![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/45acpammo.jpg\" "\\".45")
<\/p>\nWhat does ACP stand for and what is ACP ammo? If you’ve ever shopped for ammo or looked into the different pistol calibers, you’ve come across the ACP acronym.<\/p>\n
Today we’re exploring what ACP ammo is and looking at the different ACP calibers.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The acronym “ACP” stands for Automatic Colt Pistol. This designates select cartridges designed by legendary firearms designer John Moses Browning. Browning’s\u00a0 ACP cartridges are straight-wall designs for his self-loading semi-auto pistols.<\/p>\n
The ACP cartridges are .32 ACP, .38 ACP, .45 ACP, .25 ACP, and .380 ACP.<\/p>\n
![\"the](\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shooting45acp.jpg\" "\\"1911\\"")
The \u201cA\u201d in \u201cACP\u201d stands for automatic. This refers to automatic pistols, though in modern times we refer to them as semi-autos.<\/span><\/p>\n Next, the \u201cC\u201d stands for Colt, the gun manufacturer that Browning worked for at the time. Including the company name behind the cartridge was, and still is, common practice. For example, Smith & Wesson is behind the .40 S&W cartridge.<\/span><\/p>\n Finally, the \u201cP\u201d stands for Pistol. This denotes that the cartridge is specifically designed for pistols.<\/span><\/p>\n Now, let\u2019s take a look at the ACP cartridges.<\/span><\/p>\n The ACP cartridges are:<\/p>\n The .32 ACP is the first of the ACP cartridges. John Browning designed the .32 ACP for use in the Fabrique Nationale FN M1900 semi-automatic pistol. The cartridge uses a straight wall and small rim to enable reliable blowback operation and feeding from a box magazine.<\/span><\/p>\n The .32 ACP quickly gained popularity, and other gun manufacturers produced guns chambered for the cartridge in the years following its release.<\/span><\/p>\n Not to be confused with the .38 Special, Browning designed the .38 ACP shortly after the .32 ACP for the Colt M1900. The M1900 was the first handgun to use a short-recoil operation, and influenced the design of the M1911.<\/span><\/p>\n While the .38 ACP is not a common cartridge today, it is the reason we have the .38 Super cartridge. The .38 Super uses the same dimensions as the .38 ACP but is loaded to a higher pressure. For this reason, it\u2019s not safe to shoot <\/span>.38 Super ammo<\/span><\/a> in .38 ACP guns.<\/span><\/p>\n The .45 ACP is the most powerful and likely the most popular of the ACP cartridges. As is true with all the ACP rounds Browning designed, the .45 ACP was designed for use in his prototype Colt semi-auto pistols. In 1911, the U.S. Military adopted the round for use in the Colt M1911 pistol which served as the standard-issue sidearm between 1911 and 1985.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The .45 ACP cartridge is still extremely popular, though many shooters opted for less-powerful pistol cartridges like the 9mm and .40 S&W as bullet designs improved over the years. However, the 1911 and other .45s are still mainstream choices for shooters.<\/span><\/p>\n Browning introduced the .25 ACP cartridge with the Fabrique Nationale M1905 pistol, which inspired the nearly identical Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket pistol, and the later Baby Browning. Browning designed the .25 ACP because it was the smallest cartridge he could make while retaining a centerfire primer pocket which was more reliable than rimfire primers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The cartridge became extremely popular due to the many \u201cpocket pistols\u201d or \u201cmouse guns\u201d that were eventually chambered in caliber. Today, it\u2019s not too common that you come across someone carrying a .25 ACP pistol. Shooters often view the .25 ACP as underpowered and opt for more modern cartridge designs.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat are the ACP Cartridges?<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/380acpammo.jpg\" "\\".380")
<\/p>\n\n
.32 ACP<\/h3>\n
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.38 ACP<\/span><\/h3>\n
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.45 ACP<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"three](\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/1911-3.jpg\" "\\"1911")
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\n <\/div>\n \n \n Federal American Eagle 45 ACP Ammunition - 50 Rounds of 230 Grain FMJ <\/div>\n \n \n $26.99 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n ![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/assets.targetbarn.com\/media\/products\/image\/512x\/a7d3e77d50cb3f0c92923c809cbcb75d\/2\/f\/2ffe12e6983db295938aec35f346ed01_3.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n \n Hornady Critical Defense 45 ACP Ammunition - 20 Rounds of 165 Grain FTX HP <\/div>\n \n \n $33.00 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n ![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/assets.targetbarn.com\/media\/products\/image\/512x\/a7d3e77d50cb3f0c92923c809cbcb75d\/d\/b\/db7ce72b7ea439abfde1e97afee1f58d_2.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n \n Winchester Target 45 ACP Ammunition - 50 Rounds of 230 Grain FMJ <\/div>\n \n \n $25.99 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n ![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/assets.targetbarn.com\/media\/products\/image\/512x\/a7d3e77d50cb3f0c92923c809cbcb75d\/4\/a\/4a1287c4c152d451a7d365c6e115b988_2.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n \n Winchester 45 ACP Ammunition - 500 Rounds of 230 Grain FMJ <\/div>\n \n \n $254.99 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n ![\"left](\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-content\/themes\/generatepress_child\/assets\/img\/mc-arrow-left.svg\"){kind=icon}
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\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n.25 ACP<\/span><\/h3>\n
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.380 ACP<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/380acp.jpg\" "\\"380")
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\n <\/div>\n \n \n PMC Bronze 380 ACP Ammunition - 1000 Rounds of 90 Grain FMJ <\/div>\n \n \n $409.99 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n \n <\/div>\n \n \n PMC 380 ACP Ammunition - 50 Rounds of 90 Grain FMJ <\/div>\n \n \n $21.99 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n ![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/assets.targetbarn.com\/media\/products\/image\/512x\/a7d3e77d50cb3f0c92923c809cbcb75d\/2\/c\/2cdd9b531a123f732b9ac222a3172a62.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n \n Federal American Eagle 380 Auto Ammunition - 50 Rounds of 95 Grain FMJ <\/div>\n \n \n $21.99 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n ![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/assets.targetbarn.com\/media\/products\/image\/512x\/a7d3e77d50cb3f0c92923c809cbcb75d\/1\/4\/1432d4b5336647aa8891071bd1413587.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n \n Winchester Bonded PDX1 Defender 380 ACP Ammunition - 20 Rounds of 95 Grain JHP <\/div>\n \n \n $29.99 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n ![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/assets.targetbarn.com\/media\/products\/image\/512x\/a7d3e77d50cb3f0c92923c809cbcb75d\/b\/a\/ba202629ee9f5d97c84e090594bc5ef8.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n \n Remington UMC 380 ACP Ammunition - 100 Rounds of 88 Grain JHP <\/div>\n \n \n $65.00 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n ![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/assets.targetbarn.com\/media\/products\/image\/512x\/a7d3e77d50cb3f0c92923c809cbcb75d\/6\/2\/62e0603636e2f62d6e98241cceac05c5.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n \n Remington UMC 380 ACP Ammunition - 1000 Rounds of 95 Grain FMJ <\/div>\n \n \n $379.99 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n ![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/assets.targetbarn.com\/media\/products\/image\/512x\/a7d3e77d50cb3f0c92923c809cbcb75d\/2\/9\/29c99f4c7c26cb471dd0f60427a5a85c.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n \n Speer LE Gold Dot 380 ACP Ammunition - 50 Rounds of 90 Grain GDHP <\/div>\n \n \n $40.00 <\/div>\n \n $27.99 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n ![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/assets.targetbarn.com\/media\/products\/image\/512x\/a7d3e77d50cb3f0c92923c809cbcb75d\/c\/3\/c32781cf054bc15d525a24e831f00027.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n \n Remington UMC 380 ACP Ammunition - 600 Rounds of 88 Grain JHP <\/div>\n \n \n $324.99 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n ![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/assets.targetbarn.com\/media\/products\/image\/512x\/a7d3e77d50cb3f0c92923c809cbcb75d\/b\/8\/b83d5cda0b6785e130d8d3703f14473d_3.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n \n Hornady Critical Defense 380 ACP Ammunition - 250 Rounds of 90 Grain FTX <\/div>\n \n \n $264.99 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n ![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/assets.targetbarn.com\/media\/products\/image\/512x\/a7d3e77d50cb3f0c92923c809cbcb75d\/b\/7\/b7b79624d8c76bb2826c1e6fad03df1a.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n \n Speer LE Gold Dot 380 ACP Ammunition - 1000 Rounds of 90 Grain GDHP <\/div>\n
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