Is the .25 ACP worth reloading?

I wouldn't bother with it! I hope your Beretta 21 in 22 lr works better than mine did! Wasn't reliable at all. And, I tried many different types of ammo in it. Gladly traded it for a model 10-5 snubby awhile ago!
 
I'm 56 and fail to see what age has to do with having the facility to handload the .25 ACP which is a perfectly simple thing to do.

If a guy is devoted to owning and shooting a few .25 ACP pistols he might as well reload for the cartridge.
 
Three things about reloading the 25 ACP:
1. You will get used to handling the small cases.
2. Since powder charges are so small, use powders that measure uniformly.
3. Have something to catch the cases with.
 
I have been reloading this cartridge for a couple of months now. The small size of the bullets and cases is no problem at all. My main load is a lightly squashed pellet of #3 buckshot and 1.5 grs. of 231. I haven't had to use any of my brass cases yet because I find that the aluminum case Blazer (which is Boxer primed) can be loaded multiple times just fine. My Beretta 950BS feeds this and everything else flawlessly, which is amazing considering how picky my 21A is. And my handloads might be cheaper to shoot than .22 rimfire at this time.

That mousetrap photo is awesome!

Dave Sinko
 
If you have the dexterity to handle the itty-bitty cases and bullets, and, if you can find your ejected brass, why not? The little guns look like they could be fun to shoot!
 
I am just starting to try. and load 25 acpI. I've loaded 9 & 10 mm, as well as 25-06.
However, the first round i tried to "de-prime" bent the extractor pin!
I do have have the correct die (Lee die set). I'm wondering if it was nust the brass that had the primer stuck unusually hard, or if this is normal?
I've deprimed many rounds and have never had the pin bend like this.
I must confess i used a little more pressure than normal in trying to get the primer out, but never expected it to be that difficult.
Thanks for any advice you may have.
 
Retired141FE said:
I am just starting to try. and load 25 acpI. I've loaded 9 & 10 mm, as well as 25-06.
However, the first round i tried to "de-prime" bent the extractor pin!
I do have have the correct die (Lee die set). I'm wondering if it was nust the brass that had the primer stuck unusually hard, or if this is normal?
I've deprimed many rounds and have never had the pin bend like this.
I must confess i used a little more pressure than normal in trying to get the primer out, but never expected it to be that difficult.
Thanks for any advice you may have.
Click to expand...

Did you make sure that the case is Boxer primed? (as opposed to Berdan priming). The Boxer will have a central flash hole, the Berdan will have 2 or 3 non central holes. Welcome to the forum, most of the time it's better to ask a question by starting a new post rather than tacking a question on the end of a year and a half old thread.
 
Last edited:
My guess is that you probably have some European case with a Berdan primer. If so, reloading is a lost cause. I carry a .25 auto as my CCW, mainly because it weighs nearly nothing and fits into my front pants pocket without showing. I figure if I ever need it, it will be up close and very personal, and its 6 shots will be enough. No plans whatsoever to get into a gunfight. Mine is completely reliable only with CCI Blazer ammunition with 50 grain FMJ bullets, so that's what I use. Other brands are not so reliable, and I have tried about all of them. No way I would consider reloading the .25 ACP. Far too much hassle, and probably inconsistent results.

Common knowledge is that .25 50 grain FMJ bullets are preferable to any other, as effectiveness of the .25 ACP is more a matter of deeper penetration into vital areas than anything else, such as bullet expansion (which probably doesn't happen anyway), and the 50 grain FMJ has the deepest penetration.
 
if the 25 managed to spawn a longer, higher pressure version of itself, and was offered in frames ranging from mouse guns to full service pistols .. I'd be game.
it would be a fun, useful, and economical little feller to scare the 22LR to death.
 
That is a necked down 32 case with a 25 bullet . Needs a 32 size gun NAA Last I knew only one made one. Ammo is corbon and expensive. If I going to carry a 32 size pistol Iam going to shoot 32 ammo. Same thing with the 32 NAA uses a 380 case and 380 frame .

I never saw the reasoning or need for either round We need BB to make a 25+P 35gr at 1000fps . Since they like to hang +P on calibers that no +P exists .
 
michaelt said:
That is a necked down 32 case with a 25 bullet . Needs a 32 size gun NAA Last I knew only one made one. Ammo is corbon and expensive. If I going to carry a 32 size pistol Iam going to shoot 32 ammo. Same thing with the 32 NAA uses a 380 case and 380 frame .

I never saw the reasoning or need for either round We need BB to make a 25+P 35gr at 1000fps . Since they like to hang +P on calibers that no +P exists .
Click to expand...

Ruger Mark 2 ...
frame size is in the ballpark of a 9MM, but chambered in 22LR.
No one has a problem with it.
why pitch a fit over something similar, but can be reloaded?
Have we learned nothing from the 22LR crisis?
 
David Sinko said:
I'm on a mouse gun kick at the moment and have my eye on a used Beretta 21 chambered in .25 ACP to match the one I have in .22 LR. I have about 600 rounds of .25 ACP factory loaded ammo but no firearm to digest them. If I buy the Beretta (and I probably will) I will most certainly want to reload the .25 simply because I reload for everything that I own. Does anybody have any experience with this? How much trouble is this cartridge with its miniscule powder charges? Does anybody know if the Beretta will shoot cast bullets? If so, where would I be able to get a mold?

Dave Sinko
Click to expand...

PLEASE DON'T GET OFFENDED, Dave, BECAUSE I MEAN YOU NO DISRESPECT…..

YOU MUST BE TRULY BORED. IMHO, NOT ONLY IS THE .25ACP NOT WORTH RELOADING, ITS NOT EVEN WORTH SHOOTING. IF YOUR GRANDPA LEFT YOU A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE VEST POCKET COLT PISTOL CHAMBERED IN THE CALIBER, IT WOULD BE ONE THING, BUT TO ACTUALLY PURCHASE A PISTOL IN THAT CALIBER IS FOLLY, IN MY ESTIMATION. A HOT .22 LR IS A BETTER ROUND FOR ANY PURPOSE YOU MAY HAVE IN MIND. JUST SELL OFF OR TRADE YOUR AMMO, AND MOVE ON. YOU ARE JUST WASTING TIME AND MONEY…...
 
Last edited:
Bkreutz and Dwalt - Thanks both of you for your reply. Just getting started on this site and am not really sure how to navigate (still not sure if I am answering you correctly here) which is why I just tagged an old post.
I confess I had not really looked into the case, and when I did I found exactly what you thought - some are single hole and some are triple hole for the primer. The triple hole would explain why my pin wouldn't push out the primer!
Unfortunately the majority of my empty brass is of the bad version. I had hoped to reload since I was having a difficult time finding ammo.
I guess I'll just have to keep looking, although I may still try and load the few dozen cases I can reload. Just like tinkering with reloading I guess.
 
To answer my own question, yes, the .25 ACP IS worth reloading. I have found that performance is greatly improved by using more sensitive (Federal) primers that fire on the first try, using hard jacketed (NOT plated) bullets that actually do penetrate and using ample powder charges that cause the harder bullets to penetrate. Thus it is possible to eliminate the numerous factors that have made the .25 such a pathetic and unreliable cartridge over the years. It's certainly not my first choice for concealed carry, but it does have its place and is certainly worthy of some respect.

Dave Sinko
 
It's worth it for me. I was able to shoot my 950 Beretta even during recent "Big Ammo Drought". I am not planning to use it as a carry or home defense but it sure is a nice conversation starter. I even made little reloading block specifically for 25 ACP :)
 
25s are fun to shoot

Truly not much fun to reload..but I do. I am down to my last 200 S&W 25 ACP new cases. Yep..S&W did load them and sell components. I have thought to maybe keep them as collectibles. I have a WWII bring back if I can find it. Never have shot it. Also have an older Beretta 25 in the box I got at a garage sale for 25 dollars. It shoots pretty well. Not a real strong grip safety on it. Last and surely not least I have an old Colt 1908. It was given to me by the father of a very good friend. It has factory checked Ivory grips on it. To be honest the only way to really shoot the darn thing well is to tape the 20 lb grip safety on it..then it is truly accurate at any decent range.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
.380 acp reloading
2
Replies
33
Views
1K
BLUEDOT37
BLUEDOT37
SGT ROCK 11B
  • Poll Poll
25 ACP Reloading
Replies
11
Views
695
46er
4
S
25 acp Reloading Quest
2 3
Replies
43
Views
2K
venomballistics
venomballistics
S
RCBS 45 ACP Shotshell Dies
Replies
4
Views
590
Sam McCord
S
bullmack
What is once fired 9mm brass worth
Replies
17
Views
1K
mtgianni
M

Latest posts

Back
Top