32 Caliber: A Cartridge That Won’t Weigh You Down

I first began using a 32 Auto ( I call the 32 ACP, which is the original name for Automatic Colt Pistol-John Browning’s first pistol cartridge) in the early 80’s. At that time, pistol competitors divided themselves neatly into Major Pistol and Minor Pistol categories, based on the effectiveness of the cartridges. The 38 Super and 45 shooters were all Major. I competed with the anemic calibers, often alone. I shot a 32 Auto unmodified Beretta Model 81.

Of all the things I could do with a 32 Auto, I could hit anything at any distance. My biggest problem was that ammunition was either expensive, or unavailable. This was a US phenomenon, as the 32 Auto was the #1 most popular cartridge in Europe. While we were courting the “new powerful 9mm”, most police agencies in Europe were carrying 32’s.

I could talk for days about the technical aspects of this cartridge, but it would be boring to most readers. You should know two things: At the time, the 32 in Europe was slightly “hotter” than the 32 we used here. The Fiocchi cartridge I tested here puts all the historical versions of the 32 Auto to shame. It’s hot, and effective.

When I handload 32 Auto and 32 Magnum, I often use the same bullets for both cartridges. The bullet designs are interchangeable.

The 32 Magnum runs much higher chamber pressures than the 32 Long.  Cartridge manufacturers use heavier grained bullets, generally with a wadcutter or Semi-wadcutter design.

The 32 Magnum works well in lever action carbines as well. In the time when the lever action carbine was the Law Enforcement long gun, they used the same cartridge for both handgun and carbine. Many outdoorsmen pair the Henry Big Boy Classic Carbine with a 32 Magnum revolver as a working combination. In a carbine, the 32 Magnum pushes an 85 grain bullet to around 1400 fps, extending the range and utility.

Hydra-Shok

The Federal Premium Hydra-Shok 32 H&R Magnum uses a deep jacketed hollow point that has a center post. The jacket has aggressive scores, that open the fired bullet into 6 petals. The center post causes the petals to open at a controlled rate, giving the bullet a combination of penetration and maximum tissue damage.

I have tested Hydra-Shok cartridges before, but not in 32 Magnum. The jacket always opens up and peels back, leaving a lead center post. In the firearms industry, the performance of the Hydra-Shok is predictable, repeatable, and effective.

When I fired the Federal Premium Hydra-Shok 32 H&R Magnum rounds out of my Charter Arms Undercoverette, they only averaged 927.3 fps. The Undercoverette has a 2” barrel, and I was not expecting the full 1025 fps out of the short barrel. The velocity was consistent. The most notable thing was the light recoil of the light bullet.

When I fired this bullet into bare gelatin, most of the bullets settled around 12”. There was one bullet that stopped at 10.5”, but it appears this is an anomaly. The bullets opened consistently, peeling back the jacket with a 140% expansion and 100% bullet weight retention.

When I fired these bullets through layers of denim into ballistic gelatin, the results were outstanding. They averaged 15 inches. the shortest wound channel I recorded was 14.5 inches. I weighed each expended bullet and found that the delivered 100% weight retention, with full expansion. The disruption was somewhat dramatic, given the 85 grain bullet.

Hydra-Shok bullets do well in bare gelatin and thick clothing tests. Barrier tests like windshield glass are not part of personal protection cartridge testing, but I did it anyway. The bullets averaged 6.5 inches, with the deepest penetration at 7 inches. The jackets separated from the lead core, but the two components came to rest at the same exact place, arguably 100% weight retention.

I tested the 32 Magnum cartridges by firing them from 20 yards, off hand. I fired several 4 and 6 round groups. Considering I wasn’t using anything to steady my shot, the accuracy was very encouraging. I was able to keep everything within 2.5”. One group was 1.95”. My Charter Arms Undercoverette shot a little low and to the left at 20 yards, but I shot reliable groups every time. At 7 yards, I could 10x my targets every time, with all bullet holes touching.

Most 32 revolvers, including my Charter Arms, carry 6 rounds instead of 5. The Charter Arms Professional carries 7. Smith and Wesson makes a 6-shot, 13 oz 32 Magnum, the Model 632, that is probably one of the most useful defensive revolvers ever made. Anyone considering lightweight revolver for backup or off duty should consider the 32 Magnum.

The Federal Premium Hydra-Shock 32 H&R Magnum has all the reliability, accuracy, and effectiveness for a defensive cartridge, without punishing recoil. The 85-grain Hydra-Shok Deep JSP 32 H&R Magnum  is $38.99 per box of 20. 

32 Auto

The 32 Auto is not anyone's first choice for a defensive cartridge. However, the guns designed for this cartridge are usually smaller, lighter, and more concealable.

I first looked at Fiocchi’s Defense Dynamics 32 Auto JHP cartridge because of their advertised specs. Only a few years ago, it was unusual for a 32 Auto cartridge to propel the bullets faster than 1000 fps. This cartridge specs their 60 grain JHP at 1100 fps. Our chronograph shows they weren’t exaggerating.

Probably one of the lightest handguns that fire a centerfire cartridge is the KelTec P32 in 32 Auto. It weighs 6.9 ounces unloaded, and holds seven rounds. It is almost unnoticeable in the pocket. I have 2 favorite 32 Autos, the Beretta 3032, and the North American Arms Guardian. They weigh in at 14.5 oz and 15.6 oz respectively. Beretta has recently released the 30 X model, which is an improved version of the 3032. It has a better trigger and ergonomics. They have various models like the 30X Tomcat in Case of Emergency (Seriously, that is the name), which has better ergonomics, a better trigger, and holds eight rounds. It shoots amazingly well. When these first came out, I had an opportunity to run some rounds downrange, and it was outstanding.

Conventional wisdom about the 32 auto cartridge is that most experts recommend full metal jacket bullets for defensive purposes. The logic behind this is the lack of expansion from the velocities that the 32 Auto normally generates. These bullets expanded in bare gelatin, and slightly after heavy clothing barriers. What was even more amazing was the fact that the bullets averaged 16” in bare gelatin, with several wound channels 16.5” long.

In some cases, the bullets did not expand enough after heavy clothing. Once it penetrated 19.5 inches, with light expansion. Another time it penetrated 23 inches. Considering under penetration is usually the problem, even with full metal jacket bullets, this cartridge really surprised us.

The 32 Defense Dynamics wasn’t done with surprises. I was having a little problem getting the rounds on paper when shot it at 20 yards. I was using a Caldwell sandbag rest, and my groups were completely missing the target. I stepped forward to the 7 yard line and shot a full magazine into the exact center of the target, with all but one bullet touching. My group was less than three quarters of an inch wide.

Rather than use a bench rest, I decided to shoot from 20 yards without support. I'm quite familiar with my Beretta, and shoot it at various distances all the time. Unlike most mouse gun carriers, I have put thousands of rounds through my 3032 Tomcat. I know what it can do, and I didn't understand why couldn't shoot the Defense Dynamics cartridges from Fiocchi accurately.

I fired a couple of three shot groups at 20 yards, offhand. I walked back up to the target and both groups were less than an inch and a half. The Fiocchi Defense Dynamics 32 Auto cartridges were flat out accurate. I have no explanation why I could not shoot accurately from a rest, and I don't really care.

I know that the 32 Auto is not the most powerful cartridge that one can carry. however, I promise you, if you follow Lindsey’s 3 Rules of Surviving a Gunfight, you will prevail. These three rules are:

1. Shot Placement
2. Shot Placement
3. Shot Placement

My Tomcat is particular about the nose of the bullets it feeds. When my gun got dirty, there was a little hesitancy in feeding the Fiocchi’s. The Defense Dynamics bullets have a flat face.

This also reflects one of my rules. One should always test the cartridge they will carry in the gun they will carry.

Why did I test these cartridges together?

I am a fan of 32 caliber defensive cartridges. I believe that they are more suited for most shooters when it comes to recoil, and most of the cartridge offerings are effective enough, even in short-barreled firearms.

There is another reason why I like this caliber. I have a 327 Magnum, 32 Magnum, and a 32 Auto. The 327 is designed to chamber and fire 32 Magnums, in the same manner a 38 can be used in a 357. They will also both fire 32 long and 32 S&W.

In an emergency, the 327 and 32 Magnum can chamber and fire a 32 Auto cartridge. I don't recommend it, but it will work. One must take care on the ejection of the cartridge, or they could jam the gun and take it out of the fight. I know how to keep guns in the fight, and I practice with it occasionally. The 32 auto is a semi rimmed cartridge, which is why this works. There are other technical things one needs to know about headspace, but that goes beyond the scope of this article.

When I want to travel low-key, I carry my Undercoverette stoked with Hydra-Shock 32 H&R Magnums. When I want to be invisible, my Tomcat is the ticket. I have my little gun, and 22 rounds, which I can deliver with precision. 32 guns rule.