.32 acp / .380 acp - Which is more common?

Arbiter89 · November 2, 2009, 08:42 PM

.32 ACP .380 ACP ... Which is more common?

oneounceload · November 2, 2009, 08:53 PM

As regards what in particular? Both were very common 100 years ago as carry and LE calibers. Both have been resurrected greatly in the last few years for carry guns, especially in "pocket" or "mouse" guns. Currently, IMO, 380 is enjoying a little more popularity, especially due to the Ruger LCP, Seecamp, etc.....

Micropterus · November 2, 2009, 09:10 PM

With respect to ammo: I see .32 ACP ammo in all the gunshops I go to. .32 ACP is readily available. Still can't find any .380 ammo.

Kiawah · November 2, 2009, 11:05 PM

380 is more common

Chesster · November 2, 2009, 11:22 PM

Currently, .32 ammo is more commonly available in shops since the .380 is preferred and more commonly found with US shooting market.

raftman · November 3, 2009, 12:55 AM

Here, the exact opposite is the case. I always see plenty of .380 and very rarely any .32 acp

Cremon · November 3, 2009, 01:13 AM

I guess it depends on where you are. In Georgia, I see 32 pistols almost everywhere and 380's in some places. But I could get ammo for either one almost anywhere here. Wal Mart is king for standard ammo. I can get all my handgun ammo at Wal Mart for decent rates and they have stacks of 380 and 32 boxes.

Cajun Ken · November 3, 2009, 07:32 AM

In my part of Tennessee, .380 ammo is hard to get and is very expensive (when you can find it)!!! .32 is readily available, but I haven't priced it cause I don't have a .32

Kreyzhorse · November 3, 2009, 07:36 AM

I'd guess that .380 is the more popular round but .32 ammo is a lot of easier to find right now.

Kiawah · November 3, 2009, 07:51 AM

Guess the OP needs to clarify the question.

I've never seen any cross brand pistol production numbers, but from what I've observed there appear to be in total many more 380 pistols sold than 32's, reference the LCP sales. LCP serial numbers are closing in on almost 300K pistols. (If you can get a 380 in a similar physical size pistol as a 32, why not get the 380?).

That then helps contribute to the shortage of 380 ammo, and why 380 ammo seems to be less available than anything else.

troy_mclure · November 3, 2009, 05:22 PM

i went with the p32 over the p3at because i can find dcent amounts of .32acp.

mavracer · November 3, 2009, 08:11 PM

I know at my house 32 is way more common 2 guns + ammo to no 380s

IdahoG36 · November 3, 2009, 09:14 PM

My shop has lots of .380 on the shelf, and one box of .32. .380 pistols outsell .32 pistols by a wide margin here. The only .32 pistols I commonly see around here are the Kel Tec P32 and the NAA Guardian.

jal5 · November 4, 2009, 12:28 PM

I think the 380 is more common around here. But I needed 32acp ammo and got all I needed at a decent price online at ammunitiontogo.com about 3 mos. ago.

Joe

Doyle · November 4, 2009, 12:56 PM

When you ask "more common" you also have to specify which country. There are many countries in Europe and South America where the .32 (7.65x17 Browning) is more commonly used than the .380. However, I think you were really asking about the US where you'll find the .380 to be the more common caliber.

JAG06 · November 4, 2009, 02:50 PM

.380 is more common, although the ammo is hard to find these days. I guess it is more accurate to say that more ammo manufacturers make it and there are more pistols chambered for it.

Chesster · November 4, 2009, 03:00 PM

We're the US, bigger is always better, ain't it????

You want fries with that super sized CCW???

bryceadamprescott · November 6, 2009, 01:35 PM

If your are talking about ammo availability then 380acp is more likely to be found than 32acp in a typical gun store. Many times the 380acp will be cheaper because it is more common, although this depends on where you live.

NWCP · November 6, 2009, 01:57 PM

With the .380 pocket pistols being so popular lately the ammo tends to sell out quickly. I own and enjoy shooting both calibers and don't have too much trouble getting ammo for either. Both are more expensive than fodder for my nines.

CorpITGuy · November 6, 2009, 03:45 PM

I would not advise buying a .32 for SD/HD.

troy_mclure · November 6, 2009, 03:55 PM

i do reccomend .32acp for sd/hd.

Jim Keenan · November 6, 2009, 04:01 PM

.32 ACP is much more common, at least as regards gun population. Of the milliions of souvenir pistols brought back from Europe after WWII, 32 ACP (7.65 Browning) is much more common because the .380 ACP (9mm Kurz) was not in the German police or military supply system. In addition, there were many more domestically produced pistols in .32 than in .380; of the U.S. makers, only Remington produced more guns in .380 than in .32.

If we assume that most of those older guns are "inactive" (not fired regularly), and confine the issue to modern self defense guns, then the .380 is more common. This is due to two factors. Over the years, the common belief has become that while the .380 is barely adequate for self defense, the .32 is almost worthless. (This is not true, IMHO, but it is a widespread belief.)

Partly because of that, the rules written to enforce GCA 68 made importation of .32 pistols nearly impossible, while .380 guns were OK'd for import.

The belief is still strong and many makers of small pistols don't make a .32 at at all. So with what we can call "active guns", the preponderance of guns will be in .380. Even so, demand for .380 is relatively small and production light, so the recent sudden demand caught ammunition makers completely by surprise, resulting in a shortage of .380 more severe than for other calibers.

Jim

5whiskey · November 6, 2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

i do reccomend .32acp for sd/hd.

+1

If you're asking "what is the most commonly available ammo RIGHT NOW", the answer would most likely be .32 acp except in a few localized pockets where .380 seems to be easy to find. It's next to impossible to find around here. .32 isn't easy to find, but at least I can find it for 30 cents per round shipped to my door within a week. Try doing that with .380. If anyone does have any in stock, it won't be for 30 cents per round or anywhere near it.

November 2, 2009, 08:42 PM	#1
Arbiter89 Member Join Date: October 6, 2009 Location: Louisiana Posts: 23	.32 acp / .380 acp - Which is more common? .32 ACP .380 ACP ... Which is more common?

November 2, 2009, 08:53 PM	#2
oneounceload Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 2,433	As regards what in particular? Both were very common 100 years ago as carry and LE calibers. Both have been resurrected greatly in the last few years for carry guns, especially in "pocket" or "mouse" guns. Currently, IMO, 380 is enjoying a little more popularity, especially due to the Ruger LCP, Seecamp, etc..... __________________ *SNOWBIRDS* Taste Like Chicken

November 2, 2009, 11:22 PM	#5
Chesster Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2007 Location: Dixie Posts: 1,104	Currently, .32 ammo is more commonly available in shops since the .380 is preferred and more commonly found with US shooting market. __________________ Chesster Proud NDN "The American Idle"

November 3, 2009, 12:55 AM	#6
raftman Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 682	Here, the exact opposite is the case. I always see plenty of .380 and very rarely any .32 acp __________________ "My momma, she done told me, there's heart and then there's hate If one of 'em's inside of you, the other one, it aint."

November 3, 2009, 01:13 AM	#7
Cremon Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 2007 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 117	I see both I guess it depends on where you are. In Georgia, I see 32 pistols almost everywhere and 380's in some places. But I could get ammo for either one almost anywhere here. Wal Mart is king for standard ammo. I can get all my handgun ammo at Wal Mart for decent rates and they have stacks of 380 and 32 boxes. __________________ You can bring out the worst in people, or the best in people. If you make any other choice, you aren't likely to be remembered.

November 2, 2009, 09:10 PM	#3
Micropterus Member Join Date: August 29, 2009 Posts: 82	With respect to ammo: I see .32 ACP ammo in all the gunshops I go to. .32 ACP is readily available. Still can't find any .380 ammo.

November 2, 2009, 11:05 PM	#4
Kiawah Member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Posts: 49	380 is more common

November 3, 2009, 07:32 AM	#8
Cajun Ken Junior Member Join Date: October 20, 2009 Posts: 5	In my part of Tennessee, .380 ammo is hard to get and is very expensive (when you can find it)!!! .32 is readily available, but I haven't priced it cause I don't have a .32

November 3, 2009, 07:36 AM	#9
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 5,519	I'd guess that .380 is the more popular round but .32 ammo is a lot of easier to find right now. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

November 3, 2009, 07:51 AM	#10
Kiawah Member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Posts: 49	Guess the OP needs to clarify the question. I've never seen any cross brand pistol production numbers, but from what I've observed there appear to be in total many more 380 pistols sold than 32's, reference the LCP sales. LCP serial numbers are closing in on almost 300K pistols. (If you can get a 380 in a similar physical size pistol as a 32, why not get the 380?). That then helps contribute to the shortage of 380 ammo, and why 380 ammo seems to be less available than anything else. Last edited by Kiawah; November 3, 2009 at 07:57 AM.

November 3, 2009, 05:22 PM	#11
troy_mclure Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2008 Location: gulf of mexico Posts: 1,452	i went with the p32 over the p3at because i can find dcent amounts of .32acp. __________________ There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change. It is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wound, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time."

November 4, 2009, 12:28 PM	#14
jal5 Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2009 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 207	I think the 380 is more common around here. But I needed 32acp ammo and got all I needed at a decent price online at ammunitiontogo.com about 3 mos. ago. Joe __________________ We live in the greatest country on Earth- always be thankful!

November 4, 2009, 12:56 PM	#15
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Bradenton, Fl Posts: 1,515	When you ask "more common" you also have to specify which country. There are many countries in Europe and South America where the .32 (7.65x17 Browning) is more commonly used than the .380. However, I think you were really asking about the US where you'll find the .380 to be the more common caliber.

November 4, 2009, 02:50 PM	#16
JAG06 Member Join Date: April 22, 2007 Posts: 27	.380 is more common, although the ammo is hard to find these days. I guess it is more accurate to say that more ammo manufacturers make it and there are more pistols chambered for it.

November 4, 2009, 03:00 PM	#17
Chesster Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2007 Location: Dixie Posts: 1,104	We're the US, bigger is always better, ain't it???? You want fries with that super sized CCW??? __________________ Chesster Proud NDN "The American Idle"

November 6, 2009, 01:35 PM	#18
bryceadamprescott Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Posts: 29	If your are talking about ammo availability then 380acp is more likely to be found than 32acp in a typical gun store. Many times the 380acp will be cheaper because it is more common, although this depends on where you live.

November 6, 2009, 01:57 PM	#19
NWCP Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2006 Posts: 715	With the .380 pocket pistols being so popular lately the ammo tends to sell out quickly. I own and enjoy shooting both calibers and don't have too much trouble getting ammo for either. Both are more expensive than fodder for my nines.

November 6, 2009, 03:45 PM	#20
CorpITGuy Member Join Date: May 14, 2009 Posts: 44	I would not advise buying a .32 for SD/HD.

November 6, 2009, 03:55 PM	#21
troy_mclure Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2008 Location: gulf of mexico Posts: 1,452	i do reccomend .32acp for sd/hd. __________________ There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change. It is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wound, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time."

November 6, 2009, 04:01 PM	#22
Jim Keenan Senior Member Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 10,621	.32 ACP is much more common, at least as regards gun population. Of the milliions of souvenir pistols brought back from Europe after WWII, 32 ACP (7.65 Browning) is much more common because the .380 ACP (9mm Kurz) was not in the German police or military supply system. In addition, there were many more domestically produced pistols in .32 than in .380; of the U.S. makers, only Remington produced more guns in .380 than in .32. If we assume that most of those older guns are "inactive" (not fired regularly), and confine the issue to modern self defense guns, then the .380 is more common. This is due to two factors. Over the years, the common belief has become that while the .380 is barely adequate for self defense, the .32 is almost worthless. (This is not true, IMHO, but it is a widespread belief.) Partly because of that, the rules written to enforce GCA 68 made importation of .32 pistols nearly impossible, while .380 guns were OK'd for import. The belief is still strong and many makers of small pistols don't make a .32 at at all. So with what we can call "active guns", the preponderance of guns will be in .380. Even so, demand for .380 is relatively small and production light, so the recent sudden demand caught ammunition makers completely by surprise, resulting in a shortage of .380 more severe than for other calibers. Jim __________________ Jim Keenan