SGT ROCK 11B
Member
So how many .25 ACP rounds shot annually to make it a worthwhile?
Asking for a friend.
Asking for a friend.
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25 ACP Reloading
- Thread starter SGT ROCK 11B
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Not reloading 25 yet. But, I am saving my brass.
In addition to Colt & S&W revolvers, I like pocket pistols. Especially prewar models. Orties, Walther, Mauser, Beretta, Astra, Browning, Colt….
Enjoy shooting the little 25 & 32 pistols. Some are much more accurate than you’d expect.
The thread on the subject has renewed my interest. May have to order a set of dies now.
Years ago, a local gun shop had a going out of business sale. Bought their entire inventory of 25 ACP for a couple of dollars a box. Used up much of my cheap inventory. Don’t like the current price when you can find it!
In addition to Colt & S&W revolvers, I like pocket pistols. Especially prewar models. Orties, Walther, Mauser, Beretta, Astra, Browning, Colt….
Enjoy shooting the little 25 & 32 pistols. Some are much more accurate than you’d expect.
The thread on the subject has renewed my interest. May have to order a set of dies now.
Years ago, a local gun shop had a going out of business sale. Bought their entire inventory of 25 ACP for a couple of dollars a box. Used up much of my cheap inventory. Don’t like the current price when you can find it!
That is a hard round to reload. So small....
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I'd say unless he is shooting at least 1,000 - 1,500 rounds a year and already has the reloading equipment, dies, primers and powder in stock, it would not really pay. Finding dies might be difficult and there are probably not a whole lot of .25 bullets to choose from either. I would also think because of the small size it could be a difficult caliber to handle in the press.
I only own one .25acp pistol which is a Colt 1908 Vest Pocket Pistol. I purchased it only because I was into collecting the Colt Vest and Series M Pocket Pistols, models of 1903 and 1908. The pistol functions flawlessly and is surprisingly accurate considering the very small and very crude sights. l usually shoot it one or twice a year but never put more than one 50 round box of factory ammo through it at a session. I have never considered reloading for it and when I got the pistol I purchased 50 boxes of Winchester white box ammo. I still have about a dozen boxes left I think. I also inherited a bunch vintage Remington ammo for it 17 years ago when Dad passed on. At the time I bought the Winchester ammo I paid under $6 a box and have no idea what factory .25acp ammo currently sells for. Personally, I don't really see the practicality of shooting a .25acp much anyway. To me a .25 is a curio, collectible or in some extreme instances a back up gun if that is the best one can do. Reloading for a caliber such as the .25acp is rare at best.
I only own one .25acp pistol which is a Colt 1908 Vest Pocket Pistol. I purchased it only because I was into collecting the Colt Vest and Series M Pocket Pistols, models of 1903 and 1908. The pistol functions flawlessly and is surprisingly accurate considering the very small and very crude sights. l usually shoot it one or twice a year but never put more than one 50 round box of factory ammo through it at a session. I have never considered reloading for it and when I got the pistol I purchased 50 boxes of Winchester white box ammo. I still have about a dozen boxes left I think. I also inherited a bunch vintage Remington ammo for it 17 years ago when Dad passed on. At the time I bought the Winchester ammo I paid under $6 a box and have no idea what factory .25acp ammo currently sells for. Personally, I don't really see the practicality of shooting a .25acp much anyway. To me a .25 is a curio, collectible or in some extreme instances a back up gun if that is the best one can do. Reloading for a caliber such as the .25acp is rare at best.
I believe it. .32 acp is as small as I'll ever go. Even that cartridge is a pain because you need to weigh every charge when you're dealing with only 2 to 3 grains. Plus I end up losing @ 1 out of 2 cases every time out.
OP
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
I am not sure why anyone will fire more than 250 rounds of 25 ACP annually. 50 rounds annually for a "pocket gun" makes sense.
So with a 25 ACP running the same drills as lets say a 38 Special. El Guapo, Dot Torture, Phase 5 or others?
Because just standing at 5 yards and mag dumping in a large target is not training, its just wasting ammo JMHO.
Pistol Shooting Drills for Combat Marksmanship - The Armory Life
So with a 25 ACP running the same drills as lets say a 38 Special. El Guapo, Dot Torture, Phase 5 or others?
Because just standing at 5 yards and mag dumping in a large target is not training, its just wasting ammo JMHO.
Pistol Shooting Drills for Combat Marksmanship - The Armory Life
OP
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
I use to reload 22 Hornet about 45 years ago and it was it difficult, even before I got Rheumatoid Arthritis to load tiny bullets.
venomballistics
Member
If the cost in factory ammo would cover a set of dies ... Then yes.
Of course, such a small cartridge will pose it's own challenges and limitations that may make it a miserable task.
Of course, such a small cartridge will pose it's own challenges and limitations that may make it a miserable task.
Does anyone have any favorite .25ACP loads to share...?
I have been saving my brass and will soon try to reload it with 50g FMJ bullets.
I have been saving my brass and will soon try to reload it with 50g FMJ bullets.
old tanker
Member
Too fiddly to reload for the box or two of .25 ACP a year I shoot. Losing about half the brass in the grass, isn't far off, either. Black powder .32 S&W cartridges are as dinky as I get.
David Sinko
Member
I've been loading the .25 for years. I got lucky in that my 950BS has been perfectly reliable. I didn't have to do much load development so that first year I fired less than 500 rounds. Since then I've been shooting much less with it. I find it to be a fairly easy and straightforward cartridge to load, as long as you are well versed in very small powder charges. I have always used 231 and I'd say that 1.3 grs. is good place to start with the 50 gr. FMJ. You will know you have reached a maximum load when the next tenth of a grain blows the primers out of the cases. A cheap and readily available practice projectile is the .250" lead buckshot ball. I lightly tap them with a hammer for proper fit into the case and then coat them with alox. To my amazement this has always been perfectly reliable. My next endeavor will be to try to coat them and get them thick enough that they don't need to be squashed. I find it a fun cartridge to reload and a proper hard jacketed 50 gr. FMJ with a proper powder charge will be more effective than most of the lame factory loaded ammo.
I wish I only lost 1 or 2 cases per range session! More like 1/3 to 1/2
