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Cartridge Discussion: .25 ACP

152K views 130 replies 85 participants last post by  Pete63 
#1 · (Edited)
How many folks out there are going to admit to having a handgun chambered for the .25 ACP? If ownership of the .25 ACP is admitted then how many have actually carried a handgun so chambered? It’s a cartridge that is frequently criticized as being too unsubstantial for use for serious self-defense yet ammunition is sold each year for this pipsqueak . Somebody’s using it for something.

The .25 ACP is one of our really old semi-auto pistol cartridges. It was introduced in 1905 or 1906, depending on the reference, in the FN Model 1906. Both pistol and cartridge were of Browning design. Once the semi-auto pistol became accepted and came in general use at the beginning of the 20th century, a number of designs in different sizes and chambered for a host of new cartridges were marketed to those who felt the need to possess a handgun for self-defense. The smallest practical sizes marketed were any of several models termed vest pocket pistols. Most of these were designed around the .25 ACP or 6.35 Browning as it is known in Europe. These diminutive pistols occupied about the same space as the smallest one or two shot derringers of the previous century but featured higher ammunition capacity contained in handy magazines that made recharging more convenient. Due to the relatively high velocity of the .25 ACP cartridge, handguns so chambered offered striking effectiveness equal or exceeding many of the low-powered rim fire, pin fire, or center fire pocket pistols marketed in the later decades of the 19th century. A light-weight-for-caliber .22, .25, .30, .32, .38, or at best .41 caliber bullet traveling at 400-500 fps is anemic in the extreme. Many thousands of small semi-auto pistols taking the .25 ACP were sold worldwide over the next 75 years or so. Among the well known brands were some really fine handguns made and sold in .25 ACP including Astra, Beretta, Browning, Colt, FN, Mauser, Ortgies, Sauer, and Walther. These are finely made and exhibit design and craftsmanship fully equal to larger handguns from those firms.

GCA ’68 and a change in tastes caused the popularity of high quality arms chambered for the .25 ACP to wan by the 1970’s. The cartridge became the provenance of the inexpensive semi-auto pistol. It seems that such low quality pistols, with their uneven functional reliability, further tarnished the reputation of the .25 as a serious defensive cartridge. Design advancements in the 1980’s and 1990’s made more powerful cartridges available in pistols almost as small as many .25 pistols. These days there are not a lot of choices out there if one wants to purchase a new .25 pistol.

So, What Can It Do?

For starters the .25 fully possesses the capability to kill a person very dead. It has laid many low in it’s century plus usage. It must be remembered that the .25 pistol is not a toy and absolutely must be given the same respect that any firearm should be accorded.

I’ve toted and used the .25 on occasion and have some notion of its capabilities. Upon considering the Kel Tec P3AT, it’s .380 ACP cartridge, and its overall size compared to my Colt Model 1908 I decided to retire the .25 as a deep concealment handgun and go with the P3AT and its more effective cartridge. Previously I’d slipped the little Colt in my hip pocket behind my wallet if I didn’t think I could contrive to hide anything larger.


The Kel Tec P3AT is scarcely larger than the Colt Model 1908 but offers significantly more punch.

Years ago I saw my first example of .25 ACP effectiveness and it was sorry indeed. I’d left a hunting vest on a tank dam where I’d been dove hunting one afternoon. Before work the next morning I drove out past the edge of town to the pasture to retrieve the vest. I slipped my Beretta Model 1919 .25 ACP behind my wallet and began hiking up a fence row to the stock tank. About 300 yards up the path from the road I suddenly found myself face to face with a coyote which was sitting on it’s haunches in the broom weeds at the edge of the path I was traveling. Pleased to have an opportunity to rid the countryside of one of the varmints I whipped out the .25 pistol and fired full into the center of the coyote’s chest, seeing dust and fur fly where the bullet struck. The distance couldn’t have been more than 5 yards. The coyote whirled and ran off. I’m sure I could ascertain a baleful look in its eye as it turned to run, contemptuous of my ordnance.

Someone once dumped an old washing machine in a gully on our gun club property. I took advantage of the opportunity to fire a few shots into its side with this .25 Beretta. The result was chipped paint and deep puckers. No bullet penetrated the side of the washer. A few more shots with a Smith & Wesson Model 17 .22 Long Rifle revolver penetrated the washer’s side. What was this? The .22 would pierce the sheet metal. I knew the Beretta was old, its bore ravaged by corrosive priming. The rifling was only a shadow in the pitted surfaces of the bore. I speculated that bore condition could be affecting my .25’s effectiveness.

At the next Fort Worth gun show I swapped the Beretta and cash for a Colt Model 1908 .25 that had a sparkling clean bore Since the washer was still at the range I stopped by and fired some more .25 ammo at its side. The shots from the Colt completely penetrated the sheet metal. Moral to the story is: if ya’ pistole ain’t got much horsepower to begin with, be sure it’s in good condition ‘cause you’re gonna need all the help you can get.

One evening my brother-in-law called me to talk handloading and guns. I was walking around in the house on the cell phone while visiting with him and happened to look out our front door. There on the porch sat a feral cat that I’d been gunning for. With no explanation other than “Hang on Bo” I held the phone against my chest with my left hand, fetched the .25, which happened to be nearby, eased the door open a crack, and popped the cat through both shoulders. The bullet exited and made a small, flaked mark in the concrete. The cat launched itself off the porch but immediately keeled over at the edge of the sidewalk in the grass. He’d traveled about 8 feet. He was about 10 feet from the muzzle of the Colt when I fired. Bo exclaimed, “What was that?” I replied that I’d just taken out a cat that was hanging around tormenting Wally, our kids’ new kitten.

I used the Colt .25 to administer a finishing shot to a buck once. I’d hit a buck deer high in the spine on a broadside shot with a .30-30 as he trotted through the edge of some oak woods. He was down but not out so I placed the .25 down close to the back of his head and pressed the trigger. As the shot rang out I observed the spent .25 FMJ bullet roll out of his right nostril onto the leaves, completely undamaged except for the rifling marks. The .25 effectively administered the coup de grace but was completely spent in traversing the deer’s head.

A few armadillos, ‘possums, and a ‘**** that was found beneath our camper on a deer lease have given their all to my .25 ACP and it proved to be effective on these varmints.

A Stinker to Shoot

I’ve owned an Astra Model 1916 (?), a couple of Colt Model 1908 .25 pistols and a Browning Baby since I traded out of that old Beretta. I get a kick out of shooting the diminutive pistols but can’t say I’m good at it. The sights are rudimentary, the triggers are a chore, and there just isn’t much for me to hold onto. The Browning Baby was about as tedious as shooting a .44 Magnum with full power loads because of this. The Colt Model 1908 seems to offer a bit more to hold. All .25 ACP pistols are loud enough to ring one’s ears if hearing protection is not worn. Despite the small pistols’ general unsuitability for use I’ve been know to wile away part of an afternoon trying to shoot distant targets with them for fun. There’s a good-sized mesquite tree at the end of the road leading to the lake cabin that is slightly smaller in diameter than a skinny man. The distance is around 100 yards from the cabin yard. It’s possible but not easy to chip and nick the bark on the tree with .25 bullets. The last time I played at this game I had my best results shooting prone.

Oh the Raw Power!

The traditional factory ballistic figures quoted for the .25 ACP with it’s standard 51 grain full metal jacketed bullet is 760 fps with 64 ft./lbs. of energy. Many shooters consider the .25 ACP to be inferior to the .22 Long Rifle for self defense. This isn't entirely true as may be seen. It’s one thing to fire a .22 Long Rifle from a handgun with a four inch to eight inch barrel yet quite another to fire it from a typical vest pocket pistol with it’s barrel length of perhaps two inches at most. Perspectives change when firing both cartridges from similar handguns. It is said that the .25 ACP feeds more reliably than the longer rimmed .22 Long Rifle. There may be some truth to that statement as my .25 ACP semi-auto pistols have fed and functioned with perfect reliability.

Because some folks are gluttons for punishment, die sets for handloading the .25 are available. Picking out .25 ACP cases from the typical litter of .22 rim fire cases on the ground at the range is enough to make one cross-eyed. Once set up for handloading the tiny components aren’t quite as bad to handle as may be imagined. I handload for the .25 ACP as I must have a low threshold of entertainment. My RCBS Uniflow powder measure can just be adjusted to reliably throw the maximum listed charge of Unique. It won’t go any lower and is easier to set just a little over the maximum listed charge weight for Unique. I’ve only attempted to load Bullseye and Unique in the .25 ACP. I’d assumed that Bullseye would be the best choice but Unique gives higher velocities using maximum published loads. The .25 ACP would have to be the least expensive cartridge of all to handload if one troubled himself to cast bullets for it. I’m just not that dedicated.

The Inevitable tests

My brother-in-law and I recently spent a pleasant afternoon testing the .25 ACP and the .22 Long Rifle in a pair of Berettas he has. These two pistols have barrels of the same length. Below find data from this afternoons tests along with some additional .25 ACP data including handloads.


The two Beretta pistols used in testing.

.25 ACP Factory loads

Remington 51 grain FMJ, MV 789 fps, ME 71 ft./lbs.
Winchester 50 grain FMJ, MV 852 fps, ME 82 ft./lbs.*
Hornady XTP 35 grain hollowpoint MV 1004 fps, ME 78*

.25 ACP Handloads

Remington 51 grain bullet, 1.6 grains Unique, MV 853 fps, ME 82 ft./lbs.
Remington 51 grain bullet, 1.2 grains Bullseye, 728 fps, ME 60 ft./lbs.
Rem. 51 grain bullet, (can't tell-it's a secret) Unique, MV 933 fps, ME 99 ft./lbs.



Selected .22 Long Rifle cartridges fired from a Beretta Model 21A

Remington high-velocity copper plated 40 grain solid (Golden Bullet)*
MV 842 fps, ME 63 ft./lbs.

Remington high-velocity lead 36 grain hollow point*
MV 865 fps, ME 60 ft./lbs.

Winchester high-velocity lead 40 grain solid*
MV 854 fps, ME 65 ft./lbs.

Winchester high-velocity copper plated 36 grain hollow point*
MV 894 fps, ME 64 ft./lbs

A Colt Model 1908 and a Oehler Model 12 chronograph were used except (*) in which a Beretta Model 950 B .25 ACP and a Beretta Model 21A .22 Long Rifle were tested over a Chrony chronograph. Coincidentally, the Winchester factory 50 grain load checked out identically when fired from both the Colt and the Beretta and the Unique handload was only one foot per second faster.


When considering the midget automatics, I'd prefer the .25 ACP to the .22 Long Rife though the difference is so minuscule as to be pointless. The .25 ACP feeds more reliably, the heavier and slightly larger .25 bullet shows equivalent velocities, and the fully jacketed design should deform less and offer more penetration. In tests against the '92 Dodge pickup fender the .25 ACP was noticeably more reliable in penetrating it than was the .22 Long Rifle when fired from the short barreled pistols. Neither was 100% successful in penetrating the fender. Not sure just what this test on the fender proves.

If one is required to utilize the .25 ACP for self-defense the original 51 grain loading looks like the best bet in my view. Lately the standard full metal jacketed bullet is listed as 50 grains. The cartridge will never have the reputation as a stopper. In order for it to do it’s best work it needs to penetrate to a vital organ. The lighter weight, expanding bullets offered by some ammunition manufacturers in an effort to provide “enhanced performance” appear to me to be more likely to fail to adequately penetrate. Some of these are: 40 grain Glazer Safety Slug, 45 grain Winchester Super-X Expanding Point, 35 grain Hornady XTP hollow point, and 35 grain Speer Gold Dot hollow point. The whiz-bang fancy .25 slug that opens up effectively won’t do much good if it opens up in the lining of a winter jacket or perhaps a rib bone or skull, leaving an assailant who is even more agitated. I’ve had no experience with any “high performance” .25 ACP ammunition so am not qualified to say what it would do. What’s more, I don’t intend to purchase a bunch of different brands order to find out what they could do. Penetration would be the first priority when selecting ammunition to carry in these pistols.

If it's all one has in his possession, a .25 ACP pistol chould certainly be pressed into service for defense. It’d be better than nothing. A well-thrown punch generates more foot-pounds of energy but one must close with the adversary in order to land a blow. Since very small pistols are now available in more powerful cartridges there isn't really place for the .25 ACP in one’s self defense arsenal. It’s appeal in the 21st century lies in the collectors' fascination for the finely finished examples of the miniature handguns made in this chambering.

Now if I could only find a nice example of one of those scarce Walther PP’s chambered for .25 ACP…
 
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#2 ·
Most people equate "stopping power" with someone laying on the ground rapidly assuming room temprature; however, their is a lot of "stopping power" in face shooting someone several times and having them start screaming "My Eyes! My Eyes! AHAHAHAH!!"

Lower your expectations and .25ACP works just fine within its limits.
 
#33 ·
That right there's funny I don't care who you are.
 
#3 ·
.25

I'm a fan and also carried one, a Colt, until the Kel Tec .32 came out. The sweat from pocket carry was a constant concern with the blued Colt. Right now a Beretta 21 in .25 is sitting in a little console compartment in my car. With the Winchester X point (tested them and like them over the Gold Dot, XTP, or FMJ) it's fine for me for across the car purposes and not too great a loss if someone should be able to find the little hiding place. Read on, I might be wrong.

Now for the war stories. Met a cab driver at the gunshop where I worked. He was buying a gun after he had been robbed in the cab. He took a .25 FMJ to the head behind his ear, fought the guy off, and drove himself to the hospital. He told them he thought he had been zapped with a stun gun because he saw a flash, heard a pop, and had a sharp pain in his head. Xray found a slug in his skin. Met another cab driver who was buying a bigger gun at the shop after he had to shoot a robber. The driver's single .25 FMJ went through the side window and into the BGs chest. The BG was able to run away and was found almost 2 miles away, alive but unconscious.
 
#4 ·
Since very small pistols are now available in more powerful cartridges there isn't really place for the .25 ACP in one’s self defense arsenal.

It’s appeal in the 21st century lies in the collectors' fascination for the finely finished examples of the miniature handguns made in this chambering.
I agree with both the above statements!

Good recap of a venerable cartridge. I enjoyed reading it. Thanks.

:urla9ub:
 
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#5 ·
Very nice column.. Well thought out and good photography to go with it.
Thanks..


A few years ago I purchased North American Arms 25 NAA. Necking down a 32 to 25 caliber allows the little 25 caliber bullets to zips out of the 2-1/2 inch barrel at over 1200 fps.

I carried it as my pocket gun for about a year until I purchased the P3AT. Lighter than the NAA and while I am sure the little 25 magnum would inflict a nasty wound to a BG, I trust the little Kel-Tec 380 loaded with Ranger T’s more.
 
#6 ·
For fun we also tested the .22 ammunition in a Smith & Wesson Model 34 with 2-inch barrel and a Ruger Mark II with a 6-inch barrel.



Even the 2-inch revolver produced a bit more velocity than did the tiny Beretta .22 pistol. The Ruger with a 6-inch barrel really enhanced the performance of the test .22 ammunition.

Smith & Wesson Model 34
Remington high-velocity copper plated 40 grain solid (Golden Bullet)
MV 913 fps, ME 74 ft./lbs.

Remington high-velocity lead 36 grain hollow point
MV 945 fps, ME 71 ft./lbs.

Winchester high velocity lead 40 grain solid
MV 918 fps, ME 75 ft.lbs.

Winchester high-velocity copper plated 36 grain hollow point
MV 974, ME 76 ft./lbs.

Ruger Mark II
Remington high-velocity copper plated 40 grain solid (Golden Bullet)
MV 1097 fps, ME 107 ft./lbs.

Remington high-velocity lead 36 grain hollow point
MV 1137 fps, ME 103 ft./lbs.

Winchester high velocity lead 40 grain solid
MV 1109 fps, ME 109 ft.lbs.

Winchester high-velocity copper plated 36 grain hollow point
MV 1126, ME 101 ft./lbs.
 
#7 ·
Caution: ballistic non-test ahead!

I also fired all these handguns and loads into a 1992 Dodge pickup fender in order to observe penetration. I'm certain that this proves nothing except that these tiny pistols can damage the paint work on an automobile.


A few weeks ago I fired several rounds of the three .25 ACP loads at the fender. Here's some instances where one of each of the three loads tested failed to penetrate the fender but the angle may have been too extreme.



I tried again last Saturday, taking care to hit the fender head on. This time I fired two each of each of the three loads I had on hand and they all penetrated the fender. None penetrated the inner fender but left slight puckers in it. The ugly hole was from a "miss" when I placed couple of rounds too close together. Perhaps a flinch?



A hail of .22 bullet holes on the fender. The Ruger and the S&W Model 34 both penetrated the fender. The .22 failures to penetrate seen here all originated from the little Beretta pistol. I was surprised that the small increase in velocity observed in the Model 34 was sufficient to penetrate the fender.

On another occasion I've fired a single 158 grain +P equivalent .38 Special handload, a cast bullet .380 handload, and a Santa Barbara factory .380 load at the fender. The +P .38 Special load and the Santa Barbara .380 load easily pierced both the fender and the inner fender. The .380 lead handload pierced the fender and puckered the inner fender.

These kinds of tests are vital to illustrate the value of various cartridges when pressed into service to protect oneself against aggressive automotive sheet metal.

Next week: testing the .25 ACP against a Fender Stratocaster.
 
#73 ·
...I trust you forwarded these findings on to the state police? looks like a change is in the wind...
Caution: ballistic non-test ahead.

I also fired all these handguns and loads into a 1992 Dodge pickup fender in order to observe penetration. I'm certain that this proves nothing except that these tiny pistols can damage the paint work on an automobile.


A few weeks ago I fired several rounds of the three .25 ACP loads at the fender. Here's some instances where one of each of the three loads tested failed to penetrate the fender but the angle may have been too extreme.



I tried again last Saturday, taking care to hit the fender head on. This time I fired two each of each of the three loads I had on hand and they all penetrated the fender. None penetrated the inner fender but left slight puckers in it. The ugly hole was from a "miss" when I placed couple of rounds too close together. Perhaps a flinch?



A hail of .22 bullet holes on the fender. The Ruger and the S&W Model 34 both penetrated the fender. The .22 failures to penetrate seen here all originated from the little Beretta pistol. I was surprised that the small increase in velocity observed in the Model 34 was sufficient to penetrate the fender.

On another occasion I've fired a single 158 grain +P equivalent .38 Special handload, a cast bullet .380 handload, and a Santa Barbara factory .380 load at the fender. The +P .38 Special load and the Santa Barbara .380 load easily pierced both the fender and the inner fender. The .380 lead handload pierced the fender and puckered the inner fender.

These kinds of tests are vital to illustrate the value of various cartridges when pressed into service to protect oneself against aggressive automotive sheet metal.

Next week: Testing the .25 ACP against a Fender Stratocaster.
 
#8 ·
For some years i carried a baby browning in a cuff case at the back of my duty belt as a " onion field " gun . Then i worked both a bar fight and an attempted suicide where the .25 was employed and matured . Nowadays the weight /space penalty that a .25 imparts can be handled smaller and lighter ( as well as more effectively imho ) by a lock blade folder . I feel the same way about .22 , and rdont like the .32 either . For me any pistol that may be pressed into defensive use starts at .380/.38special , not to say i want shot with so much as a bb gun , just saying when i am betting my and my loved ones lives i do have some standards .
 
#121 ·
It is not the single hit that stops man or horse, it is where it's placed. Cop shoots bad guy with 5 hits from a 357, bad guy shoots back with two rounds of 22. Bad guy lived because of shot placement, cop died because of shot placement. I am NOT advocating for a small caliber or against a larger caliber. Only that it is a fallacy to think that a handgun caliber, even a .45, will stop a man unless the placement is correct. And if placement is on a vital, then a variety of calibers will be bad news.
 
#10 ·
I picked up a .25 Pheonix Arms semi about 15years ago for $70. It has been fired a few times over the last 15 years. It sits in the back of the gun safe as a testament to an uninformed purchase. The calibre isn't one I would right off...but it has already been pointed out; for the footprint there are better calibres.

I still would like to pick up a .32 Baretta.
 
#12 ·
well, better to have something to protect your life and others' lives than nothing at all. I really do appreciate this peice about the .25 cal for it is a round that has been somewhat enigmatic to me in terms of its history, power and effectiveness. There must be something to this round for it has survived where many have not...
 
#13 ·
In my lifetime I have fired maybe one box of .25 out of a friends pistol. It was fun. I certainly don't think it would be my first choice for carry, but it could certainly make someone say "ouch" from a safer distance than my fist. I am not a big fan of the .32 ACP. either but there was one weekend when that was all I had, and I was sure glad to have it. Mouse gun is certainly better than no gun at all!
 
#14 ·
Would I carry a firearm chambered in it if necessary...certainly, but it would not be my first/second/third/etc. choice....
 
#15 ·
I don't mean to get into a long winded dissertation on the assets or liabilities of the .25 acp, but I think that with the choices of the really small .380s or the sub compact 9mms out today, it makes little to no sense to carry the diminutive .25 for self defense. Back in the day, the .25 was a very small automatic that could truly be carried in a vest pocket and therefore was popular with a lot of folks who wanted to go about their daily activities without being seen with a gun. While a .25 that is with you is better than a big gun left at home, there is no reason not to carry a .380 that is the same size but in a more effective caliber. I am sure that a lot of folks have owned or have at least fired the little .25 acp at one point or another, but there is a reason that it continues to languish in sales, as it is simply outclassed by a growing number of better choices.
 
#17 ·
... While a .25 that is with you is better than a big gun left at home, there is no reason not to carry a .380 that is the same size but in a more effective caliber. I am sure that a lot of folks have owned or have at least fired the little .25 acp at one point or another, but there is a reason that it continues to languish in sales, as it is simply outclassed by a growing number of better choices.
All good in theory... and here is where a 25 or a 32 may be a better choice.

I know of some who can manage a 45 but are NOT comfortable with the keltec in 380.

Think about that for a moment.

Somebody who both knows how to shoot and can handle "recoil" but has issues with a little old "380" pistol and some have similar issues with the small nines and 40's out there.

So - with that tidbit of knowledge - what does a person who does NOT shoot much and is really recoil sensitive choose to have at home or on their person?

I guess they can throw big rocks?

Sarcasm aside... there IS a VERY good reason why these "mouse guns" are still in the marketplace.

Maybe... all of your family members might be able to handle a small 9MM - but I can assure you that very few can (even a few who can do a full-size 45).

It's also like those who AWLAYS suggest a 12g shotgun. They forget about the 20g and even the 410. Another thing is they forget the semi-auto (that has LESS felt recoil) over the pump.

We tell people to get a semi-auto 22 (Ruger) and a semi-auto pistol (over a revolver) but we keep pushing the pump over an alternative that both lets you use it one-hand (if things go really bad) and has less recoil (so you can shoot THREE round at about the time you may shoot two with a pump).

A WORKING & RELIABLE gun is better than NO GUN - everything else about firearms is icing on the cake.

I suggest using anything that meets this minimum standard and practice enough to feel confident in using it.

A Walther P22 in my grandmother's hands is WAY better than a phone calling 911. She may just get the kind of results we've been seeing in the news lately.

I would prefer her having TWO Marine Rangers on duty... but a small "ladylike" 25 in her hand (and she is confident in using it) can change the odds in HER favor... in a measurable and comforting way.

Just my two cents...
 
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#16 ·
One advantage (if you could call it that) of the .25 over the .22 is that it is a centerfire rather than a rimfire cartridge...reportedly always more reliable but, not so important these days days and now that extremely high quality match-grade rimfire ammo is available.
 
#18 ·
A WORKING & RELIABLE gun is better than NO GUN - everything else about firearms is icing on the cake.



I will agree with you on that one, as I forgot one other important consideration - economics. Some people simply cannot afford to buy the nice handguns you and I enjoy. These folks may have inherited or bought a used .25 acp and it is all that they have to defend themselves with. I also agree with you that small guns in larger calibers may have too much recoil for some folks. Having said all that though, I still feel that if one can afford to buy a small .380 or 9mm and tolerate the recoil, he or she would be better served by choosing one of those over the .25 acp IMHO.
 
#19 ·
I had a Beretta in .25 ACP, but sold it for one 22LR. I didn't see much difference in the round and 22LR is several times cheaper than .25. Eventually, I sold the 22 as well.

Today I have the Beretta Tomcat in .32 ACP. I carry it when I don't have the option of carrying one of my Glocks in 40S&W.
 
#21 ·
The smallest gun I own now is the Kel Tec p32... I would not go below a .32ACP and I only purchased it because it's a BUG and offers a deep concealment option depending on the type of clothing I am to wear.

I can understand why many people bad mouth the .32acp though... I sure as well would not want to get hit by it and if hit in the CNS, I am sure your as screwed as if you got hit by a 9mm or 45acp in that position.
 
#23 ·
Which is valid... for you...

Some cannot "handle" even a 380... so does that mean that they should have no gun?

My point is to remember that not everyone can handle firearms like you. Some do it better. Some cannot do it at all.

The latter should have options as much as the former.

Why deny it when even a .22 is better than screaming for help?

Just my opinion. :smile:
 
#24 ·
I think I still have some interesting old .25 ammunition.
One a "hollow point" filled with a ball of Lead shot and another super high velocity "hollow point" which features a bullet of turned Brass.
I'll photograph them when I get a chance and post the pic here.
It might be a few days as my Bro has my camera.
 
#25 ·
Hi QKShooter. You're the second person I've heard from that makes mention of .25 ammo featuring bullets turned from brass. I've never encountered such. Do post photos if you think about it.
 
#68 ·
I think that he was referring to the PPS MSC (Maximum Sub Caliber). It was somewhat designed on the same principle as the PMC Ultramag; a sharp edged machined bullet designed to cut and dig in, and but not to expand. I have a pack of them and also the .32 acp (Maximum Pocket Pistol) and .45 acp loads, put up somewhere with my old oddball collectible ammo. If I can put my hands on them I will post some pictures. I think that they went out of business when ATF made a big stink about solid brass bullets being armor piercing, but I might be wrong about that. They dried up about the same time that the Ultramags did.

Here's more information on them: International Ammunition Association {iaaforum.org} - View topic - .25 Auto with HP Brass Bullet (P.P.S. MSC)
 
#26 ·
QKShooter said:

I'll photograph them when I get a chance and post the pic here.
It might be a few days as my Bro has my camera.
Is there any chance that you might still be able to post those pictures (or just the one of the brass turned HP, since I'm fairly sure the other load you refer to is the 45-grain Winchester Expanding Point round; correct me if I'm wrong)?

The fact that you mentioned its being a "super-high velocity" round rings a distinct bell in my head, as I remember mention being made very occasionally of a long-discontinued .25 ACP defense load that was a real screamer. In fact, I hope this thread can get a transfusion of new blood, as I feel the discussion of the .25's capabilities does indeed have real relevance even today, and I'd love to see it continue.

By the way, bmcgilvray, many thanks for the excellent review and comments.
 
#27 ·
Let me preface my comments below by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed the OP and appreciate the efforts of the poster in putting the report together for us. With that said;

I usually make it a point not to be a "caliber snob", arguing that the gun in your pocket is better than the one at home that you couldn't carry. The 25 acp is where I draw the line. Maybe in days gone by, it was an option due to lack of competing guns of similar size, but that is no longer true. Handguns of equal size and cost are readily available which to me, makes the 25 acp obsolete as a defensive cartridge. Going from published factory numbers:

22 LR -- CCI Stinger 32 gr. HP -- 191 ft. lbs.
22 LR -- CCI MiniMag 40 gr. Lead RN -- 135 ft. lbs.
25 acp -- Hornady 35 gr. XTP HP -- 63 ft. lbs.
32 acp -- Hornady 60 gr. XTP HP -- 133 ft. lbs.
380 acp -- Hornady 90 gr. XTP HP -- 200 ft. lbs.

The 25 acp falls short of virtually everything else available. Even the lowly 32 acp provides twice the energy of a 25 and while I still have my Tomcat and have carried it in the past, it has long since been retired in favor of the P3AT or LCP. While I definitely don't agree with everything Jeff Cooper ever said or wrote, I do like his quote concerning the 25 acp:
As we used to teach in the spook business, carry a 25 if it makes you feel good, but do not ever load it. If you load it you may shoot it. If you shoot it you may hit somebody, and if you hit somebody - and he finds out about it - he may be very angry with you.
or from Massad F. Ayoob:
A .25 is a nice thing to have when you're not carrying a gun.
I'm not taking issue with anyone who likes plinking with a 25 and can afford the ammunition. I just believe that for a defensive handgun, there are much better options available.

Hoss
 
#28 ·
Hi cvhoss;

You won't find me arguing for the effectiveness of the .25 ACP. I picked up a P3AT for purposes for which my old Colt .25 was used previously.

Will say that published factory numbers don't tell the tale in the tiny stubbed barrels of the typical vest pocket .22 Long Rife pistols. The CCI .22s will yield far less than either 191 ft/lbs or the 135 ft./lbs figures shown when fired out of a sub-two-inch barrel. The .22 Long Rifle does not beat the .25 ACP when used in SIMILAR SIZED pistols. Of course neither makes it as a desirable self-defense proposition.
 
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