My 50+ years with the .25 acp

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I only have 26 years with my 950 Jetfire. I picked it up on sale for a stupid-good price from Oshman's in 1995.
It's not been my first choice for carrying around, but, that's probably from spending the sort of cash a decent holster ran to 25 years ago.
It reliably digests any .25acp it is fed. Cleaning that teeny barrel with a brush and jag always seemed like it was meant to be part of a clown act at the circus. Such is life.
I picked up my 2nd Model 950 at the Post Oak Mall Oshman’s around 1990 or so. You were living around these parts back then so I hazard a guess it’s the same store.
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Here's a crappy photo I took of my Beretta Jetfire with what I deemed to be other pocket pistols (although the Earl, with 3" barrel, is pushing that notion a bit).

I bought the Jetfire at a Sports Authority (remember them??? :)) back some time in the early 90s (if I recall). Again, IIRC, it cost something like $140. I still believe it's a wonder of intelligent firearm design. :cool:

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The very one. And for less than half the price shown there in 1995 using a coupon, and being on sale. (Which made the thing irresistible.)
I have a memory of Oshman's making be wait three days to pick it up, too.
Yup, 3 day wait was corporate policy no exceptions. Also picked up a Ruger P89 DC 9mm with the 12 lb. trigger during their closeout sale for $185. That firearm would eat anything.
 
JCooperfan1911,

Jeff COOPER said a lot of things, some were true, some were foolish and uninformed. Remember, he used to say a .45ACP round will stop an opponent 19 out of 20 times and a 9m.m. would only work 10 out of 20 times. Someone forgot to tell my agency as we have gone back to the 9m.m. from the .40 S&W. So has the 9m.m. hating FBI gone back to the 9m.m. Also, the U.S. military is still using the 9m.m.

I would not want to be shot by a .25ACP, would you?

Jim
 
JCooperfan1911,

Jeff COOPER said a lot of things, some were true, some were foolish and uninformed. Remember, he used to say a .45ACP round will stop an opponent 19 out of 20 times and a 9m.m. would only work 10 out of 20 times. Someone forgot to tell my agency as we have gone back to the 9m.m. from the .40 S&W. So has the 9m.m. hating FBI gone back to the 9m.m. Also, the U.S. military is still using the 9m.m.

I would not want to be shot by a .25ACP, would you?

Jim
Jeff Cooper - not unlike Hemmingway - wildly entertaining, has some important things to teach us but in general, each best taken with a liberal dose of salt.

Todd.
 
JCooperfan1911,I would not want to be shot by a .25ACP, would you?

Jim

No, I wouldn't. Are you saying you are planning to defend yourself against me, an ordinary person with no reason to rob you? I would plan on defending myself against someone desperate, aggressive, possibly vicious, and maybe not rational due to mental illness, drugs, or the need for drugs. Does a 25 ACP sound good for that?
 
Monac,

Are you an alias for JCooperfan? If not, why would you think that I might want to shoot you?

My wife has a .25ACP and said she was worried that it would just make someone mad if she shot them. I told her to think of a .25ACP as a 30 foot long icepick. No one wants to get stuck by an icepick or knife. However, you have to be very close to someone to stab them with an icepick, but you can shoot a .25ACP across a room at them. If their smart, they will turn and run, if not, you have the ability to stop them before they get to you.
Also, would rather see a victim defend themselves with their fists or a .25ACP. I know which I would choose.

Jim
 
Hummm...Seems that the FIE Titan .25 ACP has been over looked. The one I have has preformed flawlessly for the last 20 years that I have owned it. Makes a great boot gun and a last resort in my safe. The other mouse gun I have is a Beretta Bobcat.
 
How doggone cool is this? I'd have betted against having it but here it is; serial number and all.

I was digging in a cabinet today for some stuff to take out shooting this afternoon and came across my original box with the original grips and $30.00 ($35.08 w/tax) receipt. I switched the grips as a couple fellas on my Team had .22s and I liked their grips better. I think I had to pimp-out one of theirs with rosewood or ivory to get them. I can't recall exactly.

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Todd.
 
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Monac,

Are you an alias for JCooperfan? If not, why would you think that I might want to shoot you?

My wife has a .25ACP and said she was worried that it would just make someone mad if she shot them. I told her to think of a .25ACP as a 30 foot long icepick. No one wants to get stuck by an icepick or knife. However, you have to be very close to someone to stab them with an icepick, but you can shoot a .25ACP across a room at them. If their smart, they will turn and run, if not, you have the ability to stop them before they get to you.
Also, would rather see a victim defend themselves with their fists or a .25ACP. I know which I would choose.

Jim

A) Nope, no connection with JCooperfan.

B) I apologize for not specifying "someone like me". I should have realized that could be confusing. I would point out that, from my point of view, you asked if I wanted to be shot with a 25 ACP. Also, I did not think that basing your self defense needs on people like the members of this forum was a good idea. I do not think they are a good basis of comparison with people who commit violent crimes requiring the threat of lethal force to deter. Of course, that is just my opinion, and yours may differ.

C) No one is disagreeing with the idea that a 25 ACP is much better than having no firearm at all, I think the point is that it is just as easy to carry a 32 ACP pistol today and not much more difficult to carry a 380, and that those are significantly better. I apologize if I have not read this thread well enough to see if that point has already been conceded. However, I really don't think anyone was advocating bare fists as a superior alternative to a 25.
 
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I'll allow that certain opinions are better then others. The beats nothing argument certainly as its merits! On the other hand there are other options which would be significantly better.
 
Monac,

No apology needed. We can agree to disagree.

I would never recommend a .25ACP as a first choice for self defense, but if it is all you have, then practice and make sure you have it when needed.

The last time I took my wife shooting, we shot my BERETTA 92D Compact and she did well with it, but it not likely to be carried on her if she ever has a problem (just like the often recommended baseball bat). A BERETTA .25ACP on the other hand, can disappear in your pocket and be there when you need it.

I doubt that people on this forum are all that different from anyone else, criminal or not. In my experience, people are people and no one wants to be hurt. A psychopath or mentally ill person may not care, but you have to use what you have and make the best of a bad situation that is probably beyond your control.

I have carried the .32ACP for off duty carry and still do when I need a really easy to conceal gun, but prefer a .380ACP, .38 Special or a 9m.m. Still, I will use what I have with me if I am put in an off duty defense situation. On duty, I have a lot more options!

Jim
 
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Monac,

No apology needed. We can agree to disagree.

I would never recommend a .25ACP as a first choice for self defense, but if it is all you have, then practice and make sure you have it when needed.

The last time I took my wife shooting, we shot my BERETTA 92D Compact and she did well with it, but it not likely to be carried on her if she ever has a problem (just like the often recommended baseball bat). A BETETTA .25ACP on the other hand, can disappear in your pocket and be there when you need it.

I doubt that people on this forum are all that different from anyone else, criminal or not. In my experience, people are people and no one wants to be hurt. A psychopath or mentally ill person may not care, but you have to use what you have and make the best of a bad situation that you probably beyond your control.

I have carried the .32ACP for off duty carry and still do when I need a really easy to conceal gun, but prefer a .380ACP, .38 Special or a 9m.m. Still, I will use what I have with me if I am put in an off duty defense situation. On duty, I have a lot more options!

Jim

Thank you for the civility and clarity of your reply, Jim. I was mistaken about how you actually viewed the 25 ACP as a self- defense option.

At the risk of being a nag, I might suggest that you either have a low opinion of the people in this forum or a high opinion of criminals, but I have practically no first-hand experience with either, so your opinion is just as good as mine, and probably better. Plus you often carry something quite adequate, so once again, my assumptions were incorrect. :thumbup:
 
Monac,

Civility costs nothing and can pay big dividends. It would make the internet a nicer place if it was more widespread.

Feel free to nag!

I have been in law enforcement for almost 30 years. My opinion of criminals is based on having met many of them. I have been lucky enough to run across people from all spectrums of life. I have met murderers and people whose self sacrifice seems almost saintly. I once spent most of the night taking a very long and in depth statement from a man believed to be a terrorist and assassin. He was well mannered and pleasant to talk to, it was just that business about arranging a contract killing that was the problem.
On the other hand, I have met ordinary people who worked at hospices, trying to take care of young woman who had been sold into slavery, then raped and were now dying of AIDS, all before their 18th birthday!. The story is horrible, but the people trying to make a difference is something to respect and admire. They were not getting rich doing it.

I have also met some well known people who were really miserable to deal with and others who were very nice to talk too.

Almost everyone I have met is somewhere in between the extremes. Most of them being closer to the better side than worse. I also know that I have not walked in their shoes, so how good a person I would have turned out to be if I had, I do not know.
As for the people on this forum. I enjoy engaging with them. Some could show more civility, but that is how things are. At least I can be entertained, challenged and maybe learn something. I like my job for that reason.

Jim
 
00A64871-96BF-4059-9756-FE5DFCCF08A4.jpeg Very good account of a little .25 saving a guys life.
http://www.keepandbeararms.com/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=1758

I’ve had others. A Baby Browning I picked up years ago. I think I still have a Raven someone gave me.

a .25 certainly isn’t THE gun to have if you really need a gun. But, if it’s all you have, it’s better than screaming for help. The Seecamp is new production. My .32 is first year production. The .25 is much more fun to shoot. Doesn’t crack the crap out of my trigger finger and, is not ammo sensitive.



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I was looking for a small, stainless DA .25 cap. The Budichowsky TP-70 looked interesting but, I’d never handled one and, the prices were all over the place.

Before I found one, Seecamp re introduced the .25, so I got that.

The TP-70 still intrigues me though. Any have one?

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