Help convince Dad not to carry .32acp.

[myrockfight]

Thanks

After listening and seeing a preponderance of evidence to the contrary, I must concede that the .32 is an adequate defense weapon. I will no longer try to convince my father otherwise. He doesn't listen anyway It would be nice to take one to the range. I'll have to find a range that rents one and drag my father along

Some of you guys have done an excellent job of giving your opinions, personal experiences, and facts to support carrying a .32 as a defensive handgun. Ironically it is now the smallest caliber I would carry.

So I must thank those who took the time to write a positive, substantive posts contrary to my opinion. You guys are the reason I, and others I am sure, keep coming back to THR to ask for opinions, advice, and help concerning firearms and related topics. Pat yourself on the back, buy yourself a beer, or treat yourself to a day at the range, you have done someone a good turn and it is greatly appreciated by myself as well as the rest of the THR community - I am sure.

 

[ByAnyMeans]

I agree, it makes me feel better about a .380 as well. It's nice not to have a million responses that it must start with a .4 to be any good.

NOW that the OP's question was answered I have one. To all you guys who feel a .32 is sufficient what about a .380. Should I use a round such as dpx or Buffalo Bore hollow point and feel it's good enough or give up expansion to ensure penetration with the ball ammo. What do you guys think about Buffalo Bore's flat nose at 100 gr and 1100 fps. It sounds as if the flatnose atleast won't zip right through like fmj yet still penetrates deep.

Thanks for your time

 

[makarovnik]

No. The .32acp is a good round. Have you ever shot a Walther PPK in .32acp? Smooth as butter and pretty close .380acp performance.

 

[McCall911]

My only .32 ACP is a Beretta Model 1935 made in 1955. I have carried it a few times, but IMO it's less than ideal. (The main problem is the awkward frame-mounted safety.)

My reason for using .32 ACP, flawed and faulty though it may be, is this: It is similar to 00 buckshot in caliber and bullet weight. (.309" and 60-73 grains vs .320" and 60 grains.)

 

[David N]

Don't Knock It Till You've Tried It

I would take Dad to a store that stocks Kel-Tec and let him see and feel how tiny and light the P3-AT is. For about the same size and less weight he can carry a .380.

Cosmoline,
You seem to be thinking of Glucks. Don't knock the sub-compacts until you've actually shot a KT P-11 in 9mm Luger. No, I don't work for KT but I know a great gun when I have one.

 

[David N]

ByAnyMeans,
If you want to carry a .380 and can afford the DPX then by all means go for it. There are others with a reputation for penetration with expansion such as the XTP and Gold Dot.
I'm going to try running some Gold Dots through my P3-AT and if they feed OK then that will be my EDC.

 

[springmom]

Myrockfight, I'm glad you were able to get some good feedback. This is a good place for info, you're right.

Springmom

 

[ByAnyMeans]

NeverVictimAgain: I'm not to worried about the cost (not rich but thankfully the gun I feel best with in pocket guns is the ruger which is 300 or less) and would pay for premium ammo since the smaller the caliber the more important the correct ammunition is. Were I do have trouble is all the different tests. Brassfetcher tests show only Federal Hydroshock and Hornady XTp meet FBI 12 in criteria yet other tests have shown Hydroshock to be the least penetrative and XTP to sporadically expand( can't recall all the tests but they were based on the sticky at KTOG). I have heard (all internet talk so I do take it with a grain of salt) that the LCP is to hard to handle when firing rounds like DPX or Buffalo Bore but I was only able to fire my friends a couple of rounds to feel it out with the ammo he had (don't recall what it was). I'm 6-4 260 and in great shape so by no means weak but at the same time if I fire the gun the round only matters if it hits them no matter what standards it meets. I'm so confused.

I'm gonna bang my head against the wall now to make all these thoughts try to go away.

 

[mavracer]

I've seen some good results from 102 grn golden sabers plus they can be found cheaper than BB or DPX.
my favorite load in 32 is the fiocchi 60grn SJHP it's HOT 1000 fps from my seecamp over 1200 from Walther.

 

[Majic]

Forget all the tests and the numbers generated. Most people that see and hear that they are being shot at become defensive and that slows down the attack. When they realize they are hit (and stopping power with any handgun is virtually a myth) a lot of the fight goes out of them. Pain and bleeding usually changes the priorities of the moment. There are no hard and fast rules but most animals, and the human is an animal, will retreat when it can when hurt unless it's defending something. So find a load that your firearm will reliably and accurately fire and become proficient at using the firearm. Don't worry about all the numbers.

 

[Eyesac]

So my point is - if you can get a more powerful cartridge in the same package and the recoil is manageable either way, why not pick the larger caliber?

I agree. Sounds like a good argument. Everyone on here is talking like .32 is enough like enough is what I want for my carry gun. I want as much as I can handle, not barely passable, or enough. If its a size issue (as in: he needs a gun the size of a deck of cards) well then i guess he's stuck w/ something like .32. But I doubt a .32 is as much as he can handle in a carry weapon.

32 in his pocket then a three pound .45 left at home

It's catchy but but a: 9/40/45 in the pocket is better than a 32 in the pocket as far as i'm concerned.