Ballistics of a .32 cal

9/5/07 | stevio

[Manly Warrior]

Stevio;

A 22, 25 32 or 380 is a minimal cartridge for self-defense, but, certainly, better than not having anything better!

Do you intend to carry concealed? What sex are you? What kind of climate & types of clothes do you wear if concealed carry is intended? What are the local laws? Are you experienced in self protection skills?

There are a lot of variables that you need to address in order to make a wise informed choice on firearm type and caliber.

I recommend you find a local firearms trainer in your area to help with these questions-there are many out there, so be careful, some are not reputable or are all noise and not substance....

I would be glad to assist in your efforts-personal email me if interested in dialogue....

Regards

Andrew

[stevio]

I know the gun pretty well. I was able to take out a skunk at about 12ft. without using the sites, but it did take 3 shots. That was the reason for the original question. I am considering some of the weapons other Freepers have mentioned like the Kahl, money’s tight right now. I also carry a S&W .357 when the family is with me, but the Tomcat is comfortable on Summer days. Thanks everyone for the info, there’s no place like FR!

[Migraine]

Several years ago, before our town grew and got ordinances, I had a backyard skunk problem. They were eating my pets’ food with impunity. The cats got savvy and just faced off with them but were easily backed off. The skunks got bigger and bigger. It was October. One day, I arranged my woodpile as a perfect bullet-stop backdrop and placed the cats’ dishes in the horseshoe formed by the woodpile. I placed two clamp-lights with reflector hoods in strategic positions to illuminate the dishes perfectly and waited for nightfall. Right on cue, a big skunk came, backed off the cats and began to feast. With his back to me, I had a perfect 35-foot shot at the base of his brain, the medulla, and, with my Winchester model 75 .22, with Redfield peep sights, I performed brain surgery. The medulla controls the nervous system and reflex actions, so, with it disintegrated, the ol’ stinker couldn’t get his stinker going. Lights out. My boys went out, scooped it up into a trash bag, sealed it, and we waited for the next one, which dutifully materialized in about 10 minutes — and so on until we had bagged 5 big skunks in one night. And we did it without smelling up the neighborhood.

[oneolcop]

While many FReepers have responded to your post, and most who expressed an opinion have said that the .32 auto is very low in killing power (in a variety of ways) the truth is that it will do the job. I've seen many hundreds of gunshot victims in my career. Most were shot with .22 cal rounds. The person shot with a .22 usually does not die right away, but a small caliber bullet still tears through arteries and organs and causes internal bleeding.

Man is a "soft" target for the most part and is fairly easy to kill. Killing someone leads to a lot of trouble, believe me. I'm not telling you to leave your pistol at home, but be really sure that you want to shoot someone before the moment arrives, because you are in for a good deal of trouble from people who think you shouldn't be armed at all to lawyers who want a piece of your fortune to news media people and people who have opinions (often without facts) and on and on.

That being said, I bought my daughter a Beretta tomcat for her personal protection.

[yarddog]

It is hard for me to believe so many people do not realize what a killing machine a .22LR is when fired from a rifle or long barreled pistol.

I can remember my Father killing hogs with a .22 short. He would shoot them up close and they would drop like they were pole axed.

I used to love to read stories by Russell Anabel, who spent many years in Alaska. He once told of a particular adventure he had while carrying a Colt Woodsman .22.

He was leading a mule team packed with supplies. He was attacked by a Wolf Pack. He said it was a She Wolf and her yearling cubs. I can’t recall all the details but he sat against a tree and began picking the wolves off with that Colt Woodsman. I do remember him saying when he would shoot one in the shoulder, they would bite at the bullet entrance apparently thinking something was there.

He either killed or drove off the entire pack with that .22. He said in his opinion they ought to make a monument to the .22LR cartridge.

I have used one a lot and it can be a devestating weapon with good placement.

[stevio]

No well rounded gun owner doesn’t have a .22 rifle/pistol and plenty of ammo.