Knowledgeable shooters who carried .32s for self defense

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I don't feel under-gunned carrying my S&W 432PD .32 H&R Magnum.
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I figure it's comparable to carrying a small .380 ACP -- marginal but not delusional.

That said, I will probably be switching my .32 Mag carry for an Airweight .38 in the next month or two. Five + five (speedloader) rounds of the "FBI load" on tap is somewhat more reassuring.

I love .32 Mag sixguns, however.
 
Flashman commented: "Gavrilo Princep used a Model 1910 Browning .32 to assassinate Archduke Ferdinand and his wife in 1914, starting WWI. Each were shot just once. 8.5 milllion deaths resulted."

Actually, it was a Model 1900. Provided by Serbian Intelligence.

Geoff
Who watches the History Channel (TM) with a grain of salt. :scrutiny:
 
Both Buffalo Bill Cody and Bartholomew (Bat) Masterson owned, carried and endorsed the Savage .32 ACP automatic pistol. Buffalo Bill even bought them to give to close friends, while Bat Masterson carried one in New York City when he wrote for a newspaper.

I love my .32 Keltec.

Mark

Forgot : John Dillinger carried a .32 Ortgies pistol as a backup to his Colt Army Special revolver.
 
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Robert A. Heinlein: .32 Colt Pocket Auto.
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The only reference I can find to his own personal weapon is a Remington model 51, in .380.
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I believe grendelbane is correct. The only reference to Heinlein's personal weaponry in Grumbles from the Grave involves RAH dispatching a stray tomcat with a .380 that was foolish enough to mess with RAH's own kitty, if my memory isn't playing tricks on me.

Actually I was all set to buy a Walther .32 until I talked to one guy at the range shooting one one day. He wore big shooting gloves and mentioned he was a member of the CFA - Cat Fanciers' Association.
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Better hope RAH's ghost isn't checking up on this thread, halvey. To quote the master: (from memory, I hope correctly) "There are only four things worth drawing. The first three are women -- the last one is cats." :)

Sorta-back-on topic: My friend has one of those Browning-designed .32 autos, and its sights may be poor(but you could say the same for the 1911), but it sure does feel sweet in the hand while shooting!
 
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I recall reading a story about a Kel Tec P-32 loaded with Walmart FMJ that put a rapid end to an attack. One through the neck earned the attacker a toe tag.

.32ACP really hurts, but loading it with JHP is probably ill advised.
 
I really like the little .32ACP, to the point where I generally prefer it over a .380 if they're available n the same gun (i.e. Walther PPK.)

The .32ACP has a lot more penetration than many would guess, and while there are more effective choices for self-defense, a .32 will certainly get the job done if the shooter does his.

My wife uses a .32ACP Beretta Tomcat as a carry gun.
 
As to the penetration of a FMJ .32acp, about 14 years ago I had a dumb attack and caused a negligent discharge with a pre-war Walther PPK loaded with FMJ ammo inside my apartment.

The .32 went through the headrest part of a lazyboy recliner, and then through the living room wall (2 layers of drywall), into the hallway closet and through the (hollow-core) closet door and into the bathroom. It went through the outside and inside layer of a fiberglass bathtub, and put a big chip on the other side of the fiberglass tub before it's energy had been spent.


nero
 
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