32 Or 44 Magnum? Frontal Area & Stopping Power - Pt.2:

Some more rambling thoughts on the possible effects of projectile impact areas:

Typical Handgun Calibers, Diameters and Surface Areas:

32 Caliber, 327 Fed. Magnum  (.312")      = 0.076 sq. inch.

9mm, 38 Special & 357 Magnum (.356")  = 0.1 sq. inch.

44 Magnum   (.429")                                = 0.14 sq. inch.

45 ACP          (.45")                                  = 0.16 sq. inch.

.50 S&W Magnum  (.500")                        = 0.20 sq. inch.

Always remembering that the bullet's area is but one factor in 'Stopping Power' - I'm noting that the two pills from a duplex loaded "Thirty-Two"  (such as a 327 Fed. Magnum) will more than equal the impact area of a 44 Magnum projectile.

- On the other hand .. the massive .50 S&W Magnum (that needs a very large revolver) standard loading -

                               (I thought X-Frames Are Five Chamber Revolvers)

 - has twice the impact area of a 9 mm or 38 Special. (unless the .38" is a 'duplex').

... while you should reckon that the small 9 mm can produce very similar power / energy levels to the larger cased 38 Special - due to it's higher pressure loading.

Ballistically Similar.

So, maybe, - if two projectiles of a duplex loaded 'thirty-two' round both achieved the FBI suggested minimum 12 inch penetration in 10% Ballistic Gelatin - a trouble-maker like me might think that this compact 'thirty-two' was possibly being as effective at "Stopping Power" as a standard 44 Magnum round - except without the bulky weight, muzzle blast, roar, and felt recoil of the big magnum.

Am I being mischieveous or controversial here?  😈

- No way am I saying that the 'thirty-two' is as *POWERFUL* as the .44" Magnum. It certainly won't knock down a heavy 100 yard steel RAM silhouette target like the magnum..

- But will it do the job on a 'CQC' soft target ?

Again - please pause to consider, that rounds from an 'evil' 7.62 x 39 AK round (or a British .303" SMLE) are exactly the same diameter (.312") and frontal area - as that from the wee "thirty-two" pistol rounds - and there would be no question regarding their 'Stopping Power' - the differences here are Mass and Velocity - relating to kinetic energy and retained velocity.

Marty K.