32 ACP Ammo | 32 ACP Pistol Ammunition

Is .32 Auto and .32 ACP the same?

Yes, the official designation is .32 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol), and they're often referred to as a .32 Auto or .32 Automatic. Less often, you'll hear them called a .32 Browning Auto or .32 Rimless Smokeless. European designations include 7.65mm Browning, 7.65 Walther, 7.65x17mm, or 7.65x17mm Browning SR (Semi-Rimmed).

They should not be confused with .32 NAA, which is a caliber designed by a collaboration of North American Arms and COR-BON Ammunition for the NAA (North American Arms) Guardian, a semiauto centerfire pocket pistol. .32 NAA ammo is in very limited production and hard to find as the caliber was not widely adopted by other handgun manufacturers.

A few other .32-caliber handgun cartridges that are notable but different calibers from .32 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) are the .32 S&W, .32 S&W Long, and .32 H&R Magnum.

Do they still make .32 ACP ammo?

Yes, there are several manufacturers who make .32 ACP ammo! You can find Remington 32 ACP, Hornady 32 ACP, and Winchester 32 ACP, just to name a few that we carry here at OpticsPlanet. You can find FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) and JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point) rounds in .32 Auto ammo.

There are still firearm manufacturers producing new .32 ACP handguns, so it's unlikely that they'll stop making .32 Auto ammunition anytime soon.

Is .32 cal. good for self-defense?

This is a hot topic of debate in the modern era. There are people who make valid arguments on both sides, and .32 Auto does have its pros and cons. It's definitely better than a .25 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol), but smaller than the .380 ACP that a lot of folks say is the bare minimum carry caliber. There are a lot of factors that go into a good self-defense gun, and a lot of them depend on the person carrying a gun for personal defense. Concealability, weight, size, and low recoil can all be factors that might steer someone toward a .32 ACP instead of a .380 ACP or the far more common 9mm. Aside from all the other factors of ballistics, muzzle velocity, muzzle energy, etc., there is one paramount consideration: is this a gun you will carry all day, every day? If it's too bulky, the caliber is too much for you, or you're recoil-sensitive, chances are you won't be consistent about carrying it for self-defense purposes. The second most important consideration is that you need to practice, practice, practice, and practice some more and do it consistently with any firearm that you intend to use for personal defense in your home or as an EDC (Every Day Carry). Ultimately, the .32 ACP may be a good self-defense caliber for you, but not your neighbor, and vice versa.

Buy .32 ACP Ammo from OpticsPlanet!

Shop at OpticsPlanet for all of your Handgun Ammo, including .32 ACP! We carry a huge selection of all kinds of handgun, rifle, and shotgun calibers and gauges in a variety of loads to meet your needs for target shooting, self-defense, and hunting. Want to learn more? Check out the Handgun Ammo Guides our own in-house experts and enthusiasts have put together. Don't wait, stock up on all of your ammo with OpticsPlanet today!