You just passed, and millions of people miss you. Thank you for everything you have done for the firearms community and us personally. My wife cried when you passed. She doesn’t really care about guns, but loved to watch your videos with me. Especially during Thanksgiving. Love you Paul.
I am a lady (just a disclaimer) and i love my keltec p32. Its small, thin, lightweight w/very little kick. Its so easy to carry & conceal. I have an extended magazine that holds 10 bullets! I do have to use full metal jacket ammo to prevent jams. I enjoy all your videos! You are very entertaining, & I always learn something!
Your choice of FMJ ammo is wise. The first concern of all, is that the bullet comes out of the muzzle when commanded. It can’t do that if it doesn’t feed.
Lucky Gunner made the point that the purpose of CCW is different than LEO or Military- a civilian needs to simply break contact with an assailant. A few rounds at close range of ANYTHING (including 22LR) will cause a large proportion of assailants to turn and seek medical attention- whereas a LEO needs to physically take the assailant into custody - and said assailant is likely to provide more of a challenge, and may require more lethal calibers like 9mm etc. most days- I carry a P32 which allows me to carry 365 days a year
@@FullSugarBrah Lethal force does not necessarily mean the situation is neatly resolved. A hypothetical assailant's family can still sue you if a confrontation proves lethal.
I have but ONE .32 ACP. A Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless I inherited from my grandfather. I love the pistol, not so much the cartridge. I rarely carry it, but I shoot 50-100 rounds through it every year, in casual range shooting. It is in excellent condition, not for sale, and I use it as one of my "tuxedo guns" for formal wear occasions. I load it with FMJ bullets because it is reliable with those.
Very cool. The LTC has a 1908 colt in .25 ACP The gun is nickel plated and has REAL ivory grips. Classic, elegant, and a lot more effective than the .45 you left at home.
Factual side note that I learned not long ago; European manufacture 32 ACP (7.62 Browning) ammunition is made with a case that has a slight taper on its semi rimmed cartridge, aiding in the feeding and ejection of the rounds vs the American manufacture 32 ACP ammunition. I can confirm this with a previously owned Beretta 3230 Tomcat and a Keltec P32. (I traded the Beretta for a Ruger lcp) and the ammo used was Aguila, Speer Gold Dot, Fiocci, magtech. Results; Aguila was quite dirty and made the firearms susceptible to powder fowling; Gold Dot would occasionally have rim lock hang ups; Fiocci and magtech ran flawless. For context, my personal Tomcat was manufactured in 1999 and the P32 was manufactured in 2019. Long story short, I recommend carry ONLY magtech or Fiocci in your 32acp pistol
Are you talking about a compact carry pistol? I've always experienced less recoil from full-sized pistols because of the extra weight the full-size pistols have.
For what it's worth, In the 80's I picked up a PPK in .32acp and used the old school silver tips at 25 yds and the all stayed in the 8 ring. but I was younger then. I got similar results using a CZ 27. I'm happy with both. The PPK was a 1967 import.
Mike, in the 70' s I carried a .32acp as my DC backup (deep cover for you young guys ) and I can remember your "old school silver tips". I actually had to utilize the .32 on several occasions. Mine was a modded Browning designed semi, mfg'd by LLama which had been 'tuned up' for me by an 'alphabet' armorer to match the ammo they provided. I was instinctively accurate with it (I could routinely shred thrown cigarette packs out of the air) as the thing would almost become part of my hand when drawn-so much so, that I could literally "point and shoot" it quite dependably, even under some pretty stressful field circumstances though at closer engagement ranges than your 25. That PPK u mention was a work of art.:) As for your CZ, well for a time, I carried a brace of 52's in a custom fitted and rather elegant Italian leather dual shoulder harness rig which turned out to be quite bearable under my duty suit jacket ( I'm a fairly big guy). Those 52's could dispatch vehicles with that machine gun tungsten ammo I was provided, not much expansion though (wink).
I have a Walther PP, CZ-50, CZ-70 and Keltec P32. I love shooting the PP and CZ-70. Very accurate pistols and low recoil, mostly because they are heavy. That light and tiny little P32 is a handful to shoot, and very hard to shoot accurately. One day I'd like to fit a suppressor on the CZ-70. I bet it would be really quiet.
@@mikematusek4233 LOL, Hey big guy ! lol, I was 6'3 and around 218 or 197 or so, depending on whether I was 'heading out', or crawling back in LOL. Either way, too damned heavy for those old T-10 steerable chutes :) And OH, you still got me ;), I'm about 280 now and a LOT more 'fluffy' Rflmao. Nice to have encountered you.
My father carries his Beretta 3032. Not his primary, but a good gun. There's no doubt that they're lethal. (as this video proves also). When it comes to handguns, the difference between rounds is not even remotely as much as most people think. The bullets only cause small bullet holes and the diameter of the bullet just stretched through, so a 9mm hole is only very slightly larger than a .32ACP bullet hole in tissue. (not counting the spleen, kidneys and a couple other organs). As long as you have shot placement and penetration, not too much else makes a huge difference unless you hit vital organs... but hitting vital organs with a .32 is still devastating, even if it's not a 9mm. Same with the brain, the heart, major blood vessels, etc... (and expansion does NOTHING but stop over-penetration in any round below .45ACP). Not a .45 fan myself at all. It's a good round like all others. I think that's just the bottom of the line for causing damage outside the direct path of the bullet.
I don't even have this caliber nor do I intend to get a firearm chambered in it but I find the analysis interesting and will watch anyways. It's always great to learn something or benefit from the experience of others.
I bought an Ortgies 7.65x17mm (.32 ACP) for the history. They used to sweep pistol competition in Europe. Mine looks to be from 1922. I shot it with regular 76 gr round nose ball ammo. It was stacking rounds at 10 yards and hitting true at 25 yards. Damn it if I didn't fall in love. My Keltec P32 isn't as accurate as the Ortgies but, it's accurate enough. It gets carried nearly everywhere.
I'd make the same recommendation for .32 ACP that I make for .380 ACP: Underwood Xtreme Defenders. Other channels have tested them in ballistic gel and they always penetrate at least 12". The XDs don't depend on expansion, so their wound tracks are reliably good for caliber. A bonus is that they're barrier blind.
A worthy recommendation. I used to make the same ammunition suggestion for ammunition selection for .32, .380, .38, and 9mm. Get a .45. Because I bought into the Fudd rhetoric. Then I evolved. I couldn't tell you the last time I carried anything in .45. I've been carrying a .32 more than anything else over the last two years.
@@mattmarzula I love .45, but it's just not always practical to carry a big gun concealed especially in Texas summers. I personally like the M&P shield compact 9mm, but there are a lot of good choices out there in 9mm and .380. .32 is a bit light for my taste, but if that's what you'll actually keep on you it's definitely better than nothing.
Are you having any “bobbles” with the XD’s in .32? My LCP has issues with them; although I should say, it has issues with a lot of ‘carry’ ammo, especially the Buffalo Bore +p hard cast.
@@michaelcurl9197 I don't own a .32 pistol. The .380 XDs have always run flawlessly through my KelTec P3AT - no malfunctions in the 3+ years I've been using them.
I have owned several .32s over the years, and the old ones are really thin. They are great guns to use for teaching, with the old ones being all steel and there for having almost no recoil. I was always told that the .32 needed a 3 to 4 inch barrel, and dont waste your money on hollow points, that round was designed for FMJ or round nose, and thats what you should run. I have always had good luck running FMJs with a 4 inch barrel. Up until the 60s in the US, .32 was one of the most common concealed carry rounds, brought to us by St. Browning himself. Its a fun round, but if you are going to carry it, understand it's limitations. As i was always told, just like with .22 and .25, Shot placement, Shot placement, Shot placement!
About a year ago, Mr. Harrell tested a several brands of .380 ACP ammunition. Among them was the 68 grain Underwood solid Copper. Underwood also makes a .32 ACP solid Copper round, and it would be interesting to perform the same test using that ammo in both the short barrel Beretta, and a Beretta Cheetah 82BB with a longer barrel.
Excellent information as usual. I have a Seecamp .32 that is a pleasure to carry concealed and shoot at the range. I could never get to the level of marksmanship with this gun at 10 yards that Paul did in this video. Kudos 👏
Hi Paul, you’re probably aware of this but maybe some of your viewer are not. This is from Beretta about their 3032 Tomcat and ammunition , published 7/16/2007 and updated 10/14/2016. Quote “ with the introduction of many new high performance loads for the 32 automatic/32acp, we recommend that the designated ammunition should not exceed 130 foot pounds of muzzle energy…. If ammunition exceeding this specification must be used it should be fired on a limited basis only, excessive use may shorten the service life of the pistol’s components”. Beretta then provides a list of some suggested ammunition.
Oh great! A video about a caliber that I have no desire to ever own. I will probably watch it twice though, since well, it is Paul Harrell. Thank you for the knowledge Sir.
Always good to see 32! One thing I’d love to see from Paul is the new and improved high tech bullet stop versus the old one, I’m wondering if there’s enough difference to make the difference.
I can just imagine it: Paul tests the old bullet stop against the new and improved bullet stop… I picture the portable table with a meat target “followed up by the new and improved bullet stop”. Suddenly a bundle of fleece is thrown from off-camera at the meat target and then falls and plops on the ground like a limp fish. Paul does the “autopsy” and states that the performance was “mediocre at best”, that “the difference between the two is not enough difference to make a difference, but you be the judge.” 😂
Tools and Targets did some gel ballistics on .327 Fed Magnum and H&R .32 Magnum. The H&R Magnum would be about the weakest ammo I would consider for concealed carry.
As a thirty five year law enforcement veteran I wouldn’t sell the 32acp too short. I recall a number of shootings where the 32 put people down. Several were one shot kills. A greater number died at the hospital. I personally know two officers whose lives were saved by their back up 32 auto. You need sufficient barrel length and the proper cartridge like Buffalo Bore 75 grain lead flat point. It’s a plus-p load at over 1000 ft per second. Great job on your videos Paul.
Well said. The .32 was designed for a 4" barrel to wring out the max velocity. A 2.5" barrel falls short on velocity and JHPs will not expand so might as well use the commonly found 71 grain FMJ. It is 31 grains heavier than the 40 grain .22 LR and 21 grains heavier than the 50 grains .25 ACP, so it's a lot heavier and has enough more foot pounds to make a difference.
People put much too much stock in how things work in ballistics gel or the meat target. Getting shot with a .22, .25 or a .32 is basically like being stabbed by a professional fencer with a small sword, expansion or no expansion.
In western Europe it was the police caliber for a few decades but the loads where stronger. For example the 71gr Sellior&Bellot load is rated with 1050fps from a 4 inch barrel.
I was discussing .32 just today, LOL. I am quite fond of it, but I have no illusions that it's any kind of powerhouse. When my arthritis was darn near unbearable, I could shoot a .32 without pain when most .380s of a similar size were quite uncomfortable. It works, just like other small calibers work, but if you want 'better' then certainly there are more powerful rounds chambered in equally small (or smaller) frames. I happen to have a 1903 Colt .32 sitting beside me right now, although I've carried an airweight .38 all day.
The 32 ACP, out of that pistol, with that barrel length, will do just fine, as it has for well over 100 years. There are now loads from Underwood and Buffalo Bore that increase its viability even further.
I really love shooting the big magnum calibers, but I’m starting to have tendon issues in my hands and I can’t shoot too many rounds before my hands go numb and hurt like hell. Luckily 9mm is still tolerable but we’ll see what time brings
@@boredandagitated Years and wear have mine pretty beat up, too. LOVE my 3" .44 mag Smith but a couple cylinderfulls every now and then is about all the full house magnum shooting I can do if I wanna use my hands for anything other than decoration for days. I once shot one of those (forget the number, S&W only made 'em for a year) 10.5 ounce Scantium framed J-frames in .38 spl. I fired 5 standard pressure rounds with one hand, 5 +p rounds with the other and if the gun's owner had offered me twenty bucks, I would not have pulled the trigger again. OUCH. Cool, but ouch.
I carry a 32 revolver but it's a 327 magnum and it will fire 32 ACP 32 short 32 long 32 H&R magnum and 327 magnum so I have a lot of choices. Great video!
@@danielboggan2479 been doing since 2010 hundred rounds no issues except when ejecting the star will pass over the rim so you have to use gravity some- times
@@danielboggan2479 "The rim thickness difference can cause catastrophic failures" The rim thickness difference is only 0.01" (0.045" for .32 ACP vs. 0.055" for the rest of them), which is about the thickness of 2 sheets of typical typing/printer paper. That's not enough to matter. The .32 ACP's base and neck diameter are the same as the rest of them, which is the important part (technically its neck diameter is 0.0005" smaller than the rest of them, but a difference that small is utterly meaningless, since that's smaller than the normal manufacturing tolerance variations from round to round anyway). The only problem is that the .32 ACP is semi-rimmed, so the revolver's extractor might not consistently extract the empties, but that's not a safety-related problem. The .32 ACP has a large enough rim diameter to consistently headspace though.
Paul, great review as always! I would love to see the Underwood XTREME Defender round tested (a Lehigh Defense projectile) since it is the solid copper round that doesn’t rely on expansion for increasing wound channels.
The 32ACP is super fun to shoot at the range. I picked up a Beretta 81BB "police trade in" for under $300 and it shoots like it hates to miss. That said, I wouldn't carry it for CCW. I have seen videos of good results in 32 from the Lehigh Extreme Defender solid copper projectile.
I carry a .32ACP. I carry it all the time, even just taking out the trash. I often carry a larger gun mind you, but I always have the .32. It is so tinny and lite that it is hard to talk myself out of carrying it. As for ammo, I use Sellier & Bellot 73gr FMJ. Normally for defensive loads I have either some expanding bullet, or that new screw driver tip stuff, but when I am down to .32 size, I go with FMJ. In my testing, I only got one type of .32 to expand. It was Hornady, but the penetration was junk. Everything else penetrated fine but did not expand, so if I am not expanding, I might as well go with a bit heavier. Also the S&B ammo uses the European loading of .32, which is a bit faster than US loadings, so a bit faster as well. Mine clocks in at about 850fps. All that being said, it is still weak. So the .32 I have with me is better than the 9mm I left in the car, but if I ever need it, I am throwing spit balls, and I have to keep that in mind.
What is the advantage of carrying a .32 over a .25? A .25 pistol can be even smaller and lighter, and while .32 is "more powerful", in practice I don't see the difference being significant. .32 strikes me as an unhappy medium between .25 and .380. .380 has enough power to provide reliable hollow point expansion (with the right ammo choices), .32 doesn't. .25 doesn't but it lets you have a really compact CCW. .32s are mostly the same size as .380s.
@@rdrrr I had a .25 when I was a poor collage student. It was almost the same size as my .32. I could get a .25 that is smaller, but at that point we are getting too small for me to effectually hold and aim the weapon. You are right. My testing indicated that .32 did not reliably expand. So I used FMJ with a slightly hot load. That would penetrate perfectly. No expansion though. Have to keep that in mind. I have the same gun in .380. In .380, I fired two magazines and my hands were bleeding. With the .32, I got an extra round of ammo, and I fired 150 rounds before my hands were raw. Also the .380 does not lock back, and the small slide is hard for me to grasp. The .32 locks back and is easier for me to pull back the slide.
@@Jesses001 All excellent reasons to make the choice you did - shows how difficult it is to advise people, because you don't know all of the important factors in their decision-making when they purchase gear.
Back in the 90's, I did a lot of testing of the .32 ACP. Back then, the typical .32 was a Walther PP or PPK sized handgun that was either a surplus pistol or one selected because it had less recoil than an equivalent blowback .380. Pistols of this size in .32 ACP have fallen out of favor, but they were quite easy to shoot with pinpoint accuracy. With the longer barrels of these guns, you might be able to get a bit of expansion with some hollowpoints. In my experience, the expansion wasn't really enough to matter. But in the context of citizen self-defense, where the typical mission is to break contact and escape an attempted ambush, a face full of 71 grain FMJ would likely allow one to get away, and I daresay your attacker would remember you. With these larger, heavier guns, hitting a target of that size at close range was doable with a little practice. The guns were fun to shoot which encourged that practice. I never advised any of my students to seek out such guns, but if they already had one, I would show them how to use it safely, and focus on the shift in point of aim necessary if they wanted to use it for self-defense. This is no different than if you choose a .22 or .25 in that role.
Fantastic video as always. I am honestly not surprised to see that the hollow points under performed. If you are taking requests I would love to see you cover .32 long, .32 H&R Mag, and .327 Federal Magnum.
Below 9mm seems like they never do! Flat nose seems best for that style. As it’s for some odd reason deeper penetration. Probably same pen as hollow but ppl like to see the pretty hollow point makes em feel better! Consumerism
@@jefferyboring4410 Plenty of .380 expands, and a few still meet penetration requirements. Flat Nose penetrate better than hollow points and standard FMJ round nose due to the flat nose stabilizing the bullet. They don't veer off and tumble like the others. 9mm flat nose are good for Black Bears,
@@BB-1990 that’s not why they penetrate better. I’ve watched the ballistics gel videos. .380 rarely expands 9mm contains 5+ grains of powder 380 usually has 2.9 or so. They may expand in water but rarely in ballistics gel. A stubby 380 rd makes little difference if it tumbles it’s practically square. A flat vs round all things equal the flat or semi conical always penetrates further. Type in flat vs round and watch the tests. 380 .32 .25 and even sometimes 45 and less typically never expand as hollow point are very speed dependent. ppl buy them because they simply expect them too. Some specialty rds do like g2 rip but the vast majority do not. Watch Paul Harrells tests on them their not worth buying.
My grandfather's carry gun was a Walther PP in .32 with some kind of target sight. Not only as an "in town" gun but also in the woods. He explained to me so long ago he picked it because even though it was less powerful than .380, he could shoot it faster due to the lack of recoil and that it was more accurate. He nailed a lot of rabbits, squirrels, woodchucks, and other small game with it, and he was proof that shot placement is what keeps you alive.
My school teachers always preached "show your work." Paul Harrell did just that so we could see how he arrived at his conclusions. Thank you, sir. The .32 ACP commercial loads were developed for older four-inch barrel "service pistols" used by European police and military as a front-line weapon in the two world wars. I find that American .32 ammo has lower velocity than European .32 but my sample size is limited to a few hundred shots over a chronograph with three .32 caliber pistols. Modern pocket .32 pistols have nearly an inch and a half less barrel length (about 65% less barrel) than the old European "battlefield weapons." This causes more muzzle flash because there's some unburned powder and lower muzzle velocities. Britain issued Walter PP in .22LR to selected government officials living in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, but the .32 would seem to have been the superior choice. Nobody asked me, and when that pistol distribution took place, I knew only a little about guns. That world has vanished and better options are available--unless a .32 is the only practical option. European nations sometimes has a caliber restriction with .32 ACP as the "most powerful" cartridge permitted--those same countries prohibit hollow-point bullets as "inhumane."
Don't have a .32 acp, but I do have a .327 federal magnum Ruger LCR that can technically fire .32 acp, but I don't know why you would given all the better options you can fire in that gun. My wife is pretty small and can't handle a lot of recoil. So she carries it loaded with .32 s&w long 100 grain hardcast wadcutters made by buffalo bore. Out of a 2 inch barrel, velocity is around 820 fps. So that round is a lot more powerful in energy foot pounds than any of the.32 acps that Paul tested here today. It's actually a pretty impressive round that gets 16 inches of penetration in clear ballistics gel and the wadcutter projectile makes a nastier round than an fmj would.
@@getoffmylawn8986 I'm going to find out all too well myself. The DMV failed me on my left eye. (I'm a lefty shooter). Told me not to come back next time without corrective lenses. She said my overall vision with both eyes got me through, but that I'm "legally blind" in my left eye. I mostly shoot rifles. I can shoot a scope fine with my left, but over the last year or so, I had to learn to shoot my open sight guns right handed. It took a long time to feel natural and Instinctive, but I'm just as comfortable shooting right now as I am left. Anyhow, you'd think I'd have just went and gotten my eyes taken care of, but no, I took it to the extreme lol. Hope you can figure something out in the future. This getting old business is real.
Even though the hollow points didn‘t expand, I don‘t consider these bad ammo: none of the ammo overpenetrated! And that IS a great result for self-defense ammo!
I was thinking the same thing, there are some situations where over penetration is a big consideration. Yes there are drawbacks to 32, but getting shot with anything sucks:
We often carry small calibers such as .22lr, .22wmr, and .25acp...we are under no illusions that these little bullets will 'stop' a drug addled 300 pound brute, but our calculation is that said brutes are rather rare in our area (and usually would have police escort quickly)...our concern is the Wal-Mart parking lot, the footpath in the city park, and similar scenarios...we don't need to blow the bad guy up, just have them stop acting bad...poking unwanted holes is still poking holes, and dissuades most folks...also, the small calibers are small, light guns much more likely to be actually carried everyday...my .45 in the safe simply does me little good day to day, whereas my Jetfire gets a lot of fresh air...
I got an old S&W hand ejector from 1911 in 32 s&w long. It’s a 6 shot that’s half the size of a j frame 38 with 5 shots, so it’s a nice little compact revolver with a 4 inch barrel that fits in my pocket like a cell phone. The 32s&w long with 100 grain bullets packs a decent amount of force. It’s no dirty hairy gun but not bad either.
Good presentation as usual. As for my own take on it.... My wife is very recoil sensitive. Even a .380 M&P EZ isn't easy for her to shoot. With your videos as well as Lucky Gunner's gel testing I determined that the most power that I could give her would be .32 ACP...out of a Beretta 82 BB. 4" ish barrel and single stack for her small hands gives her 9+1. The extra barrel length should give appropriate expansion. The slightly larger overall size gives her super low recoil, excellent sight radius, and shoot-ability. I have put a box of ammo through it myself and love it. I'm also a fan of DA/SA for carry. You do have to manually decock this model or leave it on single action with frame safety like a 1911. I wish the new 80X came in .32 so that I could get her a brand new carry pistol.
Paul you have to get a Keltec P32 to fairly evaluate it against 380 and 25. I have a S&W Bodyguard 380 and my P32 is not only significantly smaller but I can conceal it in the back pocket of jeans while it's in a holster. I can hardly conceal the Bodyguard in the same pocket even if it has no holster, which is a safety issue because it has no external safety switch. I can actually keep a P32 hidden in summer clothes whereas with 9mm it's impossible and 380 is dodgy at best. If you only wear baggy clothes and you're 6'3 I'm sure this wouldn't apply but that's why I carry 32 ACP and with FMJ ammo it's been flawless with hundreds of rounds at the range.
I wonder what you find more effective, your P32 in your pocket in a pocket holster with a time to first shot of maybe 5 seconds, or your 9mm that's in it's safe at home with a time to first shot of a 30 minute drive home and back of another 30 minutes... This is my argument for many people too, especially for those that have the issue where the "printing" of their firearms is an almost certain loss of employment.
@@legallyfree2955 Agreed. I wish I could get a 9mm that's truly pocket sized but I gave up. Luckily I've never had to shoot anybody. But also the P32 carries 8 rounds whereas most 380s are 7.
@@AlexHand Well my only "tiny" firearm is a .22lr 5 shot single action revolver I cannot hit the side of a barn with. I probably should get something sized between my CZ SP01 and that some time...
When I need something really thin, lighter & smaller than my LCPII 380 I grab my KelTec P32. It's often an ankle gun for me to back up a 9mm or 40. Once in awhile I'll grab 1 of my 25 ACP Baby Brownings if I need the ultimate small handgun but the P32 gets carried much more
The only part that surprised me was you were able to find that much .32ACP ammo anywhere. I haven’t had much luck it finding that much variety in my area, and I am not that far away (
Thanks for another great test. I guess if I ever dig Mom’s 1907 Savage out of the safe, I’ll load 71 grain FMJ. I love the old ads showing the lady of the house defending herself with “ten shots quick!” But that was a more genteel age, when anything that went bang was considered defensive.😉 I like mouse guns, but as long as I have choices I’ll choose something a lot bigger.
Thanks for the presentation Paul! It's as great and well-reasoned as I'd expect coming from you. I think what's holding 32 ACP back is the lack of market support. There aren't many pistols chambered in the caliber and some of them, as you noted in your presentation, aren't that different in size/weight of some pocket 380s. On that note, I really wish Ruger would make an LCP chambered in 32 ACP; IMO the LCP is the perfect size for a pocket pistol in 32 ACP. Even though you could get a version in 380 acp, it'd be more difficult to shoot well and Ruger can market the 32 as a lower recoiling version. But since Ruger doesn't make them, I've settled on the next best thing: the Keltec P32. From my experience, I can shoot the P32 faster and more accurately than my LCP max due to its lower recoil/muzzle flip. Also, the P32 is far easier to carry due to its lighter weight and thinner profile. Because of this, I find myself carrying the P32 more often than the LCP Max. Although the 32 acp is less effective than 380, it's a tradeoff I'm willing to make in exchange for better shot placement, faster follow-up shots and ease of carry. But everyone's circumstances vary and what's good for me may not be good for someone else.
Once, the .32 ACP was a very popular caliber choice, particularly in Europe, both military and police use. A more civilized weapon, for a more civilized time. Today, we have more and better choices, but I still like to take my 1903 Colt out to the range now and again. As Paul has said, more than once, if this is the only choice you have, then learn to use it well. It is better than what you can’t afford or get.
Purchased a Tomcat yesterday. Will add it to my summertime pocket carry rotation. Thinking I will run the Underwood solid monolithic rounds. Focus more on penetration over expansion.
Thanks for the review Paul! It was very informative as Seecamp LWS-32 owners are relegated to certain recommended 32acp ammunition, two of which are the Speer Gold Dot 60gr and the Winchester Silver Tip 60gr. Maybe one day someone will send you a new Seecamp in either .32acp or .380acp(there is debate about old Seecamps made in Milford CT vs the new Seecamps made in Southwick MA as the company was bought out in 2014 after the owner's death) for you to review.
His presentation on this subject is perfect! It's impressive how the man can be so precise and comprehensive at the same time. Thank you for the video Paul! 👍
My grandpa carried a Keltec P32 in his pocket from when he got it around 2000 until his health had declined too far around 2020. He loaded it with alternating fmj and jhp.
Wish we could compare the Extreme Defenders as well. I carried Silvertips quite a in my Tomcat and just hoped for the best shot placement if things went south. Other TH-camrs seem to be getting great results with those copper Phillips-heads! Also IMHO, 7 yards is plenty to test accuracy & effectively as any more distance is going to be a bad shoot. Thanks as always!
Thanks Paul. I had a 3032 years ago, and because of a rebate currently being offered, was considering buying another primarily because I have a few boxes of ammo for it. You talked me out of it.
This is the second .32 video where you haven't mentioned that a 3032 tomcat is really pretty big for a pocket .32, but I think your point on pocket .380s not being much bigger still stands.
Hey Paul, I just found your channel today. I’ve spent a good portion of the day watching your videos at work and at home. I love your videos. Straight to the point.I enjoy the history lessons as well as the chronograph. Thank you for taking the time to explain everything even if you have to repeat yourself from things you have said in previous videos.
Nice! I know Paul doesn’t love the Tomcat, but it’s my go to pocket carry. Relatively few choices here in California that are roster compliant. I’ve found it to reliable, controllable, and concealable.
In my County, .32 is the smallest caliber allowed for CCW. I always carry one my 9s, but added the Tomcat to my permit as a back-up. Plus it's a Beretta, so is very familiar and comfortable for me to shoot.
I'm guessing that the 32 ACP ammo would perform better in a longer barrel gun. That being said, most carry guns will have a shorter barrel as you mentioned. Some people just feel better using more "powerful" versions of a caliber even though it might not actually be an improvement. That is human nature. Thanks for another thorough test.
There are a few Military surplus .32 on the market. The Beretta 81 is an awesome gun being built on the same medium frame as their .380. But it gives you a 4" barrel.
There is an interesting article on the Buckeye firearms association entitled, An Alternate Look at Handgun Stopping Power. It was compiled from police/fbi reports. Might be worth a look.
Thank you Paul for doing this video. I have been watching your channel for many years now. I am a partially disabled 61 year old man that is very recoil sensitive. I do shoot 357mag and 38 special but with my orthopedic issues I may not have the strength to fire them in the very near future so I am always looking for reviews of smaller calibers. I do have a 22lr semiauto pistol which I really love but I could use something a little more. Thanks again.
The best .32 ACP defense load for me has been the Underwood Xtreme Defender. I've done a lot of testing on .32 ammo over the years. I feel very confident with this load even in my little Seecamp pistol.
Until 50 years ago they were common police and military guns through out Europe. Beretta, CZ, Walther almost every major gun maker made a Duty size .32 ACP. If you get one they are great shooters.
One of my first handguns was a KelTec P32. I paid $239 for it back in 2001. It was a fun gun, and stupid easy to conceal. The hardest part about owning it was finding ammo. I have not touched it other than moving it around my safe in a long time. I'd sell it, but I'd probably not get $200 for it at the best offer, so there it will sit. I have 2 P3ATs as well. They carry the same as story, except ammo has not ever really been hard to find, I just prefer my Glock 42 if .380 is the gun for the day.
I'm a .357 revolver guy. Getting older hasn't made that heavy sumbitch any lighter but I can shoot'er pretty good, got a comfortable holster, so to hell with it.
Best piece of "advice" I ever received from a "gun store commando/know-it-all" was back when the Kel Tec P-32 came out. I was determined to grab one for a "summer-swim trunks/shorts" carry piece. The dude says, "I'd recommend getting the 380 ACP version instead." I'm like, "What 380 version???" He shows me the 1st Gen P-3AT. Sold. Been my summer pocket gun since. And yes, I get that the 1st Gens had some teething issues, but my piece has been sorted out thoroughly with Wolfe springs and some aftermarket internal parts. Runs excellent with the Hornady Critical Defense stuff.
Dunno if this makes sense but Ima one of those guys tries to keep things simple (easily confused type me), & have decided to have all my, "self-defense tools" in one caliber only. In my case, 9 mil. Availability of & cost the deciding factors for me. Realizing of course different factors for different situations. Appreciate PH's insights in all things shooting still which is why I like almost a million other guys look forward to every new upload. t/y Mr H.
It's alot more awesome using European ammo. I use sellier & bellot. fmj 73g. I get 990 avg fps, with some rounds hitting 1040. 14/15 inches with the gel test. Plenty good enough to carry for me. Using walther mod4, 3.4 inch barrel.
I've long been fond of traditional .32 autos, and I have many of the classic designs which I use as street guns. I also handload it. I was quite taken for a time with the first generation Kel-Tec P32 some years ago. But then I got a chronograph. .32 ACP really suffers in a shorter barrel. The 2 5/8" P32 barrel would typically run 150-200 fps less with any load than the 3 1/2"-4" barrels of traditional .32 pocket guns. Only delivering 15 more foot pounds of muzzle energy than the .25 ACP. Eventually I went back to .25s for a truly small gun. Some calibers really drop off in velocity below a certain barrel length, and .32 ACP is one of them. The .22 Magnum also loses a lot in shorter barrels.
@Paul Harrell another fun video! Please consider doing a comparison between 9mm FMJ vs 40s&w FMJ for a “if all you had was bulk target ball ammo” scenario.
Thank you for the continued education. I have wondered if I should carry this ammunition or not? Your a master of information for my simple mind.... thank you
Hey Paul, im a huge fan and have been following you for the past 5 years. Ive learned so much from you and truly enjoy all of your videos, especially the 1986 Miami Dade video, a true gem. Im not sure if you conceal carry but if you do id love to see a video on your ccw/ammo, thanks.
Paul, another great video! I was just looking at the Beretta Tomcat the other day and was wondering about the ballistics of 32 acp. And today I see your video. How lucky.
One point that wasn't mentioned is the issue of rimlock with .32ACP ammunition, which uses a semi-rimmed case. The shorter JHP rounds have a tendency to move back and forth inside the magazine, and if the rim of the top round gets behind the rim of the round below it you'll have a nasty failure to feed that can't be cleared easily. For that reason alone I advise sticking with FMJ ammo, which has the longest overall length on average and is the least likely to move around inside the mag and suffer from rimlock.
You're absolutely right. Hollow points for anything traveling less than 850 fps at the muzzle better be in a larger diameter and presegmented. FMJ's work just fine in .32 ACP.
Depends on the firearm though. A Tomcat, absolutely. A Seecamp on the other hand, is designed around using 60 grain rounds that are ever so slightly shorter and tend to have issues with FMJ.
@@nickg4422 Yes I remember the Seecamp was specifically designed to use the Winchester Silvertips. Larry Seecamp favored that round, and also felt that nobody needed sights on a pocket pistol either. Two opinions that haven't exactly held up well over time.
Thanks Paul ! I carried my ruger 380 max today in my front pocket with 11 rounds in a Alabama holster and didn't have any problems with weight or printing and i can shoot it very well ! no reason to carry small rounds that could sacrifice your safety !
The Beretta 3032 is a bulky gun for its size. However, it is also double-action single-action. Which I appreciate. Also. The tip up barrel is soooo sexy.🐿
Thank you! Asked this question a couple months ago. Was told that 32acp fmj gave you the penetration you needed, but that fmj gave you the expansion you needed and it was a gamble on either. But at this point, yeah, fmj from here on.
Paul everytime there's a new episode up, WE DID WIN A PRIZE.
We’re out on our (RANGE) today and NO u didn’t win a prize.
Funny I haven't seen any of those "you won a prize" things in a month or two.
So, as always, don't try this at home - You're what I call an amateur.
Maybe the real prize was all the videos we watched along the way 👁️-👁️
@@amorphoussolid8512dude let that meme go……..
You just passed, and millions of people miss you. Thank you for everything you have done for the firearms community and us personally. My wife cried when you passed. She doesn’t really care about guns, but loved to watch your videos with me. Especially during Thanksgiving. Love you Paul.
Thanks for making the 32 ACP Ammunition Selection video.
I am a lady (just a disclaimer) and i love my keltec p32. Its small, thin, lightweight w/very little kick. Its so easy to carry & conceal. I have an extended magazine that holds 10 bullets! I do have to use full metal jacket ammo to prevent jams. I enjoy all your videos! You are very entertaining, & I always learn something!
Thunder Wear adds deep concealment options. Even with a 10rd magazine. Quite useful
Your choice of FMJ ammo is wise. The first concern of all, is that the bullet comes out of the muzzle when commanded. It can’t do that if it doesn’t feed.
Lucky Gunner made the point that the purpose of CCW is different than LEO or Military- a civilian needs to simply break contact with an assailant. A few rounds at close range of ANYTHING (including 22LR) will cause a large proportion of assailants to turn and seek medical attention- whereas a LEO needs to physically take the assailant into custody - and said assailant is likely to provide more of a challenge, and may require more lethal calibers like 9mm etc. most days- I carry a P32 which allows me to carry 365 days a year
Have fun with the civil lawsuits filed by the surviving assailant.
@@FullSugarBrah Lethal force does not necessarily mean the situation is neatly resolved. A hypothetical assailant's family can still sue you if a confrontation proves lethal.
I have but ONE .32 ACP. A Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless I inherited from my grandfather. I love the pistol, not so much the cartridge. I rarely carry it, but I shoot 50-100 rounds through it every year, in casual range shooting.
It is in excellent condition, not for sale, and I use it as one of my "tuxedo guns" for formal wear occasions. I load it with FMJ bullets because it is reliable with those.
Very cool.
The LTC has a 1908 colt in .25 ACP
The gun is nickel plated and has REAL ivory grips. Classic, elegant, and a lot more effective than the .45 you left at home.
@@PaulHarrell Exactly! Better than what you left behind because it was too ________
I just love how the 'meat target' is evolving. It's now a very neat package, colourful and fun to see inside even when the damage is light
Not the old simple girl and cheap date she used to be?
"for those who haven't seen it"... by now, who the heck is that? ;-)
New and improved, HI TECH!
Meat Target, Gen V
Do I own a .32ACP? No. Am I planning on acquiring a .32ACP? Nope. Am I going to watch this new Paul Harrell video? HELL YEAH!
Factual side note that I learned not long ago; European manufacture 32 ACP (7.62 Browning) ammunition is made with a case that has a slight taper on its semi rimmed cartridge, aiding in the feeding and ejection of the rounds vs the American manufacture 32 ACP ammunition. I can confirm this with a previously owned Beretta 3230 Tomcat and a Keltec P32. (I traded the Beretta for a Ruger lcp) and the ammo used was Aguila, Speer Gold Dot, Fiocci, magtech. Results; Aguila was quite dirty and made the firearms susceptible to powder fowling; Gold Dot would occasionally have rim lock hang ups; Fiocci and magtech ran flawless.
For context, my personal Tomcat was manufactured in 1999 and the P32 was manufactured in 2019.
Long story short, I recommend carry ONLY magtech or Fiocci in your 32acp pistol
Thanks Paul for the valuable information on 32 ACP, my daughter uses this caliber because she is recoil sensitive!
would .22 magnum be an option or 5.7? both have quite good modern options available
Kel Tec P32 is amazing : )
Are you talking about a compact carry pistol? I've always experienced less recoil from full-sized pistols because of the extra weight the full-size pistols have.
I carry a .32 when I go running.
@@jd9119 she keeps her gun on her person, she will not and can not carry a full sized gun.
3:28 Love the new "behind the target" perspective. I propose you add this to all future videos. 😀
The cows didn't like it. They mooed right after the target flipped.
@@craigbenz4835 I speak fluent Cowese. That was "YES" and "ALL RIGHT"
Just carry something... ANY gun is BETTER than no gun.... 👌🏻
I totally agree. Expecially if you can use something effecient
For what it's worth, In the 80's I picked up a PPK in .32acp and used the old school silver tips at 25 yds and the all stayed in the 8 ring. but I was younger then. I got similar results using a CZ 27. I'm happy with both. The PPK was a 1967 import.
Mike, in the 70' s I carried a .32acp as my DC backup (deep cover for you young guys ) and I can remember your "old school silver tips". I actually had to utilize the .32 on several occasions. Mine was a modded Browning designed semi, mfg'd by LLama which had been 'tuned up' for me by an 'alphabet' armorer to match the ammo they provided. I was instinctively accurate with it (I could routinely shred thrown cigarette packs out of the air) as the thing would almost become part of my hand when drawn-so much so, that I could literally "point and shoot" it quite dependably, even under some pretty stressful field circumstances though at closer engagement ranges than your 25.
That PPK u mention was a work of art.:) As for your CZ, well for a time, I carried a brace of 52's in a custom fitted and rather elegant Italian leather dual shoulder harness rig which turned out to be quite bearable under my duty suit jacket ( I'm a fairly big guy). Those 52's could dispatch vehicles with that machine gun tungsten ammo I was provided, not much expansion though (wink).
I have a Walther PP, CZ-50, CZ-70 and Keltec P32. I love shooting the PP and CZ-70. Very accurate pistols and low recoil, mostly because they are heavy. That light and tiny little P32 is a handful to shoot, and very hard to shoot accurately. One day I'd like to fit a suppressor on the CZ-70. I bet it would be really quiet.
@@seeratlasdtyria4584 I'm on the small side, then it was 6'4' 230, now I'm up to 330.
@@mikematusek4233 LOL, Hey big guy ! lol, I was 6'3 and around 218 or 197 or so, depending on whether I was 'heading out', or crawling back in LOL. Either way, too damned heavy for those old T-10 steerable chutes :) And OH, you still got me ;), I'm about 280 now and a LOT more 'fluffy' Rflmao. Nice to have encountered you.
My father carries his Beretta 3032. Not his primary, but a good gun. There's no doubt that they're lethal. (as this video proves also). When it comes to handguns, the difference between rounds is not even remotely as much as most people think. The bullets only cause small bullet holes and the diameter of the bullet just stretched through, so a 9mm hole is only very slightly larger than a .32ACP bullet hole in tissue. (not counting the spleen, kidneys and a couple other organs). As long as you have shot placement and penetration, not too much else makes a huge difference unless you hit vital organs... but hitting vital organs with a .32 is still devastating, even if it's not a 9mm. Same with the brain, the heart, major blood vessels, etc... (and expansion does NOTHING but stop over-penetration in any round below .45ACP). Not a .45 fan myself at all. It's a good round like all others. I think that's just the bottom of the line for causing damage outside the direct path of the bullet.
I don't even have this caliber nor do I intend to get a firearm chambered in it but I find the analysis interesting and will watch anyways. It's always great to learn something or benefit from the experience of others.
I bought an Ortgies 7.65x17mm (.32 ACP) for the history. They used to sweep pistol competition in Europe. Mine looks to be from 1922. I shot it with regular 76 gr round nose ball ammo. It was stacking rounds at 10 yards and hitting true at 25 yards. Damn it if I didn't fall in love. My Keltec P32 isn't as accurate as the Ortgies but, it's accurate enough. It gets carried nearly everywhere.
U should get a Tomcat. Very fun to shoot. And now they come w threaded barrels. Suppressor fun!!!
I'd make the same recommendation for .32 ACP that I make for .380 ACP: Underwood Xtreme Defenders. Other channels have tested them in ballistic gel and they always penetrate at least 12". The XDs don't depend on expansion, so their wound tracks are reliably good for caliber. A bonus is that they're barrier blind.
A worthy recommendation. I used to make the same ammunition suggestion for ammunition selection for .32, .380, .38, and 9mm. Get a .45. Because I bought into the Fudd rhetoric. Then I evolved. I couldn't tell you the last time I carried anything in .45. I've been carrying a .32 more than anything else over the last two years.
@@mattmarzula I love .45, but it's just not always practical to carry a big gun concealed especially in Texas summers. I personally like the M&P shield compact 9mm, but there are a lot of good choices out there in 9mm and .380. .32 is a bit light for my taste, but if that's what you'll actually keep on you it's definitely better than nothing.
Are you having any “bobbles” with the XD’s in .32? My LCP has issues with them; although I should say, it has issues with a lot of ‘carry’ ammo, especially the Buffalo Bore +p hard cast.
@@michaelcurl9197 I don't own a .32 pistol. The .380 XDs have always run flawlessly through my KelTec P3AT - no malfunctions in the 3+ years I've been using them.
@@elmateo77im also a fan of the s&w shield, though mine is in .40 so it’s a bit of a fucking pocket cannon
Ammo has not been proofed until it has passed the meat target. Thanks Paul.
I have owned several .32s over the years, and the old ones are really thin. They are great guns to use for teaching, with the old ones being all steel and there for having almost no recoil. I was always told that the .32 needed a 3 to 4 inch barrel, and dont waste your money on hollow points, that round was designed for FMJ or round nose, and thats what you should run. I have always had good luck running FMJs with a 4 inch barrel. Up until the 60s in the US, .32 was one of the most common concealed carry rounds, brought to us by St. Browning himself. Its a fun round, but if you are going to carry it, understand it's limitations. As i was always told, just like with .22 and .25, Shot placement, Shot placement, Shot placement!
About a year ago, Mr. Harrell tested a several brands of .380 ACP ammunition. Among them was the 68 grain Underwood solid Copper. Underwood also makes a .32 ACP solid Copper round, and it would be interesting to perform the same test using that ammo in both the short barrel Beretta, and a Beretta Cheetah 82BB with a longer barrel.
Love to watch your videos, great personality, good content, honesty and evaluation make them a pleasure to view.
Postcard quality backgrounds with good science as I have faith Paul will deliver.
Just here to say I appreciate all the work and thought that goes into these presentations. Thank you.
Your videos are prob the most thorough and realistic I’ve come across.
Excellent information as usual. I have a Seecamp .32 that is a pleasure to carry concealed and shoot at the range. I could never get to the level of marksmanship with this gun at 10 yards that Paul did in this video. Kudos 👏
Hi Paul, you’re probably aware of this but maybe some of your viewer are not. This is from Beretta about their 3032 Tomcat and ammunition , published 7/16/2007 and updated 10/14/2016. Quote “ with the introduction of many new high performance loads for the 32 automatic/32acp, we recommend that the designated ammunition should not exceed 130 foot pounds of muzzle energy…. If ammunition exceeding this specification must be used it should be fired on a limited basis only, excessive use may shorten the service life of the pistol’s components”. Beretta then provides a list of some suggested ammunition.
I hear what your saying Paul, I do love my Beretta 30 32.
superb presentation…. many points not found on other vids…very educational…
Oh great! A video about a caliber that I have no desire to ever own.
I will probably watch it twice though, since well, it is Paul Harrell. Thank you for the knowledge Sir.
Another hit video Paul ,thank you!
Always good to see 32! One thing I’d love to see from Paul is the new and improved high tech bullet stop versus the old one, I’m wondering if there’s enough difference to make the difference.
It’s back in his videos somewhere. Bungee cords.
You be the judge.
@@life_of_riley88 glad I found this comment. Setting up a campfire. Welcome fellow TH-cam travelers
Paul mentioned in a previous video, the "new and improved" refers to the bungee cord used to keep it from falling off the table.
I can just imagine it: Paul tests the old bullet stop against the new and improved bullet stop… I picture the portable table with a meat target “followed up by the new and improved bullet stop”. Suddenly a bundle of fleece is thrown from off-camera at the meat target and then falls and plops on the ground like a limp fish. Paul does the “autopsy” and states that the performance was “mediocre at best”, that “the difference between the two is not enough difference to make a difference, but you be the judge.” 😂
Good information. I’d like to see a presentation on .327 Federal Magnum in the future. Thanks.
Tools and Targets did some gel ballistics on .327 Fed Magnum and H&R .32 Magnum. The H&R Magnum would be about the weakest ammo I would consider for concealed carry.
As a thirty five year law enforcement veteran I wouldn’t sell the 32acp too short. I recall a number of shootings where the 32 put people down. Several were one shot kills. A greater number died at the hospital. I personally know two officers whose lives were saved by their back up 32 auto. You need sufficient barrel length and the proper cartridge like Buffalo Bore 75 grain lead flat point. It’s a plus-p load at over 1000 ft per second. Great job on your videos Paul.
Well said. The .32 was designed for a 4" barrel to wring out the max velocity. A 2.5" barrel falls short on velocity and JHPs will not expand so might as well use the commonly found 71 grain FMJ. It is 31 grains heavier than the 40 grain .22 LR and 21 grains heavier than the 50 grains .25 ACP, so it's a lot heavier and has enough more foot pounds to make a difference.
People put much too much stock in how things work in ballistics gel or the meat target.
Getting shot with a .22, .25 or a .32 is basically like being stabbed by a professional fencer with a small sword, expansion or no expansion.
@adriannenu2320 you don't want a 32 to expand you need to carry fmj
@@nelsonr1467 I am in the FMJ camp when it comes to 32, 25 and 22.
In western Europe it was the police caliber for a few decades but the loads where stronger. For example the 71gr Sellior&Bellot load is rated with 1050fps from a 4 inch barrel.
Saturday with Paul, awesome
I was discussing .32 just today, LOL. I am quite fond of it, but I have no illusions that it's any kind of powerhouse. When my arthritis was darn near unbearable, I could shoot a .32 without pain when most .380s of a similar size were quite uncomfortable. It works, just like other small calibers work, but if you want 'better' then certainly there are more powerful rounds chambered in equally small (or smaller) frames.
I happen to have a 1903 Colt .32 sitting beside me right now, although I've carried an airweight .38 all day.
The 32 ACP, out of that pistol, with that barrel length, will do just fine, as it has for well over 100 years. There are now loads from Underwood and Buffalo Bore that increase its viability even further.
And its still much better than .22lr or .25 acp.
I really love shooting the big magnum calibers, but I’m starting to have tendon issues in my hands and I can’t shoot too many rounds before my hands go numb and hurt like hell. Luckily 9mm is still tolerable but we’ll see what time brings
@@boredandagitated Years and wear have mine pretty beat up, too. LOVE my 3" .44 mag Smith but a couple cylinderfulls every now and then is about all the full house magnum shooting I can do if I wanna use my hands for anything other than decoration for days. I once shot one of those (forget the number, S&W only made 'em for a year) 10.5 ounce Scantium framed J-frames in .38 spl. I fired 5 standard pressure rounds with one hand, 5 +p rounds with the other and if the gun's owner had offered me twenty bucks, I would not have pulled the trigger again. OUCH. Cool, but ouch.
I am in the chronograph segment camp! I’ve found that all recorded and narrated aspects of the presentation are of value.
Me too !
I carry a 32 revolver but it's a 327 magnum and it will fire 32 ACP 32 short 32 long 32 H&R magnum and 327 magnum so I have a lot of choices. Great video!
You really shouldn’t shoot 32 acp in a 327 revolver.
The rim thickness difference can cause catastrophic failures
@@danielboggan2479 been doing since 2010 hundred rounds no issues except when ejecting the star will pass over the rim so you have to use gravity some- times
@@danielboggan2479 "The rim thickness difference can cause catastrophic failures"
The rim thickness difference is only 0.01" (0.045" for .32 ACP vs. 0.055" for the rest of them), which is about the thickness of 2 sheets of typical typing/printer paper. That's not enough to matter. The .32 ACP's base and neck diameter are the same as the rest of them, which is the important part (technically its neck diameter is 0.0005" smaller than the rest of them, but a difference that small is utterly meaningless, since that's smaller than the normal manufacturing tolerance variations from round to round anyway).
The only problem is that the .32 ACP is semi-rimmed, so the revolver's extractor might not consistently extract the empties, but that's not a safety-related problem. The .32 ACP has a large enough rim diameter to consistently headspace though.
My Colt 1903 .32 acp has always served me well as long as the most dangerous target was a tin can. 🙂
Paul, great review as always! I would love to see the Underwood XTREME Defender round tested (a Lehigh Defense projectile) since it is the solid copper round that doesn’t rely on expansion for increasing wound channels.
I completely agree! I carry the underwood Xtreme Defender in my P32. I’d be very curious to see Paul’s analysis of it.
The 32ACP is super fun to shoot at the range. I picked up a Beretta 81BB "police trade in" for under $300 and it shoots like it hates to miss. That said, I wouldn't carry it for CCW. I have seen videos of good results in 32 from the Lehigh Extreme Defender solid copper projectile.
I carry a .32ACP. I carry it all the time, even just taking out the trash. I often carry a larger gun mind you, but I always have the .32. It is so tinny and lite that it is hard to talk myself out of carrying it.
As for ammo, I use Sellier & Bellot 73gr FMJ. Normally for defensive loads I have either some expanding bullet, or that new screw driver tip stuff, but when I am down to .32 size, I go with FMJ. In my testing, I only got one type of .32 to expand. It was Hornady, but the penetration was junk. Everything else penetrated fine but did not expand, so if I am not expanding, I might as well go with a bit heavier. Also the S&B ammo uses the European loading of .32, which is a bit faster than US loadings, so a bit faster as well. Mine clocks in at about 850fps. All that being said, it is still weak. So the .32 I have with me is better than the 9mm I left in the car, but if I ever need it, I am throwing spit balls, and I have to keep that in mind.
What is the advantage of carrying a .32 over a .25? A .25 pistol can be even smaller and lighter, and while .32 is "more powerful", in practice I don't see the difference being significant. .32 strikes me as an unhappy medium between .25 and .380.
.380 has enough power to provide reliable hollow point expansion (with the right ammo choices), .32 doesn't. .25 doesn't but it lets you have a really compact CCW. .32s are mostly the same size as .380s.
@@rdrrr I had a .25 when I was a poor collage student. It was almost the same size as my .32. I could get a .25 that is smaller, but at that point we are getting too small for me to effectually hold and aim the weapon.
You are right. My testing indicated that .32 did not reliably expand. So I used FMJ with a slightly hot load. That would penetrate perfectly. No expansion though. Have to keep that in mind.
I have the same gun in .380. In .380, I fired two magazines and my hands were bleeding. With the .32, I got an extra round of ammo, and I fired 150 rounds before my hands were raw. Also the .380 does not lock back, and the small slide is hard for me to grasp. The .32 locks back and is easier for me to pull back the slide.
@@Jesses001 All excellent reasons to make the choice you did - shows how difficult it is to advise people, because you don't know all of the important factors in their decision-making when they purchase gear.
@@rdrrr Yes...also there have been advancements since, but I have gotten poor since then, so I can not afford to chaise the best newer options, ha.
Back in the 90's, I did a lot of testing of the .32 ACP. Back then, the typical .32 was a Walther PP or PPK sized handgun that was either a surplus pistol or one selected because it had less recoil than an equivalent blowback .380. Pistols of this size in .32 ACP have fallen out of favor, but they were quite easy to shoot with pinpoint accuracy. With the longer barrels of these guns, you might be able to get a bit of expansion with some hollowpoints. In my experience, the expansion wasn't really enough to matter.
But in the context of citizen self-defense, where the typical mission is to break contact and escape an attempted ambush, a face full of 71 grain FMJ would likely allow one to get away, and I daresay your attacker would remember you. With these larger, heavier guns, hitting a target of that size at close range was doable with a little practice. The guns were fun to shoot which encourged that practice. I never advised any of my students to seek out such guns, but if they already had one, I would show them how to use it safely, and focus on the shift in point of aim necessary if they wanted to use it for self-defense. This is no different than if you choose a .22 or .25 in that role.
The stronger european .32 loads like S&B have almost the same recoil than a .380.
If only they made .32 Walthers a bit thinner and lighter with some aluminum parts to drop the weight a few ounces. Would be a hot seller imho.
Fantastic video as always. I am honestly not surprised to see that the hollow points under performed. If you are taking requests I would love to see you cover .32 long, .32 H&R Mag, and .327 Federal Magnum.
Seconded. I love .32 H&R.
Below 9mm seems like they never do! Flat nose seems best for that style. As it’s for some odd reason deeper penetration. Probably same pen as hollow but ppl like to see the pretty hollow point makes em feel better! Consumerism
I love 32 revolvers and Speer Gold Dot is loading some seriously hot rounds in 327 Federal. 100 grains at 1600 fps.
@@jefferyboring4410 Plenty of .380 expands, and a few still meet penetration requirements.
Flat Nose penetrate better than hollow points and standard FMJ round nose due to the flat nose stabilizing the bullet. They don't veer off and tumble like the others.
9mm flat nose are good for Black Bears,
@@BB-1990 that’s not why they penetrate better. I’ve watched the ballistics gel videos. .380 rarely expands 9mm contains 5+ grains of powder 380 usually has 2.9 or so. They may expand in water but rarely in ballistics gel. A stubby 380 rd makes little difference if it tumbles it’s practically square. A flat vs round all things equal the flat or semi conical always penetrates further. Type in flat vs round and watch the tests. 380 .32 .25 and even sometimes 45 and less typically never expand as hollow point are very speed dependent. ppl buy them because they simply expect them too. Some specialty rds do like g2 rip but the vast majority do not. Watch Paul Harrells tests on them their not worth buying.
My grandfather's carry gun was a Walther PP in .32 with some kind of target sight. Not only as an "in town" gun but also in the woods. He explained to me so long ago he picked it because even though it was less powerful than .380, he could shoot it faster due to the lack of recoil and that it was more accurate. He nailed a lot of rabbits, squirrels, woodchucks, and other small game with it, and he was proof that shot placement is what keeps you alive.
My school teachers always preached "show your work." Paul Harrell did just that so we could see how he arrived at his conclusions. Thank you, sir.
The .32 ACP commercial loads were developed for older four-inch barrel "service pistols" used by European police and military as a front-line weapon in the two world wars. I find that American .32 ammo has lower velocity than European .32 but my sample size is limited to a few hundred shots over a chronograph with three .32 caliber pistols. Modern pocket .32 pistols have nearly an inch and a half less barrel length (about 65% less barrel) than the old European "battlefield weapons." This causes more muzzle flash because there's some unburned powder and lower muzzle velocities. Britain issued Walter PP in .22LR to selected government officials living in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, but the .32 would seem to have been the superior choice. Nobody asked me, and when that pistol distribution took place, I knew only a little about guns. That world has vanished and better options are available--unless a .32 is the only practical option. European nations sometimes has a caliber restriction with .32 ACP as the "most powerful" cartridge permitted--those same countries prohibit hollow-point bullets as "inhumane."
It surprises me how many of us in the US don’t realize that EU 32 auto is hotter loaded.
Don't have a .32 acp, but I do have a .327 federal magnum Ruger LCR that can technically fire .32 acp, but I don't know why you would given all the better options you can fire in that gun. My wife is pretty small and can't handle a lot of recoil. So she carries it loaded with .32 s&w long 100 grain hardcast wadcutters made by buffalo bore. Out of a 2 inch barrel, velocity is around 820 fps. So that round is a lot more powerful in energy foot pounds than any of the.32 acps that Paul tested here today. It's actually a pretty impressive round that gets 16 inches of penetration in clear ballistics gel and the wadcutter projectile makes a nastier round than an fmj would.
You nailed the problem with 32s early on for me Paul. These 69 year old eyes can't see the sights on the damn things!
Corrective lenses are a thing. I believe since the 1800s or so.
Bifocals arent the most shooter friendly things out there,
@@joshuagibson2520
I hear you, but that doesn't work too well.
@@getoffmylawn8986 I'm going to find out all too well myself. The DMV failed me on my left eye. (I'm a lefty shooter). Told me not to come back next time without corrective lenses. She said my overall vision with both eyes got me through, but that I'm "legally blind" in my left eye. I mostly shoot rifles. I can shoot a scope fine with my left, but over the last year or so, I had to learn to shoot my open sight guns right handed. It took a long time to feel natural and Instinctive, but I'm just as comfortable shooting right now as I am left. Anyhow, you'd think I'd have just went and gotten my eyes taken care of, but no, I took it to the extreme lol. Hope you can figure something out in the future. This getting old business is real.
Thanks
Fantastic overview of the mainstream micro category. Thank you.
Thank you. Very informative. From time to time I carry a ppk .32acp.
Even though the hollow points didn‘t expand, I don‘t consider these bad ammo: none of the ammo overpenetrated! And that IS a great result for self-defense ammo!
I was thinking the same thing, there are some situations where over penetration is a big consideration. Yes there are drawbacks to 32, but getting shot with anything sucks:
3:37 fantastic never before seen, behind the scene footage!
We often carry small calibers such as .22lr, .22wmr, and .25acp...we are under no illusions that these little bullets will 'stop' a drug addled 300 pound brute, but our calculation is that said brutes are rather rare in our area (and usually would have police escort quickly)...our concern is the Wal-Mart parking lot, the footpath in the city park, and similar scenarios...we don't need to blow the bad guy up, just have them stop acting bad...poking unwanted holes is still poking holes, and dissuades most folks...also, the small calibers are small, light guns much more likely to be actually carried everyday...my .45 in the safe simply does me little good day to day, whereas my Jetfire gets a lot of fresh air...
Thank you sir for this video. .32 is a favorite of mine.
I got an old S&W hand ejector from 1911 in 32 s&w long. It’s a 6 shot that’s half the size of a j frame 38 with 5 shots, so it’s a nice little compact revolver with a 4 inch barrel that fits in my pocket like a cell phone. The 32s&w long with 100 grain bullets packs a decent amount of force. It’s no dirty hairy gun but not bad either.
Good presentation as usual. As for my own take on it....
My wife is very recoil sensitive. Even a .380 M&P EZ isn't easy for her to shoot. With your videos as well as Lucky Gunner's gel testing I determined that the most power that I could give her would be .32 ACP...out of a Beretta 82 BB. 4" ish barrel and single stack for her small hands gives her 9+1. The extra barrel length should give appropriate expansion. The slightly larger overall size gives her super low recoil, excellent sight radius, and shoot-ability. I have put a box of ammo through it myself and love it. I'm also a fan of DA/SA for carry. You do have to manually decock this model or leave it on single action with frame safety like a 1911. I wish the new 80X came in .32 so that I could get her a brand new carry pistol.
Paul you have to get a Keltec P32 to fairly evaluate it against 380 and 25. I have a S&W Bodyguard 380 and my P32 is not only significantly smaller but I can conceal it in the back pocket of jeans while it's in a holster. I can hardly conceal the Bodyguard in the same pocket even if it has no holster, which is a safety issue because it has no external safety switch. I can actually keep a P32 hidden in summer clothes whereas with 9mm it's impossible and 380 is dodgy at best. If you only wear baggy clothes and you're 6'3 I'm sure this wouldn't apply but that's why I carry 32 ACP and with FMJ ammo it's been flawless with hundreds of rounds at the range.
I wonder what you find more effective, your P32 in your pocket in a pocket holster with a time to first shot of maybe 5 seconds, or your 9mm that's in it's safe at home with a time to first shot of a 30 minute drive home and back of another 30 minutes... This is my argument for many people too, especially for those that have the issue where the "printing" of their firearms is an almost certain loss of employment.
@@legallyfree2955 Agreed. I wish I could get a 9mm that's truly pocket sized but I gave up. Luckily I've never had to shoot anybody. But also the P32 carries 8 rounds whereas most 380s are 7.
@@AlexHand Well my only "tiny" firearm is a .22lr 5 shot single action revolver I cannot hit the side of a barn with. I probably should get something sized between my CZ SP01 and that some time...
When I need something really thin, lighter & smaller than my LCPII 380 I grab my KelTec P32. It's often an ankle gun for me to back up a 9mm or 40. Once in awhile I'll grab 1 of my 25 ACP Baby Brownings if I need the ultimate small handgun but the P32 gets carried much more
Thank you, Mr. Harrell.
The only part that surprised me was you were able to find that much .32ACP ammo anywhere. I haven’t had much luck it finding that much variety in my area, and I am not that far away (
crazy thing called online deliveries
Maybe a viewer sent him some for review?
It's happened before if i recall correctly
Very tough to find .32... Guess Paul won a prize....
@@rob9781 its not its just expensive like 35 dollars a box usually
@@HircineDaWolf I do see that CTD has .32 available. Usually they’re sold out.
Thank you Paul
Thanks for another great test. I guess if I ever dig Mom’s 1907 Savage out of the safe, I’ll load 71 grain FMJ. I love the old ads showing the lady of the house defending herself with “ten shots quick!” But that was a more genteel age, when anything that went bang was considered defensive.😉 I like mouse guns, but as long as I have choices I’ll choose something a lot bigger.
Hey for 1907, a double stack, automatic 32 was pretty darn high tech. Lovely little pistols those Savages.
Thanks for the presentation Paul! It's as great and well-reasoned as I'd expect coming from you.
I think what's holding 32 ACP back is the lack of market support. There aren't many pistols chambered in the caliber and some of them, as you noted in your presentation, aren't that different in size/weight of some pocket 380s. On that note, I really wish Ruger would make an LCP chambered in 32 ACP; IMO the LCP is the perfect size for a pocket pistol in 32 ACP. Even though you could get a version in 380 acp, it'd be more difficult to shoot well and Ruger can market the 32 as a lower recoiling version. But since Ruger doesn't make them, I've settled on the next best thing: the Keltec P32.
From my experience, I can shoot the P32 faster and more accurately than my LCP max due to its lower recoil/muzzle flip. Also, the P32 is far easier to carry due to its lighter weight and thinner profile. Because of this, I find myself carrying the P32 more often than the LCP Max. Although the 32 acp is less effective than 380, it's a tradeoff I'm willing to make in exchange for better shot placement, faster follow-up shots and ease of carry. But everyone's circumstances vary and what's good for me may not be good for someone else.
Once, the .32 ACP was a very popular caliber choice, particularly in Europe, both military and police use. A more civilized weapon, for a more civilized time. Today, we have more and better choices, but I still like to take my 1903 Colt out to the range now and again. As Paul has said, more than once, if this is the only choice you have, then learn to use it well. It is better than what you can’t afford or get.
Purchased a Tomcat yesterday. Will add it to my summertime pocket carry rotation. Thinking I will run the Underwood solid monolithic rounds. Focus more on penetration over expansion.
Thanks for the review Paul! It was very informative as Seecamp LWS-32 owners are relegated to certain recommended 32acp ammunition, two of which are the Speer Gold Dot 60gr and the Winchester Silver Tip 60gr. Maybe one day someone will send you a new Seecamp in either .32acp or .380acp(there is debate about old Seecamps made in Milford CT vs the new Seecamps made in Southwick MA as the company was bought out in 2014 after the owner's death) for you to review.
His presentation on this subject is perfect! It's impressive how the man can be so precise and comprehensive at the same time. Thank you for the video Paul! 👍
Man, love all the content you’ve been rolling out lately
That damn Paul is something else. Thanks brother 🤙
My grandpa carried a Keltec P32 in his pocket from when he got it around 2000 until his health had declined too far around 2020. He loaded it with alternating fmj and jhp.
I wonder if alternating FMJ and JHP rounds helped to eliminates rim lock somehow??
Another fine review, Paul. You consistently do good work.
Wish we could compare the Extreme Defenders as well. I carried Silvertips quite a in my Tomcat and just hoped for the best shot placement if things went south. Other TH-camrs seem to be getting great results with those copper Phillips-heads!
Also IMHO, 7 yards is plenty to test accuracy & effectively as any more distance is going to be a bad shoot.
Thanks as always!
Thanks Paul. I had a 3032 years ago, and because of a rebate currently being offered, was considering buying another primarily because I have a few boxes of ammo for it. You talked me out of it.
This is the second .32 video where you haven't mentioned that a 3032 tomcat is really pretty big for a pocket .32, but I think your point on pocket .380s not being much bigger still stands.
Hey Paul, I just found your channel today. I’ve spent a good portion of the day watching your videos at work and at home. I love your videos. Straight to the point.I enjoy the history lessons as well as the chronograph. Thank you for taking the time to explain everything even if you have to repeat yourself from things you have said in previous videos.
Always informative and interesting content. Thank you.
Thank you for making it over /threw your crony very good job bless you
Nice! I know Paul doesn’t love the Tomcat, but it’s my go to pocket carry. Relatively few choices here in California that are roster compliant. I’ve found it to reliable, controllable, and concealable.
In my County, .32 is the smallest caliber allowed for CCW. I always carry one my 9s, but added the Tomcat to my permit as a back-up. Plus it's a Beretta, so is very familiar and comfortable for me to shoot.
@@mattcavanaugh6082
Which country?
My Brother has one and I was surprised at how accurate it is. Nice gun might need to get one.
really appreciate integrity,
you are a shining example
I'm guessing that the 32 ACP ammo would perform better in a longer barrel gun.
That being said, most carry guns will have a shorter barrel as you mentioned.
Some people just feel better using more "powerful" versions of a caliber even though it might not actually be an improvement.
That is human nature.
Thanks for another thorough test.
There are a few Military surplus .32 on the market. The Beretta 81 is an awesome gun being built on the same medium frame as their .380. But it gives you a 4" barrel.
Great video, Paul. Much appreciated.
There is an interesting article on the Buckeye firearms association entitled, An Alternate Look at Handgun Stopping Power. It was compiled from police/fbi reports. Might be worth a look.
Thank you Paul for doing this video. I have been watching your channel for many years now. I am a partially disabled 61 year old man that is very recoil sensitive. I do shoot 357mag and 38 special but with my orthopedic issues I may not have the strength to fire them in the very near future so I am always looking for reviews of smaller calibers. I do have a 22lr semiauto pistol which I really love but I could use something a little more. Thanks again.
The best .32 ACP defense load for me has been the Underwood Xtreme Defender. I've done a lot of testing on .32 ammo over the years. I feel very confident with this load even in my little Seecamp pistol.
I don't want to get shot by it. I'm sure anyone attacking you will agree.
Underwood Xtreme Defender works great in any caliber. For the cost it should.
I’d rather not break my pistol test firing it to make sure it feeds. Just carry FMJ with a .32
@@macriggland6526 Which won't work properly in a Seecamp.
@@mac11380 Exactly.
love your videos, very comprehensive and u are very knowledgeable
Thank you & the crew for for the presentation. I'm guessing most pistols in .32 were intended to be "gentleman's pistols."
Until 50 years ago they were common police and military guns through out Europe. Beretta, CZ, Walther almost every major gun maker made a Duty size .32 ACP. If you get one they are great shooters.
Now it's a weekend! Thanks PH!
One of my first handguns was a KelTec P32. I paid $239 for it back in 2001. It was a fun gun, and stupid easy to conceal. The hardest part about owning it was finding ammo. I have not touched it other than moving it around my safe in a long time. I'd sell it, but I'd probably not get $200 for it at the best offer, so there it will sit. I have 2 P3ATs as well. They carry the same as story, except ammo has not ever really been hard to find, I just prefer my Glock 42 if .380 is the gun for the day.
I have seen all your videos, so I pretty much know the format you’ll use, but still appreciated the overview at the beginning.
I'm a .357 revolver guy. Getting older hasn't made that heavy sumbitch any lighter but I can shoot'er pretty good, got a comfortable holster, so to hell with it.
Best piece of "advice" I ever received from a "gun store commando/know-it-all" was back when the Kel Tec P-32 came out. I was determined to grab one for a "summer-swim trunks/shorts" carry piece. The dude says, "I'd recommend getting the 380 ACP version instead." I'm like, "What 380 version???" He shows me the 1st Gen P-3AT. Sold. Been my summer pocket gun since. And yes, I get that the 1st Gens had some teething issues, but my piece has been sorted out thoroughly with Wolfe springs and some aftermarket internal parts. Runs excellent with the Hornady Critical Defense stuff.
Dunno if this makes sense but Ima one of those guys tries to keep things simple (easily confused type me), & have decided to have all my, "self-defense tools" in one caliber only. In my case, 9 mil. Availability of & cost the deciding factors for me. Realizing of course different factors for different situations.
Appreciate PH's insights in all things shooting still which is why I like almost a million other guys look forward to every new upload. t/y Mr H.
Outstanding AF, thanks for the info Paul and crew!
.32 is an awesome round.
I have a beretta cheetah that is by far my most accurate and favorite pistol.
Good on ya! My favorite as well.
It's alot more awesome using European ammo. I use sellier & bellot. fmj 73g. I get 990 avg fps, with some rounds hitting 1040. 14/15 inches with the gel test. Plenty good enough to carry for me. Using walther mod4, 3.4 inch barrel.
I've long been fond of traditional .32 autos, and I have many of the classic designs which I use as street guns. I also handload it. I was quite taken for a time with the first generation Kel-Tec P32 some years ago. But then I got a chronograph. .32 ACP really suffers in a shorter barrel. The 2 5/8" P32 barrel would typically run 150-200 fps less with any load than the 3 1/2"-4" barrels of traditional .32 pocket guns. Only delivering 15 more foot pounds of muzzle energy than the .25 ACP. Eventually I went back to .25s for a truly small gun. Some calibers really drop off in velocity below a certain barrel length, and .32 ACP is one of them. The .22 Magnum also loses a lot in shorter barrels.
@Paul Harrell another fun video! Please consider doing a comparison between 9mm FMJ vs 40s&w FMJ for a “if all you had was bulk target ball ammo” scenario.
I'd like this too I want to see if the truncated cone does better than round nose.
Thank you for the continued education. I have wondered if I should carry this ammunition or not? Your a master of information for my simple mind.... thank you
Hey Paul, im a huge fan and have been following you for the past 5 years. Ive learned so much from you and truly enjoy all of your videos, especially the 1986 Miami Dade video, a true gem. Im not sure if you conceal carry but if you do id love to see a video on your ccw/ammo, thanks.
You sure you've been watching for 5 years?
@@MrNexor-cj8gs 4/5 years. Yeah im pretty sure, been following Paul a long time. Did i miss the video on that?
@@MrNexor-cj8gs was around for the Caleb debacle too, i feel like that had to be at least 3 years ago now
I know he's talked about it from time to time, but I don't remember which videos. Maybe some of his older stuff.
@@chubbycatfish4573 i know he always rocking the 92 but if hes ever talked about conceal carry I definitely missed that. Thank you sir
Paul, another great video! I was just looking at the Beretta Tomcat the other day and was wondering about the ballistics of 32 acp. And today I see your video. How lucky.
One point that wasn't mentioned is the issue of rimlock with .32ACP ammunition, which uses a semi-rimmed case. The shorter JHP rounds have a tendency to move back and forth inside the magazine, and if the rim of the top round gets behind the rim of the round below it you'll have a nasty failure to feed that can't be cleared easily. For that reason alone I advise sticking with FMJ ammo, which has the longest overall length on average and is the least likely to move around inside the mag and suffer from rimlock.
You're absolutely right. Hollow points for anything traveling less than 850 fps at the muzzle better be in a larger diameter and presegmented. FMJ's work just fine in .32 ACP.
Depends on the firearm though. A Tomcat, absolutely. A Seecamp on the other hand, is designed around using 60 grain rounds that are ever so slightly shorter and tend to have issues with FMJ.
@@nickg4422 Yes I remember the Seecamp was specifically designed to use the Winchester Silvertips. Larry Seecamp favored that round, and also felt that nobody needed sights on a pocket pistol either. Two opinions that haven't exactly held up well over time.
@@DK-gy7ll Well at the ranges the Seecamp was designed to be used, bad breath to 3 yards or so, he had a point that still stands today.
Thanks Paul ! I carried my ruger 380 max today in my front pocket with 11 rounds in a Alabama holster and didn't have any problems with weight or printing and i can shoot it very well ! no reason to carry small rounds that could sacrifice your safety !
The Beretta 3032 is a bulky gun for its size. However, it is also double-action single-action. Which I appreciate.
Also. The tip up barrel is soooo sexy.🐿
It is also much easier to shoot accurately than other pocket pistols.
I carry the keltec p32 as a daily, the 3032 with the walnut grips is church and dances fancy. Stick a can on it and be library quiet. Too much fun.
Thank you! Asked this question a couple months ago. Was told that 32acp fmj gave you the penetration you needed, but that fmj gave you the expansion you needed and it was a gamble on either. But at this point, yeah, fmj from here on.