In 1903, Colt introduced John Browning’s Pocket .32 ACP pistol, and until 1972 these little pistols were issued to General Officers in the U.S. Military.
Many shooters liked the 1903 because it was like a miniature 1911.
Because of this, the Colt 1903 was popular among Generals and gangsters alike.
In fact, in the 1930’s, John Dillinger was known as public enemy number one.
He committed his first crime as a teenager and became a career criminal whose exploits captured the attention of the American public.
Dillinger eventually joined the Navy but went AWOL.
He ended up in prison where he made friends with other criminals who would join him on his infamous crime sprees.
During a single year, Dillinger and his gang robbed over a dozen banks.
After becoming one of the most wanted criminals, Dillinger decided to have surgery to alter his appearance.
He paid an ex-con physician $5,000 to give him a new face and to change his fingerprints.
One evening, Dillinger was enjoying a night out in Chicago at the Biograph Theater.
At this point, law enforcement was on to him and knew he would be at the theater.
As the crowd left the theater Dillinger locked eyes with a federal law enforcement agent.
The agent lit his cigar to signal to his fellow officers to move in.
That’s when Dillinger reached for his Colt 1903 .32 caliber pistol.
As he drew his pistol, he moved down a nearby alley.
But he didn’t know that law enforcement was waiting for him, and he was surrounded.
Three agents confronted Dillinger in the alley firing six shots. One of the rounds severed Dillinger’s spinal cord, killing him.
Dillinger never got a round off from his Colt 1903.
Now, there have been a lot of .32 caliber pistols that have come and gone.
And gun makers still produce modern pistols that shoot .32 caliber ammo.
So, here are a few reasons why you might (or might not) want to consider a .32 caliber pistol.
Benefits of .32 caliber:
One thing about the .32 caliber is that the rounds are smaller so the guns can hold a good amount of ammo.
Most .32 caliber guns can hold two more rounds than a 9mm or .38.
Another benefit of the .32 caliber round is that the recoil is about 50% less compared to the .380 ACP and will feel soft compared to many other pistol calibers.
And since .32 bullets tend to move slower you won’t have to worry as much about over-penetration with a full metal jacket.
Lastly, the .32 caliber is known to be very accurate.
It’s popular in competitive shooting and is even used in some Olympic competitions.
Drawbacks to the .32 caliber:
The major concern with the .32 caliber is that some shooters argue it doesn’t have the stopping power needed to defend against a threat.
But the truth is, ballistic reports don’t matter as much as shot placement.
Another issue is that .32 pistols are not the best for hollow point bullets. They are semi-rimmed cartridges, and the design can sometimes cause rim-lock.
The reality is that .32 caliber bullets won’t ever become mainstream cartridges.
The biggest reason is because .32 ammo is more expensive compared to 9mm.
In my opinion, a .32 caliber could make a nice backup gun. Yet, I wouldn’t make it my first choice for self-defense.
So, if you want to try a .32 caliber pistol for fun, consider trying out the KelTec P32 or the Beretta Tomcat 3032.
Either way, to protect your firearms – not just your .32 caliber, but all your guns – as well as your 2A freedoms, you should shield them from the government’s prying eyes.
