What’s the smallest functional handgun you could have for a defensive encounter? Some may argue the NAA Mini Revolvers, but they aren’t my jam. I think when it really comes down to size efficiency, the Seecamp series of pistols absolutely rules the roost. These guns were insanely successful in the 1980s and 90s and are still produced to this day. I recently acquired one of the original LWS-25 pistols. These were the first Seecamp pistols produced, but they were only produced for a limited time.
The downside to the LWS-25 was its .25 ACP chambering. The .25 ACP isn’t exactly great at much. It’s a centerfire cartridge, and that’s its biggest strength. In terms of penetration, the .25 ACP just doesn’t do great. With the right FMJ load, it can penetrate enough to reach the absolutely minimum depth. However, when we introduce heavy clothing and the like, there are some issues.
Eventually, Ludwig Seecamp figured out how to keep the gun ultra-small, but he chambered it in the much more capable .32 ACP. After that, the LWS-25 went out of production, and the .32 ACP version became the standard Seecamp model. It’s tough to pick .25 ACP over .32 ACP when the guns are the exact same size.
Speaking of Size
The Seecamp LWS-25 is a crazy small firearm. It’s smaller than most modern pocket pistols, including the already tiny KelTec P32, the LCP series, and other similar pistols. It’s only 4.25 inches long and .91 inches wide. The barrel is only 2.06 inches long, and the gun is 3.25 inches tall. While it’s smaller than most pocket pistols, the all-metal construction ensures it’s a bit heavier than most. The 12-ounce Seecamp weighs nearly double the KelTec P32.
This pistol is adorable. I showed my wife, and she got a kick out of the fact that it fits in the palm of her rather petite hand. The LWS-25 is micro-sized, and the fact it was designed and produced in 1981 showed some real forward thinking from Mr. Seecamp. More than just shrinking the gun, Ludwig Seecamp introduced the dual nested recoil spring system that we see in every modern handgun design.
The Seecamp series is often quoted as being a delayed blowback gun. The .32 ACP and .380 ACP variants are a delayed blowback system, and they use a novel chamber ring delayed blowback system. That’s not true with the little LWS-25, it uses a rather standard direct blowback system. Admittedly with the light recoil of the 25 ACP, this isn’t that big of a deal.
The little 25 ACP cartridge does allow for seven rounds to fit in the magazine, giving you a total of eight rounds if you do a plus-one load. Not bad for an ultra-small pistol. The magazine is seemingly very well made and easy to take apart to clean. The metal follower is a nice touch that we don’t see often.
Breaking Down The LWS-25
The Seecamp LWS-25 is as simple as a handgun gets. There is no slide lock or release. The magazine release is a heel-mounted design. While it’s very European, it does make the gun a bit slimmer and allows for deep concealment without the worry of accidentally releasing the magazine. It’s not like this is a pistol you’d be in an extended gunfight with, where fast reloading is required.
The design is a hammer-fired double action only. The trigger pull is long and a little heavy at about 12 pounds. Even with the weight, the trigger is quite smooth and rolls rearward nicely and grit free. It becomes quite predictable, and with a little practice, it becomes quite sufficient and easy to utilize.
The slide has deep-cut rear slide serrations that allow you to work the slide rearward easily. The dual-nested recoil springs are tough, and you need that texture to really rack the slide and get a round in the chamber.
A set of simple plastic grips tops it all off. Unfortunately, the previous owner of this particular gun broke the grips, and they are currently held together with electric tape. It’s an issue I plan to fix fairly soon. You might notice the Seecamp is also missing any form of sights. It’s truly a belly gun, which is a term I rarely indulge in, but it’s fairly apparent that this is one of the few guns that is an actual belly gun.
At the Range
Is 25 ACP expensive? Woof, I see why I never got into the world of 25 ACP pistols. I purchased a few hundred rounds and felt poor afterward. I used some basic PMC Bronze for my testing and shooting. I only had a single magazine to shoot through, but I ran through it pretty fast. I expected a ton of recoil and hand stinging, but I was wrong.
The little Seecamp doesn’t buck and beat you up. The recoil is fairly mild — it’s downright soft, to be honest. The gun bucks a bit, but it’s surprisingly soft recoiling. It makes it easy to launch double taps or longer strings of fire pretty easily. Even after 200 rounds in fairly short order, my hand wasn’t tired or roughed up in any way.
Speaking of double taps, the Seecamp’s long double-action trigger isn’t tough to manipulate quickly. The trick is pulling the trigger and then immediately slapping the trigger guard with your trigger finger and repeating the process. You can get quite quick with just a little practice. Two shots in under a second are completely possible.
Shooting Straight
Recoil is soft, and the trigger works well, but what about accuracy? Shooting a gun without sights isn’t exactly easy. I used standard B-8 targets and kept all seven shots within the eight-ring at seven yards. Heck, I even hit it dead center once, purely by accident.
I backed off to 20 yards just for fun and fired a five-round group. I made a pretty decent 9.5-inch group… but the group was all below the target. Without a point of reference, it’s tough to shoot well. With a little more practice, I was able to get the group on target at 20 yards, eventually. It was all over the place and more akin to a shotgun pattern, but it was on target. I have to hold high, apparently.
Would I take a defensive shot at 20 yards? I really don’t think so unless the threat was 100% clear of any innocent people. Even then, I might try to escape rather than take the shot. That’s just me.
Reliability wasn’t an issue. The LWS-25 is a very well-made gun, and Ludwig Seecamp knew what he was doing. Personally, I’m not going to carry the LWS-25. It’s somewhat rare and unusual and It’s a gun I’d like to lose if used defensively. However, it made me really want an LWS-32 which I would most certainly tote.
The LWS-25 is most certainly my favorite 25 ACP pistol and one I enjoy shooting. If you can get your hands on one, dive into it and give it a try!
