Why .32 "used to be" more effective

O

Oleg Volk

Staff Alumnus
(UBB ate my last post, I think...)

One, larger calibers were simply not available in reasonably-sized guns. No one would argue that .38spl is sorta kinda effective given the absence of anything better for comparison.

The other reason is more physical than psychological. Let's take a .32acp ball round and two guns firing it, a P32 and a Colt Hammerless 1908. The Colt is much more comfortable to fire and user is less likely to flinch. It has better trigger and sights and is far more accurate at the range or in combat. Furthermore, a 4" barrel keeps velocity up and muzzle flash down. In a way, less advanced materials that required larger guns made them more effective for the same caliber.

The flip side is that a 30oz. .32acp of 1925 has been replaced by a 30oz. .40 and that makes a bigger difference...

(Anyone has better guesses?)

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Oleg "cornered rat" Volk (JPFO,NRA)

http://dd-b.net/RKBA
 
Not to be uppity but people used to be smaller. My great-grandfather was a miner all his life, strong guy, but LITTLE.
I don't know that it makes a difference but you never know.
 
I think you have to consider the European influence as well, 32acp was and probably still is available throughout europe and was chambered in some quality weapons of the day, but other than that I see merit in your position.........fubsy.
 
It's probably that older ammunition used to be lousier... therefore the .32ACP APPEARED better than it does today. With todays top-notch .357/38, 9mm, 40 ,45 etc ammo, the .32 is just a .32. The quality of everything else DWARFS the little .32.

.32's today keep getting lighter and smaller; that makes them less comfortable to shoot. The barrels are getting shorter, and therefore velocity decreases.

Just my theory,
Ben

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Almost Online IM: BenK911
ICQ # 53788523
"Gun Control Is Being Able To Hit Your Target"

[This message has been edited by Ben (edited March 30, 2000).]
 
Don't forget that in the U.S, the ".32" caliber pistol was probably a revolver in 32/20 or 32 S&W Long. Both of these cartridges were typically loaded with SWC bullets, not the round-nose typical in the 38 Special and all of the auto pistol calibers; and flat-nose bullets are much more effective than a round-nose bullet. Today's JHP bullets have made the auto pistols much more effective then they used to be with the FMJ ball ammunition.
 
In the "good old days" they didn't have anitbiotics and the surgons were rated on how fast they could do the operation. Arm and leg wounds were either bandaged or amputated. Abdominal surgury was not an option until modern antistetics were developed. Sooo a gut shot was a death sentence that just took a few days of pain to die from. Guns didn't have to be big and powerful to kill someone, the general population knew that to be shot with almost anything was very bad news.
 
I think that all of these points are valid. In the first part of this century if somebody got shot with a .32 it was from a four inch barrel, they where 5'4", 130 lbs, and there wasn't any decent medical attention for miles.

Now the guy shot with a .32 is from a two inch barrel, he weighs 240 of prison muscle, is on crack, and has a team of paramedics working on him in five minutes.
 
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