WHICH IS MORE EFFECTIVE FOR CARRY,25ACP OR 22 CALIBER
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CaptRon956
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Both pretty anemic, but I would vote for the .25 because of the centerfire's better reliability over the rimfire. Aftermarket hyper ammo also boosts potency for this little round.
Aticus
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texmex
Member
Being centerfire, 25 ACP is inherently more reliable ignition than 22. Modern rimfire ammunition seems to be much more reliable now than it was in the past. Firearms chambered in 25 ACP tend to be small vest pocket size guns of varying quality. Colt, Browning (FN) 25s are very well made but their small size makes them difficult for some to shoot well. The Walther PPK was made in 25 ACP (6.35mm) but is rarely found in that calibre. 22s of course run the gamut from top end target pistols (S&W 41) to inexpensive pocket size mass produced models of questionable reliability. Then there are 22 revolvers from tiny 5 shot minis up to ten shot S&W Masterpieces.
Ammo choices are very limited in 25 ACP and almost unlimited in 22 LR and 22 Mag. None of the above can be considered ideal for defensive carry. In a small pocket pistol, the edge goes to 25 due to being centerfire and semi-rimmed. Now that there are 32s and 380s as small as most 25s, there is not much reason to coose a 25.
22s can be very accurate and easy to shoot well. A few 22s to the head have more stopping power than a 44 magnum complete miss. Many carry 22LR or 22Mag as a trail or back up gun. 25, not so much.
As neat as the Baby Browning and Colt 1908 Vest Pocket are, the Tomcat, Seecamp and LCP have rendered them and the 25 ACP obsolete.
Ammo choices are very limited in 25 ACP and almost unlimited in 22 LR and 22 Mag. None of the above can be considered ideal for defensive carry. In a small pocket pistol, the edge goes to 25 due to being centerfire and semi-rimmed. Now that there are 32s and 380s as small as most 25s, there is not much reason to coose a 25.
22s can be very accurate and easy to shoot well. A few 22s to the head have more stopping power than a 44 magnum complete miss. Many carry 22LR or 22Mag as a trail or back up gun. 25, not so much.
As neat as the Baby Browning and Colt 1908 Vest Pocket are, the Tomcat, Seecamp and LCP have rendered them and the 25 ACP obsolete.
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Whichever one that is going to be on your person all the time.
BrewsterII
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Either one would require perfect bullet placement, NEITHER imho! 
Revolver-time
Member
I cannot agree that modern rimfire is more reliable. I have had many more duds than in the past.
If offered either of those wimps 
I would prefer a good Bowie type knife.
I would prefer a good Bowie type knife.
Back in the 60's my neighbor was a doctor's assistant and brought me a professional journal from her boss that contained an article including x-ray photos about a shooting victim.
The victim had been assaulted and robbed outside a club one night and knocked unconscious. When he came to he went home, cleaned up and went to bed. Next morning he went to his doctor with a severe headache and burning in his mouth.
Long story short, a .25 cal pistol had been shoved in his mouth and fired five times. The X-rays showed all five slugs lodged inside his skull. He apparently survived but if I had not seen the article and x-rays in a respected medical journal I would not have believed it.
I sold the only .25 I had and never considered another.
The victim had been assaulted and robbed outside a club one night and knocked unconscious. When he came to he went home, cleaned up and went to bed. Next morning he went to his doctor with a severe headache and burning in his mouth.
Long story short, a .25 cal pistol had been shoved in his mouth and fired five times. The X-rays showed all five slugs lodged inside his skull. He apparently survived but if I had not seen the article and x-rays in a respected medical journal I would not have believed it.
I sold the only .25 I had and never considered another.
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"WHICH IS MORE EFFECTIVE FOR CARRY,25ACP OR 22 CALIBER"
Since both rounds are small, I'd say they can be effectively carried equally
.
If you mean which would be more effective if you had to use one, probably one of those (other brand) 30-round .22 Magnum semi-auto pistols and three full magazines might do.
Since both rounds are small, I'd say they can be effectively carried equally
.If you mean which would be more effective if you had to use one, probably one of those (other brand) 30-round .22 Magnum semi-auto pistols and three full magazines might do.
texmex
Member
Maybe some of those could be due to the firearm and not the ammo. I have looked over several used guns that had obvious damage from being dry fired. Are there brands of ammo that you have had more trouble with than others?
Your experience with dud rimfires should re-enforce the point that center fire will always be more reliable over the long haul. I have shot some very old centerfire ammunition, some even dating before world war two. I would not be suprised if rimfire ammo that old had 50% to 100% duds. A dud (or even worse, a squib) in a defense situation would be a disaster. When you are betting your life, you want all the odds stacked in your favor.
old&slow
Member
The .22 lr is a ways down on my list of self defense cartridges. But, the .25 acp isn't even on the list.
Handgun Cartridge Power Chart - Condensed Version
I'm trying hard to think of a more worthless cartridge than a .25 ACP,, But so far I haven't thought of one..
Handgun Cartridge Power Chart - Condensed Version
I'm trying hard to think of a more worthless cartridge than a .25 ACP,, But so far I haven't thought of one..
I'd take a 22 mag revolver any day over a 25.
Jim1392
US Veteran
Well, hmmmm
Let's go with ballistics.
2" barrel both examples:
Wiki sez a .25 acp can do 1100 fps with a 30 grain bullet
Ballistics by the inch sez .22 magnum can do 962 fps with a 30 grain Hornady Vmax but can get 1114 fps with 25 gr Hornady NTX.
That gives a miniscule advantage to the .25 acp over the .22 magnum.
Since my philosophy is not to depend on a one shot stop with ANY cartridge/gun combination I would think that a triple tap or more with either one of these would probably hurt somebody.
PS: A .22 killed Robert Kennedy, but was probably close or even pressed to his head.
PPS: I didn't realize that he was shot three times, but it was the one in the head that did it. Sirhan kept firing the gun while Rosy Grier muscled him against a steam table. Being a .22 they hoped the damage would not be that bad until they saw the hole in his head.
Let's go with ballistics.
2" barrel both examples:
Wiki sez a .25 acp can do 1100 fps with a 30 grain bullet
Ballistics by the inch sez .22 magnum can do 962 fps with a 30 grain Hornady Vmax but can get 1114 fps with 25 gr Hornady NTX.
That gives a miniscule advantage to the .25 acp over the .22 magnum.
Since my philosophy is not to depend on a one shot stop with ANY cartridge/gun combination I would think that a triple tap or more with either one of these would probably hurt somebody.
PS: A .22 killed Robert Kennedy, but was probably close or even pressed to his head.
PPS: I didn't realize that he was shot three times, but it was the one in the head that did it. Sirhan kept firing the gun while Rosy Grier muscled him against a steam table. Being a .22 they hoped the damage would not be that bad until they saw the hole in his head.
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Revolver-time
Member
I my case it is not the gun or guns. None of my rimfires are dry fired. I don't think my 39A or my pre 17 have an issue. I would never trust todays rimfire stuff. Granted the Winchester 333 packs and the Remington Thunderbolt was the budget stuff but 30 out of a brick is crazy. On the other hand I can't remember having a misfire centerfire.
Conventional wisdom for the past 40 years has been to go centerfire over rimfire..........that said........
will any auto cycle if the muzzle is in contact with the target?
My "guess' is that a .22magnum out of a sub 4-6" barrel is just a lot of flash and blast vs. a .22lr.
I've wonder how well someone can cock and fire those micro/mini-revolvers under stress..........once let alone multiple (4-5?) times.
The target for either is ....IMHO... in the eye socket, up the nose or in the ear...............bounce around inside the skull.........
Would I rather have a good 4" knife at .22/.25 range ?????....... no reloads needed ...... just keep stabbing/slashing
will any auto cycle if the muzzle is in contact with the target?
My "guess' is that a .22magnum out of a sub 4-6" barrel is just a lot of flash and blast vs. a .22lr.
I've wonder how well someone can cock and fire those micro/mini-revolvers under stress..........once let alone multiple (4-5?) times.
The target for either is ....IMHO... in the eye socket, up the nose or in the ear...............bounce around inside the skull.........
Would I rather have a good 4" knife at .22/.25 range ?????....... no reloads needed ...... just keep stabbing/slashing
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bigggbbruce
Member
I second the 22 Magnum..
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The 22 Mag has my vote but try cocking a SA small revolver .
Plus the one I had was back three times for failing parts....
Now, nothing but a .380 DA auto has my vote as minimum.
Do not CC of any of them now.
Plus the one I had was back three times for failing parts....
Now, nothing but a .380 DA auto has my vote as minimum.
Do not CC of any of them now.
I read different. Wiki says a 30gr 22 mag 2300 fps and 322 fp of energy. Compared to a 35gr 25ACP at 1100 fps and 94 fp of energy. That's a big difference.
scootergirl69
Member
At the risk of getting in a peeing contest re .22 vs .25.....I believe more people have been shot and killed with a .22 than with any other caliber.
I think Col. Cooper summed it up best about the .25 ACP. He said if you have one, don't carry it. If you carry it, don't load it. If you load it, don't shoot anybody with it. If you do, you may hit them, and that may cause them to get very angry.
Or something to that effect.
Jim
Or something to that effect.
Jim
I carried a 1903 Colt vest Pocket 25 as a hideout for many years. I carried it in my hip pocket behind my badge wallet. I have posted elsewhere about the time I used it. I have seen many a sassy bandit, as Gus McCrae would say, killed deader than a mackeral with 22s and 25s, especially back in the days of Jennings, Davis, Bryco, and Raven.
bigggbbruce
Member
That's with the long barrel
If you go down to the 2" barrel I believe it matches what I said.
It wouldn't fair to compare a rifle barrel with a 2".
And a pocket revolver with a 24" barrel would make your walk a little suspicious.
If you go down to the 2" barrel I believe it matches what I said.
It wouldn't fair to compare a rifle barrel with a 2".
And a pocket revolver with a 24" barrel would make your walk a little suspicious.
