.32 ACP

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The .32 ACP pistol cartridge is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning, for use in semi-automatic pistols. The cartridge was first used in the Browning M1900 of 1900.

Image:7.65x17 mm Browning.jpg

Contents

Design

It was designed for early blowback semi-automatic pistols which lacked a barrel locking mechanism; the relatively low power of the .32 ACP round made it a practical blowback round.

It is still used today in blowback semi-automatic pistols, as well in modern locked-breech, single column magazine, deep-concealment, semi-automatic pistols such as the Kel-Tec P-32 introduced in 1999 for concealed carry.

Performance

The .32 ACP is compact and light, but short ranged and generally lacks stopping power, though with the correct load it is effective. Even so it remains a viable self defense cartridge for use in compact pistols.

Cartridges in 32 ACP are also sometimes used in caliber conversion sleeves, also known as supplemental chambers, for providing an alternative pistol caliber carbine functionality in .30-caliber hunting rifles.

In Europe, the 32 ACP (7.65 mm Browning, i.e., 7.65x17 mm) is more widely viewed as an adequate self-defense round than in the US. This probably stems from the fact that Archduke Ferdinand and his wife were both killed by a 32 ACP pistol, which started World War I. The 32 ACP pistol used was a Browning M1910 semi-automatic pistol, serial number 19074. (Although the M1910 was widely available in both .380 ACP (9x17 mm, 9 mm Kurz) and 32 ACP (7.65 mm Browning) versions, it was the less-expensive and lower-powered 7.65 mm Browning (32 ACP) version that was used for the assassination by Gavrilo Princip. For many years, it was believed that Princip had used a 380 ACP version of the M1910. This was discovered to be an error when Princip's 32 ACP pistol was rediscovered in 2004.) [1],[2]

Likewise, Hitler committed suicide with a 7.65 mm (32 ACP) pistol, shooting himself in the right temple.

Muzzle velocity

  • 4.8 g (74 gr) full metal jacket: 290 m/s (950 ft/s)

Synonyms

  • 32 Auto (typical designation in America)
  • .32 Browning Auto
  • 7.65 x 17 mm
  • 7.65 x 17mmSR (SR designating Semi-Rimmed)
  • 7.65 mm Browning (typical designation in Europe)

Guns

See also

pl:Nabój 7,65 x 17 mm SR Browning sl:Naboj 7,65 mm Browning