Hornady .32 ACP 60gr XTP in Clear Ballistics Gel.

[5pins]

Test Gun: Beretta 70
Barrel length: 3.5 inches.
Ammunition: Hornady .32 ACP 60gr XTP
Test media: 10% Clear Ballistics Gel.
Distance: 10 feet.
Chronograph: Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph G2.
Five shot velocity average: 800fps
Gel Temperature 70 degrees.

A new caliber I thought some would be interested in seeing. While the .32 ACP has largely been overshadowed by the .380 there still some people who may consider it as a carry round.

I got a five-shot average velocity of 800fps with a high of 838 and a low of 718fps. Shoots a little low at 5 yards. The one round out of the group was a called flyer.


Five rounds offhand at 5 yards.

The first round in the bare gel had a velocity of 780fps and penetrated to 12.25 inches. The recovered weight was 59.9 grains and there was no expansion, It tried to expand but didn’t quite make it. Round number two had a velocity of 726fps and penetrated to 20 inches. Odd I know but that’s what it did. Again, there was no expansion and the recovered weight was 60 grains.



In case you can’t Guess there was no expansion with either of the rounds in the clothed covered gel. The first round had a velocity of 764fps and it penetrated to 14 inches, the recovered weight was 60.1 grains. The second round was very similar and had a velocity of 832fps and penetrated to 13.5 inches with a weight of 60.1 grains also.

[JERRYS.]

good work. this round was given the benefit of a full length bbl and still failed to perform. in this caliber one would be better off with fmj instead of the Hornady round.

[Bill DeShivs]

Winchester Silvertips work very well in .32 acp.

[Cheapshooter]

By comparison I hope you put the Silver Tip, or other fmj rounds to the same test.

[JERRYS.]

Originally Posted by Bill DeShivs

Winchester Silvertips work very well in .32 acp.

are you referring to a skewed study or ballistic gel tests?

[Bill DeShivs]

Well now, I don't really remember.
But, I do remember that the Silvertip .32 was the one to judge all others by.

[JERRYS.]

Originally Posted by Bill DeShivs

Well now, I don't really remember.
But, I do remember that the Silvertip .32 was the one to judge all others by.

I remember that as well, but it was in the day when they used an aluminum jacket and they were the only .32 acp hollow point round in commercial production. I think it was also the time that a one shot stop study was done, but the study threw out a lot of shootings that did not fit a very narrow criterion, such as needing two shots or more to the body to stop an assailant. like in 100 shooting where one shot to the body was used the assailant stopped 60% of the time, however in 300 shootings the same round required more than one shot to the torso 90% of the time. also the assailant stopping their attack did not mean they were incapacitated and no longer posed a threat, just that they changed their mind. of course there weren't any ballistic gel tests done at that time either, and instead modeling clay and water were common mediums used by professionals to examine bullet expansion...… a lot has changed in 30 years.

[Bill DeShivs]

I still carry aluminum Silvertips in some of my guns.

[JERRYS.]

Originally Posted by Bill DeShivs

I still carry aluminum Silvertips in some of my guns.

I haven't seen an aluminum STHP in over 10 years. they were the greatest thing in sub 1,000 fps loadings. I don't know why they stopped using the aluminum jacket altogether.

[Rapidrob]

The new "Extreme Cavitator" bullet in .32 ACP really seems to be the best bet these days for CCW ammo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf-IF1emoJI

[Bill DeShivs]

I have a pretty good stock of carry ammunition.

[JERRYS.]

Originally Posted by Rapidrob

The new "Extreme Cavitator" bullet in .32 ACP really seems to be the best bet these days for CCW ammo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf-IF1emoJI

if they're as cheap as fmj you're right. but in the .32acp looks like the FMJ is the way to go, considering that no bone or buttons or lighter or anything was encountered in that gel test.

[Rapidrob]

I would think most .32 ACP CCW carriers would be firing more than one round at the bad guy.
Hitting a button,lighter, zipper, or bone would not come into play for every shot taken.
There is a fellow on you-tube who shot a pig carcass and did hit bone. The bullet still penetrated very well.

[JERRYS.]

it should be mentioned that this round, fired from a full length bbl, is still falling about 200 fps slower than the advertised velocity. in .25 acp and .32 acp Hornady seems to fall quite a bit short of their advertised velocities for a premium priced round.

[Rapidrob]

You have to wonder....at what Air Temperature, at what Altitude, at what Humidity level, at what Bore diameter, what chronograph was used set to what distance and at what Barrel length were the test rounds fired?