.25 vs .22, which is more effective?

[AZ Heat]

First of all, let me start by saying that I am perfectly happy with my 1911 and am not looking to switch to either of these two calibers. Just trying to learn from you who are more knowledgeable than myself.

So back to the question... I am interested to know how the .25 compares to the .22LR. Forget about price and availability, I am interested in performance comparisons. And hypothetically, if you had to choose to use one of these for self defense, which one would you use and why?

 

[schromf]

I assume your talking about a 25 ACP?

25 ACP- ME- 73
22 LR- ME- 130 ( 135 )
22 LR Stingers- ME 185

Cost aside its a no brainer.

 

[steveno]

the 25 acp does give you centerfire reliability. I'm quite sure that everybody has more than a few misfires with 22 long rifle ammo at one time or another. misfires with centerfire ammo is quite remote. in either case you will probably have to fire a lot of times in a defense situation.

 

[telomerase]

The mighty .25

>25 ACP- ME- 73

That is correct for ball out of a pistol. MagSafe is more like 120.

>22 LR- ME- 130 ( 135 )
>22 LR Stingers- ME 185

These figures are for rifles, completely wrong for pistols. .22 out of a Beretta 21 is below the MagSafe. Small autos are not as reliable as the big target autos. And the Stingers may not work at all in your particular gun.

Either one is better than the 1911 that's at home...

 

[Nick96]

As discussed previously, the "effectivness" comparisons between the two rounds are often skewed. .22 effectivness & reliability is typically as judged from larger, longer barreled firearms with strong hammer springs. On the other hand (with rare exception) the .25 is evaluated as it is launched from it's customary platform - an under 2", palm sized autoloading pistol.

From barrels over 4" - the .22 is probably superior to the .25. However, when both are fired through under 2" barrels - they are balistically about the same. Where the .25 has an edge in small, short barreled auto's is it's reliability due to the centerfire primer system, short shell designed for efficient ejection from an auto and the rimless shell for smooth feeding.

So, from a defence perspective, if you are using a 4"+ barreled DA revolver - the .22 is going to be best of the two rounds. Of course, if you can carry a larger handgun - why not carry one that shoots a larger caliber? If it's going to be a sub 2" barreled, under 10 ounce, palm sized auto pistol - the .25 is going to be best.

The real debate comes into play with regard to the realitivly recent advent of very small & light autos chambered for .32ACP and .380ACP - both of which are better than either the .22 or .25 from these tiny guns. These new guns pose more of a threat to the viability of the .25. However, there are literally millions of little .25 auto pistols out there in perfectly good working order - so I'd expect that this little round will manage to hang around for many years to come (though we will continue to see a sharp decline in the manufacture of the little guns that use them).

 

[schromf]

I didn't check you are probably about the rifle ME numbers on the 22 LR.

A 22 derringer doesn't have feeding problems, neither does a small revolver. I really never paid any attention to 25 ACP ammo, I just never thought much of the round.

 

[AZ Heat]

So is it safe to assume, when equally compared and shot from a "mouse gun" that the .25acp is the "more effective" round?

I have always been interested in purchasing a .25 just because its there.

 

[keederdag]

Welp I chrono CCI stingers out of my Walther TPH at anywhere from 1100 to 1200fps. I know they are 36 grns and will suposidly not expand at these velocitys. Which is acctually a good thing considering that you are supposed that have that 12" of penetration above all. I have killed quite a few large critters with head shots using my little walther. Most times it was a dieing animal and at close range. Never had a problem so far. However I once shot a chicken twice and watched it run off down a gully>LOL I think that little sucker may get under the wire some night and chop off my head.

 

[schromf]

So is it safe to assume, when equally compared and shot from a "mouse gun" that the .25acp is the "more effective" round?

Doubtful.

Is there a reason the 32 ACP isn't considered? Mouse gun caliber, much more effective. Available in most of the pistols the 25ACP are, and then some.

Another small round is the 380. If I was carry a small backup gun that wasn't a 38 spl, the 380 or 32 would be the next stop.

 

[joab]

the 25 acp does give you centerfire reliability

That was my biggest consideration. After having to many jams in .22 to be comfortable carrying it. I might think differently of a small .22 revolver.

I have had Stingers fail to feed in many autos, and actually cause damage to one pump gun.
In revolvers or bolt rifles they're great.

 

[bad_dad_brad]

Hardball .25 ACP in a Beretta Jetfire (nine shots) is as effective and reliable a mouse gun that has ever been made. That said, aim for the eyes if you have to use this puny round. But in the Jetfire with .25 ACP you will not have any feeding problems. Great little gun in that regard.

Effectiveness in a round is all debatable till you get to the modern 9X19 loads. In that genre, I would recommend the Kahr MK9 as a rocket mouse gun on steroids, although heavy in the pocket it can be managed with the right holster.

 

[AZ Heat]

Is there a reason the 32 ACP isn't considered?

I personally use a Seecamp 32acp or J frame 38special for backup. But that isn't my point. I was just curious in the comparison between the 22lr and 25acp.

Thank you for all of your input.

 

[schromf]

My objection to the whole principle 22/25 cal mouse gun, is these are backup guns really. The chips are down, I have it concealed and it is the only chance I have of getting my fat bugeying butt out of the situation alive.
I want a 38 spl thank you, it won't guarantee success, but a 125 gr/158 gr 38 spl, in a reload equivilant to Corbon, certainly helps my odds.

At that point you have somehow lost your primary firearm ( many methods), and what you got in your pocket or pants counts, do you want it to be a 22/25 cal?

Many consider the 32 ACP to be the minimum for self defense.

I am not saying the 22/25 can't kill, but can they do it quickly with one shot? What if you have a multiple BG senario, I really want something that I can at least stop a BG with one shot, so I could reengage. At that point concealment and speed are your angels, and multiple shoots at a boogey could be your demons.

I would rather have the insurance, and pray the angles are watching over me so I never encounter the above mightmare.

 

[9mmepiphany]

in practical use, out of an identical platform (beretta 950/21), the .25 (6.35mm) is the more effective round due to it's reliability. the big advantage of the .22lr round, out of that platform, is the cost of practice ammo.

if you could shoot enough, regardless of cost, rounds of each to be equally proficient with both chamberings, the .25 acp would be the better choice. but it is a big IF. i would define proficient with these pistols as the ability to draw, from concealment, and hit a (rapidly) moving target, about the size of a lemon, from across a room (10-13 feet)...without using the sights (like it would really help)

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

I read an article about a perp who was robbing a guy. The perp had a 25acp. The victim didn't move fast enough and the perp shot the victim in the head. The bullet penetrated the scalp but didn't penetrate the skull. The bullet then zipped around the perimeter of the victim's skull until the bullet expended all it's energy.

The victim was treated and released at the ER with only a really bad headache.

 

[9mmepiphany]

if you are going to try a "head shot" with a .25acp your aimming for too large a target. the skull is thicker than most folks think.

assuming that your target is the CNS...think "openings"

 

[niemand]

Without question, 6.35mm "Better", One MUST however, Correct Ammunition utilise.

By example; Many Years gone, My attire was for Months "Beach Wear". One could not any "Real Arm" conceal.

Beretta "Jetfire" as well "Minx" acquired. Minx in .22 "Short" calibre for Shooting, Jetfire to carry.

Ammunition for Jetfire with Projectile from "Zamak-7" Zink Die-Casting Alloy Made. Flat-Meplat, Weight some 32 "Grains", case-full Old "W.W. 231", Average velocity 1,240 f.p.s.

Further, for "Feeding Reliability", in Lathe converted case to "True Rimless" (Minor Material Removal). I do this with 7.65mm also. "Semi-Rimless" silly idea.

Was (I considered) "Long Ice-Pick" (7 Metres) .

With Both (And primarily "Minx") Targets were "Playing-Cards" In Verticle/Horizontal Dimension, "Amount of Skull One Wishes to Hit".

Had for Years with divers ".22 Rimfire Arms" worked. Even best of lot (Walther of Old Vintage) simply of insufficiant reliabilty for consideration. (In Self-Loading Arms)

High-Capacity Revolvers (Harrington&Richardson/Iver-Johnson/High-Standard) better, yet if One carries all that Dimension/Mass why in .22 Rimfire limit?

 

[cratz2]

Well, if I had to carry either a 22 or a 25 with a sub 3" barrel, I'd probably rather carry a 22 loaded with CCI Small Game Bullets.

This is a purely theoretical statement on my part as I seriously doubt I would ever carry anything smaller than a P3AT.

 

[WhiteKnight]

Why would you carry SGBs over another ammo? Is it because they are designed to penetrate as well as expand, or something else?