Is the .25 ACP worth reloading?

[JohnnieB]

Back off topic. The frame on the Inox version is still alloy, just like on the full size 92's and if you keep running hot ammo through it then it'll crack too eventually.

Frame on INOX version is about 50% thicker, and yes, it is still an alloy, but an alloy consisting of what metals?
Last time I checked INOX was another word for Stainless Steel.

 

[Rule3]

Stainless steel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[rburg]

I've got the dies and shell holder. I haven't used them in maybe 10 years. If the OP is buying, maybe we can deal. I think I also have some .25 FMJ bullets.

Its a pain to load. The little tiny bullets going into the equally tiny cases. I gave up and started using a needle nose pliers to hold the bullets until they'd moved up into the seating die. Not a system of volume reloading.

In all fairness, my reloads all fired without any failures. One group of 200 rounds was used to break in my employers Beretta. He bought 2 of them (never a guy to leave anything to chance). He was pulling a test on me and I didn't realize it till I brought his gun back to him. Basically, he kept one and sent one along with me to fire a couple of hundred rounds. The break in was pretty amazing. You could really tell the difference between the two guns. I have no idea if a few hundred more rounds would have made a difference. But I wasn't getting paid for my reloading efforts, so 200 was all I was willing to donate. They all fed as well as any factory ammo, which means flawlessly.

 

[trauma1]

NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!

 

[TNFrank]

Frame on INOX version is about 50% thicker, and yes, it is still an alloy, but an alloy consisting of what metals?
Last time I checked INOX was another word for Stainless Steel.

It's still an aluminum alloy, not a stainless steel alloy in the frame. Hit the Beretta forum and read up on this. I spend a lot of time over there when I had my 92F Compact and then when I got my PX4 Storm so I've seen plenty of threads about the Tomcat and it's problems.

 

[JohnnieB]

It's still an aluminum alloy, not a stainless steel alloy in the frame. Hit the Beretta forum and read up on this. I spend a lot of time over there when I had my 92F Compact and then when I got my PX4 Storm so I've seen plenty of threads about the Tomcat and it's problems.

Unless the metallurgists at Beretta figured out how to get a magnet stick to an aluminum alloy, I'm baffled as to why a magnet sticks to the frame of my INOX Tomcat.

I have spent time on the Beretta forum and suspect the INOX Tomcat isn't getting the recognition and acceptance it truly deserves because of the inherent faults of its potmetal brothers and cousins. The really sad part is that an old, well established company like Beretta continues to market guns with known problems, which diminishes the reputation of the guns they produce that don't have those problems.

Back on topic, or closer to it , I can't remember if the Bobcat (same as metallurgy as the Non-INOX Tomcat) had any problems with cracks in the frames. Probably due to .25acp and .22lr being milder than .32acp. I had one in .25acp years ago, and wish I still had it, but wouldn't reload for it because the rounds are just too small for my big hands to manipulate.

 

[m657]

While I enjoy fondling the 25s (in a GOOD way) the limited shooting I've done hasn't been very satisfying.

And 380 loading is even physical challenge for me.....9s are on the 'ain't much fun' list too...and 40s ain't far behind.

In fact, 44s & 45s are what Gawd had in mind when she invented shot & shell....so I prefer to stick with them that my sausage-pickers can handle...whilst my peepers can still see 'em well enough to pick up the one that leap somehow off the bench onto the floor....again...

 

[thedane]

My 1908 Colt in .25 ACP is the most inaccurate weapon I've ever fired. I have a Colt Jr. that's not that much better. I still have a few hundred rounds of .25 ACP. I don't see going through it that fast. I wouldn't even think about reloading .25 ACP. The cartridge is too small. I don't even reload .380.

I wish you luck with the Beretta! I am curious about how well other .25 ACP pistols shoot?

 

[sjmjax]

I'm also a fan of the itty bitty .25 pistols. Don't reload for them...yet.

But, enjoy shooting them and have found them to be quite accurate at 7 yard ranges.

From a recent outing - 7 yards, standing unsupported hold with Blazer ammo. 6 o'clock hold on the red dot.

Top row: Ortgie, Colt Jr, Beretta 418
Bottom row: Walther 8, Mauser 1910

Mauser is the most pleasant to shoot. Longer grip is much easier to hold and slide design won't bite your hand. Also has the longest barrel and sight radius.

Also have two of the Beretta 950's but in .22 short. One standard and one long barrel version. Exceptionally reliable and similar accuracy to the .25 guns.

 

[JohnnieB]

Unless the metallurgists at Beretta figured out how to get a magnet stick to an aluminum alloy, I'm baffled as to why a magnet sticks to the frame of my INOX Tomcat.

Oops! My Bad!

A magnet does not stick to the frame. It is a nonferrous alloy of some type.
I pulled the gun out of my pocket and touched a small, yet strong, magnet to the frame below the trigger guard and it stuck.
However, I don't carry empty guns, so it had a magazine in it and the magnet was actually sticking to the steel magazine through the nonferrous frame.

Sorry for posting erroneous information, and my only defense is that I thought I was correct at the time.

I still trust my INOX Tomcat to do its job if and when needed, and will suggest the INOX version of it to anyone interested in a mousegun for a pocket pistol.

FWIW: The same magnet doesn't stick to the frame of my S&W 637 either.

But, in any case, I'm old school and prefer metal to plastic.

Added: The barrel is stamped Stainless and the slide is definitely ferrous, maybe that is what Beretta is talking about when they use the word INOX.

 

[Beans]

I have no interest in or affiliated with these posting. This is for information only.
.25 ACP carbide dies from lee

Lee 25 ACP Carbide 3 Die Set Lee 90568 | eBay

.25 ACP bullet mold

TL256-50-RF Ranch Dog's TL256-57-RF [TL25650RF] - $60.00 : Ranch Dog Outdoors, Ranch Dog Outdoors - Lee Special Order Bullet Molds for Leverguns and semi-auto Handguns

Information on casting .25 ACP bullets

.25 acp mold - Cast Boolits

Using #3 buckshot instead of casting your bullets--- information

.25 ACP: Cheap, good load with No. 3 buckshot

 

[blujax01]

Q: Alan, why are you resurrecting an 18 month old thread on, of all things, reloading 25acp???

A: Because I just did an old friend a favor and bought his Gen-u-ine Eye-tal-yun Tanfoglio Model GT27 from him.

He found it among his Dad's stuff, unfired, with a box of Remington rounds. Ammo for this lil gem is as expensive as 45 ACP and it looks like a fun way to waste an evening. Or two.

Whose done it? From the posts above, I'm going to need steady hands (and maybe a pair of tweezers). Any tips on die brands (or anyone got a set they no longer need?), bullet profiles, etc. or is it much the same as any other caliber?

Thanks in advance.

 

[bmcgilvray]

I handload for .25 ACP and enjoy doing it. Years ago I bought a thousand Remington 51 grain round nose fmj component bullets and still am working on that supply. I've loaded a few boxes of other brands of component bullet over the years too. I've only experimented with Bulls-Eye and Unique. I would have thought the faster burning Bulls-Eye would have given the performance edge but Unique's the powder for use in .25 ACP. A whopping 1.8 grain charge, enough to not quite cover your thumb nail, will get you about 860 fps.

Mouse guns

 

[Rule3]

I love mouse guns.

I just put a dreaded Tomcat on layaway a few days ago. Hope it doesn't break

My Nano hasn't broke yet.

I am actually one of the few that had a Seecamp break a hammer strut. But it was a bad batch of stainless steel.

 

[ruger-p94]

A whopping 1.8 grain charge, enough to not quite cover your thumb nail, will get you about 860 fps.

I guess you never reload these rounds when you have a cold. One sneeze and you have a squid round. By the way is 1.8 a max charge and can you reduce that to make a powder puff load.

 

[blujax01]

Mouse guns

OUTSTANDING!

I'm thinking that photo would look awesome hanging in the reloading room.

 

[wbraswell]

I like the little guns, but I'm not reloading for them. It's hard enough on my eyes looking for .45 acp hulls. I'm not bending over for a .25 case.

 

[forestswin]

these might be safer

There is quite a bit of wisdom in these old threads

 

[Nevada Ed]

The small cases and bullets are great for the young guys with steady hands and good eye sight...........and are a lot of fun to shoot.

When I was around 45 I went with the 9mm as the smallest load I would mess with and now at 69 the 38 Special is as small as I want to load with my big hands and bifocals.

Enjoy it if you can..................
Low recoil is always a nice thing as well as killing paper and mice !!

 

[blujax01]

Yeah, I'm almost 59 and starting to rethink this.

Nah - I'm goin' for it!

I'm placing a WTB ad in the classifieds for a set of dies - like everything else around here, they're scarce. Maybe someone needs some 9mm bullets in trade...