.25 acp

[MCMXIautomatic]

Honestly, is this round good for anything? I don't claim to be an expert on it, but from what I know of it, it seems to me that anything a .25 can do, a .22 can do better. Although neither one would be a good choice for for personal defense, if they were my only two options, I think I would have to go with the .22.

In every aspect that I have considered, the .25 seems to be outclassed by everything except a BB gun. With a .25, it seems to me that all you're getting is an additional .03" of bullet diameter compared to a .22, with slightly worse performance out of a pocket-sized gun but at a much greater cost. At the local Wally-World, a 50 round box of .25 ACP costs $20 when the same amount of money will buy at least ten times as much .22lr. You also get a round that penetrates better, has the advantage of being interchangeable with numerous types of pistols, revolvers, and rifles, and is far more useful in a number of roles. Does the .22 also not have better and more reliable expansion with hollow points?

Most of the guns that I've ever seen chambered for .25 ACP were either highly collectable and expensive Colt pocket pistols and Baby Brownings or junky $100 pot metal pop guns that break after 100 rounds. I can't, for the life of me, figure out why this cartridge is still in production or why anyone would buy it. Perhaps I'm missing something?

 

[kozak6]

The original intent was to provide something resembling a .22 lr, except with centerfire reliability and easier feeding provided by a semi-rimmed case.

It doesn't make as much sense these days, but meh.

 

[makarovnik]

The .25acp has better penetration than the .22LR out of a short barrel.

 

[OARNGESI]

25 is more reliable than 22 i got one i carry it alot there also really fun rounds at the range too

 

[Kiln]

Not sure on all of them but there are a couple of benefits that I know of:

1. The metal jacketed round feeds better.

2. Centerfire priming greatly decreases likelihood that a round will fail to fire.

3. Better penetration due to jacketed round.

4. As Makarovnik stated, it performs better from short barrels. Most of the ammo you see advertising 1200 fps on .22lr ammo was fired from rifle test barrels.

While the .25acp isn't the ideal defensive round it is not quite as worthless as some will tell you. If you had to use a caliber this small whether .22 or .25 you should always train with it to perfect your shot placement. With calibers this small I've been told to go for neck and face shots and not to bother with center mass but I'm definately no expert.

The biggest downside of course is the very high cost of the .25 auto ammo in comparison to bulk .22lr ammo.

 

[usp9]

The .25 comes in some really small pistols, so that's the main alure.
The .25 is a prefered centerfire round, not rimfire.
The .25 bullet is jacketed.
When fired side by side in the same model gun, the .25 has more recoil than the .22.

I'd take a .25 over the .22 for the above reasons were I to begin carrying one either as a BUG or as a "gentleman's pocket protector".

 

[Loosedhorse]

Well...what else am I supposed to shoot out of a Baby Browning?

 

[loadedround]

Just remember no one wants to be shot with any firearm, and just the presence of a 25 auto could prevent an altercation. On the other hand a perp high on PCP would be hard to put down with a 45 ACP. There's just a comfort factor just having that little pistol is in your pocket. Personally I have a Seecamp 32 ACP with me almost 24/7. My business piece is a Delta Elete in 10 mm; but it's hard to carry that piece while in shorts and a t-shirt.

 

[303tom]

Better than nothing !

 

[heeler]

Now that I am thinking about it who except for Taurus and Berreta is currently making a small pocket carry 25 ACP pistol??
Years ago my Mom was given an old 25 ACP that I *think* was a German made Erma Werkes.
What I remember most about it was that it was a jamomatic.
It was still fun to shoot when it ran as planned though.
I would also take the 25 ACP over the 22LR in a small semi auto carry pistol but would readily carry the little KelTec P32 over the other two.

 

[squarles67]

Sure beats a sharp stick....

 

[GCBurner]

It's kind of fun to shoot the little pocket autos occasionally, too. They can be more accurate than you'd think at 10 yards or so, inspite of the short barrel and tiny sights.

 

[usp9]

about it who except for Taurus and Berreta is currently making a small pocket carry 25 ACP pistol??

PSA makes one and I think NAA makes a .25.

 

[rcmodel]

PSA is making Baby Brownings again.

http://www.precisionsmallarms.com/modelGR4000.aspx

I think several new ones are still made in Europe, but they cannot be imported into the U.S. following the passage of the 1968 GCA.
That was the death of .25 ACP pistols here.

The only new ones you can get now have to be made in the U.S.

rc

 

[barnetmill]

I at times like to be controversial.
If you are worried about the lack of reliability and penetration one thing that you can do is to reload your own. This can also be dangerous and you should do this with utmost caution. I once had a very cheap .25 that would not function well. I upped the charge a little(you must weight the individual charges for this caliber) to increase the recoil and it worked just fine versus factory ammo. I would not fire such rounds as a target load and only enough to ascertain that the gun works. There is a tendency for American ammunition factories to underload rounds like the .25 ACP and .32 S&W long loads due to the numerous poor condition and poorly made guns that are out there. If the gun is in good condition (and not a top break) loading to the max loads listed on the loading table may improve performance.

 

[Bubba613]

I had a fellow tell me how he killed two men in Athens GA with a .25 one summer in the 1970s. I'd believe him too.
Then again I heard one about a BG who shot a big burly biker guy right in the mouth and the bullet embedded in his gum.
With a round liek that it is a combination of shot placement and luck.
That said, I have both an old Colt hammerless and a Mauser in .25acp that are just fun for shucks and giggles. Beautiful little guns.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Just remember no one wants to be shot with any firearm, and just the presence of a 25 auto could prevent an altercation

Beretta 950BS 25 worked fine for me one night in a Parking garage. Just seeing the gun BG ran away.

Beretta still makes the best 25 auto Taurus is bad not takeing trip home .

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Oh, it is good for something. It is good for putting into little guns that are even smaller than the popular .32s and .380s. And its ignition and feed reliability is better than a .22 rimfire in the same size gun. I wouldn't mind having something like a Beretta Jetfire as a BUG or even just for fun. Just not as my only gun.

 

[Geckgo]

think of it like a centerfire velociter. Cause that's basically what it is.

 

[PT92]

The advantage of the .25 over the .22 in auto like the Beretta Bobcat or Taurus PT-22/25 is said to be their cycling reliability advantage. That's really about the only advantage IMHO. I have a PT-25 that works quite well and I have a Bobcat 21A in .22lr and it seems to only like CCI Stingers. I got these for BUG purposes but, strangely enough, they are quite fun to shoot (10 yards or so) at the range.

But my grandmother used to have a .22lr revolver that changes the aforementioned equation regarding cycling issues (if you don't need it for CCW and just HD only).

-Cheers

 

[skoro]

Honestly, is this round good for anything?

Back in the day, the 25acp was intended for highly concealable mini pocket size pistols. And some very fine handguns were made for that caliber. It doesn't make as much sense today, when similar size mini-pistols are available in 32acp and 380acp.

But the little 25 would be better than harsh words or a sharp stick if the situation demanded it.

 

[dogtown tom]

MCMXIautomatic Honestly, is this round good for anything?....

John Browning thought so.

 

[481]

Honestly, is this round good for anything?

Sure. It makes a good deep concealment gun (especially flat designs like the Baby Browning) where clothing options are extremely limited and you gotta stay "under the radar" or a second "get the heck off of me" option to your primary gun.

It may not be a giant killer, but it sure beats standing there with a set of car keys and an astonished look on one's face.

 

[MCMXIautomatic]

I suppose I should have been more clear. What I should have asked is if the .25 is even still relevant in this 21st century world where pocket guns can be had in .380, .38 spl, and even 9mm. Even back in JMB's time the .25 left a lot to be desired.

 

[Silent Sam]

I believe JMB himself carried a 25. Whether it is 'relevant' or not would be a personal decision. The advantages over 22 rimfire are real. The "target" certainly hasn't evolved enough to render it completely obsolete.