As for the effectiveness of the 32, I rank it in the same league as the 380 and the 38 in a snub nose. Real world stops with those guns are so close that the difference is insignificant. None of the 3 are barn burners in the stopping department, but they are much better than anything smaller, and only moderately worse than the best handgun calibers in very compact guns. Most "stopping power" it seems from actual shooting cases is from PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA due to pain, fear and what not, as opposed to actual PHYSICAL INCAPACITATION (which is one reason why JHP's in any caliber usually outperform FMJ's in the same caliber). That is to say most criminals shot with anything loose the WILL to fight long before they lose the ABILITY to fight. IF YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY HIT THE CNS OR LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE QUICKLY ENOUGH TO ABOSOLUTELY PHYSICALLY PRECLUDE ANY VIOLENT RESPONSE, YOU BETTER HAVE A RIFLE OR A SHOTGUN, and any combat veteran can tell you that even a rifle or shotgun is not a 100% proposition either in the stopping department against a determined adversary unless you take out the CNS. Like others have said, carry the best you can, but always consider ANY handgun to be ineffective as far as INSTANT STOPS go, and prepare/react accordingly.
Best to all,
Roll Tide
