

As far as pocket 32's Savage made a dandy pre-war hi-capacity 32 auto.
 
I believe that I'd choose a Remington 870 12 gauge with slugs.......one in the tube and four in the mag.........
 
I think a .32 would be completely useless against a Lion; and, the story mentioned was most likely a fluke. I'd rather have my Ontario Marine Bowie than a .32.
 
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The best gun in the world when you need it is the one in your hand...but I would wish for something a lot heavier! Absolutely nothing one hand held wouldmake me happy against lion, unless it's a phased plasma rifle, in the 40 megawatt range.
 
I just ordered a Glock 26, I am going to try IWB for the first time. Hope it works out , it will free up a pocket for more gear to lug around.
 
Every time I get attached by a lion and all I have is a 32 I’ll just run to the shop and trade for a 600 Nitro.
 
I used to carry a P32, which is a fine weapon, but I switched to the LCP. THe rimlock possibility with the P32 means you can only carry FMJ in the mags so the advantage goes to the .380. I can carry much heavier bullets in JHPs and I think this would be more effective in the long run.

I never did feel like I was particularly under gunned with the P32 though. It is actually a pretty decent and accurate little weapon. I usually load my mags and the weapon with the Fiocchi 60gr JHP on top followed by Fiocchi 73gr ball for the rest of the mag. My first two shot from the pistol were JHPs. I mostly carried it at the city park when I took my kids to play. I figure if I had to take down one of the big dogs down there the JHP would be less likely to ricochet of its skull and two JHPS to the noggin should be enough. For FMJs I wanted the heaviest and hottest ones around so hopefully I may even get perforating wounds on a person if used in SD. I figure the would channel of this little round wouldn't be very impressive so max penetration and even an exit wound might be my best bet for maximum effect. I'm not too worried about pass through damage with the 32 as it is a low power round anyhow and if it did manage to perforate the target chances are it would retain very little energy after that.
 
Many years ago an elderly Inuit woman out collecting firewood was attacked by a Grizzly in Alaska. She was armed with a bolt action .22LR, when the animal reared she fired a single shot hitting him right in the eye, he dropped at her feet.

But would you really want a .22 in Griz country?
 
If you're counting on a fluke to save you, just run around. Eventually a bolt of lighting will hit the animal and you're problem has been solved.

Remember that the laws of probability say that ANYTHING will happen given enough time.

A bolt of lightning, divine intervention, alien technology, a .32 to the eyeball. All of these are possible.

But a .577 T-REX turns POSSIBLE to PROBABLE.
 
I carry a Beretta .32acp when lightly dressed, I've shot it enough into targets tacked onto wood pallets to know that I don't want to be shot with it judgeing by the damage to the wood but stopping a lion? sounds like b.s. to me.
some years back I read a supposedly true account of an English sub-louie newly posted to Africa that went out alone on his horse against his comrades advice (pre WW1) - they were stationed in the frontier area. he was jumped by a lion and knocked off his horse and attacked. he had that big .455 revolver (Webley?) they carried then and managed to kill the lion with the last round when he had the pistol stuck in the lions mouth.
 
Use the .32 to stop a lion?

If you ever find yourself facing a lion with your P32 my advice is to make sure you only fire 10 shots at the lion. You need to save the last shot for yourself!
 
I remember reading an NRA bulletin where a .32 was used to stop an escaped lion.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=388514

"Reloading was required in only 3 incidents. One of those involved killing an escaped lion with a .32 caliber revolver, which was eventually successful after 13 shots."

The article doesn't provide much detail so it's hard to draw too many conclusions.

It doesn't say that the lion was attacking. Maybe it was attacking, maybe it was killed because there was no readily available way to capture it safely and it was decided that it couldn't be allowed to just roam around. I think the fact that there was time for a reload (or two) tends to support the latter scenario.

It doesn't give the specific caliber of the revolver, maybe it was a .32 Short Colt (80 gr @ 745fps) , maybe it was a .32-20 (100gr @ 1210fps).

It probably wasn't a .32 ACP although I think you can shoot .32ACP in at least one type of revolver.
He must be sporting a Kel-Tec P32 with an extended mag/grip.
Must be. The P32 standard magazine holds 7 rounds.
 
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