.32ACP or .380ACP for personal defence handgun?

Question

I own a .45 acp and i know that my gun will knock some one on their butt and i know a 32 or 380 will not but my question is which one has better and more effective stopping power?

Answer 1

Quick answer, the .380 acp. However a .32 auto loaded with good defensive ammo will have more stopping power than a .380 acp with ball ammo or even a .38 Special with 158 grain lead bullets.

In these smaller calibers ammo is everything. Use the best defensive ammo you can find. Silvertips work well in my Beretta 3032 Tomcat .32 auto and Hydra-shok in my .380 acp.

H

Answer 2

The .380 ACP. It throws heavier, faster, larger-diameter bullets than the .32 ACP. While it isn't as efficient (only 30% to 50% more KE than hot-loaded European offerings in .32 ACP,) it does have a distinct edge. This is fairly important, considering the hit-and-miss performance of hollowpoints in these calibers (if expansion fails, a 9mm hole beats a 7.62mm hole.) Not to mention there are a number of guns chambered in .32 ACP that you can also pick up in .380 ACP, somewhat negating the advantage .32 ACP might have in concealability.

Answer 3

Like the other responders, I say .380. But I cannot believe that someone stated that .45 will not overpenetrate. BALONEY. If you plan on using a .45 in the home for self-defense, better use a Glaser, Magsafe, or the lightest hollowpoint. A 150GR LRN .38SPL will shoot through a person if they are skinny. the .380 and .32 are really ccw options that give you the ability to use very small "palm-sized" guns.
Do not dismiss them for they do have a useful purpose. The .25ACP is the "don't go there" round.

Answer 4

The .380ACP is really just a 9mm short. It is FAR more effective than a .32ACP. Get a gun that will handle P++ loads and you can have a small, but effective pistol. I understand Bersa makes an expensive .380ACP (less than $300) which got good reviews in a gun digest I recently bought.

Answer 5

I'll pick the .380 over the .32. It's also good if recoil is an issue or if you need a gun that your wife can handle or something. The .45 would be the first gun I pick up though.

Answer 6

Just keep with your 45. If it's too big, look at a compact. I have a Bersa Ultra Compact 45 , which is great for weight and size. But to answer your question, .380 over a .32
If you want a great gun for your wife that's not complicated, get her a nice .38 snubby.

Answer 7

well if you have a .45 then i have no idea why you would even consider either of these handguns the .45 is a heavy hitting round that does not over penetrate which is good in home defense since your less likely to send a round through a wall and hit your loved ones so with that being said i personally would not use either i think they are useless rounds but if you must the .380 is the no brainer between the two of them...

Answer 8

The .32 acp from a pocket gun will go thru 4 layers of denim and penetrate 14 inches in balistic gel. I have two .32 acp pistols and can hit head or chest shots from 3 to 30 feet with both. Also with very light recoil you can get follow up shots off fast.

Answer 9

.380 ACP does, hands down. It is a much better choice than .32 ACP.

Answer 10

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