Better .25...Winchester exp. point or Hornady HP XTP?

[Manedwolf]

Yes, yes, I know it's a small caliber, but the 950 is reliable as a BUG.

Of these two, has anyone had experience to say which seems to be the "best bet" overall? The Winchester is intriguing with its round-nose ball that comes off on impact to leave a hollowpoint, and it's heavier, which I'd think is good with so light a bullet. (a regular ball in this seems to be 50gr.) But Hornady has always been good, too...

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Winchester Super-X 25 Automatic 45 Grains, Expanding Point

Hornady Custom .25 ACP 35-Grain Jacketed Hollow Point XTP


I currently usually have Speer Gold Dot JHPs in it. The MagSafe +P Defender makes a nice energetic "bang", but I'd seen ballistics reports that the tiny shot grains in the fragmenting bullet really don't do any sort of significant damage at all.

 

[browningguy]

I sometimes keep my model 21 in my pocket, since like your 950 it's never failed to go bang. I haven't seen any testing on the new 35 grain rounds but that's what I switched to. I figure it can use all the help it can get in the velocity department. My gun seemed to like both the Speer and the Federal XTP, I got a deal on several boxes of the Federal load so that's what I use.

 

[usp9]

This site has some interesting info
http://stevespages.com/page8f25acp.html

 

[Sistema1927]

I would think that if forced to carry that small of a cartridge that you would be looking for adequate penetration.

At least that is the reason why I carry ball ammo in my KT P32 when I can't carry any other weapon.

 

[MICHAEL T]

I think of my 950 as a long range ice pick. I carry ball I will make lots of .25 holes

 

[wally]

FMJ in the heaviest weight you can find is the way to go because you need all the penetration you can get with the .25ACP.

I used to carry a .25 sometimes until I got Kel-Tec P32, which was replaced by the Kel-Tec P3AT. Think of your little .25 as a single shot 20 ga shotgun loaded with 0 buck that fires serially and you won't feel its so wimpy. Recoil is so light you can control very rapid fire. When I would practice with mine, others at the range would look over thinking my gun went full auto.

--wally.

 

[Stoney]

My 1908 Colts dont' like HP ammo, so I stick with the Winchester.A.25 caliber is better then a rock or your fist, but I only carry one when wearing light summer clothing.

 

[Gordon]

The Win pellet nose feeds as good as ball, has adequate weight to hit to the normal point of aim and it actually does expand to .30" or so.

 

[MICHAEL T]

The Win pellet nose feeds as good as ball, has adequate weight to hit to the normal point of aim and it actually does expand to .30" or so.

But whats the Penteration a 25 ball will do close to 10in last I saw. Hp won't and that little expansion if it really expans isn't going to be of much help. I like the 25 for discreet carry but it's a running and shooting pistol. Like I said a long range icepick.

 

[gazpacho]

Aguila 50gr FMJ

It's loaded a little hot.

 

[RyanM]

http://www.firearmstactical.com/test_data/25acp/win25-45xp-b20.htm
6.5" of penetration. That'll bring a mouse to his knees. Maybe even a rat or a possum or malnourished racoon. But anything bigger than that is pretty safe.

http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs9.htm
7.8" for 35 gr Gold Dots. Once again, not going to be very effective on anything bigger than a varmint. I expect Hornady 35 gr XTPs would be similar in performance.

Unless your main concern is being attacked by toddlers, use FMJ. A bigger gun would be better, but FMJ is your best bet in any caliber under .38 SPL +P.

 

[Moonclip]

I'd use the hottest ball that was reliable I could find. 25acp hps are kind of gimmicky. I think even Winchester admitted people just want them even if they don't really expand. Go for reliabilty and adequate penetration in the very small calibers.

I suppose one could try glaser or mag safe but same problem of underpenetration there too. I have heard of people removing the ball from a Win hp to promote better expansion, the ball is actually there to assist feeding, not expansion I believe but penetration really would become minimal then.