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  #1  
Old 06-09-2018, 09:27 AM
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I have 30 handguns in my collection. They range from 22 lr up to 45 Colt and 45 acp. Some of my favorites are my Bond Arms Derringers and my NAA mini revolvers in 22 magnum. But one of my favorite carry options is my S&W Walther PPK/S in 32 acp! Yep...it’s an anemic cartridge with few fans...but the weapon is a heavy chunk of stainless steel that I can dot an i with easily. And as a retired LEO with 36 years of service in both uniform and plainclothes assignments, I can tell you unequivocally, that living through an SD situation is mostly about shot placement! There are no magic, one shot stop handgun calibers. A 45 will not blow the bad guys arm or leg off! Only in Hollywood! So training and familiarity with your firearm of choice is all important. I just won’t get into the caliber wars, because it is mostly debated by those who have never been there! After being a participant in an actual firefight, and spending some quality time at the County Morgue...hopefully as an observer...then one can debate the merits of a particular caliber. Till then..its just conjecture.
So..I like my Walther PPK/S 32, and feel well served by it! An excellent and historic firearm!
So....let the flames begin!
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Old 06-09-2018, 09:31 AM
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I agree, that shot placement is the key to successfully surviving SD incident.


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Old 06-09-2018, 09:36 AM
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Caliber doesn't win fights. Tactics wins fights.
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Old 06-09-2018, 09:38 AM
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Steve Irwin was killed by a stingray. Graveyard dead is final, regardless of the weapon.
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Old 06-09-2018, 09:39 AM
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Your life, your choice.
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Old 06-09-2018, 10:17 AM
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It's all about shot placement.
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Old 06-09-2018, 10:47 AM
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Hey, you can always throw the gun at the bad guy...
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Old 06-09-2018, 10:59 AM
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A gun you are extremely familiar and happy with and can shoot well certainly is much better than something you are not as in tuned with.

Your life your choice!
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Old 06-09-2018, 11:00 AM
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Our neighbor in Switzerland was a collector, and his PPK was my favorite ergonomics until I tried a CZ75.
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Old 06-09-2018, 11:33 AM
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Wait a minute . . . are you saying movies aren't real?
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Old 06-09-2018, 12:01 PM
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Wait a minute . . . are you saying movies aren't real?
So... an American astronaut named Mark Watney DIDN'T get stranded on Mars??? It Was F-F-FAKE?!?
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Old 06-09-2018, 12:38 PM
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For those who go .32ACP there are some interesting self-defense ammo offerings available these days.

32 acp - MidwayUSA
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Old 06-09-2018, 02:53 PM
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If you like it, can shoot it well and it doesn't bite you there is no need to question your choice. As noted, shot placement is criteria #1 and adequate penetration is criteria #2. Everything else is a distant #3. Depending on where you hang your hat, during the winter when the trolls wear more clothing the cartridge might be really marginal, but the only person who has to be happy is you.
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Old 06-09-2018, 03:07 PM
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Yes the 32 auto is 32 reasons better then nothing and the 25 auto 25 reasons better than nothing. Rule number one have a gun and know how to shoot it.
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Old 06-09-2018, 03:08 PM
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For the past few months I had considered getting a small pistol in .380 caliber for light-weight, easily concealled carry over summer. I ended up deciding that I was not willing to trust my life to the stopping power of a .380 caliber.

.32 ACP? No, not for me, thanks anyway.

I am one of those guys who has never shot anyone with a pistol, so my opion doesn't count. But if it did, I would put a minimum on .38 Special +P for revolvers, and 9mm for pistols.

Shot placement is not everything. It IS something, but it is not everything. I read (yes, that's right, read) that over 50% of shots fired in a defensive situation completely miss the guy being shot at. So I want as many of the odds as possible tipped in my favor if I should ever be involved in such an event.

I did shoot a deer once with a Ruger (ugh) Mini 14 in .223 Remington caliber. I achieved perfect shot placement, and the deer was DRT. It was still a stupid stunt on my part though, but I was a young guy and that was the only rifle I had at the time. My minimum now for that type of hunting would be something much more substantial than a .223.

Yes, it will (might) work if everything goes just right. That's just not good enough for me. YMMV.

Last edited by Warren Sear; 06-09-2018 at 03:11 PM.
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Old 06-09-2018, 03:12 PM
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While we are all looking for a pistol caliber that shoots like a .22lr and has the muzzle energy of a .357..... as Unkei points out it's not a rifle round.....

That said...... no one likes to get shot with anything....... and a Walther PPK/s magazine dump.... with 8+1 .32 apc...... would be close to taking a round of 00 buckshot with a tight fist size group.

I picked up a Walther(Interarms) PPK/s w/ 4 mags about 2 years ago for <$400 OTD....... would not feel under guned running errands in my Burb of the Burgh!
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Old 06-09-2018, 03:31 PM
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It's not the Arrow as they say,........ it's the Indian. No,..... shot placement IS everything my friend. If you don't hit them you cannot hurt them and you must continue to fire that weapon until any and all aggression ceases and your's or others lives are safe. I'm not preaching. I just feel it's sound advise.
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Old 06-09-2018, 05:16 PM
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Back in the day the NYPD issued department owned Beretta .32 acp pistols to officers assigned to Narcotics buy teams.
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Old 06-09-2018, 05:28 PM
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I'm wondering if the OP carries his NAA revolvers often. I've thought about getting one - just because.
I would like to have a gun I could hide in the palm of my hand.
My EDC is a S&W638, which I believe is an old-school design and it allows old-school tactics, like shooting through a pocket if need be, or furtively having a gun in-hand.

Sneaky is good. You fight to win.
According to the NRA magazine, SGT. York carried a 32 as his CC gun after the war. He could shoot straight. I'm sure he had access to larger calibers.

Last edited by max503; 06-09-2018 at 05:34 PM.
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Old 06-09-2018, 05:32 PM
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I have read one-stop data on various cartridges. One conclusion after not seeing a dramatic difference between many of the calibers is that they all work. When someone is shot, much of the time they flee or surrender because their only thought is to not get shot again. Falling down dead is unusual with any pistol.

Today I am carrying a LCP, yesterday it was a Glock 29 with hot 10mm defensive cartridges. I have always been a fan of “32 gun in his pocket for fun”
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Old 06-09-2018, 05:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Triathloncoach View Post
... ... ... ...
Today I am carrying a LCP, yesterday it was a Glock 29 with hot 10mm defensive cartridges. I have always been a fan of “32 gun in his pocket for fun”
"...and a razor in my shoe."

Yesterday was G29 with hot UW, today Shield 40 with hot UW, tomorrow will be DW pm-c 45 with UW 45 Super, and the next day will be G29 again.
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So....let the flames begin!
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Old 06-09-2018, 06:15 PM
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Most LE go through entire careers without a single gunfight. I figure my odds are at least 100X better. Carry what you want, you are better prepared than 90% of folks. In 40 years of carrying I have "unholstered" 3 times, fired one shot in anger, no casualties. Joe
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Old 06-09-2018, 06:30 PM
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In the summer and when I am lightly dressed I carry a S&W BG380 and I feel ok about it for close range self defense. If you like 32acp, then carry it. The important thing is that the gun is 100% reliable, and that you are accurate with it.
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Old 06-09-2018, 07:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pharmer View Post
Most LE go through entire careers without a single gunfight. I figure my odds are at least 100X better. Carry what you want, you are better prepared than 90% of folks. In 40 years of carrying I have "unholstered" 3 times, fired one shot in anger, no casualties. Joe
If you want to avoid drawing your service weapon I would suggest avoiding time travel back to New York's 5th, 9th, 32nd, 40th, 69th, 79th or 101st.
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Old 06-09-2018, 10:02 PM
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A friend is retired LEO and now carries a .380. I asked him about this and he said shot placement is everything. His comment is people tend to carry large calibers in an attempt to make up for a lack of training and accuracy.

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Old 06-09-2018, 11:15 PM
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Agree, caliber wars & one-shot stops are nonsense. I survived three deadly force confrontations armed w/my “puny” issued .38 revolver due to good shot placement.
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Old 06-10-2018, 12:10 AM
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If they're on enough dope, it really don't matter what you hit them with, it has to hit somewhere that shuts down their motor.
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Old 06-10-2018, 08:27 AM
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Default NAA carry?

Quote:
Originally Posted by max503 View Post
I'm wondering if the OP carries his NAA revolvers often. I've thought about getting one - just because.
I would like to have a gun I could hide in the palm of my hand.
My EDC is a S&W638, which I believe is an old-school design and it allows old-school tactics, like shooting through a pocket if need be, or furtively having a gun in-hand.

Sneaky is good. You fight to win.


According to the NRA magazine, SGT. York carried a 32 as his CC gun after the war. He could shoot straight. I'm sure he had access to larger calibers.
I have 5 NAAs, all in 22 mag. Always carry one along with whatever else I have. Usually the NAA is the Pug as it can fit darn near anywhere!
Unkei
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Old 06-11-2018, 10:10 PM
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"Use enough gun", as the old saying goes...
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