Raven .25

[Arizonagunrunner]

I have the Raven 25 that my dad bought new in 1978. He gave $43.00 for it. I have been the only one to shoot it. I put a whopping 15 rounds through it. It is a safe queen. It is not worth squat, and I only have it because dad passed on. So it is a keeper. I think a butcher knife would make a better defensive weapon then this thing.

 

[Gondo]

Raven MP 25

It is what it is. I would imagine that people who have "trouble" with an older Raven .25, have trouble with most if not all of their semi-automatic handguns.
I used to have two of them and they were reliable. I shoot S&B ammo in the one I kept and it has never FTF or any thing else. I am not a good shot with it but my son can hit very well at 21 ft.
The first one I had was a smooth running little gun with the fake pearl grips. I sold it back to my sister in law once she got back on her feet financially.
The one I kept is like new and has never malfunctioned. I carry it for snakes and such while mowing the lawn or just puttering around the place.
They are super easy to clean. One of mine needed a little burr or two filed from the slide, although it didn't affect the operation of the piece.
If you need a tiny little weapon, the choice of one infamous executioner, then $80.00 ain't bad if it is as reliable as the ones with which I have experience.
The executioner of which I speak didn't use a Raven, but did use the .25 auto round, placed to the back of the head, one shot.
I have heard people call the .25 a contact gun meaning you might want to be able to place the gun against the threat and pull the trigger.
If it is in good condition 80 ain't bad.
This is only my opinion, based on 1000's of trouble free rounds through my old used Ravens. I make a great baby sitting gun. (against close in threats, not the babies)
Peace,
gordon

 

[Russ Jackson]

They are better used as an object to throw at an attacker. Possibly one of the worst guns ever made. Top 5 anyway...Russ

 

[usmccpl]

I got a Raven/Jennings MP-25. It has never jammed or failed. At 10 feet slow fire you can even keep 3 rounds in a 10 inch group. Any farther or firing more rounds and all bets are off. I wouldnt bet my life on it or the lives of my kids but if that is all you got it can do the trick.

 

[ProCarryNAustin]

"I would imagine that people who have "trouble" with an older Raven .25, have trouble with most if not all of their semi-automatic handguns."

That would not true in my case.

 

[Myles]

I owned and shot mine for over 20 years, and traded it for a Heritage Rough Rider .22.

I regret the trade. It was handy, comfortable to carry in a pocket or ankle holster.

It is a simple firearm, with accuracy limited by the short barrel and the caliber.
I never pattern tested it to measure a group.

However, with that said, I often used it to plink empty 12 gauge hulls from my target stand at 7 yards.

$80 does sound high for a used inexpensive pistol, though. If you want it, make them a lower offer, or see if they will throw in accessories and/or ammo.

 

[JR47]

I've has one since the late 1970's. Chrome with wood grips. Never used it for CCW, or even defense. That said, though, it's been fired thousands of times without fail.

This example is capable of 3"-5" groups at 10 yards. It's quite reliable with ball ammo (as it was designed to use).

As far as being among the Top Five Worst Guns, they'd finish behind RG, the S&W Sigma .380, AMT, The Italian Brixia, the Chicago Firearms Palm Pistol, the Spanish Ruby, and any of the various copies produced by the Belgians.

 

[Average Joe]

Take the $80 and go out to dinner.

 

[longhair75]

A friend of mine had an altercation with a teen aged Gang banger in a parking lot. The kid shot him five times with a Raven .25. Two of the rounds didn't even get all the way through my friend's leather jacket. He got to the kid and broke his arm while disarming him. The kid went to jail for assault. My friend was back to work in a few days.

 

[larryh1108]

The Raven is a nice, little gun that is fun at the range. As many have suggested, it is not a SD gun. Mine has been fine and accurate up to about 25'. I have no problem keeping it on a pie plate. I read how so many say it jams yet mine only stovepipes when it's time to change the recoil spring. The recoil spring only lasts 500 rounds or so but they are cheap. I've put well over 1000 rounds thru mine and it is what it is, a fun, little gun that is a novelty. If you do research on it you will see many positive write ups on it. The copy cats are the less desirable of all the Saturday Night Specials but the Raven is a neat gun that is fun to shoot. $80? Yes, the market is $80-$100 depending on condition. If it's worth it to you then by all means buy it. The dinner will pass thru your system in a day or two but the Raven can last a lifetime or two. It seems that the only ones who like them are ones that actually own one today.

 

[starling]

like them enough to have multiples. I also like most of the other SNS 25s. The Ravens are usually the better of the breed but there are a few others that are very good as well. The Jennings 25 is not a bad gun. Lorcins can have issues with shallow rifleing. There are some others as well but these are the three more popular brands/makes.

Self defense....not real great as the gun is only as effective as the caliber and I agree 25acp is not ideal (better than nothing though). The design of the weapon also does not bode confidence in carrying a round in the chamber.

But for what they are....they are great guns. Better than a pocket knife and small enough to have one on your person most of the time if one so inclined. Mine have all been pretty accurate for the most part. I recrowned the barrel on a two that had some issues reguarding accuracy and that solved the problem.

I should not that there are three different versions reguarding the saftey on these. Some being a little better than others. None are unsafe though so its just a matter of preference.

They can actually be great starter guns as they are comfortable to shoot and use a low recoiling caliber for those that are gun shy. Most people I have taken shooting for the first time end up wanting to buy one from me. My wife likes my ravens more than my Berettas...go figure. I still prefer Berettas though.

 

[sxcamaro05]

My friends grandfather has one and used to let us shoot cans on his farm with it. If you could walk 15-20 paces away and hit a can you were king for the day. Nothing really wrong with it, but IMHO this is a collectors type gun not an SD.

 

[Ruger Redhawk]

Back in the late 70's I worked at a gunshop for awhile. We sold 100's of these Ravens and I honestly can say I don't remember ever getting one back for problems. Back then we sold them for 39.00. No I don't own one,I have no use for a 25 ACP.

 

[Yarddawg]

I own an MP25. I bought it new several years ago at a gun show for $45. I have put ~1000 rounds through it without a single problem. It is a fun gun to shoot. My groups at 25' are 3". Like many others have stated, no way would I rely on it for SD. With that having been said, there was an incident here a few years back where a local police officer was killed by a Raven .25. The officer was wearing his vest, however, the design of the vest had a fatal flaw...it left the sides vulnerable.

My biggest problem with the gun these days is finding ammo for it locally.

$80 for a used Raven? I think that I may just have to hold on to mine a bit longer. It's sounding like it has been one of my better investments!

 

[Bluehawk]

My biggest problem with the gun these days is finding ammo for it locally.

My problem is not only finding it but the price of it!!!! Because I own half a dozen Sterling Arms pistols in .25 auto (and .22LR) I simply reload for them...it's really quite easy in spite of it's tiny size.

 

[franco45]

I have had 3 of them. All have been fun and reliable. Having said that they are not used for ccw or sd of any kind. $80 is about right. I do own many other more expensive guns but the Ravens come out every now and then just for fun.