Ballistic gelatin test results - .32ACP

[Brass Fetcher]

.32ACP 60 grain Winchester Silvertip

Calibration = 10.8 ± 0.05cm BB penetration at 601 ± 0.500 ft/sec.

Firearm was recoil-operated semi-auto with 2.75” barrel

Shot 1 penetrated 11.4 ± 0.031”. 0.312 ± 0.0005” average diameter. Impact velocity = 812 ± 0.500 ft/sec.

This test event took place on an unused portion of a block used for another test. Test was halted due to lack of undamaged block after shot 1. Interestingly, this bullet appeared to be about to expand with the face of the bullet partially expanded, giving the face a wadcutter-like profile with a frontal diameter of 0.261 ± 0.0005”.

http://www.brassfetcher.com/subpage5.html

 

[JMusic]

You going to try some Cor Bons in this caliber?
Jim

 

[Joe D]

The Corbon round is about the only .32 round that does expand. I have no use for Corbon in any other caliber though.

 

[40jjb]

32acp

I have done some test of my own, It seems like 32acp FMJ is the only way to go on such cal. I my self Love my Kel-Tec 32, the FMJ has great penetration and great tishue distruction for the limited job. Granted my test for no means are profesional , they were only done as fun to learn what this round can and can not do. Its a great performer in 71gr FMJ hollo points realy have pure penetration and expantion ratio.

 

[Brass Fetcher]

40jjb,

I'm about to go to the range to test some of my 'modified 85gr XTPs' (that I ground down to 71gr) in .32ACP. Long story short, I will post the results of my new method of making them that anyone can do.

Please check out my website for the tests that I have done with these bullets.

I think youll be impressed. I like the 71gr weight in any bullet style too for .32ACP.

 

[40jjb]

32acp

Very impresive JE223, The test I've done is as follow, jeans shorts folded, one pack of PORK ribbs, one pack of PORK shoulder and a phone book at the end in this order then tapped them together. Using a Kel-tec 32 with 71 gr. Remington and Silver tips. Resultst as follow: 71 gr. 32acp rem. FMJ stopped in page 189 of the phone book, the pork shoulder bone was penetrated and broken in half, great tisue disruption. The silver tip bounced off the bone cousing a crack on the shoulder bone but not exiting to the phone book. If you ask me, the FMJ in this cal. performed great and respectible. If you are just looking for a low recoil self defence round with good performance and you now for a fact you are not going to shoot through car doors , windows ect. its a good rnd. for up front and personal with the BG.

 

[Brass Fetcher]

Interesting test. It's always neat to see how bullets will perform in different materials - how badly deformed would you say the JHP was and how large would you say the expanded diameter was?

The method for making the 71gr JHPs from 85gr Hornady XTP bullets is as follows. The first set of these bullets (the ones that appear in the tests) had the bases cut off on a lathe - not practical for most people and not fun, unless you like tedium.

Materials/tools = One decapping die (collett type), with 0.312" collett. Mine is from Hornady. Some way to keep the die level with your work table - I used two RCBS locking rings and threaded them onto the die such that they create a 'table' on which the die can sit. One table sander with a work table set at a 90 degree angle with respect to the belt. A scale to weigh the bullets.

That's about it. A caliper is helpful for marking the depth of the first cut, so that you get a chance to take the work off the belt and weight it before cutting away too much material. Just make sure that the base is as straight as possible.

I just shot three such bullets at 7 yards with a Kel-Tec P32. Off-hand, I got a one inch group. So, YMWV, but the precision suits me just fine.

JE223

 

[40jjb]

32acp & 380 acp

I have re done my test and used this time cor bon new 32 acp & 380acp, they all penetrated 10"- 12" and all expanded or some fragmented, Doing the same test with jeans, pork shoulder, boned were shadered with bouth ammo, 2 x4, bottles, books and others. Great ammo standard presure acording to COR BON not +P ammo and bouth at 1,050 fps. This is what I am now carying in my Kel tecs........

 

[aspen1964]

..now that I own a Colt 1903 with a 3 3/4" barrel...I will wonder the 32 could do too..