Well better than not having a gun but definitely not optimal. With the small 9’s, 40’s and even a .380 I would go another way.

 

Iam Fleming certainly thought it to be 'adequate'!
Kidding aside, it's been doing it's job for a long time, modernization of ammo performance can only improve things. I have a PPK in 380, would love to have a 32ACP.
Somewhere along the way, the psyche of man (or maybe just 'marketing types') has determined that 'bigger is better'....I'm waiting for a 'Bond Arms' in 500 S&W!

 

A 22 rimfire has my respect.

 

Think of it this way, "If you took a 32ACP round in your chest, would you still be in the mood to harm or rob someone ?" I consider a self defense gun to be something used as a last resort to deter or prevent someone from harming me, not something I'm looking to get in a shoot out with. My CCW is a 22 short. If you need a big bore, multi-round, large handgun to bail you out then several bad choices have already been made. Just sayin'.

 

A .22 Short? Seriously?. Having spent 22 years in Corrections, my training says this is jot a good idea. The object of a defensive weapon is to stop the assault. The perp will likely be "high" on drugs or alcohol.and will not respond to fear, logic or a sharp sting. It is not a question of getting into a prolonged fire fight. The object is to stop the attack as quickly as possible. There is no reason to go "Dirty Harry" with a .44 magnum, but a 9mm, .40 or .45 makes a lot more sense than a .22 Short or .25 Auto. Saving your own life, or that of another, is not a sporting event, or one where good intentions wins the day.

 

I couldn’t agree with Hawkeye Hunter more. Way too many fantasy Rambo’s out there. If you’re not law enforcement, it’s very, very unlikely you’ll be in an extended gunfight trying to subdue a bad guy. In fact, it’s not even a good idea to get involved in a gunfight unless your life is threatened. Even in you end up being found not guilty of assaulting or killing someone, you’re going to have a mountain of legal bills. Every perp who gets killed by the police has a lot of family members and do-good lawyers waiting to sue the police for using excessive force. But, do as you please. I gave handgun safety courses and taught handgun shooting for years and there was always someone in the class who wanted to know when he/she could shoot someone. I always told them that it was their duty to get out of a bad situation, not get into one.

 

My EDC is caliber 32. Kel Tec.
It's not as jumpy as my LCP 380.
I'll also carry a P17 at times. My job requires something that has little or no print. I will holster a 9 when not working. But I never shame the small calibers. Train with what you carry; leave the debating to the you tubers!
(Nothing against them. There's a wealth of good info out there)

 

The 32 with you is better than the 45 left at home because it was too heavy, wrong weather to wear enough to conceal (issue in the hot suth), etc

That said there are some 380s and 9mms that are nearly as small and light ...

 

I think the .32 is a great option if footprint/concealment are a top priority. I'd take it over a rimfire...or you leaving home without a weapon at all.

 

Load it with Winchester Silvertip ammo. It gets the job done. I have a WWII military PPK in .32 acp. I still sometimes carry it but usually my Glock 43.

 

With modern ammo and multiple hits it can be effective. The Mossad would assassinate terrorist with .22 LR loaded down to .22 short velocities for noise reasons. I've seen cases in my career where they've worked out of proportion to their size. A 300 pound cop hit in the collar bone by a .25 that bounced down to his heart and dead in 30 seconds. A young man with a .22 revolver trying to influence his former girl friend shoots himself under his left nipple. The bullet hit bone and went lateral across the body taking out the heart and both lungs. The emergency room doctor said it was un-surviveable even if it happened on the operating room table. Then there is the felon that was shot 7 times with .25 auto and .32 revolver. He was arrested 2 months later and had never seen a doctor.

 

I once killed a large domestic goat with a .22 pistol. The first shot did not faze him. The second shot killed him.dead right there. Now do you want to trust a .22 short, .25 auto or a .32 auto yo stop, and that's the word, not kill) a drug fueled attack? Yes, he may die either way, but if you want to survive you won't be planning to scare the attacker away.

 

A friend of mine shot a large armed attacker twice in the chest cavity with a .25 auto killing him instantly. Go figure!

 

No matter what you carry it's just a rock if you don't shoot it to defend yourself when needed.

 

Exactly right. Like those people that carry a handgun with an e!put chamber or unloaded all together. It's just an expensive paperweight..

 

22 years of being told something & your experiences have formed your opinion. My experiences have formed mine. All cops think they have all the right answers but they place themselves in situations that most people do not. I don't frequent areas where drug addicts, thieves, & other bad actors hang out, so I feel my CCW of choice fits my circumstances & that NOT putting myself in bad situations is the best form of self defense. You, on the other hand, seek out bad situations & have "chosen" to be in harm's way & therefore have a different perspective. In 75 years the only time I ever fired on someone was when I was in the military & ordered to. I definitely don't need to be told it's not a "sporting event".

Nope. I'm 71 and have been retired for 6 years. I have only once been in a situation where I might have drawn my side arm since I retired but I didn't. A crowd of thugs were beating on an older guy. After telling my wife to call 911, I

the crowd and in my best Correctional sergeant voice, boomed " All you people get back, right the **** now!" After a couple of "strong, verbal, directives" there was only one big guy left. He had the old guys throat in his left hand while while he was about to beat his face in. As his fist came down I snatched it out of the air and twisted it back and to.the side. In prison, we referred to that as "gaining compliance through pain and balance disruption." I then had to watch not only him but the crowD I had backed off. My 1911 stayed on my hip and out of sight. I held the guy in place until the cops eventually showed up.

BTW, I never said that I was a cop. I wasn't. I just had a lot of the same training. Firearms are not allowed inside the secure perimeter secure perimeter. I wss only armed when I wss on a detail outside, me WW ical, funeral, etc.

22 years of being told something & your experiences have formed your opinion. My experiences have formed mine. All cops think they have all the right answers but they place themselves in situations that most people do not. I don't frequent areas where drug addicts, thieves, & other bad actors hang out, so I feel my CCW of choice fits my circumstances & that NOT putting myself in bad situations is the best form of self defense. You, on the other hand, seek out bad situations & have "chosen" to be in harm's way & therefore have a different perspective. In 75 years the only time I ever fired on someone was when I was in the military & ordered to. I definitely don't need to be told it's not a "sporting event".