.25 ACP ballistic test-vs .22 Long Rifle

[gunfan]

In similar barrel lengths the 25 is way ahead of the
22 LR penetration and the 22 short is not even in the running. Not to
start any disputes but I find stories about 25 FMJ bullets getting
stuck in pectoral muscles with no further penetration impossible to
believe. Jell tests show 25 FMJ penetration of 12"-13" and 32 FMJ
penetration of around 16"-18". In my own limited tests in wood good
32 FMJ ammo will slightly outpenetrate good 380 FMJ. As with any
handgun round shot placement is crucial but carrying a 25 with good
FMJ ammo is a long way from being unarmed.

This is why I have greater faith in the .32 ACP than the .380. The bullets are generally running out the barrel at the same velocities and the smaller FMJ slugs tend to penetrate more deeply than the larger, heavier slugs (9mm Luger/.45 ACP FMJ ammunition analogy.)

While the .25 ACP is slightly heavier and wider than the .22 LR, the FMJ configuration of the .25 lends itself to deeper penetration. Such is the genius of John Moses Browning.

Scott

 

[LouisianaMan]

hannstv,
My porous memory is also an advantage in that it lets me watch TV shows, movies, read forum threads, etc. for the first time, over and over again

In the three years since we last gathered around this campfire, I've divested myself of my .25's, but only because something had to go on the chopping block to finance other guns, esp. in caliber .38 S&W. I'll wind up with a .25 again at some point, for all the reasons discussed above. A friend also has a Lee .251-50-TC (or LFP) that's in my garage, and that should allow a handload hotter than FMJ. Combined with the flat point, it might prove a more effective wounding agent than RN-FMJ.

 

[ACP230]

I knew a guy who had a larger-size pocket pistol in .25 ACP.
I'd never fired one, then, so when I visited his farm we took the pistol and an empty cardboard oil can out in a field near the house.

We set it up against a dirt bank and I fired a magazine at it.
The can stood there through the whole thing, almost unmoved.
I was less than impressed with the round, the gun, and my lousy aim.

When we walked up to look at the can it was full of holes and most were
right where I'd been aiming. The can was so light that it didn't move
as the bullets passed through. I did see it kind of shiver once. One of
my shots went low and hit the top of the metal bottom.

I picked up a Bauer later and carried it a bit. It fit inside the top of
my old cowboy boots best. Haven't fired it in a while. If the snow
ever melts maybe I'll take it out again.

 

[Fishinfool]

Here is my take on the 25 acp. Years ago, I had one of the Beretta Jet Fires with the pop up barrel. Neat little pocket gun. One night we were camping out, and for some reason, I decided to shoot a tree. Three shots, then noticed something hit me in the belly, but not that hard.

It was a 25 cal bullet, a fmj. All three shots had bounced off the tree.

Now I was no ballistics expert back then, but I had shot enough squirrels to know a .22 rimfire would penetrate into a tree......

The Jet Fire went down the road. Later, in my law enforcement career, I got to see what a 22 rimfire, especially with hollow points could do to a person. More severe wound potential, in my opinion, then a 25 acp, by quite a bit...

Larry

 

[hannstv]

hannstv,
My porous memory is also an advantage in that it lets me watch TV shows, movies, read forum threads, etc. for the first time, over and over again

In the three years since we last gathered around this campfire, I've divested myself of my .25's, but only because something had to go on the chopping block to finance other guns, esp. in caliber .38 S&W. I'll wind up with a .25 again at some point, for all the reasons discussed above. A friend also has a Lee .251-50-TC (or LFP) that's in my garage, and that should allow a handload hotter than FMJ. Combined with the flat point, it might prove a more effective wounding agent than RN-FMJ.

I really enjoyed your search for loads for your 38 S&W's, I think I may have read them on a different forum. Had me interested in one, just never crossed paths with a nice example.

 

[Cyrano]

H&G isn't making moulds any more, but they had a cherry for the 25 ACP bullet. I have a 2 cavity H&G mould for it. The ultimate in something would be one of their 10 cavity moulds in 25 ACP.

 

[Roadtrash]

This thread has been a real interesting read. Makes me rethink a lot of things I have heard over the years about the little 25.

It would be nice to have something chambered for a 25 with a little more room for powder. You know, say another 1/8 to 1/4 inch in length. Has anyone ever made anything of this type?

I don't know much about the smaller cal guns, other than 22's, it sounds like it could be made into something really usable with enough powder.

 

[Rgoodwin]

I bought a Raven Arms 25 S/A somewhere around "75" at Walmart to carry when I traveled. First shot was at a stump about 20 feet away. Bounced back and hit me in the left thigh. Did carry for several years then got married and put it in my gun safe. Been in the safe since 86. Got it out 3 weeks ago and still had 40 of the 50 cartridges I bought with the gun and it shot them quite nicely at 7 yards.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

I've had several .25's over the years but have only this one now. I enjoy shooting it but don't carry it.

It would be better than nothing for defense. At my age I'd rather have the little Colt for self defense than just my in the pocket Case XX 3-blade Stockman...or any currently in style more up to date knife.

 

[gunfan]

Jan Libourel wrote an article about the .25. He stated that no one seems to like it... except people!

People keep buying and shooting them, and some are dying having been shot by them! Let's face it folks, these are still real guns, that can readily kill.

Scott

 

[Evil One]

Yes, a round that has many first hand reports of bouncing off of targets back at the shooters is a FINE defensive choice.


Jim

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[Old cop]

I recall, many years ago, responding to a "Man Down" call and when I arrived this huge guy was dead, face down, in a front yard. No blood and of course no one saw or knew anything.

Examination at the hospital revealed a .25 had entered his armpit and lodged in his heart. No blood b/c hair in the armpit absorbed the blood and hid the wound. Detectives later arrested his poker buddy for murder. I haven't played poker since . . .

 

[M3Stuart]

I used to have a Beretta 950 SAO in .25 auto.

I won't debate the ballistics, but I can tell you matter-of-factly that: The ammo, even 'back then', was $20 for 50 rounds and it was hard to find. Meanwhile; .22 ammo is (well, was) $20-$30 for 500 five HUNDRED rounds. so I sold the .25 auto and got...

The MIGHTY BOBCAT! Beretta 21a in .22 LR. In fact I have two of them now: the 'standard' and the older blued version with the smooth front/back grips. I'm actually going to complete my MIGHTY BOBCAT collection with an INOX one - probably this year. I love 'em!

Here's the 'standard'. I can't seem to find a pic of the blued one. Beretta makes the exact same gun in 25 auto too.

 

[deingy]

Not impressed

Shooting into a seasoned oak backstop at close range, I had a .25 from a little Browning bounce back and hit me in the shin. No blood, lots of hurt, and some bruising. Not impressed. Any port in a storm but I would never buy one. An old TV showed a .25 being given to a woman for self defense and told to lean into it to get it to work.

 

[italiansport]

The one point that I think is important in this comparison was only briefly touched on here. That point is the 25acp is a more reliable round than the 22 long rifle in a good quality pistol. If I had to choose between carrying a 22lr or 25acp I'd opt for the 25.
Jim

 

[David Armstrong]

A good friend of mine with the OKC police dept. was killed many years ago, 1 shot from a .25 that went into the side and punched right through to his heart. With all due respect to Cooper, make fun of the .25 at your own peril.

 

[tops]

There are times when it is almost impossible to carry a real gun. If someone is attacked and don't have any kind of gun later on if the law does catch them several of their cohorts will give him an alibi and the law will turn him loose. If the person that is attacked has any kind of a gun no matter how small and can get a bullet in the attacker (maybe stomach or intestines) he will go to the hospital and there will be no doubt that he was the attacker. Larry

 

[2152hq]

I've had 22's, 32's and 38's bounce off assorted targets and come back to hit me also. None of them including the 25acp would I think of as a toy.

They all have lethal capability but everything has limiting factors which are many when simply shooting at assorted objects of different shapes and densities.

There was an attempt to boost the 25cal effectiveness by using the bullet in necked down 32acp and 380acp brass a while back. I don't know what became of that. Higher velocity for sure in a tiny package, but ammo availability no doubt a problem.

An easily concealable handgun is usually not going to be a sledgehammer of a weapon.
Better choices than a .25,,you bet.
But better to have a .25 and know how to use it than have nothing at all.
Or worse yet, have something you are completely unfamiliar with but it boosts your confidence mearly because of the size of hole in the end of the bbl.
That's an accident or tragedy waiting to happen.

 

[Evil One]

And now... .380s are smaller and lighter than .25s.


Jim

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[wrangler5]

I am occasionally required to attend white tie (tails) functions. No belt, no pockets in the "coat," pants pockets exposed, and you still have to carry your wallet, keys, knife, etc. The ONLY gun I've been able to hide in one of those getups is a Baby Browning - even a P3AT is too big. Not ideal, but it IS a .25 in the pocket . . .

I shoot a magazine or two through it every few years and am always amazed at its accuracy out to 7-10 yards. At the (more likely to be used) arm's length range they are absolute tack drivers.