2024 is shaping up as the year of the .32 ACP. This year has seen the introduction and reintroduction of handguns chambered in the humble and efficient .32 caliber. The same goes for ammunition, including the new Federal Hydra-Shok Deep, now in .32 ACP.
The .32 ACP cartridge can be a hard sell. It is soft shooting in a way that .380 or 9mm is not, but the cost comes with hollow point performance at the .32’s sedate velocities. To get the best balance between damage and penetration, most .32 carriers opt for 71-grain FMJ. But Federal is looking to change that with the Hydra-Shok Deep line.
Federal Premium’s Hydra-Shok line of bonded jacketed hollow points have been street-proven since 1989. Their Deep line is optimized for concealed carry applications rather than duty use. While most hollow points in small calibers like these tend to be light in weight, the Hydra-Shok Deep features a heavier bonded jacketed hollow point weighing 68 grains. The bullet features a hardened center post of lead that resists flattening out too quickly, which would otherwise limit penetration through barriers and tissue.
“The Hydra-Shok Deep bullet design works extremely well in cartridges with limited available energy,” said Chris Laack, Federal’s Handgun Product Manager. “The bullet’s controlled expansion provides an optimal balance between upset size and penetration depth. This allows us to achieve some of the best terminal performance ever offered in the 32 Auto cartridge.”
The venerable .32 ACP joins the .380 ACP, .38 Special, 9mm Luger, 40 S&W, and .45 ACP cartridges in Federal’s acclaimed Hydra-Shok Deep lineup. This new offering is currently shipping in twenty-round boxes at an MSRP of $35.99.
