Originally Posted by USAFgsm

So what makes the .32 the "ideal pocket gun round"? The fact that it has been around longer?

The .380 is a shortened 9mm (I could be wrong, but I think that's the case). So if you're gonna get a .380, then you might as well go with a 9mm, and a 9mm isn't really suited for a pocket gun. .32 on the other hand is really designed for a pocket gun, small and compact little round, I believe that was what it was originally produced for too.

Again, I could be wrong, that's just info I've picked up on over the years, not sure if it's true, feel free to correct me on it.

Bottom line what ever you get CARRY IT!

I voted for the 32 because I carry a Kel Tec P32. But I think you would be better served with a 380.

I carry a P32, for one its a proven gun with better revision history, two its cheap, three i can put 3 rounds within a 1 in grouping at 15ft.

Bobby

Ofcourse in the world of SD you have the argument of able to kill and able to stop..Logic tells you that the bigger the wound cavity and it's ability to reach vital things versus smaller wounds or less penatration, the bigger deeper is gonna win out in stopping the BG...Then you have the pyschological affect of being shot...You could hit someone with a 22 in the gut or chest and they think "holy smokes, I have been shot. This person has a gun and is gonna kill me" and the person could fall down to the ground or runaway in fear of dying...and you could hit someone COM with .45 acp and they may not immediately stop.....But the odds are with physically being able to stop, bigger deeper wins out..

If ballistics show that a bullet is not going to be able to reach critical organs from a given round, then you have to hope that the psychological part does stop the BG...In the end actually carrying what you have and being able to shoot what you hit where you need to hit is more critical than realizing that your .44 mag is at home in your dresser drawer..

Given the choice here, I would probably opt for the .380 over the .32

USAFgsm - 32 was the perfect pocket gun "back in the day"
not now
I still have the 1981(?) article on seecamp trying to do a .380 based on their successful 32 - that was 27 years ago! now with modern computer technology kel-tec and now ruger have good .380's
look at the size of the pocket beretta 22, keltec 32 and 380
http://www.smallestguns.com/
they are not that much different in size or weight
so if they are almost the same size and weight then go with the 380.
If you have over $1100 then a Rohrbaugh in 9mm is about the size of a 380!!
now where did the 380 come from? As I understand it (correct me if i am wrong) - in Europe citizens used to not be able to own a military caliber for personnal use - thus the "9mm Kurtz" came into being and then sometime along the way became the .380ACP

Last spring, I purchased a FEG AP-FN in 32 acp, (looks like a "PP"). A couple of months ago I purchased an old Beretta 84 in .380 acp.
The FEG is for sale..... Guess which way I voted.

.380 was my choice, but only as a BUG. I wouldn't mind having the Sig P238 or Ruger LCP as a BUG, but not as primary carry. I will stay with .40 cal as primary.

Hi I'm new here, but with the small 9mms that are out now and 380s even small why in the world would you possably trust your life to a 32, my own paper test's at home found the 32 is not even in the running for a serious concealed carry gun, ( I side stack newspaper or magazines and shoot them, a 25 go's in about 2.5 in, a 22 3.5, a 32 about between the two, a 380 6 to 8 inches, a 9mm, 10 to 12 inches 38 special just a bit further than the 9mm, a 357 mag 12 to 15 inches, 40, about the same as the 357, 454 Casull went thru 24inches of paper and thru one side of a block wall, all these test's were backyard stuff and the paper was dry, but I am saying this cause while the little guns are small and conveniant, you better be a dam good shot to stop somebody with one and when there needed most thats not a easy thing to do

Another vote for going 9mm at the very minimum.

I just purchased a used smith&wesson 432 PD airweight .32 magnum revolver. I don't know if this thread specified .32 acp or not. The .32 magnum is more powerful than .380 by a small margin from what I've read. I trust it as a defense round. It's a good pocket gun. I usually carry an lcp though. I like whatever caliber happens to be in my pocket. The new sig 238 .380 really has my attention. I might get one.

This is very very simple...

The best pocket gun = THE ONE YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT SHOOTING.

My CCW instructor and competition shooter has carried since it was legal in our state. He was the first person in my county to have a ccw. He has over 30 handguns that he purchased for ccw. He only uses one. He carries a .357 revovler on his ankle, and carries .38's in it. Why you ask? Because if its not comfortable, you will eventually get tired of wearing it, and at that point it doesn't matter what kind it is.

His revolver weighs 12 ounces empty and you can barely feel its weight on the ankle. The point is that if you are not comfortable with what you have, it doesn't matter which caliber is better. Both are legitimate rounds that many people carry. My wife doesn't particularly care for the .380 so we will probably be looking at the 32 for her.

I have a Ruger 327 sp101 with a Simply Rugged Holster and harness system that I will put up against any 380 cal. The 327 is one awsom cal even loading it with 32 H&R mag shell I would still not be under gunned.
I would take a 9mm over 380 any day or even a E. German- Makarov I would still take over the 380. 380 cost toooo much ammo wise for one thing. Any cal will kill it all goes back to shot placement.

Originally Posted by DaveShooter

I have a Ruger 327 sp101 with a Simply Rugged Holster and harness system that I will put up against any 380 cal. The 327 is one awsom cal even loading it with 32 H&R mag shell I would still not be under gunned.
I would take a 9mm over 380 any day or even a E. German- Makarov I would still take over the 380. 380 cost toooo much ammo wise for one thing. Any cal will kill it all goes back to shot placement.

I almost bought a Ruger sp101 .327 before I bought my S&W 32 magnum. In the time since I've bought it. I've been able to locate only 2 boxes of .32 mag ammo. And they're not even hollowpoint. I can't imagine how difficult .327 ammo is to find. Oh well, for some reason .32 s&W and .32 long is available everywhere. As big a fan as I am of the .32 mag, I'd like to shoot a .327 mag someday.

I voted for .380 only because 9mm was not an option.

.380 or bigger for me.

For years the .32 was used by European police and it was also used in more than one Army. Many people have been killed by the .32 acp. A double tap of .32 in center mass is nothing to laugh about. I carry a Bersa Thunder .32 at times and also a Thunder .380 at times. I trust them both.

this thread is so old the present day question for pocket carry is
380 or 9mm?
pocket 9mms are Sig p290, Kahr CM9, Kimber Solo, Beretta Nano, Sig 938

I would take a 9mm over the .380. Or a 340PD over either.

But the Kel-tec in .32 has a place in the world. It is less than 7 ounces. Nothing else comes close.