Which would you rather trust your life with? .22 LR or .25 ACP

Which would you rather have in a life or death situation?

  • .22 LR

    Votes: 109 67.7%

  • .25 ACP

    Votes: 52 32.3%
  • Total voters
    161
  • Poll closed .
I went through a whole bunch of little 22LR back up guns. All had issues and I went with a Beretta 950. I still own it 30+ years later. It has never missed a beat, ever.
 
Nanuk, interesting--Where?
Click to expand...


As a Police Officer in Ft Worth Texas. The last 3 years I was there (1985-1988) I worked the highest crime beat in the city. I worked the area of Evans and Rosedale (short east side). We had a lot of shootings. I started with the Border Patrol in El Paso, Tx in 1988. Juarez, Mexico is right there.
 
Last edited:
25 acp in a baby browning is one hell of a tiny package. I bought one for my Grandma a few birthdays ago with the caveat it comes back to me.
Almost makes the list of "guns with soul," but not quite.

If I had to go below 380 it would be my choice.
 
Last edited:
Why in the world would anybody carry either, when in the same form factor (size. width, weight) you can have .320 or .380?
Click to expand...

I don't entirely trust the new breed of super-miniaturized semi-autos, so if I needed an exceeding small gun, I'd trust the reliability of a good quality .25 like a Baby Browning, Colt 1908 vest pocket, or Beretta 950 over a Kel-Tec P32 or P3AT, Ruger LCP, or Taurus 738. The smallest .32 or .380 that I would personally trust to be reliable would be something along the lines of a Walther PPK, Sig P230, CZ-70, or Bersa Thunder.
 
Baby Browning

What a gem indeed and one of the legendary JMB's last designs. I was surprised to see that they were relatively common with the French Resistance in WWII.
 
I've carried both a Raven .25 and a PPK/S .22. Neither caliber was ideal. Now I carry a Keltec P32. That's as small and lightweight as I go these days.
 
Why in the world would anybody carry either, when in the same form factor (size. width, weight) you can have .320 or .380?
Click to expand...

Bernardelli.jpg


I don't think so.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Guess you haven't seen the seecamp then, available in .32 and .380

images
 
22lr has a big rep for killing.

I heard about a guy getting shot by his girlfriend in the crotch with a 25acp, it stopped inthe zipper and left huge bruze.....................
 
9mm


22lr has a big rep for killing.

I heard about a guy getting shot by his girlfriend in the crotch with a 25acp, it stopped inthe zipper and left huge bruze.....................
Click to expand...

I've heard it has trouble penetrating wood :eek:. Just kidding as I won't bad-mouth the mouse-guns--Same time I don't recommend them as a primary (it was again 100 degrees here today (worse Summer I can EVER remember by FAR--I now know what He** feels like) and while working in the yard I had my Bobcat 21A in my pocket.

-Cheers
 
I've been shooting a Bobcat for about 10 years now. It's super accurate and I've never had a mis-fire that I can remember (though I mainly shoot Federal bulk or CCI Velocitors).

Many cattle have been killed by a .22 SHORT to the skull. I don't have any reservation about carrying the .22LR as a last resort. I normally carry 9mm or .357 Mag, but when I'm otherwise NOT going to carry at all I slip the Bobcat in my pocket. It's small enough to not choose it out of convenience, but I believe that it's an asset to have on-board if the fit hits the shan.

I don't have any experience about .25 ACP but I've never heard much good about it. My cousin just got a National Match 1911 and some little .25 ACP pimp-looking gun. I don't think it's anything I'd ever want to own. YMMV, but I would skip .25 ACP altogether and make the jump to .380 or even 9mm.

If I had the need for some deep concealment BUG gun I'd get an NAA .22 Mag...you could stash one of those between your toes!
 
While the Seecamp is small, it's still heavier and thicker than the Bernardelli pictured.
Click to expand...

While true the Seecamp is small enough to hide in a back pocket which is all I care about for backup.

I would prefer the baby Browning to the NAA because of single action and hard to manipulate being so teeny.
 
I voted .25. I have collected a bunch of Colt Juniors/Astra 2000s. Very reliable and also easy to strip and clean. The problem with the old Ravens and their successors is that they are much more mechanically complicated and harder to disassemble and clean. Of course I also have experience with .22s. I still prefer the reliability of center fire.

Instead of belly or brain guns, I've always called these "nose guns." Best used by sticking up your opponent's nose. If you angle it one way, you blow his brains out, the other way and you clean out his sinuses. :D

Colt Jr. is easy to pocket carry. If I'm wearing light short pants, this works better than a heavier .32 or .380 in terms of concealment and comfort. If I'm wearing heavier garments, I'll go with the heavier higher caliber guns.

In the end, I'm looking at SD not LEO and will not be engaging at long distances. I still go with the idea that carry comfort will encourage carrying, vs. "Nah, it's only a trip to the ice cream store, I'll leave it at home."
 
"I voted .25. I have collected a bunch of Colt Juniors/Astra 2000s. Very reliable and also easy to strip and clean."


I'm sure that rapidly stripping and cleaning your .25 will really impress the guy who's trying to rob you... :rolleyes:

Anyone who relies on either of these calibers for defense in the light of the fact that similarly sized .32 ACP and .380's are available are rationalizing a really bad choice, Bernadelli .25's and NAA .22's notwithstanding.


Willie

.
 
azsixshooter
...YMMV, but I would skip .25 ACP altogether and make the jump to .380 or even 9mm...
Click to expand...

Agreed as I think it's advisable to not consider anything <.380 for self-defense including .22lr. So the thread really is more of an academic discussion than anything else (with the exception of individuals that have only a .22lr to rely on). That being said, if we use the example of a small barrel semi (</=3'') and other than caliber all other variables equal (including ammo costs) I would go with the .25acp every-time (for many of the reasons already mentioned in the thread).

I have both and the only factor in this equation that has significantly changed is the astronomical costs of .25acp ammo. Therein lies THE only reason I decided to recommend a .22lr mouse-gun over the JMB's liitle gem of a round 25acp. Maybe someone can help me understand the justification/reason for the ridiculously expensive price tag on any load of .25acp--remember Econ 101 where they taught us that supply vs. demand=price...? I just can't believe that .25acp demand is that great...?

-Cheers
 
Having owned a NAA .22mag & a FIE Titan .25acp, I'd choose the .25acp every time d/t speed of firing and reliability of the cartridge. That said, when my Titan wears out, I'll probably replace it with a micro-.32acp, like a NAA or Masterpiece Arms. Those micro-autos are quite handy, esp. when loaded with warm European ammo like Fiocci or S&B.

Besides, most criminals find a faceful of .25acp FMJ quite distracting.....
 
The 22 is WAY cheaper to fire meaning you can fire it WAY more and probably WAY better.

Between those 2 calibers I recommend a 22 because of this fact.

You don't have much power with either, so accuracy is going to have to make up for a lack of power. Something most men and woman can't/won’t attain with the high priced .25 ammo, but can attain with the low priced .22 ammo.

It's always 98% the shooter and 2% what they are shooting. Doing a lot of shooting with your mouse gun makes you a very good marksman.

I’d go 22 ------ without the slightest thought towards the 25
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top