It's great to see the rise of capable defensive ammunition for cartridges generally considered too anemic for a defensive application. Sure, .22LR and .25 ACP are far from ideal for such a role, but at least people who are limited to these rounds now have better options for defensive loads. I'm still a .38 Special J frame guy, but the LCR 22 is pretty tempting, as is the 432UC.
I actually forgot I had this Bobcat but lately I have been carrying it. The only gun I have that doesn't sag in the pocket no matter what I wear. These small caliber guns have their place.
Appreciate the info brother. My Aunt carried a Tangfoglio Giuseppe GT-25 her entire life back in old world New York. Long Island to be specific but she still had to travel into the city to get to the office. Nevertheless, this was the old New York where it doesn’t matter what you know rather _who_ you know that counts. [wink] Stay classy my friend.
I would have expected Federal Punch 45gr. .25 acp to be AT LEAST a consistent 850 fps from a Beretta M21 or 950. Instead they turned out just another watered down load. Thank you for your efforts with showing pocket guns and the like.
What I'd like to see is another Mag-Safe type load, a 22 grain bullet going 1,750 feet per second and delibering 150 foot pounds of energy. It's too bad that load had a stupid bullet that shrunk.
Velocities were very inconsistent, too. The PMC fmj is better. Both mild. .25 50 gr fmj can be loaded to 825 fps no problem. Even 850 fps is okay. By 875 fps the slide speed is high and malfunctions start to occur. With 35 gr bullets 1000 fps is perfectly fine. I've tested & handload .25 through several Berettas. I love my 21a .25's!
This is good ammo. Buffalo Bore 60gr hardcast is unlikely to be dethroned as the .25 ACP penetration king for the foreseeable future, but Federal Punch is an excellent jacketed alternative with a similar bullet profile. With similar penetration depth to FMJ loads, I prefer it to all the FMJ loads due the advantages of the flat-faced bullets: as briefly mentioned in the video, better straight-line penetration and a bigger hole. Remember to test your ammo with your gun before carrying it for defense, as some .25s may have trouble with flat-faced bullets (.25 bullets are traditionally rounded and almost no .25 pistols are recently made). I'd prefer the hardcast in a gunfight, but there are times when I don't want every inch of penetration I can get. And then having a jacketed bullet is appealing. Less lead fouling to clean, etc. If I'm carrying where I may shoot and eat an animal, I'd rather have the jacketed bullets so that less meat is contaminated by lead. The Federal Punch does penetrate deep enough to meet FBI target specs. It's great to have modern ammo that meets modern standards in these old .25s that are still often relied on for self-defense. I don't know if any .25 pistols are still being manufactured, and the ones that exist are all much bigger than the .32 Kel-Tec P-32 and .22LR or .22WMR NAA Mini-Revolvers. Probably all heavier and bigger than the .380 Kel-Tec P3AT and Ruger LCP, too. Which is why I haven't bought a .25, the guns chambered in it are rather dated (but admittedly beautiful and historic and fun to plink with!) If someone made a modern little .25 like a mini-LCP or P-32, with these newer, deeper-penetrating defensive loads it could be a truly competitive practical gun (backup, deep concealment, etc.) The only .22 I'd carry for self-defense is a NAA Mini-Revolver, but I'd very likely buy a .25 ACP mini-revolver instead if it was available. The ammo is better. It's been demonstrated on this channel. Thank you for these great videos and for being responsive to your audience and satisfying us. You did a good job with this video and I appreciate it.
I would like to see a side by side comparison with Buffalo Bore 60 grain?! I prefer seeing “clear gel” but you might remind your audience of the differing penetration depths /resistance of the two “gells”. Your 4 layers of heavy fabric apparently left out the layers of “T shirt Thanks for your work, I appreciate it!
Glock made a 22lr pistol they need to make a full sized double stack 25acp that would be amazing for ladies home defense 20-30 rds no recoil longer barrel might get rpunds up to 900-1000fps ina 4inch barrel
I love the little 25, but it becomes less popular every day, so Glock building a double stack little pistol is very unlikely. However. If it happens, I'll buy one
"That's not the same gel the FBI uses." - 22plinkster I just can't take him seriously anymore since he got butt hurt because the CCI ammo he was paid to test didn't look good in Clear Ballistics gel. I think about it every time I see someone use that gel. Good work.
There is. People love the 25 pistols because they shoot easier and usually a better trigger than most pocket 380s in double action only. Don't be surprised when you start seeing new production 25 guns with double stack mags. 😅
@@oo7-ro6bu you can still get some guns made today in 25acp.. the Berettas, phoenix arms hp25, Jimenez 25acp .. I think the Ruger LCP in 25... They are still making these guns at least and not going to stop making them anytime soon. 22LR is like fireworks, can be a lot of duds. 25acp is usually reliable in a clean gun with good springs... I think it will always be better than 22 out of a small pistol.. I'd like to see it make a revival.
We have been loading regular 25acp fmj in our EDC...didn't know this round existed, and the HP stuff is rather useless...I'll have to find a couple boxes and test, our Jetfire is extremely similar to your gun, so it might work...oh, watching you rack the slide instead of tipping barrel looks strange...
as a handloader for half a century plus? I believe any flat point or SWC is going to do more damage than a round nose. But..... if they will not feed or have issues that little bit extra is not worth it. that being said if they are significantly faster and or harder hitting I might take a chance that there would be a failure every 2 or three mags
Not neccesarily. RN ammo tends to tumble / rotate. When it's sideways or base-first it does more damage than when nose-ahead. Yes that will also reduce penetration.
@@josephpepper3087 kinda sorta maybe once in a while... generally the reason round nose does not perform well is because it simply 99% of the time... goes on a straight course causing the least damage possible. It is why it was selected as humane by every country. You want it to tumble? use a smoothbore.
@@josephpepper3087 That is a tad misleading. I mean on the one hand I hear that 'defensive distances' are extremely short and we all know that bullets do not tumble due to wrong rifling or no rifling at all.... for some fairly long distances. What we do know tho is that tumbling reduces penetration.. in some cases to almost worthless. We also know that round nose ammo is the least effective bullet shape. we also know that critters are not blocks of soap and anything can happen
It causes a larger permanent wound channel. The flat nose actually destroys tissue, unlike FMJ. Which just pushes tissue out of the way Punch also deflects less when it hits bone.
Thank you for testing these! I keep hoping .25 acp guns will start making a comeback
I think they should. There is a case to be made for a gun light enough to not sag your pjs but not in .22.
Rarely get to see 25acp tests. Thanks👍!
You must have seen my comment about being excited to see someone test 25 punch, good to see this first test
I read the comments. So I went and got a box.
@@professorpewpuew nIce quick review covering feeding, accuracy and gel 👍
Very consistent. I like how Federal does HST in main calibers but in Punch will do the older calibers like .44 Special, .25 ACP, .32 ACP and so on.
Just realized the .32 ACP is the Hydrashok Deep.
@@GunSam Sounds like a .32 ACP is in your future.
I appreciate you doing .25 ACP tests. I have several "mouse guns" in this caliber and enjoy them.
It's great to see the rise of capable defensive ammunition for cartridges generally considered too anemic for a defensive application. Sure, .22LR and .25 ACP are far from ideal for such a role, but at least people who are limited to these rounds now have better options for defensive loads. I'm still a .38 Special J frame guy, but the LCR 22 is pretty tempting, as is the 432UC.
I actually forgot I had this Bobcat but lately I have been carrying it. The only gun I have that doesn't sag in the pocket no matter what I wear. These small caliber guns have their place.
Appreciate the info brother.
My Aunt carried a Tangfoglio Giuseppe GT-25 her entire life back in old world New York. Long Island to be specific but she still had to travel into the city to get to the office.
Nevertheless, this was the old New York where it doesn’t matter what you know rather _who_ you know that counts. [wink]
Stay classy my friend.
Would have been good to put a couple of the round nose in the gel for comparison.
Thank you for testing these as requested!
Great review. Happy to know Federal is making punch in 25acp. Seemed to function well in your 21a. Always appreciate the gel tests.
So cool, didn't even know they made these.
I think these were announced at SHOT this year and a few viewers asked me to look into it.
I would have expected Federal Punch 45gr. .25 acp to be AT LEAST a consistent 850 fps from a Beretta M21 or 950. Instead they turned out just another watered down load. Thank you for your efforts with showing pocket guns and the like.
What I'd like to see is another Mag-Safe type load, a 22 grain bullet going 1,750 feet per second and delibering 150 foot pounds of energy. It's too bad that load had a stupid bullet that shrunk.
Velocities were very inconsistent, too. The PMC fmj is better.
Both mild. .25 50 gr fmj can be loaded to 825 fps no problem. Even 850 fps is okay. By 875 fps the slide speed is high and malfunctions start to occur. With 35 gr bullets 1000 fps is perfectly fine.
I've tested & handload .25 through several Berettas. I love my 21a .25's!
that looks so smooth to shoot
It definitely is. I had some issues with the Bobcat in 22, but this version in 25 runs well.
I’ve been wanting to see this test! My pocket carry is either a Beretta 21a or Beretta 950bs.
Haven't seen you post in a while brother good to see your posts again
I'm not going anywhere. I just post when I can.
Thanks for this test I was wondering how the 45 gr Punch would do because that what I have been carrying........your the man!
Wow, velocity of the Punch is all over the place 702 to 832fps
This is good ammo. Buffalo Bore 60gr hardcast is unlikely to be dethroned as the .25 ACP penetration king for the foreseeable future, but Federal Punch is an excellent jacketed alternative with a similar bullet profile. With similar penetration depth to FMJ loads, I prefer it to all the FMJ loads due the advantages of the flat-faced bullets: as briefly mentioned in the video, better straight-line penetration and a bigger hole. Remember to test your ammo with your gun before carrying it for defense, as some .25s may have trouble with flat-faced bullets (.25 bullets are traditionally rounded and almost no .25 pistols are recently made).
I'd prefer the hardcast in a gunfight, but there are times when I don't want every inch of penetration I can get. And then having a jacketed bullet is appealing. Less lead fouling to clean, etc. If I'm carrying where I may shoot and eat an animal, I'd rather have the jacketed bullets so that less meat is contaminated by lead. The Federal Punch does penetrate deep enough to meet FBI target specs.
It's great to have modern ammo that meets modern standards in these old .25s that are still often relied on for self-defense. I don't know if any .25 pistols are still being manufactured, and the ones that exist are all much bigger than the .32 Kel-Tec P-32 and .22LR or .22WMR NAA Mini-Revolvers. Probably all heavier and bigger than the .380 Kel-Tec P3AT and Ruger LCP, too. Which is why I haven't bought a .25, the guns chambered in it are rather dated (but admittedly beautiful and historic and fun to plink with!) If someone made a modern little .25 like a mini-LCP or P-32, with these newer, deeper-penetrating defensive loads it could be a truly competitive practical gun (backup, deep concealment, etc.) The only .22 I'd carry for self-defense is a NAA Mini-Revolver, but I'd very likely buy a .25 ACP mini-revolver instead if it was available. The ammo is better. It's been demonstrated on this channel.
Thank you for these great videos and for being responsive to your audience and satisfying us. You did a good job with this video and I appreciate it.
I tested out the Buffalo Bore ammos available for the .25. Both are good but so is plain old hardball.
I would like to see a side by side comparison
with Buffalo Bore 60 grain?!
I prefer seeing “clear gel” but you might remind
your audience of the differing penetration
depths /resistance of the two “gells”.
Your 4 layers of heavy fabric apparently left out the layers of “T shirt
Thanks for your work,
I appreciate it!
Thank you.Would like to see a same day/material comparison to other types if you have the time.Subscribed and liked.
Pretty deep for 25ACP. Nice video
Glock made a 22lr pistol they need to make a full sized double stack 25acp that would be amazing for ladies home defense 20-30 rds no recoil longer barrel might get rpunds up to 900-1000fps ina 4inch barrel
I love the little 25, but it becomes less popular every day, so Glock building a double stack little pistol is very unlikely. However. If it happens, I'll buy one
Thanks for the test! I love odd ball rounds. Solid info! 👍
"That's not the same gel the FBI uses." - 22plinkster I just can't take him seriously anymore since he got butt hurt because the CCI ammo he was paid to test didn't look good in Clear Ballistics gel. I think about it every time I see someone use that gel. Good work.
Whats bad is the clear gel is less resistant
Didn't know anyone had tested this but was amazed by the numbers this and new .32 were in Organic Gel, data given to me by Federal
Looks good to me. I still carry a Beretta 950BS occasionally, mostly for deep concealment. 👍👍👍💥
Good video, thanks for sharing n' God bless
They went deep for 25
..how's about testing the Buffalo Bore 25 ACP in 60 gr hard cast..
I'm amazed that Federal invested in 25 acp carry ammunition. Doesn't seem like there'd be a big demand.
There is. People love the 25 pistols because they shoot easier and usually a better trigger than most pocket 380s in double action only. Don't be surprised when you start seeing new production 25 guns with double stack mags. 😅
@@timd729 that would be great. But I don't think any manufacturer is going to release a new 25acp.
@@timd729 a new production Beretta 950 in 25acp would be sweet.
@@oo7-ro6bu you can still get some guns made today in 25acp.. the Berettas, phoenix arms hp25, Jimenez 25acp .. I think the Ruger LCP in 25... They are still making these guns at least and not going to stop making them anytime soon. 22LR is like fireworks, can be a lot of duds. 25acp is usually reliable in a clean gun with good springs... I think it will always be better than 22 out of a small pistol.. I'd like to see it make a revival.
@timd729 phoenix arms is the only one still in production. Ruger has never made a lcp in 25acp
Thanks for the data
We have been loading regular 25acp fmj in our EDC...didn't know this round existed, and the HP stuff is rather useless...I'll have to find a couple boxes and test, our Jetfire is extremely similar to your gun, so it might work...oh, watching you rack the slide instead of tipping barrel looks strange...
Clearly not worth the cost, considering it gives you nothing more over standard FMJ from other companies.
Why test at TEN yards and not closer, say 5 to 7 yards..a more realistic range???
as a handloader for half a century plus? I believe any flat point or SWC is going to do more damage than a round nose. But..... if they will not feed or have issues that little bit extra is not worth it. that being said if they are significantly faster and or harder hitting I might take a chance that there would be a failure every 2 or three mags
Not neccesarily. RN ammo tends to tumble / rotate. When it's sideways or base-first it does more damage than when nose-ahead. Yes that will also reduce penetration.
@@josephpepper3087 kinda sorta maybe once in a while... generally the reason round nose does not perform well is because it simply 99% of the time... goes on a straight course causing the least damage possible. It is why it was selected as humane by every country. You want it to tumble? use a smoothbore.
@doranmaxwell1755 tumbling before it strikes the target is bad. Because it probably won't hit the target at all! 😆
@@josephpepper3087 That is a tad misleading. I mean on the one hand I hear that 'defensive distances' are extremely short and we all know that bullets do not tumble due to wrong rifling or no rifling at all.... for some fairly long distances. What we do know tho is that tumbling reduces penetration.. in some cases to almost worthless. We also know that round nose ammo is the least effective bullet shape. we also know that critters are not blocks of soap and anything can happen
Okay, now do Buffalo Bore 60 gr. Hard Cast doing 850 fps.
Wear eye protection.
Especially with these extractorless Berettas. Casings come out in a cone-shape towards the shooter.
They are “Flat Point” rounds. Huh 🤔 how does the work exactly??
Why be pedantic about it ?
What exactly is your question?
It causes a larger permanent wound channel. The flat nose actually destroys tissue, unlike FMJ. Which just pushes tissue out of the way
Punch also deflects less when it hits bone.
You see , it has a point , but the point is flat. See?
@@Soli_Deo_Gloria_. probably the same reason you commented. Think really hard and in sure you’ll get it.
OVER 100fps variation? What amateu loaded this? This cannot be Federal Ammunition.