The 25 mm caliber is a standard size of heavy machine gun (specifically autocannon) ammunition for NATO forces. The round itself has a length of approximately 8.5 inches (216 mm) while the projectile is approximately 4.5 inches (114 mm).
The 25 mm round can be used in both an anti-material and anti-personnel fashion. When operating in an infantry mode, a 25 mm weapon armed with HE rounds can effective kill large numbers of opposing troops either in the open or in light fortifications. When operating in an anti-material mode, a 25 mm weapon armed with AP rounds can disable many aircraft and vehicles, including some main battle tanks.
Several sub-types of 25 mm ammunition are available — the most common being Armor Piercing, High explosive, sabot, tracer, and practice rounds. Cartridges are usually comprised of a combination of the aforementioned categories. For example, the M791 pictured to the right is a Armor-Piercing Discarding Sabot with Tracer round. It is used against lightly armored vehicles, self-propelled artillery, and aerial targets such as helicopters and slow-moving, fixed-wing aircraft.
Barrett, the evangelists of the modern.50 caliber sniper rifle, have built a 25mm sniper rifle (although shoulder cannon may be a more precise term), the XM109.
In comparison, the Barrett M107.50 caliber sniper rifle in general use today has a 29 inch barrel, overall length of 57 inches, and weighs in at a mere 32 pounds, with a magazine capacity of 10 rounds.
The 25mm round is derivative design from the AH-64 Apache helicopters M789 high-explosive dual purpose (good against armor and personnel) 30mm ammunition and will penetrate at least 50 millimeters of armor plating, making it capable of destroying light armored vehicles, SCUD launchers, and other equipment.
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