Self Defense with .32 ACP

Question
In the past, the .32 ACP seemed to be widely considered as insufficient for self-defense.  The rationale, as I understood, is that the .32 ACP does not have enough power to incapacitate with center-of-mass targeting.  However, while searching on this subject in allexperts.com, I found that some of the experts carry a .32 ACP either as a back-up or concealed gun.  Also, handguns in .32 ACP are featured in the publications as suitable choices for self-defense.  

What has changed that this cartridge is now accepted?  Are the loads hotter?  Is training different so that something other, such as a head shot, is preferred over center-of-mass?  Or, ???

Thank you for sharing your expertise.

Answer
I think the only thing that has really changed is the guns that will chamber the round. A Seecamp or a Kel-Tec can be easily slipped into a pocket or pocket holster and be completely unobtrusive, without perceptible weight or printing through clothing.

Although ammunition across the board has gotten better, the .32 is still a substandard round, but if the choice is that or nothing, a .32 is better than nothing.

It is for these same reasons that I have owned and carried various .32s or .380s. I am an advocate for the .40S&W cartridge and carry a gun so chambered most of the time. But sometimes it's just not possible to do so. At such times a P-32 has made me feel more comfortable than going unarmed.

In the last year, however, I've come to change my mind about my carry choices. Reports of ballistic testing have forced me to take my head out of the sand and realize that anyone who is going to stopped by a .32 will mostly be stopped psychologically. There simply isn't enough in the cartridge for it to be physiologically convincing, and I've had to square with the very real possibility that 3-5 rounds of .32 may have the very undesirable effect of enraging an attacker and increasing his resolve.

I've also found these guns to be very susceptible to pocket lint, owing to the small mass that is being moved around when the gun goes through its firing cycle. A Seecamp or Kel-Tec may work find if you clean it all up, take it to the range and shoot it (not always, but it may). However, I don't think I've ever seen one work that has been carried in a pocket for a week, pulled out the range and shot. With no exception that I've personally seen, someone who actually carries one of those tiny blasters is carrying a one or two shot pistol.

While I've never been a huge revolver fan when dealing with full sized guns, I've come to prefer them for pocket pieces. Materials from aluminum to scandium (or plastic in the case of the Ruger LCR)make these guns very light, and best of all they will deliver five shots "for sure," even right through pants or jacket pocket (something that cannot be done with any auto). Carried with a quint of Speer Gold Dot SB in +P or Federal Nyclad (which is available again) in standard pressure loads you have something that is physiologically persuasive in a way that the .32 ACP is simply incapable of.