Impressions for 380 or 32

K

Kirk Keller

New member
Hello everyone,

I'm considering the purchase of a pocket gun in either .380 or .32 ACP. I'm leaning more towards the 380 due to the firepower advantage, but love the diminutive aspect of the 32. Your opinions would be appreciated and I'll deride no one for their preferences.

Thanks everyone.
 
My impression of 380...BANG!
My impression of 32...Bang!

Sorry...had to do it :rolleyes:

Go with the one you can carry most comfortably and can draw the most confidently. I recently battled over which pocket gun I was going to get. Ended up w/ the Beretta Jetfire because that what fits my needs best.
 
Carry the largest most potent weapon you can possibly carry and conceal comfortably is my advice.

I carry the .32 when I just can't carry anything else or when it would be more of an inconvenience to carry anything larger. Example...when I come home from work I slip my P32 in my pocket and out I go to walk the dog. Would my G30 be more effective? Of course, but I can't slip that fat rascal in my pocket without looking extremely odd, nor do I have the time to strap on a holster for a 3 minute dog walk.

If I know I'm going out and have the time to dress to conceal a larger weapon, I do so.

I agree with Kermit, why not a larger caliber? There are many soft shooting 9's out there the same size as the .380 that recoil the same or even less. Or even one of my favorites, my 9x18 Makarov.

Good Shooting
RED
 
The most striking example of what the .32 won't do occurred to me when I was shooting hardball rounds at a rusted 55 gallon drum that had been used repeatedly as a burn barrel. They bounced off. I know that this doesn't relate all that well to how they would perform in a defense situation, but nonetheless, it doesn't inspire great confidence.
 
My impression of 380...BANG!
My impression of 32...Bang!
Click to expand...
My impression of 9mm Luger...BOOM!
(relatively speaking, of course!)

Why not look at the 9mm MK9 by Kahr? There's lighter in a Kel-Tec P11, but to get smaller you have to go to a .32 such as the tiny Berettas or the Kel-Tec P32, which is tiny and light.

If you go for Kahr, go for steel or stainless. The polymer models still seem to have some problems....
 
I would tend to agree with the 380. Good defensive round.
I have several as this is the caliber my wife likes for her CCW.

Tonyz
 
Hmmm

Kermit - Now why did I see that coming...:)

Blackhawk - I've looked at the Kahr MK9 and the new micro, but they are still a bit large to carry in the pocket of my slacks.

My standard concealed carry is an HK USP.45c. I'm trying to find something as a secondary to that but much more concealable. I'm not a small fellow, but I'd like to be able to stuff something in my front pocket without it printing too badly or squashing the ol' jewels when I sit down. And of course, I want maximum firepower for the size. Most of the 9MMs are just a bit large for this and the 380s typically push the envelope here as well.

Nothing like having your cake and wanting to eat it too eh?

Pappy John makes a great point about the .32, but a well-placed shot can bring a world of hurt on a BG. Shot placement isn't too much of a challenge for me (when facing ominous and imposing paper targets), so I can probably get away with a smaller caliber and not sacrifice much, but how much sacrifice am I willing to take? Hence the inclusion of the 380.
 
Daily I am in slacks, shirt & tie...rarely wear a jacket unless weather dictates. I have been told by others in my division that I should carry something...the old saying "gun to a gunfight" made a real impression. I would have loved to picked up someting bigger, but it just wasn't practicle. :(
That said, the Jetfire fits in my slacks w/o printing "GUN," or tearing holes in the pockets. It is available if need be when I'm in the field, it feels good in my hand and it looks good too (following 2nd old saying "it's not how good you are, it's how good you look that counts!")
 
Neither are too much good without good shot placement.

Both are good if shot placement is ok.

I like the 32, but only because it can be had in extremely small, light guns, like the Keltec p32
 
Keller, you may want to look into a surplus Makarov with the 120 grain silver Bear hollow point ammo.

small
cheap
more power than .32 or .380
tremendous fun to own
lots of support from makarov.com
low priced ammo

need I say more . . .
 
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