Bauer .25 info
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scbair
Member
Pretty decent copy of the ol' Baby Browning (in stainless, of course). I dunno that I'd pay $250, though . . .
Okiecruffler
Member
That's pretty much the going price anymore. Mom has toted one around, sometimes in a holster custom made by dad, but usually just in her front pocket, for over 20 years. Pretty accurate for what it is and has always been reliable with ball ammo. Not much horsepower there, but man can mom empty that mag quick.
1 old 0311
member
They were made in Michigan for a few years. Pretty good quality. I would buy it for that price.
Despite the stronger, stainless internals, I still wouldn't recommend carrying with one in the chamber, if you get it. There is very, very little keeping the striker from dropping in the Baby Browning design, and I'm pretty sure Bauer didn't change the design any. If they did, never mind.
MachIVshooter
Member
Used to see them quite a lot a few years back. Typically $150-$200. Decent little guns. If you like it, $250 is probably worth it, since they seem to be getting more scarce. You'll pay two or three times that for the actual baby Browing, so.............
wally
Member
Now you are starting to understand the utility of mouse guns. Think of them as a single shot shotgun that fires serially and you'd have to admit it would be very effective one on one if used properly.
--wally.
scbair
Member
I well understand the attraction of the mouseguns; My P32 and NAA Black Widow certainly qualify (although I haven't packed either of them for some years; I was infected with 642-itis 
).
As a collectible/conversation piece/recreational shooter, the Bauer .25 (or original Baby Browning) is fine. I have a Fraser (the successor to the Bauer, and identical except for the name), in its original box. It's miniscule enough to be interesting!
As already mentioned, the Fraser/Bauer/Baby Browning is a single-action, striker-fired design. No way would I carry it in Condition 1. It's definitelya candidate for Condition 3, requiring two hands and an opportunity to chamber a round during the draw stroke.
Caliber aside, there are better actions/designs for carry (Walther TPH, KelTec P32/P3AT, NAA Guardian, Seecamp, et al).
).As a collectible/conversation piece/recreational shooter, the Bauer .25 (or original Baby Browning) is fine. I have a Fraser (the successor to the Bauer, and identical except for the name), in its original box. It's miniscule enough to be interesting!
As already mentioned, the Fraser/Bauer/Baby Browning is a single-action, striker-fired design. No way would I carry it in Condition 1. It's definitelya candidate for Condition 3, requiring two hands and an opportunity to chamber a round during the draw stroke.
Caliber aside, there are better actions/designs for carry (Walther TPH, KelTec P32/P3AT, NAA Guardian, Seecamp, et al).
40SW
Member
Ammo recommendations. FMJ, JHP, brands, etc.
I assume since its a .25ACP, FMJ ball ammo would be the way to go.
Would be curious about what you guys carry in it , for those who have it. I do have several .25ACP BUGS, and always carry ball FMJ in them.
I assume since its a .25ACP, FMJ ball ammo would be the way to go.
Would be curious about what you guys carry in it , for those who have it. I do have several .25ACP BUGS, and always carry ball FMJ in them.
Okiecruffler
Member
We tried several different HP's in mom's in water jugs, wet phone books and pork roast. Never saw any that expanded. That was many moons ago and someone may have a better bullet now, but even with fmj's penatration was iffy.
I'm Surprised by all the favorable comments. In the early 80's, "Handgun Test" magazine tested one and found it to be unreliable junk. In spite of that, I bought one because I really liked the Baby Browning design. They were right, it was unreliable junk. Every 100 rounds or so the soft stainless of the frame would peen behind the barrel to the point that it interferred with feeding. I would reshape the deformed area and it would work a little while. Then the captured recoil spring assembly failed and shot out the front of the slide. I repared it and then swapped it for a Beretta 950 Jetfire. That one always worked. I shouldn't have ever sold the Beretta.
Okiecruffler
Member
I've always equated Handgun Test with charmin. Can't imagine why you had so much trouble with yours. We've got thousands upon thousands of rounds thru ours, many more than the maker had planned on I'm sure, and it still looks like new.
scbair
Member
Regarding ammo, I recommend throwing the pistol at an assailant, hard!!
OK, seriously, I'd probably opt for FMJ, purely for feeding reliability. HPs are unlikely to expand, so penetration should be pretty close to FMJ.
I can't speak from personal experience as to the Bauer, but my old Fraser has always functioned reliably.
As an unsolicited opinion, I will NOT rely on a .25 ACP for personal defense, unless I cannot find anything else. I'd rather have a double barreled derringer in a meaningful caliber. At least, if I hit someone, they'll know they're hit.
I've personally experienced drugged up and/or mentally unbalanced homo sapiens (dunno if they could be classed as human beings) shrug off hard blows from nightsticks and Bucheimer saps (yes, I'm an old codger; we used to carry them in side pockets of uniform trousers). Please bear in mind that I mean HARD blows delivered by strong cops, with full adrenaline.
Most of my fellow officers "on the street" regarded a .38 special snubbie with +Ps as the minimum worth carrying. I agree. Whenever I consider carrying a mousegun, I think back to some of the situations I actually experienced, ask myself what would have happened if I'd shot one of those maniacs with a .22/.25/.32, and go to the trouble of carrying my.38 snub (if not a real sidearm!).
Now, as I mentioned in an earlier post, these li'l .25s are just plain cute! I still have my old Fraser, purchased new, many years ago. I just don't rely on it for any serious purpose.
OK, seriously, I'd probably opt for FMJ, purely for feeding reliability. HPs are unlikely to expand, so penetration should be pretty close to FMJ.
I can't speak from personal experience as to the Bauer, but my old Fraser has always functioned reliably.
As an unsolicited opinion, I will NOT rely on a .25 ACP for personal defense, unless I cannot find anything else. I'd rather have a double barreled derringer in a meaningful caliber. At least, if I hit someone, they'll know they're hit.
I've personally experienced drugged up and/or mentally unbalanced homo sapiens (dunno if they could be classed as human beings) shrug off hard blows from nightsticks and Bucheimer saps (yes, I'm an old codger; we used to carry them in side pockets of uniform trousers). Please bear in mind that I mean HARD blows delivered by strong cops, with full adrenaline.
Most of my fellow officers "on the street" regarded a .38 special snubbie with +Ps as the minimum worth carrying. I agree. Whenever I consider carrying a mousegun, I think back to some of the situations I actually experienced, ask myself what would have happened if I'd shot one of those maniacs with a .22/.25/.32, and go to the trouble of carrying my.38 snub (if not a real sidearm!).
Now, as I mentioned in an earlier post, these li'l .25s are just plain cute! I still have my old Fraser, purchased new, many years ago. I just don't rely on it for any serious purpose.
MachIVshooter
Member
I actually got very good expansion from the 35 gr. Gold Dot's in a Beretta 950 BS, but the .25 has a hard enough time penetrating without trying to push a .42" expanded slug.
I don't carry a .25, but if I did, I'd use FMJ.
Okiecruffler
Member
I figured someone had come up with a bullet that would expand by now.
I'm another who won't carry a 25 for a SD gun, or a 32 or 380 for that matter. Mom carries her's, but she's always with dad and more importantly, his 45. When she's out on her own she has a Sphinx 380 with her. I stand by my statement that I won't carry a 380, but that sphinx is a fine piece of machinery.
I'm another who won't carry a 25 for a SD gun, or a 32 or 380 for that matter. Mom carries her's, but she's always with dad and more importantly, his 45. When she's out on her own she has a Sphinx 380 with her. I stand by my statement that I won't carry a 380, but that sphinx is a fine piece of machinery.
the hornady 35 grain xtp and the gold dot do expand and are doing 900-1000fps.
I had a bauer back when they were being made. they are pretty much an exact copy of the browning which has always been very reliable for me. I was surprised when my Bauer would not function under any provocation. Jammed almost every shot. The local gunsmith-a zero- could not make it work or just didn't want to. I also found that it wasn't particularly stainless. Rust spots would grow on it with any exposure to moisture.
I had a bauer back when they were being made. they are pretty much an exact copy of the browning which has always been very reliable for me. I was surprised when my Bauer would not function under any provocation. Jammed almost every shot. The local gunsmith-a zero- could not make it work or just didn't want to. I also found that it wasn't particularly stainless. Rust spots would grow on it with any exposure to moisture.
I carried a Bauer for years because of its size, when I could not carry anything larger. I always considered it a "ear, nose, or throat" proposition as far as defense goes. The factory magazines were the weak point on the gun. The factory mags I have owned were not stainless, they were VERY soft plated metal, easily deformed. I always bought and carried FN baby browning magazines in mine and I never had reliability issue with those mags. With factory mags, mine were jam-o-matics. I carry AMT Backup in 40S&W most of the time now. It is another gun with a bad reputation for reliability. Again I have found the the magazine lips on many factory AMT mags were not adjusted properly. Unlike Bauer, the AMT factory mags are stainless and very high quality material. They are difficult to bend to correct position, but once they are set, they stay that way and the gun is 100% reliable.
If you get the Bauer, get some FN mags for it. You will be glad you did.
Roll Tide
If you get the Bauer, get some FN mags for it. You will be glad you did.
Roll Tide
MikeJackmin
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Mine has always worked OK, but the heel-mounted mag release will often dislodge under recoil. If I hold it in place with a bit of string, the gun functions fine.
The pearl grips can crack, and if they do, they must be replaced. The right grip actually holds the trigger bar in position, so grip failure = gun failure.
I've often seen them below $200 on Auction Arms, sometimes quite close to $100. The price varies with demand I guess.
I also have a Beretta 950 which is a better gun in every respect, although not quite as small. If you want to carry a .25 for defensive use, get a 950 instead.
(The Beretta does require one small, easy-to-perform modification - unscrew the mag release button and grind it down flat with a dremel or a file. They are much too easy to hit by accident in their original form).
The pearl grips can crack, and if they do, they must be replaced. The right grip actually holds the trigger bar in position, so grip failure = gun failure.
I've often seen them below $200 on Auction Arms, sometimes quite close to $100. The price varies with demand I guess.
I also have a Beretta 950 which is a better gun in every respect, although not quite as small. If you want to carry a .25 for defensive use, get a 950 instead.
(The Beretta does require one small, easy-to-perform modification - unscrew the mag release button and grind it down flat with a dremel or a file. They are much too easy to hit by accident in their original form).
jenraysdad
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- Apr 15, 2009
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- 1
New to the Bauer 25
Interesting reading on the little Bauer 25. I just had one handed down to me. It is stainless with pearl grips. I stopped at the local shop today and purchased a box of Hornady 32 grain jacketed hollow points. They also had 50 grain FMJ ammo. The Hornady 32 grain hollow point ammo feed flawlessly. When the clip was completely loaded with six rounds it occasionally did not want to pick up the first round going into the chamber. This gun was extremely dry. The action had not been worked for years. There is an nice you tube video on field stripping the Bauer 25. I agree with everyone in that you should never carry this little gun with a loaded chamber. Strip the pistol and look at the sear engagement and you will agree. I fully disassembled the pistol, cleaned and lubed it. I hope the occasional problem mentioned above will be gone. Really a fun little gun. I hope that it will continue to be functional.
Interesting reading on the little Bauer 25. I just had one handed down to me. It is stainless with pearl grips. I stopped at the local shop today and purchased a box of Hornady 32 grain jacketed hollow points. They also had 50 grain FMJ ammo. The Hornady 32 grain hollow point ammo feed flawlessly. When the clip was completely loaded with six rounds it occasionally did not want to pick up the first round going into the chamber. This gun was extremely dry. The action had not been worked for years. There is an nice you tube video on field stripping the Bauer 25. I agree with everyone in that you should never carry this little gun with a loaded chamber. Strip the pistol and look at the sear engagement and you will agree. I fully disassembled the pistol, cleaned and lubed it. I hope the occasional problem mentioned above will be gone. Really a fun little gun. I hope that it will continue to be functional.
MICHAEL T
Member
Ibought mine in 78 or 79 Used to carry it a lot. They are a clone of the baby browning Parts will interchange. Fraser made the Bauer then Took over production useing their name. Mine has never failed. I took it out a couple weeks ago been laying in safe 2 or 3 years mag loaded. Went out to my range and fired every round flawless I cleaned reloaded and put back in safe. I agree the 950 Beretta a better pistol but is also larger I have 2 950s I like the 25 for some strange reason Have 5 all togather 3 berettas. Only use ball ammo
200 around her is a good price 250 I might look at a different pistol.
200 around her is a good price 250 I might look at a different pistol.
jackstinson
Member
I have one as well. It seems to cycle most any FMJ I load. I got it relatively cheap because it's previous owner had "Shauna" on the slide.
I own and shoot a couple of dozen .25acp pocket pistols. Of the lot, my old Beretta 950B is probably best. Quite small, reliable with anything I put into it, the magazine holds 8 rounds, and it chambers a 9th safely.
I own and shoot a couple of dozen .25acp pocket pistols. Of the lot, my old Beretta 950B is probably best. Quite small, reliable with anything I put into it, the magazine holds 8 rounds, and it chambers a 9th safely.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Not being a huge .25 ACP fan, I did own a Bauer Firearms copy a long time
ago. Nice little guns, for what they are -simply a copy of the Baby Browning~!
I think between $200-250 is a fair price for one ANIB; but keep in mind that
Bauer Firearms has long since been out of business.
ago. Nice little guns, for what they are -simply a copy of the Baby Browning~!
I think between $200-250 is a fair price for one ANIB; but keep in mind that
Bauer Firearms has long since been out of business.
jackstinson
Member
Parts are available for the Bauer, and many of the clone parts interchange. Probably 90% of the guns I own haven't been produced in years (decades?) and many are from companies long since gone.
Precision Small Arms currently makes a Browning Baby copy: http://www.precisionsmallarms.com/
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