25 Auto Ammo

Ben_hutcherson · #51 09-30-2016, 10:05 PM

As far as the reloading discussion-

I once loaded 50 rounds of 32 S&W and said forget it. The case is about the same length as a 25, but of course a bit larger.

32 S&W Long is the smallest I will go, and I don't even particularly care for that. I've done rburg's "Basement Load" of 1gr Bullseye under #0 Buck(hand pressed into the case) as well as using "real" bullets with a slightly higher charge(somewhere around 2gr Bullseye). 32 H&R and 327 Mag are really the only 32 caliber cases I mess with reloading. Fortunately, I can use the same dies on all of them.

BC38 · #52 10-05-2016, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by les.b

Well, here's one I have carried once or twice...Baby Browning in an Alfonso's of Hollywood pocket holster:

Here is the back:

Like many law enforcement guys and others here, I have seen big strong guys that got just as dead from a .25 acp as from a caliber that started with a 4. Not arguing that they are ideal, but they are better than an N frame or a 1911 at home in the safe, because it's too big to carry. DWalt isn't the only one who carries one of these. Mostly I carry an 11 ounce 357, but sometimes even that is a little too obtrusive.

Edit: Oh, yeah, I forgot, the thread is about ammunition choice. Standard FMJ. Any of the major ammunition companies, I have shot most of them, and they all perform admirably. Standard FMJ will give feeding reliability and superior penetration. In a small caliber like this, just as in many larger calibers, right after going "bang" every time, placement and penetration are the most important criteria. I have never had a failure to feed on any of my admittedly small selection of .25 autos. I have two of the Baby Browning's like the one shown above, a nice Colt 1908, and an original FN Browning patent from the European production, can't remember the year right now, but the Colt was based on it. All of these little guys shoot very well indeed.

Best Regards, Les

Just curious Les, is that holster an NFA item? Seems like I've seen posts about other holsters designed for the gun to fire without being drawn from the holster that required an NFA tax stamp.

les.b · #53 10-05-2016, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BC38

Just curious Les, is that holster an NFA item? Seems like I've seen posts about other holsters designed for the gun to fire without being drawn from the holster that required an NFA tax stamp.

Well, I have no idea. I don't think it would actually be very easy to shoot from the holster. For one thing, if the safety is on, it cannot be taken off without removing the gun from the holster. And even if you left the safety off, it would still be easier and faster to draw the gun from the holster than to try to shoot from the holster. I'll have to do some research on this. Thanks for the heads up. I really just bought the gun many years ago, and the dealer threw in the holster. They have always been together, as far as I know.

Best Regards, Les

les.b · #54 10-05-2016, 08:58 AM

Well, BC38, I did some research this morning, and I believe that the holster shown is OK. Checked the ATF website, and several letters that folks have received in reference to "wallet" holsters. In general, one of the requirements for a holster to be considered as an NFA item is that the "wallet" disguises or conceals the appearance of the gun. Those that expose a significant part of the firearm, so that it is readily apparent that it is a firearm are OK. When looking at mine, there is no way that enough of the gun is covered that it is not apparent that it is not a gun.

I am going to copy a photo of an example from the ATF website of an NFA "wallet" holster:

In this example, you can see that the entire gun is covered, with only the trigger and muzzle exposed.

In my holster,shown in your post #52 above, a significant portion of the gun is exposed, including the serial number of the gun, and much of the slide and frame, as well as the stocks. I would not be surprised, given that the holster is manufactured by a well known and reputable company, if it were not designed specifically to be in compliance with the ATF guidelines to ensure the legality of these holsters.

Of course, I'm not a lawyer, and I don't work for ATF, but I worked as a police officer for 22 years, and I often worked with BATFE agents, so I do have some experience in firearms law, and I believe, based on the ATF's guidelines that this particular holster is in compliance with both the letter and the sprit of the ATF ruling on wallet holsters.

Thanks for the heads up on this issue, though, and I am still doing a little research on the subject, and will report back if I find any additional information.

Best Regards, Les

Sportsdad60 · #55 10-05-2016, 09:05 AM

When I am forced to carry my Colt .25 ACP (1919) I use Hornady 35 gr. XTP loads.

What I mean by "forced" as in the summer time, in "gun free zones". It's in a nice leather pocket holster in the front of my jeans.

The XTP cycles flawlessly through the pistol at the range.

The Bauer doesn't do so well with XTP loads. Me thinks the main spring might need replacement.

kaaskop49 · #56 10-06-2016, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sportsdad60

When I am forced to carry my Colt .25 ACP (1919) I use Hornady 35 gr. XTP loads.

What I mean by "forced" as in the summer time, in "gun free zones". It's in a nice leather pocket holster in the front of my jeans.

The XTP cycles flawlessly through the pistol at the range.

The Bauer doesn't do so well with XTP loads. Me thinks the main spring might need replacement.

Interesting: the gun from 1919 functions well while the Bauer, which I remember from the 1970s, may have a mainspring problem... You can't make this stuff up!

Great photo of 2 nice little guns, BTW! Thanks.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103