.25acp vs .22LR

[Joshua M. Smith]

If you were limited to the .25acp or .22lr in an auto pistol , which would you choose for both reliability and damage?

I've thought hard about this, but I would have to take the .25acp because it's centerfire. Though I've never had a misfire with a .22LR CCI for example, it's more prone to it than the centerfire. As well, the rimmed cases might cause problems.

I don't have much good to say about the .25 except that it will go "pop" when required.

If I had the choice of a .22 revolver I'd take that over both, but we're talking autos.

So, what's your choice?

Josh <><

 

[New_geezer]

For some reason I have a hard time thinking of any 25acp as more reliable than a good 22lr semi with quality ammo. Since I assume the question is about SD, I'd really prefer something else but between the two, a 22lr is the easy choice.

 

[kludge]

If I were limited to the two and SD was the issue, I would find out why I was limited to those two and then overcome that limitation.

If I wanted an auto pistol for any other reason, I would go with the 22LR.

 

[New_geezer]

If I were limited to the two and SD was the issue, I would find out why I was limited to those two and then overcome that limitation.

Hard to argue with that advice

 

[Ala Dan]

.22 Long Rifle

In all of my 20+ years as a LEO, I've seen more persons DOS from the lowly
powered .22 LR than any other caliber~!

 

[Odd Job]

I have seen too many failures to fire with .22LR to ever be comfortable carrying one for defense purposes. I wouldn't carry any rimfire for that very reason.
I have carried a .25 for defense and I have used it to arrest a man, but it is a poor choice also. I would choose it over the .22 though.

 

[Jamie C.]

.22Lr. can be pretty reliable if you...
A) Don't rely on cheap ammo.
B) Don't go crazy with the oil on your gun
C) Rotate out your carry ammo frequently.

As Ala Dan said, lots of people have been buried because of the little .22. And even more have fallen to rimfire cartridges in general, when you throw in rounds like the old .44 RF.

So for me, the .22 would do just fine ( and has ) if that's all I could get.


J.C.

 

[ugaarguy]

John Moses Browning invented the .25 ACP specifically to adress the lack of reliability found in rimfire cartridges. It was made specificaly as a centerfire replacement for the .22LR. I think Mr. Browning knew a thing or two about guns so I'd take his 25 ACP.

If I were limited to the two and SD was the issue, I would find out why I was limited to those two and then overcome that limitation.

I'll also agree that's a wise comment.

 

[RyanM]

.25 is probably more powerful.

http://www.goldenloki.com/ammo/gel/22lr/gel22lr.htm

Look at the actual chronoed velocities of .22 LR from a little pocket pistol. The hottest load, Federal Lightning, was 40 gr at 921 fps. A .25 through the same length barrel would be in the range of 50 gr at 800 fps or so. The hot foreign stuff would probably break 850 fps. Given the priming difference, I'd go with .25.

 

[New_geezer]

John Moses Browning invented the .25 ACP specifically to adress the lack of reliability found in rimfire cartridges.

Not to argue the wisdom of JMB, but he was responding to the reality of the times. I don't believe that reason is as valid today especially with the quality ammo options available.

It just sems the 22 is so common, that a lot of effort has been made to provide improved performance options in both the guns and ammo. I'm probably wrong but the 25 seems harder to find options on and many of the guns seem like purse fillers or SatNiteSpecials and not all that versatile.

 

[ugaarguy]

I'm probably wrong but the 25 seems harder to find options on and many of the guns seem like purse fillers or SatNiteSpecials and not all that versatile.

True, it (the .25 ACP) was invented for pocket pistols. Being small does not a saturday night special make. A saturday night special is a cheap throw-away gun. Even the lowly kel-Tecs are much higher quality than to be called an SNS. If you get a chance go handle a Baby Browning some time. That's a true piece of pocket gun craftsmanship. I just wish I owned one.

 

[10-Ring]

I prefer my current 25 cal. Reliability really adds to that sense of security

 

[rustymaggot]

my ruger mark I usually goes a brick with less than 5 failures(usually failure to extract). it has never had a failure in the first 200 shots after a good cleaning, since i installed a volquartzen exact edge extractor.


my ruger has 10 round mags. most .25auto's have less in the mag.

i can change magazines with my ruger mark I faster than any other gun i own.

id definately take my 22 over any 25 ive ever shot.

 

[Surefire]

.22LR for sheer knockdown power

Indeed... .22 LR really does do a nice job at bringing fly sized insects down....

Kidding aside, If I had to choose, I'd go with a .25 for more reliability.

Both are mouse guns, but IMO a centerfire .25 is slightly more reliable.

 

[Starter52]

I would only consider a .22LR if the cost of practice ammo was a factor. Otherwise I'd go with a .25 ACP.

 

[Jkwas]

I was going to start a new thread, but this seems good as any place to ask this question.
Is the 25acp more reliable and less prone to "rim-over" jams than the 32acp?

I'm trying to decide between the two for my wife, and reliability is more of an issue for me than the bullet size.

thanks

 

[Blakenzy]

Rimbind or rim-over jams are a problem with box magazine fed rimfires. My CZ 452's 10 rnd mag used to function flawlessly. Now, after a few thousand rounds, more often than not when I load it to its full capacity the last round loaded round gets its rim stuck behind the bottom round (don't know how it gets there exactly) and effectively jams the mag. I have to remove the base plate and let all the rounds fall out to un-jam it. In a defensive firearm this could be catastrofic. I think that is the main reason why the .25ACP was developed for small "defensive" autoloaders.

 

[ChefJeff1]

Well, for me it's the .25. Especially when it's coming out of my French Unique pocket cannon. Watch out Evil-Doers.

 

[Geno]

.22 LR for certain!

There are many high velocity .22 LRs on the market. I have been told but do not now for fact that some .22LRs have more power than the .25 ACP. I would prefer the Ruger Mk II or a S&W revolver. Of the many thousands of .22 LRs that I have fired through a standard Ruger Mk II, I never had a failure. They are not the most accurate version like the target model, but they serve the purpose and are accurate enough.

Doc2005

 

[kludge]

Jkwas,

If those are the only choices then please get the .32. (Kel-Tec P32 is nice and very easy to use, and only $220.)

Why is the choice between .25 and .32? (No flame intended.)

If it's price, there are a LOT of inexpensive 9mm, .380, and .38SPL out there.
If it is size there are a LOT of small 9mm, .380, and 38SPL.
If it is recoil, then training will overcome that, besides recoil will be the LAST thing on her mind if she has to shoot a BG. Unless there is a physical/health issue with recoil, most people will learn to handle it with practice.
If it's for home defense, not CCW, then get a heavier gun which will have less recoil.
If she has very small hands, the Kel-Tec P3AT is the same size as the P32.

I think most will agree to take her to "try on" a few to see what fits.

Like I said in my first post, find out what the issue is and try to overcome it. Many have pointed out that the .22LR will kill you just as dead, but the point of shooting someone is not to kill them, but to STOP them from hurting/killing you or a loved one. Still a 22, 25, or 32 is better than a sharp stick.

 

[old4x4]

It's the 22 RF for me. WAY cheaper for practice, and isn't practice the name of the game? Besides, my Buckmark will shoot about 300 rds before starting to jam. A quick cleaning is all it needs.
I'm a reloader and I get sick of chasing brass sometimes. With the 22, I don't need to. It's kinda nice.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

I'd go with the .25 ACP using FMJ. With such a puny round, you are depending entirely on penetration to the heart or brain (preferably with rapid repeat shots) to stop a determined attacker. Shock effect would be negligable for either of these two calibers, regardless of bullet configuration, short of penetrating a vital organ, preferably the heart or brain.

 

[Dobe]

Didn't the Massob use a .22LF for some time, or was that just internet myth?

Dobe

 

[MCgunner]

I'm sorry, there's just something oxymoronic about the .22LR being used with the term "knock down power"...ROFLMAO! .25ACP works, .22LR doesn't. 99 percent of the misfires I've ever had are with .22 and they aren't really designed for autos in the first place. Seems like a no brainer to me, that is, if your're going on a killer mouse hunt or something and need backup.

 

[Jkwas]

Why is the choice between .25 and .32? (No flame intended.)

My wife already has a compact 9mm, but we were looking for something a little smaller that she could easily carry in her purse along with all the other necessary encoutrements that women normally carry. We pretty much had settled on the P32 Keltec, but then we read a lot about 32 cals jamming due to rimlock. Whatever she ends up with, it has to be as reliable as possible. Period. We're thinking along the lines of a Beretta 25 cal. My friend had one and never had an issue with it. Bottom line: She will try both and see which one she likes best.