.25 ACP lethality

[DanGunner]

[DT556]

Sure, it can work. But, there’s so many better options available

[9Cal_OC]

[SandHill]

Just watched an old episode of “Forensic Files” in which the victim was shot in his head with Beretta .25. The FMJ bullet completely penetrated the victim’s skull — for those who think it’s too weak to be lethal.

I don't think anyone thinks it's too weak to be lethal. .25 ACP was intended to replicate .22LR in a centerfire cartridge, and it does. Probably more people have been killed with .22's than any other caliber, just cause there are more of them around than any other caliber. So no doubt both cartridges can be lethal.

But as others have pointed out, that doesn't make .25 ACP the best choice, or even a good choice, for a defensive round.

[NeilMo]

The problem is that people are much more thick-headed today and why a 32 is a better choice

[JTROKS]

All I can say (as usual) - It’s better than spit. As mentioned there are better options, but as your last ditch weapon combined with the weak hand‘s middle finger extended up, go out in a blaze of glory.

[CWL]

Just watched an old episode of “Forensic Files” in which the victim was shot in his head with Beretta .25. The FMJ bullet completely penetrated the victim’s skull — for those who think it’s too weak to be lethal.

.25 acp is generally fired from a sub 2" barrel, from a gun with minimal grip size, sights and sight radius.

So you think you're going to be getting reliable head shots when under stress?I

I don't watch murder porn, but I'll wager that the shot was probably an execution.

[warbird]

Any caliber can kill but all calibers and guns have their limitations. The better shot you are the more lethal any round can be if you have the right gun to deliver it. Close up within five to ten feet a 25 caliber could cause a lot of damage with all six rounds. If the perp survives he is going to be hurting like ---- and probably retreating. like Dirty Harry said and i am paraphrasing "you have to know your limitations."

[IVC]

Similar to .22 - don't get shot with it because it can be (and often is) lethal, but if you have to choose between being shot with a 5.56 or .22 I'd like my chances way better with a .22.

[12pewpew]

In high school a friend of mine shot a girl in the head with a 22. it went in her forehead, traveled around her skull and exited out the top of her head. Nothing a little cleaning and a few stitches couldn't fix.

[hambam105]

That's impressive for an obsolete caliber. Was this story about a homicide back in the 1920s or 30s?

[plumbum]

Lethal? Possibly, but not likely quickly. Poking holes in a body can lead to death, but often the point is not to kill a person outright, but to cause them to immediately stop what they are doing (e.g. I’d like to stop an assailant from sticking me with a knife - I’d like that behavior to stop immediately, not in an hour when he’s sufficiently hemorrhaged enough blood to impair motor functions). This is the much maligned “stopping power” we are all looking for, but can’t find a way to measure consistently.

[splithoof]

A bunch of years back at work, I responded to someone who ate his Baby Browning .25ACP; one shot was all it took.

[walterSOBCHAK]

I saw a dude on the show First 48 kill 3 people with 3 pulls of the trigger with .380. They're all lethal. I think the caliber wars died down a while back.

[The War Wagon]

I can't find the meme now, but it read, "If I ever die from a .25 round, tell my kids I died of AIDS. It'll be less embarrassing."

We did used to joke about that in college - unless I've just busted in on the Crack Dealers of America Convention, and die in a HAIL of .25, I hope I die by a caliber of .40 or LARGER!