Are hunting and shooting two of your favorite pastimes? You’re not alone.

Research shows that over 56 million Americans enjoy target and sport shooting activities.

As you purchase guns and brass, you may occasionally hear about the classic .25 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP). The .25 ACP gun was one-of-a-kind when it was first created, as it was small but packed a big punch. However, the gun ultimately met its demise.

Let’s explore what caused the downfall of the .25 gun.

Reasons for Popularity for .25 ACP

The .25 ACP made its debut in 1906 when Webley began to produce it in England. This gun, also called the 6.35x16mmSR, was a small miracle. At that time, there were no other .22 semi-automatic pistols as small as the .25 ACP.

The .25 cartridge’s case, which was semi-rimmed, fit both semi-automatic handguns and revolvers. Because people loaded it using smokeless powder, the cartridge’s ballistic performance mirrored that of the 5.75mm Velo-Dog revolver and the .22 long rifle rimfire. However, the .25 also improved on both of these guns in multiple ways.

For instance, the .25 cartridge was more dependable than the unjacketed .22 long rifle in a semi-automatic pistol. It also didn’t produce as much muzzle flash. That’s because it was designed to fit a two-inch barrel.

Compared with its centerfire Velo-Dog counterpart, the .25’s cartridge was smaller.

The .25 ACP’s Star Reputation

Bigger .25 pistols arrived on the scene after 1906. These included the Mauser in 1910, whose barrel was 3.3 inches. They also included the Soviet Korovin, whose barrel was 2.7 inches.

However, the .25’s subcompact form made it stand out from its competition.

Almost every major gun manufacturer has produced something compact like the .25. The .25 chamber’s pressure was slightly above the rimfire’s, and the centerfire case is strong, so making a dependable .25 ACP cartridge for small carry guns was easy. A .25 ACP magazine usually held an additional cartridge compared with a .22 long rifle cartridge, so it was more efficient.

People didn’t seriously consider using the .25 for military purposes. However, some countries issued similar-caliber pistols to officers. These officers used these weapons more as rank badges than as war weapons.

Still, many American soldiers used the .25 as backup weapons, and several reported success with using these small handguns during the 1950-1953 Korean War.

Many North Korean and Chinese soldiers were used to using bigger guns, so they didn’t inspect small pockets and boot tops. This allowed multiple captured GIs to escape captivity using their .25 guns.

How the .25 ACP’s Demise Started

The .25’s reputation began to wane in 1968. That’s when the United States passed a gun control law in 1968 called the GCA. This act made it illegal to import tiny pistols, like the .25.

This law aimed to keep cheaper guns out of criminals’ hands. That’s because lawmakers thought criminals preferred smaller guns to bigger ones.

Some gun manufacturers, such as Colt, kept importing .25s as kits. These kits were assembled on American soil and were deemed legal.

Many domestic manufacturers also tried to fill the demand for .25 ACPs. However, not every American-made .25 was high-quality. Many were pot-metal, cheap guns that were viewed as unsafe, unreliable, and hard to handle. This tarnished these guns’ reputation.

Ironically, these types of handguns were what United States lawmakers were trying to eliminate when they drafted the GCA.

With low-grade designs by companies like Raven and Jennings, the strikers often slipped off the sears. Making these loosely cast zinc gun designs unsafe.

The Raven P25 is another gun that was mostly made from zinc alloy. It cost about $40 during the 1980s.

A double-action firearm called the Budischowsky TP-70 later improved on these failed .25 designs.

The .25 ACP from the 1990s to Today

During the 1990s, concealed carry grew in popularity. This put small guns back in circulation as gun enthusiasts sought reliable pocket pistols. However, the .25 still didn’t regain traction.

Today, you can purchase a dependable and inexpensive pocket pistol that mirrors the .25’s size. It’s called the .380.

Alternatively, you can find tiny .22 pistols if you’re looking for micro-sized guns. The .22 long rifle round is just as powerful as the .25s. It is also cheaper and simpler to find.

Keep in mind that .25 pistols are still available today. For instance, Seecamp’s and Beretta’s .25 handguns are hot items because they are very tiny and offer advantages that the .22 long rifle gun and other similar guns don’t offer.

Nonetheless, the .25’s golden days are long gone. Since the mid-1990s, this handgun has been deemed a niche gun versus a mainstream one.

Other Reasons for the Failure of the .25 ACP

The GCA wasn’t the only factor in the .25’s demise. This handgun also failed because its ammunition was expensive — about five times that of similar rimfire ammo.

Although centerfire primers can be more reliable, they are costly to practice with. That’s why many gun users have turned to .22s instead of .25s (more on .22s next).

In addition, the .25’s cartridge was increasingly viewed as inadequate.

With nutrition improving over the years, the typical criminal’s size has grown. The .25’s bullet may work well against a thin, 120-pound man. However, it might not penetrate and stop a heavier criminal.

This is why the .380 ACP and the .32 ACP are more popular pocket pistol choices today.

Kel-Tec also invented small locked-breech pistols, including the P-3AT and the P-32. These quickly became a threat to the .25.

P-32s weigh less than several blowback .25s. In addition, they are slightly bigger than .25s, which makes controlling them easier.

Manufacturers such as S&W and Ruger have also developed original small gun designs as well as .25 clones. This means consumers have numerous options when searching for subcompact handguns. 

More Reasons for the .25 ACP’s Failure

Another reason why the .25 failed is that the .22 long rifle took center stage, as we mentioned earlier.

In the 1980s, more reliable and higher-velocity .22 long rifle ammunition was introduced. This ammo was popular to use in rifles, but it also began to be used in tiny pistols.

The new ammo’s power was similar to that of the .25 and was available for small handguns and revolvers, such as Beretta’s Bobcat and NAA’s Mini, respectively. This meant the .25 was no longer necessary.

In addition, high-profile law enforcement shootings have significantly influenced civilians’ mindsets regarding self-defense. This further led to the .25’s demise.

For instance, a Miami Federal Bureau of Investigation shootout in 1986 made the revolver look subpar and antiquated. This rekindled an interest in both bullet performance and bullet speed, so the .25 was neglected.

High-velocity, large-bore rounds, such as the .40 S&W and the 10mm, drew increased attention at that time. Today, manufacturers are increasingly focused on producing tiny carry guns with powerful cartridges.

For example, the .380 round became popular to use in new guns that were similar in size to the .25 but packed more of a punch.

Why Not Make Changes to the .25 ACP?

A major reason why the .25 hasn’t been improved is that the gun’s grip size wasn’t big enough for most individuals’ hands.

In addition, as we mentioned earlier, the .25 didn’t provide enough energy to penetrate and deeply wound a criminal. If you used a .25 in self-dense, you may have had to shoot the victim twice to injure them.

Thirty-five-grain brass bullets performed better than .25 cartridges, but the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms banned these truncated-cone bullets for their ability to pierce armor.

The .25 ultimately became a last-resort caliber. That means it was used only when larger guns were not available or in conditions where bigger guns couldn’t be carried easily.

Today, .25 guns may be handy as backups, or you can use them to provide deep cover. However, better choices are available if you’re looking for similarly sized guns that are within the same price range and have the same weight.

Some individuals still prefer the .25 because it is convenient and simple to carry. In addition, you can easily find them, as companies like NAA make ultra-compact semi-automatic guns and small revolvers since a market still exists for them.

How We Can Help With Our Shooting Supplies

The .25 ACP was popular in the early 1900s due to its uniquely compact size. However, this popularity waned when the United States banned the import of most tiny pistols in 1968. The .25’s downfall also stemmed from its costly ammunition prices.

At Diamond K Brass, we take pride in offering once-fired brass as well as new brass. In addition, we sell multiple reloading components to those who love shooting and hunting.

Get in touch with us to learn more about our services, and order today!