.25 acp

[PT92]

I agree in that with the technological advances in 'pocket' pistols that we have seen in the last five years or so (Kel-Tec, Rger, Taurus etc.). the .25 has become less impressive (along with the .22 .32 really anything under a .380). Yet if you have one and don't want to spend the extra cash for a .380, I say it's just fine for a BUG but I wouldn't want to use it in any way as a primary weapon of choice (unless I had to which many folks nowadays do).

Heck, I am average size and I can comfortably carry a Kel-Tec P-11 9mm in my pocket.

-Cheers

 

[Pyro]

I got a .25 BUG.
Most reliable automatic I've ever shot.
I usually carry the Winchester "Expanding Point" bullets.
They always fail to expand through clothing, but I prefer LRN to FMJ.

 

[parsimonious_instead]

Read this story about a Florida gun owner who used his .25 to fend off a sword wielding maniac:

http://armslocker.com/gun-rights/25966-sword-vs-handgun-real-life-mess.html

I know it's a bit of a "step up" in power, but here's a tale of a .32 ACP: The owner of the LGS I usually go to told me about a dispute between lowlife tenement residents in the area some years back. Aggressive guy knocks on an apartment door, threatening the person behind it. Resident yells profanity back, so the door-knocker immediately opens up with his pocket gun, a single .32 round that goes right through two inches of solid wood, and into his target's chest, killing him nearly instantly.

 

[Kiln]

Read this story about a Florida gun owner who used his .25 to fend off a sword wielding maniac:

http://armslocker.com/gun-rights/25966-sword-vs-handgun-real-life-mess.html

I know it's a bit of a "step up" in power, but here's a tale of a .32 ACP: The owner of the LGS I usually go to told me about a dispute between lowlife tenement residents in the area some years back. Aggressive guy knocks on an apartment door, threatening the person behind it. Resident yells profanity back, so the door-knocker immediately opens up with his pocket gun, a single .32 round that goes right through two inches of solid wood, and into his target's chest, killing him nearly instantly.

I've read similar stories a few times. Just goes to prove that even the lowly calibers are better than nothing. Given the choice I'd rather have a .38 or .40 but smaller rounds have been helping people protect themselves for a loooong time and I don't dismiss them as useless in any case. I recommended my extremly arthritic grandmother in law to get a .32 because the recoil is the only thing she can really handle. I am thinking of giving away my CZ 70 to her for free just so she can have a good pistol.

 

[heeler]

That was quite a story Parsimonious.
Terribly sad the way the pawn shop owners life was up ended before he departed this life.

 

[redbullitt]

Now I would think of it as just something to tinker with since there are .380s and 9mm that are chambered in platforms that are the same size or smaller. I like that it can be reloaded and that it is centerfire (think of all those 22 duds you have had).

If it was all I had, then that's that. Better than harsh words and rocks.

 

[PT92]

I got a .25 BUG.
Most reliable automatic I've ever shot.
I usually carry the Winchester "Expanding Point" bullets.
They always fail to expand through clothing, but I prefer LRN to FMJ.

What make of gun is your .25ACP?

-Cheers

 

[Alex23]

As others have said, it feeds well and lets you carry a very small gun when needs be. Mine is actually fun to shoot too. For defense it is better than nothing. Prefer 9mm and .45 for tolerance but .25 and .32 will do the same exact job......

By the way James Bond carried a .25 at one point...

 

[friscolatchi]

My Dad had a Colt 25 that was my grandfathers. He owned a poolhall in Brooklyn in the 20's. When we had it in the Bronx it was not quite legal. When my father died I looked for it but coukd not find it. I'm sure its nefariuos past was not something I was supposef to share in. It was a beautiful little gun with the blue worn away and not a lick of rust. My thought is that it endsd in the trash or down a sewer. Back to Brooklyn!!!

 

[Pyro]

What make of gun is your .25ACP?

-Cheers

FIE E27B Titan
They are a hit or miss (like any other cheap .25 pistol), mine eats everything in sight. I know a cop that carries a Raven .25 auto as a BUG, he says his too is extremely reliable.

 

[Kiln]

FIE E27B Titan
They are a hit or miss (like any other cheap .25 pistol), mine eats everything in sight. I know a cop that carries a Raven .25 auto as a BUG, he says his too is extremely reliable.

My Raven is awesome and hardly ever chokes on anything. I love the little gun.

 

[1KPerDay]

My kids love shooting my FN 1905. It's surprisingly accurate at defense distances also. Wish ammo were cheaper.

It's heavier (I think) than my LCP and thicker throught the grips, and only slighly smaller in length and height.

 

[PT92]

Read this story about a Florida gun owner who used his .25 to fend off a sword wielding maniac:

http://armslocker.com/gun-rights/25966-sword-vs-handgun-real-life-mess.html

I know it's a bit of a "step up" in power, but here's a tale of a .32 ACP: The owner of the LGS I usually go to told me about a dispute between lowlife tenement residents in the area some years back. Aggressive guy knocks on an apartment door, threatening the person behind it. Resident yells profanity back, so the door-knocker immediately opens up with his pocket gun, a single .32 round that goes right through two inches of solid wood, and into his target's chest, killing him nearly instantly.

Thanks much for one of the most interesting links I have read of late.

-Cheers

 

[parsimonious_instead]

Thanks much for one of the most interesting links I have read of late.

-Cheers

Very welcome... it was posted on a blog called The Smallest Minority a week or two ago. Pretty gripping stuff.

Poor fellow didn't deserve any of it, in fact he should be lauded for first denying the sale of a weapon to an obviously unbalanced individual, and for not giving up. I'm shocked the local DA was actually considering charging this man who acted in an extremely obvious case of self defense.

Paul Barrett's book on Glocks mentions something interesting, that despite the massive number of Glocks in circulation, and how often they're mentioned in rap lyrics, most street criminals are still caught with .38 snubbies, Raven Arms .25, and various .32 and .380 pistols. Go figure.

 

[PT92]

Very welcome... it was posted on a blog called The Smallest Minority a week or two ago. Pretty gripping stuff.

Poor fellow didn't deserve any of it, in fact he should be lauded for first denying the sale of a weapon to an obviously unbalanced individual, and for not giving up. I'm shocked the local DA was actually considering charging this man who acted in an extremely obvious case of self defense.

Paul Barrett's book on Glocks mentions something interesting, that despite the massive number of Glocks in circulation, and how often they're mentioned in rap lyrics, most street criminals are still caught with .38 snubbies, Raven Arms .25, and various .32 and .380 pistols. Go figure.

Yeah--I guess that is due to the probability that they are not only cheaper when legally purchased, but on the black market as well. Yet that's conjecture on my behalf as I really don't conclusively know (input welcomed).

-Cheers

 

[Ole Coot]

.25 and 32, the only calibers I never use or carry. I will use a 22 up to a 44mag, those will cover everything I need.

 

[jfrey]

My little Colt 1908 pocketlite is fun to shoot and I do carry it on occassion when nothing bigger will do. The gun is very well made and accurate at 10 yds. or less. I took it out one day and was shooting it at 100 yds. to see what it would do. I could hear the bullets hitting the wooden backstop, they were going so slow at that range. Do I prefer a .45 or 9mm - yes. Would I carry a .25 if I had to - yes.

 

[orionengnr]

I cannot see the attraction of a .25 steel pistol when there are poly framed .380s available. I guess collector interest or historical value.

As far as a carry gun, or a shooter, if I ever need something smaller than an LCP, I guess I'm in trouble. FWIW, I carry 24/7.

Fact is, I have only carried my LCP ~ a day or so per year since I bought it three years ago. My Kahr PM9, about the same. If I am really sick, which I get maybe once a year, for a day or two, then an LCP is perfect. The other 363 days I can manage to carry and conceal a 1911 or N-frame S&W.

I'm not getting any younger, though, and nothing is forever. That's why the PM9 and the LCP aren't going anywhere. When I'm old(er) and feeble(r) I will still have small carry pistols with (hopefully) enough "oomph" to get the job done.

 

[parsimonious_instead]

Yeah--I guess that is due to the probability that they are not only cheaper when legally purchased, but on the black market as well. Yet that's conjecture on my behalf as I really don't conclusively know (input welcomed).

-Cheers

Barrett doesn't go into the reasons why, IIRC, but my guess is a combination of price and concealability. Even crims obey the #1 rule of gunfights: bring a gun. And if it's an easily hidden little heater, the cops won't notice and they can probaly catch their intended target by surprise.

 

[Chief RID]

Here is mine. I think it's cool. Got some 35 gr XTP's and some 50 gr round ball for it yesterday. I think I will carry it today. It will be in my pocket. My 1911 will be on my side.

 

[1KPerDay]

I cannot see the attraction of a .25 steel pistol when there are poly framed .380s available.

For one thing, the .25 is a lot more pleasant to shoot, particularly for younger shooters, as noted above.

 

[Pyro]

Here is mine. I think it's cool. Got some 35 gr XTP's and some 50 gr round ball for it yesterday. I think I will carry it today. It will be in my pocket. My 1911 will be on my side.

The XTP's were spitting quite bad out of my Titan.
First time an automatic has ever spit in my face like a revolver can, I shot those with my face covered out of pure annoyance. Fed fine though, I should get some more to test for expansion.

 

[oldfool]

Never was except what it was, a small 'derringer' that holds more than two
Still relevant in that sense, but less so than it was, given the many 7 shot 380acp 'derringers' now in the marketplace

Still beats a NAA single action rimfire IMO, though not by much
I own one (Beretta 25acp), nice, cute, but never have carried it
I will sometimes carry a 380 LCP

Don't hold your breath waiting for either the 25acp or the 32acp to disappear any time soon, though (nor the rimfire micro-revlovers, for that matter); they still make a bunch of 'em, because they still sell a bunch of them. More than might be said for a whole lot of other handguns over the long run.

Sales = relevant, always, no point in arguing with that

 

[PT92]

Never was except what it was, a small 'derringer' that holds more than two
Still relevant in that sense, but less so than it was, given the many 7 shot 380acp 'derringers' now in the marketplace

Still beats a NAA single action rimfire IMO, though not by much
I own one (Beretta 25acp), nice, cute, but never have carried it
I will sometimes carry a 380 LCP

Don't hold your breath waiting for either the 25acp or the 32acp to disappear any time soon, though (nor the rimfire micro-revlovers, for that matter); they still make a bunch of 'em, because they still sell a bunch of them. More than might be said for a whole lot of other handguns over the long run.

Sales = relevant, always, no point in arguing with that

I wonder if that's indeed the case? I would think that with the affordable new-era of the .380-like pocket pistols (Ruger, Taurus, Kel-Tec etc.) if the .22/.25's will see the same demand? I am asking becuase I do not know but would appreciate sales information stats related to this just for general interest.

-Cheers

 

[Maple_City_Woodsman]

25acp is a popular whipping boy.

People intentionally forget that velocity numbers from a .22 pistol of the same barrel length put the actual energy figures for the .22 at a much lower level than in rifles.

Even a CCI stinger will barely make 1,000 fps from guns such as the Taurus PT-22 or the Beretta Bobcat, even with its extra light bullet. Standard 40gr .22 is Usually around 850fps...

That gives you a muzzle energy range of 65 - 70 fpe across the spectrum for .22s. Surprise, surprise, that is the standard range of energy for the .25 automatic. FACTs and real world testing show that the .25 is equivalent to .22 in the platforms they share.

Now lets flash back to the 'Great Ammo Shortage' of 2009 ... You know, the one where you couldn't even find .22LR or 9mm on any store shelves? Guess what every store that sold ammo still had - .25acp and .22magnum.

Nobody in their right mind would buy a .25 for a casual plinker; the cost is prohibitive. But a prudent man would seriously consider adding one to his armory.

http://www.goldenloki.com/ammo/gel/22lr/gel22lr.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.25_ACP