Beretta 950 Jetfires

[Practical]

I disagree, having a gun with no training... Is like...

Buying a plane does not make you a pilot.
Buying a boat does not make you a sailor.
Buying some knives and a saw does not make you a Butcher.

IF you want to be able to truely protect yourself, you must get some training.
The problem is, most schools are not geared for the average individual. If you do not have a 1911, or some sort of semiauto you will not do well.

Many times I have trained people["civilian citizens"] with 5 shot S&W's, or small semiautos, for their real world survival. Much different from law Enforcement/Military "stuff".

I didn't say you would be extremely proficient, but I am saying you are ARMED.

If you possess a weapon and the will to use it you are armed. Heck, if you possess the will to defend youself and you don't have a weapon but you are willing to turn anything around you to your advantage you are the weapon.

I have taken many classes both NRA and other, I even was a NRA certified instructor for a few years. I found many instructors take Jeff Cooper's statement to justify their brand of instruction.

I know a LOT of good shooters who are self-taught, some who learned through competition, scouts or hunting. I also know a lot of good shooters whose only training is military service.

I know a couple of old grandmas who are armed. Training is nothing more than going to the range a few times. I don't doubt at least one of these ladies will use the gun if need be.

No owning a boat does not make me a sailor, but if I am willing to learn I can sail that boat, and I don't need anything more than my state class to know the rules.

I don't need a Shaman to tell me I am worthy.

 

[Beemerguy53]

I've owned a 950 for years. It's accurate, reliable, and easy to use. I've shot mostly FMJ loads in it, and while the recoil gets your attention, it's not really all that bad.

 

[jimmyj]

This is not a man stopper round, and I always trained to shoot for the neck. There is nothing but soft tissue there and the central nervous system.

The other alternative is to shoot in the shoulder as the pain would disable the use of the arm.

In the winter, torso shots would be problematic due to the heavy clothing.

Head shots are too, due to the heavy bone in the skull.

We used to "stitch up" starting with a shot to the sternum, and progressing up to the neck.

I still think that neck shots are the best bet, and since this is an easy gun to shoot precisely, I think it is the best way to train too.

There are new .22 magnums that are designed for short barrels. Muzzle flash should be reduced.

I carried the 950 in my hip pocket for so many years that when I traded it in there was no bluing left on the slide and half of the black annodizing was gone too. Still worked fine. But watch to make sure that the ammo remains fresh in the gun. The only misfires I ever had was from ammo that had been in my pocket for so long that the primers had corroded.

The 950 is certainly a good choice for someone who lacks the strength to rack back a slide. Easy to clean too.

I remember the "Stitching" method of shooting. I could not recall the name of the method. I wonder if the method is still taught?
Jimmy

 

[Packard]

I remember the "Stitching" method of shooting. I could not recall the name of the method. I wonder if the method is still taught?
Jimmy

I guess I'm an "old timer"; I was taught this in 1978 - 1979 when I first started shooting. I don't know if it is still taught. But it was a logical way to shoot a small caliber gun. Your first shot would be to the center of mass (a large target area) and then you needed just to incrementally raise the point of aim. You can make small left/right adjustments as you go up.

We were taught to stitch up from the sternum to the forehead. But I read once that a .25 failed to penetrate the skull of a victim, so I would practice ending with 3 shots to the neck. The neck seems to me the most vulnerable of the larger target areas (a shot to the eye would work, but it is a much tougher shot to make).

 

[Gebe]

I have a 950 "Minx" in .22 short that I purchased new in the early '80's. It's one of the funnest guns I own. Very accurate for such a tiny gun and it's never had a FTF even once in hundreds of rounds and will shoot ANY shorts I load it with.

It's one of the few guns I own that I would never sell. Just a fun little gun!