Relative Power of Ammunition

To the Editor.—  In his review of an apparent suicide attempt (241:2265, 1979), Bernard P. Wolff, MD, mentioned the use of "a .32-caliber revolver" and reported that the bullets barely got through the skin over the skull. He called this a "remarkably minor injury resulting from a powerful weapon."I would guess that the ammunition involved here is either the .32 S&W or the .32 S&W long (these are standard designations), most likely the former. If so, the injury is not remarkable at all as these "calibers" are notorious for their poor results on humans, especially when bone penetration is necessary. Either caliber is an excellent squirrel- or rabbit-getter, especially the latter, but any decent ballistician or knowledgeable gun buff will discourse at length on the ineffectiveness of this kind of stuff as man-stoppers. Surely, such ammunition can kill, but that is not the point here or in most cases. There are, of