Small .22 &.25 autos

[bannockburn]

rc

Have to disagree with you sir. While it may be flatter, I think the P3AT is actually longer (5.13" vs. 4.1"), and might be a bit heavier than my alloy framed Lightweight Baby Browning.

 

[MedWheeler]

Kel-Tec P32 (slightly smaller than P3-AT) dwarfs the Bauer .25, which is the same size as the Baby Browning..

 

[amd6547]

I recently bought a Bauer 25...
When function testing it at home, I noticed that it took a really hard pull on the slide to get the striker fully cocked...didn't think much about it, figured the ejection cycle could handle it.
Went to the range last week. The little Bauer seemed like it wanted to work. But I had several jams where the striker didn't catch the sear, which means the firing pin (which also performs the ejector function) was protruding from the breach, blocking the fresh cartridge from rising.
This was while using Winchester and PRVI FMJ.
I have done a little polish on both the sear and the cocking notch on the firing pin, and the pistol seems easier to cock.
While testing the disconnect function by holding back the trigger and working the slide, I find that the striker again becomes difficult to cock....
There is some wear on the disconnector hump of the trigger bar...I'm going to smooth that today.
May end up replacing the trigger bar.
I'll be going to the range to test out the little Bauer tomorrow...anybody have any other ideas?
When I shoot it tomorrow, I'm going to try to release the trigger quickly after the shot...on the first range trip, the Bauer would go several rounds trouble free before the same jam occurred. Maybe it had to do with trigger manipulation.

I always wanted a Browning Baby, and stumbled into this Bauer pretty cheap. I'd really like it to work, and it seems really close to being there.
Speaking of size, it sure makes the Beretta 21a seem huge:

 

[usp9]

Here's my "baby" a PSA iteration in brushed nickel. Never fired. Sold it to a collector.

 

[Monac]

Just BTW, there were a couple other versions of the Bauer Browning Baby. One was marked "R.B. Industries, Fraser, Michigan", and another was simply marked "Fraser" in flowing script like the Bauer guns. Fraser, MI, is where Bauer was located, so there must have been some connection.

 

[kBob]

Monoc,

Since you seemed interested.

The SATA has a frame mounted safety I thought you might like to see.

The sights picture is in my left hand because I could only work the camera right handed.

The reason for the money staging is :

One night on the Orient Express.....no really, they called the run that in the early to mid 1970's as well as pre WWII..... in bound between Augsberg and Ulm I was walking down the corridor of a train car and was about to pass a curtained compartment. Some guy opened the door as I was passing and as he faced in the compartment I noted two rather startled men looking at me keeling before the seats on one side of the compartment where PILES of various European currency were in stacks and laying on one stack was one of those awful little, but way to big, Glock inspiring, Lefranquis tip up 25 autos.

I did not even break stride nor look back.

Interesting evening though. So money for the memory.

I think Europe was more interesting with lots of odd and colorful currency. Especially Piles of it.

-kBob

 

[kBob]

Anyone remember a little browning-ish .22LR called the FTL or some such?

Any experience with them?

I constantly get the Walther TPH and TPK confused I think I recently suggested on THC a TPK to someone when I meant TPH. I had a German friend with the hammerless and he shot it very well.

I have looked but can find no pictures of a .32 Bayard that was remarkably small I got to play with for a week or ten days and shoot a bit. After the second magazine I noticed that its springs were truly shot and that it was opening way to fast so I stopped after onl y a total of 12 or 13 rounds.

-kBob

 

[oneounceload]

I only have one small .25 and one small .22

C&L- I have both of those myself - amazing how that little Colt, although over 100 years old, still works just fine.

 

[Monac]

Anyone remember a little browning-ish .22LR called the FTL or some such?

Any experience with them?

I constantly get the Walther TPH and TPK confused I think I recently suggested on THC a TPK to someone when I meant TPH. I had a German friend with the hammerless and he shot it very well.

I have looked but can find no pictures of a .32 Bayard that was remarkably small I got to play with for a week or ten days and shoot a bit. After the second magazine I noticed that its springs were truly shot and that it was opening way to fast so I stopped after onl y a total of 12 or 13 rounds.

-kBob

I think the FTL was a Wilkinson product, like the "Sherry" and "Diane". I did a quick Google search, and found it was called the FTL Auto Nine. There were several High Road threads about it, like this one:

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-353593.html

You can easily find pictures of it on Google too. It was a clean looking little 22 vest-pocket automatic. I think the FTL Auto Nine's heyday was about 30 years ago.

I never had one, and I read both good and bad things about them. I have no idea what FTL was supposed to stand for, if anything, but the Auto-Nine part meant the magazine held 8 or 9 rounds, IDK which.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I always wanted a Baby Browning just for the sheer novelty of the design. I mean something that small and so well made was too good to pass up. Finally found one a few years back (LNIB), at an unbelievable price so I got it. Can't say I have ever felt a need to carry it as a back-up to the back-up, but might someday.

LOVE me some Baby Browning .25 auto!!!

Looks good. I'd own either an original or one of the PSA clones if only for one thing: these guns aren't safe to carry with a round in the chamber. It would really be bad to have to rack the slide on one in order to use if first in a self defense encounter, a lot of waster time that could be extremely vital. The magazine also carries 5 rounds, so since it's not safe to have 5+1 that's all you'd get. For me, my even tinnier NAA mini-revolver starts to make more sense.

But I'd love something like a Beretta 950 and in fact have been looking at used ones lately. Tiny, very reliable from what I know, and with a capacity of 8+1 that's some decent firepower. Stick it in someones face or guts and pull the trigger nine times. Ouch. Should be fairly effective.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

C&L- I have both of those myself - amazing how that little Colt, although over 100 years old, still works just fine.

Oh Yeh...the little Colts work fine and are fun shooters! When I got mine several years ago I lucked into TWO factory magazines. Made my day!

 

[MedWheeler]

Cooldill writes:

The magazine also carries 5 rounds...

True, it does carry 5 rounds, but it does not carry only 5 rounds. It's actually a six-round magazine..

 

[MedWheeler]

Monac, the Bauer version was sold from 1972 until 1984. However, manufacture continued well into 1986, and the guns made those last two years did indeed bear markings as "Fraser" guns instead of as Bauers.. so you're right about the connection..

 

[bannockburn]

kBob

I had one of those FTL Auto-Nines. I think I first saw it in an ad in Soldier of Fortune magazine back in the late '70s. The gun itself was fairly well made of quality materials and was decently finished. Of course something that small coupled with rimfire ammo did not lend itself to reliable functioning all that often. I think I eventually traded it in on something equally as small; quite possibly a Beretta Model 950.

 

[bannockburn]

Cooldill

I just had the Baby Browning out today, cleaning it and checking it over as part of my routine maintenance schedule. Still marvel at the inherent genius to make something that small and have it work like it's supposed to.

 

[kBob]

Well I may have to go see an eye doctor because I googled last night and saw the RG26 25 ACP. Got to looking up all sorts of RG products. It burns, it burns!

Never did find a .22LR version of the model 26 but that is what it looked like and the ammo with it was .22 LR.

I was startled to see some of their newer stuff, a zamak .380 semi auto and an "appearence of death" (never can get it right in German) tear gas blank model of the Naa Mini revolver with belt buckle.

Found pictures of the little 4mm revolver one of my bud's had in the Army....the one we made junk yard rats angry with and such.

Total waste of time... and fun, too.

-kBob

 

[JERRY]

thread revival.... I'd like to see a Bauer/Baby Browning compared to a LWS for size....

 

[usp9]

I'd like to see a Bauer/Baby Browning compared to a LWS for size....

Here's one borrowed from Photobucket. They are both "one finger grip" guns. Tiny. Astounding that the Seecamp is available in .25, .32 and .380... all in the same size package.

 

[Deaf Smith]

I will carry my Beretta 950's and my Model 20 25acp Beretta But not the 22's . I

have more faith in the 25 than 22 . 25 has been shown to have better penetration than 22 from these little pistols .

Yea, 950 is the ticket. I've owned a few and just flawless functioning.

The last one I've seen, stain nickel finished, they wanted over $400.

But with my Kel-Tec P32, I just saw no reason to spend $400 on a .25, no matter how good it was.

Deaf

 

[geologist]

What real man doesn't like scrapbooks?



And unicorns! Who doesn't love unicorns?



Surprise!!!!!!!



Astra Cub, .22 Short.





My Baby.

 

[Dino]

My Colt 1908 Vest Pocket .25 manufactured in 1909.
Over 100 years old, functions perfect, and surprisingly accurate.



Great for deep concealment too!

 

[TruthTellers]

I generally stay away from .22 & .25 micro pistols because for a little extra size a .380 does wonders more and .380 is very easy to find in comparison. But I do understand the need for extreme concealability and when that situation comes about, I'd lean towards a North American Arms revolver. However, that's a single action and isn't a speed shooter or easy to aim with.

There is only one .25 automatic I have ever thought of buying and that is the Plainfield Ordinance Model 71 for the only reasons that it has an accessory .22 conversion kit and is solidly built on a steel frame. It would be heavy, but the quality has got to be unbeatable. Only problem is that only 2000 were ever made.

 

[texasred777]

Back in the mid 1970s I was working in a job that required me to carry several hundred to several thousand dollars from different stores to the bank and dropped into the night deposit box. I bought a little RG .25 to carry in my hip pocket. No, I didn't carry a round in the chamber because I didn't want a hole in my hip of leg. When in the vehicle, I would chamber a round and lay it on the seat beside me. Thankfully, I never needed to use it.
I had replaced the handles three or four times, and had carry it several times between replacing the handles with broken pieces missing. In the mid 1980s, when I had changed jobs, I took the little outside one day and was going to shoot it. It wouldn't 'lock' the firing pin into place even I tried several times. I took the gun inside the house and stripped it. I found several bent pieces of linkage. I never tried to straighten or replace them. I paid $40 for the gun new. I gave it to a local pawn shop/gun store, along with the original receipt showing where I had bought it.
Although I carry concealed, a little Bersa .380, I have a little Walther PPK/S .22lr. that I think the world of! It has been the most reliable pistol, along with the little Bersa, that I have ever owned.

 

[entropy]

Think I'd go with a Doubletap in .45ACP before a .22 or .25ACP. But the Baby Browning and the Walther Model 9 Taschenpistole are classic .25ACP designs.

The High Standard .22 WMR Derringer was a nice option, too. Had one, sold it to a friend.

I do have a Cobray SxS .410/.45LC, but that's more a fun range toy than a serious defense pistol, plus it is rather large & ungainly for the use.

 

[Confederate]

I've always felt that the mouse guns are underrated. It has nothing to do with bullet velocity, expansion, wound channels or studies. It's just that over the years I've made mental notes of the many shootings by civilians who have had to shoot in their own defense. Not only have I been surprised by the number of successful defense shootings, but by the number of assailants who die from their wounds.

The 25acp is more reliable than the 22lr. In fact, the first few times I shot my Beretta 22lr, I was convinced it was worthless. The thing jammed every third or fourth round. But then someone told me to shoot CCIs and lightweight hi-velocity ammo. I did and it suddenly began working like a champ!



The Beretta 21A .22 (right) is slightly larger than the 950 .25, yet
holds two fewer rounds. But both really spit out the lead!



The 21A is double action and works flawlessly...with the right ammo.



The 950 is well made and ultra-reliable. Never had a jam with any Beretta .25.



This Sterling is cute and came in both .25 and .22, but they're both
worthless. Back in the 80s, I ordered a few of them in both calibers.
Not one of them worked. I think I still have a mag or two kicking
around still in the box. If anyone needs them, PM me.

°°°

Although not exactly a mouse gun, this Beretta 70S .22lr is just one step up. It'sreliable and spits out nine
rounds as fast as a Ruger. This one has been hard chromed. The ones above are stainless. I also have a
Jennings J-22 that is exceptionally reliable. But you have to brush out the powder residue every third
magazine or it will jam.





°°°