STAR C-series 25 ACP

The Jennings J-22 generally does not run well dirty, although there are exceptions. A buddy had one that had over a thousand rounds down the pipe that was loosened up to the point it no longer required constant cleaning . . . although it also slamfired 3 round bursts.

Speaking of crackheads, years ago someone was selling a nickel plated Titan on armslist and I went to meet him in a parking lot halfway between Denver and the Springs. Fucking guy was tweaked out of his mind. I was a little scared. Pulls out this chrome plated peashooter and hands it to me. Pistol had one in the pipe and 3 in the mag . . . second time someone handed me a loaded gun on an armslist deal. Paid him like 80 bucks for it to make him go away, and it was a neat little gun. The action was seized up hard though because it hadn't been cleaned or oiled since the 1960s. Sprayed it full of WD40 and let it soak overnight and after disassembly and wiping it down it ran fine. Accurate too . . . could put the entire mag through a target the size of a quarter from 15 feet away. Too bad the half-cock notch was so squirrelly or I'd probably still have it.
 
You're prolly lucky it was seized up, otherwise, we might not be benefiting from your expertise today!
 
Considering how many rounds would have to be fired through a Jennings/Bryco/Jimenez to get it broken in and loosened up, I'd want to go with something in .22 instead of .25 because it would be cheaper. But currently around here .25 ammo is easier to find than the .22 ammo, which people keep buying up as fast as it becomes available. And with the price .25 ACP demands, I'm not seeing much reason to go to it, rather than just picking a bigger caliber.
 
tyr_shadowblade said:
If you really want a 25 ACP, the best one ever made was the Beretta Jetfire 950.
Click to expand...

So I've heard. But they're hard to find, and I wouldn't want something that nice sitting in an evidence locker for the better part of a year if I ever had to use it.
 
Charlie_K said:
So I've heard. But they're hard to find, and I wouldn't want something that nice sitting in an evidence locker for the better part of a year if I ever had to use it.
Click to expand...

Jetfires are everywhere. One of the more popular backup guns before the NAA mini was released, but with the advent of subcompact polymer 380s like the KelTec and LCP, the 25 ACP finally became obsolete. You used to be able to find Jetfires for 150 until that silly nuttinfancy video was released with him doing mag dumps, after which the price doubled to 300. But they are still out there. Talk to some old timers who don't watch the youtube and you can still find one with pocket wear and cracked grips in the 150 price range.
 
I handled one shooting involving a .25.....A domestic where the gentleman was shot in the shoulder. He was not noticably inconvenienced.....Was on the phone to his lawyer.
I always recall Jeff Cooper's outlook on the weapon...

When asked by one of his trainees about the .25, he said..."Buy one and carry it if it gives you comfort. But never load it. If you load it, you may be tempted someday to shoot someone with it, and they will become angry and do you harm."
 
A real holy crap moment at Wal-Mart today. The Winchester white box .25 ACP ammo is a whopping $24! That makes that little round even more expensive than the .380 ACP, and puts it right on par with boxes of .45 ACP and .357 Magnum ammo.

I get that it's a round fired in defense rather than recreation, but that still strikes me as ridiculously high in price.
 
Yeah, and if you ever try reloading it you'll find it's not as easy to work with as other calibers. Magnifying glass and tweezers, anyone?
 
The Jetfire is nice because you can fire +P+ put of it without shattering the slide. A few people have reloaded for the 25, and they all complained what a PITA it was. Back in the 80s there was a shady firm called "Personal Protection Systems" that offered +P+ 25 ACP with solid brass projectiles, and there are sources for "proof rounds" used for pressure testing barrels. Unfortunately, hollowpoints generally don't expand out of a 25. The soft lead "X-panding Point" rounds mushroom pretty good though, and the steel BB tip travels off in a different wound channel . . . nasty round, probably a better choice than proof rounds or Glasers in this caliber . . . and you can even safely fire them through the zinc guns.
 
Dad's dad was in the U.S. Army 1917-1919. When he got out, he bought this for his travels looking for a job. My dad gave it to me shortly before he died. Last Saturday I gave it to my son when he graduated from university so my son would have a pistol that belonged to his dad, his grandfather, and his great grandfather..

Colts Model 1908 Vestpocket Hammerless .25 ACP from 1919.

DSCN0347.JPG



The Colt with a Savage M1917 in .32 ASP. Both well built pistols.

DSCN0350.JPG

DSCN0351.JPG
 
Last edited:
I briefly owned a nickel plated 1908. Very well made pistol, but difficult to strip down with one hand and I was nervous carrying an antique striker fired pistol with one in the pipe since the grip safety only blocks the trigger. 1908s and Babys have a history of discharging if dropped, and I've heard stories of spontaneous discharge if the striker beak becomes worn. These are strictly enthusiast guns. Every serious collector I know has a pre-War 25 that occasionally gets pocket carry.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top