Aside from the Buffalo Bore fodder, does anyone have any load data for the FMJ .32 ACP?

Comments? Thoughts?

Yes, .380 is a far better choice for a BUG due to the latest bullet tech. I have .32s but they are just for nostalgia (Colt, etc)

I would never carry less than a high capacity 9MM +P as a primary

Thanks for your insight... not. I think that anyone that hangs their hope on both expansion and penetration from any .380 Auto is trying to "swing on a star".  It just isn't in the cards. Penetration? Yes. Expansion? Okay. Both in the came load? It just isn't happening.

Sorry.

I have carried a 380 as my primary, until I actually had to shoot something with it. I had a feral dog corner me in my car one evening when I got home from work and ended up shooting him with the LCP with Critical Defense rounds. He didn't do anything but get madder until I put a round between his eyes.

I bought my Shield 40 the next week. I have shot feral animals and varmints with it and they just die.

As far as the 32, I would shoot FMJ and pray.

Quote from: BrowningGuy88 on February 12 2016 05:47:15 PM MST
I have carried a 380 as my primary, until I actually had to shoot something with it. I had a feral dog corner me in my car one evening when I got home from work and ended up shooting him with the LCP with Critical Defense rounds. He didn't do anything but get madder until I put a round between his eyes.

I bought my Shield 40 the next week. I have shot feral animals and varmints with it and they just die.

As far as the 32, I would shoot FMJ and pray.

This is precisely why i use Hard Cast Flat Point lead bullets in my Crvena Zastava M70, and empty the magazine in either their face, throat or chest. It's my best defensive tack when employing the 32 ACP.

Quote from: Captain O on February 12 2016 05:01:15 PM MST
Thanks for your insight... not. I think that anyone that hangs their hope on both expansion and penetration from any .380 Auto is trying to "swing on a star".  It just isn't in the cards. Penetration? Yes. Expansion? Okay. Both in the came load? It just isn't happening.

Sorry.

I'm not a .380 fan by any means but some of the xtp loads do a decent job of achieving both. Expansion is rather minimal but this is .380.

Quote from: Dave84 on February 25 2016 10:27:42 AM MST

Quote from: Captain O on February 12 2016 05:01:15 PM MST
Thanks for your insight... not. I think that anyone that hangs their hope on both expansion and penetration from any .380 Auto is trying to "swing on a star".  It just isn't in the cards. Penetration? Yes. Expansion? Okay. Both in the came load? It just isn't happening.

Sorry.

I'm not a .380 fan by any means but some of the xtp loads do a decent job of achieving both. Expansion is rather minimal but this is .380.

Point, set and match. The .380 simply can't be relied upon for both penetration and expansion. "It is either one of the other. You can't have both".

Quote from: Captain O on February 25 2016 10:10:07 PM MST

Quote from: Dave84 on February 25 2016 10:27:42 AM MST

Quote from: Captain O on February 12 2016 05:01:15 PM MST
Thanks for your insight... not. I think that anyone that hangs their hope on both expansion and penetration from any .380 Auto is trying to "swing on a star".  It just isn't in the cards. Penetration? Yes. Expansion? Okay. Both in the came load? It just isn't happening.

Sorry.

I'm not a .380 fan by any means but some of the xtp loads do a decent job of achieving both. Expansion is rather minimal but this is .380.

Point, set and match. The .380 simply can't be relied upon for both penetration and expansion. "It is either one of the other. You can't have both".

To remain on topic, you can't have that with the .32 Auto, either. The difference is, the .380 does it with a (however slight) larger bullet, and sectional density is worth only so much. If SD was THE key, then the .25 Auto wouldn't be the abysmal failure it is. Neither are ideal defensive choices, but either will fill their niche. We are talking to the wrong end of the horse, here, IMO.

would you care to act as a "crash test dummy" for my self-loading .32? something tells me that it would be more effective than you think. It will probably kill you, but don't worry, you'll be a "bright spot" in some outfit's medical journal!

Are you willing?

I think we all agree that a 22 lr is not a good SD round.  That doesn't mean it isn't a very deadly cartridge.  In fact, as a teenager I dropped 2-4 cows every year with one 22 lr shot during slaughter season.

A better question would be how well the 32 ACP does in the known statistics.  And the answer is not good.  And, significantly worse than larger handgun rounds.

If my choice was 32 ACP or nothing, I would take it.  If it was 32 ACP or 380 Auto, I would take the 380.  But with the wealth of 9mm's on the market, not the least of which is the recent Glock 43, I just don't see any margin in downsizing below 9mm for SD.

Lehigh Defense should make their new .32 ACP load(s) available soon. That said, my P32s run the hotter European FMJs well, and penetrate up to 14" in ordnance gelatin. They'll leave a mark, and serve a role when I can't carry my nines or .45s.

If you look at the old Ed Sanow "stopping power" tests, you'll notice that the .32 ACP outperforms the .380. (It isn't necessarily something I believe, but I didn't come up with it).

Look it up for yourself.