Comparing the .25 ACP with the .22 Long Rifle can be a bit of a tricky thing.
For one thing, while the .22 LR may seem to be more powerful than the .25 ACP, one must remember that the .25 ACP ballistics are usually quoted for a 2" or 3" barrel length, while those for the .22 LR are quoted for either rifle or handgun, and if one is looking at handgun ballistics, they are very often for 6" or 8" barrel lengths. In order to compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges, one must be sure that the barrel lengths are similar or, better yet, rely on chronograph and gel penetration tests from real firearms.
Actually, out of similarly sized weapons, .22 LR does not hold any significant advantage over .25 ACP. Also, .25 ACP is strictly intended for self-defense, and as such, there are specialty bullets from ammo makers like Cor-Bon for this cartridge.
Another factor to consider is that rimmed cartridges are much harder to feed reliably thru semi-auto actions that is the semi-rimmed .25 ACP. Like all the cartridges in the ACP category, it was designed from the ground up as a round that would work in a semi-auto pistol. When depending on a weapon for self-defense and personal protection, reliability is a very key consideration IMO.
There are a number of folks who consider the .25 ACP to be lacking in power for self-defense. There is some validity to that. I used to own a .25 ACP many years ago and did carry it for personal protection when working the 4 to 12 shift in a nasty part of town. Thank goodness, I never needed to use it, but it was much more practical than the 6" .38 Special revolver one idiot I worked with carried -- in his briefcase. Predictably, he was held up in the parking lot when leaving work one night and the robber did not give him time to retrieve the revolver from the briefcase...
But I carried the .25 in my pocket, and even the boss did not know I had it -- so while it lacked power compared to Bobo's .38 Special, it was better suited to the job as it was actually useable.
(Note 1: Over a year later, Bobo's .38 Special was recovered by the Police after they stopped a car subsequent to a grocery store robbery. The revolver was one of a number of weapons in the car.)
(Note 2: Here in the USA, in the Hispanic Community, "Juan Bobo" is a character in children's books who means well, but is always doing something wrong and getting into trouble due to stupid decisions.)
My brother used to tell me that I would find a better use for my .25 by tying a string around the trigger guard and swinging it around my head to hit the "bad guy." While I can understand questions about the .25 ACP's power, I would not choose to get shot with one, given the choice.
Anyway, when I recently got my CZ 52 .32 ACP, my brother took a similar view and reminded me of my carrying the .25 years back. .32 ACP is about twice as powerful and the handgun package isn't that much bigger, so I feel it is a better choice for me. However, I'm a large person and I will admit that it is easier for me to carry a larger weapon without attracting attention. For something like a woman's purse, a .25 is better, tho getting the thing out of the purse might be similar to the procedure my Bobo acquaintance intended to use.
Here are three interesting links that discuss this matter in more detail:
http://www.naaminis.com/news20.pdf
http://churchoftheduke.blogspot.com/200 ... 22-lr.html
http://www.stevespages.com/page8f25acp.html
PS: this last link may not be available much longer. The web master has removed the links to it on his pages and you must find it through googling. I suggest you save the information as a .pdf if it interests you.
