.32 ACP / 7.65x17SR / 7.65mm Browning

The .32 ACP cartridge, as it is known in the USA. In Europe it is known as the 7.65mm Browning and also designated more technically as the 7.65×17mmSR Browning. It was developed by John Browning in the years from 1896-97. This was in concert with one of his pistol designs – a simple blowback pistol, the FN Browning M1900 (known by several names, please see article) which he sold to the Belgian FN Herstal company in 1899.

In a very short time, the FN Browning Pistol of the 1899/1900 pattern became very popular with European police and security forces. Just three years later this cartridge was introduced in the USA alongside the Colt Model 1903 Pistol, another creation of John Browning.

It must be noted that this cartridge never really did catch on in the USA. In fact, the only military use it saw there was in the Colt’s Model 1903 Pistols issued to general officers of the US Armed forces until the mid 1970’s. On the other hand, it found wide military acceptance in Europe. There it was issued to military personnel such as naval officers and aviators, even to infantry officers in countries such as France, Germany, Hungary, and others. In the police ranks, this cartridge served well into the 1970’s, being issued alongside smaller pocket type pistols. The most notable of these were the famous Walthers – PP and PPK.

This cartridge uses a brass cylindrical case with an extractor groove and a small rim (the so called semi-rimmed design, hence the SR suffix in the metric designation). The presence of a rim means that this cartridge was intended for use in both semi-automatic pistols and revolvers. A great many such weapons were made in Europe before WW1 and mostly produced in Belgium.

The standard loading is a jacketed bullet. However, nowadays several good factory loadings with expanding (frangible / hollowpoint) bullets are available in this caliber.

Designation

Manufacturer

Bullet weight, g

Muzzle velocity, m/s

Muzzle energy, J

Comments

FMJ

 FN, Belgium

4,6

280

180

Standard load