.380 acp or .32 H&R Magnum?

J

JERRYS.

New member
I've realized that I have a complimentary semiauto/revolver situation.

all things being stock, a G42 and a LCR .327 loaded with .32 mag each gives 6 rounds of practically equal ballistics, weight and size. the trigger on my LCR .327 is noticeably better than on my LCR .22lr. the G42 is typical Glock trigger, good in my book. there are obvious advantages of each; faster reloading with the semiauto vs. the revolver not being ammo or grip sensitive like a semiauto.

this isn't a what do I do thread, the LCR is for my daughter because she shoots just enough to be familiar and safe with a revolver. however, looking at the ballistics I mentioned above, I can see how this might be a tough choice for a person fairly versed in various handguns but recoil sensitive.

just a few random thought. that's it.
 
I asked about .380 vs .327 a long time ago (a bit after the LCR came out in .327) and it was a tough choice then, but I think with time the LCR in .32 Mag or Federal Mag is the way to go. Revolvers are just capable of being shot more accurately than the tiny semi pistols.

The big one for me though is effect. .380 defense ammo, even the premium stuff, is still trash in 2019. The only effective .380 ammo is non-expanding ammo and that means weak FMJ, expensive solid copper stuff, or Inceptor, which while it's my preferred .380 ammo, it's still a mystery.

The .32 Mag/.327 is not a mystery: they use hollow points that have the same weight as a .380, sometimes more weight, they are faster bullets, and they are a smaller diameter, which increases sectional density and that means they will penetrate to depths needed to stop a threat and not over expand or fail to expand.

Everything on paper says the .32 LCR, but once we factor reloading in... that's where it gets fuzzy. Is it better to have a pistol that you can reload quickly with weaker projectiles or a revolver that you will reload slower, but have more effective results?

If most defensive situations end in less than 3 shots, it doesn't matter, the LCR is better. If it's a situation like a mass shooting, your already at a disadvantage and it doesn't matter what gun you have.
 
I think in a small handgun, the ability to load more than the 5-6 rounds of a revolver, is an advantage. I have +1, +2 and +4 magazine extensions for my G42...
Plus .380 anything is cheaper than .32, yes? If ya like to shoot it a lot.
.380 defense ammo, even the premium stuff, is still trash in 2019.
Click to expand...

Really? I know there is nothing ‘out there’ but gel tests, but stuff like G9 or Lehigh Xtreme Defender ‘tests’ really well...and not on just Lehigh’s web site.
 
I have a Glock 42 and a Ruger LCRX in .327. I agree with JERRYS, they seem to be very close in terms of performance. The differences already mentioned - faster reload for the .380, cheaper practice ammo for the .380 - are significant, but for me there are two other considerations.

I carry the revolver more because I almost always pocket carry and the double action trigger on the revolver seems a safer option for that. I can also get a better grip on the revolver's butt than on the Glock's when drawing from my pocket.

(There has been lots of discussion about whether those two guns are small enough for pockets, and I can assure anyone that for me and my pockets, they are.)

I buy Fiocchi .32 S&W Long ammo for 32 cents/round. That's still more expensive than .380, but it lowers the price for practice with the Ruger a little.
 
JERRYS. said:
I've realized that I have a complimentary semiauto/revolver situation.

all things being stock, a G42 and a LCR .327 loaded with .32 mag each gives 6 rounds of practically equal ballistics, weight and size. the trigger on my LCR .327 is noticeably better than on my LCR .22lr. the G42 is typical Glock trigger, good in my book. there are obvious advantages of each; faster reloading with the semiauto vs. the revolver not being ammo or grip sensitive like a semiauto.

this isn't a what do I do thread, the LCR is for my daughter because she shoots just enough to be familiar and safe with a revolver. however, looking at the ballistics I mentioned above, I can see how this might be a tough choice for a person fairly versed in various handguns but recoil sensitive.

just a few random thought. that's it.
Click to expand...

Ehhh. "Either?" I like and carry revolvers, but the .327 is a bit more of an "oddball" than .380. IMHO&YMMV.
 
What does your daughter think? Has she shot both of them side by side? I thought the advantage went to the 327 power wise? But at the cost of severe muzzle blast. Even the 32 mag has a sharp report.

I just bought a Taurus TCP in 380. Its the only 380 I own. I like the gun but its a handful to shoot. But I can carry it about anywhere because of the small size and how flat it is. I also have a S&W model 431PD 32 mag. I really like that gun. It weighs 15oz loaded. Just a little heavier than the loaded Taurus.

Either one makes a great carry gun. I don't worry about a reload. In 6 shots its either over or I am in over my head.:(
 
USNRet93 said:
I think in a small handgun, the ability to load more than the 5-6 rounds of a revolver, is an advantage. I have +1, +2 and +4 magazine extensions for my G42...
Plus .380 anything is cheaper than .32, yes? If ya like to shoot it a lot.


Really? I know there is nothing ‘out there’ but gel tests, but stuff like G9 or Lehigh Xtreme Defender ‘tests’ really well...and not on just Lehigh’s web site.
Click to expand...
And I brought up the Lehigh and other brand ammo that are designed not to expand and those are still a mystery as to their real world effect. We can surmise that due to their design they will do more damage than an FMJ and penetrate better than a JHP, but we still don't know; it is a known unknown.

As for shooting a small pocket gun a lot, I don't for .380 because the recoil makes my hand shake after 20 rounds. A .32 revolver? I can shoot that all day and thankfully .32 S&W Long is not terribly expensive.

A longer magazine is great for reloading, but it's unlikely you'd need to reload as it's unlikely you'd have to shoot more than a few times.
 
ratshooter said:
What does your daughter think? Has she shot both of them side by side? I thought the advantage went to the 327 power wise? But at the cost of severe muzzle blast. Even the 32 mag has a sharp report.

I just bought a Taurus TCP in 380. Its the only 380 I own. I like the gun but its a handful to shoot. But I can carry it about anywhere because of the small size and how flat it is. I also have a S&W model 431PD 32 mag. I really like that gun. It weighs 15oz loaded. Just a little heavier than the loaded Taurus.

Either one makes a great carry gun. I don't worry about a reload. In 6 shots its either over or I am in over my head.:(
Click to expand...
as stated in my opening the LCR would be loaded with .32 mag, not .327 mag, so the ballistics (bullet weight and velocity) will be about the same with the best rounds for each. my daughter likes both guns, but she isn't dedicated enough for a semiauto such as field stripping, cleaning, clearing a malfunction, loading magazines, tap rack bang et cetera.... she just likes to shoot, so the revolver is the way to go.
 
And I brought up the Lehigh and other brand ammo that are designed not to expand and those are still a mystery as to their real world effect. We can surmise that due to their design they will do more damage than an FMJ and penetrate better than a JHP, but we still don't know; it is a known unknown.
Click to expand...

Well, of course BUT these 2 types of ammo HAVE been tested head to head with other .380 ammo that DOES have real world results and the 'tests' show Lehigh-type performs better in these head to head tests, particularly when shooting a short barrel HG thru layers of clothes. JHP clogs and 'over' penetrates, small wound channel..like a FMJ. Lehigh type, thru clothes, penetrates 'average' BUT produces a large wound channel.
 
USNRet93 said:
Well, of course BUT these 2 types of ammo HAVE been tested head to head with other .380 ammo that DOES have real world results and the 'tests' show Lehigh-type performs better in these head to head tests, particularly when shooting a short barrel HG thru layers of clothes. JHP clogs and 'over' penetrates, small wound channel..like a FMJ. Lehigh type, thru clothes, penetrates 'average' BUT produces a large wound channel.
Click to expand...

I haven't carried .380 in years. It's not the worst but I wouldn't choose it for EDC if I could help it. I'd like a little more confidence in both penetration and expansion for hollow-points. I like the concept behind Lehigh's machined copper solids. They eliminate the expansion question altogether. Of course, they don't penetrate any more extremely than FMJ but they do a better job of tearing up media along the wound channel.

Ammo cost or availability issues for .32 H&R magnum or .327 Federal become largely irrelevant if we're only comparing specialty .380 ammo like the Lehigh.
 
I haven't carried .380 in years. It's not the worst but I wouldn't choose it for EDC if I could help it.
Click to expand...

I use the same type ammo(Lehigh or G9) in my EDC 9mm.
Even 9mm, Lehigh and G9, when tested, 'outperformed' many 9mm JHP, thru lots of clothes, like you see during winter, particularly thru short barrel HGs..
 
USNRet93 said:
I use the same type ammo(Lehigh or G9) in my EDC 9mm.
Even 9mm, Lehigh and G9, when tested, 'outperformed' many 9mm JHP, thru lots of clothes, like you see during winter, particularly thru short barrel HGs..
Click to expand...
My 9mm carry ammo is all JHP. I'm not overly concerned about penetration the way I am with .380 or .38 special. I hadn't considered using the machined solids in 9mm. I think I'd be more apt to try them in different calibers if they were less expensive or more readily available.

At one point, I considered using their penetrators in .357 Sig as an all-purpose town and country load. It would have been a good compromise, capable for both dangerous humans and the types of wildlife I'm likely to encounter on my woodland walks. I was on a wait list for a conversion barrel that never happened. With .357 Sig becoming more obscure, I eventually abandoned the idea.
 
well, the LCR is loaded with 98gr. .32 S&W Longs for my daughter. since scouring youtube for testing data I've loaded with the with the surprising MagTech 98gr. SJHP.
 
JERRYS. said:
well, the LCR is loaded with 98gr. .32 S&W Longs for my daughter. since scouring youtube for testing data I've loaded with the with the surprising MagTech 98gr. SJHP.
Click to expand...
I've shot a lot of that stuff from an old 4" target revolver. It's accurate and remarkably gentle to shoot. I've shot my share of critters with it, including fuzzy caterpillars and squirrels. The former might sound funny but they are good challenge targets that can be seen in the sun.

I'll never forget splitting a millipede in half with .32 H&R Long. I got a clean center hit on the dirt road. The middle section was obliterated. The two ends just wriggled next to the tiny impact crater.

That said, it's certainly not the worst choice for self defense. The low velocity keeps it down under .380 or .38 special in the debate. Unlike those "marginal" defensive calibers, nobody is chasing expansion with .32 S&W Long. We expect it to punch a hole and it does that reasonably well. It's also got a few benefits. First, recoil is very low. Second, it is relatively quiet. Third, versus the rimfire that some recoil-averse people carry, it's more reliable and has a lot more mass.

Do you get unburnt powder firing it from the LCR?
 
Cosmodragoon said:
I've shot a lot of that stuff from an old 4" target revolver. It's accurate and remarkably gentle to shoot. I've shot my share of critters with it, including fuzzy caterpillars and squirrels. The former might sound funny but they are good challenge targets that can be seen in the sun.

I'll never forget splitting a millipede in half with .32 H&R Long. I got a clean center hit on the dirt road. The middle section was obliterated. The two ends just wriggled next to the tiny impact crater.

That said, it's certainly not the worst choice for self defense. The low velocity keeps it down under .380 or .38 special in the debate. Unlike those "marginal" defensive calibers, nobody is chasing expansion with .32 S&W Long. We expect it to punch a hole and it does that reasonably well. It's also got a few benefits. First, recoil is very low. Second, it is relatively quiet. Third, versus the rimfire that some recoil-averse people carry, it's more reliable and has a lot more mass.

Do you get unburnt powder firing it from the LCR?
Click to expand...
I got unburned powder but I don't remember which ammo it was from. the youtube video that showed this (magtech) round expanding from a 2" bbl. was surprising.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top