“What Is It With The .25 ACP, Anyway?”

By James Rummel

I was recently asked the question that became the title for this post. Just to set the tone …

“What is it about the .25 ACP, anyway?”

What did they mean? Mainly they were wondering why such a puny cartridge could be considered a self defense round for more than a century. Isn’t the .25 ACP an under powered, under performing example of a waste of time? Too small to hunt even small game like squirrels, and yet it is supposed to be proof against an enraged 200 pound criminal?

Well, they have a point. The .22 Long Rifle round is considered to be perfect for small game like rabbits, and it is decidedly superior in ballistics when compared to the .25 ACP. Here is the ballistic info for the .25 and the .22 as taken from the Winchester ammunition online page.

.25 ACP = 64 ft/lbs muzzle energy

.22 LR = 80 ft/lbs muzzle energy

(Yes, I notice that the Winchester page lists the .22 Long Rifle round as having more energy and velocity at 100 yards than at the muzzle. Don’t ask …Read the Rest