| .25 ACP | ||
|---|---|---|
 .25 ACP cartridge with scale |
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| Type | Pistol | |
| Place of origin |  United States |
|
| Production history | ||
| Designer | John Browning | |
| Designed | 1905 | |
| Specifications | ||
| Case type | Semi-rimmed, straight | |
| Bullet diameter | 0.251 in (6.4 mm) | |
| Neck diameter | 0.276 in (7.0 mm) | |
| Base diameter | 0.277 in (7.0 mm) | |
| Rim diameter | 0.298 in (7.6 mm) | |
| Case length | 0.62 in (16 mm) | |
| Overall length | 0.91 in (23 mm) | |
| Rifling twist | 1:16 | |
| Primer type | Boxer Small Pistol | |
| Ballistic performance | ||
| Bullet weight/type | Velocity | Energy |
| 35 gr (2.3 g) Safety | 1,150 ft/s (350 m/s) | 103 ft·lbf (140 J) |
| 35 gr (2.3 g) JHP | 900 ft/s (270 m/s) | 63 ft·lbf (85 J) |
| 45 gr (2.9 g) JHP | 815 ft/s (248 m/s) | 66 ft·lbf (89 J) |
| 50 gr (3.2 g) FMJ | 760 ft/s (230 m/s) | 65 ft·lbf (88 J) |
| Test barrel length: 2 in Source: Guns & Ammo Magazine |
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The .25 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) (6.35x16mmSR) centerfire pistol cartridge is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled pistol cartridge introduced by John Browning in 1905 alongside the Fabrique Nationale model 1905 pistol.
Contents |
Design
The cartridge was designed for early blowback pistols that lacked a breech locking mechanism. The cartridge is of semi-rimmed design meaning that the rim protrudes slightly beyond the diameter of the base of the cartridge. A recessed extractor groove allows an extractor to grab the cartridge reliably. It is the smallest centerfire pistol round in production, and is commonly chambered in small, so-called "vest pocket" pistols. The .25 ACP has achieved widespread use due to the popularity of the Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket and later copies.
Though the .25 ACP was designed for semi-automatic pistols, various .25 ACP revolvers were produced in the early 20th Century by Belgian, French, and German gunmakers such as Adolph Frank and Decker.[1] In the late 20th Century, Bowen Classic Arms produced a custom Smith & Wesson revolver in .25 ACP.[2]
Following World War II, the Italian Lercker machine pistol was chambered for the .25 ACP, but achieved little distribution.
Performance
The use of the .25 ACP allows for a very compact lightweight gun, but the cartridge is relatively short-ranged and low-power, putting it in the same class as the .22 LR rimfire cartridge. Although the .22 is slightly more powerful when fired from equal length short barrels, the .25 ACP is viewed by some as a better choice for personal defense due to its more reliable semi-rimmed centerfire case design.
The round is favored by producers of so-called "Saturday Night Special" pistols, which often cost $100 or less, because in terms of reliability it is more forgiving than .22LR in low-quality designs with loose tolerances. These inexpensive pistols have been the target of much legislation, their opponents citing statistics which show their disproportionate use in crime. Opponents of this legislation note that many individuals who want to own a firearm for self defense lack the desire or ability to pay several hundred dollars for a "quality" weapon, and claim that the legislation is elitist because it deems the poor unworthy of exercising their Second Amendment rights.
Manufacturers have loaded commercial hollow point bullets to higher velocities than the standard 50-grain (3.2 g) FMJ load. Both rounds certainly pose an effective psychological threat against attackers not armed with a firearm. Firearms chambered for the .25 ACP cartridge run the gamut from inexpensive, simply made guns like the Raven MP-25 to higher quality and relatively expensive guns like the Baby Browning or Beretta Bobcat. The tiny cartridge has also been used in some precision crafted target pistols.
Synonyms
- 25 Auto
- .25 Auto
- 6.35 mm
- 6.35 mm Browning
- 6.35x16mmSR
See also
References
- ^ http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20allemande/artisan%20c%20d/a%20decker%20walter%20gb.htm
- ^ Bowen, Hamilton. The Custom Revolver. Privately printed, 2001. ISBN 978-0-9713366-0-5
External links
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