32ACP vs. .38 S&W

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DMK

DMK

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Which would you use as a portable defensive sidearm if you didn't have any other options? Neither is optimal I realize, but I have a friend who has two guns. One's an old S&W revolver in .38 S&W and the other is probably an equally old .32ACP Walther. Both are hand-me-downs and he doesn't have the money to buy something new.

Personally, I'd say it depends on which one he could shoot better and with him not being a well practiced handgunner, I'd put money on him being able to shoot the .38 better with it's lighter recoil and longer sight radius.

Wadda ya'll think?
 
I'll admit, I know next to nothing about the 38 S&W. However, I doubt much has been done to develop defensive loads for it, unlike the 32acp. Because there is still active work on the SD application of the 32acp, I'd go that route.

Chris
 
32acp or 38 S & w

Not much of a choice! What he must realize is that if he pulls the trigger on the .32 acp Semi-auto, and it DON'T GO BANG.....he may be in deep "do-do." The secret of staking your Keister on a semi-auto, is knowing what to do in that circumstance.
"Do-Do" is a technical Police term.
 
I normally advise against selling any good gun, but if your friend is serious he should sell or trade both and get a used Smith K-frame, or maybe a CZ or some such...
 
6 sure bangs and projectiles leaving the bore headed toward the bad guy is for certain better than a 32 that might or might not make 6 rounds before it hitches. The revolver should most certainly be the preferred mechanism until the auto is PROVEN to elicit trust. Once the auto is known to perform it is a horse apeice really. Both are too light but given the choice I would take the revolver since I can score hits at a faster rate up to #6..........
 
I agree that it might be a good idea to see if the two guns could be traded for something better. However if the owner is not receptive I would go with the .38 S&W, if ..... and this is a big "IF" .... the revolver in question is a World War II Smith & Wesson .38-200 with a 5 inch barrel and it hasn't been rechambered into a .38 Special.

While today's tactical-types look down on anything that hasn't been "performance enhanced" the .38 S&W was considered good enough as a man stopper during the early 1900's through the early 1930's. It was also adopted by the English as a service cartridge and apparently proved to be acceptable, as they didn't turn to the Browning H-Power until early 1945, by which time the war was almost over.

The .32ACP can be obtained in hollow-point versions, but both reliable feeding through some automatics and expansion in a targeted subject are both questionable. Wimpy as it is, I think the .38 will serve him better then any .32 pocket pistol.
 
Why would you want JHP in .32, as it is anemic enough already? Better to make a deeper hole than hope for expansion, let alone making a gun designed for FMJ feed JHPs.
 
I agree with the trade them both in on something appropriate train of thought.

Old German Walthers have some value as does any old S&W in good condition.

I don't think that finding someone to trade even up the Walthers for a good Makarov would be too difficult.

The S&W even if only in fair shape could be traded for a newer Taurus or if in better shape a good used Ruger double action.

Never hurts to ask around and see.
 
Given the choice of these two?

I'm going the .32 ACP, provided that it functions reliably, and it's going to be loaded with full metal jacket ammo.

Why FMJ?

Penetration penetration penetration.

.32 ACP hollowpoints rarely show adequate penetration to ensure that they'll get to where they'll do the most good.
 
I doubt he'll trade them, at least not both. They have a certain family sentimental value, which is probably the only reason he still has them at all.

I might be able to get him up to the range to test them out though, especially that Walther.
 
I have a Manurhin PP that has proved reliable with RWS FMJs.
Although I practice with my M649 snub more than with the PP, I find I shoot the auto more accurately than the snub nose Smith.
So, I'd be inclined to go with the PP, if the other choice was a gun in .38 S&W.
 
Actually, if you look at this page: http://www.goldenloki.com/ammo/gel/32acp/gel32acp.htm

The Speer Gold Dot out of the P32's 2.7" barrel penetrated well (9.7"), expanded fully 2/3 of the time and partially 1/3 of the time. The Federal Hydrashock load penetrated even more at 10.1", expanded fully 2/3 of the time, and partially 1/3 of the time. Assuming the Walther has a longer barrel, that would mean more velocity, more penetration, and more expansion.

For myself, I currently carry Dynamit-Nobel's 73gr FMJ load. I've read that it's the one also sold as the Geco load tested further down the page. It penetrated 14.2". I am, however, working on a hot hollowpoint load that will penetrate more than the factory loads.

Chris
 
Well, if it were me, I'd probably go with Mike and say the Walther loaded with FMJs... I'd clean, clean, clean and then lube it up. I'd fire the first 50 rounds without any expectations and I'd clean and lube the gun again. I'd want to put 300 rounds through the gun minimum over three or four sessions with zero failures. And I would not expect it to consistantly feed HPs. I'd imagine it would be easier to pocket than the 38.

If it showed itself to have more than two or three failures after those initial 50 rounds, I'd carry the revolver. But I'd give it a very thorough cleaning and lube job as well and I'd want to put at least 200 rounds through it with no failures, bindings etc...
 
I just posted about how undervalued these old firearms are, mostly due to people's prejudices against "weak" old cartridges such as these.

I'd go for the Walther in .32 ACP. In fact I *did* go for the Walther PP in .32 ACP. The ammo is easier to find than the .38 S&W. WInchester Silvertips are proven killers. If I could find a good supply of .38-200's I might be tempted to go with them, but I've never seen any for sale. A 200 grain slug is nothing to sneeze at!
 
"I normally advise against selling any good gun, but if your friend is serious he should sell or trade both and get a used Smith K-frame, or maybe a CZ or some such..."

Yup, it's just as I suspected. THIS is why I keep getting such awesome deals on these old handguns :D Keep 'em coming! I was bulls-eyeing ice shards at 25 yards in the dark last night with the PP. I think I'll keep her, even if she is French at heart.
 
I have had a few smith .38s and they did not impresse me one bit. Better than a pointed stick but the MV is pretty low, most .22 loads have better penetration. Only one I had that seemed like it had much use was a Smith 5 shot hammerless 3 inch pocket gun. Swapped that one off to a moron that just had to have a revolver in .38 that wanted to trade a .380 Beretta M-34 for it. The last one I owned was a Smith V-model in 380/200 that I put a new special barrel,cylinder and edjector rod on. My brother still has that one. .32 PP with good ammo would be my pick. Lots of good .32 defence ammo out there now vs .38 S&W 1870s performance loads.
 
"My father carried a Chief's Special in .32 long for years."

Not a Chief's Special. The Chief's Special & Chief's Special Airweight were .38 Special only.

Colt made some Detective's Specials in .32 New Police, their version of the .32 Long cartridge.
 
If I remember my Jane's guide correctly (it's not available to me at the moment), isn't the .38 S&W a different cartridge than the .38/200? I seem to remember reading that while the Webleys and Enfields could use both cartridges, the Smiths themselves could only use the .38 S&W.

That would seem to make sense as I have seen Webleys converted to .38 Special, and the .38 Special is longer than the .38 S&W.
 
The Webley used the .38 S&W case with a 200 grain lead bullet and they felt that it performed as well as their .455 webley in terms of stopping power. The heavy 200 grain lead bullet would tumble upon impact BUT was illegal for use in war so they had to adopt a 180 grain jacketed bullet instead. IMHO the Brits of the 19th century are the experts in stopping power, they did a great deal of "testing" on humans under battlefield conditions and could document their evaluations. I had a Webley Mark IV in 380/200 but only "tested" it for accuracy, very mild recoil and good service accuracy. All that being said I'd use the Walther .32acp for personal defense as I feel the 200 ft.lbs and more modern bullets would have the edge over the standard 147 grain commercial loading of the 38 S&W. Both are high quality guns.
 
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