.25 ACP Ammo
The .25 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol), also known as the 6.35×16mm SR or 6.35mm Browning, was designed by John Browning in 1905 for the earliest vest-pocket semi-automatic pistols. Chambered in small, flat pocket pistols including the Beretta 950 Jetfire, Baby Browning, Colt Vest Pocket Model, and numerous European designs, .25 ACP is one of the smallest centerfire semi-automatic pistol cartridges ever produced. Impact Guns carries .25 ACP from Fiocchi, Sellier & Bellot, and other manufacturers for collectors and owners of vintage pocket pistols.
Read our full .25 ACP Buying Guide ↓
Who Uses .25 ACP Today
.25 ACP is primarily a collector and vintage firearm caliber in the modern US market. The pistols that chamber it — Beretta 950 Jetfire, Baby Browning, Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket, various European pocket pistols — are still owned and occasionally shot by collectors. Some buyers appreciate the extreme compactness of .25 ACP pocket pistols for deep concealment use. No currently produced major American pistol is chambered in .25 ACP; production is driven by European manufacturers supplying the collector market.
Performance Realities
.25 ACP fires a 50-grain FMJ bullet at approximately 760 fps, producing around 65 ft-lbs of muzzle energy — the weakest centerfire semi-automatic cartridge in common use. Hollow point performance from .25 ACP is generally poor due to insufficient velocity to reliably initiate expansion. .25 ACP is not recommended as a primary defensive caliber; the more capable .32 ACP or .380 ACP deliver meaningfully better performance in only slightly larger packages.
Ammunition Sources
Fiocchi and Sellier & Bellot are the primary production sources for .25 ACP in FMJ configuration. Hornady previously produced Critical Defense .25 ACP but it has been discontinued. FMJ is the practical ammunition choice for .25 ACP given the limited defensive hollow point options.
Frequently Asked Questions: .25 ACP
Is .25 ACP the same as 6.35mm Browning?
Yes — .25 ACP and 6.35×16mm SR Browning are the same cartridge. Both designations refer to the same round and are fully interchangeable.
What pistols use .25 ACP?
Classic .25 ACP pistols include the Beretta 950 Jetfire and 418, Baby Browning, Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket, Walther Model 9, and many other European pocket pistols from the early-to-mid 20th century. Few modern pistols chamber .25 ACP.
Is .25 ACP better than nothing for self-defense?
A loaded .25 ACP pistol is better than no firearm. However, the caliber’s limited performance means buyers who have a choice should select a more effective cartridge. A .380 ACP or 9mm micro-compact is only marginally larger but significantly more capable.
See Also: .32 ACP Ammo • .380 ACP Ammo • Pocket Pistols • All Ammunition