Year of the mouse gun

Gene L

Gene L

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I posted a thread on another forum about the recent acceptance of .380s and .32s. At least it seems like that.

I don't know if this fondness is because of the pistols, new and old, or an improvement in ammo. All this seems to me to be recent and perhaps we're moving away from large and heavy auto pistols.

Of course, I could be wrong, but I don't think I am. Walther is selling every .380 they make a Glock has one. Even the formerly disparaged .32 is getting some press.

As I posted on the .380 post below, I've got two. I carried one a /S, for a couple of years when I was undercover and didn't want to carry a cop-looking gun. This was back in the revolver days and very few .380 pistols were out there.

I don't think anyone feels a .32 or .380 is superior to a .45 as a manstopper, but I believe mouse guns are much more acceptable than they were a couple of years ago.
 
Here's my original Ruger LCP. Got it when they first came out. Sent it back when there was a recall about something I can no longer remember. They took care of it in record time and returned it along with an extra magazine and a Ruger ball cap.

Is it my preferred "man stopper?" No, but it gets the nod when I'm going into places where concealing a larger handgun is more difficult if not downright impossible.:)
iGwEfvb.jpg
 
HenryT said:
They are popular because they are easily concealable.
Click to expand...

The new ones are definitely small. But the PPK is almost the size of a Sig 365...the same holsters work on both. My FN 1910 is smaller all around, smaller than a Walther PP.

But these two examples are from guns made right before WW1 or right after. Metallurgy has come a long way in the last decade of the 20th Century.
 
I love my .32 acp seecamps. Every time a buddy chides me about the caliber it I ask if I can shoot him from bad breath range. I qualified with them (out to 25 yards). Shoots about 6" high (without sights) at that distance. 50 rounds is a workout with the little BUG. It helps having a spotter telling you where you're hitting the paper! Anyone know where to get the black mags? I look occasionally but only see the bright ones.
 
LOVE these threads!
I've been defending homicide cases for 37 years. 22's are the popular choice for the shooter from my experience. Cheap, available and definately gets the job done. You ain't gonna get an instant stop unless you brain-shoot the shootee. I've yet to see a shootee shooting back after being shot with a .22. The usual reaction is to die right there or start screaming for momma while his homeboys are driving him to the hospital. In any event, a shot from a .22 pretty much ends the fight.
I have NEVER felt under armed with a .380, nor a .22 nor a .25 nor a .32.
I picked the .380 cause it be tiny and the gun makers finally got around to making locked breech models that are smaller than the Walther. Also cause the ammo, although now hard to find, was easier and cheaper than .25's and .32's. If Smith made a bodyguard in .22 I'd buy it in a heartbeat but for now I really like my 317 snub. 8 shots of .22 with exposed hammer so I can single action it with carefully aimed shots for that going away back shot :D
 
CAJUNLAWYER said:
LOVE these threads!
I've been defending homicide cases for 37 years. 22's are the popular choice for the shooter from my experience. Cheap, available and definately gets the job done. You ain't gonna get an instant stop unless you brain-shoot the shootee. I've yet to see a shootee shooting back after being shot with a .22. The usual reaction is to die right there or start screaming for momma while his homeboys are driving him to the hospital. In any event, a shot from a .22 pretty much ends the fight.
I have NEVER felt under armed with a .380, nor a .22 nor a .25 nor a .32.
I picked the .380 cause it be tiny and the gun makers finally got around to making locked breech models that are smaller than the Walther. Also cause the ammo, although now hard to find, was easier and cheaper than .25's and .32's. If Smith made a bodyguard in .22 I'd buy it in a heartbeat but for now I really like my 317 snub. 8 shots of .22 with exposed hammer so I can single action it with carefully aimed shots for that going away back shot :D
Click to expand...

My wife, and both DILs are experienced handgunners. All three carry the Beretta 21A in .22LR. I wouldn't want to be a perp attempting to assault any of them.:D
 
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Modern .380 ACP defensive loads are capable of edging out FBI/IWBA Speculations with a minimum penetration depth of 12" in Ballistics Gel, which isn't far behind Standard Pressure 9mm Luger JHPs which generally penetrate 13"-15" in pistols of similar size. 'Nuf said.

.380 ACP was actually my primary carry round from 2016 to 2019 when I switched to .40 S&W in response to increased wild predatory animal sightings in my residential area, but a Ruger LCP still serves as my BUG when I go out, and ride around in my pocket practically everywhere I go when I'm indoors.

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I always thought a .22LR semiauto handgun was an OK small carry piece.
An early 60's Walther PPk in 22 was mine for many yrs.
But now with the incredibly poor .22 ammo on the market, I don't think I'd choose it again for that.

Too many duds and weak sounding reports when using .22LR ammo now. It's OK at the range, you can try the duds again for fun and finally toss them into the Dud canister if they never work.
Not something I want to think about otherwise.

A 25acp CZ45 is my mouse gun now. DAO, no safety ,sights or other levers,buttons or gadgets.
Well,,OK a magazine release on the heal, but there ain't going to be a speed mag change either..
 
Gene L said:
I don't think anyone feels a .32 or .380 is superior to a .45 as a manstopper, but I believe mouse guns are much more acceptable than they were a couple of years ago.
Click to expand...

Greg “Alternate Look at Handgun Stopping Power” Ellifritz might disagree.

I’ve always felt the .32 ACP punches above its weight class. Its easy to shoot and that hard little FMJ penetrates deep.

I have both a .380 and a .32 Colt Pocket Hammerless. I carry the .32 far more often than the other. Its easier to shoot and holds an extra round.
 

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