What would you use for self defense ammunition in 32 ACP for a Beretta Tomcat? Currently I use 60gr Speer Gold Dots hollow points in my Tomcat backup gun. I am starting to wonder if I would be better off using 73gr FMJ's like Fiocchi because hollow points in 32 ACP may not have adequate penetration.

Winchester FMJ with flat points.



Other choices are discussed here:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...e/Re_If_you_only_had_a_32acp#Post8699381

RBCD.

Thanks for the link to the other thread. I should have searched first.

No problem, just hope the link was useful.

I carry 90 gr Gold Dots in a 380 and I handed it to someone who finished off his antelope buck with it with a body shot.

It is anecdotal, but the Gold Dots really seem to stop the animal right then.

I don't know if water is a good indicater of performance, but I shot alot of different 32 acp bullets into a bucket of water to test expansion. The only one I got to expand at all was a winchester 60 gr silvertip. It expanded beautifuly and flattened on the bottom of the bucket.

I've tested several factory 32 ACP hollow point loads and found them unimpressive.

For whatever reason, the same brands of factory .380 hollow point seemed to give good performance.

The 32 ACP Win. 60 Silvertip seemed especially crappy (low penetration).

Based on it's extensive use during two world wars, the 32 ACP likely performs well loaded with hot FMJ.