Round selection for self defense?

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OldBolt	Round selection for self defense?	Lead	[-]
Posts: 53 (12/10/08 12:52 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None Looking for suggestions to select the best all around pistol cartridge for self defense from the following list only and why. 32 acp 380 acp Thanks
zaxxons		#1	[-]
Posts: 59 (12/10/08 01:31 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Of the two I guess it would have to be the .380, it's bigger. With either one you have to be an excellent shot and place your rounds perfectly. IMHO any sub caliber, anything below a 38 Special and that is marginal at best for self defence and you may as well use a .22. One of my carry guns is a Beretta .22 short, it fits in the sun glass holder of my pickup. A nasty little round and the favorite of the MAFIA. The other is a snub nose Colt .38 with wad cutters turned backwards. Fits perfect in the back pocket of my jeans. But if push comes to shove I'd rather have a shotgun.
gpschmidt		#2	[-]
Posts: 522 (12/10/08 02:00 PM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	.32 isn't very popular as a defensive caliber, but better than nothing. I'd go with the .380. I have a .380 I use for backup/summer carry. Not an ideal round, but again, it's better than empty holster! Greg
OldBolt		#3	[-]
Posts: 54 (12/10/08 05:07 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thanks guys for the input. I guess a 32 or 380 acp pistol is better than throwing rocks. But for serious self defense I will choose the 45 acp round. I just hate large holes in my walls.
usernamehasbeentaken		#4	[-]
Posts: 311 (12/10/08 08:33 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	quote - "I just hate large holes in my walls." hmmm... sounds like you've got some interesting stories to tell Bob
wadwizard	the .32 acp, 7,65, is much under-rated	#5	[-]
Posts: 335 (12/12/08 11:55 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The Nazis preferred the .32 to the .380 because of deeper penetration, due to greater sectional density of the .30 over the .35 bullet (i.e., more length for the diameter). I'm a great .32 acp fan and have quite a few examples....for serious carry, I go only with full metal jackets and the hotter European loads.
eb in oregon		#6	[-]
Posts: 446 (12/13/08 08:51 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I don't think I'd like to get hit with either in Winchester Silver-tip. For the .32 ACP that is the only way to go. Try a box to see if it feeds, the practice with FMJ's and use the Silver-tip for carry. It ain't cheap. Eric "We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately." Benjamin Franklin, July 4 1776
Colin		#7	[-]
Posts: 1802 (12/13/08 11:48 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I carry Cor Bons in my Colt Mustang. Tried them in a Glock 17 once, and they wouldn't feed. Whatever you choose. fire at least one magazine of it to be sure there are no problems.
jjk308		#8	[-]
Posts: 2889 (12/14/08 02:52 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Actually they preferred the .32 because of the weird inverse snob appeal of smaller firearms in the German military. Plus the .380 in the Walther PP may give some shooters a pretty wicked kick, because of the grip shape.
Kowsky Raider	32vs 380	#9	[-]
Posts: 86 (12/14/08 05:42 PM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Idont know about the .32 but i have seen some mean holes blown into people with the .380 acp. I carry a .380 in hot weather and a well placed shot will do the job as would any round. Kowsky Raider...
argie1891		#10	[-]
Posts: 5 (12/15/08 01:53 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	either one would be better than saying please dont hurt me. argie1891 aka joe gifford
eb in oregon		#11	[-]
Posts: 458 (12/15/08 10:40 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I once bought a .25 acp Colt "Junior" when stationed at Ft. Ord CA back in the early 1970's. When examining the pistol the dealer told me a story. "This pistol was stolen during a breakin several years ago. Last year the police told me it had been recovered, but I couldn't have it back just yet. It had been used in a murder/shooting and was evidenence. Two months ago the police sent it back. The trial was over, the guy was convicted of murder, and the pistol was released back to it's original owner, me. They sent back the pistol and this." Upon where he showed me the spent .25 acp bullet that had been removed from the victim. It was only slightly deformed, but all it took was one into the pump. Things are different politically now, but I know I wouldn't want to get shot again, even with a .22 LR. The .32 is fine. I carried a CZ 50 for awhile and didn't feel undergunned. Eric "We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately." Benjamin Franklin, July 4 1776
Colin		#12	[-]
Posts: 1804 (12/17/08 01:11 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I didn't know that Speer has created a sub-category of Gold Dot ammunition called 'short barrel". It's available in calibers 45, 9mm and 38 Special. Perhaps others. I got a box in 38 for my S&W Bodyguard.
7GREEN		#13	[-]
Posts: 488 (12/19/08 12:21 AM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I wonder if the adoption of the 32ACP/7.65 wasn't just fashion, much the same way 38 Special became the Police standard in this country even when the 44 Special, 45 Lonc Colt and 45 ACP were readily available in revolvers. I also recall what Bill Jordan said about the 38 Special being the most powerful round the average man could handle with any degree of proficiency. I sure would not want to be shot with a .32ACP, just ask Huey Long or Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Sophie Chotek.
Colin		#14	[-]
Posts: 1810 (12/20/08 12:23 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	7Green: Research a few years back by members of the National Automatic Pistol Collectors Association, showed that the serial numbers of the guns used by Princip, taken from transcripts of the trial, were Browning 1910s, in 380.
Robert357		#15	[-]
Posts: 78 (12/21/08 03:58 AM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I collect pre-end of WW1 32 Autos. Most are great concealed carry weapons. All things being equal a heavier bullet will generally be a better defensive round, which tends to favor the .380 Auto over the .32 Auto. The 32 Winchester Silver tip is a great round, but I feel that there is now a better alternative. http://www.buffalobore.co...unition/default.htm#32ACP Buffalo Bore does some pretty amazing things with ammo. They also make three 380 +P rounds that are pretty impressive. I think that either round will be fine (in a marginal sense of not being a shotgun) as long as you use the right ammo and that ammo feeds well in your firearm.

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Round selection for self defense?

Round selection for self defense?