Does .25ACP and .32 ACP still cut it for self defense?

[gfanikf]

Recently acquired a Colt 1903 and today I'm picking up a Colt 1908. Now I really don't think I'd ever use them unless a home invasion/kick in/etc occurred, but I was wondering does anyone use either caliber for self defense anymore? I mean Colt sold hundreds of thousands of the 1903 and 1908s (and FNH sold variations in Europe) so people did use them...and these guns were both made after 1911. More for range fun than anything else, but just wondering in the gravest extremes if it's better than going for my Tikkia 30-06 (no money to really get a new gun at the moment...well without selling my Tikka which I want for Hunting season in PA).

 

[Skribs]

There are stories of these killing people with one shot, but I personally wouldn't trust them. If you do choose to use them, I'd strongly advocate FMJ rounds.

 

[mavracer]

They'll work better than harsh words. the 32 is quite a step up from the 25 with double the KE. I'd reccomend Fiocchi 60 gr SJHPs if they'll feed or Fiocchi FMJ if they don't. Fiocchi 32 is much hotter than any domestic brand.

 

[Hit_Factor]

Both are better than not having a gun with you when you need one.

Sent by someone using something.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Those are both neat little guns. They'll do it if you are able to be very lucky and or hit the eyesocket or throat pretty much.

 

[firesky101]

I have always heard just the presence of an armed defender deters most criminals. If you do need to shoot it as mentioned above, it is leaps and bounds better than your words.

 

[gfanikf]

There are stories of these killing people with one shot, but I personally wouldn't trust them. If you do choose to use them, I'd strongly advocate FMJ rounds.

If that means I can spend less money on "defensive ammo" I am fine with that!

They'll work better than harsh words. the 32 is quite a step up from the 25 with double the KE. I'd reccomend Fiocchi 60 gr SJHPs if they'll feed or Fiocchi FMJ if they don't. Fiocchi 32 is much hotter than any domestic brand.

Thanks. For the moment I've only tested the 1903 with some PPU FMJ. Feeds fine and goes bang.

Only think is I had a chance to shoot a FNH Walther (yes it had the FNH crest and the Walther name) and I recall hating what it did to the webbing of my hand, but what can I say I couldn't pass up a $250 Colt made, John Browning designed gun.

 

[HorseSoldier]

I think the better question is "did they ever cut it for self defense?"

As noted up thread, either is better than nothing, I suppose, but either probably works better at intimidating a potential attacker than stopping an actual attacker (especially .25ACP).

 

[gfanikf]

I think the better question is "did they ever cut it for self defense?"

As noted up thread, either is better than nothing, I suppose, but either probably works better at intimidating a potential attacker than stopping an actual attacker (especially .25ACP).

That's a good question too. Like I said they sold in the hundreds of thousands and hell the 1908 would still be made if prior to the GCA of 1968, cheap imports killed Colt's profit margins, so people did use them.

Personally the 1908 seems best as a very close in vest gun* during a home invasion it's entirely possible that someone might miss noticing it entirely.


*Now I want to get a vest holster. lol

 

[Sulaco]

I wouldn't have a problem carrying a 32 stoked with FMJ's as a last resort sort of thing. But I figure just the weight of most guns (even tiny pocket pistols) means I have to wear a belt which means I may as well carry my normal sidearm.

 

[gfanikf]

I wouldn't have a problem carrying a 32 stoked with FMJ's as a last resort sort of thing. But I figure just the weight of most guns (even tiny pocket pistols) means I have to wear a belt which means I may as well carry my normal sidearm.

Yeah, I'd only ever consider using them for indoor use if nothing else was around.

 

[highlander 5]

I carry a Walther pp in 32 and get laughed at but so far no one has volunteered to be shot by it. I stoke mine with Federal HP.

 

[No Quarter]

I LOVE my little FN-Browning 1905. I also love my little Guardian .32

They will do their job as long as I do mine. Keeping my eyes open for the pocket Colts as well. Someday, I WILL find ones that are a steal.

 

[gfanikf]

I LOVE my little FN-Browning 1905. I also love my little Guardian .32

They will do their job as long as I do mine. Keeping my eyes open for the pocket Colts as well. Someday, I WILL find ones that are a steal.

Cool.

I think I did well for $350 on the 32acp and $250 on the 25 acp.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Phantom Captain]

The .32 ACP was designed and developed by John Browning because he wanted to make a cartridge that was useless and didn't work. Yeah right.

I have no qualms at all about carrying a small .32 in the summer for self defense. I love my PP.

 

[wlewisiii]

I have a Mauser HSc in .32 ACP as my EDC. I am very satisfied with it.

I like Prvi Partisan, Winchester Silvertips &, best of all, Buffalo Bore 75 gr. LFP +P. I also understand that S&B make a very good load like the BB one.

 

[Toml]

At card table distance.

 

[CrazyO]

I really like my Kel-Tec P32. It is the gun I carry when I "can't carry" a gun.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Does .25ACP and .32 ACP still cut it for self defense?

What do you mean 'cut it' Kemosabe?

They both will kill, but either one may not stop, and stopping the attacker is what it's all about.

Now the old Colt simi-autos ARE NOT DROP SAFE. That is if you pack it chamber loaded and drop the roscoe it might fire as a SWAT magazine writer/LEO found out when his Colt .32 auto dropped to the ground and shot him dead.

The .25 is real weak. .22 lr is actually a better round. And the .32 is still not alot.

Pack a .25 or .32? Well if that's all I got. But I'd find something else.

Deaf

 

[Old Fuff]

The .25 is real weak. .22 lr is actually a better round.

Not really. A lot of people think that because they compare the velocity and energy numbers obtained by shooting a .22 LR through a rifle, vs. the .25ACP in a short barreled pistol. But that's only part of the picture. The rimless .25 feeds through box magazines better, and it's easier to ignite a center-fire primer then a rimfire case because the primer is made from thinner material and the priming compond doesn't always get evenly spread around a rimfire case, when the case is formed. No matter what, in any pistol reliability is by far the most important issue, and because of it's construction the .25 ACP is the more reliable. Obviously neither is a powerhouse.

 

[Drifting Fate]

IMHO, .25 has always been too little, even when judged by the standards of the day when men were men, Cary Grant was straight, and everyone fell to hardball. Marketing existed even then, and small handguns sold, period.

That being said, the human body hasn't changed and .32 FMJ has been fine for many decades over many countries.

Honestly, neither one is the best choice when faced with the advanced options we have today, but against the lone antagonist at bad-breath distance, you could do a lot worse than a Colt 1908 with FMJ's. I know, Jeff Cooper forgive me, but it's the truth.

Personally, I'll keep to my hot hollow points (something Cooper never advocated, either) in .38 and 9mm as minimum levels of self-protection.

 

[mljdeckard]

I've answered this one so many times, I should make a macro so I can just cut and paste the response.

Carry what you want to. Talk yourself into whatever is convenient. Tell yourself it will work just fine. But if I am advising anyone who I actually care if they live or die, I will tell them, to suck it up, eat some mac and cheese, find a used .38 or G-19.

All pistol bullets suck. In going with a tiny one, you are saying that even though all pistol rounds are inferior for the job, you are just giving up and using the most convenient one with the lowest likelihood of actually stopping the bad guy from doing what he is doing. Even though tiny guns are difficult to shoot, because there is less to hold onto and a shorter sight radius, and it's very difficult to actually get good hits when you are fighting for your life with ANY handgun, you are resigning yourself to the one that is least likely to actually put a bullet where you need it.

The "I wouldn't want to get shot by it" argument is gibberish. I don't want to get splashed with cat urine either, but it's not likely to force me to break off an attack. A better question might be something like: If you have to CHOOSE a bullet to get shot with, a .25....ANYTHING, or a 9mm JHP? Or ANY service caliber? Which one would you pick, hoping it would do the LEAST damage, and have the lowest likelihood of penetrating deep enough to hit something critical?

Do what you want man. It's your keyster.

 

[MachIVshooter]

A single .32 ACP bullet fired in 1914 killed over 60 million people.

That said, I wouldn't want to count on a .32 to stop one person trying to harm me or a family member. .380 is my absolute minimum for defensive cartridges.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Not really. A lot of people think that because they compare the velocity and energy numbers obtained by shooting a .22 LR through a rifle, vs. the .25ACP in a short barreled pistol. But that's only part of the picture. The rimless .25 feeds through box magazines better, and it's easier to ignite a center-fire primer then a rimfire case because the primer is made from thinner material and the priming compond doesn't always get evenly spread around a rimfire case, when the case is formed. No matter what, in any pistol reliability is by far the most important issue, and because of it's construction the .25 ACP is the more reliable. Obviously neither is a powerhouse.

Very true. A lot of people kid themselves in different ways for some reason.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I think that maniac Clark loaded a .25acp like to make a 30-06 hide its peepee. True story