Penetration Power Of The .32 ACP caliber!!

[Jees]

The .32 ACP caliber or the 7.65 × 17 mmSR bullet holds the tittle of the most commercially chambered cartridge of all time.

But exactly how Powerful is this?

Is it reliable for self defense?

Can it go through say maybe, phone kept in shirt pockets(a topical scene in India) and have enough energy left to significantly hurt the person intended too? /Will it go through the phone at all?

[Vineet]

Please watch the video.......

[GurnaniM]

Is .32 acp +p ammo also available in India if yes, can it be used with ashani?

[Vineet]

Is .32 acp +p ammo also available in India if yes, can it be used with ashani?

+p is not available in India and ofcourse not recommended for ashani.

[mundaire]

Please watch the video.......

Excellent video, thanks for sharing!

[timmy]

Jees: Your question regarding the penetration power of the .32 ACP is a good one.These kinds of questions often arise, because folks wonder whether their handgun can reliably protect them in various circumstances.

The fellow in the Youtube video makes some helpful statements, but shooting at pop bottles is hardly a way to demonstrate the power and ability of a self defense round to do its job. The coat-meat-orange-meat test is better, but there are more scientific ways of going about this.

First of all, what a self defense round needs to accomplish should be addressed. The best overall view of this that isn't too lengthy, is based on science, rather than opinion, and doesn't cost anything can be found here: https://archive.org/stream/fbi-handgun- ... s_djvu.txt I may not be correct in saying this, but I believe this study was made by the FBI after a pair of fellows with rifles and body armor began shooting up the town and FBI agents, with their handguns, had a great deal of trouble stopping these criminals. There are many things that might be said about the FBI, but for their internal business, they can be scientific and have the resources to address an issue.

The bottom line from this study is that 12 inches, or 305 mm of bullet penetration is the minimum amount that is needed for a defensive round. Any less, the report concludes, is unacceptable. We also realize that a person can be wearing all kinds of clothing in a situation. It matters whether a bullet must penetrate heavy jackets or, as you note, has a cell phone in his pocket. The fellow in the video comes close to an answer for you, when he notes that one bullet struck a rib in his test -- that would be somewhat like your scenario of hitting a cell phone. Recall, too, that there are several kinds of cell phones available and each may have its own peculiar properties.

Rather than using irregular slabs of meat or pop bottles, ballistic gel is a much better way to test bullet performance, especially when results must be compared. An interesting test that used to be available on this subject can still be found here: https://web.archive.org/web/20110313192 ... /tests.htm

I recommend that you study this material to get an idea regarding 32 ACP ballistics. For one thing, you will see that no hollow point or expanding 32 AP bullet can meet the 302 mm penetration requirement. The 32 ACP simply doesn't have the power to expand a bullet and penetrate. It may be able to penetrate deeply enough in the full metal jacket configuration. That, I suggest, is what you want. If you want both penetration and expansion, you would have to go to a more powerful cartridge, like 9x19 (9 mm Luger).

In India, getting ammunition of any kind may be an issue, but especially the exotic kinds of expanding bullets. The "good news" here is that, for 32 ACP, you don't need them. My two boxes of 60 gr Corbon expanding bullet cartridges got placed back in storage, when I read the facts. Getting the best full metal jacket 32 ACP you can and practicing as much as you can are the keys to making 32 ACP perform acceptably for you.

[Vikram]

Tim,

Brilliant explanation as ever. Welcome back!