This is a different way of looking at home defense calibers...

[Murphy4570]

Not handgun ammo. The state records all handgun ammo purchased by NJ owners, and bypassing that system by going online will get you a knock on the door by the local sheriff and his gang. Apparently though, it's perfectly legal to go over to PA to buy ammo and bring it back. I'm pretty sure the law is to keep people under 21 from buying handgun ammo, but like most other gun laws, it's effectiveness just isn't there.

I live in NJ, and buy all of my ammo off of the internet. Cheaper that way. Rifle, shotgun, pistol, doesn't matter.

SGammo.com was still selling 1,000rnd cases of Aguila .45ACP for $289 last I checked, too. That's where I got my last case of .45ACP, haven't even touched it yet!

The local cops have not banged down my door in over a year of me doing this. My impression is, the less cops know, the better off I am.

 

[2zulu1]

In this particular instance the 32acp stopped hostilities; however, what we don't know, was the 17 year old predisposed to 'fall' down upon being shot, by any caliber?

 

[browningguy]

Any gun is better than a stick. I have, and sometimes carry, .25, .32 and .380. But when I have a choice it's usually a .40 on my hip. I will admit that working in the yard or in the garage I usually only have a .25 or .32 in my pocket.

I have started keeping my XD M in 9mm with me a lot since I got it, something about 20 rounds of 9mm HP seems comforting.

 

[mdauben]

2) The "lowly" .32 ACP still works. In this case, good shot placement beat penetration, expansion, AND muzzle energy.

I tend to agree with some of the other posters, that one instance of successful use of .32ACP does not change the fact that it's a barely adequate SD round. In this case, assuming the elderly main in the story is not a former Olympic bulls eye shooter, luck played a major role in his success. No one would argue that a .22LR in the pump would be more effective than a .44MAG in the little finger, but given the same point-of-impact, bigger and/or faster will always be better. A larger, more powerful round provides more margin for error will more reliably stop and attacker, and relies less on perfect shot placement..

Fixed, IMO. 1,000 rounds will cost you ~$350 for 45 ACP.

Actually, 1000 rounds of typical premium .45ACP SD ammo would run at least $1000.00

Certainly inexpensive FMJ practice ammo (which would be closer to your $350 estimate) is great for weapons familiarization and target practice, but it does not tell you much about the reliability of your gun with the JHP self-defence ammo of your choice.

 

[Murphy4570]

Actually, 1000 rounds of typical premium .45ACP SD ammo would run at least $1000.00

Certainly inexpensive FMJ practice ammo (which would be closer to your $350 estimate) is great for weapons familiarization and target practice, but it does not tell you much about the reliability of your gun with the JHP self-defence ammo of your choice.

US Army used .45 ball ammo to kill a lot of Germans and Japanese. I don't see why it is no longer adequate for killing people. Cheap stuff goes boom just as well as the $25 a box expensive stuff.

I personally have a box of Remington UMC ball ammo for my SD ammo. 230 grains of DRT.

Then again, my opinion is biased due to NJ law not liking hollowpoint ammo AT ALL.

 

[Diggers]

Interesting... I think most people will fall getting shot in the chest with any caliber.


I know this topic is always taken to the extreme i.e. some huge drugged up guy who feels no pain etc. BUT I don't see that as the norm or even at all likely.

If it is then we all should be walking around with rifles.

 

[Loosedhorse]

it was an ancient chrome-plated .32 cal. Smith & Wesson semi-automatic.

Man, I sure hope he gets his gun back! It's a collector's item!



I'll bet it's nickel, not chrome...making it even rarer!

This guy managed a threat stopping shot with one .32 ACP hollow point, because he had near perfect shot placement.

Interesting... I think most people will fall getting shot in the chest with any caliber.

This case was a classic "one-shot stop."

For those claiming near-perfect aim--why the claim? I did not get a location for the shot from the story other than "the chest." And, the story says the burglar slumped over, seemingly immediately--it's not clear that even a shot to the heart would do that.

Until shown otherwise, this to me appears to be one of those many "undependable psychological stops." To the extent that "most people" would fall immediately having been shot in the chest, those would also seem to be psychological stops.