32 ACP (7.65mm Browning)
The 7.65mm Browning cartridge was introduced
to the European market by the Belgium firm Fabrique Nationale in 1899 in
John Browning's first successful semiautomatic pistol. In 1903, Colt introduced
its first Browning designed autoloader, the Pocket Model, chambered for the
same cartridge, but renamed it the .32 Automatic Colt Pistol, or .32 ACP
for short. Of semirimmed design, the .32 ACP was introduced with a 71 grain
full metal jacket bullet at a muzzle velocity of slightly over 900 fps for
around 130 foot pounds of kinetic energy. Several U.S. companies offer factory
loads for this cartridge, but Winchester's loading with a 60 grain hollowpoint
bullet at 970 fps is often preferred by the very few law enforcement personnel
who continue to use this relatively anemic cartridge in pocket pistols for
backup purposes. Winchester lists the muzzle energy of its factory load as
125 foot pounds.
Even though many other cartridges enjoy far greater publicity, it is thought
that more handguns have been chambered for the .32 ACP than for any other.
It is estimated that during the first 10 years of the .32 ACP's existence,
Fabrique Nationale alone produced over 500,000 pistols in this caliber.
Practically every minor and major manufacturer of autoloading handguns in
the world have built millions of small pocket autoloaders in .32 ACP with
famous names like Walther, Mauser, Colt, Remington, Savage,and FN/Browning
on the list.
The groove diameters of barrels in this caliber can vary from .308 inch to
.313 inch among the various manufacturers.
Source: Hodgdon Data Manual, 26th Edition
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