fastbolt
Member
The .32 caliber pistol has been around for a respectable length of time.
The overall size and dimensions of the cartridge has always seemed to make it a very popular choice when it comes to designing and producing neat little pocket pistols that are reasonably well made and reliably functional. It's been said that it's easier to make a reliable .32 than it is to make a reliable .380 ...
Functional reliability is a primary concern in a defensive pocket pistol, especially one of a diminutive caliber ... and for MY purposes I consider a handgun which shoots a bullet of less than .38 caliber, and weighing less than 110gr, a diminutive caliber ...
When I was a young cop, though, I carried a couple of small pocket pistols and revolvers chambered in .25 & .22LR, as well as a nice little .380 Browning. This lasted until I gained a bit more experience in seeing people shot, reading shooting reports, etc ... Nowadays, .38 Special is my minimum caliber for a defensive weapon in those off-duty situations when I don't "expect" to need to be armed. Otherwise, it's 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP or the occasional .357 magnum.
I wouldn't necessarily criticize someone else's selection of a .32 for a legally concealed & carried defensive pistol, though ...
When my agency was reviewing and rewriting the policy related to personally owned off-duty weapons, it was determined that the minimum caliber allowed was going to be .32, which eliminated some .25 & .22 weapons previously carried by some folks. The same caliber restriction policy was written for Secondary(back-up) duty weapons. I know a guy carries a Seecamp .32 on rare occasions, for very dressy situations, but otherwise carries a Sc/Ti J-frame or 442 for a "minimum caliber" pocket weapon.
I see quite a few folks bring .22's to CCW classes, and one fellow that brought a .22 Short pocket pistol. If I were going to "question" someone's choice of a defensive caliber ... if it were any of my business ... it would be for choosing 25 ACP, .22LR or .22 Short , especially since it's not all that common to see pistols in these calibers function reliably through the short course of fire for the class.
Since my job brings me into a lot of people's homes, yards, property & businesses, and not always expectedly or invited ... and I spend a lot of my off duty time riding around the mountains and along the coast ... I've encountered my fair share of large, aggressive and/or "feral" dogs. At some point in the past, I decided that I wasn't going to carry any caliber that I didn't feel might be reasonably successful if used in "stopping" a large attacking dog ...
When it comes right down to it, though, before I really worried about "caliber", I'd consider it more important to gain a thorough understanding of the applicable laws involving the lawful use of deadly force ... develop SAFE weapon handling, carrying and shooting skills, AND maintain them ... buy as good a quality handgun as I could afford, suitable for MY anticpated needs ... and PRACTICE as often as I could afford. Shooting a firearm is generally considered to be a perishable skill ...
The overall size and dimensions of the cartridge has always seemed to make it a very popular choice when it comes to designing and producing neat little pocket pistols that are reasonably well made and reliably functional. It's been said that it's easier to make a reliable .32 than it is to make a reliable .380 ...
Functional reliability is a primary concern in a defensive pocket pistol, especially one of a diminutive caliber ... and for MY purposes I consider a handgun which shoots a bullet of less than .38 caliber, and weighing less than 110gr, a diminutive caliber ...
When I was a young cop, though, I carried a couple of small pocket pistols and revolvers chambered in .25 & .22LR, as well as a nice little .380 Browning. This lasted until I gained a bit more experience in seeing people shot, reading shooting reports, etc ... Nowadays, .38 Special is my minimum caliber for a defensive weapon in those off-duty situations when I don't "expect" to need to be armed. Otherwise, it's 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP or the occasional .357 magnum.
I wouldn't necessarily criticize someone else's selection of a .32 for a legally concealed & carried defensive pistol, though ...
When my agency was reviewing and rewriting the policy related to personally owned off-duty weapons, it was determined that the minimum caliber allowed was going to be .32, which eliminated some .25 & .22 weapons previously carried by some folks. The same caliber restriction policy was written for Secondary(back-up) duty weapons. I know a guy carries a Seecamp .32 on rare occasions, for very dressy situations, but otherwise carries a Sc/Ti J-frame or 442 for a "minimum caliber" pocket weapon.
I see quite a few folks bring .22's to CCW classes, and one fellow that brought a .22 Short pocket pistol. If I were going to "question" someone's choice of a defensive caliber ... if it were any of my business ... it would be for choosing 25 ACP, .22LR or .22 Short , especially since it's not all that common to see pistols in these calibers function reliably through the short course of fire for the class.
Since my job brings me into a lot of people's homes, yards, property & businesses, and not always expectedly or invited ... and I spend a lot of my off duty time riding around the mountains and along the coast ... I've encountered my fair share of large, aggressive and/or "feral" dogs. At some point in the past, I decided that I wasn't going to carry any caliber that I didn't feel might be reasonably successful if used in "stopping" a large attacking dog ...
When it comes right down to it, though, before I really worried about "caliber", I'd consider it more important to gain a thorough understanding of the applicable laws involving the lawful use of deadly force ... develop SAFE weapon handling, carrying and shooting skills, AND maintain them ... buy as good a quality handgun as I could afford, suitable for MY anticpated needs ... and PRACTICE as often as I could afford. Shooting a firearm is generally considered to be a perishable skill ...