The most awesome .25acp.

[.38 Special]

Some years ago I had the opportunity to buy an S&W revolver put together by Hamilton Bowen for the .25 Auto. It's hard to imagine a sillier thing, but any gun from Bowen is going to be very good, and the price was obscenely low for a full-blown custom - something like $750 if I recall correctly. I don't remember my excuse for not buying it, but I do still regret it.

 

[lincen]

The little 25acp handguns are fun to collect. I don’t carry any of these but do take them to the range. One key fact about all the stories about 25’s is, folks blame the gun when sometimes it is all about the ammo. American made ammo is a bit weaker than the European made. Also, these little guns sit in drawers, closets, and pockets for years at the time. Using the wrong oil on a handgun “might” affect the ammo. My biggest argument against carrying one is that you will more than likely face an armed bad guy and they will most likely be carrying a larger caliber threat. Still, I really enjoy my 25’s !

 

[JCooperfan1911]

The .25 was enough for James Bond when he carried it earlier in his career.

It’s not the toy some people make it out to be.

 

[bdickens]

James Bond was a fictional character created by an author who really didn't know much about guns in the first place.

 

[Shivahasagun]

My LGS has a Colt pocket in really good condition that is nagging at me. (I know better than to ask all you enablers if I ought drop 7/8 of used G17 on a Colt Pocket .25 [])
I have a teeny Beretta that I bought mostly because the local Oshman's had it on sale, and I had a coupon, So, it's not like I don't have some ammo laying about . . .
View attachment 1074595
Ok, somebody help me, my memory of Flemming was that Bond carried a long barreled (like 4") Beretta .25--am I just misremembering that? Movie Bond always had some sort of pocket pistol, but I want to remember Book Bond was different.

In the books Bond has a Beretta 418 6.35 mm. (.25) The first 6 books or so. Then the Beretta is taken by M and he's given two guns to try out on his next mission. An Airweight S&W .38 spl. And the PPK 7.65 mm. (.32)

He keeps a Colt Army "Long barrel" .45 in his vehicles. People debate exactly what this was as there is no further description. I think it was a 1911 or earlier Colt .45 auto.

Anyway, Bond ends up losing both new handguns in Dr. No and later chooses the PPK. But he only uses it in two or three of the original 12 books. He mostly uses the Beretta as far as carried handgun.

 

[bannockburn]

I believe James Bond carried a Beretta Model 418 in the Ian Fleming novels. Later it was replaced with a Walther PPK in .32 ACP.

 

[Shivahasagun]

James Bond was a fictional character created by an author who really didn't know much about guns in the first place.

True. Fleming thought guns were technically boring and readers would find too many details distracting from the story.

He wasn't completely ignorant about guns but not an enthusiast, either. He was at one time issued a 418 while in the Intelligence service.

I enjoyed how he made a good effort to describe things like guns, cars, tobacco products, food, and drink.

He wrote each book in a month or two while vacationing in the Caribbean.

His favorite things were food, drink, smoke, the Caribbean, and writing.

 

[Speedo66]

The .25 was enough for James Bond when he carried it earlier in his career.

Um, he was a fictional character.

I've related these before, so feel free to stop reading...

We had a case one time where a guard in a supermarket parking lot was shot 7 times with a .25 because he wouldn't let a guy stop his car in a no parking area. Upon being shot, he beat the living crap out of the shooter, and was able to testify at his trial.

Another case where the victim was shot in the forehead with a .25. The bullet traveled around his head under the scalp and exited at the rear of his head. He was also able to testify.

I decided I didn't need a .25.

 

[d2wing]

Years ago I had an assortment of pocket pistols from 22LR, 25, 32 and .380. I sold them all except a .22LR . version, I forgot the brand. That one was stolen from my truck.

 

[GBExpat]

The .25 was enough for James Bond when he carried it earlier in his career. ...

Yeah, but he missed his target during the hoohah in Istanbul that night (that had to be in From Russia With Love, yes?). I read it when I was ~15 (55 years ago) and even then the fact that he was carrying a .25acp had me shaking my head.

Sorry if I misremembered that, your reference triggered some ancient memories. I only read the book the one time and now my brain is really O.L.D.

 

[Tallball]

I have a few. They're just range toys and curiosities. (I carry my LCP!! when I need a very small handgun.)

The Mauser is a rare thing: a 25acp pistol that's fairly easy to shoot well. It has a 3" barrel and real sights. I believe this is the model that Hitler's niece killed herself with or was murdered with, depending on which story you believe.

I don't think they made too many of these Stars. It's nickel rather than stainless, IIRC. It's super cool, and I can't shoot it worth a darn.

I got the Bauer for $200 or less used. It doesn't work. I'm retiring soon, so I'll probably get around to fixing it before long. It's super cool. I probably won't be able to shoot it worth a darn, either.

Mauser1910

• Tallball
• Jul 4, 2018

Star Model CO

• Tallball
• Jun 10, 2019

Bauer 25acp

• Tallball
• Jun 8, 2019

 

[doubleh]

People must have become much tougher in the last half of the 20th century or so. 25 used to get 'er done before then but not now.

 

[amd6547]

I bought a Bauer Baby a couple years ago. It shoots well, but I’m not confident in the safety set up…not enough to carry it chamber loaded.
As others have pointed out, the Keltec P32 makes for a great pocket gun.

 

[Electricmo]

My favorite and often carried .25.

That gun looks awesome. Now I’ll be in the hunt

 

[Brutus54]

Back years ago when I had my FFL I would buy guns online and if you purchased 2 or more it was free shipping. They had a Jennings .22cal for $29. It was cheaper to buy a Jennings each time than the price of shipping for a single purchase. I kept one of the Jennings for myself and the last time I was out back at the range I took out the Jennings and emptied the entire magazine of .22's into the head of a silhouette target at about 15 ft. I was surprised as I never took it as a real carry gun more of a late "Saturday Afternoon" special

 

[22250Rem]

. Anyone own one for fun? Do you carry it?

.......... Bought one just for grins & because the price was right & I had never owned a 25 ACP.... .. Yup; it's one of those infamous Ravens. Got traded in at the LGS in 1995 and the owner didn't actually want it so he told me; "25 bucks and it's yours". So on a whim I bought it. Of course it's not a carry gun but just an occasional range toy. Like about once every 5 years. Has held up nicely; I believe it's an earlier model from when they had more steel and less of what folks call "pot metal". Mostly used it to shoot various things with and learned that 25 ACP FMJ will go through a 2x4 at about 10 feet, ( normal SD range for something like this) so I decided that it was more than some people give it credit for. Although if it doesn't kill someone it could sure ruin their day.

 

[jar]

In my pocket today.

 

[sgt127]

I bought a Bauer Baby a couple years ago. It shoots well, but I’m not confident in the safety set up…not enough to carry it chamber loaded.
.

That’s what would stop me from carrying the Browning/Bauer. I used to. With age, comes wisdom. There’s just a tiny little shelf keeping it from going bang.

 

[sgt127]

.......... Bought one just for grins & because the price was right & I had never owned a 25 ACP.... View attachment 1074688.. Yup; it's one of those infamous Ravens. Got traded in at the LGS in 1995 and the owner didn't actually want it so he told me; "25 bucks and it's yours". So on a whim I bought it. .

I’ve worked a lot of shooting where a Raven. Phoenix whatever version was used. Surprisingly, they almost always go bang.

And, I just remembered, I have one of those. Somebody just gave it to me. I’ve never fired it.

You need a Crown Royal bag to store it in. I would have sworn, RG’s and Raven .25’s, came that way from the factory.

The complete West Dallas survival kit.

 

[FL-NC]

IMO the 25 ACP is a poor substitute for almost anything else. The ultimate "get off me caliber" (I've never heard this before) would be a caliber that not only makes some get off you, the person would never get on anyone or anything again. If someone is shot and survives but does not fire back, it is because they have chosen not to and/or prioritized other matters. I have seen people perform all types of physical reactions after being shot- to include firing back. If they are capable of doing those other things (running, crawling, panicking, etc.) I would think they would still be capable of doing something as simple as pointing a gun and squeezing a trigger, thrusting an edged weapon, or any number of other things I would not enjoy.

 

[Riomouse911]

When I was a brand new cop I had a Beretta 950 Jetfire .25 as an off duty gun in hot weather… which where I live is about 10 and a half months a year.

One day I stopped to back up a County Marshal’s Deputy who was doing a one-man felony car stop on the on-ramp of the Westbound 60 freeway. The guy inside the stolen car was a parolee-at-large who was not the most cooperative guy.

After the guy realized he wasn’t going to win that day and submitted to arrest, I realized that the trusty Jetfire and its .25 ACP chambering just were not up to the tasks that I could legitimately need it to perform. It was subsequently retired and a 2.5” Model 19 took its place.

Others may find a .25 adequate for their needs, YMMV.

Stay safe.

 

[Jimbo80]

My LGS has a Colt pocket in really good condition that is nagging at me. Movie Bond always had some sort of pocket pistol, but I want to remember Book Bond was different.

At todays prices it's iffy but a Colt Vest Pocket is a must have for a mouser collection.

Bond switched from a Beretta 418 to the PPK in Dr. No which was the first movie. Interesting that in the movie neither a PPK or 418 were used.

 

[Shivahasagun]

At todays prices it's iffy but a Colt Vest Pocket is a must have for a mouser collection.

Bond switched from a Beretta 418 to the PPK in Dr. No which was the first movie. Interesting that in the movie neither a PPK or 418 were used.

First movie, but the 6th book.

Bond preferred the Beretta but, orders is orders. He carried several spare mags, too.

When he had the .38 Spl in the book Dr. No, he carried extra ammo in...a sack! Yup. Loose ammo in a sack. He used it to shoot the big headlights out of the home-made "tank" starting from about 75 yards away. He reloaded a couple times if I recall until he shot out the two big lights and by that time the "tank" was very close. His friend, Quarrel Jr., was trying to shoot the driver with an M1 Carbine. But he got roasted by the "tank"'s flame-thrower.

 

[toivo]

Re-using this picture from the "Pocket Pistols" thread ... If the black SIG P238 with the faux-wood grips is 12 o'clock, you've got these .25s:
1:00 -- PSA Baby Browning clone
3:00 -- Seecamp .25
6:00 -- Beretta 950 Jetfire

The rest are either .22LR, .22WMR, .32ACP, or .380ACP. You guess which are which.

 

[Shivahasagun]

Um, he was a fictional character.

I've related these before, so feel free to stop reading...

We had a case one time where a guard in a supermarket parking lot was shot 7 times with a .25 because he wouldn't let a guy stop his car in a no parking area. Upon being shot, he beat the living crap out of the shooter, and was able to testify at his trial.

Another case where the victim was shot in the forehead with a .25. The bullet traveled around his head under the scalp and exited at the rear of his head. He was also able to testify.

I decided I didn't need a .25.

Here is what happens though:

When a lesser caliber bullet fails (or the shooter fails) the bullet gets the blame.

But when a greater caliber (or shooter) fails the exact same way, the person shot gets credit for being tough.

The reality is pistol bullets from .22-.45 operate on a narrow spectrum of effectiveness considerably below rifles and shotguns.