Beretta 950 Jetfires

[CCantu357]

I know this is not a S&W gun, but since Smith never ventured into this territory I am compelled to ask if anyone here as experience with this pistol. I have been considering getting one for my elderly grandmother for defense, she is willing to learn, but cant handle a slide or even a J-frame revolver. I know the .25 is tiny, but I will say several policemen in my family carried them for years as a "boot gun" and spoke highly of it.

 

[Texas Star]

I plan to get one, having done a lot of research on them. They seem to be regarded as the most reliable .25 of all time, and pretty accurate at close range.

Your grandmother can use the tip-up barrel feature, but will still need the strength to cock the hammer. You may wish to let her try that before buying.

Don't underestimate the .25. I read a book by an OSS agent stationed in Spain during WW II. She used a .25 Beretta (probably a model 318 or 418) to kill a gypsy coming after her with a knife. It's not a .45, but it can and has killed a number of people. If that's what's available, it can give someone a fighting chance. I'd rather rely on a .25 than on a knife.

 

[CCantu357]

Thanks. Cocking the hammer is no problem at all for her. She just really seems to like the feel and size of those little tip up autos. I have a Taurus PT-22 that she likes but it jams so much I refuse to trust it (or any rimifire semi-auto) with her. Was leaning towards the Tomcat .32 but they too are unreliable. That leaves with the .25 Bobcat and Jetfire. I feel kind of bad about giving her such a small caliber, but she really seems to be more comfortable with it.

 

[JcMack]

I've had 21a's in .22 and .25, and 950's in .25 and .22 short. I'd stick with the 950 for your grandmother. The traditional DA on the 21a and it's consequential transition from DA to SA after the first shot might mean a second or third unwanted shot under stress from someone not totally familiar with that gun. Some 950's don't have a thumb safety, watch for that if you buy one. I'd rather see her with a .22 revolver, but that's your call. Taurus now makes a cute DAO .25 polymer gun. It's too bad their junk doesn't work.

 

[dinooch]

I like the 21A in .22LR. Stoked with Stingers it's a pretty effective face gun. The .22LR is not a great stopper but it is a killer. Have Grama keep it cocked and locked and that will make the DA/SA transition a non issue. I like mine as a shoot and scoot or back up. Too bad the shoot thru wallet is considered an AOW by the feds. "Gimme yer wallet" will get someone more than they expected while you're reaching for your primary gun.

 

[JcMack]

I like the 21A in .22LR. Stoked with Stingers it's a pretty effective face gun. The .22LR is not a great stopper but it is a killer. Have Grama keep it cocked and locked and that will make the DA/SA transition a non issue. I like mine as a shoot and scoot or back up. Too bad the shoot thru wallet is considered an AOW by the feds. "Gimme yer wallet" will get someone more than they expected while you're reaching for your primary gun.

There's a new shoot thru wallet available that's "fed acceptable"

http://www.desantisholster.com/store/WHATS-NEW/pocket-shot

 

[Texas Star]

I'd avoid any .22 rimfire as a defense gun. Modern quality control is letting far too many rounds of .22 ammo reach the market that doesn't have the priming compound all around the rim. Misfires are fairly common, especially in some brands. Not usual, but more misfires than with centerfire ammo.

That's one reason why I'd choose the .25. The other is that the ammo is better sealed. And the rimless cases feed better in most autos.

Beretta's .32 Tomcat seems to have a problem with cracking frames. I see a lot of posts about that.

 

[DeadAye]

THEEEEE problem with the .25 is that very accurate shot placement is absolutely required (NOT center of mass, btw) to STOP an attacker.
If she only has the ability to make a gun go bang and not to accurately aim it and hold that aim through the firing sequence then I'd suggest something other than a pistol.
A short .410 or 20 gauge shotgun might be a better choice if this is for home defense. If for CC then maybe a K frame snubby (I don't understand not being able to handle the J though) with a quality trigger job.

ALSO ---- Training. If possible take her to a female NRA Certified Instructor.

 

[kraigwy]

Was in OK just last month visiting wife's mother. She comes out with this littel .25 jet fire, loaded and cocked, safety off. Hands it to me and wants it unloaded, she's scared of it. (scared me too the way she was waving it around).

I take it and unload it. Checked it out and it didn't to have anything wrong with it. Took it out the next morning and shot it. Every piece of brass that came out of this gun came back and wacked me in the forehead. Every one. Right smack dead in the middle of my forehead.

It had fail-to-feed problems, didn't have enough ammo to play with it enough to find out why.

Anyway, brought it home (MIL certainly didn't need it, she's scarey without a gun she knows nothing about). I'll get some ammo and play with it some more.

Cute little sucker if nothing else.

 

[moonclip]

The 950 is a great little gun. Combine with it with the right knife and you'll be well protected.

Seriously, with some training, grammy should do well with the gun.

......moon

 

[pharmer]

Google up Vasili Blokhin. He had much "success" with the .25 acp. Joe

 

[Packard]

There's a new shoot thru wallet available that's "fed acceptable"

Pocket Shot — DeSantis Holster

I had a 950 for about 18 years. And I bought a DeSantis shoot through when they first came out in about 1980. It quickly made the Beretta a "one shot wonder" as it would press against the magazine release and drop the magazine. I brought it to DeSantis (I was living on Long Island at the time) and DeSantis himself came out and cut the relief hole to prevent the dropping of the magazine. But since the wallet was designed to accommodate several pistols he never added that to the design. Check to make sure that the wallet does not drop the magazine.

The gun was always reliable and accurate and easy to shoot.

An alternative you might want to consider is a S & W 351C. This is a centennial design (covered hammer) in .22 Magnum. About as powerful as a .32 acp it carries 8 rounds (as I recall), and weighs about 10 ounces. Recoil is said to be negligible. They are now offering .22 mag in short barrel loadings.

This is larger than the Beretta, but if she is going to carry off-body in a purse I think the low weight and greater power would be an advantage.

 

[jimmyj]

Carried a M950 .25acp as a "Deep Cover" for many years.
100% dependable. Used FMJ ammo even tho JHPs were available.

 

[2152hq]

I have one in 22short. Completely reliable,,but,, only with Remington HS 'golden bullet' ammo.

Said to be better than a sharp stick in the eye.

I don't know about the effectiveness comparison,,but it's probably easier to apply from a distance.

 

[CCantu357]

Thanks. Proper training in order first of course. I have considered the .22 Magnum, but I also know it has a good bit of noise and flash compared to even a medium velocity 38. .

After my experiences with most rimifire semi-autos, I tend to think of them as fields guns. I like the Jetfire because of its reliability, and size (she likes that frame of autos). I just have mixed feelings about the caliber. Though my grandfather carried one as back up for years, his idea being 9 rounds of 25 to the face area is more useful than a 357 at home.

 

[Packard]

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.

 

[coobie]

I have a 25cal. beretta jetfire and it goes with me a lot as a my mouse gun.I use the hornady 35 grain XTP ammo.Very light and reliable pistolcoobie

 

[NE450No2]

I only recommend a semiauto for someone that is very well trained and is a "shooter". These small semiautos are cute, and handy.

For many years I carried a Baby Browning, 25ACP as a No2 or No3.
I carried a Browning 1910 in 380 a fair amount, and a SIG 230 a little as well.

But for most people, especially not well tained not "shooter" wifes, mothers, grand mothers, and even manly men, I recommend a revolver.
Easy to load, easy to shoot, very little chance of malfunction.

Even I prefer a revolver when it comes to small hideout guns. I no longer have any small semiautos. My only exception is my old High Standard 2 shot Derringer in 22 Mag. It is Double action, and totally reliable, very small thin and light.

For even highly trained people, under severe stress, with a close in threat, especially at Grappling distance, the revolver is the best choice, IMHO of course.

 

[Texas Star]

I only recommend a semiauto for someone that is very well trained and is a "shooter". These small semiautos are cute, and handy.

For many years I carried a Baby Browning, 25ACP as a No2 or No3.
I carried a Browning 1910 in 380 a fair amount, and a SIG 230 a little as well.

But for most people, especially not well tained not "shooter" wifes, mothers, grand mothers, and even manly men, I recommend a revolver.
Easy to load, easy to shoot, very little chance of malfunction.

Even I prefer a revolver when it comes to small hideout guns. I no longer have any small semiautos. My only exception is my old High Standard 2 shot Derringer in 22 Mag. It is Double action, and totally reliable, very small thin and light.

For even highly trained people, under severe stress, with a close in threat, especially at Grappling distance, the revolver is the best choice, IMHO of course.

The poster stated that his grandmother cannot operate a revolver. Trigger pull is probably too heavy for her.

 

[NE450No2]

With a good trigger job and some practice, maybe she could.

If not, I would she if she could shoot the Beretta in 380 that has the same tip up barrel design. They are much more reliable than the 25ACP semiautos, more powerful too.

Picking a handgun for some one of limited strength, or severe "arther ites" can be difficult.

The bottom line is she needs to shoot what ever gun she can work a fair amount, untill it becomes second nature for her.

Same for anybody else.

Just because you have a gun, it does not make you any safer, if you are not trained in its use, maybe even less safe.

I think every law Abiding Citizen should have guns, but they should take the time and money to know how to use them.