Best .25 acp pocket pistol ever made.

[JellyJar]

I used to have a Beretta Jetfire .25acp pocket pistol that I let get away and of course Beretta no longer makes them. So I was thinking, what is/was the best tiny .25 acp pocket pistol ever made? Tell what you think.

I am not interested in any .22 rimfire versions because I don't think .22 rimfire is reliable enough for selfdefense.

JJ

 

[Bohemus]

CZ 92 seem like quite good mouse gun.

 

[amd6547]

Baby Browning is the standard setting 25 auto, followed by the Beretta 950.

 

[Panzerschwein]

In form, "Le Bebe" (Baby Browning) is a gorgeous and excellent quality ultra tiny .25, fantastic guns. So cool.

But for a "fighting .25" (is that an oxymoron?) I think the Beretta 950 wins as the best in it's class.

 

[Monac]

I think that the CZ 39/45/92 series pistols are the best 25 ACP pistols made, from the point of view of practicality. They are small, yet big enough to be able get a decent grip on, and their DAO trigger lets them be carried safely while ready for instant firing. The poor accuracy associated with DAO triggers is offset by the fact that 25 ACP pistols are inherently last-ditch, very short range weapons.

I would also note, though, that modern 32 ACP pistols are about the same size, have more power, and are much lighter because of their polymer frames. (Does the CZ-92 have an alloy frame? I've never actually seen one.)

The Beretta 25's are either single action or rather bulkier in width than the CZ.

The most pleasant 25 ACP pistols to shoot were probably the Mauser 1910/1912 series pistols, but they were always kind of large for their minimal caliber. The H&K Model 4 and Walther PP's in 25 were not designed as 25 ACP pistols.

PS - The Seecamp was also an excellent 25, and may be the equal or superior of the CZ. I've never had one, so I don't know. For some reason, the fact that it could be offered as a 32 ACP with little modification made me fail to think of it as a 25.

PPS - the more time goes by, the more I am amazed that S&W did not make a copy of the CZ-45 in 1970, instead of the misbegotten Escort design. Would the US public have considered the CZ-45 too "far out" in 1970?

 

[usp9]

Seecamp. Brand new guns being made again. Great gun.

 

[Jim Watson]

I had a CZ 45 that is the gun Seecamp emulated. The. Seecamp might be equal, I don't see how it could be better except for stainless construction.
First class DAO and 100% reliability.

 

[Gun Master]

The Baby Browning (or Bauer Stainless Steel clone) would get my vote for a second best, except it doesn't have a firing pin block (only a trigger safety), and can be accidently fired if dropped. This happened to a LEO, and he was killed. It's OK if you don't drop it.
And, it is the second smallest .25 (Walther made a slightly smaller model).
Go Beretta 950 (but, at $450 a pop?).

 

[CDW4ME]

Ruger LCP

 

[1KPerDay]

FN 1905/6 or Colt 1908

 

[Monac]

FN 1905/6 or Colt 1908

Really? I know they were beautifully made, and a remarkable achievement that early in the development of the automatic pistol, but being SA-only and too small to get a good grip on doesn't affect your opinion? Or to put it another way, in your opinion, there has been NO progress in 25 ACP pistol design since the very first one?

 

[FL-NC]

Whichever one is worth the most $ as an investment/trading material - cause I sure wouldn't want to rely on something like that to save my life. If you need an underwear gun, get a 380 or 9mm.

 

[Gun Master]

I had a CZ 45 that is the gun Seecamp emulated. The. Seecamp might be equal, I don't see how it could be better except for stainless construction.
First class DAO and 100% reliability.

These are great, but where can you find them (CZ 45)?
Are you selling that one on GunBroker?

 

[Rinspeed]

Seecamp.

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, Gun M, he did say "best ever" not best current.
I sold it to a friend cleaned out by divorce.
He calls a vest pocket pistol his "15 foot swichblade" with which he "can raise welts faster than (an assailant) can scratch them."

 

[hdwhit]

Best .25 ACP Pocket Postol Ever - NOT

Well, the title of "BEST" .25 ACP Pocket Pistol would certainly never go to the RG-25 although it has been a very pleasing gun. It would stove-pipe on about every third round using the traditional 50 grain FMJ bullet. Once I got a load worked out using 35 grain Hornday XTPs, it feeds reliably and with about 15 to 20 feet will put the bullet right where the top of the front side blade falls.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Beretta 950 or the Beretta 20 its kind of 950 made into a DA/SA (was made in states for 3 years I understand. ). I really prefer over my 950 's My Bauer was nice but never trusted that safety

I got a Titan 25 Has never fail me one time . Of course still new in box never fired.

Ive always called my 25's A long reach ice pick . I can start poking holes across room .

 

[usp9]

Maybe this one?

Walther TPH

 

[unclenunzie]

Best ever made 25 auto for self defense, in the last 110 years: Seecamp LWS25, for very safe carry (inertia firing pin and DAO). If single action only was a criteria, I'd have to go with the Beretta 950/jetfire over the baby browning, because it can be carried hammer down over a live round.

 

[Atonal]

I'm on board with Seecamp, although mine is a 32.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I second the Walther TPH in .25 acp. Mine has been exceptional, and can easily deliver accurate fire at over 25 yards.

 

[entropy]

Walther Model 9. Not the most 'combat', but the nicest lines, and the best name:

Westentaschenpistole, Vest pocket pistol.

 

[lbmii]

The best CHEAP 25 auto by far is the FIE Titan. I had one which my Dad paid $45 for. It was crazy reliable, small, and quite accurate.

 

[Monac]

The best CHEAP 25 auto by far is the FIE Titan. I had one which my Dad paid $45 for. It was crazy reliable, small, and quite accurate.

Glad you got a good one, but a lot of other people didn't. When it comes to the ratio of quality to price in 25 automatics., I'd bet the Raven would be the winner. Sure, some were junk, but remember, you're talking about the best CHEAP 25. There were none cheaper, and the Raven had a surprising reputation for working (for a while) right out of the box. There have been several threads about them here. One member even has an aftermarket 30-round magazine for a Raven, which goes to show how many were sold.

 

[MedWheeler]

Kudos to those of you who stayed on caliber-topic. So far, the responses have been pretty civil compared to what I expected when I saw the OP's last line about defense.

Though certainly not "the best", my Taurus PT-25 (circa 1996) is actually a slick little gun. It shoots even softer than my identical PT-22 from the same era, and offers ten of those zippy little pills. I bought it on a whim, and would have no fears carrying it if I didn't have smaller pistols in bigger calibers.

I have a Bauer as well. Well made and neat to hold and shoot, but the BB from which it was spawned might be the better investment simply due to its heritage.

For overall jewel-like quality and ability to carry, the Walther TPH pictured in post 18 is probably at the top of the heap, but you'll pay for that position.