380/32 Comparison

In the real world, there isn't much difference in .32 and .380 (or .25!)

Knives only work at contact distance. Any of the above calibers will work from much further away.
 
The point of the smaller gun is more comfort in carry.

The OP mentioned he had a PM9 - yet the CW380 is yet to be mentioned as a lighter weight smaller gun.

Compared to the LCP:
It's the same size package overall.
It's within a fraction of an ounce in unloaded weight.
Same magazine capacity but a Plus 1 kit is available.
It uses a Browning style ramp lock up, making it pleasant to shoot.
Kahr trigger at 6 pounds and easy to pull, plus it's the same as a Glock 19 in travel, ie not that long.
It has a slide hold open designed to be used to chamber the first round in the mag, which means NOT having to rack it against a loaded mag column.

I had a first gen LCP and shooting it was no joy. The Kahr is something you can and have fun doing it. More practice with it means more ability and confidence when you need it, vs a gun you never want to practice with, with nasty recoil, and is hard to reload.

I've got a simple test you can perform if the mags are available - load up one round each LCP vs Kahr and space them out on a table. Shoot for time and accuracy loading each one in sequence and let the better gun be your choice.

The LCP takes longer to load racking the slide each time and the sights aren't all that. The Kahr will usually be easier, faster, and more accurate because you can take a bit longer to squeeze off a better shot. If you plan to carry a second magazine then it has importance.

LCP's are certainly less expensive but you get what you pay for.
 
Bill, I have to disagree. The ..25, .32, and.380 are not all equal.

.380 has about twice the mass, over 200 fps increase, probably double expanded diameter, and probably, possibly far deeper penetration. The .25, according to history, was created to be equal to the .22 lr, but in a far more reliable form; center fire and jacketed with a profile that would feed in a pocket semiautomatic.

The guy who made the seecamp said right up front that the .32 was incapable of serious damage and that his pistol was impossible to fire accurately at any range beyond a few yards because it had no sights. He said "this isn't meant to be a combat gun, it's a close in last resort gun. Your supposed to stick it in the other guy's face and pull the trigger." (Not his exact words, except for that last sentence.)

If you look at the.380,it's the same bore size as the luger. It's only 20 grains lighter, and 300 fps, give or take, slower. There is no question that the 9mm is a very effective combat weapon within its limitations. The .380 is even identical to the makarov, and God knows how many people have been killed with that round.
 
Over the years, I remember reading a number of articles that more or less back up Bills thoughts. At least in regards to the .32's/.380's. The police in Europe used them for a good long time and seemed to have faith in them. Not that Im really using that as an endorsement. They have different ideas on a few things.


Contrary to Larry Seecamps supposed comment (first Ive heard it anyway), At realistic ranges, the Seecamps do quite well, even without sights. I have no troubles making "good" hits on photo silhouette targets, even at 15 yards. Not that Id want that to be my only gun and the distance of choice with it.

I agree, all these "little" guns, are basically "third line" last ditch guns, meant for use at basically contact distance. Any more, except on rare occasions, Ive replaced mine with a good fixed blade knife, simply because, at those distances, I believe it will be more effective and useful.

Its kind of a moot point though too, as if Im down to that, Im already in a world of hurt, as Id already have gone through 61 rounds of 9mm. :o
 
The "little" guns are gentlemen's guns-meant to be discreetly carried at all times. They aren't combat weapons, and most of us aren't going into combat-except maybe AK103k;).
 
Having a Kahr, I'm surprised you didn't list the P380 or CW380. My P380 is very comparable size-wise to my LCP and much easier to shoot with accuracy.
 
His comment was made in an article about the crazed frenzy of people fighting to get one of his guns, and the widespread belief that the .32 silvertip was a highly effective combat load. He was remarking on a number of things, including his decisions to leave off sights,for reasons of simplicity, weight, and to avoid hangups on the draw. He was actually surprised at how it had been embraced.

The question, I believe, still comes back to one point. If a .380 can be found that is just as reliable, just as small, far more powerful and capable of far more damage, what reason is there for using a .32?

Using the decision of the masses is generally a bad idea; I believe that the masses are incapable of making good decisions on their own and they listen to what they are told by the authorities. The masses even buy microwave pancakes! In this case, the masses have embraced the 9 mm bore pistol to the point that it's even the standard round of NATO, and the .380,in principle, was the standard of the commie nations.

Choose whichever you want, but there are lots of reasons to avoid .32.one of the most important of these reasons, imo, is that you need to use up a lot of ammo training with a pocket pistol, and .380 is easier to find and significantly cheaper.
 
and most of us aren't going into combat-except maybe AK103k
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Hey, if its going to be combat, at least Im ready. :D

I "discreetly" carry a full size AND a back up. ;)

Not sure what you might think its going to be though. Somehow I dont think theres going to be anything "gentlemanly" in there.

At least there wont be on my end. I wrap my pinkie under the mag on my "little" guns, if and when I might get down to them. :p
 
There is nothing of the gentlemen about me when carrying on some occasions.in fact, hanging it in my butt cheeks or next to my schvaltz is rather uncouth. At one point I dropped the .380 into the waistband of my skivvies to go to the door late in the evening.

My wife told me to never, ever ask her to hold that gun again. I am obviously referring to the pistol.
 
If a .380 can be found that is just as reliable, just as small, far more powerful and capable of far more damage, what reason is there for using a .32?
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I would say, in the smaller guns like the Seecamps, shootability. Seecamp makes a .380, thats basically the same size as the .32, and from what Ive heard from their owners, are quite brutal to shoot. That tends to lead to not practicing with them, which leads to not not really being effective with them.

And again, from what Ive read, there really isnt a "far more" difference between the two, in real world use.

Choose whichever you want, but there are lots of reasons to avoid .32.one of the most important of these reasons, imo, is that you need to use up a lot of ammo training with a pocket pistol, and .380 is easier to find and significantly cheaper.
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Oh, believe me, I do. Its why I carry a full size and a back up, both of which are 9mm. My 26 replaced the Seecamp and my J frames.

I absolutely agree on the practice too, and its with all of them, and using ammo equal to what you would carry in them. Reloading is usually the only way to afford doing that too. And in reality, I think its safe to say, most dont practice (and by practice, I mean "realistically") enough, and especially with the little guns.
 
I can dump all seven rounds in center mass in a couple seconds. Big deal, right? Setting two each in t three assailants ain't the same. So you are undeniably correct that a couple magazines fired at a paper plate once or twice a year is kinda dumb. I have known people who bought purse guns and never fired them. Even now, there is only one range in town that is accessible to the public at $15 per day, iirc. Not very many people even know about it.
 
$15 per day is not bad, as for the gun selection I carry a NAA 32acp while at work because its the smallest gun I have that feeds reliable and I can shoot it well and again is great for work. I would like to test a Ruger LCP and the Kahr 380, friends have both guns and like them very much so I may move up to one of them but in the end I believe its better to have a small mouse gun than no gun at all. I also believe if you cant hit where your aiming then what good is it? Good luck with your selection.
 
.32 costs about the same as .380.
.32 recoils much less, recovery is much quicker.
.32 has higher capacity, generally.
Some .32s are smaller than their .380 counterparts.

With a CNS shot, a .32 works as well as any caliber. With ANY other shot, no handgun can be relied upon for a stop.
 
I shot a P3AT and a P32 at the same time, ten rounds through each, and the recoil on the 380 was kinda nasty compared to the .32. And the lack of slide lock on an empty mag was a non-starter for me. So I bought the P32 and carry it most every day. It's so light and small I forget it's even there sometimes.

He said "this isn't meant to be a combat gun, it's a close in last resort gun. Your supposed to stick it in the other guy's face and pull the trigger."
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I only carry for close in, last resort, when I can't escape or talk my way out of a violent confrontation situations. My P32 is plenty accurate out to 10-12 yards, but it's still an arm's length weapon. Some folks leave the house every day armed for combat, and that's great for them. I just ain't one of them.
 
My P-32 is lighter than my P3AT KelTec . Has way less recoil holds 1 more round. Very accurate with a little practice . Has become my carry KelTec if want a pocket carry. 32 or 380 Seecamp hurt to fire any amount of ammo say 50 to 100 rounds.

Best 380 soft recoil I have is my 2 Colt Mustangs My PPK/s hurts my hand
 
naa guardian 32acp here: solid, reliable, small, heavy (absorbs recoil). ruger lcp 380 was no fun to shoot=little practice=inaccurate=worthless as ccw. a lcp 32acp could be a winning combination.


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If you want a superior .380, just find a nice Browning 1910 and be done with it. No sights to snag, no square or sharp corners, and triple safeties that allow you to carry a round in the chamber even tho it's SAO.

An added bonus is that you can switch calibres by merely swapping the barrels.
 
380

What feels natural in your hand?

My daughter absolutely loves her PPK 380.

I carry a High Standard 22 mag o/u derringer when small is necessary.
 
I can start off by saying i carry a .380 or 9mm on a daily basis, the pistols are totally reliable, accurate and easy in the recoil dept. As i like so many different weapons i tend to change often and can manulipate the controls without serious thought. My favorites are: Sig P 238, P239, G 42, Kimber Micro, Colt Mustang, S&W Shield and Star DK.
Quite honestly i would carry any of these pistols with no less confidence if they would chamber them in .32 ACP but that apparently will not happen. Back when i was in L.E. (Only 40 years) my choices normally were 9 mm or 40 S&W as I did not wear a uniform for much of my career i could also carry a .380 ( I wrote the firearms regulations) but drew the line there or guys would show up with a sling shot, 454 Causul or a percussion pistol.
Lastly i should offer these words which by no means are original: "Any pistol is better than none if needed to save your butt".
 
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